IM. PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE AND PROJECTILES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS
PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery,
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IM.
PROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE AND PROJECTILES."-A com-
munication from abroad by Pierre Jules Jacob Noël, Dentist, of
29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 24th July 1868, and dated the 10th February 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th February 1868.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE AND PROJECTILES,"
tion for
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to breech-loading cannon provided with a
number of chambers, and also to the mode of charging the same. These
cannon are intended for firing a great number of balls within a very
short period of time, such as grape or canister, or one chamber only
[Price 8d.]

page_text: may be used at a time after previously training the gun. These
cannon are of simple construction and possess at same time great
strength, while they may be made of any metal, size, or dimensions,
the chambers being either smooth-bored or rifled, and serve either for
land or sea service for defending fortifications, vessels, and otherwise.
The body of the cannon, properly so called, is formed of a solid truncated
cone bored with three, four, or other number of chambers disposed
concentrically around the axis of the gun. The rear end of the gun
is provided with a rotating breech piece, by means of which the
simultaneous charging of the whole of the chambers may be effected,
said breech piece being bored to correspond with the chambers and
provided with a percussion striker for each. This breech piece is fitted
to rotate on the rear end of the gun to a certain extent so as to bring
the openings therein opposite the chambers at the time of charging
and for acting on the percussion strikers to produce the discharge.
When the gun is to be used for firing grape or canister all the
chambers may be discharged at one time or successively one after
the other without intermission, but when it is to be used for firing
single shots the body of the gun may be rotated so as to bring each
of the chambers successively to a vertical position in readiness to be
discharged after the gun is pointed, it being held in position by a spring
catch.
A further improvement consists in providing the tail end of the gun
carriage resting on the ground with a projecting spur intended to
enter the ground more or less in order to prevent the recoil of the
gun. This spur may also be applied to any other description of gun.
This Invention is illustrated in the annexed Drawing, which shows
one arrangement of gun with multiple chambers.
Figure 1 is a plan of a gun detached from its carriage; Figure 2, a
longitudinal vertical section of same taken through the centre of one of
the chambers on line 7, S, Figure 3; in Figure 2, the gun is shown as
mounted on its carriage.
Figure 3 is an end view of the breech in. position for loading, the
dotted lines showing the position of the breech after it has been rotated
one-sixth of a revolution so as to bring the strikers opposite the chambers
for effecting the discharge.

page_text: Figure 4 is a transverse section of the gun on the line 1, 2, 3, 4,
Figure 1.
Figure 5 a transverse section on line 5, 6, Figure 2, to show the
arrangement of spring catch by means of which each chamber is
successively secured in the vertical position when the gun is used for
firing at any point.
Figure 6 shows a view of the rear end of the gun with the breech piece
removed.
i
Figure 7 is an inside face view of the breech piece showing the mode
of attaching it to the rear end of the gun by means of lugs forming a
bayonet fastening when firing the gun.
Figure 8 shows a longitudinal vertical section of an improved pro-
jectile applicable for this and other guns, the arrangement differing from
that of the projectile represented in Figure 2.
Lastly, Figure 9 shows the hammer for acting on the percussion
strikers to produce the discharge. The same reference letters apply to the
several Figures.
a, barrel of the gun mounted on a carriage b, at one end of which is
provided a spur c; the barrel a is of solid metal and provided with a
certain number of chambers d equally disposed around the centre, which
may either be rifled or smooth-bored as desired. The gun is fitted to
rotate in the trunnion ring f, and is also provided with trunnions g;
h, Figure 5, spring stem provided with a catch i for securing each of
the chambers in a vertical plane when the gun is to be used for firing
singly; 7, rotating breech piece mounted at the rear end of the barrel a,
it being secured thereto by the lugs k, and those on the counterpart 1,
as seen in Figures 6 and 7, the combination forming a bayonet fastening
for connecting the parts, which are faced with tempered steel to prevent
wear; m, openings formed in the breech piece corresponding with the
chambers in the gun; n, percussion strikers which are brought opposite
the chambers above mentioned by rotating the breech piece for effecting
the discharge. The rotary motion of the breech for bringing the
chambers opposite the openings m or strikers n is regulated by a stop o
sliding in a groove p made in ring or collar q.
The projectile represented at Figure 2 is composed of a pasteboard
tube filled with powder, at the centre of which is placed a pin or
striker ; this striker, which is placed in contact with the fulminate

