mprovements in Submarine Guns and Vessels for Carrying the same, and in Ammunition therefor.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 21st Apr., 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
mprovements in Submarine Guns and Vessels for Carrying the
same, and in Ammunition therefor.
I, HIRAM BERDAN of 1820 N Street, Washington in the County of Washington,
the District of Columbia, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do
ereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to fire a shell from a submarine gun, through the
side of a ship, below her belt of armour, into her hold and therein explode the same
with a time fuze instead of exploding the shell by contact with the outside of the
ship where the explosion does much less injury to the ship, especially as to the bulk
heads.
According to the leading features of my invention the vessel for carrying a
submarine gun has a low armoured deck for deflecting projectiles, and its bow is so
constructed that it can strike the bow of a ship without injury to itself, and the
submarine gun
is so located in the bows of the said vessel as to be capable of firing
a shell into a ship below its armour while part of the said vessel is in contact with
the ship, whereby a short and uniform range is invariably secured, while at the
same time the firing charge may be graduated so as to invariably force the shell
through the first side of the ship, but never through the opposite side thereof and a
degree of accuracy may be insured which is impossible when the shell has to be
fired through the water at different distances with the same charge of powder for
the reason that the weight of the shell, when strong enough to penetrate the side of
the ship with the low velocity caused by the great resistance of the water, will
couse the shell to form a quick curve downward in spite of any hydrostatic valve
and rudder that can be applied; and for the further reason that the shell would
move so slowly that it would be deflected by the waves and currents, to say nothing
of the inaccuracy that would be caused by the pitching of the vessel.
Attempts have heretofore been made to accomplish this all-important result by
the use of pneumatic guns, or by mortars, for dropping the projectile through the
deck, but they have never succeeded save by accident owing to the almost total
It has
want of accuracy when either the ship or the attacking vessel is in motion.
also been attempted to do the same thing with the ordinary guns, for penetrating
the side of the ship at the water line, but without effect, in consequence of the
thickness of the armour commonly employed.
Other features of my invention consist in certain automatic firing arrangements;
also in improvements for operating a valve for regulating the pressure on the
pistons of hydraulic buffers for vessels and guns; also in certain provisions whereby
a projectile or shell containing high explosive can be fired into the hold of a ship
with greater certainty and with less injury to the gun from which it is fired than
with aminunition heretofore employed in submarine guns; and further in certain
improvements in shells for submarine guns.
The vessel is preferably about 260 feet long, 40 feet beam, 16 feet draft, with
corresponding displacement of about 2400 tons, with engines capable of developing
at least 7500 horse power, and a corresponding speed of not less than 20 knots.
The armoured deck is constructed of steel, two inches thick in the centre and four
and five inches on the side where the curve is quickened, and strongly supported by
girders or the ribs of the vessel and below this deck is attached an inner skin
or deck for the purpose of conducting the drippings from the outer deck to pump3
in the event of the joints of the upper deck being opened by shot from the

page_text: An hydraulic buffer is provided in which a piston moves and the frame-work o
the vessel, connects the tube with the armoured deck and keel. The diameter o
the piston for this size vessel should be about four feet and the movement should be
about ten feet. Behind the piston is arranged a head provided with any suitable
packing to prevent the oil or other fluid employed from passing and in the chamber
back of that piston is oil or other suitable fluid, employed for the purpose of easing
up the momentum of the vessel, and for the purpose of equalizing this pressure, a
valve is employed in order to insure a uniform pressure, say 5000 pounds to the
square inch, during the entire movement of the piston. This valve contains an
opening to correspond with the opening into the cylinder of the hydraulic buffer
through which the oil has to pass into a tank. This valve is made to slide across
the hole through which the oil is to pass from the cylinder, and is operated
automatically by means of a screw by the movement of the piston and an arm
connected therewith, the feet of which slides in grooves and the lower end of which
is attached to the rack which slides in ways and operates a pinion on a shaft (said
shaft being supported by brackets) and thereby turning the bevel wheel which
rotates the shaft on which the screw is fixed.
