Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1899
A communication by WILLARD SMITH ISHAM, of No. 133, E. Street, N.W., in the
City of Washington, County of Washington, and District of Columbia, United
States of America, Civil Engineer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester,
both in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
This invention relates to improvements in shells for firing high explosives, and also
to armor piercing projectiles intended to carry charges of high explosives.
The object of this invention is to provide a shell which will enable a charge of high
explosives to be fired from an ordinary gun in the usual manner of firing shells
without danger of a premature explosion.
Another object of this invention is to provide a shell for carrying a high explosive
which will be able to pierce armor, the piercing of the armor taking place prior to
the explosion of the shell charge.
Many attempts have been made hitherto to construct shells by means of which
high explosives could be fired from an ordinary gun in the usual way of firing shot
and shell. All such attempts have been failures.
My correspondent has discovered the law relative to the pressure on the bursting
charge of high explosives, due to the pressure of the firing charge, and as a result of
such discovery he is enabled to construct shells for high explosives of any kind.
According to the law discovered by him the maximum pressure on the bursting
charge due to the inertia of said charge is directly proportional to the maximum
pressure per square inch of the firing charge; to the area of the exterior base of
the shell; to the weight per cubic inch of the high explosive and to the height of
the charge, and is inversely proportional to the total weight of the shell.
Or, in algebraic language, p =
=
hP Au
,
W
when p
-
maximum pressure in pounds
per square inch on the high explosive ;
P =maximum pressure in pounds per square inch of firing charge;
A area of base of shell;
w= weight in pounds per cubic inch of high explosive;
W =
h
=
total weight in pounds of shell loaded ;
IDaximum height of any charge;
Now, this pressure, p, on the bursting charge must be less than the minimum
pressure per square inch necessary to detonate the high explosive, that is
D when D = pressure in pounds per square inch necessary to detonate the

page_text: All the factors involved in this formula are well known, except h, the maximum
height of the charge of high explosive. This can be deduced readily by means of
the formula.
It is to be understood that h, the height of the bursting charge, is the maximum
height of such charge in any one compartment or chamber measured in the direction
of the longitudinal axis of the shell. Furthermore, the product P A is the total
maximum pressure of the firing charge on the base of the shell and W, the weight
per cubic inch of the high explosive may, for brevity, be called the density of such
high explosives.
This invention, broadly considered, consists in a projectile provided with chambers
arranged to carry charges of high explosives, none of which chambers are to receive
a charge of such high explosive having a height greater than is imposed by the
formula,
It is especially important in the construction of a shell for high explosives
that the chambers have their walls without joints and also that said chambers be!
absolutely isolated from each other.
Furthermore, for an armor-piercing projectile the construction should be such that
the pressure due to impact shall not be transmitted to the charges.
These further requirements are met by the preferred form of this invention which.
therefore consists further in a shell embodying the features, details of construction
and combination of parts which will first be described in connection with the accom-
panying drawings, and then particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central section of a shell embodying this invention in its
preferred form ;
i
Fig. 2, a transverse section of the same on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;
Fig. 3, a similar view on the line 3-3 Fig. 1, showing a portion of the wall of the.
shell with a charging hole and its plug ;
Fig. 4, a diagrammatic view illustrating the construction of the point.
Referring to the drawings, A is the wall of the shell, B the nose or point, C a pillar
or column, D a base and E a plurality of transverse partitions, these parts all being
made integral with each other, in any suitable manner, so that the chainbers have no
communication with each other.
The spaces between the partitions form charge chambers, F, arranged to receive
charges which are proportioned in accordance with my correspondent's formula.
It is absolutely necessary that none of the charges exceed the limits in height
imposed by the given formula, and it is preferable that the chambers be also so
proportioned that each charge will just fit its chamber.
Through the pillar or column, C, extends a main vent, c, which crosses and communi-
cates with a plurality of transverse chamber vents, c¹, opening into the respective
chambers, F. Each chamber, F, is provided with a charging hole, a, formed in the
wall A, of the shell, each charging hole being opposite the chamber-vent, c¹, of the
respective chamber, and being conical in form, as shown on an enlarged scale in
Fig. 3. The charging holes are screw-threaded and into each is screwed a plug, a¹,
which is correspondingly cone-shaped, as shown in said Fig 3.
The base, D, of the shell contains a recess, d, arranged to receive a fuse of any
desired or usual construction, which fuses being well known to those skilled in the art
need not be specifically described herein.
