IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES AND THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF FOR ORDNANCE, CANNON, RIFLES, MUSKETS, AND ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF SMALL ARMS, AND ALSO IN THE MODE OR MODES OF LOADING USING AND WORKING THE SAME
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Crosley, of the Grove, Camberwell, in the
County of Surrey, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROJECTILES AND THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF FOR ORDNANCE, CANNON, RIFLES,
MUSKETS, AND ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF SMALL ARMS, AND ALSO IN THE MODE OR
MODES OF LOADING USING AND WORKING THE SAME."
Sealed the 4th January 1856, and dated the 9th July 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Crosley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
July 1855.
I, HENRY CROSLEY, of the Grove, Camberwell, County of Surrey, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROJECTILES AND THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF FOR ORDNANCE, CANNON,
RIPLES, MUSKETS, AND ALL OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF SMALL ARMS, AND ALSO IN THE
MODE OR MODES OF LOADING, USING, AND WORKING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
In constructing projectiles for bombs, shells, bullets, and all other shot of
such a form and in such a manner, that they shall, when propelled from the
mortar, ordnance, cannon, rifle, nusket, or other small arm, immediately
explode upon coming in contact with the first solid body they impinge.
And

page_text: further, for the better effecting this, as well as for improving the range and
velocity and accuracy of direction, to construct the said projectiles so as to
obtain with these the greatest force of the gunpowder or other explosive
substance used for propelling them from the barrel of the arm in which they
are placed, and also by certain means to prevent wholly or partially the
windage. And also to apply the same principle for improving or increasing
the range and yelocity and accuracy of direction to all kinds of solid shot of
any form whatever, and whether discharged from common cylindrical-bored
cannon, rifled cannon, or any kind of ordnance or small arms whatever; also
to employ the same principles of exploding and improving the range, velocity,
and accuracy of direction, but with suitable modifications, for the propulsion
from mortars, ordnance, cannon, rifles, muskets, and all descriptions of small
arms, of tubes of various forms, and of one, two, or more separate compart-
ments, containing various descriptions of explosive substances ignitable at
different periods from the moment of their propulsion from the barrel of such
said arm, and also becoming explosive and destructive when the projectile
strikes or meets another body, and also by its retrograde movement acting
destructively against other succeeding bodies; and should the projectile
embody itself in any other object, then the explosive matter in one compart-
ment would produce combustion of any flammable substance. Or, in combi-
nation with these effects, the projectile may have one compartment filled with
a suffocating mixture to act at the moment of explosion. Also to employ the
same principles to fiery darts propelled from a peculiarly constructed machine,
or from any other kind of ordnance or small arms. The said darts to be
constructed of tubes with one or more compartments containing combustible
matter, to be ignited either at the moment of discharge or of contact with the
first body they meet or impinge against after discharge, or when of more than
one compartment, one to be ignited when discharged, the other when the body
meets another object.
The mode by which I propose to produce those effects is, first, the exploding
the projectile. The usual mode is by a fusce, but as this frequently causes the
projectile to explode either too soon-or-sometimes too-long, I-propose-to-avoid-
it. I construct my projectile, whether for mortars, cannon, ordnance, rifles,
muskets, or any kind of small arms, so as to have one or more compartments;
into these the explosive substance (as gunpowder or gun cotton) or the explo-
sive and suffocating substances are put, enveloped in a sac or bag of suitable
material; the projectile may be of any form, but that which is preferable is
the conoidal, for many reasons. At the apex there is an aperture, the internal

