Improvements relating to Guns or Rifles and other Apparatus Operated by Compressed or Liquefied Gases.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Apr., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Guns or Rifles and other Apparatus
Operated by Compressed or Liquefied Gases.
1, JOHN STEWART WALLACE, of Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast in the County of
Antrim, Ireland, Timber Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to that class of guns, rifles, or the like and to other apparatus,
in which the projecting or propelling force or motive power is derived from com-
pressed air liquefied gas or from similar sources; and is chiefly designed to afford
an indication as to how much of the available power has been used or as to how
much thereof remains.
My invention as applied to a gun rifle or other apparatus constructed to be
worked by gas or air compressed in a reservoir affixed thereto, or connected there-
with, preferably takes the form of a counter which is connected with any convenient
part thereof, and which is moved or operated each time the said gun or rifle is fired
or the apparatus worked, to record by means of a pointer moving over a dial or
otherwise such firing or working.
The counter is provided with a coiled spiral or other spring so that as it is
moved or operated it winds up the same or stores energy therein for the purpose of
returning the said counter to zero or to its starting position. The counter is
prevented from returning to zero by means of a ratchet and pawl. This pawl
is held against the ratchet so long as the gas or compressed air reservoir is screwed
or attached to the rifle. When however the reservoir is taken off to be recharged
the pawl by means of a spring or otherwise is disengaged from the ratchet and the
indicator thus allowed to return to zero under the influence of the aforesaid spiral
or other spring.
The indicator can if desired be arranged to sound an alarum when near its highest
point or at any other point, and suitable mechanism may be provided to allow of the
point at which the alarum is operated being made adjustable.
The device can be applied to any apparatus worked by means such as described
in which compressed air or gas reservoirs are employed for providing the energy
required.
The pawl of the aforesaid counter may be so arranged as to be released by hand
or by the performance of any of the operations necessary in the working of the gun
or apparatus.
Moreover other suitable means may be provided for causing the counter to return
to zero.
As it is known how many charges the gas or air in the reservoir will fire, or the
work it will accomplish, the available power remaining can at any time be seen by
noting on the counter the number of shots that have been fired, or of times the
mechanism has operated since the reservoir was affixed.
Dated this 5th day of July 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Guns or Rifles and other Apparatus
Operated by Compressed or Liquefied Gases.
I, JOHN STEWART WALLACE, of Cliftonville Avenue, Belfast, in the County of
Antrim, Ireland, Timber Merchant, 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:-
My invention relates to rifles and other guns and to other engines or apparatus
wherein the projecting or propelling force or motive power is derived from com-
pressed air or other gas or from liquefied gas; and my said invention is chiefly
designed to afford, at any time, an indication of the quantity of the gas or fluid that
has been used or that remains available for use.
In applying my said invention to a rifle or other gun or apparatus constructed to
be worked by air or other gas compressed in a reservoir affixed thereto or connected
therewith, I employ a counter which is connected with any convenient part thereof,
whereby the said counter will be operated each time the said gun or rifle is
discharged or the apparatus worked. This counter is arranged to record, by means
of a hand or pointer moving over a dial, or by other convenient means, the number
of discharges of gas or fluid from the said reservoir since the filling or charging
thereof, and to thus indicate, at any time, how much available power remains in the
said reservoir. By these means, it can be readily ascertained when desired, how
many shots can be discharged from a gun, or how many operations can be performed
by any other engine or apparatus, before it will be necessary to recharge the
reservoir or to replace the empty reservoir by a full reservoir.
The counter is preferably provided with suitable means for automatically
returning the index or pointer thereof to its starting position or zero when released.
The said index or pointer is arranged to be released by the removal of the reservoir,
or by the performance of any other of the operations necessary in the working of the
gun or apparatus; or its release may be effected by hand in any other convenient
manner.