After the shell has been cast and before the vents are formed, the chambers may
be

page_text: tested by hydraulic pressure, one at a time, through the charge holes, in order to
detect defective shells. After this the main vent is drilled from the base of the shell
toward the point and the recess for the fuse is formed. Then the chamber vents are
drilled, by inserting a drill through the charge holes.
A small stopper or plug is inserted into the chamber-vent before loading the
chamber, as shown at X, Fig. 1. These plugs are usually, but not necessarily, of
soft wood and are intended to be blown into the chambers upon the detonation of the
fuse. The plugs for the charge-holes may then be screwed into place and the fuse
secured in the recess at the base, thus completing the shell. In Figs. 1 and 3 the
charge is shown at G.
A shell embodying all the specific features of this invention has a centrally-
arranged column or pillar, C, whose diameter is greater than the thickness of the
wall, A, of the shell and whose cross sectional area is less than the cross sectional area
of said wall, A, the column extending entirely from the point, B, to the base, D. The
point of the shell is substantially conical or conoidal, the base of the cone or conoid
being practically concentric with the forward end of the column or pillar, C.
Furthermore the said point is so proportioned that the sides of an imaginary
inverted frustrum of a cone resting on the front end of the pillar and having its sides
at an angle of 45° will intersect the surface of the nose or point, A, in a circumference
lying directly ahead of the wall of the shell. By this construction the column or
pillar will sustain the whole impact of the shell when first striking an armor-plate
and up to the time that the cross sectional area of that portion of the nose lying in
the plane of the armor surface is not greater than the cross-sectional area of the
column or pillar. As the point penetrates deeper into the armor the pressure will be
distributed between the column and the wall of the shell, the major component,
however, being transmitted to the column until the nose has penetrated to such a
depth that the points of intersection of the sides of said imaginary frustrumn and the
outer surface of the shell be beyond the plane of the outer surface of the
armor, whereupon the major component of the pressure falls upon the walls
of the shell. Since the strain is transmitted longitudinally to the shell-wall
it is readily resisted by the same, this being possible with a comparatively thin wall
owing to the fact that its cross section is not weakened by joints and also because
the partitions are integral with said wall and thereby prevent bulging of the
same.
Moreover, the partitions brace the column in the same manner, thereby rendering
it possible to make the latter of a smaller diameter than would otherwise be the case,
the result being that a shell made in accordance with this construction will have a
larger capacity for a bursting charge.
It will be plain that by the particular formation of the point or nose which has been
described above, the pressure due to impact will be transmitted at first entirely to the
column, then partly to the column and shell-wall and finally to the shell-wall and that
this pressure will be at all times in the direction of the lengths of the said column
and wall, and at no time will there be any pressure from impact on the charge in the
shell, except such as is due to the momentum of the charge, which being no greater
than the inertia at the time of firing (if the shell penetrates the armor or other
obstruction) will not cause an explosion of the said charge, whereby it becomes
possible for the shell to pierce and pass through an obstruction before exploding, the
time of explosion being controlled wholly by the fuse. It will be apparent, there-
fore, that the pillar is arranged to afford a continuous solid support for the initial
penetrating portion of the nose. Moreover, the momentum of the pillar acts directly
on the nose and assists in driving the same through the obstruction, such as
armor.
Since the diameter of the column is greater than the thickness of the wall of
the shell the transverse area of the charge chambers is much greater than if the same
strength of metal was placed in the shell wall alone, or principally in the shell wall,
and the capacity of the shell is thereby increased.
With reference to so much of this invention as concerns the proportional size of

page_text: the chambers, or of the charges if the chambers are not to be entirely filled, it is to
be understood that a shell embodying such features is intended for charging with
explosives which may be detonated by pressure. This is the sense in which the term
high explosives" is generally used and is the meaning which is attached to said
term in this specification.
66
Hence, attention is directed to the fact that the formula contains as a factor (D)
the pressure per square inch necessary to detonate the explosive charge. This is
important because this pressure varies with different high explosives, and consequently,
a shell which would have chambers suitably proportioned according to the formula
given for one kind of high explosive charge inight be inoperative for use with another
kind of high explosive. It will be understood, of course, that D is well known for all
high explosives.
While the use of the shell for piercing armor has been particularly mentioned it is
to be understood that it may be used for piercing any obstruction or resistance, such
as masonery, earthworks, and the like, and the term "armor is used by my corre-
spondent in this generic sense.
