IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, PART OR PARTS OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jacques Antoine Oreuzé de Latouche, of Paris,
France, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ORDNANCE AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH,
PART OR PARTS OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 18th April 1873, and dated the 20th November 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jacques Antoine Creuzé
de Latouche at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 20th November 1872.
I JACQUES ANTOINE CREUZÉ DE LATOUCHE, of Paris, France, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for “Im-
PROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH, PART OF PARTS OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
.
The following description is for greater clearness divided into two

page_text: 2
The first part contains a description of such improvements as are
applicable to all kinds of ordnance, whether cast, forged, built up, or of
whatever material or construction they may be.
The second part also refers to improvements in the construction of
ordnance or parts of ordnance made of certain special materials, while |
at the same time the improvements specified in this second part are
applicable to the manufacture of certain other objects distinct from any
branch of artillery, as herein-after more particularly described.
Steel tubing of bronze ordnance has hitherto given uncertain and
unsatisfactory results owing to the different elasticity and hardness of
the metals employed in the manufacture, and this system of tubing is
delicate and expensive to manufacture.
Now according to this Invention I construct ordnance in such a way
that the parts most exposed to damage should be made of comparatively
hard and tough material fitted to the metal forming the surface of the
bore. For this purpose I set in the surface of the bore steel bars or
bands of such section that they should be invariably held in place by
the neighbouring metal and previously coiled to the pitch required for
the rifling; this rifling or certain parts of it are then cut in these
bars.
The application of this plan to the transformation of old bronze
ordnance into rifled pieces of reduced calibre may be made in several
manners.
The bars previously coiled to the required pitch and perfectly dressed
on all the parts of their surface, which are to be sunk in the gun metal,
are placed on a slightly conical cast-iron mandril or core, to which they
may be attached by small copper pegs or any other means so as to be
kept in their respective positions. The piece is placed vertically in a
bath of hot sand and kept at a temperature of say 200° or 300°. The
surface of the bore (if the piece has been used) should previously have
been scraped or rebored to remove all parts damaged by firing, and to
get everywhere a surface of sound metal.
The piece being placed in the sand, muzzle upwards, the cast-iron
mandril with the bars are introduced in the bore and perfectly centred.
Molten gun metal is then cast into the bore and submitted in its molten
state to strong hydraulic pressure. The whole is then left to cool slowly.

page_text: When cold the mandril is removed, the metal is set by one or two shots
with heavy charges, and the piece is then bored to the final calibre and
rifled on the steel bars.
For a new piece the process is exactly the same only the casting is
5 performed in a cast-iron mould under hydraulic pressure.
Brass or gun metal tubes fitted with steel bars or bands of the nature
above described may be prepared in the same way and used to transform
old ordnance of any kind by reducing their calibre or to tube new pieces.
These tubes may be cast open at both ends or closed towards the breech
) according to the nature of the piece for which they are intended, and
may be inserted in the body of the piece by one of the following
means:
If the piece intended for a muzzle-loader after transformation has its
breech cast solid upon it; it is placed upright in a hot sand bath exactly
3 as before described. The tube is turned externally to the exact diameter
to which the piece has been bored, or rather to. a diameter slightly
greater, and being filled with a cooling mixture and slightly oiled exter-
nally, is shrunk in the bore. When in place the cooling mixture is
withdrawn, the tube is left to take the temperature of the body of the
piece and the sand bath, and the whole mass is allowed to cool slowly.
The tube being settled in its place by one or two shots with heavy charges
is bored to the final calibre, and the rifling is cut in the hard metal bands
or bars. The tube fitted with its steel bars may be turned to a cone
of To on its exterior surface and inserted from behind, the breech of
the piece if cast solid with the body having previously been cut or bored
through, and the bore of the body of the piece having been cut to a cone
corresponding to that of the tube. The tube is in this case set in place
by hydraulic pressure, and if the piece is to be a breech-loader it receives
its breech arrangement afterwards. If a muzzle-loader after conversion
the tube may be cast closed towards the breech and receive the necessary
support on its bottom from the fore end of a breech screw screwed in the
body of the piece. An open tube may also be used in the case of a
muzzle-loader; a cascable screw is then used formed of two cylindrical
parts of different diameters with threads of the same pitch. The fore-
most and smaller cylinder screws into the tube, the rearmost and larger
screwing in the body of the piece with its face resting against the rear
face of the tube. By this arrangement all the parts are firmly connected
together.

page_text: A thick copper cup inserted in the tube and resting against the fore-
most face of the cascable protects the face and threads from the action
of the gas or fouling.
This method of closing the breech in muzzle-loaders can be applied
with particular advantage when a special powder chamber distinct from
the tube is used, as hereafter specified.
In these different transformations or constructions of pieces the tube
should only be bored to its final calibre and the rifling cut in the bars
when the whole has been settled by the firing of one or two heavy
charges.
.
In these different modes of construction or transformation of ordnance
I claim expressly the use of bars or bands of a harder material than that
of the rest of the bore, the rifling or certain parts of the rifling, such as
part or all of the grooves or part or all of the lands, being taken on these
bars.
==
I also claim expressly the use and manufacture by any means what-
ever of tubes for ordnance when these tubes are fitted with such bars or
bands, but I do not claim the above-mentioned proceedings for reducing
the bore of ordnance when bars or bands of different hardness from the
rest of the surface of the bore are not employed.
:
The bars or bands above mentioned can be attached to the metal of
the bore by the section of certain parts fitting into this metal, or by
means of hooks, stirrups, or studs sunk into this metal, or by soldering
or welding, or by any other process whatever. The characteristic
feature of these bands or bars is to differ in their hardness or toughness
from the rest of the surface of the bore, they may be cut upon a steel
tube or formed more simply by coiling at a high temperature steel bars
on a cast iron or steel mandril upon which grooves are cut, having the
pitch of the rifling for which the bars are intended. This mandril which
may be made slightly conical to facilitate its separation from the bars
should be of a diameter to correspond with the bore of the piece to
which the bars belong. The grooves may be cut to the proper shape to
give approximatly to the bars their final section, and their width and
depth may decrease slightly from one end of the mandril to the other so
as to facilitate the separation of the bars from the mandril. The bars or
bands are coiled in these grooves at red or white heat, and either
hammered or compressed by a roller parallel to the mandril, and brought

page_text: nearer and nearer to it until their metal is brought to the proper degree
of toughness and homogeneousness, this result might in fact be attained
by other methods than those abovė mentioned.
These bars may be independant or held together in their final relative
positions by means of rings or collars of the same material as themselves
welded on to them whilst on the mandril so as to form a joint cluster. It
is not necessary that these rings or collars should be of the same
material as the bars or bands, or be welded on to them. They might be
made of the same metal as the body or tube of the piece, or of any other
suitable material, and be soldered or fixed in any other way to the bars.
These collars or rings may be set in the metal of the bore so that their
internal surface shall appear flush with this metal, or they may be
entirely sunk in the said metal and covered by it. The bars or bands
may be welded, soldered, or fixed in any other way before their insertion
in the metal of the gun or tube to a disc of suitable material to form the
bottom of the bore in the case of muzzle loading guns. These bars may
also be welded or attached in any other way to a portion of tube of the
same, or of any other material as themselves, forming the powder chamber
of the piece.
This powder chamber which may be open or closed at its rear end is
formed of a distinct piece of metal from the body of the piece or the
tube bearing the rifling, and is set in one of these parts. This powder
chamber may be of any internal or external form considered most
advantageous, and is not necessarily cylindrical, it can be made of the
same material as either the body of the piece or the tube or the bars, or
of any other suitable metal. The use of this powder chamber is inde-
pendant of the use of the bars or bands above specified, and one of these
improvements can be applied to ordnance without the other.
The said powder chamber may be used in any piece of ordnance,
whatever be its nature or construction, and if the bars above specified
are used may or not be fixed to them. It can be screwed, shrunk,
forced, or set in any other manner in the body or tube of the piece. To
develop its full advantages this powder chamber should be made long
enough to contain the cartridge, the wad cr lubricator (if one is used),
and the base of the projectile. The parts of the bore corresponding to
the above mentioned positions are those most exposed to damages from
the concussion of the gas against the projectile before it has begun to
move. By using a distinct powder chamber these parts can be made of

