IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ARMS. AND IN PROJECTILES FOR BREECH-LOADING ARMS
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Jules Manceaux, of Paris, in the Empiro
of France, Gun Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING ARMS. AND IN PROJECTILES FOR BREECH-LOADING ARMS."
Sealed the 3rd December 1861, and dated the 5th June 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said François Jules Manceaux
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 5th June 1861.
I, FRANÇOIS JULES MANCEAUX, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Gun
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ARMS, AND IN PROJECTILES FOR BREECH-LOADING ARMS,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention in arms applies to ordnance and small arms, and consists in
fitting at the rear of the cannon or barrel a solid disc which moves upon an
excentric pivot fixed in a lump cast with or formed upon the rear of the
cannon or barrel. The periphery of this disc, the posterior surface of which
is slightly inclined, enters a groove made for its reception in the thickness of
the metal of which the cannon or barrel is composed. A lodgement is
thus formed for the disc, and the breech is securely closed. A lever handle is
fitted to the disc on the side opposite to that at which it is pivotted, and by which

page_text: it
may
be made to move upon its pivot until the bore is open at the rear for
the reception of the charge.
In order to make the breech closing gas-tight, I introduce behind the charge
a conical wad or washer hollow at its centre, and of equal diameter with the bore
of the gun. The interior of this rod is furnished with a solid cone, the base of
which extends beyond the central opening in the wad. Acted upon by the
gases generated by the explosion of the charge the cone presses upon the edges
of the wad and forces them into contact with the circumference of the bore,
whereby the passage of gas and its emission through the breech is entirely
prevented. The wad and cone may be made of tempered steel, wood, leather,
compressed paper, card board, or other suitable material, and when made of
paper or card board they may be enclosed in the cartridge behind the powder,
they are removed from the barrel after every discharge.
My improvements in projectiles apply chiefly to elongated shot, and consist
in making two parallel grooves round the circumference, one at a short distance
from the base, and-the-other at the rise of the coue; the bottom and sides of the
grooves are jagged or corrugated. I.insert a ring or belt of leather in a damp
state in these annular grooves, the leather shrinks in drying and adheres firmly
to the irregular surfaces in the grooves, so much so that the twist in the rifling
of the barrel will not cause them to turn in the grooves. When the leather
rings have been thoroughly dried under a temperature of about 140° Fahr.,
I impregnate them with a mixture of wax and tallow, and then polish then
by a polishing tool in a lathe; these rings preserve the barrel from metallic
fouling, and to a very great extent lessen the friction of the projectile. Again
I sometimes dispense with the leather rings, and apply to the projectile wings
with screw-threaded tails of iron and with a leather head. These wings are
screwed into tapped holes made in two parallel lines on the circumference of
the projectile. Each wing is coated with a lubricant composed of wax and
tallow.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said François Jules Manceaux in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th December 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANÇOIS
JULES MANCEAUX, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Gun Manufacturer, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said François
Jules Manceaux, Her special licence that I, the said François Jules Manceaux,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 1, the said
François Jules Manceaux, 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, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BREECH-LOADING ARMS, AND IN PROJECTILES FOR BREECH-LOADING ARMS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said François Jules Manceaux, my
exccutors 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 per-
formed, 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 François Jules Manceaux, 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 following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, that is to say -
My Invention in arms applies to ordnance and small arms, and consists in
fitting at the rear of the cannon or barrel a solid disc, which moves upon an
excentric pivot fixed in a lump, cast with or formed upon the rear of the
cannon or barrel. The periphery of this disc, the posterior surface of which
is slightly inclined, enters a transverse slot and groove made for its reception in
the thickness of the metal of which the cannon or barrel is composed. A
lodgment is thus formed for the disc, and the breech is securely closed. A
lever bandle is fitted to the disc on the side opposite to that at which it is
pivotted, and by which it may be made to move upon its pivot until the bore
is open at the rear for the reception of the charge.
In order to make the breech closing gas-tight, I introduce behind the
charge a block made at top with a hollow cone, or with a conical aperture
sunk or formed in the top thereof, of equal diameter with the bore of the
breech. A solid conical wad, or solid cone, is placed in the hollow conical

