IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RIFLED CANNON, AND OF PRO- JECTILES TO BE DISCHARGED FROM RIFLED CANNON
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Coope Haddan, of 14, Bessborough Gardens,
Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RIFLED CANNON, AND OF PRO-
JECTILES TO BE DISCHARGED FROM RIFLED CANNON."
Scaled the 25th January 1861, and dated the 2nd August 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Coope Haddan
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd August, 1860.
I, JOHN COOPE HADDAN, of 14. Bessborough Gardens. Pimlico, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RIFLED CANNON, AND OF
PROJECTILES TO BE DISCHARGED FROM RIFLED CANNON," to be as follows:→
My improvement or improvements in rifled cannon have reference to such
as are intended for discharging that particular description of projectiles which
is provided with a lead or other expanding back, intended to become enlarged
or jammed up, and forced into the rifling of the cannon when discharged, and
to receive the twist motion by means of such expanded portion, and consists in
constructing or making such cannon with rifling or rifled cuts, or grooves
extending from the muzzle towards the breech, not throughout the entire
Price Sd.1

page_text: length, but for a certain distance only, so as that the projectiles on being
expelled may at first expand only to the full bore of the cannon, and after
travelling onwards for a part of the distance towards the muzzle, may then
further expand into the rifle cuts or grooves, and receive the twist motion,
the object intended being to prevent the weakening of the cannon by con
tinuing the rifle cuts or grooves to or near to the breech end. The rifle cuts
to be formed in the improved cannon may be either uniformly of the same.
depth throughout their length, or may be shallower, or entirely vanish at the
end nearest to the breech, so as to allow the further" expansion above
mentioned, (that is to say, the expansion into and within the rifle cuts,) to
take place gradually instead of suddenly.
.
My improvements in projectiles to be discharged from rifled cannon embrace
the adaptation or conversion of service shot or shell to receive the twist
motion by bolting or uniting two of them together, and constructing upon or
adding to either or both of them the necessary, wings, swellings, or pro-
jections, or expanding leaden or other backs, belts or parts to receive the
twist from the rifle cuts or grooves of a rifled cannon. Such converted pro-
jectiles nuay have a wad at front or back, or between the two main portions of
which they are composed; and the wings, swellings, or projections may be
formed by sheet metal patches fixed in seatings turned in or upon the
projectiles for their reception.
And these improvements likewise embrace the constructing projectiles by
adding or fixing pointed peaks, caps, or fronts to or upon cylindrical, or to or
upon flat-headed shot and shell.
And also the disposition of the metal in cylindrical flat-headed shell or
hollow projectiles, in such manner as tu prevent the direction of the axial
rotation induced by the rifling from becoming disturbed in the flight by the
Lumbling-over motion which frequently obtains, the which improved disposition
I purpose effecting by making the projectile (exclusive of hollow peak when
employed) about one diameter in length, with but little metal at the ends, and
leaving the mass of metal at the sides. The requisite wings, swellings, or
projections for receiving the twist motion may be either cast upon these pro
jectiles, or afterwards fixed upon them, or produced by lead or expanding
material, as above mentioned; and these projectiles may be used either with
or without wads.
"

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the
said John Coope Haddan in the great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd February 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
COOPE HADDAN, of 14, Bessborough Gardens. Pimlico, the. County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Second day of August, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Coope Haddan, Her special licence that I, the said
John Coope Haddan, my executors. administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said John Coope Haddan, 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 THE MANUFACTURE OF RIFLED CANNON, AND OF
PROJECTILES TO BE DISCHARGED FROM RIFLED CANNON," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Coope Haddan, 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 John Coope Haddan, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
My improvement or improvements in rifled cannon have reference to such
as are intended for discharging that particular description of projectiles which
is provided with a lead or other expanding back. intended to become enlarged
or jammed up. and forced into the rifling of the cannon when discharged, and
to receive the twist motion by means of such expanded portion, and consists in
constructing, or making such cannon with rifling or rifled cuts or grooves
extending from the muzzle towards the breech, not throughout the entire
length, but for a certain distance only, so as that the projectiles on being