"
:
For firing dynamite or other high explosives in which nitro-glycerine is a com-
ponent it is highly important that the shell shall be formed integral instead of being
built up
of parts screwed or otherwise fastened together in a detachable manner, for
the following reasons:
When the shell is made of such parts, the joints, no matter how well fitted, are
not absolutely closed at all points, for even though water-tight, there will be marginal
edges which do not contact throughout. As the nitro-glycerine will exude to a slight
extent from the explosive charge, it will enter such joints, although of course, only
to an almost infinitesimal extent. Yet even such a small amount will cause the
premature explosion of the shell, since at the moment of firing the joints are com-
pressed with great force and consequently the nitro-glycerine caught therein is
exploded, this in turn detonating the remaining charges of the shell.
By my correspondent's construction no attention need be paid to the inertia of
rotation of the bursting charge, because the shell can rotate while the bursting
charge is relatively stationary, at the start, and there is no lateral surface for
such bursting charge to press against. Thus all danger of explosion from rotation is
avoided. Eventually of course, the charge acquires a certain amount of rotary
motion through friction.
This 17th day of Wahmu1000
"
Improvements in Shells for Firing High Explosives.
A communication by WILLARD SMITH ISHAM, of No. 133, E. Street, N.W., in the City
of Washington, County of Washington, and District of Columbia, United States
of America, Civil Engineer.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 shells, for firing high explosives, and also
to armor piercing projectiles intended to carry charges of high explosives.

page_text: The main object of the invention is to provide a shell which will enable a charge
of high explosive to be fired from an ordinary gun in the usual manner of firing
shells without danger of a premature explosion.
Another important object of the invention is to provide a shell for carrying a high
explosive which may be able to pierce armor without detonating the high explosive,
whereby the piercing of the armor may take place prior to the explosion of the shell
charge, which explosion may be made to depend only upon the fuse.
Many attempts have been made hitherto to construct shells by means of which bigh
explosives could be fired from an ordinary gun in the usual way of firing shot and
shell. All such attempts have been failures.
My correspondent has discovered the law relative to the pressure on the bursting
charge of high explosives, due to the pressure of the firing charge and as a result of
such discovery he is enabled to construct shells for high explosives of any kind.
According to the law discovered by him the maximum pressure on the bursting
charge due to the inertia of said charge is directly proportional to the maximum
pressure per square inch of the firing charge; to the area of the exterior base of the
shel!; to the weight per cubic inch of the high explosive and to the height of the
charge, and is inversely proportional to the total weight of the shell.
=
h PA w
W
when p
=
maximum pressure in pounds per
Or, in algebraic language, p
square inch on the high explosive ;
P
-
maximum pressure in pounds per square inch of firing charge;
A area of base of shell;
W =
W
h
=
weight in pounds per cubic inch of high explosive ;
total weight in pounds of shell loaded;
maximum height of any charge;
-
Now, this pressure, p, on the bursting charge must be less than the minimum
pressure per square inch necessary to detonate the high explosive, that is
<D when D= pressure in pounds per square inch necessary to detonate the said
high explosive.
Substituting, we have
-
All the factors involved in this formula are well known, except h, the maximum
height of the charge of high explosive. This can be deduced readily by means of the
formula.
It is to be understood that h, the height of the bursting charge, is the maximum
height of such charge in any one compartment or chamber measured in the direction
of the longitudinal axis of the shell.
Furthermore, the product PA is the total maximum pressure of the firing charge
on the base of the shell and W, the weight per cubic inch of the high explosive may,
for brevity, be called the density of such high explosive.
Hence, when it is desired to determine h, the maximum height of the bursting
charge (or of the chamber, when the latter is to be entirely filled by the bursting
charge) the above formula may be transforined into the following:

page_text: It is especially important in the construction of a shell for high explosives that the
chambers have their walls so constructed that said walls shall be rigid under the
maximum pressure due to the explosion of the firing charge. Furthermore, the
chambers must be essentially non-communicating that is to say, substantially isolated
from each other, so that the pressure of one charge cannot be communicated to
another chamber, and the wails should also be without joints.
Furthermore, for an armor-piercing projectile the construction should be such that
the pressure due to impact shall not be transmitted to the charge while the pressure
due to the momentum of the charge at the time of impact should be less than is
sufficient to detonate the said high explosive.
