IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES.
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Jobson, of Derby, Engineer, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES.'
Sealed the 30th July 1869, and dated the 5th February 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Jobson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th February 1869.
I, JOHN JOBSON, of Derby, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES," to
be as follows:-
One object desired to be attained in the use of explosive projectiles is
the fracture of the parts of them into a number of fragments, each of
which may, on the explosion of the explosive matter contained in such
projectile, produce destructive effects.
Various attempts have been made to increase these effects by giving
definite form to the parts forming the case of the shell, adapted to
facilitate their action on each other; but to the best of my belief the

page_text: forms thus adopted or proposed to be adopted have been limited to the
cylindrical portion of the projectile, and the head or outer end thereof
has been formed solid, except for the passage of the charge, or some
part thereof, or for internal filling pieces.
The object of one part of my improvements is to admit of this head or
fore end of the projectile being split up into a number of definite forms,
and also thereby to facilitate the separation and distribution of those
composing the cylindrical portion of the projectile. For this purpose I
form the cylindrical portion of the projectile as has heretofore been
proposed for that part of a series of concentric rings, the inner ring in
each case having teeth of a wedge form, with rounded ends on its outer
surface to fit between teeth of a wedge form with rounded ends formed
on the inner surface of the outer ring, or the respective teeth are of
such form as shall insure the outward action of the teeth of the inner
rings being to separate the outer rings at their individual teeth, and
when laid together they lay in proper relative position by projections of
one ring passing into recesses in the next, or otherwise, up to the upper-
most ring, which is of a somewhat different form, and when piled
together they are retained in position by a screw spindle or connecting
piece passing from the tail piece to the point or head of the projectile,
as heretofore; but the fore end of the screw or connecting piece is,
according to my improvements, screwed into or connected to a hollow
portion only of the head or outer end of the projectile, and which
portion is externally of a conical form, the larger diameter of which is
towards the upper or outer end thereof, and the part between this outer
surface of this and the cylindrical portion of the projectile is composed
of concentric rings with teeth adapted to act on each other, as in the
case of those forming the cylindrical portion of the projectile. The
uppermost ring or plate of the cylinder above referred to forms the
upper part of the main chamber for the explosive matter, and it has
lateral channels on its.under surface or surfaces, and others through
it to the hollow cone, and if desired to between the cone and the parts
of the outer rings thereof, whilst there are channels or passages through
the hollow cone for the passage of the explosive matter through the
upper ring or plate to the inner chamber. By these means when
explosion of the contained matter takes place the projection or pro-
jections retaining the outer ring of the head of the shell in correct
position in relation to the cone will be first broken off in the splitting

page_text: up of those rings, and then all the others will be at once released, and
in addition to the downward and lateral spread of the cylindrical portion
of the projectile a forward and partially lateral spreading of the parts of
the rings forming the head or end of the projectile will take place on
the explosion of the contained explosive matter, whereby greatly
increased efficiency will be obtained. In some cases the projectile
may be made up of two or more of such conically formed parts and
their outer rings.
Another part of the improvements has for its object to render the use
of two or more concentric rings unnecessary to insure the fracture of
them into many definite parts. For this purpose in place of the two
or more concentric rings each of the pile of rings is formed with surfaces
inclining in opposite and other directions, or partly inclined and partly
in a plane at right angles to the axis of the projectile, or parallel to such
right angle, the object being that such rings may be composed of parts
of different thicknesses adapted by their action upon each other on the
explosion of the contained explosive matter to effect their fracture in
definite forms.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Jobson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th August 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
JOBSON, of Derby, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto I, the said John Jobson, Her special
licence that I, the said John Jobson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Jobson, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN EXPLOSIVE

