US2441A - Manner of combining ti-ie barrels of guns and of firearms of various - Google Patents

Description

J. GRISWOLD.

Muzzle-Loading Fire-Arm.

Patented Feb. 1, 1 842.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIC JESSE GRISWOLD, OF CHAMBERS COUNTY, ALABAMA.

MANNER 0F COMBINING TI-IE BARRELS 0F GUNS AND OF FIREARMS OF VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 2,441, dated February 1, 1842.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn GRrswoLD, of the county of Chambers and State of Alabama, have invented a new and Improved mode of constructing and combining the barrels of guns and firearms of various descriptions, by which improved mode of construction a number of such guns or firearms may be simultaneously discharged; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

I take any preferred number of barrels, or bodies, of guns, as shown at A, A, A, in the accompanying drawing, and place them side by side, securing them firmly together, and to a frame, or bedpiece, below them. These guns are to stand in the same place, and are to have their axes parallel to each other. Each of the barrels has a touch hole on its upper side, and these are to be connected together by a tubular, or channeled, piece of iron B, crossing the barrels, over said touch holes; this tubular, or channeled, piece is to be dovetailed into the barrels, or otherwise firmly secured thereto. The touch holes of the respective guns are continued through this piece of iron so as to enter its channel, which is to contain the priming powder. The channeled piece B, B, is converted into a tube b covering the channel with a topplate, a xed firmly thereto, and which top plate is perforated with holes, a, a, a, corresponding with the touch holes of the respec-tive barrels.

C O, is a lid, or cover, turning on hinges at Z), b, serving when down to cover the openings in the top plate B, and to protect the priming powder. When the gun is to be fired, the plate 0, C, is to be turned up.

D, is a nipple to receive a percussion cap, which being struck by the hammer IE, will ignite the priming powder, and discharge the respective barrels.

F, F, is a stock furnished with a trigger and the other necessary appendages of alock, for acting upon the hammer.

G, G, represent trunnions, or gudgeons, upon which the gun may be suspended when too heavy to manage by hand. The bearings of these trunnions may swivel, so as to allow the gun to be turned about in any direction.

Although I have, in the drawing, represented my combined gun as composed of five barrels only, and these resembling musket barrels, I do not intend to limit myself to that number, or to such barrels, but to apply the same principle to a greater number, or to larger guns, such as pieces of ordnance used in land, or in naval, warfare. In the latter case, a match may be used to fire the priming powder.

Instead of placing the guns side by side, all in the same plane, they may be placed in two, or more, tiers, one above the other, a suitable frame being made for that purpose. I/Vhen this combined gun is fixed upon trunnions, it may be turned up for loading, so as to elevate the muzzles, by which means this operation will be performed with great convenience. The priming powder may be introduced at the openings a, a; or through openings in the ends of the channeled piece B, provided for that purpose.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, in the Within described combined guns, or firearms, is

The combining together in the same plane three or more, barrels, or bodies, of guns, whether large or small, in such manner as that they may be fired simultaneously; the touch holes of said barrels, or bodies, of guns being connected with each other by a tubular, or channeled piece of metal containing the priming powder, said piece of metal having a cover C, C, to protect the priming powder, and the whole being constructed substantially as herein set forth.

JESSEGRISWOLD.

WVitnesses:

VVILLLAM E. TAYLOR, OLIVER P. WATSON.

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