These further requirements are met by the preferred form of the invention which
therefore consists further in a shell embodying the features, details of construction
and combination of parts which will first be described in connection with the accom-
panying drawings and then particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings, accompanying the Provisional Specification,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal central section of a shell embodying my invention in its
preferred form;
Fig. 2, a transverse section of the same on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;
Fig. 3, a similar view on the line 3-3, Fig. 1, showing a portion of the walls of
the shell with a charging hole and its plug;
Fig. 4, a diagrammatic view illustrating the construction of the point;
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings accompanying this specification are diagrammatic
views illustrating the changes that would be made in the heights of the chambers in
accordance with the invention where the propelling charge is varied in size, it being
assumed, for the sake of this illustration, that the pressure produced by the firing
charge will always be proportional to the size of such firing charge and
Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are similar views illustrating the changes that will be made in
the heights of the chambers in accordance with the invention where the weight of the
shell is varied, the other factors remaining constant, as will be more fully explained
hereinafter.
Referring to the drawings, A is the wall of the shell; B the nose or point; C a
pillar or column; D a base; and E a plurality of transverse partitions these parts
all being made integral with each other, in any suitable manner, so that the chambers
have no communication with each other.
The spaces between the partitions form charge chambers, F, arranged to receive
charges which are proportioned in accordance with my correspondent's formula.
It is absolutely necessary that none of the charges exceed the limits in height
imposed by the formula, and it is preferable that the chambers be also so propor-
tioned that each charge will just fit its chamber.
Through the pillar or column, C, extends a main vent, c, which crosses and
communicates with a plurality of transverse chamber-vents, c¹, opening into the
respective chambers, F. Each chamber, F, is provided with a charging hole, a,
formed in the wall A, of the shell, each charging hole being opposite the chamber-
vent, c¹, of the respective chamber, and being conical in form as shown on an
enlarged scale in Fig. 3.
The charging-holes are screw-threaded and into each is screwed a plug, a', which
is correspondingly cone-shaped, as shown in said Fig. 3.
The base, D, of the shell contains a recess, d, arranged to receive a fuse of any
desired or usual construction, which fuses being well known to those skilled in the
art, need not be specifically described herein. The fuse may, however, be placed at
the point of the shell if desired.

page_text: After the shell has been cast and, before the vents are formed, the chambers may
be tested by hydraulic pressure, one at a time, through the charge holes, in order
to detect defective shells. After this the main vent is drilled from the base of
the shell toward the point and the recess for the fuse is formed. Then the
chamber vents are drilled, by inserting a drill through the charge-holes.
A small stopper or plug is inserted into the chamber-vents before loading the
chamber, as shown at X, Fig. 1. These plugs are usually, but not necessarily, of
soft wood and are intended to be blown into the chambers upon the detonation of the
fuse. The plugs for the charge-holes may then be screwed into place and the fuse
secured in the recess at the base, thus completing the shell. In Figs. 1 and 3 the
charge is shown at G.
A shell embodying all the specific features of the present invention has a
centrally-arranged column or pillar, C, whose diameter is greater than the thickness
of the wall, A, of the shell and whose cross-sectional area is less than the cross-
sectional area of said wall, A, the column extending entirely from the point, B,
to the base, D. The point of the shell is substantially conical or conoidal, the base
of the cone or conoid being practically concentric with the forward end of the column
or pillar, C.
.
Furthermore, the said point is so proportioned that the sides of an imaginary
inverted frustrum of a cone resting on the front end of the pillar and having the
sides at an angle of 45°, will intersect the surface of the nose or point, A, in a circum-
ference lying directly ahead of the wall of the shell. By this construction the
column or pillar will sustain the whole impact of the shell when first striking an
armor-plate and up to the time that the cross sectional area of that portion of the
nose lying in the plane of the armor surface is not greater than the cross-sectional
area of the column or pillar. As the point penetrates deeper into the armor the
pressure will be distributed between the column and the wall of the shell, the major
component, however, being transmitted to the column until the nose has penetrated
to such a depth that the points of intersection of the sides of said imaginary frustrum
and the outer surface of the shell be beyond the plane of the outer surface of the.
armor, whereupon the major component of the pressure falls upon the walls of the.
shell. Since the strain is transmitted longitudinally to the shell-wall it is readily.
resisted by the same, this being possible with a comparatively thin wall owing to the
fact that its cross-section is not weakened by joints and also because the partitions
are integral with said wall and thereby prevent bulging of the same.
