Safety Dynamite Shells or Shells Loaded with other Dangerous Explosives.
Year: 1885

page_text: Safety Dynamite Shells or Shells Loaded with other Dangerous
Explosives.
THOMAS SMITH, Naval Architect 142 Glenarm Road, Clapton Park, Hackney,
London do hereby declare the nature of my invention for SAFETY DYNAMITE
SHELLS OR SHELLS LOADED WITH OTHER DANGEROUS EXPLOSIVES to be as
follows:-
This invention is for the purpose of preventing Explosive Shells used in Naval
or Military Warfare, from bursting in the gun, from the concussion caused by firing
the charge of powder. The Shell is made of the ordinary form and of various
dimensions, with the breech of the Shell screwed in over the full width of the
explosive chamber. At the forward end of the explosive chamber is fitted a
circular piece of soft felt about half inch thick. The Dynamite or other explosive,
is enclosed in a light metal, canvass or other covering impervious to absorbtion, the
detonator is fixed in the centre of the Dynamite or other explosive, and the tube
or fuse is brought out through the breech and to such length as may be required
for it to burn before firing the detonator, according to the range that is required.
At each end of the explosive charge is a pad of felt, also four pieces of felt are
brought along and secured to sides of Explosive in the four quarters. At breech of
chamber of shell is another circular piece of half inch felt as at the forward end.
The Explosive charge with the felt strips on sides and pieces on ends, is not of
such a size as to fill the chamber entirely, and the vacant space is filled up with a
thick oil or other suitable fluid, which combined with the elasticity of the soft
felt, will prevent any shock or a concussion of sufficient force to explode the
Dynamite or any other Explosive used.

page_text: Safety Dynamite Shells or Shells Loaded with other Dangerous
Explosives.
THOMAS SMITH Naval Architect 142 Olenarm Road Clapton Park, London
I do hereby declare the nature of my invention for SAFETY DYNAMITE SHELLS
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being made to the drawing
accompanying my provisional specification
-
This invention is for the purpose of preventing explosive Shells used in Naval
or Military Warfare from bursting in the Gun, Mortar or other apparatus from the
concussion caused by firing the charge of powder or other explosive used for
propelling the shell.
The shells are made of the ordinary form and of various dimensions with the
breech of the shell screwed in over the full width of the explosive chamber, at the
forward end of the explosive chamber is fitted padding of soft felt of suitable
thickness according to the dimensions of the shell and the amount of explosive to
be enclosed. The Dynamite or other explosive is enclosed in a light metal, canvass
or other covering impervious to absorption, the detonator is fixed in the centre of
the Explosive and the tube or fuse is brought out through the breech or any
convenient or suitable part of the Shell, and of such length as may be required
for it to burn before firing the detonator according to the range that may be
required.
At each end of the explosive charge is a pad of felt of any suitable dimensions,
also four pieces of felt are brought along and secured to sides of explosive, in the
four quarters, or bands of felt may be placed around same.
At breech of chamber of Shell is another circular piece of soft felt padding,
of dimensions and thickness in accordance with size of shell, same as at the
forward end.
The explosive charge with the felt strips on its sides, or placed around and the
felt pads on the ends, is not of such a size as to fill the chamber entirely, and the
vacant space is filled up with a thick Oil, Glycerine, Gelatine or other suitable
liquid or substance which combined with the elasticity of the soft felt paddings,
will prevent any shock or a concussion of sufficient force to explode the Dynamite
or other explosive.
The same principle is applicable for charging the explosive chambers of Rockets
used in Naval and Military Warfare, and is to be done in the manner before
described for Shells.
For exploding either Shells or Rockets I make no claim whatever, that may be
done by time fuse percussion or any other of the methods now in use.

page_text: 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. The means of overcoming the concussion caused by the discharge of the
powder or other propelling power that may be used to explode shells from
concussion when loaded with dangerous explosives.
2. The application of padding and lining of soft felt combined with a further
elasticity of thick oil, gelatine, glycerine or any other suitable fluids or substances
as is illustrated in my drawing and described in the foregoing specification.
Dated the oth
1000
THOMAS SMITH.