Improvements in Explosive Projectiles, and in Means for Throwing, Propelling, or Delivering Explosive Projectiles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Feb., 1889-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Explosive Projectiles, and in Means for Throwing,
Propelling, or Delivering Explosive Projectiles.
I ROBERT SOUTHWORTH LAWRENCE of the Langham Hotel, Portland Place, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention relates to improvements in explosive projectiles of a kind some-
times called "torpedoes," which are launched through the air, and in throwers or
means for impelling or delivering such projectiles.
Projectiles according to this invention may be charged with any suitable explosive,
but I prefer to use a high explosive such as dynamite treated or packed after the
manner set forth in any Specification No. 5027 A.D. 1888, or in my Provisional
Specification No. 236 bearing even date herewith. When the impelling or delivering
force is gunpowder it is more particularly necessary to employ explosive so treated,
and it is always advantageous to do so, since it enables the projectile to be. handled
with greater safety and to have the required velocity imparted to it in less time.
A projectile according to this invention is constructed with a collapsible tail
adapted to be collapsed whilst being fired and to become extended during the flight
of the projectile. This tail may be constructed in various ways. Thus it may
comprise a series of tubes arranged telescopically or be of bellows forin or he caused
to extend by an arrangement of levers arranged after the manner of lazy tongs. The
tail may be provided with fans or blades arranged after the manner of a screw
propellor. By these means the projectile will be caused to rotate during its flight
and may be fired from a smooth bore gun or from a thrower constructed as herein-
after described. The tail has the effect of steadying the flight of the projectile and
increasing its range. To further increase this action of the tail the end of the
projectile may carry a length of rope or cable which in some cases may be provided
with discs or other projections against which the air acts during the flight of the
projectile or with a bag or vessel that may be collapsed before firing but becomes
inflated during flight. The collapsed tail of the projectile may be provided with a
disc or cap that will prevent injurious action of the powder or propelling charge upon
it and which will become disengaged from the tail during flight.
Shrapnel and similar projectiles charged with high explosives in the manner
described in the Specification of my other application bearing even date herewith
may be constructed with collapsible tail pieces according to this invention.
When the projectile is provided with a time fuse this fuse may be arranged to slide
in a cavity formed in its base the arrangement being such that when the projectile is
discharged a fulminating cap behind the fuse strikes an abutment and ignites it.
Such a projectile may be thrown from a tube by the action of gunpowder,
compressed air, or other gas or fluid. When gunpowder is employed the tube may
conveniently take the form of a smooth bore gun served with small charges of
powder.
In a projectile thrower according to this invention compressed air is admitted to
the impulse tube from suitably arranged storage chambers through a valve chest
provided with an air regulating valve that may be set to deliver air at any desired
pressure according to the range to be given to the projectile.
may
The rear end of the impulse tube may be closed in any suitable manner;
advantageously be closed by a breech block constructed with an interrupted thread
as well understood.

page_text: In one construction of projectile thrower according to this invention the impulse
tube is mounted in trunnion bearings upon a carriage that can be trained in the
ordinary manner.
Air is supplied through the pintle of the carriage to a pipe arranged below the
impulse tube and which communicates with the interior of the valve chest. This
pipe is connected to the pintle and to the valve chest by any suitable arrangement of
swivelling and telescopic joints. The carriage may be provided with air reservoirs
in communication with the interior of the pintle and having sufficient capacity to
supply enough air for one or more discharges.
Or these reservoirs may be arranged below and be carried by the impulse tube and
be connected to a suitable store of compressed air or to an air compressor (arranged in
any suitably protected position) through flexible or swivelling joints.
The air regulator comprises a valve or gate that controls the passage of compressed
air through the valve chest to the impulse tube. The spindle of the valve is connected
to a piston or equivalent that is held in position by a spring which may be compressed
to a greater or lesser extent according to the pressure of air to be employed for
impelling the projectile. The spring may be compressed by an abutment provided
with a screw nut that is operated by gearing connected with and operated by a
regulator handle or pointer outside the valve chest. A three-way cock operated by a
suitably arranged hand lever is employed for controlling the admission of air to the
valve chest and for placing the latter in communication with the atmosphere after
each discharge.