page_text: the materials best calculated to resist this action of the gas, and may be
removed and replaced with economy, if, as frequently happens, they
become too much damaged for service whilst the rest of the piece is still
in good condition.
In breech loaders this powder chamber may be enlarged behind 5
internally, and should continue up to the rear face of the tube, or of the
rified part of the bore against which it should rest. In muzzle loaders
having a breech cast with the body, the powder chamber may be closed
at the rear end, fixed or not to the bars, and inserted with them in the
tube as it is cast. In this case it is not removable, and its only object 1
should be to strengthen the parts of the tube most exposed by a sort of
casing of more resisting material. If no tube is used it may be inserted
with the bars in the gun or mould before the molten metal is cast in.
"
If in muzzle loaders the breech has been bored through, the tube (if
used) is inserted first as above explained, and the powder chamber 1
afterwards. If this powder chamber is closed behind, a "cascable"
screw, screwed in the body of the piece, supports its bottom. If open
behind, a " cascable screw, formed of two cylinders of different
diameters screwing one in the powder chamber the other in the
body of the piece, is used. Its face is protected by a thick copper cut 2
inserted in the powder chamber exactly as has been described above for
certain tubed pieces. The last-mentioned arrangement allows the
powder chamber to be thoroughly inspected at any time by unscrewing
the cascable and driving out the copper cup with the rammer.
For certain pieces it might be advantageous to continue the rifling in 2
part or all of the powder chamber.
It is not necessary, though I think it preferable, that the powder
chamber should be prolonged up to the place of the projectile when the
gun is loaded. It may be so constructed as to contain only part or all
of the cartridge or charge.
As will be seen from the foregoing description my efforts have been
directed to a construction of piece allowing for each of the parts most
exposed to damage the use of the materials best adapted to resist the
nature of the effects. it has to support, whilst the body of the piece
3

page_text: As large quantities of bronze ordnance are in existance I have taken
the conversion or construction of pieces of this nature as examples of
my method of manufacture, but I expressly wish it to be understood
that I claim this method in any cash where a powder chamber as ábové
specified should be used in a new piece, or in the conversion of an old
piece to a different calibre or a different system than that it originally
possessed; but I do not claim the lining of certain parts of the bore with
a portion of tube when this is done on an old piece to repair certain
damages without altering the bore or rifling.
I also claim the aforesaid improvements in all cases where the internal
surface of the bore is formed of parts of different hardness and toughness,
so arranged that the lines of this surface most exposed to the action
of the bearing points of the projectile should be taken in the harder or
tougher parts; I claim this as well as the use of the powder chamber
above described (with the restriction above specified), whatever be the
material or construction of the piece, of the powder chamber, or of the
harder parts of the surface of the bore, for instance, I claim the use of
wrought or even cast iron bands or phosphored bronze bands in a gun
metal borė, or of steel bards in a cast-iron piece.
I also reserve my rights to pieces of ordnance in which bars or bands
of the same metal as the rest of the bore, are brought by any process
whatever, to a degree of hardness and toughness different to that of the
rest of the said bore, and used as above specified. For instance, I
should claim a piece tubed with a soft steel tube in which should be set
or welded bands or bars of harder steel used for the above specified
object. This description must be taken independantly of the nature,
twist, or section of the rifling, or of its mode of action.
One or several grooves, or part of grooves, or lands, or part of lands,
may be cut on each of the hard bars or bands. These hard bands may
be formed of ribbons of sheet metal forged, stamped, or rolled to the
section of the rifling, or of certain parts of the riffing, and fitted and
kept in the metal of the bore by studs, stirrups, soldering, welding, or
any other mode of attachment, forming as it were a sort of casing to
protect certain parts of the softer metal.
If the kind of rifling called "Fib rifling" be used, ribs of hard and
tough-steel may be inserted in the bore by my method of construction.
As the bore even in steel or steel tubed pieces is necessarily formed of

page_text: comparatively soft steel, and as the ribs act directly upon the hard metal
of the body of the projectile, my Invention is advantageous in the
construction of such pieces. Ribs of this nature inserted in bronze, or
bronze or brass tubed pieces, or in cast-iron pieces, allow the use of this
sort of rifling in ordnance made of these materials, or of other materials
too soft or too brittle to bear the direct contact of the body of the
projetile. For this kind of rifling the bars are prepared and inserted
as above in the piece or tube, the metal settled by one or two shots
with heavy charges, and the soft metal cut to the proper depth between
the ribs; these are then dressed and finished. In certain cases the
body of the rib might be made of the metal of the bore itself, and
covered entirely or in certain parts by a casing of the harder material.
My first point bearing on the endurance of the piece, whatever be its
construction, comprises therefore, 1st, the use of harder metal than that
of the rest of the bore for the bearing parts of the said bore; 2nd, the
use of a special powder chamber, distinct from either the tube or the
body of the piece itself in the manufacture of a new piece, or trans-
formation of an old piece to a different system or a different bore;
these bars and this powder chamber being used either separately or
together.
My second improvement in the construction of ordinance is a con-
sequence of the first. By giving to the bars above specified a length
greater than that of the bore starting from the origin of the rifling to the
muzzle of the piece proper (this length being measured on the axis of
the piece), and strengthening the salient extremity of these bars by a
strong collar or ring of metal leaving an interval between its rear face
and the muzzle of the body of the piece, I obtain apertures limited by
the bars, the face of the piece proper, and the external collar. These
apertures allow the lateral escape of the gases before the projectile leaves
the rifling and while it is still perfectly centered. This projectile being
thus freed from the pressure behind and from the strokes of strong jets
of gases irregularly escaping through the grooves as it leaves the rifling,
one of the principal causes of the "wabbling "motion so frequently
observed at the departure of elongated projectiles is obviated. To
facilitate this lateral escape of gas I bevil the foremost and hindmost
faces of the apertures above mentioned, that is, the faces taken on the
muzzle of the body of the piece proper and on the external collar.
subsequent remarks, I shall consider the inclined planes formed by
In

page_text: these bevilled surfaces as directed from the bore to the external surface
of the piece. Taking this into account, if the bevilling is directed
forwards, that is, from the breech to the muzzle of the piece, the gases
will escape at a small angle to the direction of their movement in the
bore, the recoil will be but slightly diminished, but the gunners will be
less inconvenienced by the escape of gases, and the piece will be less
strained than in the contrary case; if on the other hand the bevilling of
the apertures is directed rearwards the gases will be turned back when
escaping, the recoil will be much lessened, but the gunners will be more
exposed to the jets of burning gases, and the piece will support more
strain towards the muzzle than in the preceding disposition; according
to this method of construction, as before described, it will probably be
found necessary to strengthen the bars by a strong collar welded on to
them and set in the metal of the muzzle of the body of the piece.
The section of the bars may also advantageously be increased in the
part extending from this collar to the external one. But this is not.
indispensable.
I am aware that the general idea of cutting openings near the muzzle.
of a piece of ordnance or the theory of their effects, has long ago been.
given and experimented upon; but I claim as mine the manner above
described of obtaining this result in new or transformed ordnance, by
means of bars of the nature specified in the first part of this memoir,.
made to exceed the bore of the body of the piece, these bars being
independant or strengthened by external or internal collars. This
method is applicable to ordnance of any nature or material.
99
My third improvement relates to the construction of a special lubri-
cating wad or valet, suppressing windage, and intended at the same time.
to diminish the "blow on the projectile before it is set in motion..
This wad is stamped out of two sheets of tinned iron, copper, papier
machié, or any other sufficiently resisting material, between which are
layed a proper thickness of leaves of paper previously dipped in wax or
any other proper lubricant, the whole being held together in the required
degree of compression by pins, pegs, screws, or any other contrivance.
This wad is stamped slightly concave on one side and convex on the other,
and cut to the exact shape of the section of the bore and rifling, with
just sufficient windage to admit of easy introduction in the said bore
after a few shots. A circular hole is cut in its centre. It may be
made at one blow by a proper stamping machine. With certain kinds.
•

page_text: of shallow rifling, this wad may simply be cut circular, especially for
breech-loading pieces, for these its diameter may exceed slightly that of
the rifled part of the bore. This wad is attached to the cartridge in the
following manner :-To the cartridge is sewn a broad belt, bearing
ribbons or strings of proper material, corresponding in width and dispo-
sition to the bottom of the reintering parts of the wad. The powder
being packed in this cartridge, the end is twisted and choked with a
piece of waxed silk or other small cord, and the twist above the twist
is passed through the central hole of the lubricating wad placed with its
concavity to the cartridge, and in such a manner that its reintering parts:
should correspond to the ribbons of the cartridge. The end of this
cartridge exceeding the wad is drawn tight, untwisted, and opened flat
on the convex side of the said wad. A wooden or cork plug is then
driven tight into the hole, and cut flush with the surface of the wad.
The ribbons of the cartridge are then brought tight round the reintering
parts of the wad over its convex side and are pegged or fixed in any
other manner to the wad alone, or to the wad and to the stuff of the
cartridge laid on its external surface. The whole may then be covered
with a proper layer or varnish to consolidate the whole arrange-
ment. In this way the wad and cartridge form a compact body, 1
which is rammed home together. If the wad possessed no reintering
parts the attachment might be the same, the ribbons passing over it
and being pegged close to the external circumference of the wad. A
coating of varnish being put on them the whole is kept perfectly
compact. If the windage is great or the rifling deep, as in certain
guns using studded projectiles, it may be necessary to strengthen
the parts of the wad not supported by the projectile with a disc or
ring of cast iron or other rigid material cut to the profile of the
rifling and fixed to the convex surface of the lubricating wad. The
mode of action of this wad is simple; its convex face resting against
the bottom of the shot, it acts first by its elasticity to deaden the blow
of the gas against the projectile before this is set in motion, and is
flattened against it so as to fill exactly the bore and rifling and suppress
windage. The lubricant is pressed out of the sides and smeared along
the bore and rifling so as to keep them in a proper state of cleanness
and lubrication while the fouling from the preceding shot is swept out.
I claim this lubricating wad suppressing windage, constructed as above
specified, and also the mode of attachment of the wad to the cartridge
above specified, be they used separately or simultaneously. ……..

