A NEW OR IMPROVED MUZZLE FOR CANNON, GUNS, OR ORDNANCE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Burridge, of Great Portland Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
MUZZLE FOR CANNON, GUNS, OR ORDNANCE,"
Sealed the 18th December 1877, and dated the 10th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Burridge at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th October 1877.
JOSEPH BURRIDGE, of Great Portland Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "A NEW OR IMPROVED MUZZLE FOR CANNON, GUNS, OR ORDNANCE."
This Invention relates to and consists in the construction and application of an
apparatus or appliance which I term a new or improved "muzzle" for cannon,
guns, or ordnance, and which "muzzle" I apply or put loosely on to the mouth or
ordinary muzzle end of the cannon or gun in such a way that when the cannon or
gun is fired the shot, or projectile, or shell will enter the improved "muzzle" and
carry it and the charge along with it.
This novel and peculiar kind of "muzzle" I propose to make of metal or other
suitable material, and something in the shape of a circular canister (or of any other
desired shape or form); a channel or passage is made through the centre thereof; and
in a suitably formed receptacle made within the outside of this canister, and
running all round the centre channel or passage, I place gun-cotton or other similar
explosive material.
At the front end of the muzzle I securely fit or attach a sharp or round pointed
receptacle for the shot or other projectile, made of sufficiently strong metal wire or
bars, and made after the manner of a cage or like a dog's muzzle.
This improved "muzzle" after being charged with the gun-cotton or other
explosive material is loosely fitted or applied on to the ordinary muzzle or mouth
end of the cannon or gun (which is loaded in the ordinary way), the same fitting
into the above-named centre channel or passage in the "muzzle," and the effect will
be that when the cannon or gun is fired, the shot or projectile will enter the "muzzle,"

page_text: and will carry the "muzzle" and its contents along with it, and on striking the
object fired at, the charge in the "muzzle" will explode and with the projectile will
cause very much more damage than the shot or projectile would cause by itself.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Burridge in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th April
1878.
JOSEPH BURRIDGE, of Great Portland Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "A NEW OR IMPROVED MUZZLE FOR CANNON, GUNS, OR ORDNANCE."
This Invention relates to a muzzle cap which I propose to fill with gun-cotton or
other similar and suitable explosive material, and fit both on to and into the
muzzle or mouth of cannon, guns, or ordnance, and I cause such muzzle cap to be
projected or propelled to any desired point by the explosive force of the ordinary
powder charge of the cannon or gun acting directly upon the muzzle cap
or upon a shot, shell, or projectile within the cannon, and which in its flight
carries the muzzle cap with it to the object aimed at for the purpose of more
greatly increasing the damage done to such object than would be possible if a shot,
shell, or projectile were fired alone or by itself as at present.
The muzzle cap is preferably made of the form illustrated on the accompanying
Drawings in Figures 1 and 2, which are respectively a longitudinal section and an
exterior view, but it may be made of any other shape suitable for aërial flight; 1 re-
presents the conical head of the "muzzle cap" which is made of iron cast in ordinary
sand moulds; a hole 2, either plain or screwed, being left in the apex to receive the
socket of a fuze. The head 1 is screwed at 3 on to the cast-iron annular body 4,
and pinned thereto with a few wrought-iron pins to prevent any loosening. The
body 4 is attached by a rivetted circular plate 5 to a wrought-iron tube 6, which is
closed at the bottom by a rivetted stopping plate 7; the tube 6 may however be
made solid and reach down the cannon to about the projectile or powder chamber.
The interior of the "muzzle cap" is filled with gun-cotton or other explosive
substance or compound 8, and it thus carries a much heavier and more powerful
charge than is carried by the usual shells.
"
The "muzzle cap can be made of any desired shape and its parts of different
proportions, and it can be easily slipped into its place in and around the mouth of
the cannon after the latter has been loaded or charged in the ordinary way, the
muzzle of the cannon occupying the annular space 9.
When the cannon is fired the projectile carries the "muzzle cap" with it, or the
latter is directly acted upon by the explosion of the powder charge, and propelled to
the object aimed at ; and on arriving thereat the fuze burning down causes the charge
to explode and effect great destruction, very considerably more than a shot, shell, or
projectile fired by itself alone could cause.
The destructive effects of cannon or ordnance will thus be very much increased,
as my Invention allows of cannon or artillery guns being, as it were, loaded or
charged both inside and outside.

page_text: I would here remark that the exterior of the cap may be fitted with iron hooks
for the purpose of catching and hanging on to rigging of vessels or anything else
thoy could catch hold of until they explode.
For naval use I also propose to make the muzzle cap of cork, wood, or other
suitable and comparatively light material, so that when fired from the cannon of a
fort, battery, ship, or boat, it would not sink but would float on the water near
the object aimed at, and be more sure of causing the destruction thereof or damage
thereto than an ordinary shell would.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention, the novel and
peculiar application to guns, cannon, or ordnance, of a "muzzle cap" charged with
suitable explosive material, and which is fitted both on to and into the muzzle or
mouth thereof, and is propelled to any desired point by the explosive force of the
powder charge of the cannon or gun acting directly upon it, or upon a shot, shell, or
projectile within the gun or cannon, and which in its flight carries the "muzzle cap
with it to the object aimed at for the purpose of greatly increasing the destructive
effect, all substantially as herein-above described, and as illustrated on the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings.
.
"
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Burridge, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JOSEPH BURRIDGE. (L.S.)