page_text: or percussion cap, produces the explosion of the powder on being struck
and drives forward the conical ball or projectile 111.
The projectile represented at Figure 8 differs from Figure 2 inasmuch
as the conical ball is made in two parts. The one portion introduced
into the end of the pasteboard tube is provided with a rigid rod t at its
front end, which at the moment of the explosion when the projectile
is driven forward strikes a percussion cap in the head and produces
the explosion of the powder v which is lodged in a cavity made in said
heads, Figure 9, hammer for acting on the strikers n.
The chief features of improvement are, 1st, the arrangement of
multiple chambers as described; 2ndly, the arrangement of rotating
breech for loading the whole of the chambers and bringing the several
strikers opposite the charges at one movement.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 8th August 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times there-
after 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 Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE AND PROJECTILES,” a
communication to me from abroad by Pierre Jules Jacob Noël, Dentist,
of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition (amongst others)

page_text: that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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 Alexander Melville Clark, 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, reference being had to the two Sheets
of Drawings liereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):―
My Invention relates to breech-loading cannon provided with a
number of chambers, and also to the mode of charging the same.
These cannon are intended for firing a great number of balls within
a very short period of time, such as grape or canister, or one chamber
only may be used at a time after previously training the gun. These
cannon are of simple construction and possess at same time great
strength, while they may be made of any metal, size, or dimensions,
the chambers being either smooth-bored or rifled, and serve either
for land or sea service, for defending fortifications, vessels, and otherwise.
The body of the cannon properly so called, is formed of a solid trun-
cated cone bored with three, four, or other number of chambers
disposed concentrically around the axis of the gun. The rear end
of the gun is provided with a rotating breech piece by means of which
the simultaneous charging of the whole of the chambers may be
effected, said breechi piece being bored to correspond with the chambers
and provided with a percussion striker for each. This breech piece
is fitted to rotate on the rear end of the gun to a certain extent
so as to first bring the openings therein opposite the chambers at
the time of charging, and then the percussion strikers to produce
the discharge.
When the gun is to be used for firing grape or canister all the
chambers may be discharged at one time or successively one after
the other without intermission, but when it is to be used for firing
single shots the body of the gun may be rotated so as to bring each
of the chambers successively to a vertical position in readiness to be

page_text: discharged after the gun is pointed, it being held in position by a
spring catch.
A further improvement consists in providing the tail end of the gun
carriage resting on the ground with a projecting spur intended to
enter the ground more or less in order to prevent the recoil of the
gun. This spur may also be applied to any other similar description
of gun.
This Invention is illustrated in the annexed Drawings, Sheet. 1 of
which shows one arrangement of gun with multiple chambers, while
Sheet 2 shows modifications of the same.
Figure 1 is a plan of a gun detached from its carriage; Figure 2 a
longitudinal vertical section of the same taken through the centre of
one of the chambers on line 7, 8, Figure 3, the gun being shown as
mounted on its carriage.
Figure 3 is an end view of the breech in position for loading, the
dotted lines showing the position of the breech after it has been
rotated one-sixth of a revolution so as to bring the strikers opposite
the chambers for effecting the discharge.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the gun on the line 1, 2, 3, 4,
Figure 1.
Figure 5 a transverse section on line 5, 6, Figure 2, to show the
arrangement of spring catch by means of which each chamber is
successively secured in the vertical position, when the gun is used
for firing single shots.
Figure 6 shows a view of the rear end of the gun with the breech
piece removed.
Figure 7 an inside face view of the breech piece showing the mode
of mounting it on the rear end of the gun, and the manner of securing
it by means of lugs forming a bayonet fastening when firing the gun.
Figure S shows a longitudinal vertical section of an improved pro-
jectile applicable for this and other guns.
Lastly, Figure 9 shows the hammer for acting on the percussion
strikers to produce the discharge. The same reference letters apply to
the several Figures.
a, barrel of the gun mounted on a carriage b, at one end of which

