OR IMPROVED MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CHARGING HEAVY GUNS
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Catanach Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1876.
ROBERT CATANACH SMITH, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, Engineer and Ironfounder. "NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR CHARGING HEAVY GUNS."
This Invention, which relates to new or improved machinery or apparatus for
charging heavy guns is a further development of the Invention for which Letters
Patent have been granted to the said Robert Catanach Smith, dated the 28th day
of January 1876, and Numbered 346.
In lieu of charging compressed air into the charging cylinders by air compressing
machinery on board ship, as under the former Invention, according to the present
Invention air compressing machinery on board ship is dispensed with, and any
desired number of canisters, cylinders, or cases are provided, which are charged
with air at the required degree of pressure at an arsenal or other station, and these
are stored when charged on board ship for use when required.
These canisters may be of any desired form, but it is preferred to make them
annular, the central part being of a size to contain within it the shot and powder,
the annular space round about being that into which the air is charged. The outer
end of each canister is closed, and the inner end of the central space is open to
allow of the shot and charge being expelled from the canister into the gun the
moment that the air is allowed to escape by a cock or valve from the annular
space for the purpose of loading the gun. The inner end of each canister consti-
tutes a cap, which fits the muzzle of the gun, so as to make an air-tight joint
therewith when tightened against it, as under the Invention for which the aforesaid
Letters Patent have been granted. For the purpose of safety, and at all times
protecting the charge carried within the canisters, they may be provided with a lid
or cover at the open end, which is removed at the time of loading with any one of
them.
In place of constructing the canisters of the form now last described they may be
simple cylindrical canisters not containing the charge, but which may be of such a
size and shape as to be placed either inside the charging cylinder forming part of
the former Invention herein-before referred to, or outside it, or they may be placed
within the bore of the gun itself, being closed therein by the lid or cover, also
forming part of the of the aforesaid Invention. The canisters when made as now

page_text: last described may be large enough to contain air sufficient for one or more charging
or sponging operations.
These cylinders last mentioned may also be used for operating the telescopic
ramrod, forming part of my aforesaid former Invention, by being attached thereto
by an air-tight or equivalent coupling, and an improvement in the construction of
the telescopic ramrod consists in providing it at the centre with a second and
smaller inner set of telescopic tubes provided with cocks or valves, by which after
the ramrod has been extended by the admission into it of compressed air for the
purpose of inserting the charge, a further portion of the air remaining in the
charging cylinder or reservoir is allowed to act on the outer or front end of the
rainrod, and force it back; at the same time the air which had extended the ram-
rod is allowed to escape through another valve or cock. In place of the central
telescopic tube now described a flexible india-rubber or other clastic tubo may be
substituted.
Under another modification of my improved mechanism for charging heavy guns
the charging apparatus consists of a rack composed of a series of links jointed
together, and which is moved backwards and forwards by means of a pinion. As
the rack is moved forward so as to charge the gun the several links are brought
horizontal, or if necessary inclined, and thereby become converted into a stiffened
bar or ramrod, and as they are withdrawn the links passing out of contact with
the pinion are wound spirally upon a barrel.
Under another modification of my charging apparatus the ramrod consists of
two or more bands or strips of metal or other suitable material, or of two chains,
which are kept wound up on two or more barrels or cylinders in proximity to one
another, and which as the strips or chains are unwound therefrom bear against one
another edgewise in opposite directions, and so support one another, thus con-
verting two or more thin flexbile bodies or chains into a stiffened bar, which as
it is unwound advances into the chase of the gun, and thereby charges it.
Under another modification the ramrod consists of two strong leather or equi-
valent belts stiffened on one side by means of blocks of wood or other material.
These belts are wound up on shafts or rollers, and when it is desired to charge a
gun therewith a pinion or sprocket wheel, screw, or the equivalent thereof is
rotated so as to draw out or unwind these belts from the rollers or shafts, the effect
of which is that resting or pressing upon one another as they are unwound they
stiffen one another and thereby constitute a ramrod, which after the charge is
inserted is withdrawn by rotating the mechanism in the opposite direction.
The several ramrods described in the last three preceding modifications are
carried within a framing or casing, which is cither mounted upon the gun itself or
upon the gun carriage, or attached to any convenient part of the chamber in which
the gun is situated, and they are operated by means of a rotatory three-cylinder or
other engine, which may be driven by compressed air supplied from one or more of
the cisterns herein-before described or from other suitable reservoir.
In place of using compressed air for operating the apparatus constituting this
Invention steam or gas may be used therefor, and although the apparatus has been
described for use on board ship it is to be understood that it may be used in
fortresses, martello towers, trenches, or other works of attack or defence.
In using gas in the charging apparatus herein-before described it may be com-
pressed to the point of liquefaction or solidification, so that a small charging
apparatus may contain a very large store of charging power.