Improvements in and relating to Guns.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 29th July, 1889-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Guns.
I, PAUL GIFFARD of 1 Boulevard St. Denis, Paris, France, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
or
My invention has reference to guns whether small arms, revolvers, cannon
mitrailleuses and consists essentially in the application or adaptation thereto of the
balistic power of a liquefied gas in substitution for gunpowder or other explosives,
that is to say I utilize the enormous power produced by the dilatation of a liquefied
gas to propel a projectile.
For the purpose of my invention I employ by preference liquefied carbonic acid
gas, not only on account of its cheapness and its harinlessness but also because of the
formidable dynamic power which it develops when it is dilated or expanded.
In carrying out my invention I combine with the guns charge reservoirs or
cartridges from which the gas is liberated by the action of a percussion pin or striker,
which, when actuated by the mechanism of the gun, temporarily opens a valve in the
charge reservoir.
I will proceed to describe by way of example a small arm constructed according to
my invention.
This gun comprises a barrel, means of introducing the projectile, the breech, the
liquefied gas reservoir or cartridge, the lock and the stock. The barrel may be smooth
or rifled and is firmly screwed to the breech. The breech carries a sort of two way
cock through which the projectile is introduced, that is to say the projectile is inserted
into this cock through the top of the breech and then the cock is turned partly round
so as to bring the projectile in line with the bore of the gun. The charge reservoir
or cartridge is composed of a strong tube of steel or other metal for containing the
liquid gas; it is closed at its front end by a screw stopper and at its rear end it is fitted
with an automatic valve. The rear face of this valve bears against a washer of partly
hardened or hardened caoutchouc or other material embedded in a conical recess in
the wall of the reservoir. The valve is constantly pressed against this washer by
means of a spring. A striking pin actuated by the mechanism of the gun as herein-
after described pushes forward the valve. There is a screw stopper to hold the
caoutchouc washer in place. The rear end of the charge reservoir is screw threaded
and is screwed on to the gun in front of the breech and below the barrel. There is
a caoutchouc washer to make a tight joint between the charge reservoir and the
breech. The reservoir, when charged with liquefied carbonic acid gas is capable
according to the size and calibre of the gun of discharging from 100 to 500 consecutive
shots at an expense of about one-tenth of that of powder and fulminates. Each shot
fired is of equal power; there is no fouling, no flame and no smoke.
The lock is fixed to the breech and is very simple, being composed of a large steel
spring acting against the hammer. The hammer strikes directly upon the striking
pin already described and this acts directly on the valve which allows of the escape
of the liquefied gas, a certain volume of this escaping at each blow. The gas which
escapes from the charge reservoir passes through a channel which conducts it to the
rear of the projectile upon which it acts.
(
The trigger is acted upon by a small spring and keeps the haminer cocked, and it
suffices to pull the trigger in order to cause the hammer under the action of the
large spring before described to strike the striking pin. The trigger guard is similar
to those of ordinary small arms. The discharge of the gun can be regulated at will
by means of a stopper with a milled head, which by being more or less screwed into
the breech regulates the movement of the hammer and its effect on the striking pin.
The striking pin may be actuated otherwise than as described.

page_text: The description hereinbefore given will enable the application of the invention to
cannon and mitrailleuses to be readily understood, these arms being analogous to
small arms. The charge reservoir will be of larger proportions and may contain
according to circumstances a quart, ten quarts or 100 quarts or more of liquid gas
and this may be discharged all for a single shot or for a number of consecutive
shots. In charge reservoirs which are discharged at one shot I can employ a stopper
which dilates automatically and is driven out with the projectile when released by a
suital.le device, the stopper being formed of a caoutchouc washer partly hardened,
embedded in a metallic box of half its height.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Guns.
I, PAUL GIFFARD of 1 Boulevard St. Denis, Paris, France, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:--
My invention has reference to guns whether small arins, revolvers, cannon or
mitrailleuses and it consists essentially in the adaptation thereto of the dynamic or
balistic power developed by a liquefied gas in substitution for gunpowder or other
explosive that is to say I utilize the enormous power produced by the dilatation of a
liquefied gas to propel a projectile.
For the purpose of my invention I employ by preference liquefied carbonic acid
gas not only on account of its cheapness and its harmlessness but also because of the
formidable dynamic power which it delelopes when it is dilated from zero to
300° Centigrade for example.
In carrying out my invention I combine with the guns charge reservoirs or
cartridges from which the liquefied gas is liberated by the action of a percussion pin
or striker which when actuated by the mechanism of the gun temporarily opens a
valve in the charge reservoir.
I will proceed to describe by way of example a small arm constructed according
to my invention. The general construction is represented in the annexed drawings.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the gun. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 3 a
transverse section on a larger scale. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively longitudinal and
vertical sections of the charge reservoir on a still larger scale.
The gun comprises a barrel, means of introducing the projectile, the liquefied gas
reservoir or cartridge, the lock, and the stock. a is the barrel which may be smooth
bored or rifled and is firmly screwed to the breech piece b. The breech piece is of
the special form shown and carries a sort of cock d through which the projectile is
introduced. The projectile can be expelled at the side of the breech and thus allows
of the barrel being examined internally throughout its length by simply unscrewing
the mill headed screw e which also serves to regulate the shooting as hereinafter
described. The chargo reservoir or cartridge is composed of a strong tube ƒ of steel
or other metal for containing the liquefied gas; it is closed at its front end by a
stopper or cap f¹ of the same metal screwed and soldered thereon. The rear end is
fitted with an automatic valve formed of the following pieces viz.: a spring metallic
valve g bearing against the washer h of hardened or partly hardened caoutchouc or
of horn, celluloid or other suitable elastic material; the washer tightly embedded
in the conical recess 2 in the wall of the reservoir; a small coiled spring i bearing
against the washer and constantly pressing the valve g against its caoutchouc seat
(the valve is also pressed against its seat by the pressure of the liquefied gas); a
pin which when actuated by the gun mechanism as hereinafter described strikes
against and pushes forward the valve g; a screw stopper k holding the washer or
obturator in place; a caoutchouc washer for making obturation against the gun.