page_text: gun
is provided a spur c.
The barrel a is of solid metal and bored with
a certain number of chambers d equally disposed around the centre,
which chambers may either be rifled or smooth-bored as desired. The
gun is fitted to rotate in the trunnion ring f, and is also provided
with trunnions g; h, Figure 5, spring stem provided with a catch i for
securing each of the chambers in a vertical plane when the is
to be used for firing singly; j, rotating breech piece mounted at the rear
end of the barrel a, it being secured thereto by the lugs & and those on
the counterpart as seen in Figures 6 and 7, the combination forming
a bayonet fastening for connecting the parts, which are faced with
tempered steel to prevent wear; m, openings formed in the breech piece
corresponding with the chambers in the gun; n, percussion strikers,
which are also brought opposite the chambers above mentioned by
rotating the breech piece for effecting the discharge; any other suitable
arrangement of striker may also be adopted. The rotary motion of the
breech for bringing the chambers opposite. the openings m or strikers n is
regulated by a stop o sliding in a groove p made in ring or collar q;
s, Figure 9, hammer for acting on the strikers n.
Figure 8 shows a cartridge or projectile to be used with the ordnance
of this Invention. Figure Salso shows another arrangement of
projectile which is the same as that represented in a smaller scale in
one of the chambers of the gun, Figure 2, Sheet 1. Any suitable
projectile may however be used with the gun.
The projectile, Figure S, differs from those in ordinary use in the
arrangement of the conical ball or head, which is made in two parts..
The part introduced in the end of the pasteboard case r¹ (containing
the powder, pin 3, and percussion cap acted on by the striker n before
mentioned) is provided at its front end with a projecting pin or stem t,
which at the moment of the explosion, that is to say when the projectile is
driven forward by pin ³, strikes a fulminating cap u and explodes the
powder lodged in the cavity made in the conical end of the ball. The
projectile shown in Figure S is composed of a pasteboard or other
case A divided into two compartments by a wad or division B.
The
rear chamber containing the powder is provided with a cap C, while
the other chamber is filled with shot D, and terminates in a cylindro-
conical steel head or ball E encased in lead or other soft metal F,
which adapts itself to the rifling or grooves of the gun as shown in
Figure 8

page_text: The modifications in the ordnance herein-before, described are illus
trated in Sheet 2 of the Drawings.
The first improvement consists in applying an india-rubber washer
on the stem of the strikers which is recessed in the metal of the breech.
This washer made of india-rubber or other analogous material serves
to make a gas-tight joint, and prevent any escape when firing.
Another improvement consists in adapting the breech arrangement
of this Invention to guns of simple bore, the loading and discharge
being effected by the aid of a rotating breech piece and striker as before.
I further construct the gun carriage of plates of metal suitably
connected together and provided with a chamber or caisson at its rear
end forming a receptacle for the ammunition.
These improvements are illustrated in Sheet 2 of the Drawings,
Figure 10 showing a plan of the gun, and Figure 11 a side elevation
of same.
The same letters apply to these two Figures.
A, gun carriage formed of metal plates rivetted together on which
the trunnions of the piece are mounted, and also provided with travelling
wheels B. The intermediate portion of the carriage forms a caisson
or receptacle C for ammunition; D, field piece provided with a rotating
breech Farranged and operated in the manner herein-before described.
It will be understood that the gun may either have one or more
chambers.
. Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—-
1st. The improved breech-loading ordnance provided with several
bores or chambers arranged in the manner described and illustrated
in the Drawings.
2ndly. I claim the particular arrangement of the breech which is
made to rotate so as to enable all the chambers to be loaded at one
time, and also to bring all the percussion strikers opposite each. of the
charges introduced into the chambers of the gun.
3rdly. I claim the several improvements made in the various parts
as herein-before specified..
4thly. I claim the modifications and improvements described and
illustrated in Sheet 2 of the Drawings.

page_text: 5thly. I claim the improvements in projectiles described and repre-
sented in the Drawings for use with the breech-loading ordnance of
this Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-eight.