IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ORDNANCE." A communication from abroad by Benjamin Burkley Hotchkiss,
of Paris. Engineer.
Sealed the 14th August 1877, and dated the 5th June 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Williaui Morgan-Brown at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th June 1877.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown,
Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1,
Rue Laffitie, Paris. IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE." A. communication from
86
abroad by Benjamin Burkley Hotchkiss, of Paris, Engineer.
In the accompanying Drawings illustrating this Invention Figure 1 represents a
plan view of a dismounted cannon; Figure 2 a longitudinal section thereof; Figure 3
an elevation as seen from the breech; Figure 4 a transverse section in the plane,…,
of Figure 2; and Figures 5 and 6 longitudinal sections of modification.
This Invention relates to improvements in breech-loading ordnance, and consists
in a construction which combines with the body of a cannon, an inserted breech
piece extending sufficiently rearward therefrom to be provided with an aperture for
a fermeture and afford a proper support for the same.
It also consists in a mode of converting cast metal muzzle-loading orduance into
breech-loaders, and in details of construction too fully herein-after set forth to need
preliminary description.
In carrying out this Invention the gun is built up of different parts, so disposed
as to bring the metal composing them into the most favourable positions to resist
the strain to which they are to be exposel. The Invention differs however from
the common built-up construction of guns in that the body of the gun is first con-
structed, after which the interior re-enforcing parts are secured therein.
As herein illustrated the body 2 of the gun is to be formed of any suitable metal
by the common modes of producing ordnance. It is bored through and through,
with an aperture of a diameter sufficient to receive a bore tube 3, which aperture is
enlarged at its breech end to such dimensions as will receive a cylindrical breech 4.

page_text: This breech piece, preferably formed of hammered, low, or mild cast steel, though it
may be formed out of any homogeneous and tenacious metal, or formed of copper
alloys, extends into the body of the gun, and protrudes from its breech a sufficient
length to form the receiver and support for a breech block and its appurtenances. It
is fixed in place by means of screw threads as 5, and is bored through and through
so as to provide a central longitudinal aperture. Its diameter is such as will form
thick walls extending far enough into the breech of the gun to nearly or quite
envelop the charge chamber and seat of the shot, thus affording an adequate
resistance to the great strain which must he sustained by this portion of the gun,
and also providing the minimum body of metal which is required to resist the
longitudinal strain to which its protruding walls are subjected at the point where it
protrudes from the breech.
At its forward end where this breech piece forms a jacket 6, the thickness and
consequent strength of its walls is reduced somewhat, though dimensions must be
preserved which are sufficient to impart a strength capable of resisting the strain
exerted along this portion of the gun. The diameter and length of this breech piece
may of course be varied, as practice may suggest or test require, it being essential
only that its structure shall be such as will strengthen the gun along that portion
which is subjected to the greater strain, and yet provide against the rupture of
its protruding or receiver portion at the point where it leaves the breech of
the gun.
The protruding or receiver portion of the breech piece is pierced transversely by
an opening 8 adapted in size and shape to receive a sliding breech block. The
diameter of its longitudinal aperture at the rear of the opening 8 must be at least
equal to that of the bore of the gun, though in practice it will be considerably
greater, to facilitate the operation of loading. This longitudinal aperture in the
forward end of the breech piece provides a shoulder 9 and adapts the breech piece
to receive the bore tube 3, the end of which will rest against said shoulder. This
hore tube 3 is preferably formed of coiled wrought irou, for the reason that such
construction provides great tangential strength and extensibility, but as is obvious
other constructions and different metal may be advantageously employed.
As shown in Figure 1 the breech piece is screw threaded in front of its shoulder 9
to secure the bore tube therein and prevent its longitudinal forward movement.
The breech piece may be introduced into the body of the gun by simply screwing it
in place, or the body 2 may be first heated, so that it will shrink upon the breech
piece and securely embrace it. The bore tube will then be screwed up to its
seat in the breech piece, and though the parts thus secured together will operate
efficiently, it is preferable, in order to insure greater resistance to a longitudinal
movement of the bore tube, to furnish it with an additional fastening at the
muzzle end of the gun, where it is reduced in diameter or so cut away as to
form a shoulder 12, against which abuts a nut 13, which is screwed into the
mouth of the gun.
If it is found to be desirable to shrink the body 2 upon the bore tube the
latter may be secured in the breech piece before it is inserted into the body 2
when expanded by heating.
One or more bands 14. preferably of soft steel, may be shrunk or screwed
on to the breech end of the gun to impart additional strength to it.
Since the hore tube 3 will generally be formed of a metal which will receive
a permanent set from the powerful movements of the gas check against it, it
is sometimes desirable to provide a solid steel ring for the gas check to bear
upon. This ring 15 is shown in Figure 5 as provided with a recess 10 for
the support of the gas check, and is held in place by the screw threads 16
which secure the bore tube in the breech piece. In this modification, however,
the abutting ends of the ring 15 and the bore tube 3 are shouldered so as to
form a secure joint. This Figure also shews a modification of the mode of securing
the bore tube in place, the muzzle end of the gun being so constructed as to
form a seat for said tube, which must be introduced from the breech end.

page_text: As illustrated in Figure 6 the gun is modified by the omission of the hore tube,
in which construction, as well as that heretofore explained, the bore of the gun
may be rifled or left smooth. The bore tube when used may be held in place
solely by the fastening device at either the muzzle or breech end, or by both.
The
In converting cast metal muzzle-loading ordnance, such as the Rodman gun, into
breech-loaders, the face of the breech is cut away and the bore of the gun is ex-
tended through the same. The bore is enlarged so as to adapt it to receive the
breech piece, either with or without the bore tube, as before explained. Enough
of the metal is thus removed from the breech and bore of the gun to compensate
for the weight added by the protruding breech piece and the bore tube."
centre of gravity is thereby preserved in the axis of trunnions, or by slight
variation in the size of either the removed or added parts the preponderance
of weight may be transferred to a suitable point in the rear of the trunnions,
and if the breech end is not cut off, the superabundant weight at the breech
end may be compensated for by placing eccentric rings upon the trunnions, so as to
restore the centre of gravity to the axis of the trunnions.
The breech piece may obviously be fastened in place by other means and screw
threads, and it may be furnished with any of the approved constructions of breech
mechanism, none being shown, as this part of the gun being subsidiary to and form-
ing no part of this Invention may be varied at will.
What therefore is claimed is,―
First. A cannon bored through and through, in the rear end of which is secured a
breech piece, which strengthens the charge chamber and extends from the breech to
form the receiver and support for the fermeture or breech block, substantially as
described.
Second. A canon provided with a breech piece inserted into its rear end and
extending therefrom as a support for the fermeture or breech block, and with a bore
tube or lining, substantially as described.
Third. The method of converting cast metal muzzle-loading ordnance into breech-
loaders, that is to say, by extending the bore of the gun axially through its
breech, and enlarging the rear portion of the same, and inserting thereon a breech
piece which protrudes from the gun body as a support for the fermeture,substantially
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord Oue
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN. (L.s.)