Improvements in Shrapnel Shells.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Shrapnel Shells.
We, SIR W. G. ARMSTRONG, WHITWORTH & COMPANY, LIMITED, Manufacturing
Engineers, and ALBERT GEORGE HADCOCK,, late R.A., both of Elswick Works,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
:-
The object of this invention is to reduce the spreading of the bullets when the
shell bursts, below that of ordinary shell.
For this purpose the bullets are enclosed in a cage or canister made of sheet
metal, preferably tin plate or sheet lead; and on the exterior of these receptacles
metal strips are fixed which fit into grooves formed in the interior surface of the
shell body. These grooves are inclined to the axis of the shell at such an angle
as to give the bullets, when discharged from the shell a rotary motion round its
axis, in the reverse direction to that produced by the rifling of the gun. Thus
if the rifling of the gun be right handed, so that the shell will rotate to the right
when the observer is looking on its base, the grooves would be formed so as to
give the inner case a twist to the left.
Instead of fixing strips to the inner case, projections may be formed in the
metal of the case itself.
With cases made of sheet lead or other soft metal the strips may sometimes
be omitted, as the shock of firing is sufficient to force such metal into the grooves,
and so enable them to fulfil their purpose.
The bursting charge of the shell may be placed either in the. head or in the
base of the projectile.
We, SIR W. G. ARMSTRONG, WHITWORTH & COMPANY, LIMITED, Manufacturing
Engineers, and ALBERT GEORGE HADCOCK, late R.A., both of Elswick Works,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 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:
-
The object of this invention is to reduce the spreading of the bullets when the
shell bursts. below that of ordinary shell.

page_text: For this purpose the bullets are enclosed in a cage or canister a made of sheet
metal, preferably tin plate or sheet lead, which may have orifices punched in it as
shown and on the exterior of this receptacle metal strips bare fixed which fit into
grooves formed in the interior surface of the shell body c, or keys may be fitted
in or formed on, the interior of the shell body fitting into corresponding grooves
in the exterior of the receptacle. These grooves are inclined to the axis of the
shell at such an angle as to give the bullets, when discharged from the shell, a
rotary motion round its axis, in the reverse direction to that produced by the
rifling of the gun. Thus if, the rifling of the gun be right handed; so that the
shell will rotate to the right when the observer is looking on its base, the grooves
would be formed so as to give the inner case a twist to the left if the head is to
be blown off by a bursting charge located in the base whereas if the base is to be
blown off by a charge in the head of the shell and the bullets projected back-
wards, the grooves would be in the same direction as those of the gun.
Instead of fixing strips to the inner case, projections may be formed in the
metal of the case itself.
With cases made of sheet lead or other soft metal the strips may sometimes be
omitted, as the shock of firing is sufficient to force such metal into the grooves,
and so enable them to fulfil their purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. Enclosing the bullets. of shrapnel shell in a cage, to which, on the bursting
of the shell, is given a tendency of rotation opposite to that given by the rifling
of the gun, thus reducing the absolute speed of rotation and lessening therefore
the spread of the bullets.
2. Shrapnel shell substantially as described and shown in the drawing.