Improved Manufacture of Barrels for Fire Arms.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Manufacture of Barrels for Fire Arms.
I, FRANZ MEIXNER, of Leopoldigasse No. 27, Hernals, near Vienna, Austria,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved manufacture of barrels for fire arms
whereby a number of hollow conical or pyramidial frustra of suitable metal, open
at both ends, are threaded upon a mandril so as to fit one within the other, and
are then forged together so as to form a tube or barrel of the requisite length.
The conical or pyramidal frustra are for this purpose by preference formed
without a seam, such for instance as by stamping them out of metal discs.
The barrels can also be produced by fitting a number of such frustra together
to an extent less than the required length of the barrel, and, then after welding
them together, subjecting the formed tube to a rolling operation for extending it
to the required length.
If it is desired that the barrel to be produced shall be taper in form, it is built
up of frustra of gradually decreasing size towards the front end, as indicated on
the accompanying drawing. The breech end of the barrel is always constituted
by that end towards which the bases or larger diameters of the frustra are directed,
whereby any detachment of splinters in the bore on firing is effectually prevented,
as the projectile travels in the direction of the separate layers, the fibres of which
are presented at a very acute angle thereto whereas if the frustra were placed in
the contrary direction the fibres of the separate layers would be presented at a
more or less obtuse angle to the direction of the projectile, which is of considerable
importance more particularly for rifled barrels.
Barrels of the above described construction can be produced with any desired
description of damaskeening by using for the separate frustra different kinds of iron
or steel, or by making them of suitable damaskeening material such as of rolled wire
or metal bands. Or such damaskeening designs may be produced of great variety by
forming the separate frustra, while maintaining them of uniform thickness, with
corrugations or ribs, or by making them of polygonal cross section, or by using
such forms in combination with the first described means of damaskeening.
Dated this 7th day of April 1891
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
İmproved Manufacture of Barrels for Fire Arms.
1, FRANZ MEIXNER, of Leopoldigasse No. 27, Hernals, near Vienna, Austria;
Engineer, 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 an improved manufacture of barrels for small-arms and
also tubes for ordnance.
According to the invention, the barrels are formed by inserting one within the
other, and thereupon welding together, conical or pyramidal frustra of suitable
metal, corresponding in number to the required length of the barrel, their bases
and tops being left open for the passage of a mandril.
These conical or pyramidal frustra are preferably made without any seam, for
instance by stamping them, out of metal plates.
TD 017

page_text: The fitting into each other of the conical or pyramidal frustra is effected on a
mandril or core intended to give them the necessary support during the welding.
For most of the calibres, it will be advisable to employ a tubular sheet-iron core
of suitable thickness, as used for welding many other kinds of damaskeened barrels.
The welding is effected, as for other barrels, in a welding furnace of convenient
form, several heats being preferably given. In consequence of the peculiar
direction and position of the surfaces to be welded together, it is of particular
importance that sufficient pressure should be applied to produce the necessary
longitudinal resistance along the axis.
When the welding has been completed, the barrel is subjected to a rough boring
in order to remove the slag and what remains of the tubular core, in such a manner
that the barrel comprises only the frustra, welded together.
Previous to the said first boring, a steel-mandril, tapering at both ends, can be
passed through the red-hot barrel, in order to straighten it more or less, and the
same can also be hammered cold to increase the elasticity, although it
to perform this last work, after the completion of the exterior tooling.
preferable
After the rough boring, the barrel receives the finishing boring, up to the
required calibre, and is thereupon tooled externally by grinding, turning, filing,
polishing, cutting up, and welding together, according to requirements, two or more
barrels, and it is finally rifled, etc. in the manner generally known.
If it is desired that the barrel should taper towards its mouth, this can be
obtained to a certain extent by forming it of truncated cones, the height of which
decreases gradually as they lay nearer to the front end, as shown in the drawing
accompanying my Provisional Specification, which illustrates the truncated cones
inserted into each other previous to the welding.
The barrels can also be manufactured by welding together a number of similar
frustra, the total length of which, when inserted into each other, is inferior to the
intended length of the finished barrel, which is thereupon obtained by rolling.
This rolling operation can, take place before or after, but preferably after the
rough boring, and is effected, in the same manner as for other tubes, on a core of
suitable length and shape. By employing rolls of suitable circumference, in which
grooves tapering towards one end are provided, the barrels can be given very
nearly the right shape and the usual different thickness at both ends.
When the barrel is being finished, the end towards which the bases of the
frustra are directed, previous to the welding, is chosen to constitute the breech-
end, whereby any detachment of splinters or chips in the bore on firing is absolutely
prevented, as the projectile travels constantly in the direction of the separate
layers, the fibres of which are presented at a very acute angle thereto, whereas if
the frustra were placed in the contrary direction, the fibres of the separate layers
would be presented, at a right or more or less obtuse angle to the direction of the
projectile which is of great importance, especially for rifled firearms.
Barrels manufactured by this process can be provided with any desired
description of damaskeening, by using frustra made of different varieties of iron
and steel, or of suitable damaskeening material, such as rolled wire or metal
bands.
Similar damaskeening designs can also be produced in great variety, either by
giving the separate frustra a polygonal, corrugated, or ribbed cross-section, while
maintaining them of uniform thickness; or by providing the walls themselves with
suitable ribs; or by combining together the aforesaid means of damaskeening in a
barrel or in each separate frustrum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein before described process of manufacture of barrels for fire-arms,
said process consisting in fitting together a number of hollow conical or pyramidal
frustra made of suitable metal, in uniting these frustra -together into a tube by

page_text: welding, and if necessary, in extending this tube to the required length by
submitting it to a rolling operation, substantially as described.
2. Barrels or tubes for fire-arms composed of a number of metallic caps perforated
in their longitudinal axis said metallic caps being inserted into each other, united
together by welding and if necessary submitted to a rolling operation, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 16th day of December 1891
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.