page_text: surface of which is covered with a membraneous substance, or other such like,
easily penetrable; over this aperture is fixed a percussion cap. The projectile
is now ready to be rammed down the barrel of the arm from which it is to be
propelled, and to prevent the rainrod consing in contact with the cap and
thereby discharging it, there is fixed around the conical part of the projectile
three projecting studs, upon which it rests, and presses or forces the projec-
tile down the barrel. When the gun is discharged in the usual manner the
flight of the projectile is generally in such a way that the cap comes first in
contact with an object; the cap then exploding by the concussion, pierces the
meinbrane over the aperture, and explodes the substance in the interior cavity
of the projectile.
Next, for improving the range, velocity, and accuracy of direction, the
following are the methods I propose-It is generally supposed that in dis-
charges, everything being the same, these are best attained when a rotatory
motion is produced upon the projectile. This is usually done by constructing
the interior surface of the barrel of the gun in a particular manner; this I
propose to avoid, and to produce the rotatory motion by certain contrivances
and applications upon the projectile itself. I effect this by cutting along and
around the surface of the projectile grooves winding obliquely, and by fixing
and inserting in these grooves properly tempered steel springs, either in one
continuous piece or in two or more pieces or blades, which, pressing outwards
against the interior of the barrel, will produce a force at right angles to the
axis or to the line of the propelling force, the tendency of which will be to
produce a rotatory motion; this motion will be increased during the flight
through the air by the springs, which will now stand out, acting in a similar
way to the screw propeller of a ship.
Or another mode is to affix to the lower end of the projectile a mettal tube
with suitable bore, which must pass into the cavity of the projectile (if it be a
hollow explosive one). This tube is to be filled with wildfire or other flam-
mable substance, the ends to be covered with paper, tissue, membrane, or
other casily displaced material; on this tube as an axis is to be fixed a strong
mettal screw propeller, winding obliquely from the end of the tube towards the
bottom of the projectile. Upon the gun being discharged, the explosive and
propelling force acts upon the screw propeller, and produces rotatory motion in
the usual manner; at the same moment the flammable substance in the tube
becomes ignited, and slowly but surely passes into the cavity of the projectile
and explodes it, acting as a fusee that cannot be extinguished, the time for
producing explosion being longer or shorter, at will, according to the nature of

page_text: the flammable substance. When the screw propeller is not used, the tube
still acts as a fusee, and is now shortened. The windage I propose to prevent
wholly or partially by winding around a portion of the projectile a zone of soft
mettal, or rope, or yarn, or other compressible material, so as to fit tightly or
slightly the bore of the barrel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Crosley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
January 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
CROSLEY, of the Grove, Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Der heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Henry Crosley, Her special licence that I, the said Henry Crosley, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Crosley, 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 PRO-
JECTILES AND THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF FOR ORDNANCE, CANNON. RIFLES, MUSKETS,
AND ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF SMALL ARMS, AND ALSO IN THE MODE OR MODES OF
LOADING, USING, AND WORKING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Henry Crosley, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Crosley, 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:-

page_text: 1st. For iron spherical bob shells, or solid or hollow spherical shot, I cast
my projectile, having on part of the external surface curvilinear undulating
projections of the same metal, or having square or dovetailed grooves winding
curvilinearly in the direction of the polar or equatorial diameters, at the same
time forming a suitable angle with them. Into and upon such said grooves I
cast soft metal, such as lead or zinc, so as to form projections on the surface
of the projectile, which projections being rounded at the edges wind round
the sphere or spheroid a whole or part of a revolution. At the lower end of the
bomb or shot, and next to the charge of gunpowder for the propulsion of the
same, I fix the convex part of a soft metal concave cup, of a diameter or nearly
so to that of the bore of the mortar or cannon, and in the space between the
cup and the shell I wind rope or spun yarn to the full or a somewhat greater
extent than the bore to serve as a wad; or a short arm of metal may be cast at
the lower end of the bomb or shot, to increase the space in which the rope or
yarn is to be wound. To the lower end of this said arm the concave soft metal
cup is to be fixed, or in lieu of the said arm of metal fixed to and forming part
of the bomb or shot a cup may be cast to fit the convexity thereof, or a soft
metal cup of the same form united by a short arm to the lower concave cup
may be substituted, and thus, and by these united means, or a part thereof, as
may be found desirable, the range and accuracy of direction of bombs or shot
by the desired rotation being given to them would be increased, and the windage
wholly or partially prevented. These projectiles I purpose to discharge from
common smooth cylindrical bored cannon or mortars, either of the present size
or of a greater than those now used. Nevertheless, the same may be used
with suitable modifications of the said appliances, either for Lancaster or rifled
cannons. Also, with respect to the explosion of shells in liew of an ignited fuzee
I propose to substitute a fuzce (to burn the same period of time as those now
used), and introduce the same into the bomb or shell to the extent of its upper
internal surface; the lower end of such fuzee to project through and at the
centre of the soft metal concave cup, before described, the fuzee being ignited
by the explosion of the gunpowder for the expulsion of the bomb. By this
arrangement of an internal fuzce, the direction of the bomb during its flight
would not be observed so conspicuously as in the case where fuzees are used
in the ordinary manner.
2nd. For oval shot or shells, the means and appliances previously described
are similarly available, the projections on the external surface winding elip-
tically above and below at a proper angle from the equatorial line.

