IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR SPONGING AND LOADING GUNS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Moncrieff, of No. 16, Cromwell Crescent, South
Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, and William Anderson of No. 3,
Whitehall Place, also in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR SPONGING AND LOADING
GUNS."
Sealed the 30th November 1877, and dated the 26th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Moncrieff and
William Anderson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th
September 1877.
ALEXANDER MONCRIEFF, of No. 16, Cromwell Crescent, South Kensington, in the
County of Middlesex, and WILLIAM ANDERSON, of No. 3, Whitehall Place, also in
the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR
SPONGING AND LOADING GUNS."
Our Invention relates to means and apparatus for sponging and loading guns in
such a manner as to economise space in front of the guns, and to avoid exposure of
artillerymen. For this purpose, through the breech of the gun we bore a hole, central
with the bore, this hole being of sufficient size to admit a strong rod or stiff wire
rope, and being provided with breech-closing gear of any known kind. Through
this hole we insert a rod or stiff wire rope of sufficient length to extend beyond the
muzzle of the gun, and attach to its end a sponge or other cleansing appliance which
we pull and push to and fro within the gun. Detaching this, we attach to the rod
or rope the charge in form of a cartridge, and haul it down to the breech, after
which we remove the rod or rope, and close the breech hole.
To avoid the complexities of separate breech-closing gear, we prefer to make the
end of the rod or a piece of rod attached to the wire rope to act as a valve seating.
against the inner face of the breech hole, so as to close it when the charge is ignited.
This piece of rod may have a vent for firing passing through it, or insulated con-
ductors for firing the charge by electricity.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Moncrieff and William Anderson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th March 1878.
ALEXANDER MONCRIEFF, of No. 16, Cromwell Crescent, South Kensington, in the
County of Middlesex, and WILLIAM ANDERSON, of No. 3, Whitehall Place, also in
the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR
SPONGING AND LOADING GUNS."
Our Invention relates to means and apparatus for sponging and loading guns in
such a manner as to economise space in front of the guns, and to avoid exposure of
artillerymen. For this purpose, through the breech of the gun we bore a hole central
with the bore, this hole being of sufficient size to admit a strong rod or stiff
wire rope, and being provided with breech-closing gear of any known kind.
Through this hole we insert a rod or stiff wire rope of sufficient length to extend
beyond the muzzle of the gun, and attached to its end a sponge or other cleansing
appliance, which we pull and push to and fro within the gun. Detaching this,
we attach to the rod or rope the charge in form of a cartridge and haul it down
to the breech, after which we remove the rod or rope, and close the breech hole.
To avoid the complexity of separate breech-closing gear, we prefer to make the
end of the rod or of a piece of rod attached to the wire rope to act as a valve seating
against the inner facing of the breech hole, so as to close it when the charge is ignited.
This piece of rod may have a vent for firing passing through it, or insulated con-
ductors for firing the charge by electricity.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a longitudinal section of the
breech portion of a gun, with means according to our Invention of sponging and
loading from the breech.
A hole A is bored through the breech of the gun into the bore. This hole is
fitted with a screw plug, by which it can be closed for firing the gun. It is
preferred to employ a plug for this purpose, with segments of the thread cut away,
as shewn in Fig. 2, corresponding segments being cut from the thread in the
breech hole, so that the plug can be inserted and held by a partial rotation.
A rod or stiff wire rope B terminates in a socket or hook, to which on passing the
rod or rope through the hole A and along the bore of the gun to the muzzle, a sponge
or other cleansing instrument is attached and drawn into the bore, wherein it can be
pushed or pulled forwards or backwards. After cleansing, the sponge is removed,
and a cord C with two loops is attached, B, the said cord being passed round the
cartridge, and hooked to the base of the projectile. The charge and projectile are
then drawn home, and one of the loops of the cord C being detached from B, the
cord is completely withdrawn, and the hole A is closed.
Fig 3 represents a modified arrangement, according to which the rod or rope B
carries a valve D to close the hole in the breech. In this case the sponge or cleansing
instrument is attached to D, and when the cleansing has been effected, a cord E is
passed through a tubular cartridge and attached to the case of the projectile, which
with the charge is pulled home.
In firing, the cord E is broken or destroyed. The rope B may be wound on a
roller F, a rod G, carrying the valve D, being attached to the end of the rope. Before
firing, the rod G and valve D may be firmly secured by a key H.
According to the modified arrangement shewn by Fig. 4, the loading rope or rod is
attached to a cord or wire K inserted in the cartridge, and after the charge has
been drawn home, it is detached either by breaking the cord K or by the opening
of a spring slip hook, by which the attachment may be made. The loading rope or
rod being then withdrawn, a firing cartridge L inserted in the breech hole, and a
screw plug M, which may have segmental threads, as shewn in Fig. 2, is inserted
and set firmly home by a tappet lever N. In a cavity at the front end of the plug M,
is inserted a gas check or angle ring c, of thin metal, which on firing the charge,
serves to prevent escape of gaseous products past the plug. The cartridge L is fired
by a vent in the plug M.

page_text: Instead of providing the cartridge with a cord or wire K, it may be made tubular,
as shown in Fig. 3, and the loading rope or rod may be passed through it and
attached to the base of the projectile by a spring hook, which permits its withdrawal
after the charge has been drawn home.
Fig. 5 shews an arrangement for firing the charge by electricity, an electric
fuse P being for this purpose provided in the cartridge or inserted into a tubular
cartridge, the interior of which may be lined by a perforated tube. The loading
rope B has a socket 6, to which is screwed a rod Q bored for the passage of con-
ducting wires, and terminating in a valve-shaped end R, to which is attached a
cord or wire for drawing home the projectile and cartridge. An opening is provided
in the socket b for the connection of the conducting wires. A nut S, which may
have segmental threads, as described with reference to Fig. 2, is screwed on the
rod Q to strain the valve R to its seat before firing.
The loader employed for the several modified arrangements described above may
be a rigid rod or a stiff rope, or it may be made in the form of a jointed or folding
rammer, and its temporary connection to the base of the projectile, instead of being
effected by a separate cord or wire, may be by the material forming the case of the
cartridge, or its inner lining, in the case of a tubular cartridge. The sponge tem-
porarily connected to the loader may have a rope or line attached to it for, the
purpose of drawing it towards the muzzle, instead of having to push it by the loader
from the breech.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, we claim,-
First. Sponging and loading guns by means of a loader consisting of a rod or stiff
wire rope or their equivalents passed through a hole in the breech to extend beyond
the muzzle, so that the sponge or charge being attached to it is drawn into the bore,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Second. In guns worked in the manner referred to in the preceding claim, closing
the breech hole by means of a valve attached to the loading rod or rope, substantially
as herein described.
Third. In guns worked in the manner above referred to, firing the charge by n
vent or electric wires passing through the breech-closing plug or valve, substantially
as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Moncrieff, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
A. MONCRIEFF. (L.S.)