Improvements in Explosive Projectiles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1896-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Explosive Projectiles.
We SEBASTIEN LACAVALERIE, D.D.L. of Avenida E. No. 95 and VINCENT
BENEDETTI, Proprietaire of Avenida E. No. 50 both of Caracas in the Republic
of Venezuela, South America 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 aud by the following statement :-
This invention relates to shells, and particularly to what is known as dynamite
or explosive shells and bombs, and the object thereof, is to provide an improvement
in this class of devices, by means of which the shells or bombs are exploded, by
apparatus controlled by centrifugal force, and with this and other objects in view,
the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts
hereinafter described and claimed.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which
Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of our projectile with its
cartridge case attached.
Fig. 2, a side view of the same, parts thereof being shown in section, and showing
also a modification;
Fig. 3 a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 4a section on the line 4-4:
Fig. 5 an end view; and
Fig. 6 a view on an enlarged scale of the construction shown in Fig. 3, parts
thereof being in section.
The devices shown in Figs. 1 and 2, constitutes an explosive projectile which is
adapted to be fired from a cannon, as will be readily understood, and which consists
of two parts, the first or projectile portion of which comprises a concentric part or
magazine 2, as shown in Fig. 1, which is designed to receive the dynamite or other
explosive and the exterior part or casing 10, which is massive and conical at its
superior extremity, so as to be able to resist a shock, and to perforate an object
struck thereby, such as the armour of a war vessel.
This conical extremity is perforated centrally and longitudinally, and adapted to
receive a spring operated steel bolt 20 which is mounted therein, and which serves
to explode the projectile, at the instant of contact with the object at which it is
aimed. The bolt 20, is provided with a reduced inner section 17, on which is
mounted the spring 19, and said bolt projects through the partition or plate 18,
formed in the central bore or passage, in which it is placed, and the inner end 16,
of said bolt, is adapted to explode the cap or other explosive 14, as will be readily
understood, and which covers the tubular extension 13, on the magazine 2, and
between the head 16, and the cap or explosive 14, is a space 15, through which the
head 16 passes, when the bolt 20, strikes the object at which the projectile is
aimed.
In addition to the outer or massive conical part, already described, and the
middle or cylindrical part or body in which is placed the magazine 2, the projectile
also comprises a lower part or receptacle, which is screwed on to, or otherwise
secured to the casing of the projectile and to the end of the magazine or to the
shell by which it is formed.
This lower part is adapted for use in case automatic igniters are employed, which
are operated by centrifugal force, and the construction thereof is clearly shown in

page_text: The inner end 11, of this lower part, is perforated centrally, to receive the
rapsule or igniter 7, and is provided on its upper or inner surface with flanges by
means of which it is screwed on to the end of the projectile, and the end of the
casing or shell of the magazine.
This lower part or end of the projectile is cylindrical in form, and hollow, and
adapted to receive the iguiters 6 which will be hereinafter described, and the outer
end or part 27, thereof, may be formed separately, if desired, in which event it
may be screwed on, or otherwise secured after the igniters have been placed in
position.
The outer shell 10, of the projectile, is also preferably connected with the conical
point, by means of a screw thread, and the connection of the magazine 2, therewith
will be readily understood, from the drawing and from the description hereinbefore
given, and said magazine or receptacle 2, may be made of wood, or compressed
paper so as to absorb as little as possible of the beat, produced by the friction of
the projectile, in the rifling of the cannon, as well as the heat created by the
friction of the air, during the rapid trajectory of the projectile, and the rotation
thereof, and for this reason also there is formed between the magazine and the
outer casing or part 10, an aunular space 23, which may contain asbestos or any
other heat insulating body.
The outer casing 10, is also provided with a covering 9 of copper, which is
designed to operate in connection with the rifling in the cannon, and to aid in the
proper ejection and rotation of the projectile, and this cover may also be of lead,
tin or zinc.
The automatic igniters 6 shown in Fig. 3 which are operated by centrifugal
force, and which are placed in the lower end piece, as hereinbefore described, and
which is shown at 11, in Fig. 1, consists preferably of four balls 6, of perforated
cast iron, each of which slides on an iron tube 4, and each of which is provided
with a central bore or channel 5.
Connected with these balls are bronze rings or washers 2, through which the
tubes project, and to which are secured springs 3, which serve to secure the
detonation when the centrifugal force which moves the balls during the projectory
of the shell, ceases to work, and which is produced by the revolution of the
projectile during its projectory or when the projectile stops or strikes the object at
which it is aimed.
These balls are united to the steel shafts or igniters 7 which slide in the
channels 5, of the tubes 4, by screws 30, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 and in the space
between this detonator or igniter, is placed a primer 8, which is of extreme
sensibility and which communicates with the dynamite in the concentric shell 2.
This primer comprises an outer concentric or ring 8, which operates in cou-
nection with cross shaped extremities 9, which serve as an anvil for the igniters 7,
and the operation of these parts will be readily understood.
The second part of our improved explosive projectile consists of the cartridge
case 5, which is connected with the end of the projectile which contains the auto-
matic iguiters, which operate by centrifugal force, as clearly shown in Figs. 1
and 2, and this case, as will be also understood is designed to receive a charge of
powder by which the projectile is thrown, and the connection between the
cartridge case 5, and the projectile may be made in any desired manner, and
formed in the lower end thereof, or in its base, is the usual percussion cup or
igniter 4.
In place of the form of igniters, shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and hereinbefore
described, I may employ those shown in Fig. 2 in which the balls 6, have the shape
of the regulators of a steam boiler, being pivotally supported at 26, and held out of
contact with the primer during the trajectory of the projectile, by which the
centrifugal force is produced against the steel springs 25, which are secured to the
support 26. This form of construction is simpler than that shown in Fig. 6, and
herein before described, and either of said forms may be employed as desired.
Our invention is not limited to the exact form, construction and arrangement of