My said invention can be advantageously applied to guns of the kind or class known
as "Giffard" guns, wherein the discharge of the projectile is effected by the
expansion of a charge of liquefied gas, such gas being liberated as required from a
reservoir by the action of a pin or striker which, when the hammer of the gun is
released, is actuated thereby and thus caused to temporarily open a valve in the
said reservoir as described in the Specification of former Letters Patent No. 11,050
dated 9th July A.D. 1889.
In the accompanying drawings,
66
"
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a portion of a Giffard gun with my
counter or registering device or apparatus applied to the same.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section through the stock and breech of
the gun, some of the parts of the counter or registering device being removed.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2, the reservoir and parts of the said counter
or registering device being removed.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Figures 5 and 6 show details of the mechanism hereinafter described.
Figure 7 is a plan, and,
Figure 8 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing another form or
modification of my counter or registering apparatus.
Figure 9 is a side elevation, showing details of construction.
Figure 10 is a side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal section on the
yy, Figure 11.
line
Figure 11 is a transverse section on the line y", y*, Figure 10, and
Figure 12 is a transverse section on the line,, Figure 10, illustrating another
modification of my said invention.

page_text: Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A. is the barrel of the gun; B is the shoe or body thereof; C is the stock; D is
the hammer; E is the reservoir for the compressed gas.
Referring to Figures 1. to 6, a is a metal or other casing which is fitted partially
into and secured in a recess C' formed in the stock C. b is a suitably graduated
dial arranged between the said casing a and a cover a¹ having its central portion
formed of glass or other transparent material. c is an index or pointer fixed upon
the boss d of a ratchet-wheel d, which is mounted upon a spindle e so as to be free
to rotate thereon. is a cam or wiper formed or fixed on the spindle e..
small ratchet-wheel also formed or fixed on the said spindle e. This spindle is
supported at one end in a suitable bearing in the inner wall of the casing a, and at
the other end in the boss d¹ of the ratchet-wheel d, which is supported in a hole or
bearing in the face or dial b.
g is a
is a pawl pivoted at h' to an arm or crank ², which is connected, by means of
a square stud or pin i passing through a hole in the inner wall of the casing a, with
a bent piece or bracket i firmly secured to the hammer D, so that the said crank h
will turn with the hammer about the pivot or axis thereof, for the purpose of
operating the pawl /. The connection between the crank and the hammer D) is
shown more clearly in Figures 5 and 6; the pivot of the hammer, in this gun, being
fixed, it is necessary to use the bracket i¹; were the said pivot movable with the
hammer, it would be more advantageous to fix the arm or crank on an extension
of the said pivot. The arm or crank is arranged to work in a recess a² in the
inner wall of the casing a, in which recess it is retained by a plate a* (Figure 3)
secured to the inner wall of the said casing. The pawl h is caused to engage with
the teeth of the ratchet-wheel g by a spring j. k is a retaining or locking pawl,
which is pivoted at ¹ to the inner wall of the casing a, and is provided with a
spring for keeping it in engagement with the ratchet-wheel and preventing
backward movement of the latter whilst the pawl h is being drawn back to engage
with a fresh tooth thereof. I is a toothed pawl pivoted at 11 to one extremity of
an arm or lever m; the lever m is pivoted at m to the inner wall of the casing a,
and bears against the cam or wiper f, so that it will be turned about its pivotin
each revolution of the said cam or wiper, whereby it is caused to turn the ratchet-
wheel d, through the medium of the pawl l. A spring m³, Figures 2 and 3, is
attached to the casing a and bears against the lever m for the purpose of effecting
its return movement when the raised portion of the said cam or wiper moves away
from the said lever. n is a toothed locking or retaining pawl pivoted at n¹ to a
boss or projection a³ (Figure 4) upon the inner wall of the casing a; this pawl n
also engages with the ratchet-wheel d. The pawls and n are provided with
suitable springs 12, n, which tend to keep them in engagement with the ratchet-
wheel d.
