A. CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECTILES FOR THE USE OF CERTAIN EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Pieper, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, of
109/110, Gneisenau-Strasse, Berlin, S.W., Prussia, for the Invention of "A.
CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECTILES FOR THE USE OF CERTAIN EXPLOSIVE
SUBSTANCES." A communication by Hermann Gruson, of Buckau, Kingdom of
Prussia, Manufacturer, and Albert Hellhoff, of Mayence, Grand-duchy of
Hesse.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Carl Pieper at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 27th March 1880.
CARL PIEPER, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, of 109/110, Gneisenau-
Strasse, Berlin, S.W., Prussia. "A CONSTRUCTION OF PROJECTILES FOR THE USE
OF CERTAIN EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES." A communication from Hermann Gruson, of
Buckau, Kingdom of Prussia, Manufacturer, and Albert Hellhoff, of Mayence, Grand-
duchy of Hesse.
This Invention relates to a new kind of projectiles, which are not charged with
any completely prepared explosive matter, but wbich contain the non-explosivo
component parts or ingredients thereof enclosed in separate vessels or chambers, the
said vessels or chambers being of such a nature or construction as to allow their
contents to become mixed and to form the explosive substance when the projectile
is discharged from the gun, and while it is on its flight.
As ingredients suitable for this purpose may be named on the one hand, nitric
acid, and on the other hand the nitro-derivatives of naphtaline, phenole, toluole,
benzole, and xylole, but certain other substances may also be used, the composition
of the charge not constituting a part of this Invention.
On the annexed two Sheets of Drawings different arrangements of projectiles,
designed according to this Invention are represented.
In Fig. 1, A is the body of the projectile or shell, the top of which is screwed into
the main part for allowing the vessels B and C, which are made of glass, porcelain,
or other fragile material, to be put into their place. In case the above-named
ingredients are used for charging the shell, one of these vessels may contain the
nitric acid, the other one or more of the nitro-derivatives mentioned, and the latter
substance or substances may be mixed with a certain quantity of the said acid if
preferred. The vessel C is supposed to have been provided with two apertures at
b, b, one for admission of the liquid, the other for the escape of air from the vessel
while being filled, and these apertures have been sealed by melting their necks
before the blow-pipe. The top of C is ground into the neck of B, which latter
vessel having been filled, the joint between B and C may be made completely tight
by water-glass or any other suitable coment.

page_text: The strength of the vessels B and C is such that they will not be broken by
concussions which may occur while they are transported or handled. Moreover
rings a of any soft material, such as india-rubber or felt, are interposed between
them and the walls of the shell, or the entire space between the vessels and the
shell is filled with a similar material.
. When the shell is fired off from the gun the impact thereby caused has the effect
of shattering the vessels B and C; their contents will thereupon mix with each
other, the mixing-process being promoted by the rotation of the shell during its
flight and by the fragments of the vessels acting as stirrers, so that when the shell
reaches its mark, the explosive compound will have been formed; the same is there-
upon caused to explode in the following manner :-
D is a tube having a very thin bottom and filled with gun-powder; this tube
can slide in the hollow screw-plug H, but it is kept in its place by the pin G until
the shell leaves the gun. E is a priming-capsule containing fulminate of mercury.
When the shell is fired off the centrifugal force resulting from its rotation causes
the pin G to fly out of its place, thus leaving the tube Dat liberty to rush forward
when the shell strikes its mark; in consequence the firing-pin F penetrates the
priming-capsule E, the gunpowder in D ignites, shatters the bottom of 1), as also
the thin plate H₁, and causes the main charge of the shell to explode. This deto-
nating fuze also forms part of the Invention.
Fig. 2 shows a shell in which the apparatus for firing the charge is at the bottom.
The body of the firing pin F, which is by preference made of antimony, is held in its
place by two lateral projections c, c, which break when the shell strikes its mark;
the pin thereupon rushes forward and pierces the detonating fuze D, E, consisting
again of fulminate of mercury and gunpowder, or of the former only. The vessel
is made of a shape to give room for the firing device, and B is adapted to the conical
form of the cavity of the projectile.
The shells, Fig. 3 and 4, are similar to the former in so far as the vessels B and C
are concerned, but they are intended to be used with charges which will explode
from the mere impact of the shell against a non-elastic mark, and for this reason
they are not provided with any priming or firing device.
