IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR DISCHARGING VOLLIES OF SHOT
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Andrus Reynolds, of Elmira, in the State of
New York, and United States of America, but now residing at the
Tavistock Hotel, Covent Garden, in the County of Middlesex, Doctor of
Medicine, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR DISCHARGING
VOLLIES OF SHOT."
Tavistock Hotel, Covent Garden, in the County of Middlesex, Doctor of
Medicine, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR DISCHARGING
VOLLIES OF SHOT."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Andrus Reynolds at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th June 1855.
I JOHN ANDRUS REYNOLDS of Elmira in the State of New York and
United States of America but now residing at the Tavistock Hotel Covent
Garden in the County of Middlesex Doctor of Medicine do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR DISCHARGING
VOLLIES OF SHOT" to be as follows:
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of machinery for discharging
vollies of bullets in quick succession and that with comparative safety to the
operator. The charges (consisting of cartridges) are contained in chambers
formed around a hollow, cylinder termed the breech cylinder. This cylinder is
furnished with rows of chambers set at equal distances apart and it receives
-an-intermittent axial-motion-from-an-arrangement-of-levers worked-by-hand-
19499-3.

page_text: in order to bring the several rows of charges in succession in a line with a row
of fixed barrels which direct the course of the bullets when the charges are
fired. These barrels are surrounded by water which by abstracting the heat
from the metal will keep the barrels at a moderate temperature during the
firing of a rapid succession of vollies. The nipples of the breech cylinder
project somewhat beyond its inner periphery and they are charged with caps
by means of plungers which push the caps from the periphery of a pierced
cylinder which revolves within the breech cylinder and force them on to the
nipples as they come in a line with the plungers. A cog wheel on the breech
cylinder actuated by the hand levers before mentioned gears into a cog wheel
on the capping cylinder. The breech cylinder as it presents a row of empty
chambers to a row of rammers or plungers set above it will by their descent
receive from a cartridge carrier which is traversed through the machine a
number of cartridges corresponding to the number of chambers in the row.
A hammer action is provided for striking upon the nipples as they are brought
round into a line with the fixed barrels. This hammer action is operated by
the hand of the attendant through a suitable arrangement of levers. The
lateral fire is prevented from reaching the row of chambers immediately above
those which are being discharged by means of a spring plate the edge of which
drops into a groove that separates the rows and rims from end to end of the
cylinder. An arrangement of swabbing apparatus is provided for cleaning
out the rows of breech chambers after they have been discharged. For this
purpose. I construct a row of pistons of sponge or other soft substance which
work through a cylinder of sponge kept moist by capillary attraction, and.
these pistons being caused to rise into the chambers will sponge them out, and
when drawn down the spongy cylinder will take off the foul'matter which has
been removed from the chambers. The machine is covered hy hinged plates
which when opened out will form a shield for the operator and to enable him
to direct his volley to any given spot the whole apparatus is mounted on a
turntable and it is capable of vertical adjustment by reason of an arrange-
ment of lifting screws which are carried by the turntable. Instead of using
Fa-pierced-cylinder-for-containing the rows of percussion-caps percussion powder
may be applied to pierced sheets of paper or other flexible material which
being rolled up and placed within the breech cylinder must unwind as the
cylinder rotates and by the striking of the hammer upon the percussion powder
the like effect will be produced as when caps are employed. In this case
however it will be necessary to provide the hammer with a cutting edge for
cutting off the end of the sheet at the time of discharging the powder which
it contained. Instead of using one hammer extending over a row of nipples

page_text: I
may find it desirable to use a row of hammers and operate them in quick
succession by a tappet action.
I would remark that I may find it desirable to discharge two or more rows
of charges simultaneously. In that case two or more sets of fixed barrels
would be required and also two or more hammers for effecting the discharge.
i
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Andrus Reynolds in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 7th December 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I JOHN
ANDRUS REYNOLDS of Elmira in the State of New York and United States of
America but now residing at the Tavistock Hotel Covent Garden in the
County of Middlesex Doctor of Medicine send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Seventh day of June in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five in the eighteenth year of Her reign
did for Herself Her heirs and successors give and grant unto me the said
John Andrus Reynolds Her special license that I the said John Andrus
Reynolds my executors administrators and assigns or such others as I the
said John Andrus Reynolds 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 "IMPROVED
MACHINERY FOR DISCHARGING VOLLIES OF SHOT" upon the condition (amongst
others) that I the said John Andrus Reynolds by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal 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 John Andrus Reynolds do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 Drawings hereunto annexed
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say)
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of machinery for discharging