page_text: My fourth improvement is a result of the use of a gas check wad
constructed as above or in any other manner. I cut the rifling, what-
ever be its section, on the internal face of strong ribs projecting into the
bore and having the pitch of the said rifling.
The body of the projectile is made of a calibre corresponding to the
internal surface of the said ribs, which surface bears the rifling in this
way :-I obtain a very large amount of windage between the ribs, that
is a great difference between the sections of the projectile and bore
proper. By placing over the cartridge a thick wad of the same kind as
above specified, out to the section of the bore, ribs, and rifling, and
strengthened on its surface next the shot by a plate of cast iron, steel,
or any other material, cut to the same shape and strong enough to bear
without breaking or banding, the pressure of the gas in the parts of the
bore when the wad is not supported by the projectile, the whole useful
work of the gas is transmitted to the projectile. As for equal length of
bore larger and larger charges can be usefully burnt as the section of
the bore increases, initial velocities much greater than those actually
attained can be got by this method, which allows a very large relative
charge to be used with a comparatively light projectile of reduced section
and elongated form, offering small service to the resistance of air. This
may be done without overstraining the piece. A breech loader of this
kind might take a cartridge of the ordinary sort; but a muzzle loader
would require a cartridge envelope sufficiently rigid to receive and keep
the profile of the bore so as to fill it almost exactly when rammed home,
this being an important point for the full development of the advantages.
of this construction. With a gun of this kind another important point
is gained; elongated small bore projectiles may be fired at heavy
charges when long range, penetration, and accuracy are the chief objects,
while at short ranges, curved fire; or when great shell power is required,
more especially projectiles of large diameters fitted to the bore, ribs and
rifling may be used. Such projectiles may. take the action of the rifling
on studs or soft metal placed at the bottom of the reintering parts of
their surface, but if the ribs are made or cased in hard metal they may
act directly on the rib rifling principle. On the body of the large bore
projectiles large bore elongated shells of very large relative bursting
capacity might be used on special occasions. The piece might in this
way be used according to circumstances as a long range small bore
cannon or a rifled shell gun of great power.

page_text: It is evident that the improvements mentioned in my preceding de-
scription are eminently applicable to the construction of such a piece
whatever be the material it is made of. The ribs may it is true be made
of the same metal as the rest of the bore, but in this case it is useful to
garnish them with hardened bars in which the rifling is cut, or at least
to protect the bearing parts of their surface by a sheet of hard metal.
I do not claim the idea of combining a gun and projectile so that the
powder should act on a larger surface than the resistance of air; but I
claim the special manner above described of obtaining this result by the
combination of projecting ribs bearing the rifling, which acts on a pro-
jectile of much smaller section than the bore, with a gas check wad
filling the bore.
I also claim the combination above specified by which projectiles of
different areas of sections are used in the same piece, these projectiles
being especially adapted to the object in view.
I claim these points whatever be the construction or materials of the
gun, bore, or ribs. These ribs may be of hard metal set in the bore, or
of the same metal as the bore, protected in certain or all parts of their
surface by a casing of hard metal, or of the same metal as the bore, and
not protected.
As above described the improvements are applicable to ordnance of
any sort, material, or description. The following description, however,
is applicable only to the construction of ordnance made of wrought iron,
steel, or any other metal which may be rolled into sheets or thin plates,
or to the manufacture of certain parts of ordnance, such as tubes, powder
chambers, or reinforcing rings or tubes made of the same kinds of
material as above explained. These parts may be applied to the con-
struction of ordnance of any kind, whether other parts of these pieces
are cast, forged, or manufactured by any other process.
As the points hereafter specified are eminently applicable to the manu-
facture of all kinds of recipients requiring a large amount of resistance
to internal pressure, such, for instance, as cylinders for steam or
hydraulic machines, or barrels for small arms or mitrailleuses, or to the
manufacture of other objects of such nature that their form may approxi-
mately be obtained by coiling a sheet of metal in. superposed layers.

page_text: I expressly reserve my claims to the application of this mode of con-
struction to any object of this kind, even if this object is completely
distinct from any branch of artillery.
To form a cylinder (such as a piece of ordnance, for instance) a sheet
3 of the required metal rather broader than the length of the intended
cylinder is heated in a special furnace to a temperature as high as is
consistent with sufficient tenacity to allow the sheet to be rolled in the
manner hereafter described. This temperature depends on the metal of
the sheet. This sheet is placed horizontally in the furnace, and rests
upon rollers to facilitate its motion. The end of this sheet is laid on an
horizontal mandril of cast iron, steel, or wrought iron (placed at a proper
distarice from the furnace), and fixed on this mandril, which should be
of a diameter slightly inferior to the bore of the intended cylinder. The
mandril being made to revolve, the sheet is rolled round it exactly as a
leaf of paper is rolled on a mandril to form the case of certain sporting
cartridges. One or more cast-iron rollers parallel to the mandril press
each layer of the sheet as it is rolled upon the one immediately beneath,
and in this way put the different thicknesses of metal in perfect contact.
As the thickness of the roll increases at every revolution of the mandril
the rollers are not fixed in their relative position to the mandril, but are
carried upon strong frames moving upon slides, so that they can recede
from the mandril, always remaining parallel to it as the diameter of the
roll increases. The pressure exerted by each roller is regulated by
counterweights acting on the frame to which it is fixed, or by a piston
fixed to the said frame, and working in a cylinder filled with water.
This water can escape through a valve similar to the safety valve of steam
or hydraulic apparatus, so that the pressure necessary to force in the.
piston can be adjusted at pleasure. One or several rollers so disposed are
placed about the mandril, and act successively (if several are used) with
increased pressure on every part of the roll. Under their action the
sheet is rolled into a cylindrical tube. This tube being taken from the
mandril is brought to welding heat in a second furnace, placed on a
second mandril, and subjected in every part to the action of a steam
hammer or martinet, or to the action of strong rollers bearing corre-
sponding "cannelures" of semicircular section, or to the action of
hydraulic pressure between two strong cast-iron hemi-cylindrical jaws.
The tube is subjected to one or more of these operations, and heated as
many times as is necessary to form a compact mass of the whole thick-.

page_text: ness by the perfect welding of the different layers. This, however, might
be done in any other manner than those mentioned above, or the sheet
might be rolled by any process whatever, without ceasing to fall under
the present Specification. After welding, the tube is bored, turned,
tempered if necessary, and finished.
This system of manufacture for pieces of ordnance, or the different
parts that enter in their construction, offers the following advantages :-
1st. It allows the preliminary and minute inspection and trial of every
part of the metal.
2nd. It allows the use and disposal of sheets of metal of different
natures and varying elasticity and toughness to form the different con-
centric layers of the piece, and their arrangement for the best equaliza-
tion of strain throughout its thickness. For this, the sheet which is to
form the piece or tube may be composed of partial sheets of metals of
different qualities and properties (such as steel and iron of different
natures, for instance) rivetted or welded together end to end in the order
best adapted for the equalization of the strain. The dimensions of each
partial sheet are, of course, determined by the thickness of the layer it
is to form, and its distance from the axis.
To arrive at the degrees of elasticity and toughness best adapted for
each layer, sheets of metal of different qualities may be superposed and
rolled and welded together so as to obtain the best material for each
partial sheet, or for each layer of the thickness of the piece or cylinder.
For instance, sheets of steel or of iron of different qualities, or sheets of
steel and of iron, may be rolled together at welding temperature, to
arrive at metals of intermediate elasticity and toughness. This mode of
manufacture allows therefore, by taking careful account of the principles
of the construction of ordnance and of the methods of equalizing the
strain in the different parts of the thickness of a cylinder, to apply
these principles with much greater exactitude than the present modes
of manufacture will permit. This result, for moderate calibres, may be
arrived at with pieces made of one solid mass of metal, with the
exception of the cascable and trunnions.
For such a piece or for any object rolled in one mass according to my
method, it is easy to dispose the sheet, homogeneous, or compound that
is to form it, so that it will give almost exactly when rolled the general

