IMPROVEMENTS IN CANNONS, GUNS. AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS. AND IN PROJECTILES FOR THE SAME."
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Bentley, of Bedford, in the County
of Bedford, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CANNONS,
GUNS. AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS. AND IN PROJECTILES FOR THE SAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Bentley
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th April 1854.
I, WILLIAM HENRY BENTLEY, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, En-
gineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CANNONS, GUNS, AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS; AND IN PROJECTILES FOR THE SAME," to
be as follows:-
My Invention relates to cannons, guns, and other fire-arms, in which
the charge is introduced at the breech, and to the construction of projectiles
applicable thereto.
The barrel of my improved cannon is bored clear through, and has an
enlarged chamber at the rear end. This chamber is to receive a plug, plain
or screwed, with a shoulder or cap attached to it, which comes against or slides
over the rear end of the enlarged chamber, a washer of leather or other
material being interposed to confine the explosive gases. The sliding cap is
made of wrought iron, twisted or otherwise, so that it acts to strengthen the
breech of the gun, and preserve it from twisting. The plug has a screwed
stem attached to it, which stem passes into a box or close chamber, through a

page_text: nut tapped in its side. The box works against a shoulder on the framing of
the carriage through which the stem passes, and the plug is forced into and
withdrawn from the chamber of the barrel by turning the box by means of a
lever or hand wheel attached to it; or the stem may be worked by a nut or
other contrivance independent of the box. In the plug is formed the chamber
for the charge and projectile; the chamber being of the same bore as the
barrel at the mouth, and contracted at or towards the rear, and forming
a continuation of the barrel when the plug is in its place. The powder
chamber communicates with the touch hole or nipple by a passage through the
metal of the plug. The stem of the plug is hollow throughout, and communi-
cates at the front with the powder chamber, and at the rear with the interior of
the box, through one side of which it works, or with the interior of an inde
pendent box. A valve is placed at the front of the hollow stem, so as to close
the communication with the powder chamber when the discharge takes place,
and the box has a flap valve opening inwards to admit air to it, or air may be
supplied to the box by a fan blower or force pump or otherwise. The end of
the stem, which is inside the box, has a piston attached to it with a valve, and
when the stem is turned and the plug moved into the chamber of the barrel,
air is admitted to the box; and when the plug is being withdrawn, a current
of air is forced by the piston through the stem into the barrel, so as to blow
through it and keep it clear and cool; or the air may be blown through the
barrel by the fan, blower, or force pump. The plug is connected to its stem
by an universal or other joint, to admit of its being turned up for charging.
The wheels of the gun carriage are made hollow and fitted to the axle, which
is also hollow, with screw caps or pins, so as to admit of their being used for
the purpose of containing ammunition, &c. The gun is provided with an
elevating screw and hand wheel, or other contrivance, for the purpose of
raising or depressing it in firing. The gun may be fired by percussion or in
any other convenient manner, and when a percussion lock is used, a wire or
cord with a spring to draw it back may be connected to the trigger and
carried back through a tube, to admit of the gun being fired from a distance,
or it may be discharged by electricity. Several such guns may be connected.
together in a frame on wheels, or on a floating vessel, and they can then be
worked by one screw motion, and fired simultaneously from a considerable
distance by electricity, or by having cords, wires, or chains to the trigger, as
before mentioned. I do not confine myself to the arrangement of screw
motion for working the plug above mentioned, as this may be varied in detail,
so long as the same general principle is retained.
The projectiles which I employ with my improved cannon may be of any

page_text: known description, but I prefer to use my improved projectile, which is con-
structed with wings, arranged spirally or otherwise round it, and sharp at the
edges, so as to cut through obstacles, and is furnished with a stem or tube
which fits into the mouth of the powder chamber. The tube or stem on the
end of the ball may be screwed, to allow of a case or tube being attached to
it to contain the powder, so as to form a kind of cartridge. This case or
tube may be so constructed as to contain an additional quantity of compressed
air or gases, explosive or otherwise, so as to increase the effect of the dis-
charge. The object of the stem or tube at the end of my improved ball is to
ensure the whole explosive force of the charge being exerted against the
centre of the projectile, while its velocity and correctness of flight will be
increased by the wings formed on its exterior, which fit into the chamber of
the plug. The barrel of the gun, or the chamber in the plug, or both, may be
grooved or rifled, if required. A projectile of this construction may also be
made capable of expanding, and it may be furnished with a wadding to lessen
windage. The improvements described may be also applied to guns and
other fire-arms, the modifications necessary for this purpose being very
trifling. I coat my cannons, guns, and fire-arms with gutta percha, or other
suitable material, so as to prevent rust or corrosion from exposure to moisture.
I also employ the tubes in which the wires or discharging cords are placed to
convey signals by compressed air or otherwise, from one gun to another, or
from distant points to the guns, so that the persons in charge may be directed
how to act in cases of emergency.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Henry Bentley in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th October 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HENRY BENTLEY, of Bedford, in the County of Bedford, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Henry Bentley, Her special licence that I, the said William
Henry Bentley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Henry Bentley, my executors, administrators, and assigns,.

