Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Projectiles or Shells' and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Projectiles or Shells'
and to Apparatus therefor.
I, MAURICE DELMARD, of 11 Victoria Road, Old Charlton in the County of Kent,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to hollow projectiles or shells for ordnance quick-firing guns
or machine guns, and it comprises a novel method of manufacturing the said pro-
jectiles or shells, and improved apparatus for use in such manufacture.
My present improvements are designed to reduce the cost of manufacture of the pro-
jectiles or shells, to increase the strength and toughness of the steel, and to provide
for ensuring the concentricity of the chamber or cavity of the shell with the outer
surface thereof and the consequent uniformity in thickness of the wall of the said
shell.
In making a projectile or shell according to my present invention, I employ a
mould or chill the internal form or configuration of which corresponds to the external
form or configuration of the body and either the base or the conoidal or ogival part
of the projectile or shell. Into this mould or chill I pour a quantity of molten steel
sufficient to form the projectile or shell. While the steel is in a molten condition in
the said mould or chill, I force into the same by hydraulic or other pressure a ram or
core of such form that it will impart the desired shape or configuration to the chamber
or cavity of the projectile or shell. By this means I displace the metal from the
centre and cause it to rise in the annular space around the said ram or core until it
has acquired a length slightly greater than that which it is desired the projectile
should have when finished. I thus form a hollow cylindrical body closed at one end
which has the desired external form for either the base or the apex of the shell as the
case may be.
.
1 sometimes provide for imparting rotary motion to the said ram or core to facilitate
the withdrawal thereof from the hollow body produced as above described. I also
provide suitable stops for holding down the hollow body while the ram or core is
withdrawn therefrom.

page_text: To provide for ensuring the concentricity of the chamber or cavity of the projectile
or shell with its outer surface, I employ a guide which is suitably fixed at the mouth
of the mould or chill so as to cause the ram or core to enter the same centrally and
keep it central therein during its downward movement.
If desired I close, or partially close the open end of the hollow body produced as
above described, by hammering or swaging substantially as described in the specifi-
cations of former Letters Patent granted to me and dated respectively 4th December
A.D. 1882 No. 5770, 31st January A.D. 1884, No. 2466 and 25th November A.D.
1885 No. 14,480.
In making a shrapnel-shell, I use a ram or core provided at its working end with
a projection, as described in the said specification No. 14,480, for forming the chamber
for the bursting charge.
I provide a machine in which projectiles or shells can be very expeditiously
manufactured according to my improved method. This machine comprises a
revolving table or platform in or upon which a series of moulds or chills are arranged
in a circle so that they will be successively brought into the proper position beneath
the ram or core. By this form of construction I provide for pressing or forcing the
ram or core into the metal in one mould or chill during the removal of a hollow
body previously formed in another mould or chill.
To ensure smoothness of the outer surface of the projectile or shell, I prefer to
cast the same of slightly larger diameter than is required in the finished shell and to
then pass it through a die or dies.
I sometimes divide the mould or chill longitudinally in two parts and make the
exterior thereof conical so that rings or hoops can be readily placed upon it to secure
the two parts firmly together.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Projectiles or Shells
and to Apparatus therefor.
I, Maurice DelmARD, of 11 Victoria Road, Old Charlton, in the County of Kent,
Gentleman, 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 hollow projectiles or shells for ordnance, quick-firing guns
or machine-guns; and it comprises a novel method of manufacturing the said pro-
jectiles or shells, and improved apparatus for use in such manufacture.
My present improvements are designed to reduce the cost of manufacture of the
projectiles or shells and to increase the strength and toughness of the steel as compared
with hollow projectiles or shells as hitherto constructed; and to provide for ensuring
more effectually than heretofore the concentricity of the chamber or cavity of the shell
with the outer surface thereof, and the consequent uniformity of thickness of the wall
of the said shell.
•
In making a projectile or shell according to my present invention, I employ a
mould or chill the internal form or configuration of which corresponds to
the external form or configuration of the body and either the base or
the conoidal or ogival part of the projectile or shell. Into this mould or chill I
pour a quantity of molten steel sufficient to form the projectile or shell. While this
steel is in a molten condition in the said mould or chill, I force into the same, by
hydraulic or other pressure, a ram or core of such form that it will impart the desired
shape or configuration to the chamber or cavity of the projectile or shell. I thus
displace the metal from the centre of the molten mass and cause it to rise in the
annular space around the said ram or core until it has acquired a length slightly
greater than that which it is desired the projectile shall have when finished. I allow
the metal to cool and become set before withdrawing the said ram or core. In this
I form a hollow cylindrical boly closed at one end, which has the desired
external form for either the base or the apex of the shell as the case ray be.
manner,
I sometimes provide for imparting rotary motion to the said ram or core to
facilitate the withdrawal thereof from the hollow body produced as above described.
I also provide a suitable stop for holding down the hollow body while the ram or core
is withdrawn therefrom.
To provide for ensuring the concentricity of the chamber or cavity of the projectile
or shell with its outer surface, I employ a guide which is suitably fixed at the mouth
of the mould or chill so as to cause the ram or core to enter the same centrally and
keep it central therein during its downward movement.
If desired I close, or partially close the open end of the said hollow body, by
hammering or swaging substantially as described in the specifications of former
Letters Patent granted to me and dated respectively 4th December A.D. 1882
No. 5770, 31st January A.D. 1884, No. 2466, and 25th November A.D. 1885,
No. 14,480, or in any other convenient manner.
In the accompanying drawings

