IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR GUNS AND OTHER AIR ARMS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Paul.Giffard, of Paris, 66, Boulevard des Batignoles,
Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR GUNS AND
OTHER AIR ARMS."
Sealed the 24th April 1863, and dated the 30th October 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Paul Giffard at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
October 1862.
I, PAUL GIFFARD, of Paris, 66, Boulevard des Batignoles, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR
GUNS AND OTHER AIR ARMS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction and
action of air guns, as hereafter described. I utilize all the compressed air
by means of a valve arrangement, hereafter described, and render the action
of the compressed air on the projectile instantaneous. The air pump lies
parallel with the barrel, and consists of a metal tube, having an enlargement
at one end for screwing the tube to the air reservoir; the joint is made.
tight by means of a caoutchouc ring, tow packing, or other material. The
barrel of the pump extends almost the whole length of the gun barrel,
sufficient space being left at the rear for a valve and a portion of the air
reservoir, as hereafter described. It has an even surface inside, and is of
sufficient thickness to allow a screw thread to be cut in it; its front end has

page_text: a metallic stopper screwed into it, with an aperture in the centre to admit the
piston rod. There are other holes in the stopper leading inside the pump
barrel for admitting at each stroke of the piston the quantity of air required.
Grooves are formed in the pump barrel parallel with the holes just mentioned,
which act as valves for the piston at the time of its admission into the mouth
of the barrel, by which air is allowed to enter the pump barrel. The rear
end of the pump barrel is closed by a metal box containing a valve for
allowing air pumped by the piston to enter a reservoir, hereafter described,
and to prevent it entering the barrel while the air is being compressed. The
valve is, by preference, made of caoutchouc, or of any other material capable
of producing a tight joint, and is held between metal plates; a helical spring
presses lightly against the valve, so that at the time the air is compressed
there shall be no delay in its action. The valve box is composed of two
parts united by a screw in such manner that the valve inside the box can be
withdrawn when required. The valve consists of a rod carrying a ring on
which the caoutchouc is fixed and screwed up by a ring joint screwing on to
the part carrying the caoutchouc; the spring presses on the valve, and
insures the action. Grooves are formed longitudinally at the rear of the
pump barrel as well as in front for allowing the superfluous air contained in
the spaces to escape, which would otherwise reascend around the piston rod.
The air is compressed by means of a leather or other piston moving to and
fro in the barrel; it is united to a rod of the same length as the barrel, the
outer end of which terminates in a button. The piston must be slightly lubri-
cated to facilitate its motion. There is a small catch at the end of the barrel
which holds the button, and prevents it falling out when the arm is directed
towards the ground.
The air reservoir consists of a metal tube of the same length as the barrel
of the gun; the pump barrel is screwed into the fore end thereof, and round
the
pump barrel and between it and the tube is an annular space extending
the whole length of the arm forming the reservoir for the compressed air;
For small arms this arrangement may be modified. The reservoir tube is
smooth on the inside to allow of the free escape of the air; it is fixed to
the barrel of the arm by solder and metal bands. The trigger box is screwed
on to the rear end of the reservoir, and the joint must be made perfectly air-
tight. The trigger box is made in two pieces screwing into one another, one
part abutting against the butt of the arm through which the reservoir tube
and barrel pass; the other part carries the lock. A valve seat is formed on
the end of the reservoir tube. The barrel of the arm is in communication
with the inside of the trigger box, in the interior of which is a valve piston

