Improvements in Pneumatic and other Guns and Projectiles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic and other Guns and Projectiles..
A communication from GEORGE HAZARD ROBINSON, of New York City, in the
State of New York, one of the United States of America, one of the Executors
of John Ericsson, Engineer, late a resident of New York City aforesaid,,
(deceased), and GEORGE HUNTINGDON REYNOLDS, Engineer, residing in
New York City aforesaid.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of No. 46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
London, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, 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 :-.
The present invention relates to improvements in guns and projectiles adapted
for. throwing high explosives by the force of compressed air, and provisions for
storing compressed air for. such use.
Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive relate to the first part.
Fig. 1, is a central longitudinal section through the entire directing tube or
barrel, excepting always the provisions for closing the breech, which latter may be
of any ordinary or suitable character.
Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are central longitudinal sections on a larger scale.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the construction of the main body.
Figs. 5 and 6 relate to the second part. In this a similar plan is applied to
the construction of the reservoirs, which are provided in sets, arranged side by side
to serve with a large pneumatic gun for holding the quantity of compressed air
required, and supplying it with the necessary promptness when the valves are:
operated for each discharge of the gun.
Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal section, and
Fig. 6 is a corresponding section of a portion on a much larger scale.,
Figs. 7 and 8 relate to the third part.
Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal section through the entire projectile.
Fig.
8 is a corresponding section of a portion on a larger scale.
Fig. 9 to the end relate to the fourth part.
Fig. 9 represents a side view of the sub-calibre projectile.
Fig. 10 a central longitudinal section of the same, and
Fig. 11 a cross section on the line xx. of Fig. 10 looking towards the rear of
the projectile.
Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the rear end of the projectile and
its attached gas check on a larger scale.
Fig. 13 is a cross section through a portion of the gas check on the line y, y
in Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is a cross section of a part of the projectile on the line
near the front end. .
Fig. 15 is a longitudinal section on the line z z in Fig. 14, and
Fig. 16 is an end.view of the releasing rod.
in Fig. 9,
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where:
they appear..
The first part of the invention applies to the. construction of barrels or

page_text: directing tubes for apparatus for discharging projectiles by the force of compressed
air or gas.
A peculiarly light, uniform and strong construction of cylinder can be made by
winding thin strips of steel or other metal, hereinafter called ribbons, helically, and
uniting them strongly by a more fusible metal, having an affinity for solder.. Such
a mode of construction has been before applied in the manufacture of light
machinery, eminently the cylinders of carding engines in the cotton and woollen
manufacture, and in the construction of water leaders on buildings, and for various
articles of common use.
'
.
My correspondents have discovered that by winding such ribbons in a number of
layers, with the ends properly applied and held to suitable tinned end pieces, very
strong and light barrels for pneumatic guns, can be produced suitable for enduring
all the conditions to which such structures are subjected. The invention has been
reduced to practice, and has made an important advance in the arts. The ends
require to be peculiarly fortified.
The end pieces are made of soft steel, wrought iron, or other suitable material
which can be tinned. The temperature of such end pieces are raised, and tinned
by any ordinary or suitable process, the parts being previously shaped to the correct,
gauge. The ends of the wound ribbon portion are squared off, and are abutted
fairly against corresponding offsets, or shoulders on the end pieces. The end pieces.
lap upon the exterior of the wound portion, and are strongly soldered.
T
The end pieces are coated with tin, and are also provided in their interiors with
annular recesses, which latter are filled with solder. In applying the parts together,
the main body composed of spiral ribbons, previously well laid together and soldered,
is fitted tightly into the interior of one of the end pieces, and the latter is heated by
gas burners or otherwise, while the interior of the main body is kept cool. Under
these conditions the temperature of the end piece is raised until the solder in the
recesses is fused. The structure is held with its axis vertical, and the solder from
each of the recesses flows down into the joint below, insuring a perfect union over.
the whole surfaces except in the small recesses. (Any deficiency in. the amount of
solder in these recesses may be made up by adding solder in the channel provided
at the upper end.) If these recesses become partly emptied no mischief results..