page_text: external shape of the object with its reinforces and mouldings. In this
manner very little metal will have to be turned off in the finishing process
after welding; for instance, supposing the mandril to be cylindrical, and
the sheet to be limited by a straight edge placed parallel to the axis of the
mandril, all the parts of the sheet limited by lines parallel and per-
pendicular to the edge laid on the mandril will give after being rolled up
cylindrical surfaces, while the parts limited by one or more lines oblique
to the said edge will give conical surfaces; curved lines may be also
employed in cutting the sheet to obtain by rolling it up certain
rounded mouldings. Of course the surfaces so formed by rolling and
welding are not geometrically cylindrical, conical, or of the final form to
be obtained, but their general form is a close approximation to the
desired shape, and very little metal has to be cut away to bring them to
their final state.
Remarks of the same nature as the above are applicable whatever may
be the shape of the mandril round which the sheet is rolled up, or of the
object it is to form when finished. By taking this into consideration, a
great deal of labour and metal may be saved.
The interior tube or barrel, the powder chamber, the reinforcing rings
or tubes, in fact all the different parts of a built up piece of ordnance,
except the cascable and trunnions, may be made by the above described
process and forced or shrunk on each other by the ordinary methods.
For large ordnance this construction would probably be preferable, as
good welding is difficult to get in such a mass as constitutes a heavy
gun, and also because in addition to the equalization of strain given by
the use of layers of metal of varying elasticity and toughness, additional
strength is produced by the reaction, at rest, of each distinct cylinder or
reinforcing tube upon the one immediately beneath. Ordnance of this
kind may also be made with the body in one solid mass, and tubed
afterwards.
In all cases the trunnions forged on a steel or wrought iron trunnion
ring, or cast with this ring, if in cast metal; are shrunk, or forced, or
screwed on the body of the piece or welded on to it. The breech
arrangement, or cascable screw, is also forged separately, and adapted
when the rest of the piece is finished.
As before observed, barrels, powder chambers, reinforcing tubes or
rings, or other parts of ordnance of the above described manufacture.are

page_text: applicable to all kinds of pieces of ordnance in which the body should
be cut, forged, or built up in any way.
Any piece of ordnance or part thereof or any vessel having to support
strong internal pressure may be strengthened externally after this
method by the direct rolling and welding of a sheet or sheets of metal,
homogeneous or compound, on all or part of its surface.
It is moreover evident that all the improvements mentioned in the
first part of my description can be applied to ordnance of the con-
struction specified in the second part of this description. I however
only claim the process of manufacture for pieces of ordnance or other 1
objects mentioned in the second part of my description, when two
complete turns at least of the sheet metal are taken before welding or
soldering round the mandril. But I do not claim the construction or
strengthening of tubes or other objects by taking one turn and an
overlap of sheet metal round the mandril or object, and welding or 1
soldering on this overlap.
The process of manufacture for ordnance, parts of ordnance, and other
objects of which the general form may be obtained by the coiling or
rolling of sheet metal upon a mandril of proper shape, or the external
strengthening of such objects, as mentioned 'in the second part of my
description, may be modified in the following manner.
Instead of welding together the different layers of the sheet of metal
as they are rolled up one upon the other, they may be simply rolled up
as before described and not welded, which will give more elasticity to
the cylinder or object in construction. In this case an internal tube or a
casing, manufactured by any process whatever and over which the coil
.or roll formed as described is shrunk or forced, or upon which the sheet
metal is rolled, directly constitutes the internal surface of the object.
An outer envelope shrunk or forced over the coil itself gives the
external surface. This external case may be obtained by casting molten
metal, such as bronze or cast iron or other material, round the coil or
roll or in any other manner. Sometimes this outer case will not be
necessary, and rings or collars shrunk or forced or welded over the roll.
will suffice to prevent any tendency to uncoiling.
The internal and external surfaces of the object in construction may a
also be obtained by welding together to the proper thickness the internal
layers of the sheet or plate as they are rolled up, then continuing to

page_text: roll without welding and finally welding the outer layers together so as
to leave the intermediate layers unwelded.
In certain cases the layers might be soldered instead of being welded.
I expressly wish it to be understood that I reserve my claims to these
different dispositions and their applications, whether the sheet. or plate of
metal be homogeneous or compound, but only when two complete turns
of sheet metal at least are taken round the mandril or object.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jacques Antoine Creuze de Latouche in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 20th May 1878..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Jaoques
ANTOINE CREUZE DE LATOUCHE, of Paris, France, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Jacques Antoine Oreuze de Latouche,
Her special licence that I, the said Jacques Antoine Creuze de Latouche,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Jacques Antoine Oreuze de Latouche, 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 Ohannel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for “IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANOR AND OTHER FIRE-ARMA,
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, PART OR PARTS OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Jacques Antoine Orenze de Latouche, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, 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..
IN

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jacques Antoine Creuze de Latouche,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,
that is to say :—
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jacques Antoine Creuze de Latouche,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,
that is to say :-
The following description is, for greater clearness, divided into two
distinct parts or groups.
The first part contains a description of such improvements as are
applicable to all kinds of ordnance, whether cast, forged, built up, or
of whatever material or construction they may be.
The second part also refers to improvements in the construction of
ordnance or parts of ordnance made of certain special materials, while
at the same time the improvements specified in this second part are
applicable to the manufacture of certain other objects distinct from any
branch of artillery as herein-after more particularly described.
Steel tubing of bronze ordnance has hitherto given uncertain and
unsatisfactory results, owing to the different elasticity and hardness of
the metals employed in the manufacture, and this system of tubing is
delicate and expensive to manufacture.
Now, according to this Invention; I construct ordnance in such a way
that the parts most exposed to damage should be made of comparatively
hard and tough material fitted into the metal forming the surface of the
bore. For this purpose I set in the surface of the bore steel bars or
bands of such section that they should be invariably held in place by
the neighbouring metal, and previously coiled to the pitch required for
the rifling; this rifling, or certain parts of it, are then cut in these
bars.
The application of this plan to the transformation of old bronze
ordnance into rifled pieces of reduced calibre may be made in several
manners.
.
The bars previously coiled to the required pitch and perfectly finished
on all the parts of their surface which are to be sunk in the gun metal,
are placed on a slightly conical cast-iron mandril or core, to which they
may be attached by small copper pegs, or any other means, so as to be
kept in their respective positions. The piece is placed vertically in a

page_text: bath of hot sand, and kept at a temperature of say 200° or 300°. The
surface of the bore (if the piece has been used) should previously have
been scraped or rebored to remove all parts damaged by firing, and to
get everywhere a surface of sound metal. The piece being placed in the
sand muzzle upwards, the cast-iron mandril with the bars are introduced
in the bore and perfectly centred. Molten gun metal is then cast into
the bore, and submitted in its molten state to strong bydraulic pressure.
The whole is then left to cool slowly. When cold the mandril is
removed, the metal is set by one or two shots with heavy charges, and
the piece is then bored to the final calibre, and rifled on the steel bars.
For a new piece the process is exactly the same, only the casting is
performed in a cast-iron mould under hydraulic pressure.
Brass or gun metal tubes fitted with steel bars or bands of the nature
above described may be prepared in the same way, and used to transform
old ordnance of any kind by reducing their calibre, or to tube new
pieces. These tubes may be cast open at both ends, or closed towards
the breech, according to the nature of the piece for which they are
intended, and may be inserted in the body of the piece by one of the
following means.
If the piece intended for a muzzle loader after transformation has
its breech cast solid upon it, it is placed upright in a hot sand bath,
exactly as before described. The tube is turned externally to the exact
diameter to which the piece has been bored, or rather to a diameter
slightly greater, and being filled with a cooling mixture and slightly
oiled externally, is shrunk in the bore. When in place the cooling
mixture is withdrawn, the tube is left to take the temperature of the
body of the piece and the sand bath, and the whole mass is allowed to
cool slowly. The tube being settled in its place by one or two rounds
with heavy charges is bored to the final calibre, and the rifling is cut on
the hard metal bands or bars. The tube, fitted with its steel bars, may
be turned to a cone of on its exterior surface, and inserted from
behind the breach of the piece if cast solid with the body, having
previously been cut or bored through, and the bore of the body of the
piece having been cut to a cone corresponding to that of the tube. The
tube is, in this case, set in place by hydraulic pressure, and if the piece
is to be a breech-loader it receives its breech arrangement afterwards.
If a muzzle-loader, after conversion, the tube may be cast closed towards
"

