IMPROVE- MENTS IN GUNS AND PROJECTILES THEREFOR
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Addington Taylor, of Lydbury, in the County
of Salop, Major on the Bengal Staff, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GUNS AND PROJECTILES THEREFOR."
Scaled the 24th September 1870, and dated the 14th April 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Addington Taylor at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th April 1870.
I, ADDINGTON TAYLOR, of Lydbury, in the County of Salop, Majo
on the Bengal Staff, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUNS AND PROJECTILES THEREFOR," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object the obtainment of a longer and
more steady flight of a shot or projectile, and consists in applying the
projective force (by means of an annular cartridge) approximately to
the centre of gravity of a hollow cylindrical or tubular projectile instead
of, as is usual, at the base, a rotatory motion being, if desired, imparted
to the projectile by rifling it externally and internally. My projectile

page_text: or shot is in the form of a hollow cylinder of the same internal
diameter throughout its length, and for part of its length (such part
being the rear end of the shot) of the same thickness. At the centre of
gravity or as nearly as possible to such centre of gravity of the shot
when completo, a shoulder is formed and the external diameter of the
shot considerably enlarged, this enlarged diameter is continued for a
short distance of its length, and is rifled, the diameter is then decreased
till it meets the interior diameter of the projectile, or it may be con-
venient to enlarge the interior diameter till it meets the external
diameter. The line formed by the reduction of the external or the
enlargement of the internal diameter may be either straight or of any
curve suitable for the head of a projectile. This projectile is rifled inside
for the purpose of receiving additional rotatory motion from a rifled rod
centrally disposed in the cannon, or it may be suitably constructed to
receive a rotatory motion from the air passing through it, no rod in this
case being employed. At the extremity of the bore of the cannon or gun
which is rifled a short chamber is formed for the reception of the roar
end of the projectile, and from the bottom of this chamber a rifled rod
rises of the same diamoter as the internal diameter of the projectile.
Between the shoulder thus formed in the gun and the shoulder formed
on the projectile an annular cartridge is disposed which may be fired
in any convenient manner ensuring the rapid ignition of the explosive
compound. When the projectile is designed to receive its rotatory motion
from the air the cannon is not provided with a central rod. The pro-
jectile may either be rifled as I have described or rifled externally or
internally only, and the rifling may be altogether omitted.

page_text: our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Addington Taylor, Her special licence
that I, the said Addington Taylor, my exccutors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Addington Taylor, my exccutors,
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
GUNS AND PROJECTILES THEREFOR," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Addington Taylor, 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 Addington Taylor, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :—
This Invention has for its object the obtainment of a longer and more
steady flight of a shot or projectile, and consists in applying the
projective force by means of an annular cartridge approximately to the
centre of gravity of a hollow cylindrical or tubular projectile, instead of,
as is usual, at the base, a rotatory motion being, if desired, imparted to
the projectile by rifling it externally and internally. My projectile or
shot is in the form of a hollow cylinder, thus destroying the vacuum in
the rear of the shot, and is of the same internal diameter throughout its
length, and for part of its length, such part being the rear end of the
shot, of the same thickness. At the centre of gravity, or as nearly as
possible to such centre of gravity of the shot when complete, a shoulder
is formed, and the external diameter of the shot considerably enlarged,
this enlarged diameter is continued for a short distance of its length and
is rifled, the diameter is then decreased till it meets the interior diameter
of the projectile, or it may be convenient to enlarge the interior diameter

page_text: construction herein-before described and represented in the Drawings
hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Addington Taylor, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
WALTER F. CLARE,
Patent Agent,
ADDINGTON TAYLOR. (L.s.)
23, Southampton Buildings,
London.