MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORDNANCE AND OTHER LIKE CASTINGS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, ALSO IN CARRIAGES OR MOULDS FOR THE BAME."
Year: 1865

page_text: MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORDNANCE AND OTHER LIKE CASTINGS, AND IN
THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, ALSO IN CARRIAGES OR MOULDS FOR THE
BAME." A communication from abroad by William Jones, of Nijni
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson al
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd February 1865.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORDNANCE AND OTHER LIKE CASTINGS
AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, ALSO IN CARRIAGES OR MOULDS FOR THE
BAME," a communication to me from abroad by William Jones, of Nijni
Novgorod, in the Empire of Russia, Engineer, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates partly to the production or manufacture and strength-
ing of heavy ordnance, and to apparatus employed therein, whereby a more
homogeneous mass is obtained with increased resistance to longitudinal and
radial or transverse strain. This part of the Invention is also applicable to
the production of other heavy hollow castings, such, for example, as mortars
and the cylinders of hydraulic presses.

page_text: Another part of this invention relates to an improved mode of mounting
orduance, whereby greater accuracy and steadiness are obtained with less recoil
than heretofore.
According to the first part of this Invention it is proposed to cast in a
peculiar manner, herein-after described, guns, mortars, and other heavy hollow
castings of brass, sierro metal, cast iron, mild cast steel, or of any other alloy
or metal capable of resisting the greatest tensile strain. In making such
castings according to this Invention it is proposed to cast them in several
layers, each layer being cast upon or over another whilst it is in a glowing hot
state, and so soon as each layer is set in the mould and whilst still in a glowing
hot state, the casting is removed from the mould and subjected to a forging
process by the aid of rolls, presses, or power hammers. After being forged
the casting is reheated in a heating furnace and conveyed thence in a glowing
hot state to another and larger mould than the previous one used, in which
the next layer is cast upon the previous one, and so on, the operations of
forging and reheating being repeated after the casting of each succeeding
layer. In casting ordnance the primary or centra! barrel is cast parallel or
cylindrical in a suitable mould placed vertically or on one end, and whilst still
in a glowing state is removed from the mould and conveyed to a rolling mill,
where it is rolled by passing longitudinally between grooved rolls. From
this rolling mill it is conveyed, after being reheated to another rolling mill
containing three rolls, and is there rolled laterally or transversely, the barrel
being laid between the surfaces of the three adjoining rolls with its axis
parallel to the axes of such rolls. These rolls are so shaped as to form a
bulbous enlargement at one end of the barrel, such end corresponding with
the breech end of the gun. Some of the succeeding layers which are cast
over this barrel as herein-before described may or may not extend along the
entire length of the same, and each succeeding layer should be shorter than
the previous one. so as to give the desired taper towards the muzzle of the gun
and afford the requisite strength at the breech. All these layers are of a
bulbous contour and taper off in thickness towards each end of the gun.
If preferred the barrel or first tube may be reduced by the grooved rolls to
the size required for the bulb, and the rest reduced to the proper taper and
form under a steam hammer or hydraulic forging press, or the proper taper
and form may be given by a lathe, but the shaping by forging is preferred.
This system of casting in successive layers, and forging each layer separately
whilst hot from the mould, is equally applicable to the strengthening of the
breech of existing ordnance. The moulds employed are made of cast iron
divided longitudinally and provided with clamps or other convenient fastenings
.