Any suitable means may be provided for elevating the impulse tube. In one
arrangement a toothed quadrant carried by such tube and operated by a pinion and
crank handle is employed, or a compressed air motor may be arranged between the
impulse tube and carriage for this purpose.
The carriage of the thrower is provided with suitable traversing wheels and with
lifting tackle for the projectiles.
Two or more throwers constructed according to this invention may be combined
and mounted to revolve about a centre after the manner of machine guns. In one
arrangement of revolving pneumatic thrower according to this invention there are
five impulse tubes carried by a frame mounted to rotate in bearings in a travelling
carriage. The frame is provided with studs and is intermittently rotated by cams
upon an operating shaft. These cams and studs are so arranged as to intermittently
rotate the frame through a fifth of a revolution at a time and then allow it to "dwell"
for a short time during which one tube is charged and another discharged. An air
regulator of the kind hereinbefore described is provided for admitting the air to the
impulse tubes in succession, the controlling valve or cock being intermittently
operated to admit and cut off the supply of compressed air by a cam on the operating
shaft.
The projectiles are supplied from any suitable arrangement of magazine and are
fed one by one to the impulse tubes in succession during each dwell of the frame.
The projectiles are fed by a plunger actuated by a frame to which a reciprocating
motion is imparted by a cam operated through gearing from the operating shaft.
For field purposes a travelling air compressor is provided. This compressor may
be worked by a steam boiler heated by hydrocarbon or it may be by a hydrocarbon
motor mounted upon a travelling carriage that is provided with a Caisson. The
caisson may be constructed to carry various tools, and also a spare wheel upon which
a length of flexible hose may be carried for use in connecting the air compressor with
the projectile thrower when this is to be put in action.
Dated this 5th day of January 1889.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Explosive Projectiles, and in Means for Throwing,
Propelling, or Delivering Explosive Projectiles.
I, ROBERT SOUTHWORTH LAWRENCE, of the Langham Hotel, Portland Place, in
the County of Middlesex, England, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to improvements in explosive projectiles of a kind sometimes
called torpedoes designed to be launched through the air by smooth bore powder
guns and pneumatic guns; and in throwers or means for impelling or delivering
such projectiles. Projectiles according to this invention may be charged with any
suitable explosive but it may with advantage be a high explosive such as dynamite
made up into a charge iu one or other of the ways described in former specifications
of mine namely the specifications of Letters Patent Number 5027 dated the 4th April
1888 and the specification of my application for Letters Patent Number 236 dated
5th Jan. 1889. When the impelling or delivering force is derived from gunpowder
it is more particularly necessary that the high explosive charge in the projectile
should be made up as above referred to, indeed it is always advantageous that it
should be so because then the projectile can be handled with greater safety and can
have the required velocity imparted to it in less time
It is well known that an
elongated shell in order to be effective must maintain a point on position in its flight;
for if it tumbles" its range will be uncertain, and it will be liable to fall far short
of its mark. The rotary motion imparted to such a shell when fired from a rifled
gun prevents it from tumbling. Pneumatic guns or projectile throwers however, are
smooth bore, and consequently do not impart rotary motion to projectiles discharged
therefrom which therefore require to be provided with some means for guiding them
in their flight or in other words for keeping them point on. Whatever the means
employed to this end, regard should be had to the space the device will occupy in the
gun, for as pneumatic guns are required to be of considerable length for a good range,
it is desirable that the guide for the shell shall occupy as little space as possible so as
not to require the gun to be made of any great additional length for its reception.
A projectile according to this invention is constructed with a tail piece or guide
(hereinafter called a tail) that can be collapsed so as to occupy but very little space.
whether in the gun preparatory to and whilst being fired or during shipment or
storage and which will become extended during the flight of the projectile. The tail
may be constructed in various ways and may be provided with vanes or blades
arranged to cause the projectile to rotate during its flight.
In the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the rear end portion of a projectile constructed
with a flexible tail and with a telescopic tail, both tails being shewn closed up.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation illustrating the tails in the positions they occupy during
the flight of the projectile.
Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate respectively in rear end elevation and in longitudinal
section part of a projectile provided with a flexible tail only, of wire rope, fig. 3
illustrating the tail coiled up upon the end of the projectile in the position it occupies
previous to the projectile being fired or launched, and fig. 4 illustrating in elevation
the position the tail assumes as the projectile starts on its flight.
