IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Coope Haddan, of Chelsea, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
Sealed the 3rd April 1855, and dated the 30th October 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Coope Haddan
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th October 1854.
I, JOHN COOPE HADDAN, of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS
IN PROJECTILES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in making, rockets, and also projectiles com-
posed of shells having rockets within or adapted to their interior, (in either
case intended to be discharged from rifled cannon, and ignited or fired when
in or at any distance from the cannon,) with a plug or mandril, which fits into
the hole or space in the powder or composition of the rocket, to preserve the
form of the powder or composition employed from being disturbed or crumbled
up by the shock the projectile receives when first fired from the cannon, and
which plug or mandril is intended to become separated from the rocket at or
immediately before the rocket powder or composition is ignited.

page_text: Secondly, in making shell or hollow projectiles with discs, rings, ribs, or
extra thickened portions in or on their insides or interior surfaces for
strengthening them, so as the letter to resist any pressure in the cannon.
Thirdly, in constructing projectiles intended to be used with a wad with the
tail or hinder portion of the body made conical, and so as to fit in a conical
seat in the wad, or made with any other fitting or contrivance which will
preserve the axis of the projectile in line with the axis of the gun, and will
also allow the tail to turn or twist in or against the wad during the
progress of
the projectile along the cannon, so as not to retard or obstruct the rotation
which the body receives from the rifling of the cannon.
Fourthly, in making projectiles with wings or projecting sliding surfaces
upon them, which shall not only impart the twist, but by their form and dispo-
sition shall (when the projectile is discharged) also cause or tend to cause the
axis of the projectile to coincide with that of a cannon, having corresponding
or suitable rifling.
Lastly, in manufacturing projectiles with wings or bearing surfaces upon
them, for fitting or sliding in the rifling of rifled cannon, (such wings or surfaces
being in one with them, or of separate pieces of brass, or of gun metal, or of any
other metal, secured or fixed to or upon them;) and also in manufacturing
projectiles by means of machinery constructed and arranged so as to act
simultaneously or successively, but in either case to an uniform extent, upon
or against the projecting parts to be made into the said wings or bearing
surfaces, or so as to form or make the several wings or bearing surfaces true to,
or as nearly as may be equidistant from, the central lines or axes of the
projectiles.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Coope Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 28th April 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
COOPE HADDAN, late of Chelsea, but now of Bessborough Gardens, Pimlico,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Coope Haddan, Her special licence that I, the said John

page_text: Coope Haddan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said John Coope Haddan, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR MANUFACTURING THE
SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said. John Coope
Haddan, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Coope Haddan, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof (that is to say) :-
My Invention consists, firstly, in making rockets, and also projectiles com-
posed of shells having rockets within or adapted to their interior, (in either
case intended to be discharged from rifled cannon, and ignited or fired when
in or at a distance from the cannon,) with a plug or mandril, which fits into
the hole or space in the powder or composition of the rocket, to preserve the
form of the powder or composition employed from being disturbed or
crumbled up by the shock the projectile receives when first fired from the
cannon, and which plug or mandril is intended to become separated from
the rocket at or immediately before the rocket powder or composition is
ignited.
The Drawing No. 1 represents a longitudinal section of one of my improved
projectiles, constructed as a rocket or rocket shell; A being the shell or outer
case, formed of cast iron, as more particularly herein-after referred to; and
the interior, consisting of a rotating rocket B, constructed in the manner
particularly described in the Specification filed in pursuance of Letters Patent
granted to William Hale for "Improvements in Rockets," dated the Eleventh
day of January, One thousand eight hundred and forty-four. C, C, are the
oblique holes or orifices in the tail end of the Hale's rocket for giving the
rotatory motion.
In order to prevent the composition from being disturbed
by the concussion in the act of firing the cannon, I furnish the rocket with a
plug or mandril D, of gun metal or cast iron, plated, or otherwise coated or
covered, so as to prevent any chemical action from the composition into which

