Report, Issue 266 |
Common terms and phrases
100-pounder rifle gun 12-inch rifle Ames gun armament Army Parrott 100-pounder band battery bore breech breech-loading Brevet Brevet Major bureau Bureau of Ordnance burst the gun cast hollow cast solid cast-iron guns cause chamber charges of powder Chief of Ordnance columbiads committee cooling cracked cylinder Dahlgren Dahlgren gun diameter endurance experiments exterior fired Fort Fisher Fort Monroe Fort Pitt fracture greater gun burst guns cast heat heavy guns increased initial strain interior iron iron-clad large calibre metal Morris island muzzle naval Navy 15-inch gun November 14 officers opinion ordnance department Parrott 100-pounder rifle Parrott gun Parrott rifle penetrate Plate pounds of powder pounds powder pressure projectile range rifled cannon Rodman gun rupture service charge shell smooth-bore guns solid shot square inch surface tensile strength thickness trunnions turret vent vessel weld West Point foundry Wiard wrought wrought-iron gun
Popular passages
Page 201 - Ames wroughtiron guns possess, to a degree never before equalled by any cannon of equal weight offered to our service, the essential qualities of great lateral and longitudinal strength, and great powers of endurance under heavy charges ; that they are not liable to burst explosively and without warning, even when fired under very high charges ; and that they are well adapted to the wants of the service generally, but especially whenever long ranges and high velocities are required.
Page 188 - The quantity of heat capable of increasing the temperature of a pound of water by one degree of Fahrenheit's scale is equal to, and may be converted into, a mechanical force capable of raising 838 Ib. to the perpendicular height of one foot.
Page 178 - When the inner diameter of the 10-inch cylinder becomes 20 inches, the thickness must diminish from 10 to 7.32 inches, the cross-section of the cylinder remaining the same. This cross-section was originally 800 circular inches, 800 being the difference between the squares of 30 inches, the inner, or 900 minus 100. When stretched the area of the crosssection must continue to be 800 round inches. Now a thickness of...
Page 189 - Metals," published in 1857, it is stated that "pieces cast some years before testing stood several times the quantity of firing of other pieces cast but a few months previously." The tensile properties of the metal did not explain the difference ; and the form, dimensions, weight, method of casting and cooling, and the manner of proving, were the same in all the pieces tried.
Page 178 - ... also be doubled, and would be 20 inches instead of 10. "Now it is evident that the outside circumference and diameter cannot be doubled at the same time, or else the latter must become twice 30 or 60 inches, which would give a thickness of 20 inches, quadrupling the mass of material, which is impossible. A moment's reflection shows that the thickness must diminish as the circumference is increased by pressure from within...
Page 183 - ... wrought iron, instead of that of cast iron, for cannon, I propose the following mode of construction. I propose to form a body for the gun, containing the calibre and breech as now formed of cast iron, but with walls of only about half the thickness of the diameter of the bore. Upon this body I place rings or hoops of wrought iron, in one, two, or more layers.
Page 90 - I never get transport^, as the French term it, about such things, but I will repeat, to the day of my death, that the second assault of this ship upon the forts, for rapidity, continuity, and precision of fire, has never been surpassed in naval warfare.
Page 191 - The points most worthy of note in these results are the very marked increase in pressure of gas as the diameter of bore increases, and that the indications of pressure are greater at 56 inches, 70 inches, and 84 inches than at 42 inches, especially in the 9-inch and 11-inch guns. The cause of the difference of pressure developed in these guns of different diameters of bores is believed to be mainly due to the great heat developed by the combustion of the larger mass of powder in the large than in...
Page 56 - This stoppage of the procurement of heavy cannon has been mainly occasioned by "persistent efforts for some time past by ignorant or designing persons to destroy public confidence in the heavy guns which have been provided by the ordnance department of the army and navy." This subject, as also the experiments which have been made to test the durability and efficiency of these cannon, are stated more fully and in detail in the report of the Chief of Ordnance. The experiments have resulted in establishing...
Page 56 - Somebody said it, evidently ; and the statement is sent to ys for our information by Congress. Now, I think it is fair for you to say that you have not said it. I have now here your report; all you have said is this: Persistent efforts have been made, for some time past, by ignorant and designing persons, to destroy public confidence in the heavy guns which have been provided /Or the ordnance departments of the army and navy.