An Improved Hydraulic Gun.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Hydraulic Gun.
I, EDWARD HOYLE, of 1, Pleasant View, Longfield Road, Todmorden, Cabinet
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The gun is on the principle of the fire engine and the common syringe. The
force required to project a one thousand pound shot six miles if applied to a ten
pound shot would throw it a distance of six hundred miles, if the proportionate
resistance did not exceed the average of that on the one thousand pound projectile ;
but if the gases were to act directly on the shot, the average resistance being the
same, a muzzle velocity equal to even twelve miles would scarcely be obtainable,
My gun has two projectiles, one much larger than the other. The larger projectile,
or shot, never leaves the gun; but imparts to the smaller one a velocity very
much in excess of its own. The larger projectile is fired in a smooth bore, in the
ordinary way. The bore is long enough to allow the projectile to receive all the
available force of the explosive. The bore is then suddenly contracted so as to
receive a projectile of from one-tenth to one-hundredth of the weight of the larger
one, more or less as desired. This smaller bore is uniform throughout, and rifled.
Its length depends on the proportion between the two bores; this proportion
determining the distance to which the larger shot will project the smaller one.
At the muzzle end of the larger bore, which will be near the centre of the gun,
lengthwise, and close to the contracted bore, a cartridge is placed which contains
water or other liquid. This cartridge receives the full energy of the larger
projectile. The pressure is here concentrated; and a velocity given to the smaller
projectile that no bottling of the explosive, and no length of barrel could approach.
The gun is here made very strong to resist the severe strain, and tapers off both
towards the breech and towards the muzzle. The air in front of the larger shot
will be allowed to escape, so that the cartridge containing the liquid may not
receive a cushioned blow; and when the shot has ejected the contents of the
cartridge, or nearly so, the gases of the explosive will escape by the same channel..
The larger shot may be called a piston or plunger, as it may be fired over and
over again, since it will receive no damage if the quantity of liquid is a little in
excess of what the shot can emit.
Dated this 11th day of January 1897
An Improved Hydraulic Gun.
I, EDWARD HOYLE, of 1 Pleasant View, Longfield Road, Todmorden, Cabinet
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:-
The gun is on the principle of the fire-engine and the common syringe, the shot
which is projected from it being set in motion by the momentum of a larger projectile
fired by an explosive, or by the momentum of a falling weight; the difference
between the area of the larger projectile and the smaller one, or, in case of a falling
weight, the difference between the piston or plunger and the shot to be projected,
ГД
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page_text: determining the proportionate velocity of the projectile which issues from the gun.
The force required to project a one thousand pound shot six miles if applied to a ten
pound shot would throw it a distance of six hundred miles, if we suppose the
resistance not to exceed the average of that on the one thousand pound projectile;
but if the gases were to act directly on the shot, the average resistance being
supposed to be the same, a muzzle velocity equal to even twelve miles would scarcely
be obtainable. My gun has two projectiles, one much larger than the other. The
larger projectile, or shot, never leaves the gun, but imparts to the smaller one, which
is projected from the gun, a velocity very much in excess of its own. The larger
projectile is fired in a smooth bore, in the ordinary way. The bore is long enough to
allow the projectile to receive all the available force of the explosive. The bore is
then suddenly contracted so as to receive a projectile of from one tenth to one
hundredth of the larger one, more or less as desired. This smaller bore is concentric
with the larger one, and is uniform throughout, and rifled. Its length depends on the
proportion between the two bores; this proportion determining the distance to which
the larger shot will project the smaller one. At the muzzle end of the larger bore,
which will be near the centre of the gun, lengthwise, and close to the contracted
bore, a cartridge is placed which contains water or other liquid. This cartridge
receives the full energy of the larger projectile. The pressure is here concentrated,
and a velocity given to the smaller projectile that no bottling of the explosive, and no,
length of barrel, could approach. The gun is here made very strong to resist the
severe strain, and tapers off both towards the breech and towards the muzzle. The air
in front of the larger shot will be allowed to escape, so that the cartridge containing
the liquid may not receive a cushioned blow; and when the shot has ejected the
contents of the cartridge, or nearly so, the gases of the explosive will escape by the
same channel, or channels. The larger shot may be called a piston, or plunger, as it
may be fired over and over again, since it will receive no damage if the quantity of
liquid is a little in excess of what the shot can emit.
This will be understood by referring to Figures 1 and 2. A A¹, Figure 1, is a
weight which slides in grooves or guides, and may be raised by any suitable means, or
power, to any height that may be required. On being allowed to fall the projecting
part A enters the cavity B. In this cavity a cartridge containing water or other
liquid is placed; or the cavity may be filled with liquid to the required height
without cartridge. If the weight A A¹ be allowed to fall on this liquid the momentum
of A A¹ will be transmitted to the liquid and to the projectile C, the projectile thus
acquiring a velocity proportioned to the difference between the two bores, B and D).
Figure 2 is a gun, fired by an explosive. The breech A may be closed in any way
desired, this not being a feature of the invention. B is a cartridge which contains
water or other liquid. C is a projectile fired by the explosive. DD are two vents
through which the air in front of the projectile escapes when the gun is fired. When
the shot C strikes the cartridge B the momentum of C is transmitted to the liquid and
to the projectile E, the projectile thus acquiring a velocity proportioned to the
difference between the two bores, F and G.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A means or method of projecting a small shot by the momentum of a larger one,
or by the momentum of a falling body, the larger shot and the falling body alike.
expending their energy on a liquid which is interposed between them and the
projectile which is intended to issue from the gun; the energy of the larger shot or
the falling weight being by means of the liquid transmitted to the projectile which is
intended to be thrown from the gun.
Dated this 19th day of March 1807