Improvements in Projectiles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1898-Accepted, 8th Aug., 139'
Improvements in Projectiles.
I, OLIVER HAYES PALMER of 44 Trafalgar Road, Moseloy, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Publisher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention refers to hollow projectiles generally containing high and low
explosives such as dynamite, guncotton, or the so-called cordite, or other high
explosive, together with gunpowder or other comparatively low explosive and one
object of the invention is to produce an explosive projectile capable of being fired
from quick firing guns or other orduance, which will not explode until after striking
and entering the desired object.
According to my invention I arrange within a hollow cylindrical outer case or
shell (formed say with a conically shaped head) au inner vessel or receiver of
lesser length for coutaining the high explosive and made of a suitable shape (say
cylindrical) to correspond with the interior of the shell aud adapted to fit loosely
therein; this receiver is packed externally with some soft material, such as lambs
skin with the wool or für against the interior of the projectile, or with any other
material being a non-conductor of heat, soft or resilient and capable of retaining or
being lubricated, and felt or asbestos may be used. Between the base of the
receiver and the base of the projectile there is an air space which acts as a cushion
to reduce the initial shock or impact, caused by the propulsion of the projectile,
from being communicated to the uner receiver containing the high explosive in an
injurious degree. The receiver is retained in a forward position within the shell
and the rear air space thus maintained by means of a spring (say a spial spuug)
which latter should be so fitted as to allow for the free revolution of the inner
receive relatively to the external shell.
Between the forward end of the receiver and the forward end of the external
shell I place a low explosive such as gunpowder, which acts as communication
between the detonator and the high explosive. The detonator is situate at the
front end or point of the shell, and this may be fitted either by hxing the detonator
at the exterior of the point, or striking pait of the shell, and providing a com-
munication passage containing gunpowder or the like, whereby the ignition is
communicated to a low explosive in front of the inner receiver; or the detonator
may be located at the base of tho aperture and the impact communicated thereto
by a plunger normally held up by a spring or elastic washer.
By my invention the rotation of the shell upon hring (caused by the fling of
the gun) is not communicated in a full manner or with sudden shock to the inner
receiver, the latter being caused to revolve gradually by means of peripheral
frictional contact alone, while the air space at the rear reduces the shock of
propulsion, and the heat, generated between the shell and the gun, is insulated from
the inner receiver by the peripheral packing which also transforins the inner
receiver into a kind of air piston, while the lubricant of the said packing facilitates
its rotatioD.
Air channels or vents may be provided between the rear air chamber and the
forward space in the projectile to prevent excessive air pressure at the rear of the
receiver, and the latter should be lined say interiorly or provided with a chamber
at its rear part to form a non-conductor of heat. In some cases I dispense with
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page_text: the low explosive at the forward end of the receiver and I suitably connect the
detonator apparatus directly with the receiver containing the high explosive.
Dated this 5th day of October 1895.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.
I, OLIVER HAYES PALMER, of 44 Trafalgar Road, Moseley, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Publisher, 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
1-
My invention refers to hollow projectiles generally containing high and low
explosives such as dynamite, guncotton, or the so-called cordite, or other high
explosive, together with gunpowder or other comparatively low explosive, and one
object of the invention is to produce an explosive projectile capable of being fired
from quick firing guns or other ordnance, which will not explode until after striking
and entering the desired object.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will describe same with
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
Fig. 118 a longitudinal sectional elevation of a projectile coustiucted according
to my invention,
Fig 2 is a cross section taken upon the line X Y of Fig. 1, and
Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating an inner vessel or receiver when removed
from the projectile.
According to my invention I anange within a hollow cylindrical outer case or
shell A (formed say with a conically shaped head) an outer vessel or receiver B of
lesse length for contaming the lugh explosive, and made of a suitable shape (say
cylindrical) to correspond with the interior of the shell A and adapted to fit loosely
therein; this recenver B is packed externally with some soft material C, such as
lamb skin with the wool or fun against the interior of the projectile, or with any
other material being a non-conductor of heat, soft or resilient and capable of
retaining or being lubricated, and felt or asbestos may be used. Between the base
of the receiver B and the base of the projectile A there is an air space D which
acts as a cushion to reduce the initial shock or impact, caused by the propulsion of
the projectile, from being communicated to the inner eceiver B containing the
high explosive in an injurious degree. The receiver B is retained in a forward
position within the shell and the rear au space D thus maintained by means of a
spring E (say a spiral sping). The forward end of the spring E projects and is
received within a recessed part of the receiver B as shewn at Fig. 3, so as to allow
for the free evolution of the inner receive relatively to the external shell.
Between the forward end of the receiver B and the forward end of the external
shell A, I place a low explosive F such as gunpowder, which acts as a com-
munication between the detonator and the high explosive. Contamed within the
receiver B, and in order that the change of high explosive may be ignited at the
rear as well as the forward end sunultaneously, a perforated Lube II is provided
extending from the front of the receiver to the rear of same; such tube H may be
made of any suitable material. The detonator is situate at the front end or point
of the shell, and this may be fitted either by fixing the detonator at the exterior of
the point, or striking part of the shell, and providing a communication passage
coutaining gunpowder or the like, whereby the ignition is communicated to a low
explosive in front of the inner receiver; or the detonator may be located at the

page_text: base of the aperture and the impact communicated thereto by a plunger normally
hold up by a spring or elastic washier.
By my invention the rotation of the shell A upon firing (caused by the rifling of
the gun) is not communicated in a full manner or with sudden shock to the inner
receiver B, the latter being caused to revolve gradually by means of peripheral
frictional contact alone, while the air space D at the rear reduces the shock of
propulsion, and the heat, generated between the shell and the gun, is insulated from
the inner receiver by the peripheral packing C which also transforms the inner
receiver B into a kind of air piston, while the lubricant of the said packing
facilitates its rotation.
Air channels or vents G are provided between the rear air chamber D and the
forward end of the receiver B by passing a numbor of tubes through the receiver B,
so that upon firing, the receiver moves in a rearward duection relatively to the
outer casing A, thereby compressing the air in the chamber D thus forming an air
cushion and preventing the shock of the propelling charge from being communicated
in any great degree to the receiver B containing the high explosive. The air
chaunels G are of a sufficient number and size to prevent an excessive pressure of
air accumulating behind the receiver which would thereby force the receiver
violently forward when the first shock of the filing was over.
The helically spiral spring E, when compressed, occupies but little room in the
al chamber Ď, as each interior tuin fits within its adjacent or larger tuin, thus
when fully compressed occupying a space equal to the breadth of metal forming
such spring.
The receiver B should be lined say interiorly, or preferably constructed with a
chamber B at its rear end so as to form a non-conductor of heat, to the high
explosive.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my aaid inven-
tion and what manue the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim 19:
1. In projectiles, the combination of a hollow outer casing or shell with an inner
cylindrical receiver containing high explosive, capable of rotary and longitudinal
movement, such receiver being surrounded by some non-conductor of heat of a soft
nature and capable of absorbing a lubricant; the receiver having formed at its
rear end and in part therewith an air chamber, a low explosive situated within the
outer case or shell in front of such cylindrical receiver and an air chamber situated
between the rear of such receiver and the base of the projectile; tubes passing
through the receiver for conducting air from the rear to the front of said receiver,
and spring for retaining said receive in a forward position, a detonator being
located in the forward end of the shell all substantially as and for the purposes
described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The general construction and combination of puits composing my "Improve-
iments in Projectiles," all arranged and acting substantially as and for the purposes
described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 913
July 1890.
OGOT ATHU TO
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.