Improvements in Ammunition for Ordnance.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 30th Aug., 1887.
Improvements in Ammunition for Ordnance.
I, ALFRED CHRISTOPHER KOERNER, engineer of 21 rue Royale, Paris, France, 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 first improvement relates to the projectile; the object aimed at in the
construction and arrangement of this projectile is to ensure the systematic
fragmentation of the same, on the explosion of the bursting charge.
Fig. 1 shows a projectile, in vertical section, established in accordance with my
improvement; fig. 2 is a plan of the projectile in section through a a fig. 1; fig. 3
and 4 are details.
The body of the projectile consists of the tubular part 1 generally made of steel
tube. Longitudinal grooves 2 fig. 2 are cut through the entire length of the
projectile 1, for the purpose of facilitating its breakage. The front end is closed by
a nose 3 which is tapped for the fuze 4. The base is closed by a disk 5. A soft brass
or copper band 6 encircles the body, to take the grooving of the rifling in the gun, to
insure rotation.
The body of the projectile is filled with cast iron stars 7, fig. 3 & 4 and leaden or
iron balls 8 and with the bursting charge 9.
The stars 7 have five or more branches, according to the size and diameter of the
projectile, they are arranged so that the branches break off on a slight shock, by
means of the shape and weak points at 10 fig. 3.
When the bullets 8 are in the places formed by putting one star on the top of the.
other, the column of stars and bullets forms a solid cylinder sufficiently resistant to
withstand the shock of discharge, without deforming the projectile. The interstices
between the stars and the bullets are filled with powdered charcoal or other smoke
creating substance, in order to produce as much smoke as possible, to facilitate
observing the bursting of the projectile in the air.
The novel features of the herein described projectile reside in the general
construction and arrangement of the projectile by which a maximum regularity of
systematic fragmentation is obtained.
Fig. 5 is a modification of the construction shown in fig. 1, in so much as the

page_text: bursting charge 9 is below the stars and bullets, instead of being above. The
communication between the fuze 4 and the bursting charge 9 is established by a
central tube 11.
Second improvement. When a gun is fired with ordinary so called metallic
ammunition, there is a great rush of gas around the projectile before it has moved
sufficiently far forward that the rotating band has arrived to the grooves of the rifling
and so closed the windage; this rush of gas causes scoring of the bore near the shot
chamber.
To prevent this, I have devised a gas jet wad, which is interposed between the base
of the projectile and the powder charge contained in the cartridge case.
The gas
pressure generated on the explosion of the charge forces the gas check against the
walls of the cartridge case and against the base of the projectile and thus effectively
cuts off any escape of gas past the walls of the chamber and the projectile.
The wad consists of a thick metallic ring 12 fig. 1, a plastic ring 13, which may be
made of asbestos, paper pulp dipped in wax or any other suitable plastic material and
a thin covering metal plate 14. The wads are moulded into shape by suitable presses,
and fit tightly in the inouth of the cartridge case.
Fig. 6 is a modification differing from the arrangement shown in fig. 1, in as much
as the metal ring 12 when flattened by the pressure of the ignited charge has a
diameter exceeding somewhat that of the inner diameter of the cartridge case, for
the purpose of enabling the plastic wad to be driven more tightly against the inner
wall of the cartridge case, when the explosion takes place.
Third improvement. As hitherto manufactured, cartridges for ordnance carry their
primer permanently attached thereto, the consequence is a possibility of danger which
may result from accidental explosion, either during storage or transport.
My improvement has for its aim to avoid the said possibility of danger, by
constructing the cartridge case with a chamber into which the primer can be inserted
and held therein by friction. Thus, cartridges can be stored or carried loaded ready
for service, with the exception of putting in the primer, which is carried independently
and can be put into place instantly without the use of any tool whatsoever.
In fig. 1, 15 is the primer which is a gas check primer of the electric type, fig. 7,
or a gas check primer of the percussion type, fig. 8, inserted by friction into the
primer cavity 16 formed independently of the cartridge base 17 as shown in fig. 1 or
formed together therewith in one piece as shown in fig. 9.
To facilitate the extraction of the primer either after explosion or if desired to uncap
the cartridge, a groove 18 fig. 9 is cut across the primer chamber 16 for the introduction
of a pincers, to pull it out by the rim.
The tube forming the primer cavity may be established of such length as to cause
ignition of the powder charge at any desired point.
Fourth improvement. My fourth improvement consists substantially in applying to
the base of a cartridge in which the base is independently made from the body of the
cartridge, the means of checking escape of gas, as described with regard to the base of
the projectile, see fig. 1.
In fig. 10 the cartridge case 19 is formed with a separate base 20 comprising the
hereinbefore described cavity 16 and gas check primer 15. I apply a ring 21 of
plastic material, such as asbestos, or paper pulp dipped in wax or any other suitable
plastic material sufficiently consistent for the purpose of filling up any interstices
which may exist between the junction surfaces of 20 and 19 and thus acting as a
gas check.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :
First. The herein described construction of projectile, composed of the tube 1,
having longitudinal grooves 2, of the nose 3, fuze 4, base 5, band 6, stars 7, balls 8
and bursting charge 9 placed above or below the balls and stars, all for the purpose of
obtaining the maximum regularity of systematic fragmentation of the projectile, on
explosion of the bursting charge.

page_text: Second. The adaptation, under the lower end of the projectile of a cartridge for
ordnance, of a gas check wad composed of a metallic ring or disk 12 fitting snugly in
the cartridge, or having a diameter exceeding slightly that of the internal diameter of
the cartridge case, of a plastic material 13 and of a metallic covering plate 14, for the
purpose described.
Third. A cartridge for ordnance, having a base 17 capable of receiving or formed
with a cavity 16 for the introduction of a removable gas check primer, 15 (either an
electric or a percussion primer) for the purpose of enabling the cartridge to be capped
only immediately before the cartridge is fired, so as to avoid all possibility of danger
in manipulating or storing the cartridge.
Fourth. The adaptation of a plastic wad or ring 21 fig. 10, to the independent
hase 20 of a cartridge for ordnance, the said plastic material acting as a gas check, as
described.