IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING VOLLEY-FIRING GUNS
Year: 1868

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the "International
Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING VOLLEY-FIRING GUNS."-A com-
munication from abroad by Thomas J. Cranmer and William
P. Moffat, both of San Francisco, California, United States of
America.
Sealed the 13th April 1869, and dated the 15th October 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 15th October 1868.
I, WILLLAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office,"
No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING VOLLEY-FIRING GUNS,"
a communication, to be as follows:-
The nature of my Invention consists in the construction of a gun
with a cylinder formed with any given number of chambers from which

page_text: the powder and balls are discharged; the said gun being charged with
loose ammunition, and arranged in such a manner that it is loaded auto-
matically by gravitation, and will discharge in volleys any number of
single balls, slugs, or cases of shot. The said gun is constructed in such
volley may be discharged simul-
The machinery of the gun which
a manner that all the charges of a
taneously by the explosion of one cap.
is encased in steel plate is proof against small arms, and rests upon a
pivot which enables the gunner to direct his fire with ease and precision.
The said gun is so constructed that it can readily be placed on any
kind of carriage of suitable strength which may be drawn by horses or
otherwise; it is well adapted to fortifications in case of an attack by
storm or on vessels and any place where it may be desired to fire a
number of shots in quick succession, as it will discharge one hundred
and twenty (120) volleys per minute with unerring certainty. The
stand upon which the gun is placed is made of wood or metal. Two
rings are provided to form a swivel, the lower one being firmly secured to
the top of the stand, and clamps are secured by bolts to the top ring.
A standard is also bolted or otherwise secured to the top ring, which
standard carries a trunnion. A segmental rack is secured at its lower
end to a bar by keys and passes through the centre of a block. A hand
wheel secured to the end of a pinion which engages the teeth of the
rack enables the gunner to clevate or depress the breech of the picce and
by means of a screw to fix it at any given point in its elevation or
depression. The cylinder may be made of steel or other suitable metal
and of any desired dimensions. The said cylinder is provided with
journals which turn in proper bearings rigidly secured to the frame or
casing, which is also made of steel, iron, or other metal. The said
cylinder is provided with any desired number of cartridge chambers
arranged radially around the centre of the cylinder in rows. The muzzle
of each chamber is at the periphery of the cylinder and is bell shaped;
each chamber extends to a depth sufficient to hold the proper charge of
powder and ball. The chambers in each row connect with each other
at the bottom by touchholes, the nipple on which the cap is placed
communicating with but one chamber in each row, so that each chamber
will be fired simultaneously with the others in the same row. A crank
or lever by which the gun is operated is secured to the end of a shaft
which also carries another crank. To this latter crank is connected by
means of a rod a bar which is fitted to work with a regular reciprocating
motion in slides at the sides of the frame. Near the centre of this bar

page_text: is dovetailed a dog, in whose end is a notch arranged to engage with a
pintle which is secured to the hammer, so that when the bar is moved
forward the dog engages the said pintle. The hammer is connected with
the main spring by a bar, and when the sliding bar is drawn back the
hammer is also drawn back until the dog strikes a lug and releases the
hammer, when by the action of the mainspring it flies forward and
strikes the cap on the nipple. A third crank secured to the shaft is
connected by a rod to a lever which is connected to a frame or segment.
The latter imparts a longitudinal movement to a frame or bars, and by
means of lugs upon the said bars the slides of a charger are moved
laterally, the charge of powder and ball being admitted to the cartridge
chambers in the cylinder and rammers being forced down thercon. The
powder magazine is located upon the top of a hopper frame, which
magazine is filled with powder when designed to be used, and from which
the cylinder is charged. A hopper for the balls is also located on the
frame immediately before the powder magazine. A cam or excentric is
secured to the crank shaft, and the rod of this excentric is connected with
the shaft of the cylinder, which is moved one notch in the ratchet wheel
to bring each sucessive set of cartridge chambers in position to be fired.
The device for holding the necessary quantity of caps and for placing
the same on the nipple is composed of a box in which is a coiled spring.
One cap is placed at a time upon the nipple by a dog, which is forced
upwards by means of a lug working in an inclined slot in the sliding bar.
The barrels correspond with the muzzles of the chambers in the cylinder
and are attached to a frame which is firmly secured to the main frame.
The butts of the barrels join the cylinder in a line with its axis, the
barrels being situated in and passing through a water box. These barrels
are wider apart at their muzzles than at their butts. The charger is
placed over the centre of the cylinder, and a rod which connects the
charger to the power shaft oscillates the frame or sash which governs the
slides of the charger. Inside the said sash or framic are the wedges or
inclined lugs which move the slide laterally with the face of the cylinder
in the forward part of the sash. One lug on the side opposite to the.
crank and in the sash closes the top slide, the other lug on the same
side situated behind on the lower edge immediately after opens the
bottom slide in its backward motion. Another lug on the side of the
driving crank of the sash closes the bottom slide and another immediately
after opens the top slide. The charge of powder may be increased or
diminished at pleasure as one side of the powder chamber is adjustable

