Locks and Breeches of Fire-s; Combining several Barrels in One Piece of Artillery; and Machinery for Boring Cannon,
Year: 1835

page_text: Locks and Breeches of Fire-arms; Combining
several Barrels in One Piece of Artillery; and
Machinery for Boring Cannon, &c.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ISAAC DODDS, of Hoxley Iron Works, in the Parish of Tipton, in the
County of Stafford, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the
Fourth, by Ilis Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date at Westminster, the Thirteenth day of April, in the fifth
year of His reign, did, for Himself, is heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Isaac Dodds, His espicial license, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that 1, the said Isaac Dodds, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Isaac Dodds,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed,
my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-
ARMS, PART OR PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS MAY BE APPLIED IN THE
MAKING AND USING OF CANNON AND OTHER ORDNANCE;" in which said

page_text: Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Isaac Dodds, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I,
the said Isaac Dodds, do hereby declare that the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is
particularly described and ascertained in and by Drawings particularizing
the following explanation thereof:
My improvements in the construction of fire-arms apply, firstly, to
the locks by which fire-arms are discharged; secondly, to peculiar
constructions of the breeches of fire-arms, and modes of loading them;
thirdly, in the construction of ordinance with a plurality of barrels;
and fourthly, in the arrangements of machinery for boring the internal
surfaces of the barrels of fire-arms. In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1, represents the internal construction of a lock for an ordinary
musket, in which the main spring has a greater range of clastic action,
is more powerful and strong, and is so situate as to require a shorter
lock plate than those of the usual construction. The spring is formed
nearly like an ordinary main spring, a, a, being the tail, as usual, but the
affixing or fulcrum end is extended as at b, b, over the tumbler. The
screw by which the spring is affixed to the plate is shewn at c; and d,
is the stud which constitutes the stop or fulcrum. By this arrange-
ment it will be seen that, in addition to the elasticity of the part a, a,
the part b, b, will also be a spring up to the fulcrum or stop d.
Figure 2, shews the bridle piece detached, through which the end of the
axle of the tumbler works, and it is affixed to the lock plate by the
screws of the main spring, the sear, and the sear spring, by which
means greater stability is given to the main spring than in the ordinary
construction of musket lock; the back end of the spring at e, forms
the stop for the tumbler. Figure 3, represents the interior of a gun
lock for discharging upon the detonating principle. a, is the tumbler,

page_text: to the axle of which the cock b, is attached in the usual way. The
main spring is shewn at c, c, as a double armed lever affixed to the
lock plate by the screw d, The fulcrum of the longer arm of the spring
is a stud at c, let into the lock plate, and the screw d, is the fulcrum of
the shorter arm of the spring. The sear f, turns upon a pin g, and is
acted upon by a spring behind the under part of the sear at h, con-
stituting the trigger by which the piece is to be discharged. A bell
crank lever k, turning upon a pin at i, is connected by
a link to the
lower part of the tumbler a; and the upper part of the tumbler also
carries a link m, which is connected to the end of the longer arm of the
main spring. The lower part of the bell crank lever is clongated at o,
and extends through the guard plate of the lock for the purpose of
enabling the lever to be worked by the finger of the sportsman; and a
guard p, p, protects the end of the lever and also the trigger. In
cocking the piece the finger is applied to the tail o, of the bell crank
lever, which being drawn back into the position shewn by dots, causes
the tumbler to be brought round and the longer arm of the main spring
to be raised into tension, and by the same movement of the tail o, a
small beak 7, at the back of the bell crank lever acting upon the end of
the shorter arm of the main spring, brings that end of the spring into
tension also, the point of the sear f, by the pressure of the sear spring
being at the same time forced into one of the notches of the tumbler
which confines the lock in the position of half or full cock. The piece
being thus half cocked or cocked, the locking bolt r, may be slidden
under the point of the sear by the finger, or by the force of a small spring,
and whilst in this position the trigger h, cannot be moved, the sear
being confined by the bolt, but on sliding back the bolt, which may
be readily done by the finger when the piece brought to the shoulder,
the sear is released, when by pressing the trigger h, the point of the
sear will be withdrawn from the notch in the tumbler, and the force of
the main spring then acting upon the tumbler will bring it and the
cock down with great force, and cause the end of the cock to strike
the detonating cap placed upon the nipple of the touch hole, by which
the piece will be discharged. It must be obvious that the fulcrum or
fulcrums of the double arm'd main spring may be placed in other posi-

page_text: tions besides those pointed out, perhaps with similar advantage. It will
also be perceived that the piece may be cocked without employing the bell
crank lever and tail piece o, merely by raising the cock in the ordinary way.
Having described the internal arrangements of this construction of lock,
I would add, that a plate may be placed over the works parallel to the
face plate, for the purpose of enclosing and giving greater stability to
the whole, and excluding moisture and dirt from the interior. Figure 4,
is a transverse section taken through the two locks of a double barrelled
gun constructed upon the principles last described. Here it will be
perceived that the boxes which contain the mechanism of the locks are
formed by one middle plate and two side plates conjoined to the upper
plate guard plate. Figure 5, is a longitudinal section of a fowling
piece having a back action lock enclosed within the stock, and Figure
6, is a transverse section of the same. These Figures shew another
modification of gun lock, which with the cock are entirely enclosed
within the stock of the gun. The lock may be constructed between
two parallel plates, as before described, and has my improved arrange-
ment of the sear, trigger, and safety bolt. The upper part of the cock
is formed as the segment of a circle, and moves coincident with the top
of the tail piece of the breech. A small lever attached to the top of
the cock rises by a spring when pressed by the thumb, for the purpose
of affording the ready means of drawing the cock back. Figure 7,
shew's a sectional elevation of a series of eliptical springs, conjoined for
the purpose of obtaining sufficient force to discharge a percussion
primer. a, a, a, are the springs, connected together by pins; b, b, is a
forked frame carrying the springs, the back end of which fork is con-
nected by a link c, to the tumbler lever d. The tail of the tumbler
lever extends through the guard plate at 1, and which when drawn back
compresses the springs against a stop piece f, and thus puts the springs
in tension, and the point of the sear g, being forced by a small spring
into a notch in the tumbler confines the lock ready to be let off, which
is done by drawing the trigger h. The box containing this lock turns
up in the stock on pivots in the side plates, for the purpose of intro-
ducing the detonating primer into a recess in the end of the plunger
at i. Figure 8, is a side view of a pistol on a peculiar construction, the