The solder should close the joint where each end of the body abuts against an offset..
in the corresponding end piece..
See Figures 1 to 4..
/
The body D is composed of ribbons 11 of steel, rolled to the proper thickness,
and having their edges accurately trimmed. by shears, or otherwise, and wound.
spirally by suitable machinery around a mandrel, not shown, but which gauges.the
position of the ribbons relatively to the axis of the cylinder. There are several
layers of such ribbons, the many coils being wound closely, edge: to edge.. The
whole are tinned, and are strongly. jointed by solder.
The end pieces, 13, are previously coated with. tin. In ordinary. cases it.is pro-
posed to cast the end pieces of steel, but they may be made by proper means from
wrought iron, hard brass, or various other metals. and. alloys which will receive a
coating-of tin. Cast iron is objectionable on account of the difficulty of properly.
tinning it.
The end pieces are made each with an overlapping portion or lip, 13, which laps
upon the exterior of the body. The interior of each. lip 13, is grooved circum-
ferentially as indicated by 13, and these grooves are carefully filled with solder:
At the root of each overlapping portion 13ª is a squared and accurately finished
offset, 13, abutting tightly against the end of the body.
The several spirals of the several layers of ribbon 11 composing the body. D'are
wound tightly in place on a suitable. mandrel not shown, and are soldered together.
The ends of the body thus produced are accurately squared off and inserted within
the close fitting. lip 13, and caused to abut against. the corresponding; offset. 13°
When the solder melts, it draws the solder from the several grooves,. 13band.
causes it to be distributed cover: the entire joint between 13 and 11, effecting a

page_text: strong and reliable union of the parts.
This end is now allowed to cool, and the
entire barrel is inverted and the other end subjected to the same treatment.
The end piece 13 at the rear end is adapted to be joined to an extension, not
represented, which may be formed in the same manner, and also to receive a
trunnion ring, not represented. A stout flange, 13ª, on the exterior of 13, aids to
hold the ring, and also the strongly attached body by matching against the edge of
a trunnion ring, not shown, but which performs the usual functions of allowing, 'the
barrel to be held at various angles-technically, "elevated" as required.
The solder which is applied in the grooves 13b should be so compounded as to
fuse at a little lower temperature than the harder solder which holds together these
several coils and layers of ribbons in the body.
In applying the parts together a properly prepared end of the body is inserted in
an end piece 13, and being held with its axis vertical, a series of gas flames is
applied on the exterior of the ring, while a draft of cold air, or if necessary, a
spray of water, is applied in the inside of the body. When the end piece and the
exerior layer of the body are sufficiently heated, the solder in the grooves 13" will
melt and diffuse itself through the joint between 13 and 11. Additional solder
may be applied, if judged expedient, while thus held, to flow down into the 'joint
from the upper edge by the channel provided for that purpose. The solder joins
all the surfaces, including the joint between the lip 13a and the end of the body.
If a little solder exudes on the inner face it must be carefully removed when the
parts are cold as before.
The same general process is applied in the joining of the ring at the rear end of
the main body. This part is longer, and it is for that reason still less practicable
to apply sufficient solder from the upper edge alone. The several grooves 13 each
supply the solder necessary for a close joint below. Solder is also applied at the
upper edge. When all is joined, including the joint between the abutting lip 13*
and the rear end of the body 11 this is allowed to cool, and any solder exuding on
the inner face is removed.
The second part of the invention relates to the application of the same general
method of construction to reservoirs for holding air or other gases under pressure
for use with pneumatic guns.
It is well to combine the reservoir with the gun above described adapted' for
working by compressed air to throw heavy projectiles, and I will describe the
reservoir as being thus used.
See Figures 5 and 6.
One of the end pieces is provided, as shown with a mouth piece and flange, 12,
by which it is bolted to the proper portion of a pneumatic gun.
