Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1887
Complete Left, 6th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 29th June, 1888
1, MANASSAH GLEDHILL, Director of Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co. Limited, of
Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to the manufacture of ordnance and comprises various
improvements, as hereinafter described, in guns of that class wherein the con-
struction is based upon the combination of steel tubes placed one upon another in
such a manner that together they complete the structure of the body of the gun.
The said invention has for its chief object to facilitate the withdrawal or removal of
the liner or inner lining from a gun, and the insertion of a new liner without injury
to or displacement of the other parts of the gun.
It also has for its object a novel manner of applying the various tubes, hoops or
rings of which the gun is composed one over the other and securing them in place so
that the relative position of the parts involved in the structure of the gun will be
permanently maintained and the strength and durability of such guns will be
increased. Moreover this method enables the hoops to be fitted with great accuracy
and the amount of shrinkage can be determined thereby.
I do not limit myself, in the construction of these guns, to any particular number
of tubes, but I prefer in the larger sizes of guns to have tubes or hoops of not more
than 5" in thickness.
One important feature of my said invention is the employment of locking rings
between the tubes at the breech-end of the gun as follows, that is to say :-At
the rear of the gun between each of the tubes I form a recess one surface of which
will be in the outer tube and the other surface on the inner tube. On both of
these surfaces I cut a screw-thread or a series of annular grooves. Into this recess
I insert one of the said locking rings which is screw-threaded or has annular pro-
jections on its inner and its outer periphery to fit the threads or grooves in the said
recess, into which the said ring is tightly fitted; by these means I secure the rear end
of the said tubes firmly and solidly together.
Another important feature of my invention is the formation by forging or otherwise
of the several tubes, of which the gun is composed, continuously taper throughout

page_text: their length so that the required diminution of the external diameter of the gun
from the breech to the muzzle is obtained without shoulders or sudden changes of
thickness, which are very prejudicial to the strength of the tubes. The continuous
taper of the liner greatly facilitates its removal and replacement. Moreover, by the
employment of the said continuously taper tubes, I avoid the necessity for the use of
gauges in fitting the various tubes one upon the other.
As an alternative to the use of a tube made in one piece continuously taper from
end to end, I, in some instances, make the inner tube, ie. the tube containing the
liner, or the intermediate tube or tubes, in two or more pieces or lengths united by
screwing the said pieces together, the screw-joints being preferably made taper.
I sometimes coil wire around the liner so that, when the latter is in its place, there
will be a space between it and the tube surrounding it occupied by this wire, which
will afford a strong and elastic support to the liner.
On the breech end of the liner I cut a screw-thread whereon I fit, a nut, which I
term the liner-nut, for the reception of which I form a recess or cavity in the end of
the inner tube, the said liner nut being screwed tightly against the bottom of this
recess or cavity. This aut can be readily unscrewed to permit the application of a
device for removing the liner as described in the provisional specification accom-
panying my application for Letters Patent filed on the same day as this my present
specification.
The said inner tube at its rear end--has--provision for the reception of the breech-
plug ring, which is screwed into the said end of the inner tube and is so arranged
that its inner end hears upon the rear face of the liner and the liner-nut. The
breech-plug ring is formed in the usual manner with segmental screw-threads to
engage with similar threads on the breech-plug. I sometimes divide the ring on
one side and drive a key into the aperture to tighten the ring in its place. By
this means I facilitate the removal of the said ring. The breech-plug is usually
cylindrical, but I sometimes make it taper either with segmental or continuous screw-
threads to facilitate the opening and closing of the breech.
At the muzzle end of the gun there is a piece termed the locking-nut which
may have a moulding or enlargement around its outer end and is screw-threaded
in such a manner as to unite and secure the ends of the tubes on which it is
placed.
One important advantage arising from my improved construction is that I can
make the parts interchangeable so that if any part of a gun is injured or destroyed
it can be readily replaced or renewed.
Total this th day of Tul., 1997
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Ordnance.
I, MANASSAH GLEDHILL, Director of Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co., Limited, of
Openshaw, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the sanie is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to the manufacture of ordnance, and comprises varions
improvements as hereinafter described, in and relating to guns of that class wherein
steel tubes, hoops or rings are placed one upon another in such a manner that
together they complete the structure of the body of the gun.
