IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDNANCE AND PROJECTILES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alphonse Sax, of Paris, France, Manufacturer of
Brass Musical Instruments, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ORDNANCE AND PROJECTILES."
Sealed the 10th October 1861, and dated the 15th April 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alphonse Sax at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th April 1861.
I, ALPHONSE SAX. of Paris, France, Manufacturer of Brass Musical Instru-
ments, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ORDNANCE AND PROJECTILES," to be as follows:-
The Invention relates to improvements in ordnance and projectiles for war
purposes. In reference to ordnance the object of the Invention is to increase
the destructive effect of cannons, mortars, or other ordnance on vessels, walls,
or other objects of great strength, and the same consists in making two or
more pieces of ordnance suitably connected together to converge towards the
same point of the object to be destroyed, and then cause them to be fired
simultaneously, or nearly so, in order that the projectiles of the several pieces
may reach the object nearly simultaneously, and strike it at about the same
spot, and thus produce the same effect as if ordnance of much greater strength
had been made use of, fired in the ordinary mode at different intervals, and
aiming at different spots. For this purpose, two, three, or more pieces of
ordnance are fixed with their carriages on one platform, revolving horizontally
Price 8d.1

page_text: over another platform, which latter I prefer to be moveable for allowing the
recoil after each discharge. The carriage of each piece is provided with the
usual means for giving the required elevation or inclination thereto. One of
the pieces, by preference the central, serves as a guide for taking aim, and to
the top of this piece is fixed a rigid arm extending over the other pieces, which
on being caused to touch this arm will have the same degree of inclination as
the central piece; they are further made to converge towards the same spot as
aimed at by the central piece, their carriages being allowed to turn on a
vertical pivot or bolt fixed in the revolving platform, the pieces being thus
made to converge all towards the same point; the revolving platform allows of
taking aim at a moveable object, such, for instance, as a ship. Each piece is
provided with a nipple for a percussion cap, and a cock and trigger, which
latter are connected together in such manner as to allow the firing of the
several pieces simultaneously, or nearly so, although the arrangement also
allows of firing each of the pieces separately, and aiming at different spots, as
in the method of firing hitherto in use.
My improvement in projectiles consists in providing a strong solid cylinder
of cast or wrought iron or other suitable metal or material round its surface,
with one or more cavities forming chambers, and which may either be made
to communicate with each other, and provide each of them with a charge of
gunpowder and a ball, grenade, or other suitable shot, or only be in com
munication with a central or inner chamber containing the gunpowder, while
the chambers round the surface contain the projectiles. A tube in com
munication with the chamber or chambers protrudes with one end on the
outside of the cylinder, and is provided with one or more nipples, on which
percussion caps are put, while a cap gliding over this tube is provided on the
outside with cross arms, so that the cross arms on striking the ground or any
other resisting body, will cause the cap to strike against the percussion caps
and thus procure the inflammation of the gunpowder, and throw the balls
grenades, or other missiles in various directions around the projectile.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alphonse Sax in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th October 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALPHONSE
SAX. of Paris, France, Manufacturer, of Brass Musical Instruments, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself. Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto me,
the said Alphonse Sax, Her Special licence that I. the said Alphonse 'Sax.
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I. the said
Alphonse Sax, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
ORDNANCE AND PROJECTILES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Alphonse Sax, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
IN
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alphonse Sax, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:
These improvements relate to ordnance and projectiles to be made use of for
war purposes, and they have for their object to offer a means of considerably
increasing the destructive effect produced on vessels, walls, or other objects
by the projectiles fired from ordnance arranged according to this Invention,
whether cannons, mortars, or others, or whether such ordnance be rifled or
not; the improved projectiles forming part of the object of this Invention
are likewise calculated to produce a much greater destructive effect than
the ordinary projectiles hitherto made use of, particularly on troops, whether
foot or horse.
In regard to ordnance, the Invention consists in suitably connecting
together two or more pieces of cannon or other ordnance, so as to make the
projectiles fired from them converge towards the same spot of the wall,
vessel, or other object aimed at, and in such manner that the several
pieces being fired simultaneously, or as nearly so as practice will allow,
the projectiles of the several pieces will reach the object nearly simul-
taneously, and hit it about the same spot, so as to offer a much surer
means than was hitherto possible of causing several projectiles to hit, as much