The piston is pushed forward by means of a hydraulic pump forcing oil into the
cylinder through a pipe and during this operation the oil is prevented from passing
through the valve by means of a second valve placed lower down. An opening is
formed in this valve, and a spiral spring rests against the edge of said valve the said
spring being held in position by a tube. A. shoulder is formed for the oil to press
against when the buffer is shoved back by coming in contact with the ship and
thereby bringing the openings in the lower valve to correspond with the opening in
the upper valve. The spring has sufficient strength to prevent this valve from
sliding backward under the pressure necessary to force the piston forward, but when
the greater pressure, of say 5000 pounds to the square inch comes against this
shoulder by means of the piston being shoved back, this valve moves and allows
the oil to pass out under the pressure into the tank, thereby securing a mean
pressure of say 5000 pounds to the square inch, during the entire movement of the
piston. It will be seen that by this arrangement of valve it is only necessary to
employ the hydraulic pump to force the piston into position, and the piston will
open the valves by means of the shoulder automatically and that this valve will cut
off the orifice when the pressure is off.
I sometimes dispense with the upper valve together with the small piston rod and
the machinery for operating this valve and regulate the pressure on the piston by
the lower valve as above stated, until the head of the piston has cut off the opening
in the cylinder through which the oil passes, and before the packing in the head has
reached the opening in the cylinder. The main advantage of this modification is
that it is less expensive and less liable to get out of order.
I am aware that valves have been used for adjusting the outflow of liquids for
hydraulic buffers or the hydraulic arrangements for absorbing the recoil of guns,
but they have been regulated by springs of the required strength to take the direct
pressure on the piston employed; but where so much fluid has to pass in so short a
time and under such a heavy pressure, the spring would have to be equal to several
hundred tons, which would be quite impracticable as compared with the sliding
valve and the small shoulder or ledge for the oil to act against in moving the
slide against the springs which are adjusted to the pressure required.
The tube attached to the frame work and keel of the vessel has a gate arranged
for the purpose of shutting off the water when the gun is drawn within the vessel.
After the gate has been closed, the water that is in the gun is drawn off through a
pipe. A pipe in the gun tube is for the purpose of taking any water that may pass
the tompion down to the pumps. The gun is then drawn entirely out of the tube
and is loaded preparatory to being shoved forward, after which the gate is raised
and the gun is shoved forward in position ready for firing.
The gun is fired
automatically by the piston rod of the hydraulic buffer closing the circuit of an
electric battery during any part of its movement. The firing charge is ignited by

page_text: means of fulminate of mercury placed in the said charge and the battery wire
connected therewith.
Attached to the tube are bridles
or connecting rods which lock on to the trunnions of the gun to prevent the gun
from recoiling into the vessel and which are provided with hydraulic buffers.
These buffers are constructed with cylinders and pistons with piston-rods that are
connected with the bridles. The valves are arranged and operated in all respects
the same as above described for the hydraulic buffer.
The tube contains packing rings at both ends.
The tompion is employed to keep the water out of the gun and air cylinders
are sometimes employed to prevent the air when compressed by the projectile
from expanding the muzzle of the gun. These will be hereinafter more fully
explained.
In one modification the bow of one form of ram is provided with a small piston,
the movement of which can fire the gun automatically in all respects the same as
above described. It will be seen that with this modification like the device above
described the gas presses against the rear end of the shell in the gun until the
point of the projectile has reached the side of the ship, in place of throwing the
projectile through the water by its momentum. The tompion in this modification
will be shaped to conform to the shape of the vessel at that point in order to offer
no additional resistance to the water.
In another modification the bow is constructed on the principle of the ordinary
well known ram, with the gun placed inside the tube which forms the spur so that
when the spur has entered the ship, a small charge of powder, so regulated as not
to send the shell through the ship will yet throw the shell into the hold of a ship.
The gun is fired automatically by the employment of a plunger. It will be under-
stood that the tompion forms the extreme point of the spur in order to lessen the
resistance of the water. This tompion of course, is shoved further into the gun
when the spur strikes the ship, and is shoved out therefrom and into the ship
attacked by the projectile. This system could be more easily applied to the rams
now in use, but the objection to it is the liability of the shell being unable to clear
the muzzle of the gun, either by reason of the spur or gun or both, being bent by
a ship passing across the bows of the vessel, or on account of striking some
obstruction in the ship, such as the frame-work or the boiler machinery, in either
of which cases the shell would remain in the gun, and, the fuze being ignited would
explode therein, causing the damage to the attacking vessel rather than to her
enemy. This shows the importance of the main feature of this system, that the
shell must have a short and uniform distance to pass through the water, short
enough to secure the required accuracy and yet not too short for the shell to clear
the muzzle of the gun before the point enters the side of the ship.
