IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A, M and
W Clark of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE
communicated to him from abroad by Auguste Hippolyte Joseph Suel of
Paris, France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A M and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE [communicated to him from abroad by
Auguste Hippolyte Joseph Suel of Paris, France]
This Invention relates to an improved cannon designed for firing projectiles of
circular or of more or less elliptic cross section. It may be cast in one piece like
ordinary cannon or constructed in several pieces as hereafter described.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I have illustrated
two examples thereof in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an
elevation of a field piece for firing projectiles of circular section. Figure 2 is a
breech end elevation and Figure 3 a top plan. Figure 4 is an elevation of a field
piece constructed in two parts. Figure 5 is a plan view of same. Figure 6
represents a modification of the breech closer.
In these Figures the same letters indicate the same parts. In Figures 1 to 3 the
gun a is mounted on a carriage b furnished with a sector c and a traversing screw d.
The trail e may be curved as in Figure 3 to permit the gunner to stand immediately
behind the gun without stradeling it.
f is a breech closing cap screwing in an eccentric enlargement of the breech end
of the gun. It has an orifice which by rotating the cap may be made to coincide
with the bore or not the cap in the latter position forming an effectual closure
preventing all escape of gases even after long use. g is a tray fixed to f just

page_text: "
beneath its orifice by which the projectile is supported and guided into the bore
into which it is pushed by a rammer h carried by an arm i fixed to f. I may
employ in combination with this breech closer or separately the arrangement shown
in Figure 6 which is a plate k hinged at and retained by any suitable form of
stop. m is an extractor operated by a lever handle. In Figures 4 and 5 the gun is
divided longitudinally into two halves a a' united by flanges and bolts and nuts.
This gun is mounted directly on the axle n and is capable of turning in a collar or
trunnion p.
The breech is similar to that before described and the muzzle o is a separte
casting screwed to the part a a¹.
The projectile is of the elliptic cross section shown at q and by turning the gun
in the collar p the direction of the shot can be modified.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th June 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the Firm of A, M, and W, Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE" A communication to me from abroad by
Auguste Hippolyte Joseph Suel of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to an improved cannon designed for firing projectiles of
circular or of more or less elliptic cross section. It may be cast in one piece like
ordinary cannon or constructed in several pieces as hereafter described.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I have illustrated
two examples thereof in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an-
elevation of a field piece for firing projectiles of circular section. Figure 2 is a
breech end elevation, and Figure 3 a top plan. Figure 4 is an elevation of a field
piece constructed in two parts. Figure 5 is a plan view of same. Figure 6
represents a modification of the breech closer. In these figures the same letters of
reference indicate the same parts.
In Figures 1 to 3 the gun a is mounted on a carriage b furnished with a sector c
and a traversing screw d. The trail e may be curved as in Figure 3 to permit the
gunner to stand immediately behind the gun without straddling it. f is a breechi
closing cap screwing in an eccentric enlargement of the breech end of the gun. It
has an orifice which by rotating the cap may be made to coincide with the bore or
not, the cap when in the latter position effectually closing the breech and preventing
all escape of gases even after long use. g is a tray fixed to f just beneath its
orifice by which the projectile is supported and guided into the bore into which it
it pushed home by a rammer h carried by an arm i fixed to f. In loading, the cap
is first turned until its orifice coincides with the bore or breech chamber; the
charge is then introduced as above described and the cap is turned the reverse way
in order to close the breech.
I may employ in combination with this breech closer or separately the arrange-
ment shown in Figure 6 which is a plate k hinged at 7 and retained by any suitable
form of stop. m is an extractor operated by a lever handle.
In Figures 4 and 5 the gun is divided longitudinally into halves a a¹ united by
flanges and bolts and nuts. This gun is mounted directly on the axle n and is
capable of turning on its axis in a collar p. The breech is similar to that before
described and the muzzle o is a separate casting screwed to the part a a¹
The projectile is of the elliptic cross section shown at q and by turning the gun.
in the collar p the direction of the shot can be modified.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is.
1. A breech loading cannon in which the breech is closed by a cap screwing
upon an eccentric enlargement of the breech and provided with an orifice which
may be brought opposite the bore, and with a tray for supporting and guiding the
charge as herein before described and shown in the drawings.
2nd. The combination in a breech loading gun of the carriage b having a curved
trail e, sector c, and traversing screw d as described for the purpose specified.
3rd. A breech loading cannon in which the breech is closed by a hinged plate as
described and shown in Figure 6.

page_text: 4th. A breech loading gun closed by means of an eccentric screw cap or hinged
plate as described and having the barrel divided longitudinally in halves bolted
together and mounted in a collar p so as to be capable of receiving axial motion
when projectiles of elliptical cross section are employed, as described and illustrated
in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings.
'
In Witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set
my hand and seal this eighth day of June, A.D. 1883.