The interior of the overlapping lip 13* is slightly flared near its edge, as indicated.
This joint is kept full of melted solder, applied by hand or otherwise, when 'the
temperature is high. When the structure is allowed to cool, there is a solid union
effected by the solder over the whole interior of the part 12, joining it with the main
body Aº.
Packings 14 of asbestos, 'or other durable yielding material, are introduced
between the ends of the body A and the shoulders or offsets 13° against which
they abut. A sufficiently tight joint should be maintained to prevent the solder
from flowing inward, and either escaping altogether or forming one or more bunches
on the interior of the structure, and robbing the joint of the necessary solder for
perfect union.
This packing is also of service after the reservoir is complete and in use, by
preventing the access of the compressed air in the interior of the reservoir to the
spaces between the several layers of the spirally wound ribbons. In case there
shall be any leaks, the packing contributes to prevent the escape of the air.
The third part of the invention relates to the application of the same principles
to the construction of hollow elongated projectiles. It is more especially intended
for large projectiles to be charged with dynamite or other powerful explosive and
impelled by compressed air admitted by a proper mechanism to act behind it in

page_text: a gun barrel one of the constructions described above or of other suitable
character.
The cylindrical portion is made in three separate lengths of different thicknesses,
the portion to go foremost being thinnest, the mid-length portion of intermediate
thickness, and the rear portion of the greatest thickness. The ends of each are cut
off or otherwise evenly finished, and abut fairly against corresponding surfaces at
the extreme front and rear and at the intermediate junctions. At the points where
the several lengths join we make transverse partitions through the projectile, each
with surfaces abutting squarely against the correspondingly formed portions in
front and rear, and with flanges which are strongly secured to the cylindrical
parts.
The inner and outermost layers of ribbons are of brass or other non-corrodable
material.
The projectile is rotated rapidly during its flight, and it is important that it shall
be balanced not only in its length, but also around its axis. In the manufacture of
the projectile each of the several portions are balanced separately, adding solder on
the inside, or otherwise modifying one end, or both ends, or the middle, of each
part, so that each of the projectiles is perfectly balanced by itself. Then, after
properly uniting the parts, the entire projectile is tested, and add further, if
necessary, to verify the accuracy of the individual balancing of each piece. The
projectile has now what is known in mechanics as a "running" balance, each part
being balanced independently of the other parts.
See Figures 7 and 8.
15 is the thin cylindrical shell formed in three separate lengths, distinguished by
superior or elevated letters 15ª, 15, 15. The thinnest, 15, is foremost; a thicker
length 15, comes next, and the thickest, 15, is in the rear. Each is in several
layers. The outermost and innermost are of brass; the intermediate layers may
be of steel. All the layers are in the form of flat ribbons, 11, wound spirally and
joined by solder.
It will be seen that the body is in three separately formed lengths. Each end of
each length is evenly finished and abuts against an offset.
The forward end of the front section, 15", abuts against an offset, 16ª, on the front
piece, 16. A lip 16, extends rearward sufficiently on the inner face of the section
and is strongly secured thereto by screws, 17, having counter-sunk heads. The
back edge of the rearmost section, 15°, abuts against an annular face in a metal
ring, 20.
At proper distances forward of the breech-picce are two transverse partitions or
rigid diaphragms extending across the projectile. The foremost, 18, provides two
annular abutting surfaces, 18" and 18°, looking in opposite directions, against one
of which, 18, the rear edge of the length, 15", abuts, and is secured by screws 17,
tapped into a lip, 18°. The forward edge of the mid-length section, 15b, is secured
by screws, 17, tapped, into a lip, 18ª.
Further rearward is another rigid diaphragm or transverse partition, 19, which
has two aunular abutting surfaces, 19ª, and 19, presented, the one forward to
receive the rear edge of the section, 15b, which is secured by screws, 17, tapped
into a lip, 19, the other rearward to receive the front edge of the section, 15°, which
is secured by screws, 17, tapped into a lip, 19ª.
