IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE AND IN PROJECTILES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Garnier, of Devonport, in the County of Devon,
Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ORDNANCE AND IN PROJECTILES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Garnier at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th June 1862.
I, JOHN GARNIER, of Devonport, in the County of Devon, Lieutenant in
the Royal Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE AND IN PROJECTILES," to be as follows:-
My Invention in ordnance applies to all breech-loading cannon, and
consists in the following method of rifling the barrel :-The rifling consists
of fillets or ribs left in the boring of the gun on the interior surface of the bore.
The section of each fillet is triangular, one side of the triangle being thecurved
interior surface of the bore, and about a quarter of an inch long. The side
that opposes the direct motion of the projectile through the bore is perpendicu
lar to the first-mentioned side, and about 07 of an inch long; the third side is
curved, its concavity having its centre within the bore. The proportion of
these fillets is greater or less according to the charge and projectile. The twist
is in the proportion of about one turn in 25 feet.
My improvements in projectiles are as follows:-1 form my projectiles
hollow of wrought iron, the hollow is so forine that the centre of gravity is
accurately balanced. The projectiles may be used either as common shell
or with segments. I coat them with lead about th of an inch in thickness,
altached to the cylindrical surface of the projectile by dovetailed grooves. The

page_text: shape of the fore part of the shell is that of a conoidal frustrum, with the rear
cylindrical; the head is flat. The exterior surface of the projectile is case-
hardened, about ths of its length from the head; the rear of the cylindrical
portion is closed by a tail-piece screwed into the cylinder, and prevented by
flanges from being forced into the shell by the explosion of the charge. The
fuze has a flange to prevent its being driven through the tail-piece, into which
it is screwed. The length of the projectile is from about 4 to 4 calibres.
The fore part of the shell is of a rather more solid construction than the rear.
The above projectile is more particularly intended for garrison and siege guns.
For field guns the thickness of metal is less, and the head is of a less solid
construction and conical. The projectile may be either of wrought or cast
iron.
The length of the guns, which, on account of the peculiar circumstances
under which they are used, does not affect their efficiency, must be entirely
based on the service for which they are required; that is, for forts and
siege guns they are to be of considerable length, in order not to injure the
embrasures; for ship's guns shorter, and for field guns the least length that will
give sufficient distance between the sights to ensure accuracy of aim. The
charge must be about 3rd the weight of the projectile for garrison and siege
guns, and about 4th for field guns.
Among the advantages to be derived from my Invention are the following:-
That with a gun of 50 cwt. or less, and shot of about 70 or 80 lbs., five times
greater penetration will be obtained with shell at 200 yards than was obtained
from the 12 tons Armstrong shunt gun throwing a solid spherical shot of
156 lbs. at the same distance with half the quantity of powder; that at 5,000
yards the penetration with my shell will be at least one quarter that which
is at 200, or greater than the penetration of the Armstrong 156 lbs. solid shot
at 200 yards.
My Invention applied to field guns will allow of their being made of such
lightness that few, if any, roads will be impracticable for them, while the
capacity of shell for the same weight of gun will be far greater than that of
Armstrong.
The Invention applied to siege guns will enable them to form a breach in
masonry or earth in quarter the time that any other gun of the same weight
could accomplish.
There will be small tendency of the lead coating to strip off the shell.
All Armstrong guns may be altered to my Invention at a small
expence.

page_text: SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.
and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said John Garnier in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
GARNIER, of Devonport, in the County of Devon, Lieutenant in the Royal
Engineers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year
of Her reign, did, for. Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John Garnier, Her special licence that I, the said John
Garnier, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Garnier, 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, au Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ORDNANCE AND IN PROJECTILES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I
the said John Garnier, 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 Garnier, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say :-
My Invention in ordnance applies to all breech-loading cannon, and consists
in the following method of rifling the barrel. The rifling consists of fillets or
ribs left in the boring of the gun on the interior surface of the bore. The
section of each fillet is triangular, one side of the triangle being the curved
interior surface of the bore and about a quarter of an inch long. The side
that opposes the direct motion of the projectile through the bore is per-
pendicular to the first-mentioned side and about 07: of an.inch long. The
third side is curved, its concavity having its centre within the bore.
Figure 1 of the accompauying Drawings is a vertical section of a gun rifled
"

