IMPROVE- MENTS IN CANNON WADS AND IN CANNON, AND IN THE MOUNTING OF CANNON ON CARRIAGES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Coope Haddan, of 39, Vincent Square, in
the City of Westminster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CANNON WADS AND IN CANNON, AND IN THE MOUNTING OF CANNON
ON CARRIAGES."
Sealed the 4th May 1869, and dated the 7th November 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Coope Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th November 1868.
I, JOHN COOPE HADDAN, of 39, Vincent Square, in the City of West-
minster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CANNON WADS AND IN CANNON, AND IN THE MOUNTING OF
CANNON ON CARRIAGES," to be as follows:-
The improvements in cannon wads have reference to wads to be used
in rifled cannon for propelling elongated projectiles (constructed without
studs or buttons thereon) and imparting to them the rifle or twist
motion, and consists in constructing such wads of a. somewhat yielding
material which will upset or squeeze into the rifling, and so close the

page_text: windage, and enclosing or embedding in or combining with the said
material discs or pieces of metal or of some hard material which by the
upsetting may be driven into the rifling of the cannon and into recesses
in the projectile and so become keys, compelling the projectile to acquire
the twist as they with it and the remainder of the wad are driven forward
in the bore of the gun. For this purpose I propose to use papier machée,
or gutta percha, or any other suitable substance as the yielding material,
and zinc, or copper, or other suitable metal or hard substance for the keys,
having a curvature or form on their inner sides next to projectile adapted
to the recesses, and on their outer sides next to the surface of bore of gun
adapted to the rifling so as not to score or injure the gun, for which
purpose all sharp edges should be removed. And the improvements
in cannon without and with bouched vents respectively comprise the
forming the vent itself in the one case, and in the other the hole for
the bouch with the inner end next to the bore of a conical, tapering, or
trumpet-mouthed shape, which it is believed will prevent in a great
measure the cracks which so frequently occur round the vent or bouch,
and which result in the bursting of the gun. For this purpose I turn,
cut away; or remove from the gun, by any suitable material applied at
the muzzle or through hole for bouch, so much of the edge and of the
adjoining metal at the entry or junction of the vent and of the bouch hole
into the bore of the gun as may be necessary for the purpose, and when
the vent is bouched I make the bouch to terminate at a distance some-
what short of instead of penetrating completely to the bore of the gun,
or if penetrating to the bore I fill up the trumpet-mouth shaped space
round the bouch with lead or some comparatively soft material; and
sometimes when the vent is bouched and the plug hole for it is trumpet-
mouthed I fill up the trumpet-mouthed hole with a short piece of the
bouch of the proper shape introduced from the interior. And certain of
the improvements have reference to lined guns, and comprise the inter-
position of papier machée or other suitable non-conducting material
between the body proper and the lining of the gun. The interposed
papier machée or material may be applied in the shape of a tube or in
rings, or in longitudinal strips fixed and secured by the metal inner
lining being driven into its place. And the improvements in the mounting
of cannon on carriages comprise the mounting two or more cannon in a
generally parallel position longitudinally with regard to a common
horizontal axis (actual or imaginary) around which the guns may as a

page_text: system rotate, the rotation presenting one gun only at a time in an upper
or summit position for firing, and allowing it as well as the other gun or
guns to remain or lie in a lower position after its recoil or when not
firing. The intention is to use the guns from behind a parapet or in a
pit or screened place, the raising of any individual gun by the rotative
movement into the upper or summit position for firing enabling it to
clear the top edge of parapet, pit, or screen, which is supposed to afford
protection in all positions excepting the summit or exposed position of the
gun. And further herein is comprised the making the recoil of the
individual gun fired available for causing rotation of the system of guns
on the axis of the system, the intention being without manual labour to
bring the individual gun immediately after firing into a secure or screened
position without exposing the other gun or guns. And the manner in
which the several lastly mentioned improvements may be performed is to
support the real or imaginary axis in a frame on any suitable carriage
adapted to receive it. The several cannon of the system should be
uniformly placed at equal distances from the axis, and either absolutely
parallel thereto or similarly inclined, so that the sighting or pointing of
one gun in the upper or summit position may serve for the others when
by the rotative movement they are brought to the summit. The axis
may be furnished with means of adjusting its inclination and together
therewith that also of the several guns. Each gun may be raised to the
summit by hand or otherwise, and may also be lowered by hand or
mechanical rotative movement without taking advantage of the recoil;
but when the recoil is to effect the movement or rotation, spiral guides or
other equivalent may be used for the purpose. And, if desired, instead
of a complete system of guns proper, one or more dummy guns or
counterpoises may be used with one or more actual guns to complete the
system.
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 7th May 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
COOPE HADDAN, of 39, Vincent Square, in the City of Westminster,
Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second 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 Coope Haddan, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Coope Haddan,
any 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, ust, exercise,
and vend, within the United, Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CANNON WADS AND IN CANNON, AND IN THE MOUNTING OF CANNON ON
CARRIAGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Coope Haddan, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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, that is to say :-
The improvements in cannon wads have reference to wads to be used
in rifled cannon for propelling elongated projectiles (constructed without
studs or buttons thereon) and imparting to them the rifle or twist motion,
and consists in constructing such wads of a somewhat yielding material
which will upset or squeeze into the rifling and so close the windage, and
enclosing or embedding in or combining with the said material discs or
pieces of metal or of some hard material which by the upsetting may be
driven into the rifling of the cannon and into recesses in the projectile,
and so become keys, compelling the projectile to acquire the twist as they
with it and the remainder of the wad are driven forward in the bore of
the gun. For this purpose I propose to use papier machée, or gutta percha,
or any other suitable substance as the yielding material, and zinc, or