page_text: vollics of shot in quick succession and that with comparative safety to the
operator.
The machine which I will first describe consists mainly of a hollow cylinder
of any convenient length the periphery of which is pierced with rows of holes
into which are fitted breech chambers whose capacity is determined. according
to the nature of the charge they are intended to receive. To the inner end of
each of the breech chambers a nipple is fitted for receiving a percussion cap
or other primer and when charged and primed the several rows of breech
chambers are brought consecutively by means of an intermittent rotary motion
imparted to the breech cylinder into a line with a row of fixed barrels and
the discharge of a volley of shots is then effected.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 Sheet I. shews the machine in side
elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 Sheet II. is a longitu-
dinal section and Fig. 4 is a cross section taken in the line 1, 2 of Fig. 3.
a, a, is a timber foundation or platform which may be mounted on running
wheels if required for the purpose of facilitating the transport of the machine
from place to place. To this platform a turntable 6, b, is secured which carries,
a pair of trunnion blocks c, that receive the trunnions which project from the
hinder end of the main framing d, d, of the machine. The turntable also
carries a regulating screw e, which supports the forward end of the machine.
f, is the breech cylinder having open ends and rebated at its edges to permit
of its being secured in the frame d, while at the same time it is free to turn
in its bearings. This cylinder f, is pierced with radial holes and fitted with
chambers to receive cartridges g, which are supplied to the machine by a car-
tridge carrier h. This cartridge carrier is pierced with rows of holes which
pass through it and are just large enough to receive the cartridges and retain
them until thrust out by the action of plungers to be presently described. The
distribution of the holes in the carrier is such that they will correspond with
the chambers in the breech cylinder when brought in a line with the plungers.
Rings of teeth on the breech cylinder gear into racks at the edges of the
carrier and thus traverse it through the machine as the cylinder is rotated to
bring the charged chambers_into a line with the barrels. Within the breech
cylinder a priming cylinder j, is mounted suitable pendent bearings k, k*
attached to the main framing being provided to carry it. One of these
bearings Fig. 1 is hinged to permit of its being turned up to release the
priming cylinder when it is required to re-adjust it or re-charge it with per-
cussion caps. The periphery of this cylinder is pierced with holes to receive
as many caps as there are chambers in the breech cylinder to be primed.
These caps are set with their heads standing towards the axis of the cylinder

page_text: and they are discharged on to the nipples which project from the inner
periphery of the breech cylinder by means of a row of plungers 1, 1, carried.
by arms, m, pendent from rocking arms n, attached to the main framing. The
priming cylinder j, is furnished with spur pinions which gear into rings of
teeth on the periphery of the breech cylinder and receives an intermittent
axial motion therefrom. The rocking arms n, are connected by links to long
levers o, which receive a vibrating motion from the foot of the operator and a
counteracting spring p.
Attached to the levers o, is a cross bar which carries the plungers q. > These
plungers as they are depressed force the row of cartridges beneath them out
of the carrier into the row of breech chambers that is in coincidence therewith.
It will thus be understood that the charging of the chambers and the priming
of the nipples will be simultaneous.
I will now explain the manner of rotating the cylinder f, so as to bring the
rows of breech chambers severally in a line with the barrels i. 1, 1, is a
rocking frame which works on fulcrum pins 2, 2, projecting from the main
framing. Jointed to the lower end of this frame is a click 3, which takes into
slots cut across the periphery of the breech. cylinder and is kept in contact
with the cylinder by a pressing spring 4. As therefore the frame is vibrated
it will drive the cylinder forward and bring the rows of breech chambers in
succession under the action of the plungers to be loaded and at the same time
the charged chambers into a line with the row of barrels. In order to fire
the charges the following arrangement is employed. 5, 5, is a hammer which
extends within the breech cylinder from end to end thereof and is carried by
brackets attached to the main framing. Main springs 6, affixed to the framing
bear upon the hammer tails 5* and throw the hammer forward against the
primers as they are brought into a line with the barrels when the hammer is
free to move. The hammer is drawn back by means of wedge-shaped pro-
jections taking into notches in the springs 7, 7. These springs are attached
to sliding bars 8, 8, the rear ends of which are jointed to vertical levers 9, 9,
that are connected together at their upper ends by a hand bar through which
a backward and forward motion is imparted to the sliding bars 8, 8. As the
sliding bars are moved back, an inclined projection on the springs bears against
the stops 10, which project from the main framing. The springs are thus
forced out of contact with the hammer and the hammer being released the
main springs will throw it forward and effect the explosion of the primers.
Swing stops 11, 11, connected with the sliding bars 8, are provided for the
purpose of holding back the hammer 5, clear of the caps until it is required

