IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE, AND PROJECTILES TO BE USED PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Robert Moffatt, of Brooklyn, in the
State of New York, United States of America, but at present of
15, Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE, AND PROJECTILES TO BE USED
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Robert Moffatt
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 25th September 1874.
I, RICHARD ROBERT MOFFATT, of Brooklyn, in the State of New
York, United States of America, but at present of 15, Water Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE, AND PROJECTILES TO
BE USED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-

page_text: Secondly. To improvements in projectiles for rifled guns of all
calibres.
The first part of my Invention has for its object the preventing or
overcoming of the evils attendant upon unequal expansion and con-
traction in large or heavy guns that are formed with an internal tube of
steel, wrought iron, or other metal having cylindrical casings or rings of
metal shrunk on, or in cast-iron guns having an internal tube or lining
of steel, wrought iron, or other metal.
The bursting force of guns is of two kinds, namely, explosive or
projectile force, and the explosive force of heat. The explosive or 1
projectile force ceases when the shot leaves the gun, while the expansive
force by heat is increased by every discharge. Heretofore it has been
the practice to manufacture built up guns with the internal tube
cylindrically parallel, the outer rings or casing being tightly shrunk
thereon.
The expansive force of the inner tube is of two kinds, longitudinal and
radial, and the effect of manufacturing guns with the inner tube as
before described is either that the expansive force bursts the gun or
drives out the breech.
My Invention as applied to a large gun, whether built up or otherwise 2
constructed, but having an inner tube, consists in making said inner
tube with a taper throughout the length, or a portion of the length of
the tube from muzzle to breech, and I make the breech piece or cascable
with a concave provision, so that the tube will come between the
provision and the main metal of the gun. This concave in the breech 2
piece forms the end of the chamber of the bore, and the provision
prevents the powder gases from passing between it and the tube. Round
the concave provision on the breech piece of the gun I provide a series
of grooves to reduce the friction of the bearing of the provision on the
inner surface of the tube, and to prevent the escape of any gas between
the said provision and the tube. At the end of the tube and between
the tube and the breech piece I leave a space sufficient to allow for the
longitudinal expansion of the tube. The tube being taper it is evident
that this will allow also for the radial expansion of the tube, inasmuch
as the tube being tapered it longitudinally adjusts itself, and thus allows a
for the radial expansion. The inner tube being tapered may be driven
into the main body of the gun through the breech by hydraulic force

page_text: or otherwise, as will be understood. The inner tube is secured at the
muzzle end of the gun by a nut, studs, or otherwise, as will be
understood.
It will be evident that this Invention is also applicable to the con-
traction of the inner tube, as the tube will adjust itself as the metal
cools on the same principle as it expands, and with like force.
The second part of my Invention has for its object the construction
of projectiles that are provided with a double-lipped soft metal expanding
ring at their rear end for taking the rifled grooves in rifled ordnance,
so that they shall fit the bore of the gun with mechanical accuracy, and
at the same time cannot be injuriously affected by careless handling,
which often misshapes the outer lips of the projectile, so that the
projectile cannot enter the bore of the gun, or when entered does not lic
evenly or centrally in the bore.
My Invention as applied to a projectile having a ring or double lip
consists in constructing the double lip expanding ring so that the inner
surfaces of the lips will lie against each other in such a manner as to
form a solid bearing. The double lip expanding ring, which is made of
ductile metal, such as copper or other suitable metal, is first made in
shape, having an opening, which may be cast in the ring or made by a
tool. The lips are then compressed together, and the ring may then be
attached to the projectile in any known manner.
If desired the ring may be first applied to the projectile with the
opening; the inner lip is then compressed down upon the outer lip,
bringing the lips together, as will be understood.
In firing the powder gases force their way between the lips when
together as effectually as though there were an open space between
them, thus forcing the outer lip against the sides of the bore, and the
inner lip against the projectile, as will be understood.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Robert Moffatt in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd March 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ROBERT MOFFATT, of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, United
States of America, but at present of 15, Water Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in
the thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard Robert Moffatt,
Her special licence that I; the said Richard Robert Moffatt, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Richard Robert Moffatt, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE, AND PROJECTILES
то BE USED THEREWITH," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Richard Robert Moffatt, 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.
.
!
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Robert Moffatt, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
My Invention relates,-
Firstly. To improvements in ordnance, whether breech or muzzle-