Moreover, the partitions brace the column in the same manner, thereby rendering
it possible to make the latter of a smaller diameter than would otherwise be the case,
the result being that a shell inade in accordance with my correspondent's construction
will have a larger capacity for a bursting charge.
I
It will be plain that by the particular formation of the point or nose herein described,,
the pressure due to impact will be transmitted at first entirely to the column, then
partly to the column and shell-wall and finally to the shell-wall, and that this pressure.
will be at all times in the direction of the lengths of the said column and wall, and at no
time will there be any pressure from impact on the charge in the shell, except such as
due to the momentum of the charge which pressure due to said momentum may be
reduced to a point less than sufficient to cause the detonation of the high explosive by in-.
troducing a factor of safety into the formula in determining the height of the bursting
charge, or of the chamber if the bursting charge is to entirely fill the same, whereby
it becomes possible for a shell so constructed to pierce and pass through an obstruction
before exploding, the time of explosion being controlled wholly by the fuse. It will.
he apparent that the pillar is arranged to afford a continuous solid support for the
initial penetrating of the nose. Moreover, the momentum of the pillar acts
directly on the nose and assists in driving the same through the obstruction, such as
armor.
Since the diameter of the column is greater then the thickness of the wall of the
shell, the transverse area of the charge chambers is much greater than if the same

page_text: strength of metal was placed in the shell wall alone or principally in the shell-wall, and
the capacity of the shell is thereby increased.
With reference to so much of the present invention as concerns the proportional
size of the chambers, or of the charges, if the chambers are not to be entirely filled, it-
is to be understood that a shell embodying such features is intended for charging with.
explosives which may be detonated by pressure. This is the sense in which the term
"high explosives" is generally used, and is the meaning which is attached to said
term in this specification.
Hence, attention is directed to the fact that the formula contains as a factor (D)
the pressure per square inch necessary to detonate the explosive charge. This is
important because this pressure varies with different high explosives, and consequently,.
a shell which would have chambers suitably proportioned according to this formula
for one kind of high explosive charge might be inoperative for use with another
kind of high explosive. It will be understood, of course, that D is well known for
all high explosives.
In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is shown how the heights of the chambers proportioned in
accordance with the present invention will vary as the firing charge varies. It will.
be noted that the firing charges increase in size from Fig. 5 to Fig. 7, being,
smallest in the former view and largest in the latter view. It will also be noted
that the heights of the chambers of the shells decrease from Fig. 5 to Fig 7, being
greatest in Fig. 5 and least in Fig. 7. In these three views it is assumed that the
weight and diameter of the shell, the kind and quality of the high explosive bursting
charge, and the kind and quality of the firing charge remain unchanged. Further-
more, it is also assumed that the maximum pressure of the firing charge is pro-
portional to the size of said firing charge. Of course, it is to be understood that a
difference in quality of powder will also cause a difference in the maximum pressure,
generated by such firing charge.
In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is illustrated the manner in which the heights of the
chambers will vary with the variation in the weight of the shell, such heights being
least in Fig. 8, where the weight of the shell is least and greatest in Fig. 10, where
the weight is greatest. In these views it is assumed that the kind, quality, and
quantity of the firing charge and the kind and quality of the high-explosive bursting
charge are unchanged.
As will be seen from the drawings, the difference in weight of the shell may be
caused by a difference in the length of said shell, as illustrated by Figs. 8 and 9, or
by a difference in thickness of walls or columns, as will be clear from a comparison
of Figs. 9 and 10.
While the said views Figs. 5 to 10 are made to a scale illustrating a seven-inch shell,
they are only intended as illustrative examples to make clear in a general way the
gist of the present invention, and it is to be understood that the invention set forth
is not restricted to the proportions therein shown nor to those changes only, the full
scope of said invention being pointed out in the claims.
While the use of the shell for piercing armor has been particularly mentioned
herein it is to be understood that it may be used for piercing any obstruction or
resistance, such as masonery, earth-works, and the like, and the term "armor” is
herein used in this generic sense.