page_text: to effect their discharge and also to permit of the free rotation of the cylinder.
The tail of these stops is slotted to receive a pin from the sliding bars 8 and
as these bars are drawn back the stops will be raised clear of the hammer.
Instead of using the hammer 5, which extends over a row of nipples I may
find it desirable to use a row of hammers and operate them in quick succession
by a tappet motion. The barrels i, are set in a water chamber * for the
purpose of preventing them from heating to an undue extent when a volley of
shots is fired through them.
In order to guard against the lateral fire from the chambers which are
being discharged spreading to the charged chambers above I provide a metal
shield r, which bears against the periphery of the breech cylinder and will
effectually intercept the lateral fire and throw it off from the charged
chambers. For the purpose of sponging out the chambers after they have
been fired I adopt the following arrangement:-S Fig. 3 is one of a series
of rods coated with sponge and corresponding in number to the number of
breech chambers in one row as shewn in the detached view Fig. 5. These
rods are affixed to a cross bar t, which is connected at its opposite ends to the
sliding bars 8, 8, by means of rods 12. The cross bar t, works in slots formed
in the side frame d, and as the sliding bars are drawn back these slots will
guide the rods into the breech chambers whereby the sponging out of the
chambers will be effected. The return motion of the sliding bars will force
back the sponges out of the chambers into the sponge box which is lined
with sponge and supplied with water to keep the lining damp. and is intended
to free the sponges on the rods s of the powder and other matters which they
have removed from the breech chambers.
To clear away from the nipples as they pass down from the discharging
position any portion of the primer that may be adhering thereto a notched
scraper 13, shewn best at Fig. 4 is provided between the notches of which
the nipples pass and leave on the edges of the notches any dirt that may be
attached to the nipple. In Fig. 3 a shield is shewn at 14, to prevent the caps
from falling from the nipples after they have been placed thereon by the
ascending plungers. For the purpose of retaining the caps in the radial holes
in the priming cylinder I apply to the cylinder a layer or covering of leather
or other suitable substance which is pierced like the cylinder but which will
retain the caps in their place by friction of contact. This cylinder I prefer for
the sake of economy to provide with a sufficient number of holes for receiving
caps for two or more rounds of charges and when one series or round of caps
is-delivered on to the nipples I shift the position of the priming cylinder so as