pis a square or other suitably shaped block or piece, arranged to be moved to
and fro, but restrained from rotation in a hole C' in the stock C, and provided with
a rod or stem p' which extends through a hole B' in the breech and is adapted to
enter a recess B³ provided in the breech for the reception of the reservoir E; this
rod or stem is acted upon by a spring 9, which bears against a fixed collar on the
said rod p² and tends to push the same forward. The block or piece p is provided
with a hook or projection p³ adapted to engage with the pawls and n as shown in
Figures 2 and 3, so that, when the reservoir E is removed, the said rod and
block P will be moved by the spring 9 from the position shown in Figure 2 to that
shown in Figure 3, and thereby caused to draw the pawls and n out of engagement
with the ratchet-wheel d. The ratchet-wheel d is omitted from Figure 3, in order
to show more clearly the parts beneath the same. is a coiled spring for auto-
matically returning the parts of the counter to the zero or starting position when
the said pawls and n are thus disengaged. This spring is attached at one end to
the boss d¹ of the ratchet-wheel d, and its other end is connected by an arm or
link to a pin or stud fixed in the inner wall of the casing a. When the
reservoir E is again inserted in the recess B2 in the breech, it will push the rod p¹
?'

page_text: backward and thus permit the re-engagement of the pawls and n with the ratchet-
wheel d. The forward end of the rod pl that projects into the recess B² when the
reservoir E is removed, is preferably made square or of other suitable form in
transverse section to receive a key or the like, for convenience of unscrewing and
disconnecting it from the block or piece p.
the latter
The operation of the apparatus is as follows, that is to say :- -Assuming the parts
to be in the position indicated in Figure 2; in the cocking of the hammer D, the
arm or crank will be turned through a small angle, and thus caused to draw back
the pawl so that it engages with a fresh tooth of the ratchet-wheel
being held in position, during this movement, by the retaining pawl k. On the
release of the said hammer by the pulling of the trigger, the said crank h² and
pawl return with the hammer to their original position, and, in their return move-
ment, partially rotate the ratchet-wheel g. In each revolution of the ratchet-wheel g,
the cam or wiper facts upon the lever m, and, through this lever, operates the
toothed pawl, thereby partially rotating the ratchet-wheel d, so that the index or
pointer is moved through a space equal to one of the graduations on the dial b.
When the raised portion of the cam or wiper has passed the free extremity of the
lever the latter is moved back to its normal position by the spring m², and the
pawl is thus drawn back so that it engages with a fresh tooth of the ratchet-
wheel, the latter being held meanwhile by the retaining pawl n. Each operation
or movement of the ratchet-wheel d acts to slightly wind up the coiled spring and
thus store energy therein. When the reservoir E is removed from the breech for
refilling or recharging, or in order to substitute a fresh reservoir therefor, the
pawls and are disengaged as hereinbefore described from the teeth of the
ratchet-wheel d, and the said ratchet-wheel is, under the reaction of the spring,
returned to its initial position, and the index or pointer e thus moved back to its
starting point or zero.
m,
It will be seen that, whenever the hammer D descends and permits the discharge
of gas from the reservoir E in the manner described in the said former Specification,
the ratchet-wheel will be turned through a small angle by the pawl h. The
ratchet-wheel d and index or pointer c, in the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 6, are
moved or operated by the can or wiper only once in each complete revolution of
the small ratchet-wheel y; consequently the said index or pointer e must be
arranged to register, at each movement, a number of discharges equal to the number
of teeth in the said ratchet-wheel g, which, in the example shown, is ten.
The hammer D is fitted with a spring whereby it is caused to rebound or move
back a short distance after striking, and to remain in the position to which it
rebounds until it is again cocked. Should the hammer D be lowered from the
cocked position gently, so as not to allow it to pass its position of rest determined
by the aforesaid rebounding spring, the pawl will fail to move or rotate the
ratchet-wheel through the whole of the angle corresponding to the pitch of its
teeth; consequently, when the hammer D is again raised or cocked, the pawl / will
slide upon the same tooth of the said wheel g; the said pawl will, therefore, act to
advance the ratchet-wheel g when, but not until the hammer is permitted to descend
forcibly through its full stroke, and to afterwards rebound as above mentioned.
g
As the number of charges of compressed gas contained in the reservoir is known,
the available power remaining in the said reservoir at any time can be readily
ascertained by noting on the counter or registering device the number of discharges
that have taken place since the reservoir was affixed.
