IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS, AND IN PROJECTILES AND CHARGES FOR THE SAME."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Hitt, of Northumberland Street, Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH
LOADING FIRE ARMS, AND IN PROJECTILES AND CHARGES FOR THE SAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hitt at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th January 1880.
THOMAS HITT, of Northumberland Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS, AND IN PROJECTILES AND
CHARGES FOR THE SAME."
The object of my Invention is to dispense with the rifling of the bore or barrel
of breech loading ordnance and small arms; and my Invention consists in the
combination with a movable breech piece of a central screw or spiral stem, which
extends for a certain distance from the breech along the axis of the gun. The
breech piece may be secured to the gun by screwing or otherwise, so that it can be
readily removed and again replaced together with the screw or spiral stem which
is fixed thereto. I construct the projectiles for my improved fire arms with a
central female thread corresponding with the said screw or spiral stem; or instead
of a female thread the projectiles may have a central longitudinal channel con-
taining one or more studs to take into the screw or spiral stem. In some cases I
also form the projectiles with external spirals to assist their flight. I also in some
cases fit to their rear end a wad or a metal or other washer, which may either be
loosely attached thereto or be screwed thereon.
In order to load and fire my improved gun a suitable charge, and the projectile
formed as before described, are placed upon the screw or spiral stem. The breech
piece and spiral stem are then inserted into the rear of the gun and secured. The
gun may now be fired in any ordinary manner, and as the projectile is compelled
to turn in accordance with the twist or thread of the spiral stem it receives the
requisite rotary motion. When the projectile is formed with external spirals, as
before described, its flight is further assisted, and the projectile will continue to
rotate even when it comes against a solid body, into which it will bore its way

page_text: My improved gun and projectile are therefore not only applicable to the purposes
for which guns and projectiles are ordinarily employed, but may also be applied in
mining, for example, to bore holes for blasting or other purposes.
I prefer to make up charges for my improved guns as follows:-I take a tube of
thin metal, closed at one end and open at the other. Through this tube I carry a
pipe to fit over a plain portion of the spiral stem of the gun. I place a charge of
gun cotton or other explosive material in the tube, and I then close its open end
by a disc having a flange to enter the said end, and having a hole to receive the
pipe before described. The explosive material is thus securely enclosed in the
tube. At the time of firing a barbed pin is pushed down through the vent of
the gun, so as to pierce the side of the tube and lay hold of a small portion of the
gun cotton, which is then drawn up, and a light being at the same time applied
ignition of the charge is effected.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Hitt in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th July
1880.
THOMAS HITT, of Northumberland Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH LOADING FIRE ARMS, AND IN PROJECTILES AND
CHARGES FOR THE SAME."
The object of my Invention is to dispense with the rifling of the bore or barrel
of breech loading ordnance and small arms; and my Invention consists in the
combination with a removable breech piece of a central screw or spiral stem, which
extends for a certain distance from the breech along the axis of the gun. The
breech piece may be secured to the gun by screwing or otherwise, so that it can be
readily removed and again replaced together with the screw or spiral stem which
is fixed thereto. I construct the projectiles for my improved fire arms with a
central female thread corresponding with the said screw or spiral stem; or instead
of a female thread the projectiles may have a central longitudinal channel con-
taining one or more studs to take into the screw or spiral stem. In some cases I
also form the projectiles with external spirals to assist their flight. I also in some
cases fit to their rear end a wad or a metal or other washer, which may either be
loosely attached thereto or be screwed thereon.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a horizontal section of a breech
loading cannon constructed according to my Invention. A is the bore;
B is a
breech piece, which may be screwed into the rear end of the bore, as shewn, or
may be secured to the breech in any other convenient way which will admit of
the piece B being readily removed and again replaced. C is a central screw or
spiral stem fixed at its rear end to the breech piece, and extending along the axis
of the gun. In order to prevent the piece B being blown out or the screw threads
thereon being stripped at the time of the explosion I sometimes pivot a fork D, as
shown, to the trunnions E, and after the piece B is in place I lower the fork into
the horizontal position, so that the transverse part D¹ comes behind the piece B,
and I then drive in a wedge D' between the piece B and the part D'. The screw
of the stem C may have, say, 3 turns in the course of its length. F represents the
projectile, which is also represented in separate views in Figures 2 and 3. It is
formed with a central longitudinal channel, into which one or more studs fare
driven from the side, so as to take into the screw of the stem C; or the longi-
tudinal channel may be screw threaded to take on to the screw C. The projectile
is also shewn with external spirals to assist its flight. At its rear end is a metal
washer or wad G, which I prefer to attach thereto in such manner that while it
will not drop off of its own accord it will become detached upon meeting a slight
resistance. For this purpose I make it to fit rather tightly upon the tail piece H
of the projectile. The washer G is of the same diameter as the bore A, so as to
prevent windage.
In order to load and fire my improved gun, a suitable charge and the projectile F
are placed upon the screw stem C, the studs f being then driven home into the
screw threads; the breech piece and screw stem are then inserted into the rear of
the gun and secured. The gun may now be fired in any ordinary manner, and as
the projectile is compelled to turn in accordance with the twist or thread of the
screw stem C it receives the requisite rotary motion. When the projectile is formed
with external spirals, as before described, its flight is further assisted, and the
projectile will continue to rotate even when it comes against a solid body, into
which it will bore its way. My improved gun and projectile are therefore not only
applicable to the purposes for which guns and projectiles are ordinarily employed,
but may also be applied in mining, for example, to bore holes for blasting or other
purposes.

page_text: In order to lubricate the projectile when it comes in contact with a ship's side or
other obstruction, and to enable it the better to bore its way into such obstruction,
I place upon a stud I at the front end of the stem C at the time of loading a small
tube K (shewn separately in Figures 4 and 5) containing oil or other lubricating
matter. This tube is small enough in diameter to enter the central channel of the
projectile F, but it has a cap or flange L of larger diameter than the said central
channel. Thus, as the projectile leaves the stem C it carries the tube K with it.
To prevent the washer G accompanying the projectile in its flight, and thereby
retarding it, one or more projections may be placed at the mouth of the gun, as
shown at M, against which the washer comes on leaving the gun, and which
prevent it going further.
I prefer to make up charges for my improved guns as follows:-I take a tube of
thin metal (see N, Figures 6 and 7) closed at one end and open at the other; through
this tube I carry a pipe O to fit over a plain portion of the screw stem C of the gun.
I place a charge of gun cotton or other explosive material in the tube N, and I then
close its open end by a disc P having a flange to enter the said end, and having a
hole to receive the pipe O. The explosive material is thus securely enclosed in the
tube. At the time of firing a barbed pin is pushed down through the vent of the
gun so as to pierce the side of the tube, and lay hold of a small portion of the gun
cotton, which is then drawn up, and a light being at the same time applied ignition
of the charge is effected.
Although I have only shewn my Invention as applied to a cannon, it can also be
applied to breech loading small arms, as will be readily understood.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. Constructing breech loading fire arms with a central screw or spiral stem
in combination with a removable breech piece, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and represented in the annexed Drawings.
Second. Constructing projectiles with a central channel, having either one or
more studs or a female thread, and with external spirals, substantially as and for
the purpose herein before described and represented in the annexed Drawings.
Third. Making charges, substantially as hereinbefore described and represented
in the annexed Drawings, for use in breech loading guns which are constructed with
a central screw or spiral stem, as hereinbefore explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hitt, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
TTIMAN