IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANNON, AND OF PROJECTILES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Coope Haddan, of Chelsea, in the County of
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF CANNON, AND OF PROJECTILES FOR THE SAME.”
Sealed the 3rd April 1855, and dated the 14th October 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Coope Haddan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th October 1854.
I, JOHN COOPE HADDAN, of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANNON, AND OF PROJECTILES FOR THE SAME,"
to be as follows:-
My improvements in the manufacture of cannon relate to certain modes of
rifling or shaping their interior or bore with grooves or cuts, extending along
such bore, and having the requisite amount of turn or. twist; and also to
certain modes of closing up or stopping the breech end of cannon which are
cast or formed with a tube or passage completely through them.
The former of these improvements consists in making or forming two or
more curved grooves or cuts, by means of a shaft or bar, carrying a rotary
cutter or cutters, the shaft being disposed eccentrically to the main axis or

page_text: bore of the cannon, and working in a tube or bearing, which tube or bearing
is prevented from turning, excepting to the amount requisite for producing the
rifle turn or twist; or. when the tube or bearing turns, it is moved round in the
same direction as the shaft, but at a different speed; or in forming or finishing
the bore, or forming the grooves of rifled cannon, by means of a planing tool or
cutter, which traverses or slides along the cannon upon an evenly planed or
otherwise truly formed surface of a guiding bar or bed plate. inserted within
the cannon; or when the rifled grooves to be formed or made are of that
particular description which has a shouldered edge to each groove, from which
edge the groove tapers off or diminishes till it merges into the circumference
or bore of the cannon, in planing away the requisite amount or quantity of
metal from the bore of cannon which have been previously formed with curved
grooves or cuts (cut with rotary cutters or otherwise), so as in fact to alter
the form of such grooves from a simple curved form or shape to the shape of a
tooth of a ratchet wheel.
The latter of the improvements above mentioned consists in closing up or
stopping the breech end of cannon of the said particular description by means
of plugs or stoppers inserted from the muzzle end.
My improvements in the manufacture of projectiles relate to that description
of projectile which consists. of. a shot or shell, and of a wad or wads, or in
which the shot or shell is used in combination with a wad or wads. These
improvements consist in the making up or furnishing projectiles with a second
or supplemental wad or wadding (of whatever construction it may be) at their
middle or at their forward portious, in addition to the wad or wadding (of
whatever construction it may be) which may be employed or placed at or near
the tail end of the projectile; also the making them up or furnishing them
with wires or other electrical conductors, for the purpose of firing at the same
instant, and by the agency of electricity, a number of projectiles (so made up
or furnished) from several separate cannon, by inserting into or connecting
such wires or conductors with the wads or other convenient portions of the
projectiles, and in insulating them in accordance with the requirements of the
case, the intended mode of using them being to pass the wires connecting
the several projectiles together down the several cannon respectively from their
muzzles and along the rifled grooves to their breeches; also in making up or
furnishing the tail or back end of projectiles, which are intended to be made
to rotate or partly be made to rotate by means of rifled cannon with a wad, for
guiding or steadying such tail or back end during the passage of the projectile
along the bore of the cannon; also in casting shot. and shells, which are of
an elongated form, in moulds with their axial line (or longest measurement)