page_text: copper, or other suitable metal or hard substance, such as cbonite or
vulcanite, for the keys, having a curvature or form on their inner sides
next to projectile adapted to the recess, and on their outer sides next to
the surface of bore of gun adapted to the rifling so as not to score or
injure the gun, for which purpose all sharp edges should be removed.
Or instead of shaping the keys with curvature as above described I make
them of a spherical form, as shewn in the Figures 1 to 8 of the Drawing
No. 1, which is intended to illustrate these improvements generally,
whether the keys be spherical or otherwise.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 shew side view, end view, and longitudinal section
of improved wad. Figure 4, similar section of same applied to projectile
and placed within the bore of a cannon, as indicated by the dotted
lines a, a; the dotted line shews depth of rifling, which it is to be.
noted is not occupied by the wad. Figure 5 is similar section to the
last, but shewing yielding material of the .wad upset (as it is supposed to
be at the time of firing), the formerly vacant space within rifling at
and the windage as át c being both closed and the spherical or other key
displaced and driven. into the rifling. Figures 4 and 5* are transverse
sections at the places marked in Figures 4 and 5. respectively, and
drawn to twice the scale; Figure 6 is external side view of tail end of.
projectile made with splayed sinking or recess to ensure its action upon.
the keys, the relative positions of which before and when firing are.
shewn by dotted circles; Figures 7 and 8 are transverse sections across
Figure 6 at the places marked.
The improvements in cannon without and with bouched vents
respectively comprise the forming the vent itself in the one case and
in the other the hole for the bouch with the inner end next to the bore
of a conical tapering or trumpet-mouthed shape, which it is believed
will prevent in a great measure the cracks which so frequently occur
round the vent or bouch end, which result in the bursting of the gun.
For this purpose I turn, cut away, or remove from the gun, by any
suitable tool applied at the muzzle or through hole for bouch, so much
of the edge and of the adjoining metal at the entry or junction of
the vent and of the bouch hole into the bore of the gun as may be.
necessary for the purpose, and when the vent is bouched I make
thic bouch to terminate at a distance somewhat short of instead of

page_text: penetrating completely to the bore of the gun, or if penetrating to the
bore I fill up the trumpet-mouth shaped space round the bouch
with lead or some comparatively soft material. The Figures 9 to 11
of Drawing No. 1 illustrate these improvements. Figure 9 is transverse
section of improved cannon through vent when not bouched; Figure 10
similar section when vent bouched, the bouch not penetrating to the
bore of the gun, and Figure 10", inverted plan to correspond; Figure 11,
section when vent bouched, but with the bouch penetrating to the
bore, at which part it is, surrounded by belt of lead. The Figures 12
and 12, showing ordinary bouched vent, are introduced for contrast
with the improved vents and to illustrate the cracks which so frequently
occur with the ordinary vent, and which it is the object of these
.improvements to prevent. And sometimes when the vent is bouched
and the plug hole for it is trumpet-mouthed I fill up the trumpet-
mouthed hole with a short piece of the bouch of the proper shape
introduced from the interior. And certain of the improvements
have reference to lined guns, and comprise the interposition of papier
machée or other suitable non-conducting material between the body
proper and the lining of the gun, as illustrated by the longitudinal
and transverse sections, Figures 13 and 13* respectively. The inter-
posed papier machée or material may be applied in the shape of
a tube, or in rings, or in longitudinal strips fixed and secured
by the metal inner lining being driven into its place; or if the
interposed material bo, as it may be, a powder such as charcoal,
the lining may be held in position and the powder rammed in
round it.
The improvements in the mounting of cannon on carriages com-
prise the mounting two or more cannon in a generally parallel
position longitudinally with regard to a common horizontal axis
(actual or imaginary) around which the guns may as a system rotate,
the rotation presenting one gun only at a time, in an upper or
summit position for firing, and allowing it as well as the other gun
or guns to remain or lie in a lower position after its recoil or when
not firing. The intention is to use the guns from behind a parapet
or in a pit or screened place, the raising of any individual gun by
the rotative movement into the upper or summit position for firing
enabling it to clear the top edge of parapet, pit, or screen, which is