page_text: the breech, and receive the necessary support on its bottom from the
fore-end of a breech screw screwed in the body of the piece. An open
tube may also be used in the case of a muzzle-loader; a cascable screw
is then used formed of two cylindrical parts of different diameters with
threads of the same pitch. The foremost and smaller cylinder screws 5
into the tube, the rearmost and larger screwing in the body of the
piece with its face resting against the rear face of the tube. By this
arrangement all the parts are firmly connected together. A thick
copper cup inserted in the tube and resting against the foremost face of
the cascable protects the face and threads from the action of the gas or 1
fouling. This method of closing the breech in muzzle-loaders can be
applied with particular advantage when a special powder chamber
distinct from the tube is used, as hereafter specified.
For these different transformations or constructions of pieces the
tube should only be bored to its final calibre and the rifling cut 1
in the bars when the whole has been settled by the firing of one or
two heavy charges.
In these different modes of construction or transformation of ordnance,
I claim expressly the use of bars or bands of a harder material than
that of the rest of the bore, the rifling, or certain parts of the rifling a
such as part or all of the grooves, or part or all of the bands being
taken on these bars. I also claim expressly the use and manufacture
by any means whatever of tubes for ordnance, when these. tubes
are fitted with such bars or bands. But I not claim the above
mentioned proceedings for reducing the bore of ordnance when bars :
or bands of different hardness from the rest of the surface of the bore
are not employed.
The bars or bands above mentioned can be attached to the metal of
the bore by the section of certain parts fitting into this metal, or
by means of hooks, stirrups, or studs, sunk into this metal, or by
soldering or welding, or by any other process whatever.
The characteristic feature of these bands or bars is to differ in
their hardness or toughness from the rest of the surface of the bore.
They may be cut upon a steel tube, or formed more simply by coiling
at a high temperature steel bars on a cast iron or steel mandril upon
which grooves are cut, having the pitch of the rifling for which the
bars are intended. This mandril which may be made slightly conical

page_text: Ab
to facilitate its separation from the bars should be of a diameter
to correspond with the bore of the piece to which the bars belong.
The grooves may be cut to the proper shape to give approximately
to the bars their final section, and their width and depth may decrease
slightly from one end of the mandril to the other, so as to facilitate
the separation of the bars from the mandril. The bars or bands are
coiled in these grooves at red or white heat, and either hammered or
compressed by a roller parallel to the mandril and brought nearer and
nearer to it, until their metal is brought to the proper degree of
toughness and homogeneousness; this result might in fact be attained
by other methods than those above mentioned. These bars may be
independent, or held together in their final relative positions by means
of rings or collars of the same material as themselves, welded on
to them whilst on the mandril so as to form a joint cluster. It is
not however necessary that these rings or collars should be of the
same material as the bars or bands or be welded on to them. They
might be made of the same metal as the body or tube of the piece,
or of any other suitable material, and be soldered or fixed in any other
way to the bars. These collars or rings may be set in the metal of the
bore so that their internal surface shall appear flush with this metal,
or they may be entirely sunk in the said metal and covered by it. The
bars or bands may be welded, soldered, or fixed in any other way before
their insertion in the metal of the gun or tube to a disc of suitable
material to form the bottom of the bore in the case of muzzle loadince

page_text: specified are used may or not be fixed to them. It can be screwed,
shrunk, forced, or set in any other manner in the body or tube of the
piece. To develop its full advantages this powder chamber should be
made long enough to contain the cartridge, the wad or lubricator
(if one is used), and the base of the projectile.
The parts of the bore corresponding to the above mentioned positions
are those most exposed to damage from the concussion of the gas against
the projectile before it has begun to move. By using a distinct powder
chamber these parts can be made of the materials best calculated to
resist this action of the gas, and may be removed and replaced with
economy, if as frequently happens, they become too much damaged for
service, whilst the rest of the piece is still in good condition. In breach-
loaders this powder chamber may be enlarged behind internally, and
should continue up to the rear face of the tube or of the rifled part of the
bore against which it should rest. In muzzle-loaders having a breech
cast with the body the powder chamber may be closed at the rear end
fixed or not to the bars, and inserted with them in the tube as it is cast.
In this case it is not removable, and its only object should be to
strengthen the parts of the tube most exposed by a sort of casing of
more resisting material. If no tube is used it may be inserted with the
bars in the gun or mould before the molten metal is cast in. If in
muzzle-loaders the breech has been bored through, the tube (if used) is
inserted first as above explained, and the powder chamber afterwards.
"
" cascable
If this powder chamber is closed behind, a
screw screwed
in the body of the piece supports its bottom; if open behind, a cascable
screw formed of two cylinders of different diameters screwing one in the
powder chamber, the other in the body of the piece, is used. Its face is
protected by a thick copper cup inserted in the powder chamber exactly
as has been described above for certain tubed pieces.
The last mentioned arrangement allows the powder chamber to be
thoroughly inspected at any time by unscrewing the cascable and
driving out the copper cup with the rammer.
For certain pieces it might be advantageous to continue the rifling in
part or all of the powder chamber. It is not necessary, though I think
it preferable, that the powder chamber should be prolonged up to the
place of the projectile when the gun is loaded. It may be so con-
structed as to contain only part or all of the cartridge or charge.

page_text: As will be seen from the foregoing description my efforts have been
'directed to a construction of piece allowing for each of the parts most
exposed to damages the use of the materials best adapted to resist the
nature of the effects it has to support, whilst the body of the piece may
be made of any material, such for instance as gun metal or cast iron.
As large quantities of bronze ordnance are in existance I have taken
the conversion or construction of pieces of this nature as examples of
my method of manufacture, but I expressly wish it to be understood
that I claim this method in any case where a powder chamber as above
specified should be used in a new piece or in the conversion of an old
piece to a different system or a different calibre than that it originally
possessed; but I do not claim the lining of certain parts of the bore
with a portion of tube when this is done on an old piece to repair
certain damages without altering the bore or rifling.
I also claim the aforesaid improvements in all cases where the
internal surface of the bore is formed of parts of different hardness and
toughness so arranged that the lines of this surface most exposed to the
action of the bearing points of the projectile should be taken in the
harder or tougher parts; I claim this, as well as the use of the powder
chamber above described (with the restriction above specified), whatever
be the material or construction of the piece or of the powder chamber
or of the harder parts of the surface of the bore. For instance, I
claim the use of wrought or even cast iron bands, or phosphored bronze
bands in a gun-metal bore, or of steel bands in a cast-iron piece.
I also reserve my rights to pieces of ordnance in which bars or bands
of the same metal as the rest of the bore should be brought by any
process whatever to a degree of hardness and toughness different to that
of the rest of the said bore, and used as above specified; for instance,
I should claim a piece tubed with a soft steel tube in which should be
set or welded bands or bars of harder steel used for the above specified
object.
This description must be taken independently of the nature, twist, or
section of the rifling or of its mode of action. One or several grooves or
part of grooves, or lands or part of lands, may be cut on each of the
hard bars or bands. These hard bands may be formed of ribbons of
sheet metal forged, stamped, or rolled to the section of the rifling or of
certain parts of the rifling, and fitted and kept in the metal of the bore

page_text: by studs, stirrups, welding, or any other mode of attachment, and
forming, as it were, a sort of casing to protect certain parts of the softer
metal.
If the kind of rifling called "rib rifling" be used ribs of hard and
tough steel may be inserted in the bore by my method of construction.
As the bore, even in steel or steel-tubed pieces, is necessarily formed of
'comparatively soft steel, and as the ribs act directly upon the hard metal
of the body of the projectile, my Invention is advantageous in the con-
struction of such pieces. Ribs of this nature inserted in bronze, or
bronze or brass-tubed pieces, or in cast-iron pieces, allow the use of this
sort of rifling in ordnance made of these materials or of other materials
too soft or too brittle to bear the direct contact of the body of the
projectile. For this kind of rifling the bars are prepared and inserted as
above in the piece or tube, the metal settled by one or two shots with
heavy charges, and the soft metal cut to the proper depth between the
ribs. These are then dressed and finished. In certain cases the body of
the rib might be made of the metal of the bore itself, and covered
entirely, or in certain parts, by a casing of the harder material.
=
My first point bearing on the endurance of the piece, whatever be its
construction, comprises therefore, 1st., the use of harder metal than that
of the rest of the bore for the bearing parts of the said bore. 2nd. The
use of a special powder chamber distinct from either the tube or the
body of the piece itself in the manufacture of a new piece or the
transformation of an old piece to a different system or a different bore,
these bars and this powder chamber being used either separately or
together.
My second improvement in the construction of ordnance is a conse-
quence of the first. By giving to the bars above specified a length
greater than that of the bore measured from the origin of the rifling to
the muzzle of the piece proper (this length being measured on the axis:
of the piece), and strengthening the salient extremity of these bars by a
strong collar or ring of metal, leaving an interval between its rear face
and the muzzle of the body of the piece, I obtain apertures limited by
the bars, the face of the piece proper, and the external collar. These
apertures allow the lateral escape of the gases before the projectile leaves {
the rifling, and while it is still perfectly centered. This projectile being
thus freed from the pressure behind and from the strokes of strong jets

