Improvements in Shells and other Projectiles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th June, 1891-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shells and other Projectiles.
We, JOSEPH ELTON BOTT, of Eyam, Metallurgist, and GEORGE HENRY
CAMMELL, of Brookfield Manor, Hathersage, Gentleman, both in the County of
Derby, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in shells and other projectiles, whereby
guncotton, bellite, roburite, dynamite, or other high explosives, may be exploded
in the rear of a shell or projectile. The said high explosive (at the moment of
detonation) is surrounded by compressed air or gas, or both, in such manner that a
mobile cushion is formed, whereby the rending tendency of such high explosives is
retarded and, instead of the breech or body of the cannon or other weapon being
burst, the shock is reduced, and the impulsive force of the released gases transferred
to the shell or projectile to be ejected.
In order to carry our invention into effect, we prefer to use a combined shell and
self-propelling projectile, such as is described in Bott's final Specification No. 19556,
December 5, 1889, in the manner hereinafter described.
The self-propelling shell or projectile above described consists, (as will be seen
on reference to the said final Specification) of a shell or projectile having a body to
which is attached (preferably by an interrupted screw) an easily detachable breech
piece or base, in which is a valve for the purpose of admitting gas or air, or both,
under pressure, and retaining the same in the chamber of the shell or projectile.
On the said detachable breech being released from the shell or projectile, when in
the bore of a cannon, the forepart of the shell or projectile is instantly propelled by
the expansion of the compressed air or gas, or both, issuing from the rear chamber
thereof.
The object of our invention being to increase the velocity of the shell or
projectile without using highly compressed air or gas, or both, we enclose in the
chamber of the shell or projectile, a quantity of high explosive, capable of
generating a sufficient amount of gas to increase the velocity at which the shell or
projectile is ejected, when the same is charged with air or gas, or both, under
pressure.
In order to effect the detonation of the high explosive, we suspend it in the body
of the shell or projectile, and attach a detonator, (preferably fulminate of mercury)
the attachment consisting of a wire or cord of suitable material, secured to the fore-
part of the shell or projectile, the rear part of the detonator being secured to the
detachable breech or base of the shell or projectile by a spring, cord, wire, or other
flexible device, so that when the breech piece or base of the shell or projectile is
detached, the fore part is propelled some distance up the bore of the cannon or
other weapon, until the spring cord, wire, or other device, is in full tension and
breaks, when the detonator is fired and the charge of high explosive is detonated
in a cushion of compressed air, which thus receives the shock, by these means the
advantage of the enormous power generated by high explosives is obtained without
the danger of bursting the gun or cannon by instantaneous shock. Other
suitable means may however be employed for detonating the explosive at the
required moment.
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1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shells and other Projectiles.
We, Joser ELTON Borr, of Eyam. Metallurgist and GEORGE HENRY
CAMMELL, of Brookfield Manor, Hathersage. Gentleman, both in the County of
Derby 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 : —
Our invention relates to improvements in shells and other projeciles whereby
guncotton, bellite, roburite, dynamite, or other high explosives, may be exploded in
the rear of a shell or projectile. The said high explosive (at the moment of
detonation) is surrounded by compressed air or gas, or both, in such manner that a
mobile cushion is formed, whereby the rending ten lency of such high explosives is
retarded and, instead of the breech or body of the cannon or other weapon being
burst, the shock is redneed and the impulsive force of the released gases transferred
to the shell or projectile to be ejected.
In order to carry our invention into effect we prefer to use a self propelling shell
or projectile, such as is described in Rott's final Specification No. 19556, December 5,
1889, in the manner hereinafter described.
The self propelling shell or projectile above described consists (as will be seen on
reference to the said final Specification) of a shell or projectile having a body to
which is attached (preferably by an interrupted screw) an easily detachable breech
piece or base, in which is a valve for the purpose of admitting gas or air, or both,
under pressure, and retaining the same in the chamber of the shell or projectile.
On the said detachable breech being released from the shell or projectile when in
the bore of a cannon, the forepart of the shell or projectile is instantly propelled by
the expansion of the compressed air or gas, or both, issuing from the rear chamber
thereof.
The object of our invention being to increase the velocity of the shell or
projectile without using highly compressed air or gas, or both, we enclose in the
chamber of the shell or projectile a quantity of high explosive capable of
generating a sufficient amount of gas to increase the velocity at which the shell or
projectile is ejected when the same is charged with air or gas, or both, under
pressure.