These diaphragms or transverse partitions, 18 and 19, separate the interior of
the projectile into compartments, and allow other members not shown, as fuses, to
traverse them.
21 is a strong backing of wood in three layers, with the grain of one crossing that
of the next. In the rear of the whole is a packing lip, 22, of stout leather, brass,
or other material adapted to be spread by a strong pressure of air or gas supplied
in rear of the projectile.
The ring 20, and the wood back, 21, which latter is termed a "gas check," and is
not attached to the projectile may be of greater diameter than the body 15. The
space, around the latter may be maintained by the introduction of suitable blocks

page_text: or other efficient centering pieces to hold the body in the centre line of the gun
while the projectile is lying still or is moving violently forward in the gun at the
time of discharge, as will be described in the next part.
A sinall quantity of solder, 23, is applied on the interior of the front piece, 16,
in such position as to counteract any slight excess of weight on one side, and bring
the axis of motion coincident with the centre line of the form. The interior
cylindrical portions of the several sections, 15%, 15%, and 15%, and also the
partitions, 18 and 19, may all carry small quantities of solder, 23, applied on
their interiors to effect the balancing.
These lumps, 23, perform the important functions of balancing the projectile
not only as a whole, but also balancing each end and every intermediate part
independently. They are applied before the parts 15ª, 15 and 15, the partitions, 18
and 19, and the front piece, 16, and back ring, 20, and its attachments, are put
together. To effect this balancing, any given part, as the forward section, 15º, is
mounted on a shaft and balanced on parallel bars in the usual manner. So soon as
the need is ascertained, solder is applied on the proper side and at proper distance
from the midlength toward either end as may be required to make this piece when
tested alone perfectly balanced.
Each of the other two sections, 15 and 15%, and the front piece 16, and also the
transverse partitions or diaphragms, 18 and 19, are each thus separately balanced.
After this is done all the several parts are fastened together by the screws, 17, or
equivalent, rivets.
The transverse partitions, 18, 19, perform their usual functions of holding the
contents in their proper positions under the severe strain induced by the inertia or
set-back of the contents at the moment of the discharge. Importance is attached
to the fact that the thin material of the parts, 15ª, 15 and 15°, abuts squarely
against corresponding joints in the several partitions, 18 and 19 and also against
offsets on the back ring, 20, and on the front piece, 16. The junction of the parts,
with the aid of these offsets, enables the construction to endure the great end wise
strain to which the parts are subjected by the set-back of the projectile and its
contents.
Importance is attached, also, to the difference in thickness in the different
portions of the body. The portion, 15, between the partition, 19, and the back
ring, 20, is subjected to the longitudinal crushing force due to the inertia of nearly
the entire projectile. The portion forward of this, 15 extending between the
transverse partitions, 18 and 19, is subjected to the inertia or backward crushing
force, of a smaller portion, that in front of this section, and is of less thickness.
And the forward portion, 15%, of the main body, that between the partition 18 and
the front 16, is made still thinner, because it has only the inertia of the front
piece, 16 to overcome.
The fourth and last part of the invention relates to those kinds of projectiles
which are called "sub-calibre projectiles," the bodies, of which are smaller than the
base of the gun so that they experience little resistance from the air in their flight,
but receive the impulse of a large charge of powder or a large quantity of com-
pressed air or other gas under tension, acting on a suitable attachment filling the
whole bore of the gun; and the objects sought are to secure accuracy of flight and
the greatest attainable range.
See Figures 9 to 16 inclusive.
15 is the entire cylindrical portion of the shell of the projectile, which, for
distinctness, is sectioned in solid black. Some portions thereof may be made of
metallic strips or ribbons spirally wound and soldered as above described. The
shell is shown as cast or otherwise formed with a partition 18 extending across its
interior at about the middle of its length, slightly domed to increase its ability to
resist the "set-back" of the contents before it when the gun is discharged. The
material of the shell may be brass or any metal possessing the requisite strength to
securely hold the contents and to withstand the shock of discharge from the gun.