page_text: to bring another round of caps under the action of the priming pistons, as the;
priming cylinder is made to rotate. This I am enabled to do readily by reason
of the hinged bearing which is held in position by clip springs as shewn best,
in the detached view Fig. 6 but may be readily released therefrom to permit
of the shifting of the position. of the roller either to the extent of a tooth of its
pinions or by turning it end for end. To prevent the breech cylinder from
rotating when required to be stationary I provide a spring stop 15, which
drops into the longitudinal grooves. formed in the outer periphery of that
cylinder and in order also to guard against accident to the operator from an
untimely discharge of the cartridges I provide a strong ribbed frame 16
which stands up in the rear of the breech cylinder and sufficiently near to act
as a recoil shield while at the same time it permits of the free axial motion, of
the cylinder. The ribs which project from the recoil shield stand-in a line
with the spaces between the rings of breech chambers and segment spaces are
thus formed to receive any shots that may be accidentally discharged from
the chambers while standing opposite the recoil shield. To facilitate the
adjustment of the machine to any required elevation or range a chain wheel 17,
is keyed to the screw e, and from this wheel passes a chain to the chain whee!
18, which turns on a stud on the table 6. The operator therefore by turning
this wheel will cause the screw e, to raise or depress the front part of the
machine and thereby adjust the barrels i, to any required elevation. The
machine I surround with a hinged casing 2, which may be made of several
thicknesses of metal interlined with an elastic or yielding substance as india-.
rubber, raw hides, cloth &c. and held together by means of bolts or rivets.
This casing is capable of being set at suitable angles for diverting the course
of shots that may be discharged by the enemy against it. This casing I
support in its expanded or open position by means of struts 19, and pins or
holdfasts and when the machine is required to be removed I close the several
parts of the shield upon it and render it compact and portable.
I would remark that instead of firing but one row of charges at a time I
may find it convenient so to modify the construction of my machine as to fire
two or three rows at the same time. For this purpose instead of arranging
the breech chambers radially I form them into groups of two or three rows
and arrange the chambers of these rows so that they shall lie parallel with
each other. I also provide the like number. of rows of barrels and of
charging and priming plungers but I do not prefer this arrangement as it
introduces needless complexity into the mechanism. Instead of traversing the
cartridge carrier through the machine by gearing it with the breech cylinder

page_text: as explained I propose in some cases to adopt the arrangement of driving
shewn in plan at Fig. 7 Sheet III. and in side view at Fig. 8. In this
arrangement ratchet racks 20, 20, are attached to the carrier and clicks 21,
which are jointed to the rocking frame that drives the cylinder work in the
ratchet teeth and traverse the carrier forward one notch for every movement
of the breech cylinder. I also propose in lieu of the caps and priming
cylinder j, to employ sheet priming which is rolled up and inserted in the
breech cylinder as shewn at Fig. 8 and on an enlarged scale at Fig. 9. This
sheet priming is enclosed in a metal case 22, and it is drawn out through a
segment guide 22*, by means of a set of oscillating feeding fingers 23, (see the
detached view Fig. 10) which are attached to a cross bar carried by crank
arms 24, that receive a rocking motion from a pin projecting from the side of
the sliding bars. These feeding fingers as they are brought down on to the
end of the priming sheet push a given length of the sheet forward over a
wedge-shaped termination of the guide 22*. The sheet priming I make of
a width to correspond to the length of a hollow cylinder of a single thickness
of paper or other suitable material the edges of which are folded up to three
or four thicknesses and notched to form a kind of rack which facilitates the
action of the feeding fingers. On this sheet the percussion powder is deposited
(it having at the time of deposit the consistency of paste) in transverse rows
of spots, their distances apart corresponding with the distance between the
discharge ends of the breech chambers. These rows of priming are severally
covered with a narrow strip of paper as shewn in Fig. 10 with the edges
firmly secured to the main sheet. These strips are set at such a distance apart
that the explosion of the row that is presented to the hammer cannot by any
possibility communicate with the row above. The hammer in this arrange-
ment is provided with a cutting edge which severs the pendent end of the
sheet (fixed pressing fingers 25, holding the sheet in position to be severed)
and the continued forward motion of the hammer explodes the percussion
powder contained in the strip thus severed and discharges the cartridges that
have just been brought into a line with the barrels..
A modified arrangement of my improved machine to suit for general field
service is shewn in several views in Sheets IV. and V. Fig. 10 Sheet IV. is
a side elevation of the machine mounted on a carriage somewhat similar to
an ordinary gun carriage, Fig. 11 is a plan view of the same-and Fig. 12
(Sheet V.) is a longitudinal section taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 11. In
this arrangement it will be seen that in order to simplify the construction of
the machine and render it less bulky than that above described I substitute