page_text: as practically possible simultaneously and at the same spot, a moveable
object, such as a sailing vessel, a steam boat, a body of troops, or others.
Several mechanical arrangements may serve for performing this part of the
Invention, and I do not intend to restrain or restrict myself to any such
arrangement in particular: I prefer, however, making use of that shown in plan
view in Fig. 1, and of which Fig. 2 is a side, and Fig. 3 a back view, whereas
Fig. 4 shows part of the vertical longitudinal section over the line X, Y, of
Fig. 1. In these Figures corresponding parts are indicated by the same
letters of reference.
B, B, B. represent three pieces of cannon, each turning with its trunnions
in a fork H, H', the lower end of which latter forms a vertical spindle; the
spindle C of the central cannon passes through and is fixed to a corresponding
socket C3, which latter is fixed in an upper or moveable platform A: the
spindle C further passes through and turns in a similar socket C, fixed in
the lower platform A', where the lower end of this spindle C is held by a screw
nut d. The spindles C and C of the cannons B1 and B2 pass through and
are allowed to turn in the upper platform A. From the back part of each
fork H, H, extends a horizontal arm D, in the further end of which works
the set screw E, for allowing to give to each cannon separately the required
degree of inclination. A horizontal rule D', resting on two pillars D2, fixed in
the upper platform A, extends on both sides underneath the breach of each
of the cannons; the required direction having been given to each cannon
separately, each of them is fixed to the rule D' by means of the set screws d.
On the top of the central cannon B is fixed a horizontal guide or regu-
lator F, extending over the two cannons B' and B2, both ends of which regu-
lator have graduations marked thereon, for allowing of giving the required
angular direction to each of the cannons; a pointer f is fixed in a smooth flat-
tened part of the top of each of them, which flat part may be made to bear
against the lower surface of the regulator F; the cannons B and B are
caused to converge, as shown in Fig. 1, in the direction of the central
cannon B, viz., in such manner that they are directed or aim at the same spot
of any distant object as that taken aim at by the central cannon A. The
regulator being fixed perfectly level on the central cannon, the other cannons
will have the same degree of inclination as this latter, whenever the above-
mentioned flat part of their upper surface touches the lower surface of the regu-
lator F; in order to prevent this latter from being injured on firing the pieces,
the same must, before firing, be screwed up sufficiently high so as no longer to
be in contact with the cannons. The required inclination and converging aim
towards the same spot of the distant object to be hit having been given to