page_text: it is fitted, and held sufficiently firmly in its place to remain therein until
expelled by the force of a small quantity of gunpowder in the chamber or
space E, which is intended to be ignited by a fuse passing through a hole in
the said plug. This fuse hole is prolonged, so as also to ignite the rocket
composition when or immediately after the plug has been expelled. For the
convenience of construction, I make the end of the rocket in which the oblique
orifices are formed to screw into, and also to form the tail end of the shell A.
The plug or niandril passes through this tail end, and is secured therein
by red lead; or it may be slightly screwed into the tail end, so as to be held
firmly in its place before and when the cannon is fired, but so as to yield and
be expelled when the fuse shall have ignited the powder in the chamber E.
The space G in the interior of the shell and around the Hale's rocket is filled
with bursting powder, gun cotton, or other destructive material, which may
be ignited on the projectile striking any object by means of a perussion
cap F, placed on a nipple screwed into the front end of the shell; or, if pre-
ferred, this ignition may be accomplished by a fuse, or by the last portion
of the rocket composition being made to communicate through a hole in the
Hale's rocket case. Z is a rib or feather for strengthening the outer case, as
hereafter described under another improvement, but is here shewn perforated,
so as to form a communication between its two sides.
The Drawing No. 2 shews another of my improved projectiles, constructed
simply as a rocket, in which the inner case, before mentioned, is dispensed
with, and also the bursting powder G; the exterior case being made of wrought
iron, and in two or more parts welded together, and the whole of the interior
being filled with the rocket composition. The oblique holes C, C, for giving a
rotation on the axis, and the plug or mandril D, for preventing rupture of the
composition, are employed as before. In both the projectiles above described
the rocket composition is intended to prolong the flight of the projectile
beyond the distance which it would be impelled by its discharge from the
cannon, so as to obtain an increase of range; and the oblique vent of the com-
position is intended to keep up or cause a continuance of the rotation on its
own axis which the projectile has received from the rifling of the cannon.
When a rapid rather than a long or accurate flight is desired, the oblique vent
of the rocket composition may be dispensed with.
Drawing No. 3 shews another of my improved projectiles, constructed of a
cast-iron outer case, carrying a Hale's rocket in its interior, which is intended
not to assist the flight of the projectile, but to quit it when the force is nearly
spent, and to continue the flight by itself. The mandril D in this instance
is screwed into and forms part of the outer case, the Hale's rocket being

page_text: driven forward from off it by the explosion of the powder in the chamber E,
and carrying with it its own tail end, in which the oblique vent holes are
made. The bursting powder or destructive material is contained in the head
of the Hale's rocket in the ordinary manner. The rib or feather in this
projectile not only affords strength, but also serves to guide the rocket when
leaving the outer case..
My Invention consists, secondly, in making shell or hollow projectiles with
discs, rings, ribs, or extra thickened portions in or on their insides or
interior surfaces, for strengthening them, so as the better to resist any pressure
in the cannon.
The Drawings Nos. 4 and 5 are longitudinal and transverse sections respec-
tively of a shell constructed accordingly, the strengthening transverse ring
and longitudinal ribs being marked z, z, z; the former being situate at the
greatest diameter, and one of the latter at the back of, and so as particularly
to strengthen or support each of, the parts forming or carrying a wing or pro-
jecting sliding surface, when wings are employed, as herein-after described.
But instead of the one ring and three ribs, represented in the Drawing, any
other convenient number may be substituted, if preferred. When the shells
are of cast iron, the discs, rings, ribs, or thickened portions are cast in one
therewith; but when of wrought iron, I intend dispensing with longitudinal
ribs, and forming the ring or disc either of cast iron, placed inside before the
parts are welded together, or of wrought iron (of the full diameter of the
shell), and welding the parts on to the sides and at the edges of the said ring
I would here remark that I do
or disc, or in any other convenient manner.
not claim ribs or feathers in. spherical shells, as I believe diaphragms have
been used for separating the powder from the shot, but only when applied
to elongated shells or hollow projectiles, in manner and for the purpose above
described.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in constructing projectiles which are intended
to be used with a wad, and to receive a rotation on their longitudinal axis
directly from the rifling of a cannon, and not indirectly by or from the wad,
with the tail or hinder portion of the body made conical, and so as to fit in a
conical seat in the wad, and preserve the axis of the projectile in line with the
axis of the gun, and also allow the tail to turn or twist in or against the wad
during the progress of the projectile along the cannon, so as not to retard
or obstruct the rotation which the body receives from the rifling of the cannon.
This improvement more particularly has reference to those cases in which
the inclination of the rifling is not uniform throughout the length of the
cannon, but increases or gains towards the muzzle. The Drawings Nos. 6

