Improvements in and relating to Explosive Shells and Fuses and Fittings for Exploding or Detonating the Explosive.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1999-Accepted, 5th Aug,,
1899
Improvements in and relating to Explosive Shells and Fuses and
Fittings for Exploding or Detonating the Explosive.
I, HARRIS PRIULI HURST, of 1103, East Capitol Street, Washington, D.C.,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in explosive projectiles and the fuse
and fuse fittings therefor.
The object of the invention is, first, to provide the ordinary hollow shell with
a charge carrying core so constructed as to afford the maximum protection to the
explosive charge or charges therein as a bursting charge and at the same time
furnish, when exploded, the maximum number of dangerous fragments; and,
secondly, to construct a fuse that will be incapable of exploding or detonating
the shell charge upon the accidental or premature explosion of the priming
or detonating charge or charges of the fuse or detonator.
The invention consists in a novel construction by which the hollow shell is
fitted with a core piece, preferably constructed to screw into the base of the
shell, having a spiral channel or series of charge chambers, preferably spirally
radiating outwardly from the longitudinal center of the core, for the reception
of the explosive to be used as a bursting charge or charges which may be
guncotton or any other suitable explosive.
A safety fuse is attached to the base of the shell, but the fuse may be placed
elsewhere and any suitable priming or detonating charge may be used. The
safety fuse consists in a construction by which the priming or detonating fuse
material is isolated from the bursting charge or charges of the shell by a novel
device arranged as a barrier, axially adjusted or supported upon a barrier support
projecting into a rounded chamber in the holder, normally interposed between
the priming or detonating fuse material and the bursting charge or charges
carried in the shell. Positive means to hold the barrier in the normal or closed
position and move the barrier by stored power, only after the shell has left
the muzzle of the gun are provided in the form of simple mechanical appliances
or pressure devices.
I accomplish these results in the following manner, reference being made
to the drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the base of a shell, showing the
core charged with cartridges and illustrating the safety fuse in the normal or
closed position, the barrier laying across the fuse-way or channel.
Figure 2 is a section diagonally across the spirally arranged chambers, on a
reduced scale, of Figure 1 on lines -.
Figure 3 is a plan of the shifting safety detonating chamber on lines y-y
of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a broken longitudinal section of the safety barrier shown in
Figure 1, the fuse-way or channel being open.

page_text: Figure 5 is a horizontal section of the safety barrier, showing the fuse-way
or channel closed and illustrating the locking device for the barrier.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of one of the cartridges shown in Figure 1.
Figures 7 and 8 are modifications of Figure 1, each showing a modified
method of charging the core and both showing the priming or detonating fuse
material in reverse order of Figure 1, i.e., the dry guncotton is in the detonating
chamber and the fulminate of mercury in the safety chamber.
Figure 9 is a section diagonally across Figure 7 on lines, showing the
separating diaphragms.
Figure 10 is a detail of the locking device for the barrier.
Figure 11 is a detail of the stored power device to move the barrier used in
Figures 1, 7 and 8, and
Figure 12 is a longitudinal section of a common shell, showing the spiral
charge channel forming charge supporting shelves.
Letters of reference are used to designate the various parts and like letters
indicate like parts.
The shell, A, may be cast or forged of steel or other suitable material with
walls of any desired thickness and screwed into the base of and filling the
chamber of the tubular shell body is the metal charge core, B, having a series
preferably, of spirally arranged chambers. C. Figures 1, 2 and 7, or spiral
channels, C, Figures 8 and 12, of any desired size and form. The bursting charge
or charges of paraffined, wet or dry guncotton, or other suitable explosive, may
be in the form of cartridges, D, Figures 1 and 6, or cakes, D1, Figures 7 and 9,
or packed into the spiral channels, C', Figures 8 and 12, as a filling, D. The
core piece has a central channel, E, extending through the entire core, if desired,
as shown in Figure 12, or the channel may extend any desired distance. In
Figure 1 the rear of the core has a recess, E¹, and a shifting tubular partition, F,
having its forward end closed and estopped from forward motion by the rim, F,
is fitted in the central channel, E, forming a detonating chamber, G.
rim, F, is cut away on one side, as shown in Figure 3, and on the opposite side
is a curved slot, H, having a coiled spring, H', held under compression by the
projection, I, on the wall of the recess in the core. On the opposite side of the
projection is secured a spring arm, I, having a bent free end terminating in
a weighted head, 1", the bend falling into engagement with a projection, J,
on the outer wall of the partition, F, the spring being under tension and locking
the partition against motion. The partition has longitudinal channels, K, cut
nearly through the walls, leaving alternate thick wall sections, K', in their
normal position registering with openings, L, from channel, E, communicating
with the cartridges, D.