Instead of employing the above described mechanism for moving the pointer or
index through a certain distance in every complete revolution of the ratchet-
wheel g, I sometimes employ suitable means whereby each discharge will be
separately recorded upon the dial; or I provide means whereby any other convenient
number of discharges will be recorded upon the dial in each movement of the
pointer or index.
In Figures 7, 8 and 9, I have shown a modification of my invention wherein the
counter or registering device is placed in a recess formed in the top of the neck or

page_text: upper part of the stock, behind the lock. In this modification, I dispense with the
index or pointer c, dial b, ratchet-wheel d, pawls and n, and cam or wiper f herein-
before described, and employ, instead thereof, the devices hereinafter mentioned.
The casing a is made of suitable shape and is fitted in a recess or mortice C³ in the
stock C, so that its cover a¹ is flush, or nearly flush with the surface of the stock.
s is a disc fixed on the spindle e, which, in this case, is supported at both extremities
in suitable bearings in the side walls of the casing a. The said disc is provided on
its rim with a graduated scale. The driving-pawl, which engages with the
ratchet-wheel 9, is pivoted at h' to a lever v, which is pivoted at to the casing a,
and is coupled by means of a connecting rod 3, to the bent piece or bracket i¹ fixed
on the hammer D; the action of these parts is similar to that of the corresponding
parts in the arrangement above described, that is to say, the wheel g is partially
rotated by the pawl h each time the hammer D is allowed to strike freely, on the
release of the trigger.
"
One extremity of the coiled spring is connected to the casing a and the other
extremity thereof to the disc s. is a tooth or projection on the said disc s
adapted to engage with a stop a' formed on or secured to the casing a. t is a three-
armed lever pivoted upon one extremity of the spindle e, which is extended through
the casing a for the purpose. The long arm of the lever t is coupled at t¹ to the
rear extremity of the rod p'. The other arms of the said levert are provided with
pins or projections 2 which pass through slots a' in the casing a, and extend into
the paths of the pawls h and k. When the reservoir E is in position, and the
rod is held back thereby the lever t is retained by the said rod p¹ in such a
position that the pins or projections are clear of the said pawls and k, and the
latter are permitted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel g under the
action of the springs and j. When, however, the said reservoir E is removed,
the rod pl is moved forward by the spring q, and thereby caused to turn the lever t
about the spindle e so that the pins or projections 2 throw the pawls / and / out of
engagement with the ratchet-wheel g, and permit the disc s to return to its starting
point or zero under the reaction of the coiled spring r. The tooth or projection s
and stop a prevent rotation of the said disc through more than one revolution in
either direction. a is a window or aperture in the cover a', through which may be
seen the graduations and figures on the disc s indicating the number of shots that
have been discharged.