The time fuze is coiled around a
I will now proceed to describe the projectile.
spindle 7, which spindle is constructed with square threads for the reception of the
said fuze. One end of the fuze projects into a cavity in the rear end of the spindle
the covering to which cavity consists of a plate forming part of the water-tight
metal case which contains the propelling charge of powder, the said plate being of
such strength as to allow the gas from the powder charge to easily penetrate to and
ignite the time fuze. The water-tight metal powder case is placed on the sleeve
which contains the time fuze. The forward end of the fuze through the plug
which is screwed into the fuze spindle and supports the dry gun cotton tube in the
shell and the small tube for the fulminate of mercury which is ignited by the end of
the fuze. The fulminate of mercury is arranged in the rear of the propelling
charge case to be ignited by the electric wire and set fire to the gun powder. The
gas from the gun powder then penetrates the plate and ignites the time fuze as
herein before described. A piece of dry gun cotton is arranged in the tube for
igniting the wet gun cotton in the shell of the projectile. A sleeve contains the
time fuze and the spindle and its attachments above described. This sleeve has an
octagonal flange for convenience of screwing it into the shell. The time fuze is
encased in a leaden tube, and is intended to be 50 feet long. The fuze composition

page_text: time of twenty minutes.
our at the rate or one half inch per second, thus giving a burning
The tompion hereinbefore mentioned as employed to keep the water out of the
gun is constructed in quarter sections and the air cylinders are similarly constructed
These air cylinders may not be necessary when the shell or projectile is constructed
to permit a portion of the gases of the exploding charge to pass it but I should
invariably employ them when the projectile fits the bore of the gun to prevent the
air when compressed by the projectile from expanding the muzzle of the gun.
The shell is preferably longitudinally corrugated to form passages extending
forward of the cylindrical part of the shell, with corresponding internal corrugations
for the purpose of increasing the capacity of the shell for gun cotton and lessening
the weight of the same, this being one of the various forms which I may employ
without departing from the scope of my invention to allow a portion of the gas to
pass the projectile for the purpose of forcing the tompion out of the gun, also for
the purpose of allowing the compressed air to pass back and around the shell when
the tension of the air and gas forward of the shell is greater than that behind it,
thereby equalizing the pressure before and behind the shell and lessening the
liability of expanding the muzzle of the gun when the air cylinders are not
employed.
The advantage of the propelling charge of powder being detached is partly the
convenience of handling the projectile and partly the prevention of damage to the
powder-charge while placing the heavy shell into the gun, but the more important
advantage is that of being able to readily change the size of the propelling charge
as required by the kind of ship to be attacked, some ships being so much less
strongly constructed than others that without having a charge regulated somewhat
in proportion to the resistance the ship would offer, a charge regulated for the
stronger ship would throw the projectile or shell entirely through a weakly con-
structed ship, such as an ordinary cruiser or merchant ship. There would probably
be required three sizes of propelling charge designated as a minimum, maximum
and normal, and as the gun employed is a breech-loading gun, a few seconds would
be sufficient to open the breech and change the propelling charge. Each propelling
charge will have its electric wire attached to it, so as to be fired by electricity
automatically when the vessel strikes the ship.
The normal charge of powder employed may be 200 lbs., the weight of the pro-
jectile, when loaded, 5000 lbs., and the resistance of the obstructions, including
hydrostatic pressure, air cylinders, and tompion, 7000 lbs. The muzzle velocity of
the shell with the details as above is 340 feet per second which is calculated as
sufficient to penetrate a plate of three inches thickness which is supposed to
represent the two plates employed in ironclads of inch thickness each, making
1 inches, and an allowance of 1 inches for the frame-work etc., making a total of
three inches. The weight of the gun will be about 22 tons.
The proportions of the shell above described will admit of about 400 lbs. of wet
gun cotton being employed, but it will be seen that any amount may be employed
that is thought necessary, and it is evident that with the time fuze constructed on
this system, the shell cannot explode until the vessel has had ample time to get out
of the way of the ship in fact, almost any length of time could be obtained with a
fuze constructed on this system and as far as any suggestion of the shell being
removed from the attacked vessel during the time consumed by the burning of the
fuze is concerned, the impossibility of such a procedure will be seen when it is
borne in mind that the shell is 5000 lbs. weight and being hurled into the hold of
the ship would be difficult to get at.
