IMPROVE- MENTS IN CONSTRUCTING MOVEABLE OR FIELD BATTERIES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sir Charles Shaw, of Chapel Place, Cavendish Square,
in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CON-
Sealed the 2nd August 1858, and dated the 5th February 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sir Charles Shaw at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th February 1858.
I, Sir CHARLES SHAW, of Chapel Place, Cavendish Square, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CONSTRUCTING MOVEABLE OR FIELD BATTERIES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in constructing moveable or
field batteries. For these purposes a carriage is constructed suitable. to run
on wheels, in order that it may be drawn with facility from place to place, and.
such carriage is arranged with compartments for carrying powder and ball in
the form of cartridges or otherwise. Each carriage is fitted with one or more
horizontal rows of barrels (by preference, rifled barrels) in such manner that
the whole of a row of barrels may be pointed at the same.time at the enemy,
and be simultaneously discharged. It is preferred that there should in each
case be several rows of barrels capable of being brought into position in suc-
cession, so that whilst one or more rows of barrels is or are being pointed and
fired, the barrels of another row or rows may be recharged. Or where revolver
barrels are used, then there need only be one row of barrels, each barrel

page_text: having in connection with it a series of short revolving barrels. The fore part
and sides of the carriage may be made ball-proof if desired. By such an
arrangement of field battery,; a very few men would be able to work a large
number of barrels and be in comparative-safety:.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Sir Charles Shaw, in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th August 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Sir CHARLES
SHAW, of Chapel Place, Cavendish Square, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles Shaw, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Shaw, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
Shaw, 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
CONSTRUCTING MOVEABLE OR FIELD BATTERIES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Charles Shaw, 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 Charles Shaw, 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:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in constructing moveable or
field batteries. For these purposes a carriage is constructed suitable to run"
on wheels, in order that it may be drawn with facility from place to place,
and such carriage is arranged with compartments for carrying powder and

page_text: ball in the form of cartridges or otherwise. Each carriage is fitted with one
or more horizontal rows of barrels (by preference, rifled barrels) in such
manner that the whole of a row of barrels may be pointed at the same time at
the enemy, and be simultaneously discharged. It is preferred that there should
in each case be several rows of barrels capable of being brought into position
in succession, so that whilst one or more rows of barrels is or are being pointed
and fired, the barrels of another row or rows may be recharged. Or where
revolver barrels are used, then there need only be one row of barrels, each
barrel having in connection with it a series of short revolving barrels. The
fore part and sides of the carriage may be made ball-proof if desired. By such
an arrangement of field battery, a very few men would be able to work a large
number of barrels, and be in comparative safety.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto
annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
No. 1 represents the horizontal field battery mounted on a carriage, and
fired by the ordinary hammer inserted into a common shaft or axle, and by
one trigger-cocking lever.
No. 2 represents the horizontal breech-loading chamber.
No. 3 represents the horizontal sliding chamber, which slides into the
chamber No. 2 when loaded, and when discharged is withdrawn at the
opposite side.
No. 4 represents the vertical revolving breech-loading chambers.
No. 5 represents the horizontal revolving breech-loading breech.
The above are fired by single or double hammers, or by continuous touch-
holes.
No. 6. represents horizontal hammer bar revolving in slides at each side of
the barrels with expanding or contracting springs to fire simultaneously or
separately by percussion.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Shaw, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
GEO. PITT.
CHARLES SHAW (L.S.).