IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RIFLED AND OTHER CANNON
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Coope Haddan, of Cannon Row, in the City
of Westminster, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF RIFLED AND OTHER CANNON."
Sealed the 1st February 1856, and dated the 8th August 1855.'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Coope Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th August 1855.
I, JOHN COOPE HADDAN, of Cannon Row, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF RIPLED AND OTHER CANNON " to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in casting cannon hollow with any desired
form of grooves or rifling and with any desired amount of inclination or twist
(whether such inclination be uniform or otherwise throughout the length of
the cannon).
The mode in which I prefer to perform this part of my Invention is to
make the cores (which should correspond with the intended grooves or rifling)
in such manner as that they may collapse whilst the metal is setting, and
afterwards be readily removed from the interior of the cannon when cast,
and which object I consider may be best accomplished by forming the cores
upon a removeable tapering mandril. And, further, I prefer to cast the cannon
with swellings or projections externally, corresponding with and opposite to the

page_text: several grooves or rifled parts, so as to render the casting uniform or more
uniform in thickness than without such swellings or projections, and so as
not unnecessarily to increase the weight of the cannon. I purpose grinding
or otherwise finishing the interior surface of the cannon, or the grooved or
rifled portions of such surface, to render them smooth and true to their intended
form.
My Invention consists, secondly, in manufacturing cannon by casting the
mass or greater portion of the metal (of which they are composed) on to or
around a permanent hollow mandril, or core, or lining (for the cannon), of
comparatively thin substance; such mandril, core, or lining consisting either
of one piece only, or of two or more pieces or sections, longitudinally or other-
wise, and its interior being formed to the intended shape of the bore of the
cannon, whether rifled or otherwise, either previously or subsequently to casting
the mass on to or around its exterior.
The manner in which I prefer to perform this part of my Invention is to
fill the interior of the hollow mandril, core, or lining with sand or other suit-
able material to prevent its burning, and a removeable tapering plug may be
used in the midst of the sand or material employed, so that when removed the
cast metal may cool or shrink the more tightly upon the mandril, core, or
lining. And when this mandril, or core, or lining is of wrought iron, its
exterior surface may be tinned, or otherwise suitably prepared, so as to cause a
more perfect adhesion of the cast metal thereto.
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
8th February 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
COOPE HADDAN, of Cannon Row, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth 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 1, the
said John Coope Haddan, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at

page_text: any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 KIPLED AND OTHER 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 Inven-
tion, 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 per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say):
:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in casting cannon hollow with any desired
form of grooves or rifling and with any desired amount of inclination or twist
(whether such inclination be uniform or otherwise throughout the length of
the cannon).
The manner in which I perform this part of my Invention is as follows:-
I employ a tubular or hollow metal core, which is formied externally of the
shape intended to be given to the interior of the cannon, and is provided with
the means of keeping up a continual circulation or change of water within it
for the purpose of keeping the core cool and giving a chilled surface to the
interior of the cannon.
The Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings explain an arrangement for the pur-
pose which will be found convenient; a representing the core; and b, a tube
supported within it. Through this inner tube I keep up a constant and copious
supply of cold water whilst the cannon is being cast, the water passing away
around such tube and between it and the core, as denoted by the arrows.
I prefer to make the core and tube of wrought iron, and I support the core
centrally within the mould by making it longer than the cannon to be cast,
so as to give sufficient bearing for it to be held steadily in a frame or support
provided for the occasion. The chilled surface thus given to the interior of
the cannon will, it is apprehended, cause sufficient contraction of the metal
to ensure the easy removal of the core from the interior of the cannon when
cast. But if it should be preferred not to give such chilled surface, I then.
employ, a core of the materials ordinarily used, but build or form it upon a
tapering mandril, which I remove from the core whilst the cast metal is setting

page_text: or cooling, and thus allow it to collapse. When the cannon has been cast in
accordance with either of the foregoing modes, I lead, or grind, or otherwise
finish the interior surface of the cannon, or of the grooved or rifled portion of
such surface, to render them smooth and true to their intended form.
I would here remark, that when the core to be used is constructed of metal,
I turn or form it externally of the shape necessary to produce the desired
grooving or rifling by planing it longitudinally with a machine adapted to give
the twist. motion either to the tool or to the core to be planed; and when the
core is constructed of plastic materials, I form it in the same manner as above
described, or by moulding it of the required shape. I prefer to cast the
cannon with swellings or projections externally, corresponding with and oppo-
site to the several grooves or rifled parts, so as to render the casting uniform
or more uniform.in thickness than without such swellings or projections, and
so as not unnecessarily to increase the weight of the cannon.
My Invention consists, secondly, in manufacturing cannon by casting the.
mass or greater portion of the metal (of which they are composed) on to or
around a permanent hollow mandril, or core, or lining (for the cannon), of
comparatively thin substance; such mandril, core, or lining consisting either
of one piece only, or of two or more pieces or sections, longitudinally or other-
wise, and its interior being formed to the intended shape of the bore of the
cannon, whether rifled or otherwise, either previously or subsequently to casting
the mass on to or around its exterior.
The manner in which I perform this part of my Invention is as follows:-
For the convenience of description, the hollow mandril, or core, or lining is
herein-after called the tube. In order to ensure a firm and solid fitting of
the tube, so that the concussion of firing may be less likely to displace or
loosen it within the cast iron, I make its exterior with longitudinal corruga-
tions, flutings, or flat surfaces, which, however, I consider to be unnecessary
throughout the entire length, and therefore I prefer to turn off or remove such
corrugations, flutings, or flat surfaces at intervals, and thus cause a firm hold
or fitting of the cast metal. upon the tube longitudinally as well as transversely.
The Figures.3, 4, and 5 represent a side view and transverse sections of a form
of, tube (externally), which I believe will be found to answer extremely well.
The Figures 6, 7, and 8. are similar views of another form, which I also
approve... It is desirable that the projecting portions of the surfaces of the
tubes.should not exceed the proportions shewn in the Drawings, or at any rate
only slightly so, in order to prevent unnecessarily weakening the cast-iron shell.
But this objection may be obviated, if desired, by increasing the thickness of
the cast-iron shell immediately opposite to the projections, and the same may