It is proper to state here that I regard the bursting of the shell inside the ship
an indispensable feature for destroying iron-clads or ships of war, when made on
the honey-comb or compartment system which is almost universal now with all
first class iron-clads or ships of war.
It will be seen that according to my system the projectile has a short and uniform
distance to pass through the water also that the gas presses against the rear end of

page_text: the shell in the gun until the point of the projectile has reached the side of the
ship, in place of throwing the projectile through the water by its momentum as
heretofore.
Doch dov of Jul 1892
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Submarine Guns and Vessels for Carrying the
same, and in Ammunition therefor.
I, HIRAM BERDAN of 1820 N Street, Washington, in the District of Columbia,
United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained, in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to fire a shell from a submarine gun, through the
side of a ship, below her belt of armour, into her hold and therein explode the same
with a time fuze instead of exploding the shell by contact with the outside of the
ship where the explosion does much less injury to the ship, especially as to the bulk
heads.
According to the leading features of my invention the vessel for carrying a
submarine gun has a low armoured deck for deflecting projectiles, and its bow is
so constructed that it can strike the bow of a ship without injury to itself and
the submarine gun is so located in the bows of the said vessel as to be capable
of firing a shell into a ship below its armour while part of the said vessel is in
contact with the ship, whereby a short and uniform range is invariably secured,
while at the same time the firing charge may be graduated so as to invariably
force the shell through the first side of the ship, but never through the opposite
side thereof and a degree of accuracy may be insured which is impossible when
the shell has to be fired through the water at different distances with the same
charge of powder for the reason that the weight of the shell, when strong enough
to penetrate the side of the ship with the low velocity caused by the great
resistance of the water, will cause the shell to form a quick curve downward in
spite of any hydrostatic valve and rudder than can be applied; and for the
further reason that the shell would move so slowly that it would be deflected by
the waves and currents to say nothing of the inaccuracy that would be caused by
the pitching of the vessel.
Attempts have heretofore been made to accomplish this all-important result by
the use of pneumatic guns, or by mortars, for dropping the projectile through the
deck, but they have never succeeded save by accident owing to the almost total
It has
want of accuracy when either the ship or the attacking vessel is in motion.
also been attempted to do the same thing with the ordinary guns, for penetrating
the side of the ship at the water line, but without effect, in consequence of the
thickness of the armour commonly employed.
Other features of my invention consist in certain automatic firing arrangements;
also in improvements for operating a valve for regulating the pressure on the
pistons of hydraulic buffers for vessels and guns; also in certain provisions whereby
a projectile or shell containing high explosive can be fired into the hold of a ship
with greater certainty and with less injury to the gun from which it is fired than
with ammunition heretofore employed in submarine guns; and further in certain
improvements in shells for submarine guns.
Having fully stated the object and nature of my invention 1 will now give a full
and detailed description of the construction and devices which I prefer to employ
with some of the many modifications that can be employed without departing from
the essential characteristics of my invention.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings,
Figure represents a longitudinal section of the bow of my vessel and a sub-
marine gun therein with what I hereinafter term my "hydraulic buffer" in position
against an iron-clad ship.
Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the lower part of the
vessel and the submarine gun, showing the gun drawn back preparatory to
loading.
Figure 3 is a similar view but showing the gun loaded and in position to be
moved forward.
Figure represents a longitudinal section of the vessel showing devices for
operating the hydraulic buffer, and devices for firing the gun automatically, by
electricity.
Figure 5 represents a modification of Figure 1, with a spring for operating the
buffer or plunger and devices for firing the gun automatically by electricity.
Figure 6 is a modification showing a different form of ram or prow.
Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the devices for operating the hydraulic
buffer.
Figure 8 is a bottom view of the same.
Figure 9 is an end view thereof.
Figure 10 is an end view of the same showing the hanger for the shafts for
operating the valve.
Figure 11 shows an hydraulic buffer for taking up the recoil of the gun, the
same arrangements being employed for operating the valves as shown in Figure 4.
Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shell which I employ also
showing in detail the improved detachable firing charge, the time fuze, its spindle
and sleeve.
Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the profile of the time fuze spindle
displaying the sections of the leaden coil containing the time fuze composition.
