IMPROVED INTERLOCKING RIBBON OR WIRE COILS FOR ORDNANCE
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
We, THOMAS WILSON, Agent, of Havelock Street, JAMES SAMPLE, Watchmaker,
of Harrison Place, both in the City and County of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and
WILLIAM MADDISON WARD, Rope Manufacturer, of Bridge Street, Blyth in the
County of Northumberland, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
IMPROVED INTERLOCKING RIBBON OR WIRE COILS FOR ORDNANCE" to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved mode of constructing what are known as
wire or ribbon coiled guns by which great longitudinal strength is secured without
impairing the transverse strength to resist bursting, and consists of ribbons or
wires of iron steel or other suitable material, rolled or drawn, of such sections
that each succeeding coil will dovetail or fit into the preceding coil in such a
manner as to resist the strain tending to open the coils longitudinally. The section
which we prefer to use is that formed by cutting through their axis two truncated
cones joining at their smaller diameters forming two dovetails each succeeding
coil of which overlaps one half of each of the two preceding coils.
Other sections may be used such as a grooved H or any diamond or hexagon
section form which will enable each coil to fit into and interlock with the preceding
coils so as to prevent them opening longitudinally.
The beginning end of first coil of ribbon or wire will be firmly secured either to
the inner tube or to a shoulder formed or shrunk on and the ribbon or wire will
then be wound or coiled along the tube with the proper tension and the ter-
minating end secured. The second coil will commence a little further toward the
breech or muzzle (as the case may be) being secured in same way as first coil,
each succeeding coil commencing a little beyond the preceding one on a series of
steps formed upon or shrunk on the inner tube.
These steps may be turned on their faces so as to follow the pitch of the coiling
or the intervening spaces may be filled up by a tapered piece coiled in.
"
The inner tube of the gun may be screw cut or "chased on its outer surface
to receive the first coil or it may be plain and the first coil made plain or flat on
that side next the tube.

page_text: The outer tube or casing, which is shrunk on after the coils are completed and
finally locks the whole series of coils, may also be screw cut on its inner surface to
fit over the outer coil or the outer coil may be made plain on the side next the
outer tube, or in either case, the first and last coils may be filled in so as to present
a plain surface next the inner and outer tubes.
In order to allow the ribbons to follow the pitch of coiling and fit accurately
into each other it may, in some cases, be necessary to form them with a slight twist
in their section depending upon the pitch of the coils.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
We THOMAS WILSON Agent Havelock Street, JAMES SAMPLE Watchmaker,
Harrison Place, both in the City and County of Newcastle upon Tyno and
WILLIAM MADDISON WARD Rope Manufacturer of Bridge Street Blyth in the
County of Northumberland, do hereby declare the nature of said invention of
'IMPROVED INTERLOCKING RIBBON OR WIRE COILS FOR ORDNANCE" to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—.
"
Our invention relates to an improved mode of constructing what are known as
wire or ribbon coiled guns by which great longitudinal strength is secured without
impairing the transverse strength to resist bursting and consists of ribbons or wires
of iron, steel or other suitable material rolled or drawn of such sections that each
succeeding coil will dovetail or fit into the preceding coil in such a manner as to
resist the strain tending to open the coils longitudinally. The section which we
prefer to use is that formed by cutting through their axis two truncated cones
joining at their smaller diameters forming two dovetails each succeeding coil of
which overlaps one half of each of the two preceding coils. Other sections may be
used such as a grooved H diamond or hexagon section or any form which will
enable each coil to fit into and interlock with the preceding coils so as to prevent
them opening longitudinally.
The beginning end of first coil of ribbon or wire will be firmly secured either to
the inner tube or to a shoulder formed or shrunk on and the ribbon or wire will
then be wound or coiled along the tube with the proper tension and the
terminating end secured. The second coil will commence a little further toward
the breech or muzzle (as the case may be) being secured in same way as first coil
or a series of steps formed upon or shrunk on the inner tube. These steps may be
turned on their faces so as to follow the pitch of the coiling or the intervening
spans may be filled up by a tapered piece coiled in.
The inner tube of the gun we prefer to be screw cut or "chased" on its outer
surface to receive the first coil or it may be plain and the first coil made plain or
flat on that side next the tube. The outer tube or casing, which is shrunk on
after the coils are completed and finally locks the whole series of coils, may also be
screw cut on its inner surface to fit over the outer coil, or the outer coil may be
made plain on the side next the outer tube or in either case the first and last coils
may be filled in so as to present a plain surface next the inner and outer tubes.
In order to allow the ribbons to follow accurately the pitch of coiling and fit
accurately into each other, it may in some cases be necessary to form them with a
slight twist in their section depending upon the pitch of the coils.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings Figure 1 shews a portion in section full
size of the breech end of a gun constructed with coils of interlocking wire of the
form of section which we prefer and Ficures 2 3 4 5 and 6 show five sections of

page_text: On Figure 1. A is the inner tube which is chased or screw cut on its surface
to receive the first coil of wire B which has commenced toward the muzzle and is
coiled toward the breech terminating against the first step of the step-piece C
which is shrunk on the tube A. All the succeeding coils each commence toward
the muzzle and terminate at a step of the piece C where their ends are secured.
The steps on C are cut to the same pitch as that of the coils, so that no filling in
pieces are required. The coils being completed the outer tubes D and E which
have as we prefer, been tapped to suit the section and pitch of the last coil B are
expanded by heating slipped over the coils and contract, thus finally locking the
whole series of coils. When it is not considered desirable to tap the outer tube
the last coil of wire will be made plain on one side as shewn by Figures 7 and 8
(for sections 2 and 3) or a finishing coil may be used to make the outer surface of
the coils plain, of section Figures 9 and 10 (for sections 2 and 3) or Figure 11 (for
sections 4 and 5). None of the sections of wire shewn present any difficulty in
drawing of the sizes we consider most suitable but we prefer section Figure 2
which we have had officially tested in stoel of the following dimensions; width
"inches, thickness at base of each cone " inch thickness at junction of
cone "The test wire stood 75 tons per square inch with an extension of 4 per
cent and broke at 80 tons per square inch. The section of wire lies 34 in a square