page_text: 3rd. For conical or conoidal solid or hollow shot or shells, (by conoidal I
mean the part at one end is a cylinder, the part at the other end a conc.) the
base of the cone forming and being at the top of the cylindrical part, the pro-
jections commence at the base of the cone, descending downwards and along
the cylindrical part to within a few inches of the base, having on this base an
eliptical recess for the soft metal saucer of that form to fit it, which space may
be somewhat less in diameter than the upper part to permit rope or yarn to be
wound around it to serve as a wad; or if, as may be needful, when the pro-
jectile is conoidal, a wad may be used after the projectile is put into the gun.
the soft metal saucer then being in contact with the powder for expulsion.
Also, the better to give an increased rotation to these projectiles, and also to
those of the oval form, before mentioned and described, I wind and bind
around and following the curve of the before-mentioned projections, beginning
at the base of the conical part, and ending at the base of the projectile, a small
metal tube filled with rocket composition or wildfire, or such like flammeous
natter, to be ignited by the gunpowder when the projectile is discharged from
the mortar or gun. For explosive shells, of the forms named under the second
and third heads, to be exploded at the moment of contact with another body, I
apply the whole or part of the means and appliances before described. In the
cavity of the shell I put gunpowder, gun cotton, or other suitable explosive
substance, ignitable by a percussion cap fixed at or within a countersunk aper-
ture at the apex of the shell when it is put into the cannon, the said aperture
being previously closed with a leaden screw plug; and to preserve and render
harmless the explosive substance within the cavity of the shell, I put it into a
bag, made of any proper fibrous or other suitable material, piercible by the
shank of the percussion cap. When so charged, I close the lower orrifice of
the shell with an iron plate of a suitable thickness, firmly screwed to a circular
flange externally around the orrifice of the shell, such plate being made concave
to receive the soft metal eliptical saucer before described; and to prevent an
explosion when loading the cannon by ramming down the shell at the part
where the cone commences, and above its base, three projecting nugs are cast
thereon, either vertically-or-obliquely, forming a part of the cone. The upper
surface of the studs are square, upon which a circular hollow iron collar fixed
upon one end of the ramrod rests when the shell is rammed down the barrel of
the gun, and thus the danger of explosion is completely avoided. Another
mode I also make use of for producing the explosion of both the last-mentioned
shells, under the second and third heads, is as follows:-Upon the interior of
the shell, and before I put in the explosive substance. and at the end furthest
from the breech of the gun, and in conical, conoidal, oval, and elipsoidal pro-

page_text: jectiles at the vertical end, I affix by suitable means a percussion cap or other
similar explosive substance. At the opposite end of the shell, and in the
interior, or at any other proper place in the interior, I affix or insert in a proper
manner a stud or rod of metal, so that the one end or some part of it shall be
near the percussion cap or explosive substance. When the projectile has been
discharged from the gun and meets any other body, the impact and concussion
of the bodies will cause the percussion cap to approach the head of the metal
stud, and the discharge ensuing will ignite the explosive substance of the shell
and burst it.
4th. To give to conical, conoidal, or oval solid or hollow shot or to explosive
shells an extra propulsion beyond that of the charge of gunpowder, within and
at the breech of the cannon I attach by screws a cast-iron cylinder, of some-
what less diameter than the bore of the gun, and around the said cylinder I
wind rope or yarn to serve as a wad, closing the orrifice at the lower end, in the
manner before described, the before-mentioned iron plate being eliptical to
affix thereto the soft metal saucer of about the bore of the mortar or gun.
Through the centre of the saucer and the said plate I screw therein a small
tube fuzee, extending upwards within this lower cylinder to the upper end, or
to such distance calculated for the fuzee to buru during a portion of the
flight of the projectile; and when the fuzee has ceased to burn, then the gun-
powder, gun cotton, or other explosive substance in the said cylinder explodes,
becomes detached, and gives an extra propulsion to the shell beyond that of
the charge by which it was propelled from the cannon, the rotatory motion
being given by the curvilinear projectile on the cylindrical part of the shell
on its passage through the barrel of the gun, and thus a greater range is
obtained.
5th. Conoidal or other suitably shaped shells of a double explosion, either
when at their greatest range or when they strike another body, are to be con-
structed by firmly fixing by screw bolts to the lower part or base of the upper
shell another shell of the same or less length, diameter, and capacity, which
said sliell must have attached thereto and at the lower end the soft metal
saucer, before described, and provision for the rope or spun yarn, and also for
the tube with the rocket composition or wildfire to be wound around in the
manner before mentioned, and also the curvilinear projections extending from
the cylindrical part of the upper shell downwards nearly to the bottom of the
lower shell in contact with the charge of gunpowder, for the propulsion thereof
from the gun; each of these shells is charged with gunpowder, gun cotton, or
other explosive substance, or with one and another, as may be desirable. The
top or upper shell may be exploded by a percussion cap at the apex of the