page_text: The first part of my Invention has for its object the prevention of
injurious strain or pressure, which is caused by the unequal expansion
of large or heavy guns that are formed with an internal tube of steel,
wrought iron, or other metal, the gun proper being built up or cast
solid.
It is well-known that the bursting forces in guns are of two kinds,
namely, explosive or projectile force of the powder, and the expansive
force of the inner metal caused by the beat generated by the powder
gas and friction of the projectile upon the surface of the bore. The
explosive or projectile force ceases when the shot leaves the gun, while
the expansive force is increased by every discharge until the gun is
strained by the unequal expansion to such a degree that the explosive
force of the powder will be sufficient to rupture the gun. Heretofore it
has been the practice to manufacture built up guns with an internal
tube made cylindrically parallel, and the outer rings or casing tightly
shrunk thereon; the breech end of the inner tube made solid or having
a separate breech piece, which forms the bottom of the bore. In all
cases the end of the inner tube is firmly secured and has a solid bearing
on the gun.
This same principle of construction is introduced in cast
guns that are lined with an inner tube.
The force or strain on the gun caused by the expansion of the inner
tube by heat in firing is twofold, namely, longitudinal and radial, and
the effect of manufacturing guns with the inner tube as before described
is that the radial expansion tends to burst the gun, while the longi-
tudinal expansion tends to drive out the breech, thus straining the gun
to such an extent that it cannot resist the explosive force of the powder,
and it is evident that guns when fired rapidly are more apt to be effected
by the strains of unequal expansion than when fired slowly.
My Invention as applied to large guns, whether built up or otherwise
constructed, but having an inner tube, consists in making the said inner
tube with a tapered exterior, the taper extending its entire length or a
portion of its length, and having its greatest diameter at the rear part
of the gun. This tube may be inserted in a cast or solid gun from the
breech end, or it may be built upon in the construction of built up guns.
The breech piece in a muzzle-loading gun is screwed into the breech of
the gun, and is made with a projecting portion, which enters the tube.
This projecting portion has its face end deeply chambered, and forms the

page_text: bottom of the bore or powder chamber of the gun. Around the
periphery of the projecting portion of the breech piece are grooves,
which tend to prevent the gases from penetrating between the breech
piece and the tube. The hollow or chambered surface in the face of the
breech piece is made in such a manner or shape that the metal of the
breech piece forms a wall or layer, upon which the powder acts with a
force which also tends to check or prevent the gases from passing
between the contact surfaces of the breech piece and tube.
Between the rear end of the tube and the breech piece I leave an
1 open space sufficient to allow for the increased length of the tube when
expanded, so that it will not press upon the breech piece. By this
means no injurious strain is brought upon the breech piece by the
longitudinal expansion of the tube. The tube being tapered it is evident
that when it expands longitudinally it would become loose in the gun
were it not for the radial expansion which increases its exterior diameter,
so that the gun proper is always in contact with the tube, and the
tension varying but very little (if any) from that which it had when in
its normal or cool state. Thus there is no strain from the radial
expansion of the tube upon the gun as there would be if the tube was
cylindrical. The tapered tube longitudinally adjusts itself, and thus
allows for the radial expansion.
It will be evident that this Invention provides for the contraction of
the inner tube, and it will adjust itself as the metal cools upon the same
principle as it expands, and with like force.
In the construction of the gun the inner tube being tapered as
described may be driven into the gun proper through the breech end by
hydraulic force or otherwise, so as to have any desired amount of
tension. The tube is then firmly secured at its forward end by means
of a screw nut or other mechanical device, as will be understood.
The firing vent is made in the breech piece, and if desired a safety
vent may be made from the outer surface of the gun to the open space
between the breech piece and the tube to allow any gases to escape that
may find their way into the said open space.
The second part of my Invention has for its object the construction
of projectiles that are provided with a double-lipped soft metal expanding
ring at their rear end for taking the grooves in rifled ordnance, so that
they shall fit the bore of the gun with mechanical accuracy, and at the