page_text: by means of a set screw so that its size may be varied. The cylinder
has an alternate motion produced by the eccentric, whose rod is connected
to a pawl. When it is in motion the bottom slide is closed and the top
slide open, when at rest the top slide is closed and the bottom slide is
open. By this means the charge is accurately measured between the
slides in its passage from the magazine to the cylinder. The barrels may
be kept cool during rapid and excessive firing by filling the water box
with cold water. Below the slides through which the powder has to
pass into the powder chamber is arranged a packing or block which
touches the cylinder and keeps the powder in the charge and between
'the slides from coming in contact with any other part of the machine,
thus preventing the explosion of the powder while in the charger and
while being introduced into the chambers. The balls pass into the
chambers from the hopper through tubes which consist of two pieces
each one sliding within the other. The upper piece is alternately raised
and lowered by means of a lug playing in an inclined slot in an extension
of the bar which operates the slides. Narrow plates are also operated in
like manner between the tubes; the alternate up and down motion of
these tubes and plates prevents the clogging of the balls in the hopper,
and facilitates their casy fall into the tubes, where their number for
each charge is regulated by the slides.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Scal Patent
Office on the 15th April 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lanc, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of October, 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 William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake,

page_text: my 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, use,,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING VOLLEY-PIRING GUNS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and scals, should, particularly 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 William Robert Lake, 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 accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
The nature of my Invention consists in the construction of a gun
with a cylinder formed with any given number of chambers from, which
the powder and balls are discharged, the said gun being charged with
loose ammunition and arranged in such a manner that it is loaded
automatically by gravitation, and will discharge in volleys any number of
single balls, slugs, or cases of shot. The said gun is constructed in such
a manner that all the charges of a volley may be discharged simul-
taneously by the explosion of one cap. The machinery of the gun
which is encased in steel plate is proof against small arms, and rests upon
a pivot which enables the gunner to direct his fire with ease and pre-
cision. The said gun is so constructed that it can readily be placed on
any kind of carriage of suitable strength which may be drawn by horses
or otherwise; it is well adapted to fortifications in case of an attack by
storm or on vessels and any place where it may be desired to fire a
number of shots in quick succession, as it will discharge one hundred and
twenty (120) volleys per minute with unerring certainty.
To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my Invention, I
will proceed to describe its construction and operation by referring to the
Drawing, of which Figure 1 is a top view of my improved gun;
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 3; Figure 3 is.