page_text: 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CANNONS, GUNS, AND OTHER FIRE-ARMS, AND IN PROJECTILES FOR THE
SAME," upon the condition (amongst others). that I,,the said William Henry
Bentley, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should! par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed.in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Henry Bentley, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed (that is to say):-
My Invention relates to cannons, guns, and other fire-arms in which the
charge is introduced at the breech, and to the construction. of projectiles
applicable thereto.
The barrel of my improved cannon is bored clear through, and has an
enlarged chamber at the rear end. This chamber is to receive a plug, plain or
screwed, with a shoulder or cap attached to it, which comes against or slides
over the rear end of the enlarged chamber, a washer of leather or other
material being interposed to confine the explosive gases. The sliding cap is
made of wrought iron, twisted or otherwise, so that it acts to strengthen the
breech of the gun, and preserve it from bursting. The plug has a screwed
stem attached to it, which stem passes into a box or close chamber through a
nut tapped in its side. The box works against a shoulder on the framing of the
carriage through which the stem passes, and the plug is forced into and with-
drawn from the chamber of the barrel by turning the box, by means of a lever
or hand wheel attached to it; or the stem may be worked by a nut or other con-
trivance independent of the box. In the plug is formed the chamber for the
charge and projectile, the-chamber-being-of-the-same-bore-as-the-barrel-at-the
mouth, and contracted at or towards the rear, and forming a continuation of
the barrel when the plug is in its place. The powder chamber communicates
with the touch-hole or nipple by a passage through the metal of [the plug.
The stem of the plug is hollow throughout, and communicates at the front
with the powder chamber, and at the rear with the interior of the box, through
one side of which it works, or with the interior of an independent box. A

page_text: valve is placed at the front of the hollow stem, so as to close the communica-
tion with the powder chamber when the discharge takes place, and the box
has a flap valve opening inwards, to admit air to it, or air may be supplied to
the box by a fan, blower, or force pump, or otherwise. The end of the stem
which is inside the box has a piston attached to it with a valve, and when the
stem is turned and the plug moved into the chamber of the barrel, air is
admitted to the box; and when the plug is being withdrawn, a current of air
is forced by the piston through the stem into the barrel, so as to blow through
it and keep it clear and cool; or the air may be blown through the barrel by the
fan, blower, or force pump. The plug is connected to its stem by an universal.
or other joint, to admit of its being turned up for charging. The wheels of the
gun carriage are made hollow and fitted to the axle, which is also hollow, with
screw caps or pins, so as to admit of their being used for the purpose of con-.
taining ammunition, &c. The gun is provided with an elevating screw and.
hand wheel, or other contrivance, for the purpose of raising or depressing it in
firing. The gun may be fired by percussion, or in any other convenient manner;
and when a percussion lock is used, a wire or cord with a spring to draw it
back may be connected to the trigger, and carried back through a tube, to
admit of the gun being fired from a distance; or it may be discharged by
electricity. Several such guns may be connected together in a frame on
wheels, or on a floating vessel, and they can then be worked by one screw
motion, and fired simultaneously from a considerable distance by electricity, or
by having cords, wires, or chains to the trigger, as before mentioned. I do
not confine myself to the arrangement of screw motion for working the plug.
above mentioned, as this may be varied in detail, so long as the same general
principle is retained.
The projectiles which I employ with my improved cannon may be of any'
known description; but I prefer to use my improved projectile, which is
constructed with wings, arranged spirally or otherwise round it, and sharp
at the edges, so as to cut through obstacles, and is furnished with a
stem or tube, which fits into the mouth of the powder chamber. The tube
or stem on the end. of the ball may be screwed, to allow of a case or tube
being attached to it to contain the powder, so as to form a kind of cart-
ridge. This case or tube may be so constructed as to contain an additional
quantity of compressed air or gases, explosive or otherwise, so as to increase
the effect of the discharge. The object of the stem or tube at the end of my
improved ball is to ensure the whole explosive force of the charge being
exerted against the centre of the projectile, while its velocity and correctness
of flight will be increased by the wings formed on its exterior, which fit into