page_text: PROJECTILES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Jobson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Jobson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
An object desired to be attained in the use of explosive projectiles is
the fracture of the parts of them into a number of fragments, each of
which may, on the explosion of the explosive matter contained in the
projectile, produce some destructive effect.
Various attempts have been made to increase these effects by giving
definite forms to the parts constituting the case of the shell, adapted to
facilitate their action on each other for separation of them into many
separate parts; but to the best of my belief the forms hitherto proposed
have been limited to the cylindrical or parallel portion of the projectile,
and the head or outer end of the projectile has been formed solid, except
for the passage into it, or of some part thereof, of the charge of explosive
matter.
The object of my improvements is to admit of the head or fore end or
part of the projectile being split or broken up into a number of definite
forms or parts, also by the form of a portion of this head or end to
facilitate the separation and distribution of parts composing the
cylindrical or parallel portion or body of the projectile.
And also an object of the improvements is to insure the fracture or
division of the parts of the projectile into definite portions or sections,
by forming such parts with surfaces inclining in opposite and other
directions, or partly inclined and partly in a plane at right angles to the
axis of the projectile, or parallel to such right angle, the object being to
form the rings so that the parts of them, by being of varying thicknesses,
may be better adapted for the portions of one ring in their action upon
those of another on the explosion of the contained explosive matter, to
effect fracture thereof into definite forms.

page_text: in carrying the same into effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows an external views, and Figure 2 a section of a projectile
constructed according to my Invention; Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
12, and 13 show parts of the projectile separately. In each of the
Figures the same letters are employed to indicate the same parts
wherever they occur.
a is what may be called the base of the projectile, upon which are
placed first a series of concentric rings 6 and c, the outer edges of which
are inclined at an angle on their upper and under surfaces, and then
what I call the stud ring or a thicker ring d, completing the cylindrical
or parallel portion or body of the projectile; then upon this ring d I
apply another series of rings which, so far as they are in pairs, are
concentric. These rings are respectively marked e³, e³, eª, e³, e³,
and ffff, forming a portion of the head or outer end of the pro-
jectile, and which is completed, so far as its external form is concerned,
by the outermost piece g. The variations in the size and form of the
respective rings e¹³, e³, e³, e^, e³, eª, and ƒª, ƒª,ƒ³, f, are clearly indicated
by the several Figures of this Drawing. The piece g is, as it extends
downwards within the rings f¹, f,ƒ³, f, of an inclined or conical form,
and it is connected to the base a by the screw spindle or connecting
piece h, which for this purpose is formed with a screw at each end
thereof, adapted that at one end thereof to pass into a corresponding
screw in the base a, and that at the other to pass into a corresponding
screw in the inner end of the piece g; and when the parts are closely
screwed together the stem holds all in correct relative position. Each
of these inner rings c and f¹, f, f, f, is formed with wedge-like
teeth c*,*, which as applied in the projectile are placed to come between
the teeth * and e* of the respective outer rings 6 and e¹, e³, e³, e'. It
will be observed that the sides of the teeth of the inner circles or rings
are not parallel, but are at an angle to those of the teeth of the outer
rings, and that they are clear one of the other. The form of these teeth
may however be rounded or otherwise, care being taken that the form
adopted be such that a forceable action outwards of the parts of each
inner ring tonds in their acting between the teeth of the respective outer

page_text: rings to effect the division of those rings into separate parts, which
action is facilitated by the inner rings being free to split or break up
into separate parts before they act on the outer rings. It will be seen
that the piece g is formed with an internal chamber g', and with
passages g², g², therefrom to the ring d, and thence to the main chamber i
formed within the outer ring c around the screw stem h, by which the
explosive composition may be supplied through the part g to the main
chamber i, and to a channel d¹ formed in the ring d; and, if desired, also
the explosive matter may be caused to flow up between the outer surface
of the cone g and the interior of the rings f¹, ƒ³,ƒ³, f. The chamber g¹
is closed by a screw plug j, which is withdrawn for the introduction of
the fuse. is a washer of leather or other suitable material applied
between the ring d and the upper surfaces of the upper rings 6 and c,
closing the lower part of the channel d', thereby forming it into a
chamber, and preventing the explosive matter from passing down
between the outer surfaces of the rings c and the inner surfaces of the
rings b. By these means, when the explosive matter in the projectile is
fired, not only will that explosive matter act on the rings forming
the cylindrical or parallel portion or body of the projectile, to cause
the fracture thereof into a number of definite portions, but a like
effect will simultaneously be produced on the parts forming the
rings e¹, e², e³, e^, e³, e³, and f', f, f, f*, of the head of the projectile.
This effect will be obtained by the ring d being forced up the piece g,
and thence forcing with it the rings f¹,f,f,f, e, and es, which will
thereby become broken up each into a number of distinct pieces corres-
ponding with the teeth thereof, and each of the teeth or portions of these
inner rings f¹, f', f,f", by their acting on the teeth of the outer rings,
will cause their fracture and separation. The ring d also becomes broken
into portions, separating at the parts d³. a³, d³, are studs affixed in
the outer surfaces of the rings a and d to pass into the rifle grooves of
the gun.
·
Figure 14 shows an external view, and Figure 15 a section of a slight
modification of the arrangements of parts of the projectile just described;
Figures 16, 17, 18, and 19 show parts thereof separately. In this case
there are three conically-formed pieces g, G, and G. In these Figures,
so far as the parts are like or correspond with those just described, they
are, for facility of reference, marked with the same letters already
employed. The explosive matter is in this case also applied through the