page_text: L
cone, fixed either without or within, as before mentioned, when it strikes
another body. At the base and through the bottom of this upper shell an
aperture is left, and immediately beneath it in the top end of the lower shell
a tube fuzce is screwed of any required length, which is ignited by the explo-
sion of the upper shell, which, if detached, would retrograde or carry with it
portion of the upper shell, the second explosion taking place when the fuzee
has ceased to burn; or the same results may be obtained by fixing the open
fuzee tube filled with rocket composition to the bottom of the lowest shell, in
the manner described under the fourth head. Into and through the centre of
the bottom of the next compartment or shell another open fuzee is similarly
inserted, passing into the cavity thereof. When the gun is discharged, the
open fuzee at the base is ignited, and after a proper interval explodes the shell
or compartment, which in its turn ignites the fuzee of the upper, and in like
manner explodes it; and thus, and by one charge of gunpowder for the
expulsion of the projectile from the cannon, and without visible means or
fuzees, and at an intermitting period of time, a shell of double effect, and,
consequently, more destructive than a bomb discharged from a mortar, may
be accomplished when fired from a smooth cylindrical-bored cannon.
6th. Conoidal or other suitably shaped shells of treble explosion at variable
periods of time may be constructed, the lower or bottom being the same or
a less diameter and capacity than the two above it. On this bottom shell the
rope or spun yarn to serve as a wad may be wound curvilinearly round; the
concave soft metal saucer being fixed in the recess at the base, and the pro-
jections only on a part of the external surface of the middle and on the
cylindrical part of the top shell, which last-mentioned shells may be made
differential in capacity, and the bottom one to act and give an extra propulsion
during the flight beyond that produced by the charge of gunpowder in the
cannon; or if the projectile is of three compartments or shells, all of the same
diameter, yet varying in capacity, as might be desirable, the soft metal saucer
being fixed in the recess of the bottom of the lower shell, a trifle less in
diaincter than the calibre of the cannon (the space between the saucer and the
bottom of the lower_compartment_being_filled-up-by-rope-or-spun yarn to
serve for a wad) which rests on the charge of gunpowder for the propulsion of
the projectile from the cannon. Further, if it be needful more effectually
than by the projections named to give the requisite rotative motion to the
conoidal projectile, or to others of different and suitably formed, then on part
of the internal surface of the soft metal concave saucer, fixed in the manner
aforesaid, I attach thereto another saucer of the same shape, made of tempered
steel, from the centre of which to the rim segmental or curvilinear cuts are

page_text: made, or part of the rim is removed, or in such other way as to cause the steel
saucer to act as a spring, expanding uniformly around the bore of the cannon,
and this adaptation is suitable for shot or for shells of any description or form
in addition to those previously described; I also wind around it the small
metal tube filled with rocket composition or wildfire, as before described. The
explosion of projectiles of three compartments may be effected as follows; that
is to say, the top shell may be exploded by a percussion cap fixed at the apex,
(either internally or externally, as before described,) of the conical part, to
explode when it strikes another body, by which explosion of the said shell the
middle shell would explode when the internal fuzee has been consumed; and
in like manner, when the middle shell explodes, the fuzee attached thereto
would be ignited, and when burnt to its end the third and lower shell would
explode; or instead of fuzees the partitions of the compartments may be
perforated, in which case the top or upper shell would be exploded by a
percussion cap fixed either internally or externally, and by such explosion the
other two would be detached, and take an uncertain retrograde motion, the
middle shell exploding immediately after, and in like manner the bottom and
lower shell after being detached from the middle shell would also explode; or
either of the latter or both might be filled with other destructive substance or
substances than that of gunpowder or gun cotton to produce flammeous and
suffocating effects when exploded or ignited; also with gunpowder, gun cotton,
or other substances, bullets or small shot might be mixed, by which still more
<lestructive effects would be produced, and certainly as a whole such projectiles
would be more destructive than red-hot iron shot.
AS TO PROJECTILES FOR RIFLES, MUSKETS, AND SMALL ARMS.
1st. The conical leaden bullet, such as is now employed, in lieu of being solid
I cast hollow, and either in one or two parts, of a conical or conoidal form; if
of two parts, the base to be cylindrical and the top conical, and joined together
in a suitable manner. The internal cavity I fill with gunpowder, gun cotton, or
other explosive substance; the interior of the cone at the apex, in which there
is an aperture, I close internally with a membraneous substance, as bladder, to
preserve the contents in the bullet untill a percussion cap is fixed (at the time
of loading the gun) in the said aperture; and at equal distances around the
base of the conical part are three nugs, as before described for projectiles for
cannon, projecting therefrom to the extent of cr nearly the bore of the gun,
on which nugs, the upper part having a square surface, a cylindrical collar
fixed to one end of the ramrod rests, when the bullet is forced down the barrel
of the gun; or instead of the percussion cap being fixed at the apex on the