page_text: aperture acted upon by the gases generated by the explosion of the charge,
the solid conc presses upon the edges of and is driven into the hollow cone,
and forces the edges thereof into contact with the circumference of the bore,
whereby the passage of gas and its emission through the breech is entirely
prevented.
The block and cone may be made of tempered steel, wood, leather, com-
pressed paper, cardboard, or other suitable material; and when made of paper
or cardboard they may be enclosed in the cartridge behind the powder.
In the annexed Drawings I shew the manner in which the foregoing parts
of my Invention are carried into effect.
b
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 a back view of the breech-closing
dise, with its lever handle a, and with eyes 6 for the reception of a hinge pin.
Figure 2 is a plan of the upper part of the breech and part of a barrel.
Figure 3 shews the left-hand side of the same, and Figure 4 is a horizontal
section thereof. Figure 4* is a vertical section of a breech and part of a barrel
of a fire-arm fitted with the breech-closing disc, and with conical gas-tight
stoppers made of steel, shewing also a cartridge inserted, and all ready for
firing. Figure 4b is a similar view, but shewing paper instead of steel gas
stoppers. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, but shewing the right-hand
side of the barrel. Figure 6 is a cross section of the breech through the centre
of the transverse slot. Figure 7 is a view of the rear of the breech,-showing
the bore closed by the closing disc. Figure 8 is a similar view, shewing the bore
open and the disc raised. Figure 9 shews the screw pin, which passing
through eyes formed in the lugs on the outside of the breech and the eye on
the end of the closing disc, connects the disc to the breech, and allows of the
disc turning thereon to open or close the breech. Figure 10 is a side view of
the block in the head of which the bollow cone is formed. Figure 10" is a
plan of the top, and Figure 10" a plan of the bottom thereof. Figure 11 is
a side view of the solid cone, provided at front with a rod extending forward,
and with a threaded guide pin extending rearward. Figure 11 is a top
plan, and Figure 11b a bottom plan thereof. Figure 12 is a section of the
block in which the conical aperture is made, shewing also the solid cone
lodged therein. Figure 12 is a plan of the nut screwed on the guide pin of the
solid cone.
kis a hollow formed at the rear of the block, which allows of the
insertion of the ends of pincers into the cross holes for the purpose of with-
drawing the gas stoppers or block and cone. Figure 13 is a side view of the
stopper complete in steel, that is, the block in which the conical aperture is
Inade for the reception of the solid cone; m is the nut on the guide pin; n