page_text: consisting of a steel rod carrying a ring fitted with a caoutchouc disc for
closing communication. Air enters the barrel by a bell-shaped channel. The
caoutchouc disc is united to the piston valve, which is free to move from top
to bottom in the interior of the trigger box. The rod of the piston slides in
the thickness of the metal of the box, and passes outside thereof to enable
pressure to be exerted on it. By pressing strongly on the extremity of the
rod the caoutchouc disc is compressed, and exactly closes the reservoir
orifice;
if the piston valve is then suddenly released, the elasticity of the
caoutchouc combined with the pressure of the compressed air causes the
sudden opening of the reservoir orifice, and allows the compressed air free
action on the projectile.
To effect the rapid passage of the compressed air from the reservoir to the
barrel of the arm, I adopt the following arrangement:-At the rear of the
valve rod there is a spindle on which the hammer of the lock is fixed, and
carrying an eccentric nut, which, when the gun is cocked, exerts a strong
pressure against the valve rod. The back of the nut has notches formed in it
to receive the claws of a bent lever, which latter keeps the nut pressed up
against the air exit orifice from the reservoir; this spindle, as before stated,
carries the hammer, and by cocking the latter, the nut, by its eccentricity,
presses against the outer end of the valve piston rod, the caoutchouc becomes
compressed, and closes the reservoir; the bent lever, before mentioned, being
constantly pressed against the nut by a spring, takes into a notch on the
uut, and maintains the caoutchouc compressed until the discharge. The
discharge is caused through the trigger, on pulling which the nut becomes
released, and being driven back by the valve piston, the discharge is rapidly
produced. The reservoir may also be closed by caoutchouc taking the place
of the piston, and sliding in a cylinder with a lateral hole in it, through
which the volume of compressed air is allowed to pass; by this arrangement
an unlimited compression of air may be obtained.
For small arms the body of the air pump enters the barrel of the arm
but for a short distance only, and the annular space between the pump and
the reservoir is dispensed with, the space between the bottom of the body of
the pump and the reservoir forming a reservoir for the compressed air.
An ordinary ramrod is fitted to the gun, which is secured between the
reservoir and the barrel of the arm by loops. A bayonet may be fitted to
the front of the barrel in the ordinary manner. The gun may be made.
breech-loading by fitting to it a slide free to move on the breech part of the
barrel, whereby the projectiles may be inserted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Paul Giffard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
April 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PAUL
GIFFARD, of Paris, 66, Boulevard des Batignoles, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Paul Giffard, Her special licence that I, the said Paul Giffard, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Paul
Giffard, 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 IN AIR
GUNS AND OTHER AIR ARMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Paul Giffard, my executors or administrators, by an instrument 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 was 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Paul Giffard, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Iuvention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed
that is to say:-
My Invention consists in improvements in the construction and action of
air guns as hereafter described. I utilize all the compressed air by means
of a valve arrangement hereafter described, and render the action of the
compressed air on the projectile instantaneous.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a longitudinal section of a gun
constructed according to this Invention, and Figures 2 to 12 shew the different
parts of the gun in detail. The air pump lies parallel with the barrel of the
gun, and consists of a metal tube a, having a screwed enlargement b at one
end for screwing the tube to the air reservoir d, the joint is made tight by

page_text: k
means of a caoutchouc ring, tow packing, or other material. The tube a
extends almost the whole length of the gun barrel, sufficient space being left
at the rear fora valve and a portion of the air reservoir as hereafter described.
It has. an even surface inside, and is of sufficient thickness to allow a screw
thread to be cut in it; its front end has a metallic stopper f screwed into it,
with an aperture e in the centre to admit the piston rod; there are other
holes g in the stopper f, see Figures 2 and 3, leading inside the pump barrel
for admitting at each stroke of the piston the quantity of air required.
Grooves g¹ are formed in the pump barrel a parallel with the holes, 9, which
grooves actas valves for the piston at the time of its admission into the mouth
of the barrel, by which air is allowed to enter the pump barrel a. The rear
end of the pump barrel is closed by a metal box p containing a valve i for
allowing air pumped by the piston to enter a reservoir, hereafter described,
and to prevent it entering the barrel a while the air is being compressed.
The valve iis, by preference, made of caoutchouc, or of any other material
capable of producing a tight joint, and is held between metal plates, see
Figure 6; a helical spring / presses lightly against the valve i, so that at the
time the air is compressed there shall be no delay in its action. The valve
box is composed of two parts l, m, united by a screw in such manner that the
valve inside the box can be withdrawn when required. The valve consists of
a rod o carrying a ring on which the caoutchouc is fixed and screwed up by a
ring joint screwing on to the part carrying the caoutchouc, the spring k
presses on the valve, and insures the action. Grooves are formed longi-
tudinally at the rear of the pump barrel a as well as in front for allowing
the superfluous air contained in the spaces to escape, which would otherwise
reascend around the piston rod. The air is compressed by means of a leather
or other piston s moving to and fro in the barrel; it is united to a rod t
of the same length as the barrel a, and the outer end of which terminates in
a button u. The piston s must be slightly lubricated to facilitate its motion.
There is a small catch v, Figure 1, at the end of the barrel a, which holds the
button, and prevents it falling out when the arm is directed towards the ground.
The air reservoir consists of a metal tube d of the same length as the barrel
of the gun; the pump barrel is screwed into the fore end thereof, and round
the pump barrel and between it and the tube is an annular space extending
the whole length of the arm forming the reservoir for the compressed air; for
small arms this arrangement may be modified. The reservoir tubed is smooth
on the inside to allow of the free escape of the air; it is fixed to the barrel of
the arm by solder and metal bands. The trigger box is screwed on to the
rear end of the reservoir, and the joint must be made perfectly air-tight.