page_text: exterior, the same may be fixed on the apex in the interior, as before described
for cannon; no aperture is then left. The bottom of the bullet is made concave,
so as to admit the rim to impinge against and in the grooves of the barrel of
the gun; and as an improvement, to keep the said rim extended, and also to
keep the barrel clean and to prevent windage, I fix within the concave space a
corresponding shaped tempered steel spring saucer, as before described under
the head of shells and shot; and a little above the base of the bullet, in
indented grooves, spun yarn or pack thread is wound to serve as a wad, and if
desirable the cartridge of gunpowder for the propulsion may be attached, and
when the apex of the bullet strikes another body, the bullet explodes, and
is more destructive than a solid leaden bullet, such as is generally used for
rifled guns; to which description of bullet, as commonly constructed for
rifles, as an improvement, I append in the concavity at the base the steel
spring saucer, and also the yarn or packthread for a wad, both as before
described.
2nd. Conoidal or other form of bullets of single, double, or treble explosive
effect to be propelled by one charge of gunpowder from a smooth cylindrical-
bored musket, wall gun, or other such like small arm.
Such projectiles may
be made of iron, copper, tin, zinc, pewter, or other compound metal. On the
external surface of these projectiles I cast curvilinear projections, forming part
of the projectile, or groves of a square or dovetailed form, in which lead or
other proper metal, according and differential to that of which the projectile is
made, is cast in the said grooves, commencing where the cone ceases, and
descending to within a short space of the cylindrical base of the conoid in the
concavity, at the bottom of which (if made of hard metal not expansive by the
force of the gunpowder for the propulsion) a leaden saucer of the same form is
fixed, and, if desirable, a steel tempered spring saucer also therein, and round
the circular base of the projectile indents are made for receiving spun yarn or
pack thread to serve as a wad. Or, as a variation of the principle, whether
for shot or shells of a suitable form for cannons or for small arms, the projec-
tile may be made with curvilinear undulating projections on part of its external
surface, rising nearly to the extent of the calibre of the gun, in the hollows of
which undulations, and somewhat higher than the metal projections, spun yarn
or packthread is spirally wound, the end of the yarn or packthread winding
around the cylindrical lower end of the projectile, which winding serves both
as a wad and also to give greater accuracy of direction. For the purpose of
still further increasing the rotative power in guns of sufficient bore, I make
use of the tube filled with rocket composition and winding curvilinearly along
the surface, as before described. The appliances lastly named are applicable,