16 is the head of the projectile of the usual tapering shape. It is formed with a

page_text: shoulder 16, turned to accurately fit the inner circumference of the hollow
cylindrical part, 15, the outside surface of the head at the joint with the shell
being flush with the same, the two being fastened together by screws 17. The
extreme point is thickened to allow of a screw-threaded hole for the reception of a
detonator or other snitable fuse not shown.
The rear end of the shell, 15, fits upon a contracted portion of a cylindrical
casting 24, the outer surface of which is flush with the outside of the shell, 15, and
forms therewith a practically continuous cylinder. A rigid metallic partition or
diaphragm, 19, extends across the interior, having two bosses, 19, each of which is
tapped for the reception of an electric fuse, 25. The casting 24 is secured to the
shell 15 by screws 17.
The interior of the shell 15 from the head 16 to the diaphragm 19 forms an
inclosure for the dynamite or other explosive not shown, with which the projectile is
charged, being divided into two chambers by the partition 18, there being com-
munication between the chambers by the hole 18*.
On the exterior of the rear end of the cylindrical casting, 24, and forming a
part of it, are formed helicoidal wings, 24, analogous to those of a screw propeller
or turbine water wheel. The action of the air on these wings imparts a rotating
motion to the projectile around its axis as it flies through the air. These wings
nearly but not quite fit the bore of the gun, but the projectile is made to exactly fit
the bore by pieces of indurated fibre or analogous material 26, one of which is
screwed to the side of each wing 24, as shown. These bearing pieces project
beyond the diameter of the projectile at the wings to the extent required to exactly
fit the bore of the gun, not shown, from which the projectile is to be fired.
thus held the axis of the projectile at its rear end coincides with the axis of the
barrel of the gun.
When
The forward end of the projectile is centred in the bore by blocks 27 of hard
brass or other elastic metal cast in the form of cases as thin as is consistent with
the strength required. As shown, four of these centering blocks 27 are employed,
and the projectile is equipped for that number, but this may be varied. These
blocks 27 are of such height that when attached to the projectile they nearly fit the
bore of the gun, the small space left, like that existing at the wings 24ª being filled
by pieces of indurated fibre 29 which are let into recesses in the outer face of each
block 27 being fastened therein by cement or screws or otherwise as may be
convenient.
To receive these blocks there is formed on the outside of the shell 15 a recess for
each block open toward the front of the projectile. These recesses lie between
sufficient ridges 24' cast or otherwise fixed on the exterior of the front of the
cylindrical part 15 and are slightly dovetailed. The blocks 27 are dovetailed to
match (as shown in Fig. 14). The back of each recess is fitted with a stop 24°
against which the centering block 27 abuts when it is pushed home.
The rear end of the projectile is provided with a strong and tight-fitting annular
sabot or gas check. It consists primarily of a hollow ring of metal 28, of a
diameter nearly equal to the bore of the gun, the difference being made up by a
packing ring 30 of leather or other suitable material which fits into a corresponding
recess in the periphery of the gas check 28. When the gun is fired, the compressed
air or other impelling gas, finds access to the space under this packing by small
holes 28 (see Figs. 12 and 13) and distends the packing 30 against the bore of the
gun and tightly packs the joint against any leakage past the gas check. The front
and rear sides of the gas check are connected at frequent intervals by ribs 28ª
(Fig. 13) which strongly brace the rear face to enable it to resist collapse from the
pressure of the air behind it. Upon the front of the gas check is formed a circular
Hange 28 (Figs. 10 and 12), which fits into the shell 24, which is thickened at this
point, and turned to easily fit it.