The
The partition, F, is held in place by the screw threaded base of the barrier
support, M, having the outer walls cut away or flattened on opposite sides, as
shown in Figure 5, to which the barrier, N, has the side plates, N¹, secured by
pivots or trunnions, 0, passing through openings in the side plates and screwed
firmly into the walls of the support, M, as shown in Figures 5 and 10. The
fuse-way or channel into the detonating chamber passes through the barrier
support. The barrier is housed in a roundish chamber, P, formed in the
holder, P, screwed onto the base of the support, M, and is held in the normal
or closed position by the spring arm, Q, attached to the side plate of the barrier,
the curved latch, Q, of the free and weighted end of the spring falling into a
longitudinal slot, Q", in the outer wall of the support, M, as shown in Figures 5
and 10, also shown in dotted lines, Figures 1, 4, 7 and 8, thus securely locking
the barrier in the normal or closed position.
The holder, P, has interior screw threads in its rear, into which is screwed
the tube or stock, R, screw threaded at the rear end for the reception of the
separable guide, S, shown in position with an annular chamber formed around
the guide. In the guide is shown a priming charge of dry guncotton, T, enclosed
in a case, T', having the front of the case cupped and a firing pin, T", carried in

page_text: the cupped portion. The base of the case rests upon an annealed copper spring, U,
and the case is held in the guide by a shear pin, V.
i
In the forward portion of the detonating chamber is secured a spring, W, the
lower end attached to the base of the guide, S¹, having a cased charge of fulminate
of mercury, X, secured in the guide by pins, V. A cap, X¹, is secured in the
case. A copper plate, Y, is attached to the barrier N, and a spring, Z, under
tension is secured to the support, M, the free end pressing upon the side of the
plate, N¹, as shown in Figure 1, also in dotted lines, Figures 1, 3, 7 and 8.
This spring may be secured in any suitable manner, as by a screw, or rivet, or
the squared arm of the spring, Figure 11, may fit into a square hole in the
support, the spring being under the desired tension and made fast to the support
in any suitable manner. Various devices may be used to move the barrier by
stored power, and to hold the barrier in the closed position until the shell has
left the muzzle of the gun.
The operation of my shell and fuse is as follows: When the shell is fired from
the gun, the set back pressure of the barrier is taken up by the walls of the
tube or stock and the barrier, on account of its curvature, is prevented from
lateral motion as long as the set back pressure lasts, which is until the shell
has left the muzzle of the gun. When the set back pressure is relieved or released,
the rotary motion of the shell causes the arm, Q, to move, by centrifugal force,
outwardly, withdrawing the latch and unlocking or releasing the barrier, the
tensioned spring, Z, by its stored power, pushes the side plate laterally and
swings the barrier to one side of its support clear of the fuse-way or channel
into the detonating chamber, G, as shown in Figure 3, also in dotted lines,
Figure 7. Centrifugal force also moves the spring arm weighted head, I",
outwardly free of the projection, J, which unlocks or releases the shifting parti-
tion, F, and the coiled spring, H¹, by its stored power, pushes the partition, F,
revolving it until the shoulder of the cut away portion is stopped by the pin, J¹,
the openings, L, and walls, K, being opposite each other. The spring, W, takes
up a part of the initial or firing shock upon the fulminate of mercury, X, and
the case containing the dry guncotton shears off the pin, V, and retires rearward,
compressing the annealed copper spring, U, which has no return elasticity. The
fuse-way or channel being unobstructed, the dry guncotton may pass into proxi-
mity to the main or bursting charge or charges contained in the shell, and upon
retardation or impact of the shell the dry guncotton flies forward, covering with
the cupped portion the case containing the fulminate of mercury and the pin, T",
explodes the cap, X', which causes the explosion of the fulminate of mercury
and the dry guncotton, and this explodes or detonates the shell charge or charges,
the thin walls, K, of the detonating chamber being over the openings, L, per-
mitting the rupturing of the walls and the passage of the exploding or detonating
gases to the base of the cartridges through the openings, the explosion of a
charge or series of charges, in the form of cartridges or cakes, causing the ex-
plosion or detonation of all of the cartridges or cakes or the entire shell charge,
thus breaking the shell body and the core into a multiplicity of dangerous
fragments. In Figure 1 the shifting partition, F, for some forms of shell and
fuse may be used without the barrier, N, using any stored power device to
revolve the partition.