« in figs. 1 and 2 is a projectile closed at its rear end by a screw plug b and
provided with a gasket ring c for effecting a gas tight joint with the interior of the
discharing tube or gun. dis a wire rope fixed at one end to an eye e secured in the
screw plug b, it constitutes a flexible tail for the projectile. The length of this tail
necessary to balance the projectile will depend upon the weight and calibre of the
latter and the size of the rope. It may be either of uniform size throughout its
length or he of tapering form toward its outer end and may in some cases be
provided with one or more projections that will be acted upon by the air during

page_text: flight such for example as a disc, as shewn in dotted lines in fig. 2, or with a bag or
vessel that may be collapsed before firing but becomes inflated during flight, the
object in each case being to increase the guiding action of the tail and by preventing
tumbling to increase the range of the projectile as compared with a projectile
without a tail.
وو
The flexible tail is enclosed for a portion of its length by a telescopic tail which
while acting as a tail or guide itself, prevents the flexible tail from becoming looped
or tangled near the shell. This telescopic tail consists of a series of short metal
tubes f¹ f² ƒ³ f f f f f telescoped one within the other in the well known
manner, the outer tube fs being secured to the screw plug b. The several tubes are
prevented from leaving each other by any suitable means such as a pin g on the
exterior of one entering a groove h in the interior of the one enclosing it. With
this construction when the projectile is in flight the parts will assume the positions
shewn in Figure 2 but while the shell is in the gun, or during shipment or storage,
the telescopic tail will be collapsed and the flexible tail coiled up as seen in Figure 1.
A spring or springs may be arranged within the telescopic tail to ensure its extension
or opening out. These parts may be protected from injury arising from the action
of the propelling charge, be it gunpowder or air, by a disc or wad of suitable
material, such as wood or metal, interposed between them and such charge, or by a
metal cap or cover such as (Fig. 1) that will become disengaged from the tail
during flight. ), are scrow vanes or blades secured to the end tube for the
purpose of rotating the projectile during its flight (by the action of the air) and thus
increasing its range and the accuracy with which it may be launched at an object.
In some cases the flexible tail d may be used alone as represented in figs. 3 and 4.
Or in some cases the telescopic tail may be used without the flexible tail. Shrapnel
and similar projectiles charged with high explosives in either of the ways described
in the specification of my other application for Letters Patent Number 236 of 1889
hereinbefore referred to, may be constructed with tail pieces according to my present
invention, as illustrated in fig. 5 which is a longitudinal section of the rear portion
of a shrapnel shell provided with flexible and telescopic tails such as shewn in figs. 1
and 2 but one or other of these tails may in some cases be omitted. When the
projectile is provided with a time fuse this fuse may be arranged to slide in a cavity
formed in its base the arrangement being such that when the projectile is discharged
a fulminating cap behind the fuse strikes an abutment and ignites it."
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the rear portion of a projectile fitted with a
time fuse constructed according to this part of my invention.
Fig. 5 shews the said fuse to a larger scale.
kis a hollow stud screwed into the inner side of the screw plug band formed with
a small conical projection or anvil l. The forward end of the stud is recessed as at m
for the reception of a flange n on the forward end of the fuse tube o containing any
suitable fuse p which may be cut so as to burn any desired length of time. On the
rear end of the fuse tube is placed a fulminate of mercury cap is a spring
secured at one end to the hollow stud and bearing at its other end against the
flange n and keeping such flange in its forward position. When the gun is discharged
and the projectile launched, the stud k will gain on the fuse tube o until the anvil 7
strikes the cap setting fire to the fuse, which, after burning one, two or any other
predetermined number of seconds to which it may have been set, will ignite the
fulminate of mercury in a tube s that extends longitudinally of the charge chamber
and the explosion of which will detonate the bursting charge of the projectile. is
a safety rod screwed into the stud k and into the flange n for the purpose of fixing
the fuse tube o with its cap y clear of the anvil and so preventing accidental
discharge of the projectile during handling. The safety rod must be removed just
before the projectile is inserted into the gun or projectile thrower in order that the
fuse may be ignited in the manner described when the torpedo is launched.