Before firing, the position of the gas check relatively to the shell of the projectile
is such that a small space (Figs. 9, 10, and 12) exists between the rear end of the
shell 24 and the front of the gas check 28, and it is held in this position by four

page_text: steel bars 31, which have hinged ends 31ª attached by pins 34 to lugs 28 which are
formed at corresponding points on the front face of the gas check. These bars
extend through the spaces between the wings 24" (as shown in Figs 9 and 11).
To fasten the gas check in the position shown, each bar 31 is fixed to the shell 24
by a soft brass screw 32 (Figs. 9, 10, and 12). The bars 31 extend along the shell
of the projectile to the centering blocks 27, one being broken away in Figure 9 to
allow the line of the shell to be shown. The forward ends of the bars 31 are
widened by inclines 31, 31, arranged as shown in Figure 15, and are engaged with
the centering blocks 27 in the manner shown in Figs. 14 and 15. One pair of
inclines 31 fit into a similar tapering slot in the rear part of each block 27, and
another pair of inclines 31° engage in the larger tapering slot in the forward part
of 27. The edges of the inclines 31 and 31, and also the corresponding slots in 27
are each made with a double bevel or dovetail in cross section (see Figure 16), so
that the bars cannot be lifted out of the flanges of the centering blocks, and the
whole are thus fastened together.
On the inner face of the gas check 28 are lugs 28 Figs. 10, 12 and 13, in the
slotted holes of which are adjusted rods 33, the ends of which very nearly, but not
quite, touch the caps of the electric fuses 25.
.
The projectile as thus described is put into the gun barrel and without further
preparation is ready to be fired from the gun. But to obtain the best results in
steadiness of flight and extent of range it is necessary that the projectile should be
early released from the gas check 28, the centering blocks 27. and connecting
bars 31, all of which serve their purpose while the projectile is passing through the
barrel, but which are serious hindrances during its fight through the air.
The centering blocks 27 are of elastic metal, and when cast their sides are
slightly inclined inward from the rounded top to the base where they fit the recess,
the amount of inclination being such that the block when placed by itself in position
does not engage with the dovetail sides of the ridges 24 but is free to move out
radially. It is not until a bar 31, with its tapering dovetailed end 31° and 31° is
forced into its place in the block 27 and thereby wedges the sides of the latter
apart, that the block is secured to the projectile as it is shown to be in Figs. 14
and 15. The bars being fastened by their hinged ends 31ª to the lugs 28° on the
gas check, and the screws 32, being inserted through the bars 31 into the body
of the projectile the whole arrangement is secure until the gun is fired.
.
When the high pressure of the air or gas used to impel the projectile is
brought to bear upon it, the large portion of the force acting on the relatively
light gas check drives it forward relatively to the heavier projectile which opposes
by its inertia a much greater resistance to motion, and the gas check moves forward
until its front face bears fairly against the back edge of the part 24 of the projec-
tile. In moving this small space and pushing the bars 31 forward with it the bars
cut off the soft screws 32. The more easily to accomplish this the rear of the
hole in each bar 31 through which the screw 32 passes is beveled, see Figure 12,
forming a knife edge which shears off the screw. As the bars 31 go forward
relatively to the projectile they partially move out of the double beveled slots
in the centering blocks 27, and the spring of the metal of which the centering
blocks are made causes them to contract to their original width, thus relaxing their
hold on the inner faces of the ridges 24". They are now practically disengaged
from the projectile, though they are held to it by the barrel of the gun while the
projectile is passing along it. But the instant the projectile leaves the muzzle of
the gun.the air catches them and lifts them from the recesses, the bars 31 turn ou
their hinges on the gas check, which is itself caught by the air and left behind by
the projectile, which being now free from the incumbrance of its attachments, flies
on its way under the strong impulse it has received, being kept point forward by
the fact that the contents are in the forward part of the projectile and the rear
portion is an empty shell, and being further steadied by being rapidly rotated on
its axis by the action of the air on the helicoidal wings 24*.

page_text: Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing
the advantage of the invention.
In the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd parts there may be a greater or less number of the
annular grooves 13b. The edges of the several coils of the ribbons 11 may be
beveled instead of abutting squarely together.