1
I show in Figures 7 and 8 the dry guncotton, T, in the detonating chamber, G,
seated upon an annealed copper spring, U¹, and the fulminate of mercury is
seated upon spring, U, in the rear portion of the guide, S, the forward portion
forming the barrier support, M. In these designs the curved portion of the
barrier is forward, resting against the annular copper bushing, Y¹, screwed into
the mouth of the detonating chamber. The mechanism for holding and moving
the barrier is the same as that shown in Figure 1 and already fully described.
The holder, P¹, is screwed into the rear end of the core, B. In Figure 7 the
spiral channel has lateral diaphragms, C", cast with the core or attached thereto
so as to subdivide the main or bursting charge and lessen shock and friction

page_text: by the rotary motion of the shell. In Figure 8 the channel, E, has the tubular
portion, F, screwed into the core base, the shoulder, FI, supporting the
spring, U. In Figures 8 and 12 the spiral channel is continuous and is easily
packed with paraffined or wet guncotton, a spiral rammer being used for this
purpose. A delayed fuse action is obtained by the lengthening of the travel
of the priming or detonating fuse material in the channel, E. The holes through
the side plates of the barrier may be oval, as shown in dotted lines, so that upon
an accidental or premature explosion of the fuse material the mouth of the
detonating chamber is effectually sealed by driving the barrier against the copper
plate, Y, or bushing, Y. In Figure 1 the guide with the fuse charge may be
removed and stored separately. In Figures 7 and 8 plugs close the guide and
are easily removed for the purpose of removing and storing the fuse charge.
Many mechanical devices, using stored power, may be used to operate the
barrier, and I do not limit myself to any construction. The rear of barrier, N,
may have a copper plate, dotted lines.
While the fuse or detonator is shown in two parts, these parts may be combined
and the explosive contained in or composing the fuse or detonator may be carried
in or embraced in a single package or case, using any suitable priming or
detonating fuse material to meet the requirements of the particular explosive
used as a main or bursting charge in the shell.
The cartridges may be composed of a single explosive or two or more explosives,
or wet and dry guncotton may be suitably combined in each cartridge.
The fitting and the barrier may be of any suitable material, size and shape,
and the barrier supported or adjusted in any suitable manner. A weight may
be placed in the wall of the chamber opposite the side the barrier swings into
when opening the fuse-way or channel to maintain the equilibrium of the shell.
The cartridges, D, or cakes, D¹, may be of any suitable construction and of
uniform size or variable in size and each cartridge or alternate cartridges may
have a primer or cap or made with a weakened section or a hole plugged or
unplugged, as shown in dotted lines, Figure 1. The forward portion or empty
part of channel, E, may be partitioned off and filled with balls for shrapnel effect.
My invention can be applied to the armor piercing and other projectiles in
use, making use of any of the suitable well known explosives as a bursting charge
or charges for the projectile and for use as a priming or detonating fuse charge
or charges, or a hollow shell may be made expressly for my charge carrying
core, using any suitable fuse, the core, preferably, filling the chamber or hollow
in the shell body.
The tube or stock, or the guide, is made with relatively weaker walls than the
holder walls so as to rupture upon an accidental or premature explosion of the
priming or detonating fuse charge or charges, the holder and barrier remaining
intact and effectually protecting the bursting charge or charges in the shell,
making the shell safe against accidental or premature explosion or detonation.
It is apparent many modifications may be made of my invention without
departing from the letter, spirit and scope of the same, and I do not limit
myself as to the construction; as great variability may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
1. A shell composed of a tubular body, the chamber thereof filled and closed
by a core carrying therein charge chambers for the reception of the explosive
material composing the bursting charge of said shell.
2. A shell having its explosive chamber spirally grooved or channeled forming
charge supporting shelves.
3. A shell having its explosive chamber spirally grooved or channeled forming
charge supporting shelves, and a bursting charge in said channeled shell.