page_text: of gases irregularly escaping through the grooves as it leaves the rifling,
one of the principal causes of the "wabbling" motion so frequently
observed at the departure of elongated projectiles is obviated; to facilitate
this lateral
escape of gas, I bevil the foremost and bindmost faces of the
apertures above mentioned, that is, the faces taken on the muzzle of the
body of the piece proper, and on the external collar.
In subsequent remarks I shall consider the inclined planes formed by
these bevilled surfaces as directed from the bore to the external surface
of the piece. Taking this into account, if the bevilling is directed
forwards, that is, from the breech to the muzzle of the piece, the gases
will escape at a small angle to the direction of their movement in the
bore, the recoil will be but slightly diminished, but the gunners will be
less inconvenienced by the escape of gases, and the piece will be less
strained than in the contrary case. If, on the other hand, the bevilling
of the apertures is directed rearwards, the gases will be turned backwards
when escaping, the recoil will be much lessened, but the gunners will be
more exposed to the jets of burning gases, and the piece will support
more strain towards the muzzle than in the preceding disposition.
"
According to this method of construction as before described, it will
probably be found necessary to strengthen the bars by a strong collar
welded on to them and set in the metal of the muzzle of the body of the
piece. The section of the bars may also advantageously be increased in
the part extending from this collar to the external one, but this is
not indispensable,
•
I am aware that the general idea of cutting openings near the muzzle
of a piece of ordnance, or the theory of their effects, have long ago. been
given and experimented upon, but I claim as mine the manner above
described of obtaining this result in new or transformed ordnance by.
means of bars of the nature specified in the first part of this Specification,
made to exceed the bore of the body of the piece; these bars being
independent or strengthened by external or internal collars. This method
is applicable to ordnance of any nature or material.
My third improvement relates to the construction of a special
lubricating wad or valet, suppressing windage, and intended at the same
time to diminish the blow of the gass on the projectile before it is set in
motion. This wad is stamped out of two sheets of tinned iron, copper,
papier machie, or any other sufficiently resisting material, between which

page_text: are laid a proper thickness of leaves of paper previously dipped in wax
or any other proper lubricant, the whole being held together in the
required degree of compression by pins, pegs, screws, or any other
contrivance. This wad is stamped slightly concave on one side and
convex on the other, and cut to the exact shape of the section of the bore
and rifling with just sufficient windage to admit of easy introduction in
the said bore after a few shots. A circular hole is cut in its centre; it
may be made at one blow by a proper stamping machine. With certain
kinds of shallow rifling this wad may simply be cut circular, especially
for breech-loading pieces; for these its diameter may exceed slightly
that of the rifled part of the bore. This wad is attached to the cartridge
in the following manner :-To the cartridge is sewn a broad belt bearing
ribbons or strings of proper material, corresponding in width and
disposition to the bottom of the re-entering parts of the wad. The
powder being packed in this cartridge, the end is twisted and choked
with a piece of waxed silk or other small cord, and the end of the twist
above the ligature is passed through the central hole of the lubricating
wad, placed with its concavity to the cartridge, and in such a manner
that its re-entering parts should correspond to the ribbons of the
cartridge. The end of the twist exceeding the wad is drawn tight,
untwisted, and opened flat on the convex side of the said wad. A
wooden or cork plug is then driven tight into the hole, and cut flush
with the surface of the wad. The ribbons of the cartridge are then
brought tight round the re-entering parts of the wad over its convex
side, and are pegged or fixed in any other manner to the wad alone, or
to the wad and to the stuff of the cartridge laid on its external surface.
The whole may then be covered with a proper lacker or varnish to
consolidate the arrangement. In this way the wad and cartridge form a
compact body which is rammed home together. If the wad possessed no
' re-entering" parts, the attachment might be the same, the ribbons
passing over it, and being pegged close to the external circumference of
the wad. A coating of varnish being put on them, the whole is kept
66

page_text: is simple. Its convex face resting against the bottom of the shot, it
acts first by its elasticity to deaden the blow of the gas against the pro-
jectile before this is set in motion, and is flattened against it so as to fill
exactly the bore and rifling and suppress windage. The lubricant is
pressed out of the sides and smeared along the bore and rifling so as to
keep them in a proper state of clearness and lubrication, while the
fouling from the preceding shot is swept out.
I claim this lubricating wad-suppressing windage constructed as above
specified, and also the mode of attachment of the wad to the end to the
cartridge above specified, be they used separately or simultaneously.
My fourth improvement is a result of the use of a gas check wad
constructed as above or in any other manner. I cut the rifling whatever
be its section on the internal faces of strong ribs projecting into the bore
and having the pitch of the said rifling. The body of the projectile is
made of a calibre corresponding to the internal surface of the said ribs,
which surface bears the rifling. In this way I obtain a very large
amount of windage between the ribs, that is, a great difference between
the sections of the projectile and bore proper. By placing over the
cartridge a thick wad of the same kind as above specified, cut to the
section of the bore, ribs, and rifling, and strengthened on its surface
next the shot by a plate of cast iron, steel, or any other material, cut to
the same shape, and strong enough to bear without breaking or bending
the pressure of the gas in the parts of the bore where the wad is not.
supported by the projectile, the whole useful work of the gas is trans-
mitted to the projectile, as for equal length of bore larger and larger
charges can be usefully burnt as the section of the bore increases.
Initial velocities much greater than those actually attained can be got by
this method, which allows a very large relative charge to be used with a
comparatively light projectile of reduced section and elongated form,
offering small surface to the resistance of air. This may be done without
overstraining the piece.
A breech-loader of this kind might take a cartridge of the ordinary
sort, but a muzzle-loader would require a cartridge envelope sufficiently
rigid to receive and keep the profile of the bore so as to fill it almost
exactly when rammed home, this being an important point for the full
development of the advantages of this construction. With a gun of
this kind another important point is gained. Elongated small bore pro-

page_text: jectiles may be fired at heavy charges when long range, penetration, and
accuracy are the chief objects, while for shorter ranges, curved fire, or
when great shell power is required more especially, projectiles of large
diameter fitted to the bore, ribs, and rifling may be used.
Such pro-
jectiles may take the action of the rifling on studs or soft metal placed
at the bottom of the re-entering parts of their surface, but if the
ribs are made or cased in hard metal they may act directly on the "rib
rifling" principle on the body of the large bore projectiles. Large bore
elongated shells of very large relative bursting capacity might be used
on special occasions. The piece might in this way be used according to
circumstances as a long range small bore cannons, or as a rifled 'shell gun
of great power.
It is evident that the improvements mentioned in my preceding
description are eminently applicable to the construction of such a piece
whatever be the material it is made of. The ribs may it is true, be
made of the same metal as the rest of the bore; but in this case it is
useful to provide them with hardened bars in which the rifling is cut, or
at least to protect the bearing parts of their surface by a sheet of hard-
metal.
I do not claim the general idea of combining a gun and projectile so
that the powder should act on a larger surface than the resistance of air,
- but I claim the special manner above described of obtaining this result
by the combination of projecting ribs bearing the rifling, which acts on
a projectile of much smaller section than the bore with a gas check wad
filling the bore.
I also claim the combination above specified by which projectiles of
different areas or sections are used in the same piece, these projectiles
being especially adapted to the object in view.
I claim these points whatever be the construction or materials of the
gun, bore, or ribs; these ribs may be of hard metal set in the bore, or of
the same metal as the bore and protected in certain or all parts of their
surface by a casing of hard metal, or of the same metal as the bore and
not protected.
The improvements above described are applicable to ordnance of any
sort, material, or description. The following descriptions however are
applicable only to the construction of ordnance made of wrought iron,
steel, or any other metal which may be rolled into sheets or thin plates,