Figure 13 is a transverse section of the shell at a-x Figure 12 showing the
corrugations.
Figure 134 shows a similar section of the shell at y-y, Figure 12.
Figure 13 shows a similar section of the shell at - Figure 12.
Figure 14 is an enlarged detail view of the form of air cylinder employed, and
Figure 15 is a similar view of the tompion employed.
Similar letters and numbers of reference designate corresponding parts in all the
figures of the drawings.
A represents the bow of a vessel which is preferably about 260 feet long,
40 feet beam, 16 feet draft, with corresponding displacement of about 2400 tons,
with engines capable of developing at least 7500 horse power, and a corresponding
speed of not less than 20 knots. W represents the water line and a the armoured
deck which is constructed of steel, two inches thick in the centre and four and
five inches on the side where the curve is quickened, and strongly supported by
girders or the ribs of the vessel, and below this deck a is attached an inner skin or
deck a for the purpose of conducting the drippings from the outer deck to pumps
in the event of the joints of the upper deck being opened by shot from the
enemy's gun.
B represents the tube of the hydraulic buffer, in which the piston
C represents the frame-work of the vessel, which connects the tube with the
moves, and
armoured deck and keel. The diameter of the piston for this size vessel should be
about four feet and the movement should be about ten feet. Behind the piston b
is arranged a head provided with any suitable packing to prevent the oil or
other fluid employed from passing, and in the chamber back of that piston is oil
or other suitable fluid, employed for the purpose of easing up the momentum of
the vessel, and for the purpose of equalizing this pressure, a valve I, which is
shown in detail in Figure 7, is employed in order to insure a uniform pressure,
say 5000 pounds to the square inch, during the entire movement of the piston.
This valve I contains an opening to correspond with the opening into the cylinder

page_text: of the hydraulic buffer through which the oil has to pass into the tank O. This
valve is inade to slide across the hole through which the oil is to pass from the
cylinder, and is operated automatically by means of the screw A, by the movement
of the piston through the arm M connected therewith, the feet of which slide in
grooves
N and the lower end of which is attached to the rack n which slides in
ways n and operates a pinion o on a shaft o' (said shaft being supported by
brackets q and g) and thereby turning the bevel wheel which rotates the shaft
on which the screw is fixed.
7"
The piston is pushed forward by means of an hydraulic pump P forcing oil
into the cylinder through the pipe p, and during this operation the oil is prevented
from passing through the valve I by means of a second valves placed lower down.
s represents the opening in this valve, represents a spiral spring and the tube
by which this spring is held in position. represents a shoulder for the oil to
press against when the buffer is shoved back by coming in contact with the ship
and thereby bringing the openings s to correspond with the opening in the valve 1.
The spring has sufficient strength to prevent this valve from sliding backward
under the pressure necessary to force the piston 6 forward, but when the greater
pressure, of, say 5000 pounds to the square inch, comes against this shoulder s2 by
means of the piston being shoved back, this valve moves and allows the oil to
pass out under the pressure into the tank O, thereby securing a mean pressure of
say 5000 pounds to the square inch, during the entire movement of the piston b.
It will be seen that by this arrangement of valve it is only necessary to employ the
hydraulic pump P to force the piston into position, and the piston will open the
valves by means of the shoulder s2 automatically and that this valve will cut off'
the orifice when the pressure is off.
I sometimes dispense with the upper valve 1, together with the small piston
rod and the machinery for operating this valve and regulate the pressure on the
piston by the valves, as above stated, until the head of the piston has cut off the
opening in the cylinder through which the oil passes, and before the packing in
the head has reached the opening in the cylinder. The main advantage of this
modification is that it is less expensive and less liable to get out of order.
I am aware that valves have been used for adjusting the outflow of liquids for
hydraulic buffers or the hydraulic arrangements for absorbing the recoil of guns,
but they have been regulated by springs of the required strength to take the direct
pressure on the piston employed; but where so much fluid has to pass in so short
a time and under such a heavy pressure, the spring would have to be equal to
several hundred tons which would be quite impracticable as compared with the
sliding valve and the small shoulder or ledge for the oil to act against in moving
the slide against the springs which are adjusted to the pressure required.
