IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Perceval Moses Parsons at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th April 1883.
PERCEVAL MOSES PARSONS of Melbourne House, Blackheath, in the County of
Kent Civil Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE
In the construction of heavy Ordnance I form an outer casing of cast Iron, or
similar suitable metal which has a less range of extension under strain than the
metal composing the interior portion of the piece.
This casing being cast or bored out hollow to a suitable form I pour into it
molten bronze, brass, or other similar alloy of which copper forms the base, or
mild steel, or other suitable metal, or alloy having a greater range of extension
under strain than the metal composing the outer casing, and while the metal is in
a fluid or soft state, I subject it to considerable pressure by forcing a plunger into
the mouth of the casing by hydraulic or other mechanical means. The piece is
then bored out and finished, the metal cast into it forming the interior or lining
tube of the pieco
If it be desired to give the inner tube a double thickness at the reinforce I form
the casing open at the breech and make an enlarged recess extending a sufficient
distance into the breech end, or reinforce of the gun, I then fit an inner tube
into the chase extending to the breech thus leaving an annular space between it
and the outer casing at the breech end of the gun, I then pour into this annular
space molten bronze, or other suitable alloy, and subject it to pressure while in a
fluid or soft state as hereinbefore described. A. breech screw can then be screwed
in, or any suitable breech loading arrangement attached.
In the construction of smaller pieces of Ordnance such as field guns & others
that can be conveniently cast in one piece I employ any suitable quality of Bronze
Brass, or other similar alloy of which Copper forms the base and having prepared
a strong metal mould whose interior corresponds to the intended form of the gun,
or block from which the gun is to be made, I pour the molten bronze or other alloy
into it, and while it is in a fluid or soft state subject it to pressure by forcing &
plunger into the mouth of the mould by hydraulic or other mechanical means.
The block thus cast is then taken out of the mould bored and finished to complete
the gun.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Perceval Moses Parsons in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th October 1883.
PERCEVAL MOSES PARSONS of Melbourne House Blackheath in the County of
Kent Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE"
In the construction of heavy ordnance I form an outer casing of cast iron or
similar suitable metal which has a less range of extension under strain than the
metal composing the interior of the piece
This casing being cast or bored out hollow to a suitable form I pour into it molten
bronze brass or other similar suitable alloy of which copper forms the base, or mild steel
or other suitable metal or alloy having a greater range of extension under strain than
the metal composing the outer casing, and while the metal is in a fluid or soft state
I subject it to considerable pressure by forcing a plunger into the mouth of the
casing by hydraulic or other mechanical means. The piece is then bored out and
finished, the metal cast into it forming the interior or lining tube of the piece.
Fig: 1. represents a piece of ordnance in the course of construction according to
my invention-The outer casing a is supported by any suitable means in a hydraulic
press, the molten bronze, brass or other suitable metal or alloy 6 is then poured
into the casing a and as quickly as possible the plunger f of the hydraulic press
is forced into the mouth of the piece and the pressure continued until the metal
Bolidifies.
If it be desired to give the inner tube a double thickness at the reinforce I form
the casing open at the breech end and make an enlarged recess extending a sufficient
distance into the breech end or reinforce of the gun.-I then fit an inner tube into
the chase extending to the breach, thus leaving an annular space between it and
the outer casing at the breech end of the gun. I then pour into this annular space
molten bronze, brass or other suitable metal or alloy and subject it to pressure
whilo in a fluid or soft state by forcing into the annular space a corresponding
annular plunger by hydraulic or other means.
This arrangement is shewn at Fig 2 in which a is the outer casing of the piece,
k the lining tube, b the annular space filled with molten metal, and f, the annular
plunger of a hydraulic press pressing thereon. To complete the gun a solid breech
screw can be screwed into the casing a or any suitable breech loading arrangement
attached
In the construction of smaller pieces of ordnance such as Field guns and others
that can conveniently be cast in one piece, I employ any suitable quality of
bronze, brass or other similar alloy of which copper forms the base, and having
prepared a strong metal mould whose interior corresponds to the intended form of
the gun or block from which the gun is to be made, I pour the molten bronze or
other alloy into it, and while it is in a fluid or soft state subject it to pressure
by forcing a plunger into the mouth of the mould in the manner hereinbefore
described Fig: 3 shows this arrangement is the strong metal mould-cast iron
of good quality will generally answer the purposen is a plug which closes the
bottom of the mould m is the molten bronze or other alloy and of the plunger of a
bydraulic press being forced down upon it-When the metal m is solidified and the
plunger withdrawn the block can be removed from the mould 7 by forcing a
plunger, or drift against the plug n which will drive it and the block out together,
the mould being made with a sufficient taper say, about 1 in 30, but not less than 1
in 40 The block can then be turned, bored and finished and the trunnions & added
to complete the gun.
In the case of guns thus made required to be reinforced at the breech end a

page_text: jacket may be cast on in the manner shewn and described under Fig: 2 but in this
case the casing a will only be used temporarily and need therefore only be suffi-
ciently long to encompass the jacket, and it should have sufficient taper to allow
the jacket with the tube or gun it is cast on to be forced out of it without difficulty
or otherwise made to effect this object-The tube or block on which it is cast will
also have to be modified in form as to render it suitable for a gun without the
support of the outer casing.-Or the jacket can be cast separately and then heated
and shrunk on to the tube or gun in the manner ordinarily practised in building
up steel or wrought iron guns.
In witness whereof I the said Perceval Moses Parsons have hereunto set my
hand and seal this fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.