The said invention has for its chief object the construction of a gun by building up
a series of tubes, hoops or rings so formed, fitted together and united as to ensure
great strength and durability of the gun whilst permitting the ready withdrawal or
removal of the liner and the insertion of a new liner without injury to, or displacement
of, the other tubes or hoops. And the said invention comprises a novel manner of
providing for the fitting together of the said tubes or hoops with great accuracy and
with a determined allowance for end wise adjustment or for shrinkage so that the
proper relative position of the parts involved in the structure of the gun can be
ensured and permanently maintained.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of a gun constructed according to my
said invention.
Figure 1 shows a portion of Figure 1 drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 2 shows another portion of Figure 1, also drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 3 is a rear or breech end view of the said gun, also drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Figure 4 is partly a side elevation and partly a longitudinal central section, and,
Figure 5 is a similar view, both drawn to an enlarged scale, showing locking rings
hereinafter described.
Figure 6 is partly a side elevation and partly a longitudinal central section of
another gun, illustrating a modification of my said invention.
Figure 7 shows a portion of Figure 6 drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are longitudinal central sections illustrating other modifications
of my said invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
"
The A," "B" and "C" tubes of boops of the gun are respectively indicated by
these letters. a is the liner or inner lining of the gun.
One important feature of my said invention is the employment of peculiarly
constructed locking rings b, between the tubes A, B and hoop at the breech-
end of the gun, as follows, that is to say-at the breech-end of the gun between the
tubes A and B, and between the tube B and hoop C, I form a cavity or recess the
walls of which will be the surfaces of the tubes, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. On

page_text: each of these surfaces I cut a screw-thread, and into the cavity thus formed I insert
one of the said locking rings which is screw-threaded on its inner and outer surfaces,
as shown in Figure 4 or in Figure 5, to fit the threads in the cavity or recess, into
which the said ring is tightly screwed. In some instances, I form segmental or
interrupted screw-threads on the ring and on the surfaces of the tubes or hoops in
the said recess or cavity, these segmental threads being so arranged that those on the
ring will pass endwise between those in the recess, so that the ring may be freely
inserted and then turned far enough round to cause the threads thereon to engage
with those of the recess. By these means I secure the tubes or hoops firmly and
solidly together at the breech-end of the gun.
In some instances, I split or divide those rings and secure them in place with
keys or wedges g, Figure 3, so that they can be readily removed as hereinafter
described with reference to the breech-plug-ring.
The tubes or hoops of which the gun is composed, are preferably made in one
piece and are continuously and uniformly tapered throughout their length, so that the
required diminution in the external diameter of the gun from the breech to the muzzle
is obtained without shoulders or sudden changes of thickness, which are very prejudicial
to the strength of the tubes. The continuous taper of the liner a greatly facilitates
its removal and replacement. Moreover, by the employment of the said continuously
and uniformly tapered tubes, I can adopt a method of manufacture wherein I avoid
the necessity for the use of gauges in fitting the various tubes one upon another,
that is to say, I turn or otherwise form the outside of one tube and bore out the other
tube so that both tubes are continuously tapered at the same angle from end to end
and the external diameter of the one is so nearly the same as the internal diameter of
the other that the outer tube can be placed very nearly in its ultimate position upon
the inner tube without any, or with but very slight pressure; then, the remaining
distance and the angle being known, it is easy to ascertain the exact pressure to
which the tubes will be subjected in forcing the one to its ultimate position upon the
other.
The liner a may be forced home by applying to it hydraulic or other pressure as
great in amount as, or greater than, the total pressure exerted by the powder-gases in
the chamber of the gun. The tubes A, B and hoop (may be put together by hydraulic
pressure or with shrinkage.
If the outer tubo is to be shrunk upon the inner tube, I know or can ascertain the
exact amount to allow for shrinkage. Moreover the continously taper formation of
the said tubes greatly facilitates the uniform shrinking of one upon the other, a much
lower temperature being required and the danger of injuring the tubes or hoops being
much less than in the case of parallel tubes. The latter, unless the contraction of
the outer tube is exactly equal or uniform at all parts, will be liable to have one end or
part bind or become tight while the other part or parts, still being free, as the tube
continues to shrink, will be drawn against very great frictional resistance towards the
fixed end or part, thereby injuriously straining the metal. But with taper tubes this
difficulty will not exist or will be considerably diminished.
When the tubes or hoops are to be put together with shrinkage, I prefer that they
should be heated to a temperature not exceeding three hundred degrees (300°)
Fahrenheit.