In order to effect the detonation of the high explosive, we suspend it in the body
of the shell or projectile and attach a detonator. (preferably fulminate of mercury)
the attachment consisting of a wire or cord of suitable material secured to the
forepart of the shell or projectile, the rear part of the detonator being secured to
the detachable breech or base of the shell or projectile by a spring cord, wire, or
other flexible device, so that when the breech piece or base of the shell or projectile
is detached, the fore part is propelled some distance up the bore of the cannon or
other weapon, until the spring cord, wire, or other device, is in full tension and
breaks, when the detonator is fired and the charge of high explosive is detonated
in a cushion of compressed air, which thus receives the shock: by these means the
advantage of the enormous power generated by high explosives is obtained without
the danger of bursting the gun or cannon by instantaneous shock. Other suitable
means may however be employed for detonating the explosive at the required
moment.
And in order that our said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect we will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same :-

page_text: part constructed according to our present invention drawn to ge
Figure 1.
13437
In both figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Our present invention is specially designed for use with self propelling shells or
projectiles constructed according to Patent granted to J. E. Bott dated December 5th
1889 No. 19556, in which compressed air or gas contained in the shell or projectile
is liberated at the breech by the detachable plug, as described in the Specification
of said Patent.
In the accompanying drawings a represents the body of the shell, the breechi
piece or base, which is attached to the body a preferably by an interrupted screw bi
in order that by a partial turn the said breech piece or base may be liberated from
the shell or projectile; is a flange which is screwed firmly to the breech piece
or base and secures a packing of gutta percha or other suitable material in
position; c is an opening through the breech piece or hase for the purpose of
admitting air or gas, or both, under pressure, and d is a screw plug or stopper
formed with a groove ', which, when the shell or projectile is in the charging
machine and the plug d is screwed partially back, admits the air or gas thereto,
and when the pressure gauge shows it is properly charged, the plug is screwed
firmly up to its seat.
-
We prefer to carry our invention into effect as follows:-
We construct an apparatus carrying a charge of high explosive and a detonating
arrangement in the following manner.
We employ a tube e (of metal or other suitably material) having a base el
into which is secured a pointed striker ; this chamber acts as a guiding tube for
a tube (of smaller diameter) capable of sliding in the bore thereof when
required.
The said inner tube g has a head g¹ in which is formed an anvil or receptacle h
which contains the detonating fulminate h¹.
g
The tube e is connected by a cross rod i and coiled wire with the fore part of
the shell or projectile a, and the tube y is connected with the breech plug of the
shell or projectile by wires attached to the head gl of the tube and passing
through holes in the base e of the tube e, a coiled wire j¹ connecting the wires j
with a rod fixed to the breech plug b.
On the striker f, a coil of gun cotton k, or other form of a detonating explosive,
is wound or placed, and as the respective tubes e and are perforated, detonating
contact is made with the body of high explosive 7, which we prefer to be of
cylindrical form, and to place around the tube e, as shown in the drawings.
Thus when the breech plug is released, the fore part of the shell or projectile
carrying the wire is propelled towards the muzzle of the gun by the contained
charge of compressed air or gas, and as the wire is fastened to the breech plug b
and retained at the breech of the gun, it follows that when the shell or projectile
has progressed a sufficient distance to uncoil the wires and j', contact must take
place between the point fl of the striker and the fulminating detonator h³,
thus firing the coil or cylinder of explosive k, which in turn fires the main
charge l.
It is evident that the point at which this explosion takes place may be accurately
governed by the length of the coils of wire and j.
By our invention it is possible to use high explosives for propelling or accelerating
the propulsion of shells and other projectiles without any danger of bursting the
gun, which generally takes place when a charge of high explosive is used between
the shell or projectile and the breech of the gun.
According to our invention the high explosive is fired in a stratum or body of
compressed air or gas behind a rapidly moving shell or projectile, thus practically
fulfilling the necessary conditions under which high explosives can be safely used
for ballistic propulsion.
If desired the shell or projectile may be charged with explosive gas instead of
air, in which case the effect will be still more powerful. Shells or projectiles of

page_text: the character referred to, when provided with our present improvements, are capable
of use with rifled guns.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
In shells and other projectiles of the character herein referred to, an apparatus,
carrying a detonator and a high explosive, capable of being adjusted with accuracy
as to point and time of firing, and causing the explosion to take place in a
rapidly expanding body or cushion of compressed air or gas, or both, substantially
as herein shown and described.
Dated June 9th 1891.
J. E. BOTT.
G. 1. CAMMELL.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.