page_text: the three cannons, and if this object be a moving one, such, for instance, as
a vessel, the three cannons are kept simultaneously in the direction of it
by aiming with the sight of the central cannon, and suitably turning the upper
platform, the lower part of which latter may for this be provided with small
rollers or wheels running over the lower platform so as to allow of turning
the upper platform with sufficient ease for keeping aim at a vessel or other
moving object. Any suitable contrivance may further be made use of for
causing the firing of the three cannons to take place simultaneously or nearly
so, but I prefer simply providing each cannon with a percussion lock, and by
means of three strings g, united into one knot, pull at the three triggers at the
same moment. I must repeat, however, that a great many other contrivances
might be made use of either for firing two or more of the cannons simul-
taneously, or for causing them to converge towards the same spot of any fixed
or moving object taken aim at.
My improvements in projectiles have reference to what are called elongated
or cylindrical projectiles; they consist in providing a strong solid cylinder of
cast or wrought iron, or other suitable metal or material, round its surface.
with two, three, four, or more cavities. holes, or perforations of sufficient depth
to form small barrels or chambers, which chambers may either be made to
communicate with each other, and each of them be provided with a charge of
gunpowder or other suitable explosive compound, and a ball, grenade, or other
suitable missile; or these external chambers may be put in communication
with a central or inner chamber for containing the charge of gunpowder or
other suitable explosive compound, whilst the external chambers contain the
balls, grenades, or other suitable missiles, which by the explosion of the charge
of the central chamber will be projected in various directions round the pro-
jectile; these external chambers will consequently serve as so many small
mortars or gun barrels.
In the annexed Drawings, the Figs. 5 and 6 respectively show an elevation
and a longitudinal sectional view of one of my improved projectiles provided
with only four external chambers m, communicating together in the inside of
the projectile by means of the canals or pipes n; the Figs. 7 and 8 respectively
show outside views of two projectiles provided with a large quantity of smaller
outside chambers m, all of them in direct communication with the inner or
central chamber R. One of the ends of the projectile is provided with a
leaden counterweight N, through which passes and is screwed to the body of
the projectile an iron fusee P, the central opening of which is in direct com-
munication with the first external chamber m, or with the central chamber R.
The outer end or top of the fusee has a nipple p, for receiving a percussion

page_text: cap q; a sort of cover or cap Q (shown separately respectively in sectional
and in top view in the Figures 9 and 10) is provided with four arms q¹, and
fits on the top of the fusee in such manner that when the projectile on falling
by the effect of the counterweight N, with the cap Q downward, the arms q¹,
or at least one of them, will strike against the ground or other object, and
thereby drive this cap Q backward, and cause the same to strike the percussion
cap, so as to set fire to the charge of the fusee, and consequently to all the
chambers of the projectile. The missiles contained in those chambers will be
projected forward in various directions, such, for instance, as illustrated in
Fig. 11, in respect to the projectile represented in Fig. 7, and in Fig. 12 for
the projectile represented in Fig. 5. Projectiles arranged according to this
improved construction will consequently form most destructive engines of war,
as they may be made to project 200 or 300 balls at one explosion. For
allowing the introduction of these projectiles into a mortor or a howitzer, a
strong hollow cap or cover S is applied over the cap Q, so as to leave a
sufficient distance between each other, the lower end of the cover S resting
on the counterweight N. This cover S is made of two halves, which on being
applied against each other over the cap Q. correspond in diameter with the
bore of the mortor or howitzer. After the explosion, on the moment the
projectile leaves the piece, the two halves of the cover S will separate, so as
not to form an impediment to the flight and falling of the projectile, whereas
whilst this latter is still in the piece this cover S will prevent the sudden
impact of the air of driving the cap Q against the percussion cap q of the
projectile. A handle T may be screwed in the flat end of the projectile when
the same is intended to be thrown by hand in the manner of a hand grenade,
so as to allow a man of throwing a projectile from the top of a wall at the
moment of an assault, or on deck of an enemie's ship on the point of boarding,
or whenever in cases of war a certain quantity of men are to be suddenly
disabled.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, I
would observe, in conclusion, that I do not intend to confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements described, as many variations may be
made therefrom without deviating from the main features of the Inven-
tion; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim
as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
1ly, combining together several pieces or cannon or other ordnance so as to
allow of aiming with two or more of them at the same spot of any moving or

page_text: fixed object, and firing them, as much as practically possible, simultaneously,
with the object of causing the projectiles of the said cannons or other
ordnance to hit as much as possible simultaneously the same spot of the
object aimed at.
2ly, the above-described arrangements of elongated or cylindrical projectiles
provided with two or more external chambers connected together or with a
central chamber, and arranged in such manner that the explosion of the pro-
jectile takes place whenever the same strikes with the arm or arms of a
suitable cap against any object, when a great quantity of balls, grenades,
shells, or other missiles will be projected in various directions from the external
chambers in which these missiles were contained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alphonse Sax, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of October, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-one.
ALPHONSE SAX. (L.S.)