For firing dynamite or other high explosives in which nitro-glycerine is a
component it is highly important that the shell shall be formed integral instead of
being built up of parts screwed or otherwise fastened together in a detachable manner,
for the following reasons:
When the shell is made of such parts, the joints, no matter how well fitted, are
not absolutely closed at all points, for even though water-tight there will be marginal
edges which do not contact throughout. As the nitro-glycerine will exude to a
slight extent from the explosive charge it will enter such joints, although of course,
only to an almost infinitesimal extent. Yet, even such a small amount will cause
the premature explosion of the shell, since at the moment of firing the joints are

page_text: compressed with great force and consequently the nitro-glycerine caught therein is
exploded, this in turn detonating the remaining charges of the shell.
By the present construction no attention need be paid to the inertia of rotation of
the bursting charge, because the shell can rotate while the bursting charge is
relatively stationary, at the start, and there is no lateral surface for such bursting
charge to press against. Thus all danger of explosion from rotation is avoided.
Eventually of course the charge acquires a certain amount of rotary motion through
friction.
"
It is to be understood that the term " gun as employed by my correspondent is
used generically as including all forms of ordnance, such as canuon, mortars, machine
guns, and the like. Furthermore, by the term shell" is included all such hollow
projectiles which are intended for containing a bursting charge.
Attention is called to the fact that the formula, based upon the law discovered by
my correspondent, gives the maximum limit of height of any bursting charge (or of
any chamber when the latter is to be entirely filled with its charge).
In the practical construction of a shell in accordance with this invention a factor
of safety may be introduced into the formula, as is usual in applied mechanics,
whereby a positive assurance of safety in the handling and firing of the shell results.
Moreover, if it be desired to construct a shell which will carry its high explosive
bursting charge through an armor-plate without causing the detonation of said
bursting charge from the pressure due to its momentum the factor of safety intro-
duced into the formula should take into consideration the difference between the
maximum retardation of the shell by the armor and the maximum acceleration of
the shell in starting. These are not definitely known, but may be approximated
with sufficient accuracy for the purpose intended. A factor of safety of six intro-
duced into the formula will, in most cases, suffice to enable the high explosive charge
to pass through an armor-plate (without detonating) which will not destroy the shell
by crushing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is:-
1-A shell for high explosives having chambers provided with bursting charges,
none of said chambers or the bursting charges therein contained having a maximum
height (measured in the direction of the axis of the shell) equal to that obtained by
dividing the product of the total weight of the shell, loaded, and the minimum
pressure per square inch necessary to detonate the high explosive, by the product of
the maximum total pressure of the firing charge on the base of the shell, and the
density of the high explosive.
2-A shell for high explosives having a plurality of chambers to receive the high
explosive bursting charges, the walls of said chambers being substantially rigid under
the maximum shock to which they are subjected by the propelling force, and the
bursting charges being so proportioned that none of them have a maximum height
(measured in the direction of the axis of the shell) equal to that obtained by dividing
the product of the total weight of the shell loaded and the pressure per square inch
necessary to detonate the high explosive, by the product of the total pressure on the
base of the shell and the density of the high explosive.
3-A shell for high explosives having a shell wall, a centrally-arranged pillar within
the same and integral therewith and annular compartments around the pillar,
substantially as described.
4-A shell for high explosives having a shell wall, a centrally-arranged pillar within
the same, and a nose integral with the wall and pillar, the diameter of the pillar
being greater than the thickness of the wall, substantially as described.
i
5-A shell for high explosives having a shell wall, a centrally-arranged pillar within
the same, and a plurality of transverse partitions extending from the pillar to the
walls and integral with the pillar and walls.
6-A shell for high explosives having a shell wall, a centrally-arranged pillar and a

page_text: nose whose base is concentric with the front end of the pillar said parts being integral,
the proportions of the point being such that an imaginary inverted frustrum of a cone
resting on the front end of the pillar and having its sides sloping at an angle of 45°
would intercept the outer surface of the point in a circumference lying directly
forward of the wall of the shell, substantially as described.
7-A shell for high explosives having a shell wall, a central pillar, a nose and
transverse partitions extending from the pillar to the wall, the pillar having a
longitudinally arranged main vent and chamber vents opening into said main
vent and into the chambers formed between the partitions in combination with
a fuse at one end of the main vent, substantially as described.
8-A shell for high explosives having a shell wall, a central pillar, a nose and
transverse partitions extending from the pillar to the wall, all the parts being integral,
the pillar having a longitudinally-arranged vent and chamber-vents opening into said
main vent and into the chambers formed between the partitions, the walls being
provided with charging holes, one for each chamber, each hole being opposite its
corresponding chamber-vent.
Dated this and dan of A sa munk 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.