IMPROVEMENTS IN GUNS, GUN CARRIAGES AND APPURTENANCES, AND IN THE MANIPULATION OR WORKING OF GUNS
Year: 1854

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Holworthy Palmer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
August 1854. A communication.
I, GEORGE HOLWORTHY PALMER, of Adelaide Road, Hampstead, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUNS, GUN CARRIAGES AND APPURTENANCES,
AND IN THE MANIPULATION OR WORKING OF GUNS," to be as follows, and with
reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed :-
Figure 1 represents an improved gun and gun carriage. The gun is intended
to be loaded or charged and also sponged and cleansed from the breech end of
the
gun, and yet possess the advantage of the solidity of the solid breeched
guns. The bore of the gun is madely completely through the breech end of it,
and a key or cotter way is cut through the gun near the breech end, and at or
near a right angle to the bore of it, and in any convenient direction. A key or
cotter A is made to fit into this, and effectually to close the breech or borc,
the breadth of the key or cotter being a little more than the diameter of the
bore at that part. A lever or any other convenient mode of withdrawing the
key or cotter and reinserting it when required may be adopted.
Figure 2 represents a traversing gun adapted for a ship or vessel. A mode
of chargeing or loading the gun in this adaptation is to cause the gun to

page_text: assume a vertical position upon the gun carriage, and thus permit its being
loaded or charged from below the deck, thereby protecting the gunners. The
gun may be sighted by means of the parallel bar B, affixed to the gun. C, the
cartridge, which may be raised and charged into the gun by any convenient
means.
Figures 1 & 2 show also a method of reducing the amount of traverse of
the recoil of the gun when fired. The back of the gun carriage carries upon it
the rod or plunger D, passing into the cylinder E, containing atmospheric air.
The cylinder is provided with a stop-cock, which, when the gun is fired, may be
opened to a certain extent, so as to cause a portion of the air to be expelled,
and allow the reaction to be such as to bring back the gun to its original
position.
Figures 3 & 4 represent respectively a longitudinal and breech end eleva-
tions of another construction of breech-loading or charging gun. Upon the
ordinary trunnions of the gun (which are strengthened for the purpose) are
mounted side bars F, secured together at the breech, and having a wedge or
inclined surface G, acting against a corresponding surface upon the breech
plate H, effectually secures it during the firing of the gun; the side bars being
raised, as shown, the breech plate may be moved round, and the gun cleansed
and sponged, and the cartridge or charge inserted. The projections I, upon the
side bars, are for the purpose of using bars or levers to move up the side bars
when required.
Figure 1 also represents a mode of transfering the gun and gun carriage, &cº,
from place to place. On removing the gun and its carriage from the traversing
platform, they will then be supported upon their own wheels N, while the
wheels L of the platform, being removed and placed on the pins upon each side
of the platform at O, they can then be removed at pleasure.