An Improvement in Explosive Charges for Ordnance.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Explosive Charges for Ordnance.
We, ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON, of No. 28, Victoria Street, Westminster, in the
County of London, Superintendent of Ordnance Works, and JouN KARSTAIRS, of
Messrs. Vickers, Sons & Maxim's Works, Crayford, in the County of Kent, Con-
sulting Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
It has been found that when the explosive charge of a gun is of such a char-
acter that the projectile as it is leaving the bore is subjected to a more powerful
impulse, a greater velocity and range are obtained. Our invention relates to a
construction of the explosive charge in such a manner as to attain this result.
For this purpose we make up the charge of a number of separate pieces pre-
ferably in the form of discs of diameter nearly equal to that of the bore of the
charge chamber. Each of those discs consists of two parts an inner disc of less
diameter and thickness which is entirely enclosed within the outer part.
The smaller inner part is made of explosive. of a powerful kind, while the por-
tion in which it is enclosed consists of a less powerful explosive. When the
charge is ignited the external portions of the discs are first consumed, and then
the more powerful internal explosive burns giving a final impulse to the projec-
tile as it is leaving the bore.
Dated this 25th day of October 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Explosive Charges for Ordnance.
We, ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON, of No. 28, Victoria Street, Westminster, in the
County of London, Superintendent of Ordnance Works, and JOHN KARSTAIRS, of
Messrs. Vickers, Sons & Maxim's Works, Crayford, in the County of Kent, Con-
sulting Chemist, 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;―
It has been found that when the explosive charge of a gun is of such a char-
acter that the projectile as it is leaving the bore is subjected to a more powerful
impulse, a greater velocity and range are obtained. Our invention relates to a
construction of the explosive charge in such a manner as to attain this result.
For this purpose we make up the charge of a number of separate pieces pre-
ferably in the form of discs of diameter nearly equal to that of the bore of the

page_text: charge chamber. Each of those discs consists of two parts an inner disc of less
diameter and thickness which is entirely enclosed within the outer part.
The smaller inner part is made of explosive of a powerful kind, while the por-
tion in which. it is enclosed consists of a less powerful explosive. When the
charge is ignited the external portions of the discs are first consumed, and then
the more powerful internal explosive burns giving a final impulse to the projec-
tile as it is leaving the bore.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
An explosive charge for a gun consisting of a number of separate discs or like
pieces each piece having an internal portion powerfully explosive enclosed within
an external envelope of less explosive power, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth..
11
1011
1
1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.