In a pneumatic gun or projectile thrower according to this invention, compressed
air is admitted to the impulse tube or tubes from suitably arranged storage chambers,
through a valve chest provided with an air regulating valve that may be set to
.

page_text: Fig. 6 is a side elevation.
Fig. 7 a plan or top view.
Fig. 8 a rear end elevation, and
Fig. 9 a transverse section of a projectile thrower constructed according to this
invention.
Fig. 10 is a sectional plan of the air pressure regulator for controlling the
admission of air to the thrower.
Fig. 11 is a section of the regulator on the line ab fig. 10.
Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are respectively a side elevation, a transverse section, and a
part end elevation illustrating a modified construction of projectile thrower.
Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are respectively a side elevation, a plan or top view, and a
transverse section of a revolving projectile thrower with five impulse tubes, and in
which by the turning of a shaft, projectiles may be automatically placed in the tubes,
the tubes be revolved and the projectiles discharged under a predetermined regulated
degree of air pressure.
Figs. 18 and 19 are respectively a side elevation with the rear wheels removed and
a plan or top view, of a portable air compressor for use with the revolving projectile
thrower.
Fig. 20 is a longitudinal section of part of the revolving projectile thrower taken
on the lines cd Figure 22 and el d¹ fig. 23.
Fig. 21 is a longitudinal section on the line e Figure 22.
Fig. 22 is a transverse section shewing the loading, revolving and discharging
mechanisms.
Fig. 23 is a horizontal section of the air pressure regulator.
As will be seen the figures are to various scales.
Referring to figs. 6 to 11 inclusive, 1 is a discharging barrel or impulse tube
having a smooth bore, and made of suitable metal such as brass or steel. It is
provided with trunnions 2 that are supported in bearings in standards 3 carried by a
carriage to which can be trained about a hollow pintle as a centre, in the ordinary
manner. The breech of the impulse tube may be opened and closed by any suitable
or convenient means. In the example shewn, it is provided with a hinged breech
plug 14 of well known construction having an interrupted screw thread that is
engaged with and disengaged from a similar screw thread in the breech, in a manner
well understood. 1 is a strengthening tube that encircles the rear portion of the
impulse tube and is provided with a concave extending portion 1ª that supports and
strengthens the forward end of such tube. 6 is the casing of an air pressure
regulator secured below the breech end of the impulse tube. The construction of
this regulator, which forms an important part of this invention is hereinafter
described. 7 is a pipe connected at one end to the pintle, and at the other end to the
casing 6 by any suitable arrangement of swivelling or swivelling and telescopic
joints.
In the arrangement shewn the forward end of the pipe is connected to the pintle
by two pipes 8, swivelled together at S, and to the pintle and pipe 7 at 9, 9, the
joints being made air tight by glands as indicated.
Or a length of wire bound flexible hose may be used to connect pipe 7 with pintle 5.
The rear end of the pipe 7 is fixed to the valve casing 6.
Air under pressure is
supplied to the pintle and thence to the pipe 7 and air pressure regulator by a pipe 10
(Fig. 6) that may be placed in communication with a store of compressed air, or with
an air compressor, arranged in any convenient and protected position 11 is a check
or non return valve in the pipe 10. 12, 12 are reservoirs for compressed air mounted
upon the carriage 4; they are in free communication with the interior of the pintle,
and have sufficient capacity to supply enough air for discharging one or more
projectiles. The air pressure regulator comprises the casing 6 within which is a
rectangular box 13 (Figs. 10 and 11) whose interior constitutes an air chamber 14
that is in communication through the pipe 7 and pintle 5 with the air reservoirs 12.

page_text: The pipe 7 is provided with a two way cock 15 (see figs. 6, 10° and 10b) for admitting
air from the reservoirs to the chamber 14, and also for shutting off the air from the
reservoirs and permitting the escape of so much of it from the said chamber through
a discharge opening 16 in the pipe, as will be sufficient to allow a spring 17 to again
open a valve 18 as will be more fully explained hereinafter. 15 is a hand lever
secured to the stem of the valve 15 for actuating that valve. 19 is a valve chest
provided centrally with bearings 20 for a valve shaft 21. The valve 18 consists of a
plain metal plate closely fitting the interior of the chest 19; it passes through a slot
in the shaft and is held in place by screws 22. When open as seen in full lines, in
Figure 10 the lower side of the valve rests on lugs 23 inside the valve chest at one
end, and its upper side rests against other lugs 24 cast in the chest at the other end.