page_text: a side elevation of the said gun; Figure 4 is an elevation of the side
opposite to that shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical
section of the cartridge magazine or hopper on the line y, y, Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a top view of the primer with the cover removed; Figure 7
is a top view of the lock; Figure 8 is a top view of the gun stand;
Figure 9 is a side view of the same, showing a portion of the outline of
the gun placed upon the stand ready for use; Figure 10 is a view of the
gun and stand on the side opposite to that shown in Figure 9. Like
letters refer to like parts in each of the Figures.
I will first describe the foundation of the gun :-
The stand A upon which the gun is placed is made of wood or metal-;
B, B', are two rings forming a swivel, the lower one being firmly secured
to the top of the stand A"; c, c, c, c, are clamps secured to the top
ring B by bolts i, i, i. The standard D is secured to the top ring B by
bolts; E is a trunnion; F is part of the outline of the casing or stock of
the gun; I is a segmental rack the lower end of which is fastened to a
bar L by keys. This rack I passes through the centre of the block G. N,
Figure 9, is a hand wheel secured to the end of a pinion which engages
the teeth of the rack I. By turning the wheel N the gunner can
elevate or depress the breech of the piece, and by means of the screw H,
Figure 10, fix it at any given point in its elevation or depression.
I will now describe the construction of the gun :-
A represents the cylinder, which may be made of steel or other
suitable metal, and of any desired dimensions. The said cylinder is
provided with journals which turn in suitable bearings B* rigidly secured
to the frame or casing C, which is also made of steel, iron, or other
proper metal. This cylinder A is provided with any desired number of
cartridge chambers D* located radially around the centre of the cylinder
in rows of three or more or less chambers. The muzzle of each chamber
is in the periphery of the cylinder and is bell-shaped at its muzzle, and
cach chamber extends to a depth sufficient to hold a charge of powder
and ball. The chambers in each row connect with each other at the
bottom by touch-holes V, V, Figure 2, the nipple communicating with
but one chamber in each row, so that each chamber will be fired
simultaneously with the others in the same row of chambers; E*
represents the nipples, one of which connects with each volley or row of
chambers and upon which the caps are placed when being fired. F* is
the crank by which the gun is operated and which is secured to the end of

page_text: the shaft G. Upon the shaft G is also another crank H* to which is
connected the pitman I connecting with the bar J, the said bar
working with a regular reciprocating motion in the slides i, i*, Figure 3,
located upon the sides of the frame C. The motion is caused by the
revolution of the crank H* upon the shaft G. In the bar J* and
near its centre is dovetailed a dog L, shown in dotted lines in Figure 7,
in the end of which is a notch which engages with a pintle a that is
secured to the hammer, so that when the bar J* is moved forward
the dog engages the pintle upon the hammer that is connected with the
mainspring F by a bar H, and when the bar J is drawn back the
hammer is also drawn back until the dog L* strikes the lug i* and is
forced back and releases the hammer, when by the action of the main-
spring F it flies forward and strikes the nipple E*, upon which is the
percussion cap, and the whole volley is fired; N¹ is also another crank
secured to the shaft G*, and which connects by a pitman o to the lever P
that is connected to a frame or segment Q which moves the frame or
bars R longitudinally, and by means of lugs upon the bars R the
slides 8, 8, in the bottom of the charger are moved laterally, and at the
same time the charge of powder and ball is admitted to the cartridge
chambers in the cylinder, and the rammers T are forced down and the
charge ready to be discharged. U is the powder magazine located upon
the top of the hopper frame C, which is filled with powder when designed
to be used and from which the cylinder A is charged. O is the hopper
for the balls, also located on the frame C and immediately before the
powder magazine. W is a can or eccentric secured to the shaft G*.
The rod of this eccentric is connected with the shaft of the cylinder A,
and is employed for the purpose of moving the cylinder one notch in the
ratchet wheel A, which brings the next set of cartridge chambers in
position to be fired.
C, Figure 6, is a device for holding a quantity of caps and for placing
the same on the nipples, and is composed of a box in which is a coiled
spring E with a scroll space upon the outside of the said spring, and
upon the inside of said box, and is so arranged that one cap is placed.
at the time upon the nipple by a dog n which is forced upwards by
means of the lug e, Figure 3, working in an inclined slot in the sliding.
bar J, Figure 3. F is the mainspring, which is secured to the bottom.
of the frame C, and extends up in a vertical direction, and connects with
the hammer by means of a conneeting bar H2. I represents the barrels
made to precisely correspond with the muzzle of the chambers in the.