page_text: chamber g¹ and passages g³, g, to the channel d', and thence to a
chamber G* formed in the hollow conical piece or cup G, beyond which
it is prevented passing by means of a leather or other suitable washer m,
which is applied in the interior of the chamber G*, so as to surround the
spindle and prevent the passage of the explosive mixture between that
spindle and the piece G³, in order that the chamber i may in this case
be kept free of explosive matter. A washer of leather or other suitable
material is also applied between the lower surface of the ring d and the
upper portion of the piece G and upper ring 6 to prevent the explosive
material from passing between the rings 6 and the piece G, or between
the rings b and the rings c. By these means, on the explosion of the
explosive matter contained in the projectile, the ring d will be forced
up the cone g to act in splitting up the respective rings e', es, e³, et, e³, e³,
and ffff, as described in respect of Figures 1 and 2, whilst the
hollow conical piece or cup G will, by being forced in the opposite
direction, act by its outer conical surface on the correspondingly inclined
inner surfaces of the rings c to effect their fracture, in doing which the
ring G acts also on the ring G', which by its conical outer surface acts
more particularly on the lower of the rings c, whilst it is itself, broken
up by its under conical surface acting on the inclined projection a³ of
the base a.
Figure 20 shows by an external view, and Figure 21 by a vertical
section a modification of the parts of the projectile in which both the
rings b and c are formed with inclined upper and under surfaces, so that
the successive layers of them lie in inclined directions, the lower one
resting on a correspondingly inclined or conical surface as of the base a.
The chamber i is in part filled in by a wooden plug n, and the chamber
for the explosive material is mainly formed in the head o. In this case,
when explosion of the contained explosive matter takes place, the parts
of the rings b and c as separated are driven off in directions corre-
sponding with the angle of inclination of the respective rings 6 and o,
and the chambers g' and d¹, with the passages g, are all formed in the
head o. Figures 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 show parts of the projectile
separately.
Figure 28 shews an external view, and Figure 29 a section of one of
the projectiles adapted to a hexagon or other rifle gun; Figures 30, 31,
82, 38, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40 show parts of the projectile
separately, and marked with the letters of reference employed to indicate

page_text: corresponding parts in the previous Figures. In this case, in order that
the same mould may serve for all the rings 6 of the series, a stud 6¹ pro-
jecting from one surface of each, and a hole 62 in the opposite surface to
receive such a stud, in place of being one over the other, are a little on
one side one of the other according to the extent of pitch of screw and
the thickness of each ring.
Having thus described my Invention, and means which I adopt in
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I
claim is,―
First. The constructing projectiles with the head or outer end thereof
formed of a series of rings or parts, and with an internal cone adapted to
insure the breaking or splitting up of such rings into definite portions,
substantially as described.
Secondly. I claim the use of the hollow pieces or cups G, G', with
conical surfaces, acting substantially as described.
Thirdly. I claim the forming the rings b and c inclined or conical, or
partly flat and partly inclined or conical, on their upper and under
surfaces, substantially-as described._
In witness whereof, I, the said John Jobson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 29th day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.