page_text: for the hollow revolving breech cylinder a horizontal tubular chamber a, which
extends across the machine and receives the inner ends of the barrels b, which
are closely fitted therein and are securely attached thereto. This chamber
(see the full-sized sectional view Fig. 13) is bored out cylindrically to receive
a rocking charge holder c, which is capable of being turned in its bearings
and held securely in position when required. In this machine I use similar
means to that before described for bringing up the charges to the breech
chambers and the rows of cartridges as they successively come into position
are depressed out of the cartridge carrier by a set of vertical plungers d.
The horizontal chamber a is pierced at its upper and under surface with a row
of coincident holes which serve respectively to allow of the descent of the
plungers to force out the cartridges from their carrier into the charge holder
and of the ascent of the plungers e to effect the swabbing operation. The
holder is pierced with holes corresponding in their arrangement and also in
diameter, with the bore of the fixed barrels and it is turned up ready to
receive a charge by means of a pair of hand levers ff, keyed to the trunnions
of the charge holder and carrying a pair of sliding bolts g, g, which take into
notches formed in a segment piece h, projecting from the side framing A and
thereby retain the charge holder either in a position to receive a fresh supply
of charges or in the position for firing the cartridges. These bolts are with.
drawn from the notches by means of levers i, having their fulcrums on the
cross bar of the hand levers f. By referring to Fig. 13 it will be seen that
the barrels b, are tapped into the tubular chamber a, and are further secured
thereto by bolts. , are nipples tapped into the chamber a, in a line with the
barrels. When therefore percussive priming is applied thereto by means of
apparatus similar to that above described and the loaded charge holder c is
brought into the position of Fig. 13 by drawing back the levers 7, 1, the dis-
charge will take place simultaneously throughout the line of charges.
The framing A is supported on a gun carriage B it being supported in front
on fixed bearings C and towards its rear end by a strong adjusting screw or
screws D. The priming apparatus E being constructed and actuated in the
manner described with reference to the first arrangement will require no
detailed description in this place it being sufficient to state that it is situate in
the rear of the chamber a,.and is actuated by the hand levers 7, through the
agency of the levers * * at the time of discharge. The plungers d, and e,
are secured in the same rectangular frame m, m, which is capable of sliding
up and down freely in guides made for it in the framing A, A. The vertical
motion is imparted thereto by means of levers n, n, having their fulcrums; on

page_text: the framing A and coupled together by a cross rod. A vibrating motion is
imparted to these levers by the joint action of the foot and hands of the
attendant a treadle o, being depressed by his foot to draw down the levers and
with them the plungers d, which force the cartridges into the holder c, and
the levers being raised by the hands to carry up the plungers e, after every
discharge for the purpose of swabbing or sponging out the chambers in the
holder c.
The feeding up of the cartridge carrier F to bring a fresh line of
cartridges under the plungers d, after every successive charge is effected by
the operator gently pressing his thigh or body against the cross bar
the levers n, n, are raised. Connected with this cross bar q, are catches r, r,
which take into racks on the cartridge carrier and thereby drive the carrier
forward when the bar 7 is pressed inwards. The operator next presses his foot
on the treadle o, and brings down the plungers d, on the line of cartridges just
placed beneath them.
I
while
I have shewn at Figs. 14 in partial section and end view the kind of shot
which I prefer to employ in my improved weapon. It is formed of cast iron
with a conical head and cylindrical towards its rear. The cylindrical portion
is furnished with grooves which form a holding for a coating of lead which I
propose to cast on to the shot to prevent contact between the iron of the shot
and the bore of the barrel in which it is used. Figures 15 shew another
construction of shot suited for pieces of larger calibre. In this example I
provide wrought-iron dovetail feathers which are set in the shot mould in
suitable positions and on the molten metal being poured into the mould they
will unite with the metal and form a shot similar to that represented in the
Drawing.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improved Machinery
for Discharging Vollies of Shot" I wish it to be understood that I claim-
First. The general arrangement of machinery as above described with
reference to Sheets I. II & III of the Drawings for firing vollies of shot.
Second. The employment for the above purpose of a hollow breech cylinder
for containing the charges.
Thirdly The application-of-the-turntable-arrangement-which-permits-of-the-
barrels being pointed in any required direction.
Fourthly. The mode of keeping the barrels cool.
Fifthly. The means for sponging or cleaning out the breech chambers as
described with reference to the two arrangements.
Sixthly. The modes above explained for supplying the cartridges and the
priming to the breech chambers.

page_text: And lastly. The application of the deflecting shield for protecting the
machine from the guns of the enemy.
In witness whereof I the said John Andrus Reynolds have hereunto
set my hand and seal the Seventh day of December in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness
J: W. MOFFATT
66 Chancery Lane.
J. A. REYNOLDS. (L.S.)