IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE, AND THE PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH, WHICH MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO SMALL ARMS
Year: 1861

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Vetterlin at the Office.
of the.. Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
December 1861.
I, FREDERICK VETTERLIN, of No. 14, Scarborough Street, Goodman's
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature;
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING ORDNANCE, AND THE
PROJECTILES TO BE USED THEREWITH, WHICH MAY ALSO BE APPLIED TO SMALL ARMS,"
to be as follows:
This Invention relates, first, to the novel mode or method in which
construct breech-loading ordnance, and to the novel appliances and mode of,
working the same as fitted to such ordnance..
The second part or portion of the present Invention. has reference to the
novel form and description of projectile intended to be discharged either from,
breech-loading ordnance or small arms.
In constructing breech-loading ordnance according to my present Invention,-
I form the breech end of the gun, or that portion of the metal surrounding
the breech or chamber, of an increased thickness sufficient, to resist without
injury the strain which it is possible could be produced by the explosive force
of a maximum charge. At right angles to the longitudinal axis of the piece
I form a horizontal opening through the chamber at a suitable distance from
the rear end, such horizontal opening or crossway being of greater depth or,
vertical height than the diameter of the chamber, and of such a width (in the
direction of the axis) as will enable-two-pieces-of-metal-to-be inserted therein,
and of a sufficient thickness to resist the effects of the explosions.

page_text: For the purpose of stopping or closing the breech, as well as for guiding
the cartridge into its proper place in the chamber and preventing the abrasion
which would otherwise take place against the sharp edges of the horizontal
opening or crossway, I form two blocking pieces of such a length as will
enable a circular hole or opening to be bored at one end of each of the same
diameter as the chamber, and when the charge has been entered and driven
home, these blocking pieces being slid back or across into such a position as
they shall present a portion of their surface at about the middle of their
length to the end of the chamber or space devoted to the reception. of the pro-
jectile and its explosive charge, so that the breech is for the time effectually
closed, and the escape
of gas prevented.
It is essential to my present Invention that the blocking or closing of the
breech should be effected by two pieces of material instead of one, the forward
piece of the two being the blocking pièce proper is paralled in thickness and
in depth; the back piece is parallel in its vertical depth, and nearly parallel
in its thickness, and is intended to act as a wedge; as when nearly home the
force forward by the application of pressure, as hereafter described, effectually
and firmly secures the. forward blocking piece against the after end of the
chamber, or both pieces may, if preferred, be slightly tapered in thickness, but
in contrary directions to act as a pair of wedges. When the after piece or
the block piece of slightly wedge form has been forcibly withdrawn by turning
the lever bandle, say, a quarter of a turn, it is slid out or removed by hand
to the required extent, and the forward piece may then be withdrawn by hand
to a similar extent, so that the circular holes or openings formed in each of
these pieces will coincide with the axial line of the bore, and permit of the free
passage therethrough of the projectile and explosive-charge, or the cartridge
combining both. The extent to which the two pieces are to be slid out or
withdrawn may be regulated by a groove in the back or side of each, and a
set screw, pin, or stud which when projected forward will act-as-a-stop.
When the charge has been inserted the forward blocking pieces is first slid
into its place by hand, then the after piece is similarly slid back to enable the
mechanical final means for giving the requisite pressure to be brought into
action.
For the purpose of giving the requisite amount of pressure to force the
blocking pieces home I provide upon the right side of the enlarged breech and
above and below the horizontal opening or crossway a projection of suitable
form, having a spirally cut groove, notch, or recess therein, into which a cross
"tail piece" connected with the lever arm is made to take for the purpose of
giving the requisite amount of force to press. home and withdraw the after-

page_text: blocking piece or wedge; and such cross "tail piece" may be drilled and made
to turn freely upon a shank or stud projecting from the after blocking piece
or wedge, and it may be held thereon by a nut and washer, or a washer and
cross pin. Thus, when the. wedge is about to be slid back the cross tail piece
would be horizontal, or in the line of the axis of the gun, and may then-be
turned round, and the points of the cross piece will then take into the angular
or inclined grooves, notches, or recesses; and thus the requisite forward'
screwing motion will be communicated to the wedge, whilst upon the lever
handle being raised from the horizontal to the vertical position the action-is
reversed, and the wedge is forcibly withdrawn. The "cross "tail" piece"
may, however, be attached to the wedge in any other convenient manner. I
prefer to form the opening at the extreme end of, the breech bell mouthed, or
enlarged, for the more ready insertion of the charge.
Instead of drilling the vent or means of ignition through the breech in any
portion of the length of the chamber as is ordinarily done, I effect the central
ignition of the charge in the following manner:-I drill a vent hole through
the breech in such a position as it shall plumb the centre of the forward-
blocking piece, in which a corresponding hole is drilled at such an angle as
shall conduct the ignition to the centre of the bore in a line corresponding
with the true longitudinal axis of the piece. Thus, in addition to its value as
a means of effecting central ignition, this arrangement has also the advantage
of forming a check upon the correct placing of the block piece; as unless it
is in its correct position the two holes will not coincide, and the piece cannot
be discharged.
For rifled ordnance I prefer three grooves instead of a greater number; but
my Invention may be applied to breech-loading ordnance whether rifled or
smooth bore.
In rifling the bore of breech-loading cannon I prefer to form the grooves
deeper at the breech end, and to give a degree of spirality equal to one
complete turn in six feet. The vent or opening for giving central ignition
should be formed taper or larger at the upper end, so as to concentrate
the fire.
My improvements in the projectiles to be used with smooth bore or rifled
ordnance, and which are also applicable to small arms, are as follows:-For
smooth bores I form a projectile whether conical, pointed, rounded, or flat
headed, with the body recessed, or of a reel-like form, and I wind thereon a
layer or layers of rope or twisted strands to such a diameter-as will fill the
chamber. or bore, and-by means of a groove or recess around the edge of the
after flange of the projectile, I secure the cartridge or case containing the ex-

page_text: plosive charge. The projectiles may be of cast or wrought iron, or of steel
for ordnance purposes; and for small arms they may be of lead or any other:
suitable metal.
5.
For rifled arms having three grooves I form the projectile with longitudinal-
dovetail grooves therein, at such an angle as shall correspond with the spiral
or twisted grooving of the bore, and I fit into the dovetail grooves wooden
wings of any suitable wood; the direction of the fibre being transversely, with,
the axis of the projectile. instead of being parallel therewith...: The point.or.
fore end of the projectile may be conical, convex, flat, or concave.
T