IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE AND IN THE CARTRIDGES OR PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Burnet Robins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th January 1867.
I, WILLIAM BURNET ROBINS, of Penton Place, Kennington Road, in the
County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-ARMS AND ORDNANCE AND IN THE
CARTRIDGES OR PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
One of the objects of this Invention is so to construct the arm or piece that
when two, three, or more projectiles are used they may be made to strike in
succession at some distance apart on a horizontal line, that is, supposing the
first bullet or shot strikes the object aimed at, the second shall strike, say, a
foot or more to the right or left as may be desired, and the third and fourth
each a foot or more further to the right or left. This is effected by mounting
the arm or piece with its longitudinal axis excentrically or a little on one side
of the vertical axis of the carriage or stock, so that on the explosion of the
charge taking place the barrel will be swivelled slightly round the vertical
axis to such an extent as to give the requisite degree of deflection to the
muzzle to cause the shots to strike at equal distances apart along a hori-
zontal line; by this means a mowing action will be given to the weapon.
In carrying out this part of the Invention the bore is made much smaller
than usual, and the length of the shot or projectile may be increased in order
to obtain the requisite weight; by thus increasing the strength of the gun a

page_text: larger charge than usual of powder may be employed, and therefore increased
range may be obtained.
When it is proposed to use several projectiles in this manner they are to be
arranged one behind the other, and either cemented together in a long line
or rolled up in a strip of paper, linen, cloth, or some other suitable substance.
The effects of the recoil are lessened by the employment of an internal breech
buffer or recoil brake consisting (in small arms) of a central piston placed
within the body of the bisected breech stock, to one section of which the said
piston is firmly attached and fitted to work in a cylinder placed on the other
section and against a buffer spring placed therein. The length of stroke
of the piston is limited by a cross pin passed through the stock and through
slots in the piston and cylinder. The locking and unlocking of this piston is
effected by means of a spring pin and lever operated from the outside of the
stock and working in a hole or shoulder in the piston.
The cartridge case is permanently attached to or made in one piece with
the bullet or shot, and is made of metal, so that when the explosion takes
place the sides of the case will be forced into the rifle grooves, and increased
accuracy of flight will be thereby ensured. The explosion of the charge may
be effected in any of the usual ways, or by the attrition of siliceous particles
mixed with the fulminate, or by placing in the cap with the fulminate a stiff
but plastic pellet of sand and lime, or a stiff magma of steel filings and cement
pressed into the cap with an indented or serrated plug or instrument, so that
on withdrawing the plug from the cap the track of its teeth will be left in a
line or lines lengthwise of the cap, leaving a space for the passage of the fire
from the fulminate to the charge.