Improvements relating to Smokeless Explosives.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 21st June, 1895-Accepted, 27th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Smokeless Explosives.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of Baldwyns Park, Bexley, in the County of
Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the manufacture and manner of using smokeless
explosives.
Smokeless explosives made of a compound containing a large percentage of
tri-nitro-cellulose become when dry very hard and springy like celluloid and can
be formed into grains or pieces different from those which can be produced from a
material like ordinary gun-powder.
In the manufacture of explosives of the "cordite ".class such as those described
in the Specifications of previous Patents granted to me, the explosive is spun into
rods or threads; a charge of this explosive does not completely fill the cartridge
case so that when in the gun previous to firing it lies in the bottom of the case, and
the air is mainly at the top. It has however been found advantageous to so provide
that the explosive and the air-space will be distributed evenly throughout the entire
cartridge case or chamber of the gun, and according to my present invention 'l so
form and make up the charge of explosive that this advantageous distribution is
ensured. I thereby obtain a greater regularity of combustion of the charge and
consequently a greater uniformity with respect to the velocities obtained, and I
prevent, in a great measure, the wave action which is sometimes set up in the
discharge of large cartridge cases.
When the explosive is made into solid rods or pieces it burns only on the outside
so that the surface on which the flame is acting diminishes as the projectile is
passing up the chamber when exactly the reverse effect is desirable. But if the
explosive is formed into tubes or other pieces having internal cavities the fire can
burn from the inside outward as well as from the outside inward; consequently
the surface does not materially diminish while the charge is being consumed; it
therefore creates a comparatively low pressure in the chamber before the projectile
has started and a higher pressure as the projectile travels up the barrel. The
result is a more uniform and higher velocity than it is possible to obtain with the
same pressure when the charge consists of solid pieces. I therefore make up the
charge into tubular or other forms which permit the existence of such cavities.
For example I sometimes make the explosive into the form of a cylinder with a
star-shaped cavity, or into the form of a star or prism with a circular or other
shaped cavity, or it may be made into tapes or thin sheets and rolled up like a
volute spring to increase its elasticity. When made up into any form according to
my invention the explosive will have considerable elasticity so that each particular
grain or piece of powder requires compression in order to get the necessary amount
into a cartridge case and after the case has been loaded therewith the grains or
pieces will be kept firmly in position and therefore all danger of the formation of
dust from the explosive due to the movement or displacement of the grains or
pieces relatively to each other in transportation or otherwise is avoided.
My improved explosive may be advantageously made of tri-nitro-cellulose and
ri-nitro-glycerine combined with a suitable oil.
Dated this 21st day of September 1804

page_text: I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of Baldwyns Park, Bexley, in the County of
Kent, 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 :-
My invention relates to the manufacture and manner of using smokeless
explosives.
Smokeless explosives made of a compound containing a large percentage of
tri-nitro-cellulose become, when dry, very hard and springy like celluloid, and can
be formed into grains or pieces different from those which can be produced from a
inaterial like ordinary gun-powder.
In the manufacture of explosives of the "cordite" class, such as those described
in the Specifications of previous Patents granted to me, the explosive is spun into
rods or threads. A charge of this explosive sufficient for giving the desired
velocity to the projectile, does not completely fill the cartridge-case so that when
the latter is in the gun, previous to firing, the charge lies in the lower part of the
case, and the air is mainly at the top. It has, however, been found advantageous
to so provide that the explosive and the air-spaces shall be distributed evenly
throughout the entire cartridge-case, and according to my present invention I so
form and make up the charge of explosive that this advantageous distribution is
ensured. I thereby obtain a greater regularity of combustion of the charge, and
consequently, a greater uniformity with respect to the velocities obtained than has
been heretofore possible, and I prevent, in a great measure, the wave-action or
violent to-and-fro movement of the explosive during firing, which action or
movement is sometimes set up in the discharge of large cartridge-cases.
Moreover, when the explosive is made into solid rods or pieces as heretofore, it
burns only on the outside so that the surface on which the flame is acting, or in
other words, the area of combustion, diminishes as the projectile is passing along
the chamber of the gun, whereas exactly the reverse effect is desirable. But if the
explosive be formed into tubes or other pieces having internal cavities, the coni-
bustion can take place from the inside outwardly, as well as from the outside
inwardly, consequently the surface or area of combustion does not materially
diminish while the charge is being consumed. Such explosives therefore create a
comparatively low pressure in the charge chamber before the projectile commences
to move and a higher pressure as the projectile travels along the barrel. The
result is a more uniform pressure while the projectile is in the barrel and higher
velocity than is possible with the same quantity of explosive consisting of solid
pieces made as heretofore. I therefore make up the charge into tubular or other
forms which permit the existence of the aforesaid cavities.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown transverse sections of various forms
of explosive made according to my invention. These forms are only given as
examples of my improved explosive, and I desire it to be understood that other
forms may be adopted without departing from the nature of my invention as
hereinabove stated. For example I may make the explosive from tapes or thin
sheets of the material rolled up like a volute spring.
In the several figures the letter A, where it occurs, denotes the internal cavity
or cavities, and B denotes grooves or recesses in the periphery. The form shown
in Figure 4 differs from the others in that it has no internal cavity. The
peripheral grooves in this form are intended to serve the purpose of my invention
as regards the more equable distribution of the air-spaces in the cartridge-case.
When made up into any form according to my invention, with the exception of
forms such as that shown in Figure 4, the explosive will have considerable

page_text: elasticity so that each particular grain or piece of explosive requires compression
in order to get the necessary amount thereof into a cartridge case, and after the
case has been loaded therewith the grains or pieces will be kept firmly in position
and therefore all danger of the formation of dust from the explosive, due to the
attrition of the grains or pieces during transportation or otherwise is avoided.
When the pieces of explosive are very long, they are preferably slotted at the
side as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10 in order to allow the flame to reach the
interior wall of the cavity from the side as well as from the ends.
My improved explosive may be advantageously made of tri-nitro-cellulose and
tri-nitro-glycerine combined with a suitable oil.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
-
1. Smokeless explosives made up into tubular or other pieces substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawing for the purposes specified.
2. A cartridge charged with tubular or other pieces of explosive of the kind
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
11
1002
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.