In the shell, Fig. 5, the explosion is caused in a novel manner by the piston I,
which is held in its place by a wire passed through it and through the point of the
shell. After the shell has been fired off, and the vessels B and C broken, a part of
the charge will flow through the lateral perforations of the cup K into the interior
of the same.
The piston I on striking the mark shears off the retaining wire,
plunges into the cup K, and causes the substance contained within the same to
explode; the cup is thereby broken and the whole charge ignited.
Fig. 6 shows a shrapnel shell with time fuze. The vessels B and C, which are
contained in a metallic tube, are supposed to be closed by sealing their orifices.
Instead of euclosing the component parts of the charge in fragile vessels which
break when the gun is fired, vessels of greater strength may be used provided with
such arrangements as will allow the substances to mix when the projectile is fired
off. In Fig. 7, for instance, one of the ingredients, which may be either liquid or
solid, is contained in the vessel B provided with openings and pressed with a
certain force into the top of the projectile so as to be retained in its place by
friction. The second ingredient, which in this case must be liquid, is poured into
the chamber C, whereupon the projectile is closed. When the projectile is fired off
the vessel B will, on account of its inertia, fly backward within the projectile, which
is provided with suitable guiding-ledges for keeping the vessel in its centre. For
allowing the same to start from its place the chamber C should not be completely
filled with liquid. After the displacement of B the two substances contained in
B and C will come in contact with each other through the apertures o, and become
mixed by the rotation of the projectile so as to produce the desired explosive
compound.
According to Fig. 8 the ingredients are contained in the two vessels B and C
combined together, as shown in the Drawing. The upper vessel B is closed by a

page_text: plug d, which is maintained in its place in such a manner that the impact of the
discharge of the gun will cause it to fly backward within the projectile and to open
communication between B and C. The plug d may be kept in its place up to the
required moment by a pin which capable of being displaced by centrifugal action
when the projectile begins to rotate, or which is broken or cut off as the plug
receives the impulse to fly out of the neck of B.
In the projectile, Fig. 9, the vessels B and C are each provided with one or more
holes opposite to each other, and a disk e capable of turning is inserted between
B and C in such a manner as to close the holes f, f, and to keep the substances
in B and C separate. The disk e is however also provided with holes g which at
a certain position of e correspond with the holes f. f. The projectile being fired off
its rotation will cause the disk to turn relatively to B and C in the opposite sense
until a stop detains the disk in a position in which the hole g corresponds with the
holes f, whereby communication between B and C is established.
The vessels B and C may be made of cast-iron, as this metal is not at all, or but
slightly acted upon by the ingredients with which the vessels are to be filled. If
preferred however the said vessels may be made of lead or other suitable material,
or of any such material lined with lead. Even porcelain or glass might be used,
as a breakage of the vessels, although not intended in the described cases, would in
no manner he prejudicial to the effect sought to be obtained.
As a modification of the fragile vessels described above, a fragile partition-wall
within the projectile may be used which keeps the ingredients of the charge
separated from each other, and which breaks when the gun is fired off. Moreover,
instead of but two vessels B and C, or of but one partition-wall, three or more such
vessels, or two or more partition-walls may be applied.
In the projectiles represented by Figs. 7, 8, and 9, no fuzes have been shown,
but I wish it to be understood that any of the fuzes shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, & 6,
or other means of firing the charge, or any common fuze, may be combined with
them.
The described projectiles may be transported and handled without any danger
whatever, whereas their peculiar construction causes the ingredients enclosed within
them to form at the moment of discharge an explosive substance of greater
"brisant" power than has hitherto been attained by any other charge.
Having thus described the object and nature of this Invention, and the
manner in which it is to be carried out in practice, as communicated to me
by my correspondents, I hereby claim as new and important features of the
same,-
1. A projectile divided by one or more partition-walls, or the walls of two or
more vessels, into two or more compartiments adapted to contain the component
parts of an explosive substance, the discharge of the projectile from the gun causing
the said walls to be broken, or openings in them to be uncovered, substantially as
and for the purpose described.
2. In combination with a projectile in which the component parts of the charge
are contained in separate vessels or chambers, the detonating fuze, Figs. 1 or 2,
containing a primer E and gunpowder D, substantially as described.
3. In combination with a projectile in which the component parts of the charge
are contained in separate vessels or chambers, the firing-device, Fig. 5, consisting of
piston I and perforated cup K, as berein before set forth.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty second
day of March One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
ALDT
BINDDD
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