The tube D attached to the frame-work and keel of the vessel has a gate d
arranged for the purpose of shutting off the water when the gun G is in the position
shown in Figure 2. After the gate has been closed, the water that is in the gun
is drawn off through the pipe el. The pipe e is for the purpose of taking any water
that may pass the tompion F, down to the pumps. The gun is then drawn entirely
out of the tube D and is loaded preparatory to being shoved forward as shown in
Figure 3, after which the gate d is raised and the gun is shoved forward in position
ready for firing, as shown in Figure 1. The gun is fired automatically by the
piston rod 2 of the hydraulic buffer closing the circuit of an electric battery
during any part of its movement. The firing charge is ignited by means of
fulminate of mercury placed in the said charge and the battery wire we connected
therewith.
The tube D contains packing rings at both ends. Attached to the tube Dare
bridles or connecting rods E which lock on to the trunnions of the gun to prevent
the gun from recoiling into the vessel and which are provided with hydraulic
buffers as shown in Figure 11. These buffers are constructed with cylinders E¹
and pistons E with piston-rods that are connected with the bridles E as shown in

page_text: Figure 11. The valves are arranged and operated in all respects the same as in
Figure 4, for the hydraulic buffer. The location of the valves is as shown in cross
section.
The tompion F is employed to keep the water out of the gun, and air cylinders f
are sometimes employed to prevent the air, when compressed by the projectile H,
from expanding the muzzle of the gun. These will be hereinafter more fully
explained.
Figure 5 shows the bow of one form of ram with a small piston, the movement of
which can fire the gun automatically in all respects the same as in Figure 4. It
will be seen that with this modification like the device shown in Figure 1, the gas
presses against the rear end of the shell in the gun until the point of the projectile H
has reached the side of the ship, in place of throwing the projectile through the
water by its momentum. The tompion F in this modification will be shaped to
conform to the. shape of the vessel at that point in order to offer no additional
resistance to the water.
In the modification shown in Figure 6 it will be seen that the bow is constructed
on the principle of the ordinary well known ram, with the gun placed inside the
tube D' which forms the spur so that when the spur has entered the ship, a small
charge of powder, so regulated as not to send the shell through the ship, will yet
throw the shell into the hold of a ship. The gun is fired automatically by the
employment of a plunger as shown in Figure 3. It will be seen, also, that the
tompion F forms the extreme point of the spur in order to lessen the resistance of
the water. This tompion of course, is shoved further into the gun when the spur
strikes the ship, and is shoved out therefrom and into the ship attacked by the
projectile. This system could be more easily applied to the rams now in use, but
the objection to it, is the liability of the shell being unable to clear the muzzle of
the gun, either by reason of the spur or gun or both, being bent by a ship passing
across the bows of the vessel, or on account of striking some obstruction in the ship,
such as the framework or the boiler machinery, in either of which cases the shell
would remain in the gun, and, the fuze being ignited would explode therein,
causing the damage to the attacking vessel rather than to her enemy. This shows
the importance of the main feature of this system, that the shell must have a short
and uniform distance to pass through the water, short enough to secure the required
accuracy and yet not too short for the shell to clear the muzzle of the
gun Before
the point enters the side of the ship.
I will now proceed to describe the projectile H which is only imperfectly shown
in Figures 1, 3, 4, 5, but is represented fully in detail in Figures 12, 13, 134, 13.
Figure 12 shows the time fuze 3 coiled around a spindle 7, which spindle is con-
structed with square threads as shown in Figure 12*, for the reception of said fuze.
One end of the fuze as shown at 3*, Figure 12, projects into a cavity in the rear
end of the spindle 7, the covering to which cavity consists of a plate 9 forming
part of the water-tight metal case which contains the propelling charge of
powder, the said plate being of such strength as to allow the gas from the
powder charge to easily penetrate to and ignite the time fuze. The water-tight
metal powder case is placed on to the sleeve 8 which contains the time fuze.
4 designates the forward end of the fuse which passes through the plug 6 which is
screwed into the fuze spindle 7 and supports the dry gun cotton tube m in the shell,
and the small tube 13 for the fulminate of mercury which is ignited by the end 4
of the fuze. represents the fulminate of mercury arranged in the rear of the
propelling charge case k to be ignited by the electric wire w and set fire to the gun
powder. The gas from the gun powder then penetrates the plate 9 and ignites the
time fuze as hereinbefore described. 5 represents the dry gun cotton in the tube m
for igniting the wet gun cotton in the shell H of the projectile. 8 represents a
sleeve containing the time fuze and the spindle 7 and its attachments above
described. This sleeve has an octagonal flange 11 for convenience of screwing it
into the shell. The time fuze 3 is, as shown in Figure 12, encased in a leaden

page_text: tube, and is intended to be 50 feet long. The fuze composition 18 intended to
burn at the rate of one half inch per second, thus giving a burning time of twenty
minutes.