25 is a pipe that connects the air chamber 14 with the valve chest 19, the interior of
which is placed in communication with the interior of the impulse tube by a pipe 26
(Fig. 6). 27 is a cylinder whose open front end is screwed into the rear wall of the
air chamber 14 as shown in figs. 10 and 11. In it is a piston 28 secured to a piston
rod 29 which is pivotally connected at 30 to an arm 31 journalled on a crank arm 32
on the valve shaft 21. 33 is a bevelled gear wheel secured on a hollow arbor 34
located in the end wall of the cylinder 27. The exterior of the portion of the arbor
that is within said wall is screw threaded to engage with an interiorly screw-threaded
thimble or sleeve 35 which is rigidly secured to a perforated disc 36 within the
cylinder 27. 17 is a coiled spring that encircles the piston rod 29 between the disc 36
and the piston 28, the piston rod passing through the said arbor and bevel wheel 33.
The end wall of cylinder 27 has a flange 37 that enters an annular groove 38 in the
arbor for the purpose of preventing end wise movement thereof. The bevel wheel 33
gears with another bevel wheel 39 mounted on a short shaft 40 journalled in one of
the side walls of the regulator casing 6. This shaft has on its outer end a hand crank, 41
and, on the outer side of casing 6 just outside the are described by the crank handle,
there is a segmental scale 42, of figures (Fig. 6) to indicate the different degrees of
pressure to which the regulator may be set.
The projectile thrower may be provided with any suitable means for elevating and
depressing the impulse tube. In the arrangement shown it is provided with the usual
toothed segments 43 with which engage pinions 44 secured to a shaft 45 mounted in
bearings in the standards 3 and provided with crank handles. 46, 46, are pointers or
indicators, fixed on the ends of the trunnions 2 for use in connection with a scale on
the outer side of each standard 3, to indicate the degree of elevation of the tube.
47 is a raised platform for use with projectile throwers of large calibre and 48 is
lifting tackle for manipulating projectiles as well understood.
The operation of the improved projectile thrower is as follows:-
A projectile having been placed in the breech of the impulse tube, the breech
closed, and the reservoirs 12 filled with air compressed to the necessary degree, all
that is required to launch the projectile is to open the valve 15 by means of its
lever 15º. If air is to be admitted to the impulse tube 1 at a pressure of say five
hundred (500) pounds to the square inch, and the tension of the spring 17 is such
that the spring will be compressed just at that pressure, then it will be evident that
the spring will hold the valve 18 open, as seen in Figure 10, until the air pressure
against the projectile in the impulse tube shall have reached five hundred (500)
pounds, when that pressure will force the piston 28 backwards against the tension of
the spring. This action will through the intervention of piston rod 29, arm 31, and
crank arm 32, rock the valve shaft and close the valve, as seen in dotted lines in
Figure 10. The projectile will commence to move before the pressure rises to five
hundred (500) pounds, but the increase of pressure will be so rapid that the
maximum will be reached almost instantly.
As soon as the projectile thrower is discharged and the valve 18 closed, the two
way cock 15 is turned to the position shewn in Figure 10, in which it cuts off
communication between the reservoirs and the valve, and at the same time permits
the escape from air chamber 14, through the discharge opening 16, of a sufficient
quantity of air from said chamber to allow the spring 17 to again open the valve.