page_text: according to my Invention, and Figure 2 is a section on an enlarged scale
of one of the fillets or ribs; a, b, is at right angles to a tangent at 6 to the
circumference of the bore, and c, a, is perpendicular to a, b. For about
three quarters of an inch from the point where the bore and chamber meet
these projections are bevelled off so that their section at that point will shew
as in Figure 3. This bevelling is for the purpose of preventing pieces of
lead being cut out and fouling the bore. The number of these projections
varies from three to say 15, their number and size depending on the calibre
of the gun and weight of charge and projectile. In ordnance a windage of
from 01 to 03 of an inch is allowed between the diameter of the bore and
that of the projectile, but in small arms none is required.
My improvements in projectiles are as follows:-I coat my projectiles
with lead and make them cylindrical for a portion of their length, finishing
towards the head in an ogival or truncated cone; the side of both is convex
and tangential to the cylindrical portion. The apex of the truncated cone
is formed by a flat ring with a concavity in its centre, the depth of which is
from one-eighth to one-sixteenth of an inch. The projectile is hollow, and
may be either circular or polygonal in section, with the sides parallel to the
exterior for the length of the cylindrical portion of the projectile. The
remaining part of the hollow is either still parallel but of less diameter, as
shewn in the projectiles represented in longitudinal section at Figures 4 and
5 and in vertical section at Figure 6, or in the form of a truncated cone,
as shewn in the projectile represented in longitudinal section at Figure 7. I
prefer the polygonal section to the interior for the purpose of giving lines of
less resistance to the explosion of the bursting charge than in the circular
section, while the resisting stiffness of the cylinder under compression by
the impact of the projectile is the same. The projectile is open at the rear,
and closed by a plate of wrought iron screwed in with a flange F, resting
on the ends of the cylinder; the fuze screws into a hole in its centre; the
projectile may be used either as a solid shot or as a common or shrapnel
shell;
if as shrapnel shell, hollow tin or sheet iron cylinders a, a, a, closed
at the bottom, are built up with either segmental pieces of cast iron to fit the
hollow of the circular section, or with polyhedron-shaped pieces to fit the
hollow of a polygonal section, the shape of the tin cylinders differing similarly.
When built up the cylinders are dropped in. At Figures 4 and 7 one such
cylinder is shewn; at Figure 5 two such cylinders are used, one for each
row of segments, so that the inner row may be lifted out without disturbing
the other; the bursting charge fills the hollow of the cylinder. If the
projectile is required as a solid shot, a solid piece of metal is placed in

page_text: lieu of the charge; if as a common shell, the whole of the segments
are taken out and the interior filled with powder. In the projectile shewn
at Figure 5, one row of segments or pieces may be left in and the remainder
filled with powder. Projectiles similar to that shewn at Figure 7 are made
by preference of wrought iron with case-hardened head of steel or any other
suitable metal; the projectile shewn at Figure 5 is made by preference of
cast iron only; the conical portions of Figures 4 and 7 are of the same
length, while the cylindrical portions are of different lengths; the longer is
used with a smaller charge to decrease the amount of penetration when
required at short ranges; exactly the same difference in the length of the
charge is made as in the length of the projectiles, the shorter charge being
used with the longer projectile; on the same principle three or more such
lengths of charge and projectile may be used; the length of the cylindrical
portion of the projectile shewn at Figure 5 differs similarly; a slight pre-
ponderance is given to the fore part of the projectile; for the purpose of
keeping the centre of gravity the same when the pieces of shrapnel are
taken out, the pieces are not continued to the tail of the shell, and in
their place a hollow cylinder of irou K, K, is substituted, which is of rather
greater exterual diameter than the hollow of the projectile, so as to fit into
a recess r, r, in the tail of the shell, by which it is supported when the
pieces of shrapnel are taken out, its length being such as to keep the
centre of gravity the same, or nearly so. In order to avoid weakening
the head of the shell by having the fuze hole there, and also to reduce the
number of different sorts required, I prefer a fuze of the following descrip-
tion. The fuze consists of a hollow brass cylinder with a flange E to
prevent the explosion of the gun driving it into the shell. At the bottom of
the hollow is a steel ball S, resting in a concavity and confined in its place
by slight copper wire. For a short distance from the bottom the hollow
is of less diameter than the remainder, and into this part a small tray, top
and bottom views of which are given at Figures 8 and 9, fits easily; the
tray is filled with detonating composition, and a hole through the bottom at
one side is filled with quick fuze composition. From the bottom of the centre
of the tray a small rod of metalt projects. The tray is prevented from moving
towards the steel ball by slight copper wires. Beyond this portion of the
interior the hollow widens, forming a flange, upon which a cylinder of brass
B rests, which is screwed down upon it. Detached views of this cylinder are
given at Figures 10 and 11. The bottom of the cylinder is hollowed
to form another tray, also filled with detonating composition, and a hole y,
through the cylinder at one side of it from the bottom of the tray, is filled