page_text: with a slight variation, for projectiles of treble explosive effect, the spiral pro-
jections or undulations, as may be found necessary, commencing at the base of
the cone or at the top of the cylindrical part, and terminating at the lower part
of the middle compartment, or commencing at the top part thereof and
descending downwards to the base of the lower compartment, or on the
external surface of the three compartments, in which latter case the yarn or
packthread and rocket tube may be spirally wound between the curvilinear
projections or undulations, or only between those on the surface of the middle
and bottom compartments of the projectile and around the cylindrical base,
the leaden and the tempered steel spring saucers being fixed in the concavity
thereof, which rest upon the charge of gunpowder; or the cartridge may be
affixed at the lower end of the three compartments (as when a projectile of
two are joined together by screwing one to the other, the cap of the cone of the
upper compartment in like manner); and when the projectile of double effect
is used, its explosion is effected, first, by the explosion of the gunpowder, gun
cotton, or other explosive mixture or substance in the top or upper, by a per-
cussion cap fixed either internally or externally in the apex of its conc, the
bottom of this compartment having an aperture left therein, and also an aper-
ture in the centre of the top part of the lower compartment, into which
aperture a slow burning fuzee is fixed or screwed, the lower end nearly touching
the bottom of this compartment, and thereby an interval of time elapses cre
the explosion takes place; and in like way when a projectile of treble effect
(the second becoming the middle), the lower compartment can be exploded at
another interval of time; when the upper compartment explodes, the two others
would take a retrograde motion (unless embodied in the object) and be sepa
rated, as would also be the bottom from the middle compartment when it
exploded, depending, however, upon the length and strength of the screws
uniting them and the three together, all of which or two only can be expelled
from the gun by a single cartridge or charge of gunpowder; or in lieu of
this arrangement, the middle or lower compartments, both or either, may be
exploded during the flight of the projectile by introducing and screwing short
burning fuzees in and through apertures left in the bottom of the lower com-
partment, the lower end of the fuzee passing centrically to the upper end of
this compartment, and another short burning fuzee being screwed into an
aperture in the bottom of the middle compartment, the bottom of the upper
compartment being solid without an aperture, its explosion being effected by
a percussion cap, fixed either internally or externally at the apex of the cone.
The advantages of this lastly described mode would be to cause by such explo-
sions an extra propulsion of the projectile during its flight beyond that caused

page_text: by the charge of gunpowder in the gun, and consequently a greater range
would be accomplished. But,
3rd. As a variation to obtain the same result, I attach to the bottom of the
upper, middle, or lower compartment a tube of wrought iron or other proper
metal, and of suitable length and bore, the upper end closed, and externally at
this part of its surface a male thread screw is cut to fit a female screw in the
centre of the bottom of the upper, or the middle, or the lower compartment,
when one or more are employed, the lower end of the said tube passing through
the centro of the concave saucer or saucers which are screwed to the tube,
which with the saucers rest upon the cartridge or charge of gunpowder for the
propulsion; and to insure the ignition of the rocket composition, such as is used
for war rockets, with which the tube is charged at its lower end, I put a little
gunpowder or easily ignitable wildfire, and close the end with a screw plug,
having perforations through which the flammeous matter issues; the space
above and between the bottom of the projectile and the concave saucer or
saucers to any required extent, I wind spirally or otherwise spun yarn or pack-
thread, so as to fit the bore of the gun tightly, to serve as a wad and prevent
windage, and when the percussion cap in the apex of the cone of the single
bullet strikes against another body, the explosion follows; or it may be
exploded without a percussion cap, in which case an aperture is left centrically
at the bottom into which the tube charged with rocket composition is to be
screwed. This application of a tube may be employed additionally to a projec-
tile of two or three compartments by screwing the upper end into the bottom
of the lowest, the other end of the tube being screwed in the central upper
apperture; and the projectile so constructed of two or three compartments, the
lower one is first exploded, which causes a still further and additional propul-
sion to that of the rocket composition, and that of the cartridge of gunpowder
in the barrel of the gun. The explosion of the lower compartment first takes
place, and by the means of a fuzee the middle follows, and lastly the top or
upper compartment is exploded by a fuzee, and in succession, at intervals of
time, each explosion giving an extra propulsion to those or that compartment
not exploded, and such like, without projections on their external surface
excepting the mugs-on-which-the-circular-collar of the ramrod rests. If the
upper compartment is to be exploded by a percussion cap, all other appliances
being as previously described, may be fired from a rifled gun; or if from a
smooth cylindrical bored gun, either of the compartments being attached to
the tube of the projectile, would of itself be destructive, and especially if it
entered a living body.
4th. Elipsoidal bullets, formed of two conoids, cither solid or hollow, for