page_text: and 7 are a plan and section of the wad referred to, which, except in the
combination referred to, is no new improvement. It is represented as made or
cut into three sections or parts, for the purpose of more readily separating
from the projectile on its leaving the mouth of the cannon. The tail end of
the projectile to be used with the wad is made of corresponding form, so as
to fit in or against it, in the manner shewn by the Drawing No. 1, where the
wad is represented by dotted lines, and should be made conical and quite
even or smooth, so as to turn freely in its seat in the wad. The body of the
projectile must be made of such form at its largest diameter as to ensure
its rotation directly from the rifling of the cannon in which it is intended
to be used.
My Invention consists, fourthly, in making projectiles with wings or pro-
jecting sliding surfaces upon them, which shall not only impart the twist, but by
their form and disposition shall (whilst the projectile is being discharged) also
cause or tend to cause the axis of the projectile to coincide with that of a
cannon, having corresponding or suitable rifling.
The Drawing No. 8 illustrates the transverse sectional form of a projectile
(constructed according to this improvement) taken across its largest diameter,
the three curved portions outside the circle band within the three arcs c, c, c,
representing the wings or projecting sliding surfaces referred to. This Figure
is the same as that given in illustration of the form of the bore of a rifled
cannon in the Drawing No. 1 of the Complete Specification of Letters Patent
granted to me, bearing date the Fourteenth day of October, One thousand
cight hundred and fifty-four, and is here repeated, together with the description
referring to it, in order more completely to explain the shape or transverse
sectional form (at their greatest diameter) of my improved projectiles adapted
to such cannon, and as being the shape or form which I prefer. The rule of
setting it out or constructing it is as follows:-From the centre a draw a
circle b, b, b, of the diameter of the cylindrical bore of the cannon to be rifled,
and divide the circumference into nine equal portions, as indicated by the radial
lines. Take any three of these lines which are each equidistant apart from the
other, as, for instance, ca, ca, ca, and outside the circle b, b, and from
the centres d, d, d, describe the. three arcs c, c, c, each respectively cutting the
circle at the points where the six remaining radial lines (one on each
side of each of the lines ca,) cut the circle b, the radii with which such ares
are struck being such as to enable the arcs while cutting the circle b to give
the required thickness of wing or projecting sliding surface, which for pro-
jectiles of eight inches diameter should be about a quarter of an inch, and in
like proportion for projectiles of either larger or smaller diameter. The form

page_text: both of the cannon and of the projectile being similar, and notwithstanding that
the projectile is rather smaller than the bore, so as to allow the windage for
loading the axes of each, will necessarily correspond in or during the passage
of the projectile along the cannon by reason of the rifle twist of the cannon.
The principle upon which this circumstance depends will appear evident by
comparing the forms of the projectile and of the cannon with those of two
equilateral triangles of slightly differing dimensions placed one within the
other, as represented in the Drawing Nos. 9 and 10. No. 9 may be said to
represent the projectile in a state of rest within the cannon; and it is evident
that as the corresponding sides of each triangle are parallel to and equidistant
from each other, that the centres of each will coincide, as represented by the
dot y. No. 10 represents the effect which the rifling has upon the projectile
in its passage along the cannon, namely, to cause it to touch the cannon only
in three points or places, and center itself therein, which results from the
tendency of the projectile to move onwards in a straight line without turning
round, until forcibly caused so to do by the rifle twist of each groove acting
uniformly on each wing (respectively) of the projectile, represented by the
three points of the inner triangle. It will be readily understood that the
transformation of the triangle into figures of the form shewn in No. 8 will
not alter the self-centering principle above described, and that four wings or
five wings may be substituted for three, if preferred, the cannon being made
to correspond accordingly; or, instead of the wings being made of the shape
represented, the projectile may at its largest transverse dimensions be made of
a square or pentagonal or other regular geometrical figure, and either with
or without the angles or corners being rounded off, such corners, whether
rounded off or not, serving the purpose of and constituting wings when used
in cannon made to correspond therewith.
It is particularly to be noted that I intend using these my lastly above-
described projectiles with a separable wad applied at the tail end, in the manner
referred to under my third improvement, in order to ensure the coincidence of
the longitudinal axes (of the cannon and of the projectile) throughout their
entire length; but, if preferred, the use of a wad applied in the said manner
may be dispensed with, and the tail end of the projectile may be centered, by
having wings or projecting sliding surfaces upon them, similar to those at or
near the front end, but so disposed or placed as to correspond with the incli-
nation or twist of the rifling in the cannon, which inclination must in this
case be uniform throughout its entire length, and not increasing nor gaining
towards the muzzle. And the projectiles in this case should not taper towards
the tail end, but should be uniform or nearly so in diameter, excepting.the two