The tompion F herein before mentioned as employed to keep the water out of
the gun, is represented in Figure 15 as constructed in quarter sections and the air
cylinders are represented in Figure 14 as similarly constructed. These air
cylinders may not be necessary when the shell or projectile is constructed to permit
a portion of the gases of the exploding charge to pass it but I should invariably
employ them when the projectile fits the bore of the gun to prevent the air when
compressed by the projectile from expanding the muzzle of the gun.
The shell is shown as longitudinally corrugated to form passages extending
forward of the cylindrical part of the shell, with corresponding internal corruga-
tions for the purpose of increasing the capacity of the shell for gun cotton and
lessening the weight of the same, this being one of the various forms which 1 may
employ, without departing from the scope of my invention, to allow a portion of
the gas to pass the projectile for the purpose of forcing the tompion out of the gun,
also for the purpose of allowing the compressed air to pass back and around the.
shell when the tension of the air and gas forward of the shell is greater than that
behind it, thereby equalizing the pressure before and behind the shell and
lessening the liability of expanding the muzzle of the gun when the air cylinders
are not employed.
The advantage of the propelling charge of powder being detached is partly
the convenience of handling the projectile and partly the prevention of damage
to the powder charge while placing the heavy shell into the gun, but the more
important advantage is that of being able to readily change the size of the pro-
pelling charge as required by the kind of ship to be attacked, some ships being so
much less strongly constructed than others that without having a charge regulated
somewhat in proportion to the resistance the ship, would offer, a charge regulated
for the stronger ship would throw the projectile or shell entirely through a weakly
constructed ship, such as an ordinary cruiser or merchant ship. There would
probably be required three sizes of propelling charge designated as a minimum,
maximum, and normal, and as the gun employed is a breech-loading gun, a few
Beconds would be sufficient to open the breech and change the propelling charge.
Each propelling charge will have its electric wire attached to it, so as to be fired
by electricity automatically when the vessel strikes the ship.
The normal charge of powder employed may be 200 lbs., the weight of the
projectile, when loaded 5000 lbs., and the resistance of the obstructions, including
hydrostatic pressure, air cylinders, and tompion, 7,000 lbs. The muzzle velocity
of the shell with the details as above is 340 feet per second which is calculated as
sufficient to penetrate a plate of three inches thickness which is supposed to
represent the two plates employed in ironclads of inch thickness each,
making 1 inches, and an allowance of 1 inches for the frame work, making a
total of three inches. The weight of the gun will be about 22 tons.
The proportions of the shell as shown in the drawings will admit of about 400 lbs.
of wet gun cotton being employed but it will be seen that any amount may be
employed that is thought necessary, and it is evident that with the time fuze con-
structed on this system, the shell cannot explode until the vessel has had ample
time to get out of the way of the ship; in fact, almost any length of time could
be obtained with a fuze constructed on this system and as far as any suggestion
of the shell being removed from the attacked vessel during the time consumed by
the burning of the fuze is concerned the impossibility of such a procedure will be
seen when it is borne in mind that the shell is 5000 lbs. weight, and being hurled
into the hold of the ship, would be difficult to get at.
It is proper to state here that I regard the bursting of the shell inside the
ship an indispensable feature for destroying iron-clads or ships of war, when made
on the honey-comb or compartment system which is almost universal now with all
first class irou-clads or ships of war.