page_text: The rear end of the charge reservoir is screw threaded at m to enable it to be screwed
to the gun with the aid of the 8-sided part m¹. The charge resevoir thus arranged
is intimately connected to the gun the two constituting a homogeneous whole.
The reservoir when charged with liquefied carbonic acid gas is capable according
to the size and calibre of the gun of discharging from 100 to 500 consecutive shots
at an expense of about 16th of that of powder and fulminates. Each shot is discharged
with equal power; there are no fouling no flame and no smoke.
The lock is fixed to the metallic breech piece band is very simple being composed
of a large steel spring a' acting against the hammer b¹. The hammer strikes directly
upon the striking pin j and this acts directly upon the valve 9 which allows of the
escape of the liquefied gas, a certain volume of this escaping at each blow. The
pinj is fitted truly in the breech and in the obturating greased leather washer j¹ in
order that the volume of gas which passes through the channel e shall be completely
preserved to act upon the projectile without any possible escape.
The trigger g¹ is acted upon by a small spring 9² and keeps the hammer cocked and
it suffices to pull the trigger to cause the hammer under the influence of the spring a
to strike the pin j at the end The trigger guard n is similar to those in ordinary
small arms.
The discharge of the gun can be regulated at will by means of the
mill headed screw e which by being more or less screwed into the breech piece
regulates the travel of the hammer and its effect on the striking pin. The striking
pin can be actuated or the valve g opened otherwise than as described.
The wooden stock and its heel plate 2¹ carries all the parts as the drawings
indicate.
The general construction which I have above described will enable the application
of the invention to cannon and mitrailleuses to be readily understood these arms
being analogous to small arms but of larger calibre. The charge reservoir will be of
larger proportions and instead of containing a volume of liquefied gas of several
cubic centimetres may contain according to circumstances a quart, 10 quarts, or
100 quarts or more.
It is thus practicable to store in large metallic charge reservoirs a dynamic force
of more than 20 million kilogrammes and to apply to bullets or other projectiles
all or part of this enormous force either for a single shot or for a number of
consecutive shots.
:
In charge reservoirs which are emptied at a single shot I employ a stopper which
dilates automatically and is driven out with the projectile when released by a suitable
device the stopper being preferably. formed of a washer of caoutchouc two thirds
hardened embedded in a metal box of half its height.
In using charge reservoirs which are emptied in a number of shots for repeating
guns or mitrailleuses I employ an arrangement analogous to that shown in the
drawings.
The gradual and quiet action of the liquefied gas on the projectile with previous
dilatation from 100° to 300° Centigrade causes essentially novel balistic effects, and
by the cold produced in the barrel by the expansion of the gas it becomes practicable
to throw the most dangerous explosives with perfect safety. No flame or smoke
being produced and the power developed being enormous and always the same
the use of liquefied gas in guns constitutes a new and formidable power in the
art of war.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The construction of guns in which the power for propelling or throwing. the
projectiles is obtained from liquefied gas substantially as described.
2. In a gun a charge reservoir or cartridge for containing liquefied gas and means
whereby a part or the whole of said gas can be liberated so as to dilate and
enter the rear of the barrel and thereby drive out the projectile substantially as
set forth.

page_text: 3. A charge reservoir or cartridge for containing liquefied gas and adapted to be
fitted to a gun, an outlet to said reservoir and a closing device to said outlet adapted
to be opened by the mechanism of the gun, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
4. In a gun, a charge reservoir or cartridge for containing liquefied gas an outlet
to said reservoir a closing device to said outlet, a passage from said outlet to the rear
of the barrel and means for opening said closing device whereby when said device
is opened liquefied gas escapes from the reservoir dilates and passes to the rear of
the barrel so as to drive out the projectile substantially as set forth.
5. In a charge reservoir or cartridge for containing liquefied gas and adapted to
be fitted to a gun, the combination with the tube closed at the one end f¹, of a
valve g at the other end and a stopper k having a passage for a striking pin which
operates said valve substantially as set forth.
6. In a gun having a charge reservoir or cartridge for containing and liberating
liquid gas to serve as the power for propelling the projectiles, the combination with
a striking pin for liberating said gas, of the hammer 6', trigger 9', a spring tending
to move said hammer against said striking pin and a spring for preventing the
movement of the hammer until the trigger is pulled substantially as set forth.
7. In a gun having a charge reservoir or cartridge for containing and liberating
liquid gas to serve as the power for propelling the projectiles the combination
with a
striking pin for liberating said gas and with the hammer ¹ for operating
said striking pin of the adjustable screw e for regulating the movement of the hammer
and consequently of the striking pin, substantially as set forth.
8. The arrangement or combination of parts substantially as herein before
described and represented in the drawings constituting a liquefied gas gun as
set forth.
Dated this 20th day of T 1889
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.