A MACHINE FOR ASCERTAINING THE PROPELLING FORCE OF GUNPOWDER
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Austen, of Waltham Abbey, in the Parish
of Waltham Holy Cross, in the County of Essex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "A MACHINE FOR ASCERTAINING THE PROPELLING FORCE OF
GUNPOWDER."
Scaled the 6th February 1857, and dated the 8th August 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Austen at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th August 1856.
I, THOMAS AUSTEN, of Waltham Abbey, in the Parish of Waltham Holy
Cross, in the County of Essex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention of "A MACHINE FOR ASCERTAINING THE PROPELLING FORCE
OF GUNPOWDER," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the use and employment of a moveable machine,
which I call a recoiling target, same being mounted upon two pairs of light
running wheels. One of each pair of wheels runs in a groove formed in a
metal rail securely attached to a fixed cast-iron framing, and the other wheels
at the opposite side of the machine run upon a flat metal rail also securely
attached to the aforesaid fixed framing of the machine. The recoiling target is
composed of a light metal framing, each end whereof has a metal target affixed:
thereto, the whole being mounted upon the aforesaid running wheels. There

page_text: is an index hand fixed to the framing of the recoiling target, and a metal plate
with inches and parts of inches marked thereon, in front of which the point
of the index hand moves. The upper part of the side framings of the recoiling
target is formed with bearings to receive trunions when it is desired to ascer-
tain the recoiling force of different descriptions of gunpowder.
In using the above machine for ascertaining the propelling force of gun-
powder, the powder is discharged in front of and against one or other of the
targets, the index hand pointing to zero at the commencement. The effect of
the powder will be to move the target, the distance moved being registered or
denoted by the index hand. The index hand is again placed at zero, and
another quality of gunpowder discharged at the target as before, and so on
for each different kind of powder; the extent to which the target is moved
determining the best quality of gunpowder in a simple but unerring manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Austen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th February 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
AUSTEN, of Waltham Abbey, in the Parish of Waltham Holy Cross, in the
County of Essex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas
Austen, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas Austen, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Austen,
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 "A MACHINE FOR ASCERTAINING
THE PROPELLING FORCE OF GUNPOWDER," upon the condition (amongst others) that
J, the said Thomas Austen, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly 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

page_text: Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Austen, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in the use and employment of a moveable machine,
which I call a recoiling target, for ascertaining the propelling force of gun-
powder, same being mounted upon two pairs of light running wheels. One
of each pair of wheels runs in a groove formed in a metal rail, securely
attached to or formed upon a cast-iron framing, and the other wheels at the
opposite side of the machine run upon a flat metal rail, also formed upon or
securely attached to the aforesaid fixed framing of the machine.
The recoiling
target is composed of a light metal framing, one end whereof has a metal
target affixed thereto, the whole being mounted upon the aforesaid running
wheels. There is an index hand fixed to the framing of the recoiling target,
and a metal plate with inches and parts of inches marked thereon, in front of
which the point of the index hand moves. The upper part of the side
framings of the recoiling target is formed with bearings to receive trunnions
when it is desired to ascertain the recoiling force of different descriptions of
gunpowder. The method of using the above machine for ascertaining the
propelling force of gunpowder is herein-after described.
In order to explain my said Invention as completely as possible, I now
proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked
thereon respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machine constructed according to
my said Invention for ascertaining the propelling force of gunpowder;
Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof; Figure 3, a transverse and vertical section
of said machine as it would appear if divided through the line C, D, at Figures
1 and 2, looking in the direction of the arrow's flight; Figure 4 is a transverse
and vertical section through the line A, B, looking in the opposite direction of
the arrow's fight At each of the foregoing Figures I employ similar letters.

page_text: castings, securely bolted to the casting A, A, to prevent the particles of lead
flying off from the face of the target when fired from the rifle. On to the sides
of the front wheels E, E, is a light framework of wrought or cast iron, to the
end E whereof the solid metal target D is securely fixed by a pin and screw
nut d, or in any other convenient manner. G is an axle (which moves on a
centre pin c, thereby producing an equal pressure of the wheels H, H, on the rails
B, B', although one of the said rails B, B¹, be out of the level of the opposite
one). H, H, are light running wheels, mounted and revolving upon the ends of
the axles G, G', which should be truly formed, and fitted so as to have as little
friction as possible. It will be seen, on referring to Figures 2 and 4, that the
edge of the rail B is formed flat, as also the peripheries of those wheels which
run thereon, and that the rail B¹ is formed with a V-shaped edge, as also the
peripheries of those wheels which run thereon, the intention for thus forming
-the said rails and wheels B', B', and H, H, being to direct and guide the said
wheels in their proper course during the movement of the recoiling target D.
connected therewith; I is an index hand, securely fixed to one side of the
moveable framework; E, E, and K is a plate, with divisions marked thereon,
representing inches or parts of inches, or other convential marks, indicative of
the force of the powder; L is a weight, connected by a small chain / to the
framework or other part of the target, said weight being employed to counteract
the friction of the running wheels upon their respective rails, so as to render
the action of the machine as delicate as possible..
I now proceed to describe the mode of operating with the above machine
for proving or ascertaining the propelling force of gunpowder, as follows:-
MODE OF OPERATING.
I take from one to two and a half drachms of the gunpowder which it is
desired to prove and place it in the barrel of a rifle, in which I also place upon the
powder one of Joyce's thick elastic felt waddings, and then a lead ball weighing
about an ounce. It must here be remarked that these felt waddings effectually
prevent any escape of the propelling force of the powder before the ball has
left the barrel of the rifle, and thus ensures the whole force of the powder
acting upon the ball. Now; supposing the target D and parts to which it is
connected to be in the position exhibited, I fire at the distance of ten yards,
measuring from the mouth of the barrel and the face of the target; the effect
will be to propel the machine along the rails B and B' a distance proportionate
to the strength of the powder, the distance so moved being indicated by the
index hand I upon the graduated plate K. In using the above machine for
the purpose of proving gunpowder, I would remark that in all cases the same

page_text: distance between the face of the target and the mouth of the barrel be strictly
observed, that each quantity of powder fired should be weighed with the
greatest accuracy, and the lead balls of one uniform weight, in order to ascer-
tain correctly the difference between the propelling force or different descrip-
tions or qualities of gunpowder.
I have fully and satisfactorily proved the accuracy of the machine by the
momentum of falling bodies acting on the face of the recoiling target, and I
also have found one drachm of the first class sporting powder fired from a rifle
at 10 yards distance from the target propelled an ounce lead ball on to the face
of the target at a velocity of 1180 feet per second.
Having now fully described and set forth the nature and object of my said
Invention of "A Machine for Ascertaining the Propelling Force of Gunpowder,"
together with the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into
practical effect, I would remark, in conclusion, that I claim as my Invention
a machine of the construction above particularly described, set forth, and
represented by the Drawing hereunto annexed, for the purpose of ascertaining
the propelling force of gunpowder, as above stated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Austen, bave hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.
THOMAS AUSTEN. (L.8.)