page_text: passes
without
with quick fuze composition. At the bottom of the centre of the tray of deto-
nating composition is a cylindrical cavity, and also filled with detonating com-
position. A hole passes through the centre of this, the tray,and the remainder
of the cylinder, through which the projecting rod of metal t
touching, and is confined on the other side by a hexagonal nut p. The part
of the rod t passing through the cylinder B, not surrounded by composition, is
rough and serrated, and cannot be drawn through the detonating composition
without striking it. The bottom of the cylinder B has a number of grooves
radiating from the centre. The cylinder B having been screwed tightly down
an arrow is cut on the edge of the side of the cylinder, see Figures 12 and
A second
13, exactly above the orifice in the bottom of B of the hole y.
cylinder C is now dropped on to B, with projections on its bottom to fit the
grooves in B. Between each of these projections is a hole communicating
with an incomplete circle of slow fuze composition, the length of which
between each hole burns one second, and opposite each of these holes on the
reverse side of the cylinder are figures, 0, 1, 2, 3, &c., and from the one
opposite the 0 a hole Z passes through the cylinder to its centre on the other
side. A circular recess receives the nut p. A cover O now screws on
and keeps the whole firm. When required to be used as a time fuze the nut
p is unscrewed, and the number on the face of C corresponding to the number
of seconds it is required to burn is placed opposite the arrow, and the cover
O screwed on. On the sudden motion of the projectile in the bore, the tray
from which the rod t projects springs towards the bottom of the cylinder,
breaking the copper wires, and drawing the serrated part of the rod t sharply
through the detonating composition, which explodes, and the immediate
ignition of the communication y follows; this being immediately under the
arrow ignites the circle of fuze composition at the hole, which corresponds to
the number placed opposite the arrow. The circle of composition burns both
ways, but can only produce further effect by burning to 0 (the circle being
incomplete the other), which it evidently does in the number of seconds at
which the fuze was wished to burn. When the fire arrives at 0, it ignites
the communication z, and the instantaneous ignition of the charge follows.
When required to be used as a percussion fuze the nut p is kept on, and
the rod t is thus prevented from flying back at the explosion of the charge.
The figure 0 on C is placed opposite the arrow, or if required to be used
against earth works, &c., at such number of seconds as the shell shall be
required to burst after penetration; the cover is then fixed as before. On
striking the steel ball flies forward, breaking the copper wires that hold it
and striking the composition in the tray, explodes it, the ignition of the whole

page_text: of composition at the bottom of the tray follows, and of the other parts as
before. The fuze can be used at the head of the shell in a similar manner to
the rear, the action of the steel ball S and red t being then reversed. The
external diameter of the fuze is the same as those now in use to make it of
general application.
My improvements in ordnance consist in forming them in the following
manner, and as shewn at Figure 14. I cut a rectangular slot in the side of
the gun at the rear of the chamber, the interior surface of which is hardened
and polished. Into this chamber an accurately fitting rectangular block of
steel or case-hardened wrought iron is inserted. A projection a is left at the
top and bottom, and smaller slots at the top and bottom of the breech-piece
slot receive them. At the farther end these are bevelled to admit of a
slight lateral movement of the breech piece. At the opposite end they
enlarge into a circular shape, in which a female screw is cut. Into these
circular portions solid wrought-iron screws are fixed, and thus prevent the
breech piece from drawing wholly out, their length being just such as to allow
the brecch piece to be drawn out clear of the chamber of the gun, as shewn
in dotted lines in the vertical section Figure 15. In rear of the breech piece
is a hollow screw, the hollow of which is of the same diameter as that of the
chamber, furnished with a handle without a hammer to screw the breech home.
The end of the screw and the rear of the breech piece are tongued and
grooved to prevent all possibility of the latter flying out. The rectangular
shape of the breech piece is for the purpose of reducing to a minimum the
chance of its being blown out, there being thus no hollow, as in the Armstrong
bevelled breech piece for the gas to collect under. The chamber is unrifled,
and of such a length as to admit the charge and cylindrical part of the
projectile. Its diameter is slightly greater than that of the bore, and
bevelled off for about three-quarters of an inch, to meet the smaller diameter
of the bore, as shewn at Figure 16. The lower edge of the rear of the chamber
where it meets the breech slot is rounded off, as shewn at b, Figure 17, being
a partial side elevation of the gun, to avoid the chance of a sharp edge
scraping the lead coating of the projectile. The bore may be either smooth
or rifled. The position of the vent is the same as in muzzle-loading guns,
and either made in the same manner or by a vent hole bored in a piece of
steel screwed into the gun. The mode of construction and material of the
gun is the same as any now in use. The proportions of the different parts
must depend on the calibre and weight of charge and projectile.
In applying my Invention to guns already constructed that part over the
seat of the shot is strengthened either by shrinking on wrought-iron coils or