page_text: the chamber of the plug. The barrel of the gun, or the chamber in the plug;
or both, may be grooved or rifled, if required. A projectile of this construction
may also be made capable of expanding, and it may be furnished with a
wadding to lessen windage. The improvements described may be also applied
to guns and other fire-arms, the modifications necessary for this purpose being
very trifling. I coat my cannons, guns, and fire-arms with gutta percha or
other suitable material, so as to prevent rust or corrosion from exposure to
moisture; I also employ the tubes in which the wires or discharging cords are
placed to convey signals by compressed air or otherwise, from one gun to
another, or from distant points to the guns, so that the persons in charge may
be directed how to act in cases of emergency.
Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed represents a section of a
cannon constructed according to my Invention. A, A, is the cannon; B, the
enlarged end or breech; C, the plug, which accurately fits into the enlarged
end B.; D is a stem or screw, which is attached by an universal joint D¹ to
the back end of the plug; E is a box or chamber, in the front of which is fixed
a nut F, which is tapped with a thread corresponding to the screw D. The
end of the stem D inside the chamber E is fitted with a piston F', which fits the
interior diameter of the chamber. The stem D and plug C are bored through
the centre, which opens a channel of communication between the bore of the
cannon and the chamber or box E; the opening into the bore of the cannon
being closed by means of a flap or valve a opening outwards, and the chamber
E is also fitted with a valve b opening inwards. The chamber E has attached
to it a series of handles c, by means of which the nut F is turned. The action
of this cannon is as follows:-When it is desired to charge the cannon, the
chamber E and nut F are turned, so as to withdraw the plug B from the
barrel of the cannon, which is then capable of being turned up upon the uni-
versal joint, so as to receive the charge; the end of the plug is then inserted
into the end of the cannon and the nut reversed, which causes the screw to
traverse in the opposite direction, and bring the plug into its proper place and
prepare the piece for firing. After the cannon has been discharged the plug
is again withdrawn to be recharged, the action of which is to cause the piston
to traverse the chamber E, whereby a stream of air is forced through the
channel in the screw and plug, so as thereby to clear the piece and also to
assist in cooling it.
Figure 2 is a modification of the above arrangement. A is the barrel of the
cannon; and B, the plug; C is the stem, which is cut with the thread of a
screw on its exterior. The cannon A is cast with a couple of arms A', A',
which support the piece D, which is capable when the plug is withdrawn of

page_text: turning upon the pins a, a, as a centre; E is a nut, which is formed with a
shoulder b, and has also cast upon it the handle c, c, by which it is capable of
being turned, so as to withdraw the plug. The stem C is also fitted with a
piston F, working within a chamber G, attached to the nut E; or it may be
placed independent of the nut if desired. A channel is bored through the
stem C and plug, whereby a current of air is caused by the withdrawing of
the plug to pass through from the chamber G into the bore of the cannon, in
order to cool and also to clear the piece of any deposits that may be left after
the discharge.
Figure 3 represents a cannon constructed without a chamber and hollow
stem, but in which the plug is withdrawn by means of a nut E, cut with a
thread, which works into a screw thread cut upon the exterior of the cannon
A, the plug being connected to the nut E by means of the arms A', A¹. c, c,
are handles upon the boss d, by which the nut is caused to traverse upon the
screw, and thereby to withdraw or insert the plug.according to the direction
in which it is turned. The cannons when thus constructed may be mounted
upon any suitable carriage capable of admitting of the action of the gun
taking place, and fitted with screws or other contrivances for elevating or
lowering the piece.
form my improved projectile
The edges of the spiral are
Figure 4 represents the method in which I construct the wheels of gun
carriages, which are made hollow and fitted to the axle, which can also be
made hollow, for the purpose of containing the ammunition, &c. I fit the
ends of the axle with caps, and also close in the wheels by means of covers;
the covers of the wheels being fitted with slides a, for introducing or with-
drawing the ammunition or other stores that may be placed therein.
Figure 5 represents the manner in which I
with a spiral wound round it, as shewn at a, a.
made sharp, so as to cut any obstacle. The interior of the projectile is made
hollow, into which I fit a capsule or cartridge, filled with powder or other
explosive compound. The capsule has a hole in the end of it, communicating
with the touch-hole of the piece. Figure 6 is a modification of the preceding
projectile, in which I place a number of balls between the cartridge and the
interior of the projectile. In some cases I form upon the cartridge a screw,
and also cut a thread upon the projectile, for the better securing the cartridge
n its place. Figure 7 represents a method of constructing the projectile of a
number of pieces put together, as shewn in the end view, Figure 8; this pro-
ectile is also fitted with a capsule or cartridge and wings, or a spiral is formed
pon its exterior to increase the correctness of its flight.

page_text: And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,—
First, the construction of breech-loading cannons, guns, and other fire-arms,
with breech plugs worked by a screw or. screws, in the manner herein-before
described and represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings hereunto
annexed.
Second, I claim the addition to breech-loading cannons, guns, and other
fire-arms of an air-forcing apparatus, for the purpose of driving a current of
air through the chamber of the gun and through the barrel after such
discharge, as herein-before described and represented in the Drawings here-
unto annexed.
Third, I claim the construction of gun carriages with hollow axles and
hollow wheels for the conveyance of ammunition and stores, as herein-before
described and represented in Figure 4 of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Fourth, I claim the improved projectiles, herein-before described and repre-
sented in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the Drawings hereunto annexed.
And, fifth, I claim the coating of cannons, guns, and fire-arms, with gutta
percha or other suitable material, for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Bentley, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of October, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-four.
W. H. BENTLEY. (L.S.)