page_text: arranged vertically; and when casting shells, in supporting the core in the
mould at both ends, by a spindle or a point at each end; and also in casting
both shot and shell with a head or quantity of metal additional to that which
the mould will contain, so as to render the casting itself more uniform in
quality (the additional portion being intended to be removed); also in forming
the wads or wadding (of or for projectiles), whether whole or in parts, of plates
or thicknesses, whether discs or not, and whether annular or not, of the same
or of varying materials, placed upon each other, so as to cross the grain or
otherwise, and render the whole mass as nearly homogenous as possible; or in
forming them of sawdust or finely divided morsels of wood, or other materials
or mixture of materials, moulded, pressed, or squeezed together in moulds or
dies, with or without the use of glue or other cement, whether mixed with the
materials or squeezed through them; or in forming them of a coil or coils
of any suitable material or materials.
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
14th April 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN COOPE
HADDAN, late of Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex, but now of Bessborough
Gardens, Pimlico, in the same County, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth 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 I, the
said John Coope Haddan, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANNON, AND OF PROJECTILES FOR THE SAME," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Coope Haddan, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: 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
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say) :-
Firstly, my improvements in the manufacture of cannon relate to certain
modes of rifling or shaping their interior or bore with grooves or cuts, extending
along such bore, and having the requisite amount of turn or twist; and the
said improvements consist in making or forming two or more curved grooves
or cuts by means of a shaft or bar, carrying a rotatory cutter or cutters, the
shaft being disposed eccentrically to the main axis or bore of the cannon, and
working in a tube or bearing, which tube or bearing is prevented from turning
excepting to the amount requisite for producing the rifle turn or twist; or in
forming or finishing the bore, or forming the grooves of rifled cannon, by means
of a planing tool or cutter, which traverses or slides along the cannon upon an
evenly planed or otherwise truly formed surface of a guiding bar or bed plate
inserted within the cannon. It is to be noted that I make no claim to the
formation of curved grooves or cuts in the bore of cannon, excepting by means
of my improved machinery or apparatus for effecting the same, as above set
forth; but in order to facilitate the proportioning of my said machinery, I have
represented in the Drawing No. 1 a diagram of the bore of a cannon, having
three curved grooves or cuts, such as it is more particularly adapted and
intended to make, proportioned according to the following rule:-From the
centre a, draw a circle b, b, b, of the diameter of the cylindrical bore of the
cannon to be rifled, and divide the circumference into nine equal portions, as
indicated by the radial lines. Take any three of these lines, which are each
equidistant apart from the other, as, for instance, ca, ca, ca, and outside the
circle b, b, and from the centres d, d, d, describe the three arcs c, c, c, each
respectively cutting the circle b at the points where the six remaining radial
lines (one on each side of each of the lines c a) cut the circle b; the radii with
which such ares are struck being such as to enable the ares, while cutting the
circle b, to give the required depth of curved cut or groove, which for bores of
eight inches diameter should be about a quarter of an inch, and in like pro-
portion for bores of either larger or smaller diameter. The three curved spaces
outside the circle 6, and within the three ares c, c, c, represent the proportions
and position of the intended curved cuts or grooves, and together extend over
two-thirds of the circumference of the bore, and leave one-third of the bore

page_text: cylindrical or unaltered. The longitudinal section, Drawing No. 2, illustrates
the arrangement of my improved boring tube and apparatus for the use of
rotatory cutters for making curved grooves or cuts, as above described. A is
the cutter, a detached front view of which is represented in Drawing No. 3. The
edges of the cutters are rounded off for convenience, but any other suitable
form may be employed. is the revolving shaft or rod, on which the cutter is
mounted, which, it is to be noted, is supported eccentrically within the cast-iron
tube C by means of two plummer blocks, one of them, marked D, being situate
at the cutter end of the shaft, and the other, marked E, at or near the opposite
end, the inner surface of the tube being turned truly at these places to receive
them. F is an indian-rubber or leather ring or washer, for preventing the
turnings or cuttings from injuring the plummer block D. Drawing No. 4 is
an end view of the tube C, representing it as placed within the bore of a
cannon with one of the grooves formed therein, and shewing one side of the
plummer block D, and also the shaft o, (in section, at x, x.) No. 5 is a
transverse section (through a, b, in No. 2), shewing the opposite side of the
said plummer block. No. 6 is a transverse section (through c, d, in No. 2).
Nos. 7 and 8 are transverse sections (through e, f, and g, h, respectively, in
No. 2), shewing the two opposite sides of the plummer block E. No. 9 is a
horizontal section (through i, k, No. 4.) These several Drawings, together
with the No. 2, will serve to illustrate the manner in which the shaft is raised
into the position shewn, so as to force the cutter against its work, and produce
the full depth of groove desired. The plummer blocks are made so as to be
capable of rising and falling by sliding in dovetailed grooves in the blocks or
checks H, H, which are screwed to the tube, and serve also to prevent lateral
play, the motion being caused by the inclined surfaces I, I, of the rod 1*,
which, as the rod is moved longitudinally, (by means of a screw K, or in any
other convenient manner,) act against corresponding inclined surfaces on the
under portions of the plummer blocks. The surfaces of the rod immediately
beneath the surfaces I rest upon small pieces of brass L, L, so as to slide freely
upon them, the rod being held in position laterally by wooden steadying
blocks M, M.
The general arrangement for working this apparatus is represented on a
smaller scale in the Drawing No. 10, where it is shewn in operation at the
commencement of a cut within the interior of a cannon, which, while the
rotary motion is given to the cutter shaft by one of the pullies N, is caused to
recede gradually away from the apparatus; the cannon being mounted for
this purpose in a carriage, in the manner shewn and described in the Specifica-
tion of Letters Patent for England, granted to Charles William Lancaster,

