Improvements in the Manufacture or Production of Cannon and other Arms, and in Tools to be used therefor, and in Projectiles therewith.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 29th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 30th Sept., 1887.
}
Improvements in the Manufacture or Production of Cannon and
other Arms, and in Tools to be used therefor, and in Projectiles
therewith.
I, WILLIAM TRANTER of Colmore Terrace Summer Lane Birmingham in the County
of Warwick, Gun Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in the manufacture
or production of cannon and other arms, and in tools to be employed therefor, whereby
the said arms are greatly improved.
My invention consists first, in so treating the forgings of iron or steel employed in
the production of the said arms, that a crystalline structure is converted or changed
into that of a fibrous one. Secondly, the means of boring and rifling the said arm
after having been roughly shaped and treated by the process or combination of
processes which constitutes the first part of my invention. Thirdly, in coating or
partially coating projectiles to be used therewith, with friction metal.
I will now describe my improvements in connection with the production of cannon.
In carrying out my improvements, I take an ordinary forging having a crystalline
structure, and in order to convert the crystals into a fibrous texture, it is necessary
in the first instance, that the size of the crystals should be reduced, which is accom-
plished in the following way.
The forgings are subjected to a degree of heat sufficient to harden the metal, (if it
was steel) and when at this heat, it is immersed in a bath of condensed or rain water
containing Carbonate of Soda in solution, viz. :-about five pounds of carbonate of
soda to fifty gallons more or less of water; or the said forging may be immersed in a
bath of seal or other suitable oil, in order to produce the necessary reduction in the
size of the crystals.
Whatever the size of the forgings may be, it is necessary that the same should be
recrystallized before proceeding with the final forging; and to accomplish this, care
must be taken that the temperature to which it is heated should be such as not to
destroy the fine crystalline structure thus acquired; that is, the finished forging is

page_text: reheated only to such a temperature, that the already acquired fine crystals are
preserved, and when in this state, and while at a low red heat, they are converted into
a fine fibrous texture by a subsequent forging or rolling process.
By this process of manufacture, the strength of the arm is greatly increased, by the
metal aforesaid being rendered highly fibrous and ductile.
The second part of my invention consists in boring and rifling the aforesaid forging
by means of tools and holders working in unison one with another, by which means,
the finished bore or boring of the arm can be cut to an exact size, and a perfect
cylinder thereby produced from end to end.
The rifling will also be cut true, with the bore of equal depth, and so prevent erosion,
from windage.
The tool employed consists essentially of a hollow pipe or tube having two or more
suitable longitudinal gaps or openings at or near one end, and through which said
openings, cutting tools are placed. These cutters resemble somewhat in form, a spike
bent inwards with a hooked head, and at the back of the said hooked part, conical
bearings or seats are formed, against and under which the cone end of a rod or bar,
within the hollow of the pipe (forming the holder) takes its bearing, and which rod is
fed forward by a screw taking into the internally wormed part of the holder.
The back ends of the shanks of the cutters, take their bearings upon the heads of
rods pressed forward by strong coiled or other springs, which allow the said bearings
to yield, on the cutters being adjusted, for giving more or less cut.
The axis of the front part of the holder is provided with a hole through which
lubricant is conveyed to the cutters, which are disposed between the back and front
parts.
The cutters are expanded or forced outwardly, by the forward movement of the
coned end of the bar, acting upon the like coned shoulders of the cutters, on the feed-
screw being turned.
The appliance for rifling is of the same construction as the tube for boring, herein-
before described.
The projectiles to be used with the cannon aforesaid, should be coated with a friction
metal, consisting essentially of an alloy composed preferably of tin, copper and
antimony. The part of the projectile to be coated with the alloy is first of all tinned,
either by the hot or cold process; then the aforesaid alloy when in a heated and molten
state, is poured on the projectile (in a suitable mould) which adheres thereto, and
becomes inseparable therefrom when fired.
Dated this Twenty ninth day of November 1886.
WILLIAM TRANTER.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture or Production of Cannon and
other Arms, and in Tools to be used therefor, and in Projectiles
therewith.
I, WILLIAM TRANTER of Colinore Terrace Summer Lane, Birmingham in the County
of Warwick, Gun Maker, 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 :-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described, in the manufacture
or production of cannon, and other arms, and in tools to be employed therefor, whereby
the said arms are greatly improved.
My invention consists first, in so treating the forgings of iron or steel employed in
the production of the said arins, that a crystalline structure is converted or changed
into that of a fibrous one. Secondly, the means of boring and rifling the said arm,
after having been treated by the process or combination of processes which constitutes
the first part of my invention. Thirdly, in coating or partially coating projectiles to
be used therewith, with friction metal.
I will now describe my improvements in connection with the production of cannon.
In carrying out my improvements, I take an ordinary forging, having a crystalline
structure, and in order to convert the crystals into a fibrous texture, it is necessary in
the first instance, that the size of the crystals should be reduced, which is accomplished
in the following way.
The forgings are subjected to a degree of heat, sufficient to harden the metal,
(if of steel) and when at this heat, it is immersed in a bath of rain water, containing
Carbonate of Soda in solution, viz. :-about five pounds of carbonate of soda, or other
salts capable of regulating the crystallization, to fifty gallons more or less of water;
or the said forging may be immersed, in a bath of seal or other suitable oil, in order
to produce the necessary reduction in the size of the crystals.
Whatever the size of the forgings may be, it is necessary that the same should be
recrystallized, before proceeding with the final forging. To accomplish this, care
must be taken that the temperature to which the forging is afterwards heated, should
be such, as not to destroy the fine crystalline structure thus acquired; that is, the
finished forging is reheated only to such a temperature, that the already acquired fine
crystals, are preserved, and when in this state, and while at a low red heat, they are
converted into a fine fibrous texture, by a subsequent forging or rolling process.
By this process of manufacture, the strength of the arm is greatly increased, by
the metal aforesaid, being rendered finely fibrous and ductile.
The second part of my invention consists in boring and rifling the aforesaid forging,
by means of tools and holders working in unison, one with another, and by which
means, the bore or boring of an arm, may be cut to an exact size, and a perfect
cylinder from end to end.