page_text: or to the manufacture of certain parts of ordnance, such as tubės,
powder chambers, or reinforcing rings or tubes made of the same kinds
of materials as above explained. These parts may be applied to the con-
struction of ordnance of any kind whether other parts of these pieces are
cast, forged, or manufactured by any other process. As the points here-
after specified are eminently applicable to the manufacture of all kinds
of recipients requiring a large amount of resistance to internal pressure,
such for instance as cylinders for steam or hydraulic machinery, barrels for
small arms or mitrailleuses, or to the manufacture of other objects of
such nature that their form may approximately be obtained by coiling a
sheet of metal in superposed layers round a proper mandril, whatever
be its shape.
I expressly reserve my claims to the application of this mode of con-
struction to any object of this kind, even if this object is completely
distinct from any branch of artillery.
To form a cylinder (such as a piece of ordnance for instance), a sheet
of the required metal rather broader than the length of the intended
cylinder is heated in a special furnace to a temperature as high as is
consistent, with sufficient tenacity to allow the sheet to be rolled in the
manner hereafter described. This temperature depends on the nature of
the metal of the sheet. This sheet is placed horizontally in the furnace,
and rests upon rollers to facilitate its motion. The end of this sheet is
laid on a horizontal mandril of cast iron, steel, or wrought iron (placed
at a proper distance from the furnace) and fixed on this mandril which
should be of a diameter slightly less than the bore of the intended
cylinder. The mandril being made to revolve the sheet is rolled round
it exactly as a leaf of paper is rolled on a mandril to form the case of
certain sporting cartridges. One or more cast-iron rollers parallel to the
mandril press each layer of the sheet as it is rolled upon the one imme-
diately beneath, and in this way put the different thicknesses of metal
in perfect contact. As the thickness of the roll increases at every
revolution of the mandril the rollers are not fixed in their relative
position to the mandril, but are carried upon strong frames moving
upon slides so that they can recede from the mandril, always remaining
parallel to it as the diameter of the roll increases. The pressure exerted
by each roller is regulated by counterweights acting on the frame to
which it is fixed, or by a piston fixed to the said frame and working
in a cylinder filled with water. This water can escape through a valve

page_text: similar to the safety valve of steam or hydraulic apparatus so that the
pressure necessary to force in the piston can be adjusted at pleasure.
One or several rollers so 'disposed are placed about the mandril and act
successively (if several are used) with increased pressure on every part
of the roll. Under their action the sheet is rolled into a cylindrical
tube. This tube being taken from the mandril is brought to welding
heat in a second furnace, placed on a second mandril and subjected in
every part to the action of a steam hammer or martinet, or to the action
of strong rollers bearing corresponding cannelures of semicircular section,
or to the action of hydraulic pressure between strong cast-iron jaws
bearing the external shape of the object in hollow. The tube is sub-
jected to one or more of these operations, and heated as many times as
is necessary to form a compact mass of the whole thickness by the
perfect welding of the different layers. This however might be done in
any other manner than those mentioned above, or the sheet might be
rolled by any process whatever without ceasing to fall under the present
Specification.
After welding the tube is bored, turned, tempered, if necessary, and'
finished. The mandrils round which the coiling is performed; and
which we have supposed above to be cylindrical, may be externally
conical or prismatic, or of any other section adapted to the internal shape
of the object in view. To secure the easy extraction of the mandril after
the welding, this mandril may be formed of a conical cast-iron core
lodged in a tube of corresponding cone inside, and cylindrical or of any
other shape outside (see Fig. 1 of the annexed Drawings). The welding
being finished, the core is taken out by a blow of a steam hammer on its
small end, and the external tube which remains in the coil after welding
is bored out. This tube may be replaced by segments (as in Fig. 2)
disposed so as to fall in when the core is expelled.
(This system of manufacture for pieces of ordnance or the different
parts that enter in their construction offers the following advantages :-
1st. It allows the preliminary and minute inspection and trial of
every part of the metal.
2nd. It allows the use and disposal of sheets of metal of different
natures and varying elasticity and toughness to form the different
concentric layers of the piece, and their arrangement so as to obtain
either the best equalization of strain throughout its thickness or the

page_text: greatest resistance in the piece. For this the sheet which is to
form the piece or tube may be composed of partial sheets of metals of
different qualities and properties (such as steel and iron of different
natures, for instance) rivetted or welded together, end to end, in the
order best adapted for the equalization of the strain, or for a maximum
resistance.
The dimensions, position, and form of each partial sheet are of course
determined by the thickness of the layer it is to form, its distance from
the axis, and the thickness of the sheet itself. To arrive at the degrees
of elasticity and toughness. best adapted for each layer, sheets of
metal of different qualities may be superposed and rolled and welded
together so as to obtain the best material for each partial sheet or for
each layer of the thickness of the piece or cylinder. For instance,
sheets of steel or of iron of different qualities, or sheets of steel and of
iron, may be rolled together at welding temperature to arrive at metals
of intermediate elasticity and toughness.
This mode of manufacture allows therefore, by taking careful account
of the principles of the construction of ordnance and of the methods of
equalizing the strain in the different parts of the thickness of a cylinder,
to apply these principles with much greater exactitude than the present
modes of manufacture will permit. It allows, moreover, to give the
fibres of the metal the best direction for each part of the gun, as in sheet
metal; the direction of the fibres is that of the rolling. This result for
moderate calibres may be arrived at with pieces made of one solid mass
of metal; with the exception of the cascable and trunnions.
For such piece or for any object rolled in one mass, according to my
method, it is easy to dispose the sheet, homogeneous or compound, that
is to form it, so that it will give almost exactly when rolled up the
general external shape of the object with its reinforces and mouldings.
In this manner very little metal will have to be turned off in the
finishing process after welding. For instance, supposing the mandril to
be cylindrical and the sheet to be limited by a straight edge placed
parallel to the axis of the mandril, all the parts of the sheet limited by
lines parallel and perpendicular to the edge laid on the mandril will
give, after being rolled up, cylindrical surfaces, while the parts limited
by one or more lines oblique to the said edge, will give conical
surfaces. Curved lines may be also employed in cutting the sheets to

page_text: obtain by rolling it up certain rounded mouldings. Of course the
surfaces so formed by rolling up and welding are not geometrically,
cylindrical, conical, or of the final form to be obtained. But their
general form is a close approximation to the desired shape, and very
little metal has to be cut away to bring them to their final state
(see Fig. 3). To ensure the good welding of the different partial sheets
end to end, it may be advantageous to weld together whilst forging
blocks of metals so disposed as to give by being rolled into sheets the
partial sheets in the order required. These blocks may also be calculated
to give approximately by rolling the required profile to each partial 1
sheet (see Fig. 4).
Remarks of the same nature as the above are applicable whatever may
be the shape of the mandril round which the sheet is rolled up, or of the
object it is to form when finished. By taking this into consideration a
great deal of labour and metal may be saved.
The interior tube or barrel, the powder chamber, the reinforcing rings
or tubes, in fact all the different parts of a built up piece of ordnance,
except the cascable and trunnions, may be made by the above-described
process and forced or shrunk on each other by the ordinary methods.
For large ordnance this construction would probably be preferable, as
good welding is difficult to get in such a mass as constitutes a heavy gun,
and also because in addition to the equalization of strain given by the use
of layers of metal of varying elasticity and toughness additional strength is
procured by the reaction at rest of each distinct cylinder or reinforcing
tube upon the one immediately beneath. Ordnance of this kind may also be
made with the body in one solid mass and tubed afterwards.
In all cases
the trunnions forged on a steel or wrought-iron trunnion ring, or cast with
this ring if in cast metal, are shrunk or forced or screwed on the body of
the piece or welded on to it. The breech arrangement or cascable screw
is also forged separately and adapted when the rest of the piece is
finished.
As before observed barrels, powder chambers, reinforcing tubes or
rings, or other parts of ordnance of the above-described manufacture are
applicable to all kinds of pieces of ordnance in which the body should be
cast, forged, or built up in any way. Any piece of ordnance or part
thereof, or any vessel having to support strong internal pressure may be
axtonnally after this method by the direct rolling and