page_text: As the valve. when closed, presents the same superficial area on each side of its
shaft, the air pressure against it must necessarily be the same below the shaft as
above it, and consequently the valve will be balanced. If the air is to be admitted
to the tube at a greater pressure than that above stated-say two thousand five
hundred (2,500) pounds to the square inch in order to throw a projectile to a greater
distance, the hand crank 41 is turned until it registers with the figures 2,500 on the
scale. This movement of the crank is transmitted through the bevel wheels 39
and 33 to the arbor 34 which, as it cannot move itself endways, will screw thimble 35
outward. This outward movement of the thimble, and consequently of the disc 36
compresses the spring 17 between this disc and piston 28 to an extent sufficient to
require a pressure on the piston of two thousand five hundred (2,500) pounds to the
square inch to overcome the tension of the spring. When the air attains this pressure
the valve 18 will close as before. In the arrangement of projectile thrower shewn
in figs. 12, 13 and 14 the afr reservoirs 12 are firmly fixed to the impulse tube by
metal bands 49 so as to move with such tube, and are in free communication with
each other by means of short pipes 50, Fig. 13. These reservoirs, of which four are
shewn, are cylindrical in cross section and may advantageously he made of steel, but
their number and shape may be varied without departing from the nature of the
invention, their purpose being to hold air under pressure in readiness for use in the
impulse tube. 51 is a pipe for connection with an air compressor or store of
compressed air; it is in communication with the reservoirs and is provided with a
non return valve 52. In other respects the construction and mode of operation of
this projectile thrower are similar to those of the projectile thrower shewn in figs. 6
to 11, and similar parts are marked with the same reference numerals. Figs. 15 to 23
shew a rotary projectile thrower according to this invention.
53 is a fixed breech piece, provided at its rear end with a door, 54. 55 is the
frame of the projectile thrower; and 56, 56ª are assembling discs.
57 is the main shaft, which passes through the discs and is rigidly secured thereto,
it being loosely journalled at its front end in the frame and at its rear end in the
breech block. 1, 1 are the barrels or impulse tubes conveniently five in number,
which are mounted in and carried by the assembling discs, the rear ends of the tubes
being screwed into the disc 56. The mechanism for revolving the tubes comprises a
pin wheel 58 consisting of a short cylinder, having a series of pins or projections
1*, 2*, 3*, 4*, (corresponding in number with the number of tubes 1) on one
end. This pin wheel is rigidly secured on the rear end of the main shaft 57 with the
pins to the rear. 59 is a worm wheel, located in the breech piece in rear of the pin
wheel, and mounted on a shaft 60 journalled in one side of the breech piece and
also in a standard 61. The worm wheel 59 is of the same width for about three
fourths the circumference of the wheel, and then gradually narrows down and flares
outward to the sides, leaving a groove 59 as seen in Fig. 22; and it is so placed
with relation to the pin wheel that only the lower pin will engage with the groove.
The worm wheel is revolved by means of a crank handle 61 on the shaft 60.
The loading mechanism is constructed as follows
In the upper portion of the breech piece there is formed a channel or guideway 62
part of which is open as at 63 and above this open part of the channel is a magazine 64
for containing projectiles a as seen in Figs. 21 and 22. In this channel, directly in
rear of the open part there is a loading plunger 65 for pushing the projectiles into
the impulse tubes the plunger being provided on one side with a stud 66 which passes
through a slot in one of the side walls of the guideway 62 as seen in Fig. 22. A
toothed wheel 67 on the inner end of shaft 60 gears with another toothed wheel 68,
on a shaft 69, journalled in standard 61 and in the side of the breech piece; and on
this shaft is secured a cam 70 (Fig. 21) which works within a link 71, pivotted at its
lower end to the bottom of the breech piece. This link is provided with an arm 72,
whose upper end passes loosely through a slot in stud 66 (Fig. 22).
12, 12, are air reservoirs as before they are mounted in the frame 55. 51 is a
pipe for connecting the reservoirs with any suitable air compressor. More than two

page_text: reservoirs may be employed if desirable, and be in communication with each other by
means of connecting pipes. 6 represents the casing of the air pressure regulator,
the construction of which is shewn in Fig. 23; it is substantially the same as that
shewn in Fig. 10 and will be readily understood without further description. Like
parts in the two figures are marked with similar reference numerals. 7 is a pipe
leading from one of the air reservoirs 12 to the air chamber (14) within the casing 6.