To facilitate the formation of the taper tubes and the accurate fitting of the one
upon the other as above described, I employ a mandrel which, is respect of its diameter
and taper formation, is a counterpart or fac-simile of the inner one of the aforesaid
tubes. The outer tube is so fitted to this mandrel that, when removed therefrom and
placed upon the inner tube, it can be placed thereon with very little pressure within a
short distance of its ultimate position and can then be forced home with or without
shrinkage as above described."
This method of first accurately fitting the taper tubes to each other within a short
distance of their proper relative positions and then forcing one tube home or expand-
ing and shrinking it upon the other, enables me to secure the liner in the gun in such
a manner that, although it will not be liable to accidental displacement, it can be

page_text: readily withdrawn, when worn, without injury to, or displacement or the other tubes
or hoops of which the gun is built up.
As an alternative to the use of a tube made in one piece continuously taper from
end to end, I, in some instances, make the inner tube, that is to say, the "A" tube
containing the liner, or the "B" tube, or other intermediate tube or tubes in two or
more continuously taper pieces or lengths united by screwing the said pieces together,
the screw-joints being made taper with a plain or unscrewed portion at the end of
each hoop to ensure the proper fitting of the parts together, as shown in Figure 1 or
Figure 1. It is obvious that this form of joint, for the purpose herein specified, is
stronger and more reliable than an ordinary rebated or square-shouldered joint, and it
considerably facilitates the connection and disconnection of the parts.
I sometimes coil wire, around the liner a, as shown at c in Figures 6 and 7, so
that, when the said liner is in its place, there will be a space between it and the "A"
tube surrounding it occupied by this wire, which will afford a strong and elastic
support to the liner, so that it can withstand the stresses due to the firing of the gun
without being so tightly forced into the "A" tube as to make its withdrawal
therefrom a very difficult operation.
On the breech end of the liner a I cut a screw-thread whereon I fit a nut d, which
I term the liner-nut. In the gun shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, I form for the
reception of this nut a recess or cavity in the end of the "A" tube, as shown at e in
Figures 1 and 2. Instead of the nut I sometimes form on the liner a solid collar
which will enter the said recess or cavity.
The nut d can be screwed upon the liner before the latter is forced home in the "A”
tube, and affords the means for ensuring, or assisting to ensure the accurate adjust-
ment of the liner to its exact position within the tubo and prevents injury to the
latter by forcing the liner too far into the said tube, that is to say, the nut d, or
the solid collar, being in close contact with the bottom or end of the recess or
cavity in the "A" tube, will limit the end wise movement or adjustment of the
liner, so that, in applying the pressure for forcing the liner into the said tube, no
other precaution in respect of ensuring its true position therein, or preventing injury
to the "A" tube, will be necessary except to ascertain that the nut or collar is
properly home against the end of the recess in the said tube. Moreover I can thus
avoid all danger arising from too great contraction of the said tube in shrinking it
upon the liner.
The said nut d, moreover, protects the screw-thread at the rear end of the liner,
and can be readily unscrewed to permit the application of a device for removing the
said liner as described in the Specification of my Letters Patent of even date herewith
No. 9564.
In the gun shown in Figure 8, a single locking ring b is screwed into a recess or
cavity formed between the tube A and the hoop C by shortening the tube B. The
tubes A, B ure, in this instance, formed with shoulders A', B¹ which, when the said
tubes are in their proper relative position, abut against each other as shown.
The "A" tube at its rear end has provision for the reception of the breech-plug-
ring, which is screwed into the said end of the tube, and is so arranged that its
inner end bears upon the rear face of the liner a and liner-nut d. The breech-plug-
ring has the usual segmental or interrupted screw-threads to engage with similar
threads on the breech-plug. I sometimes split or divide the breech-plug-ring on one
side and drive one or more wedges or keys g into the aperture, as shown in Figure 3,
to tighten the ring in its place. By this device I greatly facilitate the removal of
the said ring, that is to say, instead of having to exert sufficient force to unscrew
the said ring while its screw-threads are tightly engaged with those of the tube, I
can draw out the wedge or key g and thereby slacken the ring within the "A"
tube, so that the said ring can be very easily unscrewed. I provide suitable means
for securing the wedge or key in place and for turning the said ring in screwing
it into or out of the tubo. As a modification of the above, I sometimes make the
brooch-plug-ring in two or more parts or segments which I secure in place by keys
or wedges driven in and secured as above described,

page_text: :
The breech-plug is usually cylindrical, but I sometimes make it taper as shown,
for example, in Figures 9 and 10, either with segmental or continuous screw-threads,
to facilitate the opening and closing of the breech.