4. In an explosive shell, the combination of a main shell body, an integral

page_text: core introduced into and secured within said body and provided with a plurality
of chambers; and a plurality of explosive charges carried by said chambers
and serving jointly to produce the bursting charge of the shell.
5. In an explosive shell, the combination of a main shell body; an integral
chambered core to fit within said body; and a series of bursting charge cart-
ridges occupying the chambers of the core, and adapted to be inserted and
removed without loss of shape.
6. A shell composed of a tubular body and a base piece for closing said tubular
body, said base piece carrying a channeled core for the reception therein of an
explosive charge for bursting said shell.
7. A shell composed of a tubular body containing a core having spiral channels
for the reception of explosive material.
8. In an explosive shell, a shifting partition for separating the bursting charge
and detonating chamber of the fuse, and means to shift said partition by stored
power during the flight of the projectile.
9. A shell provided with a fuse, and a barrier normally interposed between
said fuse and the shell charge, in combination with a shifting detonating chamber
and a barrier support, and means to move said barrier to one side of said support.
10. A shell provided with a fuse, and a barrier normally interposed between
said fuse and the shell charge, in combination with a barrier support, and means
to hold or lock said barrier, in the normal or closed position, upon its support.
11. A shell provided with a fuse, and a barrier normally interposed between
said fuse and the shell charge, in combination with a barrier support projecting
into a chamber, and means to move said barrier by stored power.
12. A shell provided with a fuse, and a barrier normally interposed between
said fuse and the shell charge, in combination with a barrier support projecting
into the fuse chamber and carrying pivots or trunnions in engagement with
the side plates of said barrier, and means to move the barrier during the flight
of the shell.
13. A shell provided with a fuse, and a barrier normally interposed between
said fuse and the shell charge, in combination with a barrier support projecting
into the fuse chamber and a spring arm in engagement with said barrier and
the support and movable to release said barrier during the travel of the shell.
14. A shell provided with a fuse, and a barrier normally interposed between
said fuse and the shell charge, in combination with a barrier support projecting
into the fuse chamber and carrying a spring to move said barrier during the
travel of the shell.
15. In a shell, a bursting charge, a fuse, a chamber carrying a barrier support
projecting therein, a pivoted or trunnioned barrier mounted thereon, an inter-
posed soft metal gas check, and means to move said barrier clear of the fuse-way
or channel.
10. In a shell, a bursting charge, a shifting detonating chamber, a barrier
normally closing said chamber, and a fuse for said charge, one portion of the fuse
carried in the detonating chamber and the other portion in a guide separated
therefrom by the barrier, and yielding means to check the rearward movement
of said fuse when the shell is propelled from the gun.
17. In a shell, a shifting detonating chamber, a separate fuse chamber, a guide
or support projecting into said fuse chamber, a separating barrier carried directly
by said guide or support, and means to lock or hold said barrier in the closed
position until the shell is fired from the gun.
18. In a shell, a barrier support projecting into the fuse chamber and having
a fuse-way or channel therethrough.
19. In a shell, a barrier for separating the bursting charge and the fuse; said
barrier attached to and carried by its support forming the exterior walls of the
fuse-way or channel thereof.
20. A shell provided with a fuse, and a barrier normally interposed between

page_text: the fuse and the bursting charge or charges, in combination with a rounded
chamber carrying a support on which said barrier is axially held and movable
to one side of said support during the travel of the shell.
21. As a new article of manufacture, a core for filling and closing the chamber
in the tubular body of the shell and carrying therein the charge or charges for
bursting said shell.
22. As a new article of manufacture, a charge core for shell having chambers
or channels for the reception of the explosive charge or charges and constructed
to screw into and close the base of the tubular portion of said shell.
23. As a new article of manufacture, a charge core for shell having chambers
or channels for the reception of the explosive charge or charges, and a central
fuse-way or channel therein, said core constructed to screw into and close the
base of the tubular portion of said shell.
24. For use with an explosive projectile, a base piece provided with a projecting
core having chambers or channels for the reception of the explosives, each chamber
or channel containing a charge for exploding or shattering said core and shell.
25. The within described device as a filler for the chamber within the hollow
walls of shell, consisting of a chambered or channeled integral metal core
carrying therein the charge or charges for bursting said core and shell, substan-
tially as shown and described.
That 41 0th day of June 1900
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of G, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of G, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.