Patent GB-191420675-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Ordnance and Projectiles for use therewith.
Inventor: MILLER CHARLES WILBUR
IPC: F41F3/048
Filed: 1914-10-07
Granted: 1915-10-07
Abstract: 20,675. Miller, C. W., and Patten, J. Oct. 7. Jet-wheels; regulating; working-fluid supply. -Consists in rotating the projectile before discharge, in smooth-bore ordnance, by means of a spindle driven by a turbine actuated by liquid forced through nozzles by the explosion of a cartridge, or by the explosion gases direct, the spindle being clutched, or connected by a detachable screw coupling, to the projectile, or to a tail connected thereto. The turbine is stopped by a brake automatically applied as the pressure due to the explosion gases falls. In the construction shown, the projectile 14 is rotated by a spindle 22 which carries the turbine-wheel 47, passes through the powder charges 15, and is detachably clutched to the projectile. The spindle is secured to the extension 36 by an interrupted-screw collar 45. The parts so far described are similar to corresponding parts described in Specification 20,674/14. The turbine-wheel 47 is formed with buckets 48 and is arranged in a casing 40 pivoted at 38, 39. Grooves 49<1>, 50 prevent leakage from the turbine. Nozzles 53, 54 on pipes 55, 57, respectively, direct the motive fluid upon the wheel. The pipes 55, 57 communicate, by means of a header 71, with a cylinder 70 containing water or other liquid to the level a. A cartridge 80, when fired by means of a pin 81, hammer 82, and handle 86, or by means of a pivoted lever 90, 92 which also constitutes a safety-device, generates sufficient pressure to force the liquid through the nozzles 53, 54 thereby rotating the wheel 47, spindle 22, and the projectile. The explosion gases escape by an orifice 52, while the liquid returns to the cylinder 70 through a pipe 93 and valve 123 which is lifted, against the spring 127, by means of a cam 128 engaging the end 126 of the valve-stem when the breech is swung open. The wheel 47 is provided with a brake drum 49 which is surrounded by a band 58 normally held down upon the drum by a spring 63. When the pressure fluid enters the nozzles 53, 54, the brake-band is released by means of a piston 65 in a cylinder 64 which communicates, by a pipe 67, with the header 71. The brake may be released by the handlever 68. The turbine-wheel 47, spindle 22, and collar 45 are withdrawn rearwards, prior to the withdrawal rearwards of the breech-block 11, mushroom 12, and extension 36, and the subsequent swinging of the frame 40 and parts carried thereby about the pivot 39 for reloading. In a modification, in order to obviate the removal of the turbine-wheel and spindle before swinging open the breech, the projectile has a conical rear portion extending into the powder chamber, and a tail-rod is attached to the projectile and adapted to be engaged by a oneway roller clutch on the spindle 22, the clutch occupying a position at the forward end of the mushroom. In a further modification, the clutch shown at the forward end of the spindle 22, Fig. 3, is replaced by a screw coupling, and the spindle 22 is so arranged that it can move rearwards, as the turbine-wheel is braked, to allow the spindle to unscrew from the projectile. The projectile is prevented from moving rearwards with the spindle by a central rod which passes through the spindle, engages the projectile base, and is held in fixed position by a lever and catch at the rear of the breechframe. A further modification consists in using the screw coupling and central rod with the modification in which the projectile has a conical base and a tail rod.