page_text: same time cannot be injuriously effected by careless handling, which
often misshapes the outer lip of the projectile as at present made, so
that the projectile cannot enter the bore of the gun, or when entered
does not lie evenly or centrally in the bore.
My Invention as applied to a projectile having a ring or double lip
consists in constructing the double-lip expanding ring so that the inner
surfaces of the lips will lie against each other in such a manner as to
form a solid bearing or support for the outer lip. The double-lip
expanding ring, which is made of ductile metal, such as copper or other
suitable metal, is first made in shape, having an opening which may be
cast in the ring or made by a tool. The lips are then compressed
together, and the ring may then be attached to the projectile in any
known manner.
If desired the ring may be first applied to the projectile with the
opening; the inner lip is then compressed down upon the outer lip,
bringing the lips together, as will be understood.
In firing the powder gases force their way between the lips when
together as effectually as though there were an open space between
them, thus pressing the outer lip against the sides of the bore, and the
inner lip against the projectile, as will be understood.
In order that my Invention for improvements in ordnance and
projectiles to be used therewith may be more clearly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several Figures on the explanatory Sheet of
Drawings, which I have hereunto annexed for the purpose of showing
how my Invention may be carried out into practice.
Figure 1 is a section of a built gun, one half of which is shown
constructed according to the present practice, the other half being
shown constructed according to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a section of a cast-iron gun with an internal tube con-
structed according to my Invention.
Figure 3 represents a longitudinal central section of a projectile with
my improved expanding double-lipped ring attached.
Figures 4 and 5 are modifications of Figure 3.
Referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the upper half of the section
represented illustrates the present practice of constructing a built gun
with an internal tube. A is the internal tube, which is made cylindrically

page_text: parallel B are the outer rings or casings, which are tightly shrunk on
to the tube A; C is the breech end of the inner tube, which is made
solid; D is a screwed breech piece. In all cases it is practice for
the end of the inner tube to have a solid bearing at its breech. The
same principle of construction is introduced in cast guns that are lined
with an inner tube, as herein-before referred to.
.
ג
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that my Invention is
represented by the under half of the section of the gun illustrated at
Figure 1 and by Figure 2, and consists in making the inner tube A with
a tapered exterior, the taper extending its entire length or a portion of
its length, and having its greatest diameter at the rear part of the gun.
This tube may be inserted in the gun from the breech end, or it may be
built upon in the construction of the gun. The breech piece E in a
muzzle-loading gun is screwed into the breech of the gun, and is made
with a projecting portion F, which enters the tube A. This projecting 1
portion has its face end deeply chambered, and forms the bottom of the
bore or powder chamber of the gun. Around the periphery of the
breech piece are grooves H, which tend to prevent the gases from
penetrating between the breech picce E and the tube A. The chambered
surface J in the face of the breech piece is made in such a manner or 2
shape that the metal of the breech piece forms a wall, upon which the
powder acts with a force which also tends to check or prevent the gases
passing between the breech piece and the tube.
Between the rear end of the tube and the breech piece I leave an
open space K to allow for the increased length of the tube when
expanded. By this means no injurious strain is brough upon the
breech piece E by the longitudinal expansion of the tube A. The inner
tube may be firmly secured at its forward end by a screw nut L,
Figure 2. A safety vent M may be formed, as shown in dotted lines,
Figure 1, from the space K. The firing vent is illustrated at N,
Figure 2.
Letter a in the Drawings represents the projectile; b, the double-
lipped expanding ring, which is made of a ductile metal, such as copper
or other metal suitable for the purpose. The ring b is first made in the
shape as shown by the dotted lines in the Drawing, having an opening c,
which may be cast in the ring or made by a tool. The lips & and d' are
then compressed together as shown in Figure 3, and the ring & then
attached to the projectile à in any known manner.

page_text: If desired the ring 6 may be first applied to the projectile with the
opening c, and the lip & made as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5.
The projectile is then passed through a die, and the lip d compressed
down upon the lip d', or if desired the ring 6 may be made as shown by
the dotted lines in Figures 3 and 4, and the lip d' is then expanded by
any known manner into shape as shown in the said Figures 3, 4,
and 5. The powder gases will enter between the lips d and d' when
together as effectually as though there were an open space between them,
thus forcing the outer lip against the sides of the bore, and the inner lip
against the projectile.
Having now fully described the nature, object, and purposes of this
my Invention, and shown how the same may be carried out into
practical effect, what I claim as my Invention and secured to me by
Letters Patent as aforesaid is,-
Firstly. In the construction of guns, whether built up, cast, or
otherwise manufactured (but having an inner tube), making the said
inner tube with a tapered exterior, the taper extending the entire length
of the tube or a portion of its length, and having its greatest diameter at
the rear part of the gun, substantially as set forth.
Secondly. In the construction of guns forming a space between the
inner tube and the breech piece, and prolonging the breech piece to
enter the inner tube, and forming a hollow or chambered surface, which
forms the bottom of the bore to allow for the longitudinal expansion of
the said inner tube, substantially as set forth.
Thirdly. The projectile for rifled ordnance having an expanding ring
constructed with two lips d and d³, the inner faces of which come in
contact with each other for the purpose of supporting the outer lip, thus
preventing the danger of upsetting.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Robert Moffatt, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of February,
in the year of our Lord 1875.
DTAT
חו זנד
RICHARD ROBERT (L.S.) MOFFATT.