Early breechloading cannon patent model

[cannonmn]

I don't know if I ever posted this here before, if so it was waaaay back when.

Here's the patent model for George Brayton's breechloading cannon from 1861.  A small removeable plug-like item is missing from the end of the breech, but some day I'll have one made since I have good drawings of what it looked like.














Here's the Scientific American article on it:  http://digital.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=scia;cc=scia;q1=brayton;rgn=full%20text;idno=scia1004-22;didno=scia1004-22;view=image;seq=0341;node=scia1004-22%3A1

[Ex 49'er]

That's a pretty neat little model. It looks like it had a pretty unique method of firing.
Thankyou for sharing.

[Cat Whisperer]

I love it!

If you're going to the trouble of putting on 2 trunnions - put on 4!

Hmmmmm.  How can I adapt that to firecrackers?

[cannonmn]

For those who weren't around say a year ago when were discussing this type of early breechloader here, it is one of many inventions I call a "strap gun." The moveable breech is held on by what are essentially straps which pivot by some means from some part of the barrel.  Often it is an extra set of trunnions, usually mounted on the side to the rear of the primary trunnions, but sometimes the primary (only) trunnions are also the pivot point for the straps.

For example, here's Tobey's patent of 1869, notice the dual counterweights to offset the weight of the breech:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=JsZOAAAAEBAJ&dq=breechloading+cannon&as_drrb_ap=q&as_minm_ap=1&as_miny_ap=2009&as_maxm_ap=1&as_maxy_ap=2009&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1860&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1870&jtp=1#PPA1,M1

[cannonmn]

anudder:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=F0kAAAAAEBAJ&dq=breechloading+cannon&as_drrb_ap=q&as_minm_ap=1&as_miny_ap=2009&as_maxm_ap=1&as_maxy_ap=2009&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1860&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1870&jtp=1#PPA1,M1

[cannonmn]

Weber patent, 1861.  This is another one for which I have the patent model.  I never got the carriage, that must have been lost long ago, what I have is the barrel and breech.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=NORpAAAAEBAJ&pg=PA1&dq=breechloading+cannon&as_drrb_ap=q&as_minm_ap=1&as_miny_ap=2009&as_maxm_ap=1&as_maxy_ap=2009&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=1&as_miny_is=1860&as_maxm_is=1&as_maxy_is=1870&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=0_1#PPA2,M1