page_text: and dated the Third day of July, One thousand eight hundred and fifty. A
partial twisting or turning of the cannon upon its own axis in the manner
therein described will give the necessary angle to the rifling; or this may be
effected by causing the tube C to turn round to the necessary extent during
the time that the cutter is at its work; but in this case the tube must be
suitably mounted in the support or stand B, instead of being fixed thereto,
and the necessary provision must be made by gearing or otherwise for moving
the tube on its axis.
On the commencement of the operation, the rotary cutter should be made
to take a slight or very shallow cut along the cannon, commencing at the
breech and continuing to the muzzle; and when this is done, the cannon should
be returned the distance it has traversed, and by means of the rod I* the
shaft should be lifted, so as to adjust the cutter to take a deeper cut, and
the operation should be repeated as often as. may be necessary; or at the
commencement the cutter may be gradually raised to the full extent required,
and the extreme amount of cut be made at one operation, the speed of 'the
.cutter. being varied accordingly. The mode of proceeding above described
will leave the turnings or chips of metal behind the cutter, and they should be
removed between each cut made.
:
When it is desired to commence the cut at the muzzle, the tool or cutter
must be placed on the shaft, so as to traverse in the rear of the plummer
block; which necessitates a modified arrangement of the parts above described,
which is illustrated on the smaller scale by the longitudinal section, Drawing
No. 11, and on the larger scale by the transverse section, No. 12, and side
view of plummer block, No. 13. In this arrangement the tube is replaced by
.a guiding bed plate or trough m, which extends along the whole length of
the bore of the cannon, and the cutter shaft is supported at its cutter end by
a plummer block of the form shewn at n, and made so as to slide in, upon,
or against the trough, which is caused to advance along with the cannon
against the tool, instead of receding from it, as before; the cannon being
similarly mounted, but moved longitudinally in the opposite direction, and
receiving the necessary turn on its own axis to produce the required inclina-
tion of the rifling; or this inclination may be given by the guiding bed
plate or trough being itself formed with a corresponding longitudinal twist.
The driving end of the cutter shaft revolves in an ordinary fixed plummer
The object of the guiding bed plate or trough is to afford an evenly
planed or true surface on which the plummer block may slide, instead of
depending upon the bore of the cannon, such surface being protected from
the chips.or turnings by an indian-rubber. or leather washer P, provided for
block.

page_text: the purpose. Instead of the separate cutter tools shewn in No. 10, a rotatory
cutter, as shewn in No. 3, may be substituted...
In order to alter the proportions of the curved groove or cut to be made,
the amount of eccentricity of the shaft, or the diameter of the rotary cutter
(or length of tool), or both combined, must be varied to the necessary extent.
In both arrangements the other grooves are formed in a similar manner to
the firstly-formed groove, by shifting round the cannon into the required
positions, and by successive repetitions of the operations described.
In forming or finishing the bore of rifled cannon, or forming the grooves
by means of a planing tool or cutter, I employ a guiding bed plate or support,
similar to that lastly above described, so as to afford a truly-formed surface, on
which I make a block or carriage to slide backwards and forwards, (by means
of a rod or bar, actuated by any suitable reciprocating movement,) the said
block or carriage holding one or more planing tools to or against the work;
and the cut or cuts may be made either on the advance or recession of the
cannon, or both, the angle of the rifling and motion of the cannon generally
being produced as before. The block or carriage must be so made as to
allow the planing tool to be shifted laterally at each successive cut, so as
gradually to plane over the required surface.
Secondly, my improvements in the manufacture of cannon relate also to a
certain mode of closing up or stopping the breech end of cannon which are
cast or formed. with a tube or passage completely through them, and consists
in effecting the said closing up or stopping by means of plugs or stoppers
inserted from the muzzle end. The Drawing No. 14 shews a longitudinal
section of the breech end of a. cannon plugged in accordance with this
improvement. For this purpose I make the plug U of wrought iron and of
a conical form, and I fit it into a corresponding seat turned truly to receive it,
to ensure that there shall be no escape of the gases produced by the ignited
powder when firing the cannon. The plug is formed with a tail or rod, by
which it is secured to the cannon through the ball or ornamental finish V, by
means of a nut, as shewn; but it is evident that, as far as the firing is con-
cerned, its tendency is only to fix the plug the more firmly. The Drawing
represents the cannon loaded (ready for discharge) with a projectile and a
charge of powder, together also with an intervening wad.
Thirdly, my improvements in the manufacture of. projectiles relate to
that description of projectile which consists of a shot or. shell, and of a wad
or wads, or in which the shot or shell is used in combination with a wad or
wads, and consists in making up.or furnishing. projectiles.with wires or other