This pipe is provided with a two-way cock at 15, operated by an eccentric rod 73
connected thereto and to the shaft 60 for admitting air from the reservoirs to the air
chamber, and also for shutting off the air from the reservoirs and permitting the
escape of a portion of it, through a discharge opening in the manner and for the
purpose hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 6 to 11. 26 is a pipe that
leads forward from the valve chest 19, its outer end being secured to the under side
of the breech piece in line with an air duct 26, leading to the front face of the
breech piece, with which duct the bore of the lower impulse tube (for the time being)
registers. 74 is a ring of elastic packing, set in the front face of the breech piece
and surrounding the outer end of air duct 26", for the purpose of forming a tight
joint between each impulse tube as it assumes its lowest position, and the breech
piece, as seen in Fig. 20.
In Figs. 18 and 19, 75 are air compressors carried by the caisson 76, for supplying
the air reservoirs, when necessary, with compressed air; they are operated by
motors 77 driven from a steam generator 78 that may be heated by liquid hydrocarbon
contained in a tank 79. 80 is a spare wheel, which is utilized, as shewn, for
carrying a length of flexible hose 81 for, when necessary, connecting a pipe 82
leading from the air compressors, with the pipe 51 connected to the air reservoirs 12
of the projectile thrower.
The operation of my revolving projectile thrower (when using a magazine) is as
follows:
The magazine being filled with projectiles and one of the impulse tubes loaded, as
seen in Fig. 21 then on turning shaft 60 one of the pins on the pin wheel 58 will
enter groove 59" in the worm wheel 59 and will be moved to the opposite side of the
worm, thus turning the impulse tubes through one fifth of a revolution. As the
worm is straight for the greater portion of its circumference, the pin wheel and
the tubes will remain stationary while the pin follows that portion of the worm, thus
affording time for loading and discharging the tube. An empty tube being now
presented to the loading device, and another projectile having dropped from the
magazine into the guideway 62, the continued revolution of shaft 60 will cause
cam 70, through the medium of gear wheels 67, 68 and shaft 69, to turn in link 71
and rock the link forward; when the arm 72, of the link will carry the loading
plunger and the projectile in the guideway, forward far enough to place the projectile
within the impulse tube, the loading plunger being drawn back to its former position
on the further revolution of the cam, when another projectile will drop by gravity
into the guideway, and so on. In the revolution of shaft 60 the eccentric rod 73 is
caused to operate the two way cock at 15 to alternately (a) admit air from the air
reservoir to the tubes at proper intervals, and (b) place the air chamber 14 in
communication with the atmosphere as herein before explained.
The action of the air pressure regulator and the manner of varying the pressure of
air admitted to the impulse tubes are the same as herein before described with
reference to Figs. 6 to 11.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be perforined I declare that I do not
claim as of my present invention anything claimed in the Specification of
my application for Letters Patent No. 236 bearing even date herewith but that.
what I do claim is :-
:-
1. An elongated projectile having a tail so constructed that it can be collapsed or
closed up but will be extended during the flight of the projectile.

page_text: 2. An elongated projectilo having a collapsible tail provided with vanes or blades
adapted to cause rotation of the projectile during its flight substantially as hereinabove
.described.
3. An elongated projectile having both a telescopic tail and a flexible tail the
arrangement being such that during flight the flexible tail extends in a rearward
direction beyond the rearward end of the telescopic fail.
4. My improved projectile as shewn in and described with reference to Fig. 2 of
the drawings annexed, whether with or without the flexible tail.
5. An elongated projectile provided with a flexible tail secured to its rear end
substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings
annexed.
6. A projectile comprising a shell or body charged with missiles and high explosive
in combination with a flexible tail or with a telescopic tail or both (whether or not
the telescopic tail be provided with vanes or blades).
7. In a projectile suitable to be launched from an air gun a time fuse adapted to be
ignited in an automatic manner on the launching of the projectile as above set
forth.
8. For an explosive projectile the improved time fuse as hereinabove described with
reference to and illustrated in Figs. 5 and 5 of the drawings annexed.
9. in a projectile thrower the combination of the following features or elements viz. :
(a) an impulse tube (b) an air reservoir (c) an air pressure regulator adapted to
admit air to the impulse tube at a desired pressure (d) a pipe provided with a stop
I cock and connecting the reservoir and regulator and (e) a pipe connecting the
regulator and impulse tube substantially as herein described.
a
:
10. In a projectile thrower the combination, with the impulse tube and an air
reservoir, of an air pressure regulator having a valve mounted on a cranked shaft and
spring-pressed piston connected with said shaft, a pipe, provided with a stop cock,
connecting the reservoir and regulator, and a pipe connecting the regulator with the
interior of the impulse tube whereby the projectile thrower may be automatically
, discharged under a predetermined degree of air pressure.
