Improvements relating to Self-lubricating Projectiles for Fire-arms.
Year: 1898

page_text: 1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Self-lubricating Projectiles for Fire-arms.
THOMAS ANDREWS, 31, New Road, Woolwich, Kent, Gunmaker, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to improve the accuracy of flight of self-lubrica-
ting projectiles for small arms, machine and other guns.
In the Specification of former British Letters Patent granted to Harry Andrews
and dated 9th September A.D. 1895 No. 16836 there is described improvements
in and relating to projectiles for small arms and for machine and other guns and
which has for its main object the production of a self-lubricating projectile, that
is to say, a projectile containing or adapted to contain a suitable quantity of
lubricating material and so formed that as it is propelled along the barrel of
the fire-arm the lubricating material will be pressed or forced outward onto or
against the interior surface of the barrel which will thus be efficiently lubricated.
In this improved projectile the inertia of the atmospheric air and of the lubri-
cating material is utilized for pressing or forcing out the latter when the pro-
jectile is driven forward by the explosion of the charge in the gun. For this
purpose the improved projectile is made with one or more longitudinal passages
extending from its forward end or point and terminating in a series or group
of passages which extend radially through the exterior surface of the projectile
either at a right angle or at any other suitable angle to the longitudinal passage
or passages. The said passages are filled with a suitable lubricating material so
that when the projectile is moved forward by the explosion of the charge the said
lubricating material will be forcibly expelled or squeezed out of the said radial
passages on to the bore of the gun or into the grooves of the rifling.
After the lubrication in the aforesaid passages has been expelled and the pro-
jectile has left the gun, the atmospheric air passes through the longitudinal and
radial passages and thereby increases the resistance to the projectile during flight.
By my improvements I provide a projectile, of this kind or class, which pre-
vents the atmospheric air passing through the aforesaid passages after the pro-
jectile has left the gun and during its flight; moreover by reason of my improve-
ments the lubricating material may be expelled with increased force.
My said invention consists of the employment and application of one or more
sliding or movable air checks situated within the mouth of the longitudinal
passage or passages containing the lubricating material. The said air check
is made of a suitable shape and size to enable its free movement with the lubri-
cating material along the longitudinal passage.
The lower end of the longitudinal passage is preferably made conical in shape.
The air check is also preferably made to circumferentially fit the lower end of the
longitudinal passage, so as to enable it to effectually close the communication
between the said longitudinal and the radial passages.
When the lubricant is expelled the air check reaches and escapes itself at or
towards the lower end of the longitudinal passage and closes the radial passages
against any current of air passing through during the flight of the projectile.

page_text: The air check consists preferably of a spherical ball of lead or metallic cup
shaped stopple, when adapted to move with the lubricating material and close
the passages after its expulsion.
I sometimes construct my improved self-lubricating projectile with a fixed
air check and expel the lubricating material, mainly by its own inertia and the
centrifugal force due to the spin of projectile in the barrel. The said fixed air
check is provided with one or more small vent holes to prevent the formation
of a vacuum in the passages of the projectile during the expulsion of the lubri-
cating material.
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1
1000
Improvements relating to Self-lubricating Projectiles for Fire-arms.
THOMAS ANDREWS, 31, New Road, Woolwich, Kent, Gunmaker, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
-
The object of my invention is to improve the accuracy of flight of self-lubrica-
ting projectiles for small arms machine and other guns.
In the Specification of former British Letters Patent granted to Harry Andrews
and dated 9th September A.D. 1895 No. 16836 there is described improvements
in and relating to projectiles for small arms and for machine and other guns and
which has for its main object the production of a self-lubricating projectile, that
is to say, a projectile containing or adapted to contain a suitable quantity of
lubricating material and so formed that as it is propelled along the barrel of
the fire-arm the lubricating material will be pressed or forced outward onto or
against the interior surface of the barrel which will thus be efficiently lubricated.
In this improved projectile the inertia of the atmospheric air and of the lubri-
cating material is utilized for pressing or forcing out the latter when the pro-
jectile is driven forward by the explosion of the charge in the gun. For this
purpose the improved projectile is made with a longitudinal passage extending
from its forward end or point and terminating in a series or group of passages
which extend radially through the exterior surface of the projectile. The said
passages are filled with a suitable lubricating material so that when the pro-
jectile is moved forward by the explosion of the charge the said lubricating
material will be forcibly expelled or squeezed out of the said radial passages
on to the bore of the gun or into the grooves of the rifling.
After the lubrication in the aforesaid passages is expelled and the projectile
has left the gun the atmospheric air passes through the empty passages and
thereby increases the resistance to the projectile during its flight.
.
By my improvement I provide in a projectile of this kind or class an air check
to control the air current passing through the empty passages after the projectile
has left the gun and during its flight.
My said invention consists in the employment of a movable air check situated
and operating within the longitudinal passage containing the lubricating
material. The said air check is preferably made of lead, spherical or cupped in
shape and fitting the longitudinal passage loosely to enable its free movement to
the bottom thereof in conjunction with the lubricating material, as the latter
is being pressed out.
The bottom end of the longitudinal passage is made to circumferentially fit
the air check so as to permit the latter to effectually plug up and stop air cur-

page_text: rents from passing through the empty lubricating passages during the flight
of the projectile.
I sometimes construct my improved self-lubricating projectile with a fixed
air check and expel the lubricating material mainly by its own inertia and the
centrifugal force due to rapid rotation in the barrel of the fire-arm.
The said fixed air check is provided with a small vent hole to facilitate the
lubricants expulsion.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal view, in part central section of one form of my
improved projectile.
a is the air check shown embedded in the lubricating
material b. shows the air check in its position during the flight of the pro-
jectile. c, c show the radial outlet passages.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal view in part central section of another form of my
improved projectile, with a fixed air check a. shows the small vent hole. b
the lubricant within the longitudinal and radial passages. c, c', show the radial
outlet orifices.
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:-
1. A self-lubricating projectile, of the kind or class herein before described,
provided with a movable air check substantially as and for the purpose above
specified.
2. A self-lubricating projectile, of the kind or class hereinbefore described
provided with a fixed air check fitted to the front end thereof and formed with
a small air inlet for the purpose above specified.
3. A self-lubricating projectile made substantially in accordance with one or
other of the constructions illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 10th day of T..1.. 1900.
T. ANDREWS.