page_text: for securing the two halves firmly and air-tight together. The bottom of the
mould is closed, but the top is open and covered with a lid fitting air-tight.
The two halves of each mould are supported on carriages running on rails or
tramways, so as to be readily separated or brought together as desired. Each
half of the mould is provided with the halves of two "gates," so that when
closed the mould will have two "gates" or inlets for the molten metal, and
upon each "gate" is fitted a funnel-shaped vessel to receive the molten
metal provided with a discharge plug at the bottom, the metal being run into
the mould from both vessels simultaneously on opposite sides of the mould.
Before running in the metal however the mould is heated by introducing
therein a pipe having a series of gas burners and blow-pipes. and supplied
with gas and air from any convenient source, the ignited gas jets inside the
mould serving to heal the same. Other means may however be adopted for
heating the mould. Previous to and during the running in of the metal the
air and gases are exhausted from the mould by connecting it by a pipe with
an exhaust chamber. or directly with an air pump or other suitable exhauster.
so that the casting will be made in vacuo, or nearly so, and will be thereby
rendered perfectly free from air blows. When the casting is complete and
whilst still hot it is introduced into an annealing furnace and surrounded with
powdered charcoal or immersed in a fusible metal bath, when the heat can be
maintained for any length of time and reduced as may be required during the
annealing process. The mandril which had been previously obtained in the
bore of the casting is removed during the annealing process, and a pipe is
introduced into the bore, through which pipe hot air is blown in. returning up
through the annular space between the pipe and the bere. The temperature
of this air must be reduced gradually as the cooling of the casting proceeds
until the air introduced therein becomes perfectly cold. The annealed casting
is then finished in the usual manner by boring and turning, and the trunnions.
if intended for a gun, shrunk on.
It is also proposed in the manufacture of ordnance to shrink the trunnions
on to the breech end of the gun in lieu of near the longitudinal centre thereof:
in this case a special mount or gun carriage is employed which may be
constructed of wrought iron and provided with a vertical arm or arms working
on a joint at the lower end and carrying a roller or antifriction pulley at the
upper end. The fore part of the gun rests upon this antifriction pulley; and
is elevated or depressed by causing the arm with the pulley to approach
owards or recede from the breech end of the gun by means of a horizonial
screwed spindle and hand wheel convenient to the hand of the gunner,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd August 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN HENRY
JOHNSON, of 47. Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex. Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign. did for Herself. Her heirs and successors, give and unto me the said
John Henry Johnson. Her special license that T. the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors,, administrators, and assigns. or such others as I, the said John
Henry Johnson, my executors. administrators, or 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 MANUFAC-
TURE OF ORDNANCE AND OTHER LIKE CASTINGS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN, ALSO IN CARRIAGES OR MOULDS FOR THE SAME," a communication
from William Jones, of Nijni Novgorod, in the Empire of Russia, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I. the said John Henry Johnson, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 Henry Johnson, 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 fol-
lowing statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The said Invention relates partly to the production or manufacture and
strengthening of heavy ordnance, and to apparatus employed therein, whereby
a more homogeneous mass is obtained with increased resistance to longitudinal
and radial or transverse strain. This part of the Invention is also applicable
to the production of other heavy hollow castings, such, for example, as mortars
and the cylinders of hydraulic presses.
Another part of this Invention relates to an improved mode of mounting

page_text: ordnance, whereby greater accuracy and steadiness are obtained with less
recoil than heretofore.
According to the first part of this Invention it is proposed to cast in a peculiar
manner, herein-after described, guns, mortars, and other heavy hollow castings
of brass, sterro metal, mild cast steel, or of any other alloy capable of resisting
the greatest tensile strain. In making such castings according to this Invention
it is proposed to cast them in several layers, each layer being cast upon or
over another whilst it is in a glowing hot state. and so soon as each layer is
set in the mould, and whilst still in a glowing hot state the casting is removed
from the mould and subjected to a forging process by the aid of rolls, presses,
or power hammers. After being forged the casting is reheated in a heating
furnace and conveyed thence in a glowing hot state to another and larger
mould than the previous one used, in which the next layer is cast upon the
previous one, and so, on the operations of forging and reheating being repeated
after the casting of each succeeding layer. In casting ordnance the primary
or central barrel is cast parallel or cylindrical in a suitable mould placed
vertically or on one end, and whilst still in a glowing state is removed from
the mould and conveyed to a rolling mill. where it is rolled by passing
longitudinally between grooved rolls. From this rolling mill it is conveyed
after being reheated to another rolling mill containing three rolls, and is then
rolled laterally or transversely, the barrel being laid between the surfaces of
the three adjoining rolls with its axis parallel to the axes of such rolls. These
rolls are so shaped as to form a bulbous-enlargement at or towards one-end of
the barrel. such end corresponding with the breach end of the gun. Some of
the succeding layers which are cast over this barrel as herein-before described
may or may not extend along the entire length of the same, and each succeeding
layer should be shorter than the previous one, so as to give the desired taper
towards the muzzle of the gun and afford the requisite strength at the breach.
All these layers are of a bulbous contour and taper off in thickness towards
one or both ends of the gun. If preferred, the barrel or first tube may be
reduced by the grooved rolls to the size required for the bulb, and the rest
reduced to the proper taper and form under a steam hammer or hydraulic
forging press, or the proper taper and form may be given by a lathe, but the
shaping by forging is preferred. This system of casting in successive layers,
and forging each layer separately whilst hot from the mould, is equally
The
applicable to the strengthening of the breech existing ordnance.
moulds employed are made of cast iron divided longitudinally and provided
with clamps or other convenient fastenings for securing the two halves firmly
and air-tight together. The bottom of the mould is closed, but the top is