page_text: cock of which forms also a tumbler containing a convolute spring within
a circular groove, seen at a, part of the face plate of the cock or tumbler
being removed for the purpose of shewing part of the spring within;
one end of this convolute spring is made fast to the plate of the tumbler
or cock, the other end to the plate of the lock. Hence it will be per-
ceived, that by drawing back the cock the spring will be drawn into
tension, and the point of the scar b, falling into a notch in the edge of
the tumbler will confine the cock until it is let off by the trigger, as in
other constructions of locks. Figure 9, is a horizontal view of the
pistol seen in the side view at Figure 8, and Figure 10, is a front view
of the same. The pistol here represented has four distinct breeches
c, c, c, c, each capable of receiving a distinct load of powder and shot;
they are formed as a wheel, with hollow arms and chambers, shewn
detached from the pistol at Figures 11, and 12. Apertures in the
periphery of the wheel at d, d, d, d, admit the powder and ball for each
charge, and the nipples e, e, e, e, respectively receive a detonating cap,
each nipple communicating with its own chamber c. The wheel is beld
in connection with the pistol by a circular slip ff, which opens and
closes upon a hing joint g. The interior of the slip is made hollow,
to fit the curved periphery of the wheel. One semicircular portion of
the slip f, is made fast to the stock and lock plate h, and the other
semicircular portion carries the barrel i. When the wheel is placed
within the slip, as shown at Figure 8, the slip is drawn up tight by
screws K, K, and by means of those screws the slip will be made to
embrace the periphery of the wheel and allow it to turn within the slip
with any degree of tightness. The wheel is turned round within the
circular slip by means of an arm or lever 1, which carries a click m,
taking into a ratchet wheel n, affixed to the side of the wheel, and a
spring catch must be attached so as to drop into notches in the edge
of the wheel, for the purpose of stopping the wheel, in such positions
as shall keep the mouths of the loaded chambers when brought
round in exact coincidence with the barrel i. The action of the
lever may be made to raise the cock, if required, by means of a
connecting link or levers, applied in a variety of ways. A modification
of this mode of adapting a moveable breech is shewn in horizontal

page_text: section at Figure 13, and in elevation at Figure 14, in which one
loading chamber only is employed. a, is the breech piece for receiving
the loading, which piece is mounted upon pivots b, b, in the top and
bottom plates c, c.
A lever or handle d, on the side affords the means
of withdrawing the breech piece from coincidence with the barrel into
the position shewn by dots in Figure 13, when the loading may be
introduced through the oblique aperture, and after charging, the breech
piece must be brought again into coincidence with the barrel in the
position shewn in the Figure. A detonating cap being now placed upon
the nipple f, the piece may be discharged by a lock similar to that
shewn at Figure 7, or in any other way, either upon the percussion or
flint principle, as may be thought most desirable. In this construction
of gun or pistol with moveable breech pieces, I do not intend to confine
myself to any particular number of breech pieces, nor to any particular
mode of discharging them, as locks of various constructions may be
applied my improvements in cannon consist in combining several
barrels together, in order that the loading may be performed with greater
facility than in the ordinary construction. Figure 15, is a side view of
the barrels of four cannons conjoined at their breeches, and mounted
upon pivots or trunnions extending from the centre; Figure 16, is a
front view of the same. Two barrels only, combined at their breeches in
a similar way, might be made to turn upon trunnions, or as Figure 17,
which represents two barrels conjoined; Figure 18, being a front view
of the same. The trunnions are here placed some way up the barrels,
for the purpose of economising length. By these constructions one
barrel may be loaded whilst the other is preparing for firing, which will
not only save time but also allow the barrels to cool after firing, before
loading again. The barrels may be attached so that their axis shall be
coincident, or they may be placed side by side, or one over the other,
and they may be so mounted so as to turn upon their trunnions either
horizontally or vertically. Figure 19, represents a machine partly in
section, intended for the purpose of boring cannon and other fire-arms,
in which the gun to be bored is inverted and held in a frame, descend-
ing gradually as the metal becomes bored away. The frame is sus-
pended by chains passed over pullies with balance weights, and may

page_text: descend by its own gravity between guides, or it may be conducted by
a rack and pinion moved by machinery from below. The boring bit is
erect, and acts upwards within the cylindrical barrel, and there is a
shield beneath to prevent the small particles of metal which fell from
passing into the working parts of the machinery. This machine may
be placed at any oblique angle to the horizon, the object being simply
that the turnings or borings may be enabled to descend by their gravity
and not obstruct the operation of the boring bit.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Dodds, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-ninth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-five.
ISAAC (L.8.) DODDS.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-ninth day of
October, in the sixth year of the reign of His Majesty King William
the Fourth, the said Isaac Dodds came before our said Lord the King,
in His Chancery, and acknowledged the instrument aforesaid, and all
and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above written.
And also the instrument aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor
the Statute made in the fifty-fifth year of the reign of His late Majesty
King George the Third.