In the 2nd part it is preferred to make the innermost layer or the outermost
layer, or both the innermost and the outermost layer of the body A of hard brass
or other incorrodible metal, but all the layers can be made of steel or iron. The
number of spirally wound layers can be increased or diminished, & the size and
number of the internal grooves 13" can be varied. Instead of grooves they may
be recesses of any desired form which will not seriously diminish the strength of
the end pieces.
In the 4th part, a greater or less number of the helicoidal wings 24ª can be
used. A single electric fuse 25 and a single circuit breaker 33 can be used, or these
can be dispensed with, other means of firing being relied upon. Soft iron can be
used instead of brass for the screws 32.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A gun-barrel, having a body D, formed of spiral ribbons 11 in several layers
united by solder, in combination with the end pieces 13 with lips 13° abutting
against the corresponding ends of the body and joined by solder, as herein
specified.
2. The gun-barrel or directing tube described, having a body D of spiral
metallic ribbons 11 in several layers, the outermost and innermost of non-corrodible
material, in combination with end pieces 13, 13, each provided with internal
annular grooves 13 containing solder, applied together, substantially as herein
specified.
3. A gun-barrel, composed of thin ribbons of sheet metal, the outer layers
being non-corrosive and the whole united with a solder, as herein specified.
"
4. A reservoir for holding compressed air, having a cylindrical body A
composed of spirally wound metal strips or ribbons in several separate layers
joined by solder with the abutting joints of each layer mismatched or "broken
relatively to the corresponding joints of the adjacent layers and end pieces 12 tinned
and soldered, substantially as herein specified.
5. The end pieces 12 formed with parts 13ª overlapping the ends of the body A
and in combination therewith and having the internal recesses 13° filled with solder
as herein specified.
6. The end pieces 12 having parts 13ª, in combination with and overlapping
upon the body A and also having abutting shoulders 13° matching the thickness of
the body, the several parts being combined and all the joints filled with a fusible
metal, substantially as herein specified.
7. The guiding packing 14, in combination with the shoulders 13° and with the
body A composed of spirally wound ribbons in several layers and the joining
solder between such layers, the packing being adapted to prevent the solder from
escaping during the manufacture and also to prevent the compressed air from
escaping during the use of the reservoir, as herein specified.
8. A projectile having a pointed front piece 16, and a suitable back piece 20, 21,
in combination with each other, and with countersunk fastenings 17 securing them
to a body or cylindrical shell of spirally wound metallic ribbons 11, secured by
solder as herein specified.
9. In a projectile, a main body composed of separate lengths of spirally wound
metallic ribbons 11, joined by solder, the transverse partitions 18 and 19 having
offsets 18, 18, and 19", 19°, and countersunk fastenings 17, securing them together,
as here a specified.

page_text: 10. An elongated projectile, having a front piece 16, a rear piece 20, 21, and an
intermediate cylindrical body composed of spirally wound metallic ribbons 11;
joined by solder, the body being made in separate lengths 15, 15, 15, arranged
in line abutting against annular surfaces 16, 18, 18, 19, 19, 20, in the peripheries
of the parts 16, 18, 19 and 20, and secured by the aid of lips 16, 18, 18, 19, 19,
on such peripheries, as herein specified.
11. The projectile described, having a front piece 16, rear piece 21, and inter-
mediate sections 15ª, 15, 15, all independently formed and separately balanced,
constituting a body of spirally wound metallic ribbons 11, soldered as shown, in
combination with fastenings 17, securing such sections to internal lips, as herein
specified.
12. The projectile described, having a front piece 16, rear piece 20, 21, and
intermediate cylindrical body formed of spirally wound metallic ribbons 11, joined
by solder, the parts being balanced by small weights 23, firmly attached in the
interior of the several parts, substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein specified.