It is obvious that the discs may be separate from the wheel g, and that mechanism
similar to that hereinbefore described, or of any other suitable description, may be
provided for moving or actuating the disc s when, but not until the ratchet-wheel g
has performed one complete revolution.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 illustrate another form or modification of my invention,
wherein the index or pointer e is fixed upon one end of the spindle e, and a
worm-wheel is also fixed upon the said spindle and is geared with a worm ¹
formed or fixed on a spindle, which is supported in suitable bearings in the
breech B and in a movable piece y¹ pivoted at y to the breech. is a ratchet-
wheel formed or fixed on the spindle ² and arranged. to be intermittently rotated
by a pawl pivoted at 2 to a block or piece which is free to move up and down
in the breech B. The said block is formed with a slot through which is
passed a pin, stud or screw z for guiding it in its up and down movements, or other
suitable means may be provided for this purpose. 2 is a disc fitted to rotate in the
breech B and having a projection with which the hammer D, during the cocking
thereof, will engage and thus turn the said disc through a certain angle. is an
arm or projection formed on or firmly secured to the said disc, and working in a
slot or recess in the slide piece or block, so that it will depress the latter
during the partial rotation of the said disc 2, and, through the pawl and
ratchet-wheel, will turn the spindle through a certain angle; this spindle
will thus be caused to move the index or pointer c, through the medium of the
worm x', worm-wheel w and spindle e. The return of the disc z to its original or
initial position, is effected by a spring or other suitable device (not shown in the

page_text: drawing), and the slide-block or piece z³ is thereby again raised so that the pawl ¹
engages with a fresh tooth of the ratchet-wheels. One end of the coiled spring
is secured to the dial b, and the other end thereof to the worm-wheel to or to the
spindle e. The release of the said worm-wheel and spindle to permit the return
of the index or pointer to zero, is effected by the following means, viz:- -The rod pl
bears at one extremity against the pivoted piece y' and its other extremity extends
into a recess in the stock C, so that, when the reservoir (which, in this case, is
situated in the stock) is in its place, it will maintain the pivoted piece y' in the
position shown in full lines in Figure 10, and thus keep the worm in gear with
the worm-wheel w. When, however, the said reservoir is removed to be refilled or
recharged, or for the substitution of a fresh reservoir therefor, the rod pl will be
free to slide into the said recess, and the weight of the parts will cause the pivoted
piece to move into the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 10, thus moving
the worm out of engagement with the worm-wheel w, and permitting the return
of the index or pointer c to its starting point or zero under the reaction of the coiled
spring r.
In some cases, the said counter or registering device is so arranged as to indicate,
at the commencement, the entire number of charges of gas contained in the
reservoir when full, and to move at each discharge through a small angle towards
zero, thus indicating, at any time, the exact amount of available power remaining
in the reservoir.
I sometimes employ a Vernier scale in connection with the graduated dial.
The counter, indicator or registering device can, if desired, be arranged to sound
an alarm and thus give warning when the reservoir is empty or nearly empty, and
suitable mechanism may be provided whereby the period at which the said alarm
will be operated may be regulated at will.
It is evident that my invention is applicable to various kinds of apparatus worked
by means of compressed air or other gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
I claim -
First. The herein described method of providing for the indication, at any time,
of the quantity of compressed or liquefied gas that has been supplied from a
reservoir to a gun or other engine or apparatus, or that remains in the said
reservoir available for use in such gun or other apparatus, for the purpose above
specified.
Second. In a gun or other engine or apparatus worked by compressed or
Liquefied gas taken intermittently from a reservoir or store, the combination of
the counter or registering device with the mechanism which operates a valve
for controlling the passage of the fluid from the reservoir, for the purpose above
specified.
Third. In a gun or other engine or apparatus worked by compressed or liquefied
gas taken intermittently from a reservoir, the employment of a counter or registering
device driven by a pawl which is connected with the striking hammer or other
moving part of the mechanism or apparatus, for the purpose above specified.
Fourth. The provision of suitable means whereby the pointer or index will be
moved relatively to the dial when but not until a pre-arranged number of shots
have been discharged or operations performed, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination, with the pointer or index, of means whereby the return
of the same to its starting position or zero will be automatically effected when the
reservoir is removed, for the purpose above specified.
Sixth. The combination, with a counter or registering device for the purpose
above specified, of a suitable alarm which will be set in action when the reservoir
is empty or nearly empty.
Seventh. The improved counter or registering device provided with means for
automatically or otherwise effecting the return of the parts to the starting position

page_text: or zero, and constructed substantially as described with reference to either of the
forms or modifications shown in the drawings, and operating as, and for the purpose,.
above specified.
Eighth. A "Giffard" gun, such as that described in the said former Specification
No. 11,050 of 1889, provided with a counter or registering device constructed
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 or with reference to.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 or to Figures 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings, for the purpose:
above specified.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London. W.C., Agents for the Applicant..