page_text: expelled may at first expand only to the full bore of the cannon, and after
travelling onwards for a part of the distance towards the muzzle, may then
further expand into the rifle cuts or grooves, and receive the twist motion, the
object intended being to prevent the weakening of the cannon by continuing
the rifle cuts or grooves to, or near to, the breech end.
The accompanying Drawing, No. 1, illustrates this improvement.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the improved cannon (loaded). e being a
charge, and a projectile placed at the breech, and ready for discharging.
The rifle cuts do not extend beyond the position g. and consequently the
projectile at the commencement of its passage. and until it reaches this
position, cannot expand more than the smooth or uncut portion of the bore
will permit, but after passing this position, the increased size of the bore
resulting from the existence of the grooves will allow the further expansion
into the rifle cats, whereby the twist motion is intended to be imparted. For
convenience in representing and explaining the improvement the Figure is
drawn somewhat incorrectly, the spiral or twist disposition of the rifle cuts not
being shown. These cuts may be either uniformly of the same depth.
throughout their length, or may be shallower, or entirely vanish at the end
nearest the breech, so as to allow the further expansion above mentioned,
that is to say, the expansion into and within the rifle cuts.) to take place
gradually instead of suddenly. When he cuts are required to be of uniform
depth throughout the length, they may be planed out or cut in the usual
manner, and when required, gradually to vary in the depth. as above stated, they
may be ent by imparting to the tool during the traverse the requisite advancing
movement or action, or otherwise: an approximation which I append will
suffice in practice may be obtained by constructing or cutting each cut or
groove in or to a series of depths increasing progressively, as indicated in the
full-sized plan view of one single cut or groove at Figure 2, in which the
several lengths numbered 1 to 10 (represented broken or divided) correspond.
respectively with the lengths to 10 in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a transverse
section of a portion of the cannon, shewing the number, disposition, and
method of setting out the curves.
The angle A comprises one cut or groove, and one adjoining portion of
land' or plain bore, and shews that such combined parts occupy one-ninth
of the complete circumference of the bore, the "land" or uncut portion being
equal to one-half of the grooved or cut portion. The Figure also shews the
form and depth of groove or cut which I prefer to employ when uniform
throughout the lengil, and the form and maximum depth (corresponding with
length 10 in Figure 1) when variable throughout the length. Figures 4 and 5

page_text: are transverse sections across lengths and 6 respectively (in the Figure 2,
shewing the form and depth of the groove or cut at these positions when
variable.
Figure 6 in the Drawing No. 1, and Figures 9 and 11 in Drawing
No. 2, are longitudinal sections of projectiles adapted for this description of
cannon, and exemplifying further improvements. In this place it is sufficient
to remark that they are furnished with an expanding heel or back. or belt. D.
formed of lead or other convenient soft metal, (as in Britten's shells, for
expanding and becoming forced into the rifle cuts of the cannon, and thus
receiving the twist,) and also with or without a wooden wad E applied in
juxtaposition.
One of my improvements in projectiles to be discharged from rifled cannon
consists in the adaptation or conversion of service shot, or shell, to receive the
twist motion by bolting or uniting two of them together, and constructing
upon or adding to either or both of them the necessary wings, swellings
or projections, or expanding leaden, or other backs, belts, or parts to receive
the twist from the rifle cuts or grooves of a rifled cannon.
The accompanying Drawing. No. 2, illustrates this improvement. Figures 7
and 8 are exterior and sectional views of two solid service" shot H, H,
altered by turning flat surfaces turned upon them, and coupling them together
by a screw 1; or such coupling may be effected by a bolt running through
them or screwed into one and passing through the other. The latter method
of coupling or connection is exemplified in the cases of the conversion of two
service shells H*, H, to rifled purposes, and one solid "service" shol II,
and one service shell H* to such purposes as shewn at 1 in the Figures 9
and respectively. Figure 10 is a transverse section across Figure 9, taken
at the position of the surfaces in contact; b, b. are metal bullets or plugs
fitting in holes formed for their reception for preventing the parts turning
round one against the other. My improved or converted projectiles (of either
description) may have a wad (for steadying them) constructed of wood or other
suitable material, and situate either between them, as shewn at K. in Figures 9
and 10, or at the back as shewn at L, in Figures 7, 8 and 11, or in both
positions if desired; also they may have wings, swellings, or projections for
rifled purposes formed upon them by sheet metai patches fixed in seatings,
turned in or upon the projectiles for their reception as shewn at M, in Figures
and 8, (and more particularly described by me in the Complete Specification
of former Letters Patent) or otherwise formed. upon them, and such wings,
swellings, or projections may be formed upon both halves. or portions of
the converted projectiles, though not so represented in the Drawings, their