13. The body of a projectile, formed of thin cylindrical walls of metallic ribbon
abutting upon transverse partitions serving both to separate the interior into
distinct compartments, and to relieve the fastenings from strains due to the set back
of the parts of the projectiles, and of the charge, as herein specified.
14. The body of the projectile, formed in several sections or lengths of different
thicknesses, the thickest being rearward, as herein specified.
15. A projectile of a calibre smaller than that of the gun from which it is to be
fired, in combination with a sabot of larger diameter, attached to the rear, and of
separate guiding blocks attached near the front end and connected with the sabot,
and provisions for detaching the projectile from both the sabot and blocks in the act
of firing, substantially as herein specified.
16. A projectile of less diameter than the bore of the gun from which it is to be
fired, and a set of guiding-blocks of metal at the forward end of the projectile, and
provided with external bearing-faces of leather or analogous yielding material, a
sabot, and a set of rods connected with the sabot and blocks, and moved relatively
to the projectile in the act of firing, arranged to liberate the guiding-blocks and
sabot by such movement, substantially as herein specified.
17. A sub-calibre projectile, a sabot of full calibre, a set of guiding-blocks at the
forward end of the projectile, and a set of longitudinal bars connecting the sabot
and blocks, arranged to be moved relatively to the projectile by the act of firing,
combined as specified.
18. In a sub-calibre projectile, a set of rods or bars, 31, extending longitudinally,
in combination with fastenings 32 holding them to the projectile, arranged to be
shared off by the act of firing, and with a sabot and with a set of guiding-blocks at
the forward end 27, attached to the projectile and to said bars and sabot, substan-
tially as herein specified.
19. In a sub-calibre projectile, the body 15, having dovetail longitudinal
ridges 24 cast thereon, or otherwise fixed firmly on the exterior near the front, and
stops 24 at the rear of the dovetail recesses thus formed, in combination with the
guides 27 and with the rods 31, moved forward at the discharge. having
inclines 31, 31, and connected at one end with the guides 27 and at the other end
with the sabot, all as and for the purposes herein specified.
20. A sub-calibre projectile, in combination with a sabot of full calibre, guides 27
at the forward end of the projectile for guiding that end in its traverse through the
bore of the gun, and with a set of wings permanently attached to the projectile near
the rear end, and mechanism for detaching the sabot and the guiding means in the
act of firing, all substantially as herein specified.
21. In a sub-calibre projectile, a set of wings 24ª permanently attached to the
projectile near the rear end, the wings being helicoidal and of less diameter than
the bore of the gun in which the projectile is to be fired, in combination with pieces
of indurated fibre or analogous relatively soft material 26, fixed on one face of each

page_text: wing and having one edge projecting outward to exactly match the bore of the gun,
all substantially as herein specified.
22. In a projectile the cylindrical body 15 having an internal partition 18, cast
integral with the main cylindrical body 15, domed as shewn to resist the set-back
of the contents, and provided with a hole 18*, adapted to strengthen the shell and
hold the contents in place while allowing fire to be freely communicated, all substan-
tially as herein specified.
23. The combination with a projectile adapted to carry explosive material, of a
sabot arranged to move relatively thereto in the act of firing, and one or more
rods 33, extending forward from such sabot into the interior of the shell, and corre-
sponding fuses 25, located at the rear of the explosive chamber, and with which the
said rods are connected, adapted to ignite by such movement, all substantially as
herein specified.
24. The packing 30, of vulcanised fibre or analogous soft material, in com-
bination with the sabot having a circular groove or recess, and holes 28', and with
a sub-calibre projectile connected with the sabot, and arranged for joint operation,
substantially as herein specified.
25. In a sub-calibre projectile, the body 15, rear extension 24 having the rigid
partition 19 formed in one therewith, the part 24 extending rearward as a hollow
cylinder and the sabot 28 having the circular flange 28, and a connection substan-
tially as described between the sabot and said partition, all combined and arranged
to serve as herein specified.
Dated this Tenth day of February 1890.
W. LLOYD WISE.