page_text: coiling on wrought-iron bands, and welding at the overlap, or by any other
method.
In applying it to the Armstrong gun this strengthening piece is shewn
by dotted lines in Figure 14, just past the trunnions. The trunnions are
taken off and placed at right angles to their former position, so as to bring
the slot for the breech piece at the side of the gun.. In the section of the
bore the greater part of the lands and grooves of the Armstrong gun are
shewn cut away, the remaining lands which are left at regular intervals
being cut to form the projections according to my Invention.
In order to avoid the trouble, time, and liability to error consequent at
present on the necessity of the two operations of setting the tangent sight for
elevation and deflection, the following apparatus is used, as shewn at Figures
15 and 19. Two concentric wheels A and B have a square axle hole passing
through them, into which an axle fits accurately, being square where it passes
through the wheels and circular at its other parts. At one end t is termi-
nated by a mill-headed handle H, on the other by a small screw, on which a
hexagonal nut fits. Both wheels are cogged, and the cogs of the large wheel
fit into similar ones on the side of the tangent sight G, which is kept close to
this wheel by a frame Cadmitting of its free vertical motion. The whole fits
into a frame D, with a slot l, l, in each side of it, which admits of a horizontal
motion of the axle. The cogs of the smaller wheel B gear into cogs on the
lower portion e, e, of the frame; the whole is kept together by the nut f. On
turning the handle H from left to right the tangent is raised by the turning of
the wheel A, and by the turning of the wheel Bit has a horizontal motion
from left to right imparted to it along the bar c. The diameter of B is so
proportioned to A, that the horizontal motion given by the first cog of B for
reflection bears the correct proportion to the vertical motion given by A for
elevation; but as the deflection has an increasing or decreasing ratio to the
elevation, the second cog of B is at such a distance from the first as to give the
requisite decreased or increased horizontal motion, and similarly for the third
cog, and so on for the remainder. Thus, for instance, supposing that for the
first vertical space the tangent sight moves up, it is required to move half that
space horizontally to the right; then by making the larger wheel double the
diameter of the smaller,their circumferences will be in a like proportion, and
the chord of the arc subtending the same number of degrees in each will be
double the length in the large wheel that it is in the smaller, but as they both
turn together they turn through the same number of degrees, and therefore acog
of the larger wheel moves over twice the space that a cog of the smaller wheel
does, and the tangent sight is moved twice the distauce vertically up that it is

page_text: horizontally to the right. Then, supposing that the next vertical space the
tangent sight is required to move, it is required to move half the first horizontal
distance to the right, or that the ratio of the vertical to the horizontal motion is
to be double what it was before. Then the interval between the first and
second cogs of the smaller wheel must subtend twice the number of degrees
that the interval between the same cogs in the larger wheel does, so that two
cogs of the larger wheel come into play to one of the smaller wheel, and the
ratio of the vertical to the horizontal motion will be double what it was before,
and so on for the remainder of the cogs. The cogs may be as small or as
near together as required, or as those on the tangent sights now in use. By
uncrewing the nut fand withdrawing the axle the whole apparatus may be
taken to pieces and cleaned or renewed in any of the parts, and either of the
wheels may be replaced by another, bearing a different ratio of its diameter to
the one remaining, with a different distance als between its cogs, so that by a
slight alteration the sight may be made to suit any gun. Should an allow-
ance be required to be made for deflection of wind, &c., a sliding bar cogged
on its lower edge may be fixed on the top of the tangent sight and moved by a
mill-headed wheel with a cogged axle, to be used or not as thought necessary.
A bar K is fixed to the side of the frame D, and is dropped into a slot in the
copper ring N round the breech of the gun. The tangent sight or the
horizontal bar, or both, may be placed at an angle or curved.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, rifling ordnance and small arms by forming fillets or ribs on the
interior surface of the bore, substantially as herein-before described, and
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 16 of the accompanying Drawings.
Second, the construction of shells and projectiles substantially as herein-
before described, and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Third, the construction of ordnance substantially as herein-before described,
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Garnier, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-two.
JOHN GARNIER. (L.S.)