page_text: the various parts thereof, as herein shown and described; and we therefore reserve
the right to make all such alterations therein, and modifications thereof as fairly
come within the scope of the iuvention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In an explosive projectile for cannons or heavy ordnance, the combination
with a projectile provided with a dynamite chamber, of a casing or shell secured
thereto, in which is placed the powder by which the projectile is projected, and
operative devices connected therewith, for exploding the dynamite, said devices
being operated by centrifugal force substantially as shown and described.
2. The combination with a dynamite shell or projectile having a primer or
igniter at one end thereof, of devices for igniting the same, which are operated by
centrifugal force, substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination with a dynamite shell or projectile having a primer or
igniter at one end thereof, of devices for igniting the same which are operated by
centrifugal force, said devices being held out of contact with the primer, or igniter
by centrifugal force, while the projectile is passing through its projectory aud
operating to explode the igniter, or primer, when the projectile strikes, substantially
as shown and described.
4. The combination with a projectile in which is placed explosive material and
which is provided with a supplemental shell, for the powder by which it is
projected, of igniters connected with and adapted to operate the primer or igniter,
of the explosive material in the projectile, said igniters being held out of contact
by centrifugal force during the projectory of the projectile, and operating to
explode the projectile, when it strikes, substantially as shown and described.
5. In an explosive projectile, the combination of a projectile in which is placed
a chamber for explosive material, said projectile being provided with a pointed end
and an automatic igniter in connection therewith, for the material therein, and said
projectile being also provided at its opposite end with an igniter, which is operated
by centrifugal force, substantially as shown and described.
6. In an explosive projectile, the combination of a projectile in which is placed
a chamber for explosive material, said projectile being provided with a pointed end
and an automatic igniter in connection therewith, for the material therein, and said
projectile being also provided at its opposite end with an igniter, which is operated
by centrifugal force, said igniter consisting of spring operated balls, which are held
out of contact with the primer, during the projectory of the projectile, but which
operate to ignite the same when the projectile strikes, substantially as shown aud
described.
7. In an explosive projectile, the combination of a projectile comprising a shell
having a conical or pointed end, and a chamber therein, for receiving explosive
material, said projectile being also provided opposite the conical end, with a
chamber in which is placed spring operated igniters, which are held out of contact
with the primer, during the projectory of the projectile, and which operate to
ignite said explosive material when the projectile strikes, substantially as shown
and described.
8. In an explosive projectile, the combination of a projectile comprising a shell
having a conical or pointed end, and a chamber therein, for receiving explosive
material, said projectile being also provided opposite the conical end, with a
chamber in which is placed spring operated iguiters, which are held out of contact
with the primer, during the projectory of the projectile, and which operate to
ignite said explosive material when the projectile strikes, said projectile being also
provided with a casing in which is placed the powder or charge, substantially as
shown and described.
9. In an explosive projectile, the combination of a projectile comprising a shell
having a conical or pointed end, and a chamber therein for receiving explosive

page_text: material, said projectile being also provided opposite the conical end, with a
chamber in which is placed spring operated igniters, which are held out of contact
with the primer, during the projectory of the projectile, and which operate to
ignite said explosive material when the projectile strikes, said projectile being also
provided with a casing in which is placed the powder or charge, and said projectile
being also provided with a covering of copper, or similar material, substantially as
shown and described.
10. A projectile for sbells or bombs, comprising a casing one end of which is
solid and conical in form, and said casing being provided with an inner chamber
adapted to receive dynamite or other explosive material, which is surrounded by
the annular chamber around the same, and means connected therewith, for
exploding the dynamite or other explosive material, when the projectile strikes,
substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 30th day of December 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.