page_text: The rifling is also cut true, with the bore of equal depth, and so prevent erosion from
windage.
The tool employed, consists essentially of a hollow pipe or tube, having two or more
suitably shaped longitudinal gaps or openings, at or near one end of the holder or tool;
and through which said openings, cutters work. These cutters resemble in form, a
spike, bent inwards, with a hooked head, and at the back of the said hooked part,
conical bearings or seats are formed, against and under which, the cone end of a rod
or bar, within the hollow of the pipe (forming the holder) takes its bearing, and
which rod is fed forward by a screw taking into the internally wormed part of the
holder.
Tho back ends of the shanks of the cutters, take their bearings upon the heads of
rods pressed forward by strong coiled or other springs, which allow the said bearings
to yield, on the cutters being adjusted, for giving more or less cut.
The axis of the front part of the holder, is provided with a hole through which
lubricant is conveyed to the cutters, which are disposed between the back and front
parts.
The cutters are expanded or forced outwardly, by the forward movement of the
coned or taper end of the bar, acting upon the like coned shoulders of the cutters, on
the feed screw being turned.
The appliance for rifling, is essentially of the same construction, as the apparatus
for boring.
The projectile to be used with the cannon as aforesaid, is coated, or covered, with
friction metal, consisting essentially of an alloy, preferably of tin, copper and antimony;
and the exterior surface, or the part of the exterior surface of the said projectile which
is required to be coated, is first tinned, either by the hot, or cold process; and then
subsoquently coated with the alloy as aforesaid, by pouring it when in a heated and
molten state, around the said projectile placed centrally within a mould.
The alloy thus surrounding the projectile, adheres thereto, and becomes inseparable
from it when fired.
Figure 1 represents partly in horizontal section, and partly in elevation, a new or
improved tool or apparatus for the boring and rifling of cannon or other arms as
aforesaid. Figure 2 is a top or underside elevation of the said apparatus or tool, and
figure 3 is an elevation, top and underside view of one of the cutters.
a is a hollow rod or tube, provided near its front end a², with a gap or longitudinal
opening b; and within which said opening, cutters c, c, work, and are disposed and
with their cutter or acting parts c³, presented a little above the tops of the openings.
The fronts or forward ends of these cutters are shaped hook like, while their back or
tail ends, which are tapered off, take into cross cut away parts made in the heads of
yielding pistons, or rods d, which work within holes or recesses made within the solid
of the metal of the hollow rod, in juxtaposition to the opening b. These pistons, are
surrounded by coiled springs e, which take their bearings upon shoulders formed
in the holes in which they work, and upon the backs of the heads of the pistons,
respectively.
The outer front sides of the cutter heads, are inclined, or provided with inclined
planes c³, which seat themselves, and take their bearings, upon, like undercut inclines a³,
formed at the front end of the opening b.
The inside parts of the said cutter heads, are also provided with inclined planes c³,
against which the inclined end 13, of a rod f, seats itself. This rod is advanced within
the hollow of the tube, by a feed screw 9, (worked by the head 92,) taking into the
internally wormed part of the front of the holder. The rod is prevented from
rotating by the screw h taking into a slot or groove f³.
Up the axis of the apparatus or holder, is a central passage at, through which
lubricant is fed to the cutters.
When in use, the cutters are expanded or forced outwardly, by the advancing move-
mont of the feed screw, which causes the rod f, to be forced rearwards, and so compels
the cutters to open out or recede from each other, by the cone end of the rod acting
upon their inner inclines.

page_text: The slight opening out of the cutters is allowed for, by their tail ends abuting upon
yielding bearings.
The opening out of the cutters may be effected if necessary, by the direct end of
the screw, acting against their inner inclines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is.
First. Rendering forgings of the kind as herein described, finely fibrous and ductile,
by the process or combination of processes and means of recrystallization, prior to final
forging, drawing down or rolling out, substantially as described.
Secondly. In a boring and rifling tool, consisting of a hollow bar or rod a, a², a³, a',
cutters c, with inclined parts and cutting edges ², c³, c, yielding bearings d, d²,
advancing rod and screw f, g. The parts of which said tool, are constructed, arranged
and combined, & work, substantially as, and for the purpose as herein described and
set forth in figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing.
Thirdly. Providing the heads, or the acting ends of cutters, with front and back
inclined planes, by means of which, they admit of taking a firm bearing, and are
advanced up to their work, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly Making the rear ends of cutters, take their thrust upon yielding bearings,
substantially as described and set forth.
Fifthly Coating or covering projectiles, with a friction alloy, fixedly secured
thereto, by the process or combination of processes as herein described.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of August 1887.