page_text: supposed to afford protection in all positions excepting the summit
or exposed position of the gun. And further herein is comprised
the making the recoil of the individual gun fired available for
causing rotation of the system of guns on the axis of the system,
the intention being without manual labor to bring the individual
immediately after firing into a secure or screened position without
exposing the other gun or guns.
.
gun
required for the movement of
hereafter described, the lower
The Drawings No. 2 and 3 illustrate these improvements. In
Drawing No. 2, Figure 1 is a plan view, Figure 2 a transverse
vertical section at Z, Z, and Figure 3 a side elevation of improved
gun carriage and apparatus for supporting two guns, the line A in
Figures 2 and 3 representing the height of the pit, or parapet, or
screen from within or behind which it is intended to fire. B is a
circular platform or turntable capable of revolving, or a circular
tram C, and carrying the grooved bed rails D, D, on which the gun
frame traverses to provide for recoil. Both the parts E and F of
this frame belt or surround the space
the guns upon their common axis G*
belt E having slides working on the bed rails D and bearings E*, E*,
one on either side, for supporting the upper belt F and permitting
it to rock thereon; Es are cheek plates, and Es pins for holding
down the belt F in its bearings; G is a block supported on an axis G*
longitudinally in the upper belt F (that is to say, in a direction at
right angles to the axis of the before-mentioned bearings E²), and
carrying the two guns H, which are held firmly by the straps I in
or upon sockets or beds in the block G properly shaped to receive
them; K, K, are handspike wheels for turning the guns on the
axis G; L, L, are elevating and depressing screws passing through
lower belt E, and pressing against the under side of the upper belt F,
for sighting the guns in a vertical plane; the horizontal sighting
may be effected by turning the circular platform. M, M, are horizontal
screens supported by pillars from the said platform for partly screening
the gunners in the pit or recess in which the entire apparatus works.
The Figures 2 and 3 shew exposed or firing position for one gun of
the system, and Figure 1 altered or secure position into which gun
may be placed after firing, the change being effected either by hand
or by the use of spiral guides brought into use by the recoil or by

page_text: the axes of the guns being properly inclined (for this purpose) with
regard to the axis of the system. With guns mounted as shown in
the Figures the recoil of one will cause the two to slide back,
which as the muzzles are placed in opposite directions, will, on
turning the platform half round, bring the scond gun in this respect
into proper position for firing. It will require however to be raised
to the upper or summit position and the inclination rectified by the
screws L, L, the loading having meanwhile been effected through the
holes in the upper belt. Buffing or other recoil absorbing arrange-
ments may be added if desired.
Figure 4 is a modification in which the two guns of a system have
the muzzles both pointed in a similar direction; Figures 5 and 6 shew
two cross sections of a modification in which the system comprises
three guns, one Figure showing exposed or firing position of one
gun and the other the altered or secure position. The several guns
of the system should be uniformly placed at equal distances from the
common axis, and either absolutely parallel thereto, or if the muzzles
be pointed in one direction may be so similarly or relatively inclined.
that the sighting or pointing of one gun in the upper or summit
position may serve for the others when by the rotative movement
they are brought to the summit. It will be seen that, if desired, instead
of a complete system of guns proper, one or more dummy guns or
counterpoises may be used with one or more actual guns to complete
the system.
The Drawing No. 3 illustrates the application of the improved
mounting of cannon to ships of war, the several Figures according to
position on the Sheet showing respectively an elevation (above water
line), a plan view, a transverse section (above water line), and an
end elevation (above water line). P, P, P, are gun pits or wells
from which the guns mounted as above described may be fired, the
temporarily exposed position of the one gun actually in use or
The deck is so
firing being represented in the transverse section.
sloped or formed as in no part to project above the level of the edge
of the pit or well. Q is an open-topped shield capable of being lowered
for firing, and raised in rough weather or at other times if desired.
In the lowered position it may lie with its top edge a few feet lower

page_text: than top edge of pit or well to allow more free ventilation to the
interior of the hull of the vessel. By this construction any one
gun from either of the pits or wells may be fired in any direction all
round.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Coope Haddan, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of May, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.