page_text: relative location allowing for the rifle twist in the cannon, so as to obtain a
cenircing action or motion towards the hinder part as well as forwards; or my
improved or converted projectiles (of either description as aforesaid) may have
the expanding belts for receiving and imparting the twist motion formed of
The Britten character or description, and these may be applied either
behind the hind or the forward half or portion of the combined projectile as
shewn at D in Figures 9 and 11 respectively. or in both such positions, and
with or without wads.
The Figures 13 and 14 shew my previously patented forms of bore (of
cannon) with segmental and elliptical rifle cuts respectively. and the method
of setting out the curves for same, which I prefer as suitable for the projectiles
having wings, swellings, or projections. Those with expanding belts are more
particularly adapted for discharging from cannon constructed with rifle cuts, as
herein-before firstly above set forth and described.
Another of my improvements in projectiles consists in constructing them
with the addition or fixture of pointed peaks, caps, or fronts, to or upon
cylindrical or to or upon flat-headed shot and shell.
In exemplification of this improvement a wooden -peak Ois represented as
applied to a shell in the sectional view, Figure 15, and a thin sheet metal cap
or peak W, in the Figure 6 before referred to. Both are shewn adapted to
percussion shells, but the description of cylindrical or flat-headed shot or shell
and also the particular mode of connection or fastening on of the peaks or caps
represented in the Figures, the intended object. being to assist the flight
without adding materially to the weight at the front end so produced upon the
projectile.
Another of my improvements in projectiles consists in disposing the metal in
cylindrical flat-headed shell or hollow projectiles, in such manner as to prevent
tlic direction of the axial rotation induced by the rifling from becoming
disturbed in the flight by the tumbling over motion which frequently obtains.
purpose effecting this improvement by making the projectile (exclusive of
peak or cap when employed) about one diameter in length with but little metal
at the ends, and leaving the mass of metal at the sides. The sectional view,
Figure 15, before referred to, exemplifies also this the presént improvement.
the length from Z io Z being equal to about one diameter, and the distribution
of the metal principally at the sides. The shell represented in the sectional
view. Figure 6, before referred to, also fulfils the conditions stated. My
improved wooden or metal peak or cap may be used with either shell, or either
may be used without a peak or cap. The requisite wings, swellings, or
projections for receiving the twist motion may be either cast upon these pro-

page_text: jectiles or afterwards fixed upon them or produced by lead or expanding
material as above mentioned. The two Figures referred to exemplify my.
intentions in both respects, and the particular adaptation to different descrip-
tions of rifling in cannon resulting from the use of wings or swells, and of
expanding belts respectively, has been already herein described. These
projectiles may be used either with or without wads.
The Figure is drawn to a scale of about onc-eighth of the actual dimen-
sions; the Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, full size; and the remaining Figures one-
half the full size.
In witness whereof, 1, the said John Coope Haddan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.