page_text: Figures 1 and 2 are vertical central sections illustrating different steps or stages in
the manufacture of a projectile or shell according to my present invention.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 2.
The remaining Figures of the drawings are hereinafter referred to.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the mould or chill, B the ram or core, C the guide for keeping the said ram
or core central in the mould as it is moved downward therein. a indicates the mass
of metal from which the projectile or shell is to be formed.
The mould or chill A shown in Figures 1 to 3 is made in halves or divided longi-
tudinally, and the halves or parts thereof are held tightly together by means of a
ring or hoop D. To facilitate the placing of the said ring or hoop upon the mould
and its removal therefrom, the exterior of the said mould is made taper or conical and
the ring or hoop D is made of corresponding internal form.
E is the table or platform, which may be circular, oblong or of other suitable form,
and which is provided with holes or cavities E' arranged either in a circle or in a
straight line and each adapted to receive a mould or chill A with a ring or hoop D
thereon. This table E is to be rotated in, or moved endwise through the hydraulic
or other apparatus for applying pressure to the ram or core B, so that the moulds
carried by the said table will be brought successively first into position to receive a
charge of molten metal, then under the press and then into a suitable position for the
removal of the mould from the said table. The table is provided with small holes E³,
one of which communicates with each chamber or cavity E', to facilitate the removal
of the moulds therefrom.
In making a projectile or shell by means of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 3,
a charge of molten metal is poured into the mould or chill A, as shown at a in
Figure 1; the guide C is then secured in position upon the said mould or chill, and
the ram or core B is moved downward by the press through the guide C into the
mould. The said ram or core being thus forced centrally into the mass a of molten metal,
displaces some of the said metal, thus causing the same to rise into the annular space
between the ram and the wall of the mould, until the said mass of metal has the
form or configuration shown in Figure 2. The ram or core is maintained in the
position shown in this Figure, until the metal has become set or sufficiently cooled to
retain its shape without the support of the said ram or core. The ram or core is
then withdrawn from the hollow body thus produced, the guide C serving as a stop
for holding down the said hollow body during the withdrawal of the said ram or core.
The mould is then removed from the table E, the ring or hoop D is lifted from the
mould and the halves or parts of the mould are detached from the said hollow
body.
To ensure smoothness of the outer surface of the projectile or shell, I prefer to
make the said hollow body of slightly larger diameter than is required in the finished
shell, and to then pass it through a ring or annular die or successively through two
or more rings or annular dies of different internal diameter.
I then close, or partially close the open end of the shell as described in my said
former specifications or in any other convenient manner.
Figure 4 shows, in vertical central section, apparatus substantially similar to that
shown in Figures 1 to 3, for the manufacture of shells with a solid conoidal or
ogival end.
I sometimes use a mould or chill formed in one piece, as shown, in vertical central
section, in Figure 5.
In Figure 6, I have shown, in vertical central section, another form or modification
of my apparatus, in which the mould or chill is made in halves, which are held
together by rings or hoops D, D' and by an extension C¹ of the guide C.
Figure 7 shows, in vertical central section, a further modification of my
apparatus, which is adapted for the manufacture of shrapnel-shells. In this mo li-
fication, the rain or core B is provided at its working end with a projection B' as
described in my said former specification No. 14,480, for forming in the projectile. or
shell the chamber for the bursting-charge.

page_text: In the modification shown in Figure 7, the mould or chill A is made with a central
hole to facilitate the removal of the casting therefrom. A plug A' is inserted in
said hole before the molten metal is poured into the mould.
I wish it understood that I am aware that in the specification of former Letters
Patent No. 2522, dated 29th September 1866, there is described a method of manu-
facturing hollow articles of fluid compressed steel by pouring the molten metal
into a mould, then lowering a core into the mass of molten metal in the mould and
then applying pressure to the said mass by means of a ram serving as the bottom of
the mould. I am also aware that a method of manufacturing hollow projectiles or
shells is described in the specification of former Letters Patent No. 875 dated
19th January 1888, in which the molten metal is first subjected to pressure in the
mould and a punch or mandrel is then driven into the mass of semi-fluid or plastic
metal. In my method of manufacture, however, I do not subject the molten metal
to pressure other than that required to cause the displacement or flow of the metal
into the annular space around the ram or core; I am therefore enabled to use less
costly machinery than is necessary for the manufacture of articles of fluid compressed
steel. I am also aware that methods have been devised for the manufacture of
hollow projectiles or shells by first forming a hollow body by casting or forging, and
then drawing the said hollow body for the purposes of reducing its diameter and
elongating and thinning its wall. In my method of manufacture, however, the
hollow body is passed through rings or annular dies merely for the purpose of
imparting a smooth surface to the exterior of the projectile or shell.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
I claim :-
First. The above described improved method of manufacturing a hollow projectile
or shell by pouring molten metal into a mould or chill, forcing a ram or core into
the said molten metal and retaining it therein until the metal has cooled or set, and,
after withdrawing the said ram or core, closing or partially closing the open end of
the hollow body thus produced, the exterior surface of the projectile or shell being
smoothed or finished, if desired, by passing the same through one or more rings or
annular dies.
Second. The employment, in combination with the mould or chill and the ram or
core, of the guide attached to the said mould or chill for keeping the said ram or
core central therein, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Third. The combination, with the divided mould or chill, of one or more rings or
hoops for securing together the halves or parts of the said mould or chill,
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Fourth. The improved apparatus comprising the divided mould or chill, the rings
or hoops and the guide provided with the extension, substantially as described with
reference to Figure 6 of the drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 20th day of March 1889.
M. DELMARD.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
°45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.