page_text: cylinder and secured to a frame, which is my secured
frame C, the butts of which barrels join the cylinder in a line with its
axis; the barrels are situated in and pass through a water box located
in the said frame K2, and are placed wider apart at their muzzles than
at their butts.
The operation is simple, rapid, and effective, it being simply necessary
to place a quantity of powder in the magazine U, balls in the hopper O,
and caps in the box C, all loose ammunition, then by turning the
crank Fevery part is put in motion.
When the crank is turned forward to the centre the dog L* engages
with the hammer, and is drawn back and is released by the lug i*,
Figure 7, and the volley discharged. At this time the slides 8, 8, in tho
bottom of the charger are opened, and a charge of powder and ball is
allowed to pass into the chambers in the cylinder; the slides are then
closed and the rammers T force or press the cartridge down, and at that
instant the volley is discharged, and so on, with powerful force and effect.
Now it will be understood that the charger is placed over the centre of
the cylinder, and the rod o that connects the charger to the power
shaft G oscillates or imparts a reciprocating motion to the frame or sash
which governs the slides 8, 8, of the charger. On the inside of the sash
or frame R are four wedges or inclined lugs that move the slides
laterally with the face of the cylinder in the forward part of the sash.
The top forward lug on the side opposite to the crank and in the
sash closes the top slide, the other lug on the same side situated behind
on the lower edge immediately after opens the bottom slide in its
backward motion, the bottom lug on the side of the driving crank of
the sash closes the bottom slide, the other lug located forward and above
immediately after opens the top slide. The charge of powder may be
increased or diminished at pleasure. As one wall of cach powder
chamber, Figure 5, is adjustable, by means of a set screw and by screwing
it forward or backward the size of the chamber will be increased or
diminished. The cylinder has an alternate motion produced by the
eccentric and rod on the pawl B³. When it is in motion the bottom
slide is closed and the top slide open, when at rest the top slide is closed
and the bottom slide open. By this means the charge is accurately
measured between the slides in its passage from the magazine to the
cylinder. The barrels I may be kept cool during rapid and excessive
firing by filling the water box or frame K, through which the barrels

page_text: pass, with cold water. Below the slides through which the powder has
to pass into the powder chamber is arranged a packing or block f which
touches the cylinder A, and prevents the powder in the charge. and
between the slides from coming in contact with any other part of the
machine, thus preventing the explosion of the powder in the charger,
and while being placed into the chambers. The balls pass into the
chambers from the hopper O* through tubes P. These tubes consist of
two pieces, each one sliding within the other. The upper piece is
alternately raised and lowered by means of a lug playing in a slanting
slot in an extension of the bar R. Between the tubes P* are also worked
up and down by a similar lug and slot narrow plates ; the alternate
up-and-down motion of these tubes and plates prevents the balls in the
hopper from clogging, and facilitates their easy fall into the tubes, where
they are received and their number as per charge regulated by the
slides.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I claim :-
First. The sash or frame R provided with a lug, hammer, and spring,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Second. The rock shaft and frame provided with teeth which move
the sash or frame R, substantially as described.
Third. The construction of the lock for firing the volleys consisting of
the sliding bar J* and dog L* with the lug, hammer, and spring,
substantially as described.
Fourth. The device by which the caps are placed upon the nipples
consisting of a combination of the spring E, dog n, and lugs with
the sliding bar, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of the hopper O with the tubes P*, plates t,
lugs and sash, operating substantially in the manner herein described.
Sixth. The construction and arrangement of the wall s¹ in each powder
chamber adjusted laterally by means of the set screws to regulate the
charge of powder, substantially as described.
Seventh. The chambers D* having the bell-shaped mouth and the
connecting passages V for discharging the volley with one cap, sub-
stantially as described.

page_text: Eighth. The water box or tank K2 when used for cooling the barrels I',
constructed and arranged substantially as herein described.
Ninth. The device for revolving the cylinder consisting of the cam W
with its jointed arm connecting with the shaft and operating on the
ratchet wheel A³, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)