page_text: sets of wings referred to, so that these portions only of the projectile may
touch, slip, or slide in or against the bore of the cannon; and in this case a
wad may be used at the back (not fitting upon the projectile), for preventing
loss of effect from windage.
My Invention consists, lastly, in manufacturing projectiles having wings or
bearing surfaces upon them, for fitting or sliding in the rifling of rifled cannon
(in accordance with my last improvement), by making such wings or surfaces
in one with them, or of separate pieces of brass, or of gun metal, or of any
other metal, secured or fixed to or upon them; and also in manufacturing
projectiles by means of machinery constructed and arranged so as to act
simultaneously or successively, but in either case to an uniform extent, upon or
against the projecting parts to be made into the said wings or bearing surfaces,
or so as to act upon or against the remaining parts, and to leave or form and
thus make the several wings or bearing surfaces required true to, or as nearly
as may bé equidistant from, the central lines or axes of the projectiles.
The manner in which I manufacture my improved projectiles with the
wings in one with them, when the projectiles are of cast iron, is by casting
the wings in one and the same piece or substance as the body or mass of the
projectile; and when the projectiles are of wrought iron, by welding' on
the requisite bosses in the proper positions, or by upsetting or pressing or
squeezing the metal while hot into the desired shape; and this may be done
on one or more of the pieces of which the body or mass is constituted, and
either before or after the said pieces are welded or secured together.
The manner in which I manufacture my improved projectiles with the wings
composed of separate pieces of metal secured or fixed to or upon them is by
making the pieces of the brass, or gun metal, or steel, or lead, or wrought
iron, or other suitable metal of which the wings are formed, with their edges
dovetailed, as shewn at s, s, in the Drawing Nos. 4 and 5, so as to lock or
slide into and securely fit within corresponding recesses in the projectile.
When this is of cast iron I plane out or form the requisite under-cut recesses,
and make the wings to hold to or become fixed in them by a tight driving fit,
and further secure them by screws, if desired; or I make the wings on their
sides or surfaces which are to fit against the projectile with a quicker curve
than the surface of the projectile, and of such dimensions as to enter flatways
or broadly into the recesses, and I then hammer or press them down, so as to
expand them, and make them lock tightly into the recesses; or I make the
wings of any suitable fusible metal which I cast into the recesses. lead, zinc,
or tin being preferred. In any of the foregoing cases the wings may be
further secured by riveting or soldering them in their places.

page_text: When the projectile is of wrought iron I either proceed in accordance with
one of the modes above described, or I plane out or form the requisite recesses
without making them undercut, and after inserting the wings I caulk down or
upset the edges of the recesses on to or upon, and so as to secure or hold, the
wings. In any of the above cases, or as a distinct and separate method of
securing the wings, the projectiles may be heated, so as in cooling to shrink
upon and fix or assist in fixing them in the recesses. Although I have above
described the improved projectiles with their bodies made of wrought iron or
of cast iron, they may be made partly of wrought iron and partly of cast iron,
or of any other suitable metal or metals.
Instead of the wings being fitted or secured into recesses as above described,
and of whatever metal or metals the body may be composed, the wings may
be brazed or soldered or rivetted on. Or another method I employ in forming
the projectiles with wings is by depositing, by any approved electro-galvanic
apparatus, either copper, or other suitable metal on to the projectile in the
proper positions; and this method may be used in combination with or after
any of the others, if desired.
I wish it to be noted that although I have above described wings as fitted
into or formed or fixed upon the projectiles, I more especially intend one
half or side only of each wing to be so treated, such half or side being the
half or side which will bear in or against a rifled groove in the cannon, as
shewn by the dotted lines s, s, in Drawings Nos. 4 and 5.
The machinery herein-after described for shaping projectiles may be employed
in any of the foregoing cases to complete or accurately finish the sliding
surfaces of the wings.
I wish it to be noted that I distinctly disclaim the use of rings or belts of
lead or other material employed for adapting projectiles to the rifling of cannon,
excepting when the lead or material is so employed as to form wings or
sliding or bearing surfaces projecting out of, above, or beyond the general
surface of such rings or belts.
The manner in which I construct or arrange my improved machinery for
forming or finishing the wings upon projectiles, or for forming or shaping the
projectiles themselves so as to leave wings upon them, is represented in
the Drawing No. 11, which shews a transverse section of one of my improved
shells with three wings upon it, and a diagram of the positions of three
corresponding concave rose cutters, by which the said wings are cut into the
correct shape required, by the tools being made to advance equally towards
and against their work in the direction of the radial lines x, x, x, so as to
take the cuts gradually and to center the projectile properly. The advance

page_text: of the tools is to be simultaneous and uniform in amount; or, instead of three
tools being employed, any number may be used, according to the number
of wings; or one tool only need be used, the projectile being turned round
to the requisite amount to present each wing successively to its operation,
and the tool being made to advance equally or uniformly towards or against
each of them respectively; or, in the case of each of them respectively, the
projectile may be made to advance equally and uniformly towards or against
the tool.
Instead of rose cutters or a rose cutter, as above described, one or more
planing tools or cutters may be substituted, so as to cut or plane the wings, or
the requisite portions of the projectile in the direction of its longitudinal axis,
into the desired shape, the advance either of the planing tools towards or
against the projectile, or of the projectile towards or against a planing tool or
tools (for each wing to be made) being equal, and uniform, as in the case
of the rose cutters or cutter, so as to center the projectile properly, as above"
described.
The whole of the Drawings are represented on a scale of about four inches
to one foot.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Coope Haddan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of April, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-five.