page_text: welding of a sheet or sheets of metal homogeneous compound, on all or
part of its surface. It is, moreover, evident that all the improvements
mentioned in the first part of my description can be applied to ordnance
of the construction specified in the second part of this description, I, .
however, only claim the process of manufacture for pieces of ordnance or
other objects.mentioned in the second part of my description when two
complete turns at least of the sheet metal are taken before welding or
soldering round the mandril; but I do not claim the construction or
strengthening of tubes or other objects by taking one turn and an overlap
of sheet metal round the mandril or object and welding or soldering on
this overlap.
The process of manufacture for ordnance, parts of ordnance, and other
objects of which the general form may be obtained by the coiling or
rolling up of sheet metal in superposed layers upon a mandril of proper
shape, or the external strengthening of such objects, as mentioned in the
second part of my description may be modified in the following manner.―
Instead of welding together the different layers of the sheet of metal as
they are rolled up one upon the other they may be simply rolled up as
before described, and not welded, which will give more elasticity to the
cylinder or object in construction. In this case an internal tube or
casing manufactured by any process whatever, and over which the coil or
roll formed as described is shrunk or forced, or upon which the sheet
metal is rolled directly, constitutes the internal surface of the object.
An outer envelope shrunk or forced over the coil itself gives the external
surface; this external case may be obtained by casting molten metal
such as bronze or cast iron or other material round the coil or roll or in
any other manner. Sometimes this outer case will not be necessary, and
rings or collars shrunk or forced or welded over the roll will suffice to
prevent any tendency to uncoiling.
The internal and external surfaces of the object in construction may
also be obtained by welding together to the proper thickness the internal
layers of the sheet or plate as they are rolled up, then continuing to roll
without welding, and finally welding the outer layers together so as to
leave the intermediate rollers unwelded. In certain cases the layers
might be soldered instead of being welded.
I expressly wish it to be understood that I reserve my claims to
these different dispositions and their applications, whether the sheet or
plate of metal be homogeneous or compound, but only when two
-

page_text: complete turns of sheet metal at least are taken round the mandril or
object.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a section of a mandril
formed of a conical core, with a cast-iron external tube, conical inside
to correspond to the core, and shaped outside to correspond to the bore 5
of the tube to be made. The core being expelled, this cast-iron casing
is bored out of the object after the welding process.
surrounded
Fig. 2 is a section of a mandril formed of a conical core O,
by radial segments A, B, C, D, E, F, held together by collars such
as G, G, shrunk or bolted over them. The core might be made 10
pyramidal instead of conical, the internal faces of the segments being
then flat in both cases; one or more keys, such as K, fixed or separate
from the core, and disposed so as to fall in directly the said core is
expelled, allow the segments to be released from the external strain and
taken out of the object since the core is expelled.
1
Fig. 8 represents a compound sheet arranged to produce by coiling
and welding a gun formed of four layers of different metals, (such for
instance as steels of different kinds) which are marked A¹, A³, A³, Aª.
By coiling round a mandril of diameter X, Y, and welding A¹ and A³,
will give two cylindrical layers marked a¹ and a³, while A³ which is cut 2
to the shape N, N¹, M, H, G, N, will give a conical chase B, C, and a
cylindrical envelope from C, to the rear end of the breech, and A' which
is cut to the shape I, K, L, M, will give a rounded moulding from D
to E, and a cylindrical reinforce from E to F. This construction might
of course be applied whatever may be the number and form of each
concentric layer by preparing and cutting the corresponding sheets
accordingly.
Fig. 4. In this Figure blocks of metal of different elasticity A¹, A³,
A³, A*, are represented welded together at the forge. Each of them is
of a size and shape corresponding to the dimensions of the partial sheet
it is to form, taking into account the waste and inaccuracies during the
process. The block C, D, E, F, G, being subjected to the action of a
series of rollers acting successively in the direction marked by the
arrow I, gives a sheet of metal of a corresponding form c, d, e, f, g, h,
composed of partial sheets a¹, a³, a³, aª, given by A', A², A³, A*, (of
course the Figure is only intended to explain the principle, and in
practice the outlines of each sheet will not be accurately regular as in the

page_text: Figure after the process). In this way the welding end to end of the
partial sheets is performed before the rolling of the metal into sheets.
Rollers mounted on the hydraulic slide above mentioned may be
advantageously used to regulate the pressure at each pass, and the
¡ distance of the rollers.
•
And having thus fully described the nature of this my Invention, I
declare that I claim as applicable to ordnance of any description the
following points,-
First. The use in the metal of the bore, or of the tube if there be
one, of certains bars or bands of a harder nature than the rest of the
bore, in which bands part or all of the grooves or of the lands are cut,
or which constitute as it were a lining or casing on certain parts of the
rifling or bore; and also the use in a new gun or for the transformation
of a gun to another system or to another bore, of a powder chamber
› formed of a distinct piece of metal, whether these dispositions are used
simultaneously or separately. But I do not claim the lining of the
chamber of a damaged gun with a tube when the said gun is not altered
in other respects as herein set forth.
Second. The special construction of rifled ordnance for allowing the
gas to escape before the projectile has left the rifling, all substantially as
set forth; but I do not claim the general idea of relieving the projectile
from rear pressure before it leaves the rifling.
Third. A special lubricating wad for suppressing windage, and
also its mode of attachment to the cartridge, both as above
described.
Fourth. The special construction of ordnance substantially as herein
set forth, for allowing to fire elongated projectiles of reduced calibre
and section in a gun of larger bore at high velocities; but I do not
claim the general idea of submitting the projectile to the action of the
powder by a larger surface than that which it presents to the resistance
of air.
I also claim the use in the same piece with this construction of
gun of projectiles of reduced section as above specified for long range
firing, or where penetration and accuracy are most important, and large
capacity shells, segment or thrapnells, of larger diameter for short
ranges, or where great bursting effects are chiefly required.

page_text: .
I also claim the following as applicable to the construction of
ordnance or parts of ordnance such as tubes, powder chambers, external
reinforcing coils, for old or new ordnance of any construction or
material, or to the manufacture of any kind of recipient having to
support internal pressure, such as cylinders for steam engines or 5
hydraulic presses, barrels for small arms, or other apparatus, or to the
manufacture of any object of such nature that its general form may bo
so obtained, viz., the application of the herein described modes of rolling
or wrapping sheet metal round a proper mandril or core, such for
instance as the envelope of the barrels of certain mitrailleuses, when the 1
metal or some of the metals entering into the construction of such
articles can be rolled into sheets or plates.
"
Fifth. The use of plate or. sheet metal coiled round a proper mandril.
in superposed layers, and the welding together of part or all of the
different layers so formed; but for certain objects or parts of objects 1
the welding is not necessary; I do not however claim this for the..
construction of cartridges for fire-arms or for objects in which the sheet.
metal is made to take only one turn and an overlap on the mandril
before welding. I do claim this process when two turns at least are
taken on the mandril by the slicet metal in the manufacture of such 2
objects.
Sixth. The combination of metals of different properties in the same
sheet or plate, and the arrangement of sheets of different properties or
different natures, welded or rivetted or fixed in any other manner
end to end, so disposed as to form the different layers of the 2
thickness of the cylinder or object in construction, in the manner
best adapted to equalize the strain throughout its thickness, or to
obtain the greatest possible resistance with given metals and a given.
thickness.
Seventh. The cutting of the sheet or plate of metal whether homo-
gencous or compound to the proper shape to give approximately by
coiling as above specified the final external form of the object in
construction, each partial part of the sheet being cut according to the
shape of the layer it is to form.
Eighth. The direct coiling and welding or even coiling without
welding (on all or certain parts of ordnance old or new, or other
objects) of sheet metal in superposed layers to form external rein-

page_text: forces, the sheet being homogeneous or compound; but I only claim
this point when two complete turns at least are taken round the
object.
Ninth. The process above described (as shown in Fig. 4) of obtaining
compound sheets of metal formed of partial sheets of different pro-
perties, disposed in a given order, by welding together at the forge
blocks of metals corresponding to each partial sheet in nature,
dimensions, and order, and rolling the compound block to reduce it to
sheet metal.
Tenth. The special dispositions above described for the apparatus used
in this manufacture, that is, 1st, the use of cylinders or rollers fixed
on a movable frame bearing a piston moving in a hydraulic cylinder
which allows the pressure exerted by the roller on the metal to be
regulated by the escape of the water through a valve of the same kind
as the ordinary safety valves of steam engines, and also to vary
between extended limits the distance of these rollers; also the use of
mandrills formed of a conical core inserted in a hollow tube or
surrounded with segments so disposed that this core being expelled
after welding the segments should fall in and be easily extracted
from the object. The core might be of a pyramidal instead of a conical
shape.
And I moreover claim all combinations of theese different points
between themselves or their applications to other objects or Inventions.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacques Antoine Creuze de
Latouche, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day
shape.
And I moreover claim all combinations of theese different points
between themselves or their applications to other objects or Inventions.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacques Antoine Creuze de
Latouche, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day
of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-three.