In some instances I use a hoop screw-threaded internally as shown at i, Figures 1
and 6, for securing together the adjacent ends of the hoop Cand tube or hoop 2 B,
or of other tubes or hoops.
In the gun shown in Figure 9, the liner a is enlarged at its rear or breech end and
a locking ring is screweil into a recess between the said liner and the tube or hoop B.
The liner a is formed with a curved shoulder a* and the tube A is correspondingly
curved at A². The breech-plug is made taper with a continuous screw-thread and
is fitted into the breech end of the liner a which is formed with a corresponding
internal screw-thread.
I sometimes provide for facilitating the removal or withdrawal of the locking ring
by making the same in two parts 12, 13 as shown in Figure 10. The part 2 is inade
with an internal screw-thread and is to be inserted before the part 63. The latter is
made with an external screw-thread, and both parts are formed with shoulders which
abut against each other as shown. The ring is a slack fit on the ring and can
therefore be readily unscrewed from the tube or hoop B. The ring can then be
unscrewed from the liner a which may then be withdrawn. The rings 62, 63, in this
case, do not require to be split or divided.
One important advantage arising from my improved construction is that I can
make the parts interchangeable, so that, if any part of a gun is injured or destroyed,
it can he readily replaced or renowed. Moreover the said invention affords the means
for so constructing the gun that its various parts can be properly fitted together and
then taken asunder and very conveniently packed for transport to any distant station,
where they can with very simple appliances be again put together. I thus provide
for supplying heavy guns, with very little delay, to any place where seige or other
military operations may be proceeding, or to ships in foreign or colonial stations or to
other places where such guns may be required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood
that I do not limit myself, in the construction of my improved guns, to any particular
number or thickness of the tubes; nor do I claim generally or otherwise than as
means for effecting the object of my improvements as herein set forth the taper
formation of the tubes or liners used in built-up guns, nor the making of a liner of
one continuous taper from end to end; nor do I claim otherwise than when con-
stracted and applied as herein specified the use of screw-threaded rings at the breech
end of such guns for securing the tubes or hoops together, but I claim in or for use in
the construction of a built-up gun :-
First. A liner which is made continuously and uniformly taper and which has at
its rear end a collar or shoulder or provision for the reception of a nut, substantially
as, and for the purposes, specified.
Second. The continuously and uniformly tapered liner having at its breech-end a.
screw thread and nut and so fitted and secured in the gun that the said nut is in
contact with the end of the cavity or chamber in the liner-tube and can be readily
removed from the said liner and replaced by the socket or other connecting device of
a withdrawing apparatus, for the purposes specified.
Third. The method above described wherein, by the use of a mandrel in the forma-
tion of the continuously and uniformly tapered tubes as hereinabove described, I
provide for accurately and securely fitting one tube or hoop over another, and for the
interchangeability of the tubes or hoopis, without the use of gauges and without
injuring the said tubes or hoops by excessive pressure or contraction.
Fourth. An inner tube or liner which is fitted to its place and inserted therein with
or by a calculated, regulated or determined pressure or contraction as above described,
so that (unless the "A" tube is destroyed or deformed) it can be removed intact and

page_text: without injury to or displacement of the other tubes or hoops, for the purposes above
specified.
Fifth. In the insertion of the liner into the liner-tube, insuring its proper position
therein by means of the nut, collar or shoulder at the breech end thereof, as above
set forth.
Sixth. The locking ring screw-threaded on its inner and outer surfaces and
inserted in a screw-threaded recess or cavity formed in the end of the
gun between the tubes or hoops, for securing or locking them together, whether the
said ring is made in one undivided piece or is split or made in two or more pieces
and secured by keys or wedges, or is made in two parts provided with shoulders and
fitted together as shown in Figure 10, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The breech-plug-ring split or divided longitudinally or made in separato
parts and secured by means of a removable wedge or key, substantially as, and for
the purpose, specified.
Eighth. A liner or tube made in two or more lengths or sections united by means
of taper screw-threaded parts at the joints, as above set forth.
I also claim a gun constructed with continuously and uniformly tapered tubes
united at the breechi-end by locking rings and with a liner inserted and secured in its
place, with or without wire coiled around it, and arranged in such a manner as to
perimit its ready removal, substantially as described and as shown in Figures 1, 2
and 3, or in Figures 6 and 7, or modified as shown in Figure 8, or Figure 9, or
Figure 10 of the drawings, for the purposes specified.
Dated this 6th day of April 1888