page_text: electrical conductors, for the purpose of firing at the same instant, and by the
agency of electricity a number of projectiles (so made up or furnished) from
several separate cannon, by inserting into or connecting such wires or con-
ductors with the wads or other convenient portions of the projectiles, and in
insulating them in accordance with the requirements of the case, the intended
mode of using them being to pass the wires connecting the several projectiles
together down the several cannon respectively from their muzzles, and along
the rifled grooves to their breeches. Drawings Nos. 15 and 16 illustrate this
improvement; No. 15 being an exterior side view of the projectile, and
No. 16, a transverse section, taken at the largest diameter, at which particular
portion small grooves s, s, are formed, in which insulated metal wires t, t, are
placed, and made to communicate with the powder, so as to fire the same by
means of electricity. The wires pass through the wad z, both of which should
be temporarily secured to the projectile, so that the arrangement of the wires
may not be disturbed, but not so as to prevent the wad and wires from sepa-
rating from the projectile when leaving the mouth of the cannon. It is evident
that this arrangement dispenses with the touch-hole, and will afford the means
of discharging several cannons at one and the same instant of time, or singly,
if required.
Fourthly, my improvements in projectiles also consist in casting shot and
shells which are of an elongated form in moulds, with their axial line (or
longest measurement) arranged vertically; and when casting shells, in sup-
porting the core in the mould at both ends by a spindle, or a point at each
end; and also in casting both shot and shell with a head or quantity of metal
additional to that which the mould will contain, so as to render the casting
itself more uniform in quality (the additional portion being intended to be
removed). When casting shells of an elongated form, the manner in which
I support the spindles of the cores in the mould is by making the flask or
mould box with holes or bearings, to receive the said spindles or points at each
end, and so as to maintain them centrally in the mould, the pattern being also
suitably adjusted therein, so that the axial line of the pattern and of the core
box will coincide.
Fifthly, my improvements in projectiles consist also in forming the wads or
wadding, whether whole or in parts, of plates or thicknesses, whether discs or
not, of the same or of varying materials, placed upon each other, so as to cross
the grain or otherwise, and render the whole mass as nearly homogeneous as
possible.; or in forming them of sawdust or finely divided morsels of wood or
other materials, or mixture of materials, moulded, pressed, or squeezed together

page_text: in moulds or dies, with or without the use of glue or other cement, whether
mixed with the materials or squeezed through them; or in forming them of a
coil.or coils of any suitable material or materials.
The form of wad to which any Invention more particularly has reference
is represented in plan and transverse section in the Drawings Nos. 17 and 18,
respectively, but which form does not constitute any part of my said Invention.
When I make up my improved wads of plates or thicknesses of the same or
of varying materials in the form of discs, I turn out (in a lathe) the conical
seat for, the projectile, and when not in. the form of discs. I turn the outside
also. In either case the several thicknesses are previously glued or otherwise
cemented together, according to the nature of the materials employed.
When forming my improved wads by moulding, pressing, or squeezing
together, and of sawdust, or wood, or spent hops, or tan, or bran, or cotton
waste, or tow, or other similar substances, I use melted glue or hot melted
rosin, the mass being pressed before the glue or rosin has set; or I use
powdered rosin, and press the mass in hot moulds or dies; or I make use of
pitch, or any other suitable cement, for holding the sawdust or other material
or materials together when pressed; or I use the refuse of seed from which
oil has been expressed, or any other similar material which when compressed
will adhere together without the use of cement; or I use papier maché in
combination with linseed oil, the papier maché being first moulded and dried,
and afterwards saturated with the oil, and then baked. The dies or moulds I
employ arc of the ordinary construction. When forming my improved wads
of a coil or coils of materials, I cement the sides of the material either
before rolling them up, or when rolled I force the material into or through
them, and make them true to the form required, either in moulds or dies or
in a lathe.
In such of the foregoing cases as may require it, the wads, when manufac-
tur d as above described, may be saturated or partly saturated with linseed
oil, and baked, as in the case of papier maché wads. The wads may also be
painted or greased to preserve them, if required.
In order to facilitate the wad separating from the projectile when leaving
the cannon, the wads may be either partially or entirely cut through or
divided, as shewn in No. 17; but in this latter case they must be temporarily
held together by a band, hoop, or other contrivance, which will give way when
the cannon has been discharged; or instead of cutting or dividing a moulded
wad, I so mould two or more separate parts or pieces as to form a complete
wad, and secure them temporarily together, as above described.

page_text: The whole of the Drawings are made to a scale of about four inches to
one foot, excepting Nos. 10, 11, and 14, which are drawn to a smaller scale.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Coope Haddan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
J. C. HADDAN. (L.S.)