page_text: The trigger box (see Figures i. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12,) is made in two pieces
A, B, screwing into one another, the part A abutting against the butt of the
arm through which the reservoir tube d and barrel C pass; the other part B
carries the lock. A valve seat D is formed on the end of the reservoir tube d.
The barrel C of the arm is in communication with the inside of the trigger
box, in the interior of which is a valve piston consisting of a steel roda,
carrying a ring y fitted with a caoutchouc disc z for closing communication.
Air enters the barrel C by a bell-shaped channel E. The caoutchouc disc z
is united to the piston valve, which is free to move from top to bottom in the
interior of the trigger box. The rod of the piston slides in the thickness of
the metal of the box, and passes outside thereof to enable pressure to be
exerted on it. By pressing strongly on the extremity of the rod the caoutchouc
disc is compressed, and exactly closes the reservoir orifice; if the piston valve
is then suddenly released, the elasticity of the caoutchouc combined with the
pressure of the compressed air causes the sudden opening of the reservoir
orifice and allows the compressed air free action on the projectile.
To effect the rapid passage of the compressed air from the reservoir d-to the
barrel C, I adopt the following arrangement:-At the rear of the valve rod x
there is a spindle F on which the hammer of the lock is fixed, and carrying
an eccentric nut M, see Figures 11 and 12, which when the gun is cocked
exerts a strong pressure against the rod a. The back of the nut M has
notches formed in it to receive the claws of a bent lever H, which latter keeps
the nut pressed up against the air exit orifice from the reservoir. Up to the
time that the discharge takes place the elasticity of the caoutchouc forces the
trigger to fly down quickly so soon as the tumbler is touched, and thereby
hermetically closes the passage of the valve rod into the rear end of the trigger
box. The force of the compressed air is then sufficient to push back the
caoutchouc, and to free the exit orifice from the reservoir. The spindle F, as
before stated, carries the hammer G, and by cocking the latter the nut M by
its eccentricity presses against the outer end of the valve piston rod, the
caoutchouc becomes compressed, and closes the reservoir; the bent lever H
being constantly pressed against the nut by a spring I takes into a notch on
the nut, and maintains the caoutchouc compressed until the discharge.
The discharge is caused through the trigger L, on pulling which the nut
becomes released, and being driven back by the valve piston, the discharge is
rapidly produced. The reservoir may also be closed by caoutchouc taking the
place of the piston, and sliding in a cylinder with a lateral hole in it, through
which the volume of compressed air is allowed to pass; by this arrangement
an unlimited compression of air may be obtained. The upper part of the

page_text: trigger box has a tail piece N screwed thereto by a strong screw, which
together with the trigger guard fastens the breech and barrel to the stock
of the gun.
For small arms the body of the air pump enters the barrel of the
arm but for a short distance only, and the annular space between the
pump and the reservoir is dispensed with, the space between the bottom of
the body of the pump and the reservoir forming a reservoir for the com-
pressed air.
An ordinary ramrod is fitted to the gun, which is secured between
the reservoir and the barrel of the arm by loops. A bayonet may be fitted
to the front of the barrel in the ordinary manner. The gun may be
made breech-loading by fitting to it a slide free to move on the breech part
of the barrel, whereby the projectiles may be inserted.
My invention may be applied to walking sticks and canes in the following
manner-The upper part of the stick carries the air pump and the reservoir
the trigger box is hidden in the interior of the stick near the handle, the
only part visible being the trigger. The loading may be effected by a rod
which lies parallel to the stick, and the stick itself forms the barrel.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim, the construction
of air guns in which all the compressed air is utilized, and the action thereof
on the projectile rendered instantaneous, and with the air reservoir and air
pump arranged substantially as herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Paul Giffard, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of April One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-three
Witness,
CH. ARMENGAUD, Jr.
Ing. Civil,
23, Boulevt. de Strasbourg,
à Paris.
P. GIFFARD. (L.S.)