page_text: explosion. If solid, they may be cast in one piece, having projections winding
curvilinearly along and around their surface; if hollow, they may be cast
in two pieces, that is, two conoids, the lower one terminating in a saucer form,
so as to fit the steel expanding saucer if applied, the bottom part having pack-
thread wound around it in the usual manner, and the curvilinear projections
winding around the surface, as before described; the interior cavity to be filled
with gunpowder, gun cotton, or other explosive substance, to be ignited by
an internal or external percussion cap, as before described under the fourth
head, for cannon.
5th. Fiery darts with collapsing and expanding steel spring feathers fixed
at a proper angle to the margin of the lower end, and at the other end an
explosive bullet barbed and steel pointed, may be constructed of wrought iron
or other proper metal tubes, the upper end closed, the lower end having ex-
pansive lead and steel saucers, as described, affixed a little above the collapsing
and expanding steel feathers or beneath them; the hollow explosive bullet is
filled with gunpowder, gun cotton, or other explosive substance, such even as
that now used for percussion caps, and then serving for one, but being pro-
tected from exploding, as percussion caps are by thin metal securely fitted
around the extreme point of the three or four sided or conical shaped bullet.
I also wind around the tube or dart the small convoluting tube filled with
rocket composition, as before mentioned in the various before-described projec-
tiles. This tube or dart is also now filled with the war rocket composition; both
tubes are closed at the bottom end with iron or other metal plugs, having holes
or perforations through them for the emission of the flammeous matter issuing
from the ignited rocket composition, and thus there would be a twofold pro-
pulsion of the dart; first, by the charge of gunpowder in the gun; and,
secondly, by the ignited rocket composition in the said tubes; and as a varia-
tion of the principle, the tube of the dart may be rendered explosive when its
point strikes another body, and this is to be effected by leaving the upper end of
the tube open and filling an upper compartment with gunpowder, gun cotton,
or other explosive substance, which is exploded by explosion of the contents
in the hollow pointed bullet; the next compartment at the top having an
aperture, in which a slow burning fuzce is screwed, which by being ignited by
the explosion of the upper compartment explodes the next beneath, in which
centrically at its lower part an aperture is left for receiving a slow burning
fuzee, which ignites and explodes the contents in the lower or third compart-
ment, all of which compartments may be made of any required and useful
length, according to the size of the gun, and in short lengths, to act as seperate
bullets in a retrograde direction. The entirety of the dart may have attached.

page_text: to its lower end another compartment filled with rocket composition, to give a
propulsion to the whole in a forward direction, this lowest part then having
the appliances at its end, as previously described under the third head. The
entire external length of the tube or part only may be studded or barbed with
hooks, the points in part in the direction of the flight, and the other part the
reverse; and the lower part only of such dart need be within the barrel of
the gun, from which it is first to be projected by the cartridge of gunpowder in
the barrel, consequently those of the usual length or shorter may be employed
for this especial purpose, as the pointed end of the dart is invariably to be
outside the muzzle of the gun, and any unmber may be simultaneously fired
and expelled in a shewer or volley, and other guns charged and replaced by
having a suitably constructed carriage on wheels, and with the means of
propelling therefrom the darts at any required angle of elevation; and such
darts, which can be made of any size and capacity, would be more destructive
than the war rocket, and have a greater range, whether projected horizontally
or vertically, or at any angle of elevation. I moreover apply the same prin-
ciple in producing an improved war rocket; to do so I construct my rocket
of a proper metal tube, of suitable bore, into which I put the rocket com-
position in the usual manner. To the bottom and top of such tube I fix in a
proper manner a metal cap or plate; the tope plate may be of flat form, to
suit the orifice of the top of the tube. The cap at the bottom of the tube may
be of a truncated conical form, also having perforations in it, so as to allow
the flammeous matter to escape, and also for the purpose of giving rotation to
the projectile. As a variation, instead of a tube the rocket may be con-
structed of a solid rod of metal; in either way I then fix, as before described,
the soft metal saucer, or the steel saucer, one or both, to the lower end of the
tube or rod; I also wind curvilinearly around the said tube or rod rope or
yarn, so as to act as a wad and prevent windage. Furthermore, to increase
the accuracy of direction and the range of the same by giving increased
rotatory and projectile force to the rocket, I wind around the tube or rod, com-
mencing at the base and running spirally. up towards the top, and partly fixed
and bedded in grooves cut or cast in the rod or tube along its external surface,
another tube, to be filled in like manner with rocket composition, to be
ignited at the moment of discharge. If a rod be used instead of a tube, then
the convoluting tube will be of larger diameter than the last-mentioned case.
Moreover, I affix by a screw or otherwise at the top of the said rocket one of
my explosive shells or bullets, as before mentioned and described, so that it
may explode either when the rocket meets another body, by a percussion cap
fixed either internally or externally; or when the whole of the force or motion