page_text: Figure 14 is a side elevation of the
Figure 14 is a plan of the top or
denotes the space for the play of the nut.
stopper block, made of paper or leather.
front, and Figure 14 is a plan of the rear end thereof. Figures 15, 15%, and
15 are respectively side elevation, and plans of the top or front and rear of the
solid cone when made of leather or paper. Figure 16 is a section of the block
with the solid cone lodged in the conical aperture in the top or front thereof,
all of paper or leather, with a wire or pin uniting the solid cone to the block.
Figures 17 and 17* are side elevation and section of a block to be used by
itself for hermetically closing the passage of gas by the edges of the upper or
fore end being expanded against the circumference of the bore. When the
closing disc is turned down, the disc part thereof closes the breech, as shewn
at Figure 7, and receives the effect of the explosion of the charge. In this
position the disc takes its bearing against the back side or edge of the slot and
groove in the whole thickness of the upper part of the barrel, and in one-half
of the thickness of the lower part, as shewn at Figure 6. This bearing
increases in proportion with the calibre of the barrel, the sides of which are
thicker in proportion to the resistance they have to bear.
:
Loading of the arms is effected as follows:-The breech-closing disc is
raised upon its hinge, and the charge is inserted and pushed forward by a
rammer until it reaches the fore end of tho conical chamber, see Figure 4*.
The gas stoppers are next inserted, and the disc is then brought down. The
explosion is caused in any ordinary manner. After the discharge of the arm
the closing disc is raised, and the gas stoppers are withdrawn by means of
spring pincers, the legs or grips of which are inserted in the conical space
made in the rear end of the block in which the hollow cone is formed, and
enter transverse holes.
When using gas stoppers made of steel as above described, it is advisable to
line the breech with a tube of hardened cast steel screwed into the breech, as
shewn at Figures 4 and 4*, to take the thrust exerted by the hollow cone on
being expanded.
As in the application of these gas stoppers to ordnance, the violent effect of
a heavy charge of powder may tend to force the solid cone too sharply and too
deeply into the hollow cone, and consequently after a succession of discharges,
injuriously affect either the edges of the hollow cone or the bore of the arm, so
as to allow of a slight escape of gas between them, I have found that the solid
cone may be dispensed with, and that the gas-stopping effect may be produced
by the hollow cone alone, the thinned edges of which expend sufficiently from
the pressure exerted by the explosion of the charge. to hermetically close the
breech and prevent all passage of gas.

page_text: Instead of the gas stoppers being formed of steel, as before described, both
the solid and hollow cones may, as before stated, be formed of leather, paper,
or other pulp of compressed paper, or papier mâché, see Figures 14, 15, and
16. These paper stoppers are impregnated with greasy or oily matter, and act
in a similar manner to the steel stoppers. It must be noted, however, that the
solid and hollow cones when made of leather or paper will only answer for one
discharge, and that they are no longer serviceable after being withdrawn from
One advantage arises from the employment of the paper stoppers,
videlicit, that the bore is not liable to any injury from the pressure exerted
against it, and the heavier the charge the more will this advantage be apparent.
When making the paper cones, there is no rod carried forward from the solid
cone, and a simple metal wire or rod is fixed in the rear thereof to keep it
concentric with the hollow cone, see Figures 4 and 16.
the arm.
My improvements in projectiles apply chiefly to elongated shot, and consist
in making two parallel grooves round the circumference, one at a short dis-
tance from the base and the other at the rise of the cone; the bottom and sides
of the grooves are jagged or corrugated. I insert a ring or belt of leather in a
damp state in these annular grooves; the leather shrinks in drying, and
adheres firmly to the irregular surfaces in the grooves, so much so that the
twist in the rifling of the barrel will not cause them to turn in the grooves.
When the leather rings have been thoroughly dried under a temperature of
about 140° Fah., I impregnate them with a mixture of wax and tallow, and
then-polish-them by a polishing tool in a lathe. These rings preserve the barrel
from metallic fouling, and to a very great extent lessen the friction of the
projectile.
Again, I sometimes dispense with the leather rings, and apply to the projectile
wings with screw-threaded tails of iron and with a leather head. These
wings are screwed into tapped holes made in two parallel lines on the circum-
ference of the projectile. Each wing is coated with a lubricant composed of
wax and tallow.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not claim the double
conical gas-stopping apparatus when employed apart from the breech-closing
disc herein-before described, as the same formed the subject of an Invention
for which Letters Patent were granted to me in conjunction with Eugene
Napoleon Vieillard in 1856, No 2642; but I claim,―
First, constructing breech-loading arms with an aperture and groove, and
fitting thereto a disc for opening and closing the breech, substantially as herein-
before described.

page_text: Second, the combined employment in breech-loading arms for the purpose
of closing the breech and preventing any escape therefrom of a breech-closing
disc and of gas-stopping apparatuses, all arranged, fitted, and acting as herein-
before described.
And, third, the improvements in projectiles herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said François Jules Manceaux, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-one.
MANCEAUX. (LS.)