ד !
11. The combination of (a) a projectile thrower such as above referred to (b) a
carriage upon which the said projectile thrower. is mounted (c) a hollow pintle about
which the said carriage can be trained and through which hollow pintle compressed
air can be supplied to the reservoir or reservoirs and to the air pressure regulator of
the projectile thrower, all substantially as herein described.
12. For a pneumatic gun or projectile thrower an air pressure regulator having a
valve for controlling the communication between the impulse tube and the said
regulator and a piston that is connected to said valve and is subject on one side to the
pressure of the air to be regulated and on the other side to the pressure of a spring,
the arrangement being such that when the pressure of air within the regulator is
sufficient to force back the piston against the action of the spring, the valve will close
and cut off communication between the regulator and the impulse tube.
1. For a pneumatic gun or projectile thrower an air pressure regulator of the
kind referred to in the preceding claim furnished with mechanism for varying the
-pressure. of the spring against the piston according to the pressure of air to be
admitted to the interior of the impulse tube of the projectile thrower substantially as
herein described.
14. For a pneumatic gun or projectile thrower, the improved air pressure regulator
constructed substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs. 1, 10,
10ª, 10 and 11 of the drawings annexed.
15. The improved pneumatic guns or projectile throwers constructed substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference respectively to and illustrated in Figs. 6 to
11 inclusive and in Figs. 12 to 14 inclusive of the drawings annexed.
16. In a revolving pneumatic gun or projectile thrower, a series of revoluble
impulse tubes and a breech piece stationary with relation thereto in combination with
a compressed air reservoir and means for delivering air from the latter into the breech
י!

page_text: of one of the tubes when the same has been turned to a certain position with relation
to the breech piece.
17. Constructing the breech piece referred to in the preceding claim with an air
duct that is in register with one of the impulse tubes when the latter is in position
for discharge and through which duct air is delivered from a reservoir into the breech
of the said tube.
18. The combination with the series of revoluble impulse tubes, the breech piece
having a duct in register with one of the said tubes when the latter is in position
for discharge, and mechanism for revolving the tubes, of an air reservoir, an automatic
air pressure regulator, a pipe provided with a shut off cock, connecting the reservoir
and regulator, and a pipe leading from the regulator to the duct in the breech piece,
whereby one of the tubes 'is discharged when the air exerts a pre-deterinined degree
of pressure in the regulator.
19. In a revolving projectile thrower constructed substantially as described, the
combination, with the worm wheel shaft, the reservoir, the automatic air pressure
regulator, and the pipe connecting the reservoir and regulator, of a shut off cock
in said pipe, and an eccentric rod journalled on the worm wheel shaft and connected
to 'said cock, whereby air is admitted to the regulator from the reservoir in proper
relation to the loading and revolving operations.
20. The combination, with the breech piece, provided with a guideway-in its upper
portion, and a loading plunger in said guideway, of a link pivotted to the lower
portion of the breech piece and provided with an arm which engages with the loading
plunger, a cain within the link, and mechanism for revolving the cam to rock the
link, whereby the loading plunger is reciprocated in the guideway 'for the purpose
set forth whether with or without a magazine for projectiles arranged above the open
part of the said guideway.
21. The combination, with the breech piece and 'the 'worm wheel shaft journalled
therein and provided on its inner end with a gear wheel, of a link pivotted in the
lower portion of the breech piece and provided with an arm, as described, a short
shaft journalled in the breech piece, and provided with a toothed wheel in gear with
'the toothed wheel on the worm wheel shaft, and a cam within the link secured on
said short shaft, for the purpose mentioned.
22. The improved revoluble pneumatic gun or projectile thrower constructed,
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described with reference 'to
Figs. 15 to 17 and Figs. 20 to 23 inclusive of the drawings.
23. The use in conjunction with the revoluble portable pneumatic gun or projectile
thrower of a portable air compressor substantially as herein before described and
'shewn.
J
!
1000
R. S. LAWRENCE.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent.for the Applicant.