page_text: It will be seen that according to my system the projectile has a short and
uniform distance to pass through the water; also that the gas presses against the
rear end of the shell in the gun until the point of the projectile has reached the
side of the ship, in place of throwing the projectile through the water by its
momentum, as heretofore.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what. I
claim is':
די
1. As a means for firing projectiles under water and also for checking the
momentum of a vessel, a gun located in said vessel at the bows and under a buffer
provided thereon, and a chamber at or near the water line on which said buffer
slides, said chamber being filled with oil or other suitable fluid at the rear of the
buffer to absorb the momentum of the vessel when impacted against an external
object, and suitable electric connections between the chamber and the breech of
the gun, whereby, while the buffer is being pushed in, the gun is fired by means
of said connections, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. As a means for firing projectiles under water, a vessel provided with a gun
located therein at its bows and under a buffer in combination with an open chamber
arranged at or near the water line and having therein. and..projecting therefrom a
sliding buffer, and suitable electric connections between the said buffer and said
gun, whereby, while the buffer is being moved by external impact, the gun is
fired by means of said connections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. As a means for firing projectiles under water, a vessel provided with a sub
marine gun and with a buffer chamber located above the gun, said chamber
.containing oil or other suitable fluid and being provided with a buffer sliding therein
and with a valve mechanism, and with suitable electric connections between said
mechanism and the gun whereby, while the buffer is being moved by external
impact the oil or other fluid is compressed to operate the valve mechanism and
electrical connections by which the gun is fired, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
4. As a means for firing projectiles under water, a vessel provided with a gun
located therein at its bows and under a buffer, and a chamber located above the
gun and having extending therefrom and sliding therein a buffer provided with a
suitable rear extension, in combination with electrical devices connected with the
gun whereby said buffer, while being moved rearwards, is brought in contact
with said devices to complete..the circuit and fire the gun, substantially as
described.
5. As a means for firing projectiles under water, a vessel provided with a gun
located under a buffer at the bows of said vessel in a tube that is connected with
the frame-work of the vessel, in combination with an open chamber at or near the
water line, and having therein and projecting therefrom a sliding buffer, and suitable
electric connections between the said buffer and said gun, whereby, while the buffer
is being moved by external impact, the gun is fired by means of said connections,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth..
6. The combination, with a vessel, of a collision buffer sliding in a suitable
chamber, said chamber being provided with the valve I, which is operated by the
movement of the piston operatively connected with the rack n, the pinion o on the
shaft of the bevel wheel thereon, the bevel wheel on the shaft 3 meshing with
and carrying the screw to operate the valve, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
7. The combination with a war vessel, of a hydraulic collision buffer provided
with suitable pressure regulating devices, said devices consisting of a sliding valve
provided with a small projections operating against the spring r to adjust itself
to the desired pressure, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
8. As a means for firing a projectile, under water, a vessel provided with a
hydraulic cylinder having a piston moving therein, a sliding bracket connected

page_text: with said piston, a rack attached to said bracket, a transverse shaft connected with
the cylinder and carrying a pinion and a bevel wheel, the former of which meshes
with the rack, and the latter with a bevel wheel operating a screw-threaded shaft
to operate a valve, whereby the pressure of the fluid in the cylinder is equalized
during the entire stroke of the piston, as set forth.
9. As a means for firing projectiles, a vessel provided with a hydraulic cylinder
having an opening therein and a valve attached thereto, said valve having also an
opening therein, and small ledge against which the fluid acts, and a spring counter-
acting the pressure of the fluid against said ledge, all operatively connected and
combined substantially as set forth.
10. The combination of a shell, substantially as described with air cylinders in
front thereof, all in operative relation, substantially as and for the purpose herein set
forth.
11. A shell, substantially as described, having a time fuze attached to its rear
end, a spindle around which the time fuze is coiled, and a sleeve for protecting the
fuze, substantially as herein set forth.
12. A shell, substantially as described, having a metal case attached to its rear
part carrying the propelling charge and a time fuze, all in operative relation
substantially as set forth.
13. A shell, substantially as described, having a fuze spindle and sleeve, the fuze
encircling said spindle and a metal case for carrying the propelling charge
surrounding said sleeve, said parts being attached to the rear of the shell, and all in
operative relation therewith and with each other as set forth.
14. A shell, substantially as described, having a fuze spindle, the fuze encircling
said spindle, and a metal case carrying the propelling charge surrounding the fuze, said
parts being attached to the rear of the shell and separable therefrom and from each
other, as set forth.
15. A shell, substantially as described, charged with wet gun cotton, and a case
of dry gun cotton, a tube of fulminate of mercury, and a time fuze, substantially as
described, all combined and in operative relation as set forth.
16. A shell constructed with longitudinal corrugations corresponding internally
and externally thereof whereby the gas freely passes the shell, as and for the
purpose specified
Daten mis 21st dux of
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.