page_text: be found desirable even with projections of the proportions shewn in the
Drawings. Instead of corrugations, flutings, or flat surfaces, as above
described, the exterior of the tube may be made with notches, cuts, or indent-
ations, or with a screwed surface along the whole or only part of its length.
Longitudinal grooves with occasional transverse ones turned in so as to form
necks or shoulders will probably be found the best substitute when the corru-
gations, flutings, or flat surfaces are not used. The tube may be either open
from end to end, or closed at the breech end and open at the muzzle. When
open throughout its length it may be arranged within the shell of the cannon,
so as to form a powder chamber, as shewn in the sectional view, Figure 9, or
so as not to form such chamber, but merely a passage for the ball, as shewn
in the sectional view, Figure 10.
When the tube is closed at the breech end, the charge will be surrounded
by it, and will not come in contact with the cast iron, and such tubes may be
formed either by welding or brazing in a plug, or by turning the tube out of
the solid. I have represented two modes of employing the closed tubes; the
sectional view, Figure 11, shewing the cast metal solidly up to and against the
closed end of the tube, and the Figure 12 shewing the tube passing com-
pletely through the casting, the tube in this case being formed out of the solid,
and sufficient metal being left at the closed end to resist the explosive force
of the charge.
In order to ensure a more perfect adhesion of the casting to and upon the
tube when formed of wrought iron or steel, I heat the tube by means of a hot
blast on to and into and through it, or (which will be found a better process)
by heating the tube in a furnace conveniently near to the mould and previously
to its insertion therein, care being taken carefully to clean the surface of the
tube from cinder or other refuse. This latter method will also permit the
interior of the tube to have sand inserted therein to prevent its burning, and also
the use of a removeable tapering plug to be inserted in the midst of the sand,
so that when removed the sand may give way, and allow the tube to yield to
the shrinking or contraction of the cast metal upon it. Or, instead of either
of the foregoing plans, or in addition to the one lastly mentioned, the molten
metal may be poured into the tube itself as well as around it, but this neces-
sitates boring out or removing the internal core thus formed. The exterior
surface of the tube may also be tinned, or otherwise suitably prepared, so as
still further to cause a perfect adhesion, in addition to the methods above
described.
In order to ensure the proper central position of the tube within the mould
during the process of casting, I make the tube longer than the cannon, as

page_text: described in the first part of my Invention, and cut off the superfluous length.
after, the casting has become solid and the tube fixed within it. When the tubes
are of gun metal or brass, I cast them into the form desired, and finish by
planing or turning; and when of wrought iron or steel, I manufacture them by
either winding up a bar of the metal into a helical coil and welding together, as
ordinarily practised for gun barrels, or by welding up a series of pieces of good
plate first into separate cylinders and then endways all together; or, instead of
the foregoing methods of forming the tubes, they may be constructed of separate
pieces or sections, accurately fitted together at their edges either longitudinally
or transversely, or both. In any case I give the desired grooving or rifling
either previously to or after casting on the mass or shell of the cannon, in the
manner described in a Specification filed in pursuance of Letters Patent for
"Improvements in the Manufacture of Cannon and of Projectiles for the
same," granted. to me, bearing date the Fourteenth day of October, One.
thousand, eight hundred and fifty-four, or in any other convenient manner. I
consider that the substance of the tubes should be about one-eighth of their
external diameter, and externally they may be either taper or otherwise, as
preferred. In large sizes, where there is a considerable mass of metal, or in
any case where the substance of the tube is very thin, it may be found desirable
not to heat the tube, as herein-above described, but, on the contrary, to keep
it cool, by a current of water within it, as described in the former part of this
Specification. This remark more particularly applies when the tube is formed
of brass or gun metal. It is to be understood that the touch-hole is to be
formed in the ordinary or any other convenient manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Coope Haddan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-six.
J. C. HADDAN. (L.B.)