page_text: opened and covered with a lid fitting air-tight. The two halves of each mould
are supported on carriages running on rails or tramways, so as to be readily
separated or brought together as desired. Each half of the mould is provided
with the halves of two "gates" so that when closed the mould will have
two "
gates." or inlets for the molten metal, and upon each "gate" is fitted
a funnel shaped vessel to receive the molten metal provided with a discharge
plug at the bottom. The metal being run into the mould from both vessels
simultaneously on opposite sides of the mould. Before running in the metal
however the mould is heated by introducing therein a pipe having a series of
gas burners and blow pipes, and supplied with gas and air from any convenient
source, the ignited gas jets inside the mould serving to heat the same. Other
means may however be adopted for heating the mould. Previous to and
during the running in of the metal the air and gases are exhausted from the
mould by connecting it by a pipe with an exhausted chamber, or directly with
an air pump or other suitable exhauster, so that the casting will be made in
racuo, or nearly so, and will be thereby rendered perfectly free from air blows.
When the casting is complete, and whilst still hot, it is introduced into an
annealing furnace and surrounded with powdered charcoal or immersed in a
fusible metal bath, where the heat can be maintained for any length of time
and reduced as may be required during the annealing process. The mandrill
which had been previously contained in the bore of the casting is removed
during the annealing process and a pipe is introduced into the bore, through
which pipe hot air is blown in returning up the annular space between the
pipe and the bore. The temperature of this air must be reduced gradually
as the cooling of the casting proceeds until the air introduced therein becomes
perfectly cold. The annealed casting is then finished in the usual manner by
boring and turning, and the trunnions, if intended for a gun, shrunk on.
It is also proposed in the manufacture of ordnance to shrink the trunnions
on to the breech end of the gun in lieu of near the longitudinal centre thereof.
In this case a special mount or gun carriage is employed which may be
constructed of wrought iron and provided with a vertical arm or arms working
on a joint at the lower end carrying a roller or antifriction pulley at the
upper end. The fore part of the gun rests upon this antifriction pulley and
is elevated or depressed by causing the arm with the pulley to approach
towards or recede from the breech end of the gun by means of a horizontal
screwed spindle and hand wheel convenient to the hand of the gunner.
- And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall
refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the same

page_text: letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding
Figures.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, represents a longitudinal section of
a gun or piece of heavy ordnance constructed in accordance with the said
Invention. This gun is cast in several layers a, b, (two only are shown in
the Drawings) but any other number may be employed, such layers being
successively cast upon a central barrel e and upon each other whilst in a
glowing hot state, as herein-before described. One of the moulds employed
in casting these layers is represented in sectional elevation and plan at
Figures 2 and 3, in transverse vertical section at Figure 4, and in transverse
horizontal section, through the pouring "gates or ways at Figure 5. The
central barrel having been cast and forged to the desired shape, as herein-before
described, and reheated, is placed in the vertical mould A, made of cast iron
in two halves, each half being carried by a travelling carriage B, B, provided
with a raised platform C, for the facility of access to the top of the mould,
which is closed air-tight by a lid or cover D. E, E, are two pouring gates"
or ways, one-half of each being formed on each half of the mould, as shown
in Figure 5, and clamps F are employed for securing the two halves of
the mould together. The molten métal is poured into these gates from
suitable funnel-shaped vessels or receivers placed above them and opening
direct into each gate" by an orifice at the bottom, which is closed by a
moveable plug. Before running in the metal however the mould should be
heated in the manner herein-before described, or otherwise, so as not to chill
the casting, and previous to and during the running in of the metal the air
and gases should be exhausted from the mould in any well known manner.
In casting each succeding layer a larger diameter of mould must be employed
to allow for the increasing diameter of the casting, but all these moulds will
be of a similar construction to that illustrated in my Drawings, which is the
one intended for casting the first layer on to the central tube or barrel.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, on Sheet Two of the Drawings, illustrate different
views of a gun and parts connected therewith, also constructed in accordance
with this Invention. The sectional elevation. Figure 1, shows clearly the
layers a, b, cast on the central barrel c and upon one another, and partly
illustrates the mode of mounting the gun by having a pair of strong lugs d
forged in one piece with a ring e, which is shrunk on to the breech end of
the gun. The ring e may be provided with a dovetail groove, for contain-
ing the sighting apparatus, as shown clearly in Figures 2 and 5. The
runnions g, g, of the gun in lieu of being shrunk or forged thereon are forged
separately in connection with a powerful semicircular rest h, shown in front

page_text: elevation at Figure 4, which rest fits nicely against the under side of the
gun, and is connected by the arm or lever i with the lugs at the breach,
a strong pink serving to couple the arm or lever i with the lugs d.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,
First, the system or mode of making and strengthening guns, mortars,
hydraulic cylinders, and other heavy hollow castings by casting the metal in
successive layers upon each other whilst such layers are in a glowing hot state
and then forging each newly cast layer so soon as it is set, substantially as
and for the purpose herein-before described.
2nd, the peculiar construction of moulds for carrying out the improved
system of casting, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3rd, the connecting of the trunnions of ordnance with the breech of a
gun in lieu of shrinking them on to the middle thereof, as herein-before
described.
4th, the mode of mounting guns and of elevating and depressing them by
means of a roller and lever arm operated by a screw spindle and acting
against the under surface of the gun as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Second day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (...)