IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Alexander Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
April 1854.
I, JAMES ALEXANDER SMITH, of Edinburgh, in the County of Midlothian,
North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES "
follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture (by casting, pressure, turning, or
otherwise,) and application of cylindro-conoidal detonating shells for use as
war projectiles, and for other purposes where explosive missiles of such a
nature are advantageously applicable. These shells may be made or formed
by pressure, loading and nippling being effected in cases. The apparatus
employed may conveniently consist of a flat horizontal table set on pillar
framing, above which are placed two rotating wheels or discs, serving respec-
tively for the formation of the cylindrical and conical portions of which the
shell is composed.; for this purpose, one of the discs is made with recesses
or counter dies for the reception and formation of the cylindrical portion of
the shell, which is made with a dovetailed, lip. This disc revolves upon the
surface of the table, which acts as the bottom of the recesses, except where an

page_text: aperture is made through to a receptacle for the finished shells beneath the
table. The disc provided for the formation of the conical part of the shell is
at a higher level than the cylinder disc, and is supported on a block. This
disc is also formed with recesses for the reception and formation of the cone,
which is formed with ribbed or radiated edges, the supporting block being
formed with convexities, which enter the recesses in the disc and give the
desired shape; whilst the block is cut away at the point where the cylinder is
brought beneath the cone, for the purpose of effecting the junction of the two
and completing the shell. Above this arrangement of discs is a strong punch
head, capable of traversing vertically by a lever or piston action from below,
and carrying upon its lower face a series of shaping punches or dies corre-
sponding to the several operations comprehended in the construction of the
shell. After receiving their first punching, shaping action, the cone and
cylinder are carried round on their respective dies, so as to come under a
different part of the punch head; the next stroke of which introduces into the
cone, already pierced for the purpose by the first shaping action, a brass or
other metal tube, with a nipple or head, whilst at the same time the same
stroke causes the charge which is introduced by a lateral spout to be well
rammed into the cylinder. The next movement of the discs brings the
cylindrical bottom below the conical head, and the subsequent descent of the
punch head causes the interlacing of the ribbed or radiated and dovetailed
edges of the two portions of the shell, and forces the thus completed shell
down into a receptacle underneath. The different operations are carried on
simultaneously, so that after one revolution of the discs has taken effect at each
stroke of the punch head, a shell may be delivered in its complete state; or by
enlarging one of the discs and adding other discs round the circumference, the
various dies and punches being repeated, two or more shells may be delivered
in a finished state at each stroke. The whole punches and dies may be
screwed into the punch head and discs respectively, and-removed-at-pleasure,
to give place to others, for the manufacture of shells of different proportions.