page_text: in the rocket is destroyed or expended, then the shell or bullet may be
exploded by the remaining ignited rocket composition passing up the tube
fuzee into the interior cavity.
The following is a description of the Drawings appended to this Specifica-
tion, by which said Drawings I mean that they shall only be intended to give
illustrations generally how the principles claimed in my Invention may be
applied to projectiles; but it is not intended that these Drawings shall exhibit
the exact form or size or figure of any kind of projectile, all of which may be
varied, but to assist, as far as may be, in rendering the description given in
the body of the Specification clear and intelligible; but in all cases the
written description to be taken in preference to the Drawings.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a spheroidal bomb or shot, exhibiting the zone
of soft metal a winding round it. b, the rope or spun yarn for a wad; c, the
soft metal cup. Figure 2 represents a section of the same, shewing the mode
of exploding it, by means of the fuzce tube a passing into the interior cavity
of the bomb; the soft metal cup is shewn fixed by the screws in the metal of
the shell. Figure 3 represents a similar shell, having a compartment f added
for an additional projection or propulsion after discharge from the gun; the
screws shew the mode of fixing the shell, the compartment, and saucer
all together. Perforations are made at proper places in the fuzee tube in the
cavity of the compartments.
Figure 4 represents a section of the shell or bomb, having a metal arm f
attached to it and to the saucer.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are an elevation and sections of an oval shot or shell; a
representing the soft metal projections on its surface; g, the tube, filled with
rocket composition or other flammeous substance. Figure 8 is a section of
the same, shewing another compartment for an additional projectile force.
Figures 9. 10, and 11 are an elevation and sections of a conoidal bomb or
bullet; Figure 10 being an example of one to be exploded by a percussion cap;
Figure 11, of a similar one to be exploded by a fuzec. h. h, h, represent the
nugs at the apex, for the ramrod to rest upon when it is rammed down the
cannon. Figures 12 and 13 are plans of Figure 9 at the bottom and top
respectively. Figure 14 is a section of Figure 9 parallel to the base.
Figures 15 and 16 shew two of the different kinds of the steel tempered
expanding saucers, to be affixed if advisable to the base of the shell or shot.
Figure 17 represents, in section, a conoidal shell of two compartments to be
exploded at the apex by a percussion cap fixed there; the explosion is extended
to the lower chamber by a tube fuzee. Figure 18 is a similar section of
a conoidal shell of three compartments, to be exploded at the base by a

page_text: tube fuzee, and at intervals of time in a similar manner in the other com-
partments. Figures 19 and 20 are plans of the top and bottom respectively
of Figures 17 and 18.
Figure 21 represents a section of a solid bullet for a rifle intended to have
the steel saucer attached, as shewn in Figure 22.
Figures 23, 24, and 25 are sections of an explosive bullet, shewing (different
modes of exploding it; Figure 23, by a percussion cap fixed at the apex exter-
nally; Figure 24, the same fixed internally; and Figure 25, by au internal
fuzee.
Figures 22 and 26 are plaus, shewing the steel saucer to be affixed when
necessary.
Figures 27, 28, and 29 are an elevation and two sections of a hollow
explosive bullet, having the projections on its surface and the packthread
wound around for a wad. Figure 28 represents the same, to be exploded by
an external percussion cap; Fig. 29, by an internal one. Figure 32 is a
plan of the top of Figures 27, 28, and 29.
Figures 30 and 31 are a plan and section of an clipsoidal bullet, having the
projections on the outside, with the packthread wound around part of it, the
explosion to be by means of an internal cap.
Figure 33 is a section of a double explosive bullet; explosion produced by
means of a cap at the apex and an internal fuzee.
Figures 34 and 36 are sections of an explosive bullet of one and of two
compartments, to be discharged from wall guns or muskets of larger bore.
Figure 35 is a plan of the steel expanding saucer, to be affixed if required.
Figures 37 and 38 are an elevation and section of the war rocket. g, the
convoluting external rocket tube; b, the rope or yarn; c, the saucers; d, the
explosive shell attached thereto. Figure 39, plan of the base of the rocket.
Figures 40 and 41, an elevation and section of the fiery dart, shewing the
tube with rocket composition winding around. m, m, are the steel expanding
spring feathers at the base; the explosive bullet at the top to be exploded by
the rocket composition in the tube passing upwards.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Crosley, -have-hercunto-set-my-
hand and seal, this Eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord
Eighteen hundred and fifty-six.
HENRY CROSLEY. (L.S.)