Improvements in the Manufacture of Shrapnel Shells.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left. 18th June 1889-Accepted. 20th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Shrapnel Shells. .
I. THORSTEN NORDENFELT, of 53 Parliament Street, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The shell consists of an outer envelope of thin steel and a series of built up discs
of cast iron formed in such a shape that recesses are formed between any two adjoining
discs for bullets of lead or other material.
The base of the shell is formed of a suitable material, cast iron, or cast steel with
a cavity for holding the bursting charge and a tube of thin steel is carried forward
from this cavity to the front end of the shell to conduct the flash from the fuze to
the bursting charge should the bursting charge be in the base. Each disc has a
central hole formed through, it for the tube to pass through. The outside of the
base piece is formed with a groove or depression around it to securely hold the
gas rings.
The manufacture of the shell is conducted in the following way—
The discs are built up one upon the other and the envelope is placed over them.
As soon
as the envelope is in position the complete shell is subjected to a
circumferential pressure which binds the whole securely together and forms the shell
to absolutely true dimensions. At the same time it breaks up the cast iron discs as
they are formed in such a manner that when pressure is applied outside they will
break up into fragments.
When the shell is burst the case is broken up and the discs which are already
separated during process of manufacture are projected as if they were bullets as in
the ordinary shrapnel shell.
Dated this 24th day of September 1888.
THN. NORDENFELT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Shrapnel Shells.
I, THORSTEN NORDENFELT, of 53 Parliament Street, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, 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 :-
The shell consists of an outer envelope of thin steel and a series of built up discs
of cast iron formed in such a shape that recesses are formed between any two
adjoining discs for bullets of lead or other material.
The base of the shell is formed of a suitable material, cast iron, or cast steel with a
cavity for holding the bursting charge and a tube is carried forward from this cavity
to the front end of the shell to conduct the flash from the fuze to the bursting charge
should the bursting charge be in the base. Each disc has a central hole formed
through it for the tube to pass through. The outside of the base piece is formed
with a groove or depression around it to securely hold the gas rings.
The manufacture of the shell is conducted in the following way :-
The discs are built up one upon the other and the envelope is placed over them.
As soon as the envelope is in position the complete shell is subjected to a
circumferential pressure which binds the whole securely together. At the same time
it breaks up the cast iron discs as they are formed in such a manner that when
pressure is applied outside they will break up into fragments.

page_text: When the shell is burst the case is broken up and the discs which are already
separated during process of manufacture are projected as if they were bullets as in
the ordinary shrapnell shell.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
the ordinary shrapnell shell.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 is a transverse section of a shrapnel
shell constructed in accordance with my invention.
A is a stamped steel casing.
B is a cast steel head or end.
CC are cast iron discs.
DD are leaden bullets or balls or rather cavities to receive such balls.
E is a cast steel base piece.
F is a tube of brass or steel.
G is a driving ring on the base of the shell.
In constructing the shell the parts B CDE and F are first brought together; the
tube F being screwed into the piece E and the discs CC slipped on to the tube. The
balls D D at the same time are arranged in their places; the end piece B is put on
and then by spreading out the mouth of the tube B these parts are all held together.
The case A is now placed over the other parts; it is at this time somewhat larger in
diameter than the size to which the shell is to be finished and the projectile is at
this stage submitted to circumferential pressure between concave dies.
The pressure reduces the case and makes it fit closely to the parts B and E
whilst at the same time it breaks up the cast iron discs for these discs are large
enough for the pressure to fall upon them and they are weakened by the cavities
formed in them to receive the balls D. The projectile may if necessary be turned or
passed through a ring die to reduce it exactly to the standard size. The driving
ring G at the base is afterwards applied.
In the shell shown by the drawing there are six cast iron discs and fifty six balls
but this may be varied. One half of the balls lie in cup like hemispherical hollows
and are so retained between the discs whilst the remaining balls are lodged in deeper
intermediate cavities of a depth equal to the diameter of the ball so that the ball
when in place does not project above the surface of the disc. The end piece B is
screwed to receive the fuse. The cavity in the base piece E receives the bursting
charge through the tube F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I would state that the
details of construction may be varied without departing from my invention and I
declare that what I claim is :-
1. A shell consisting of a thin steel case and containing a bursting charge and
also cast iron discs and balls or bullets held in cavities in such discs substantially as
described.
2. A shell consisting of a case containing cast iron discs broken in pieces as
described by mechanical pressure applied to the exterior of the case after the discs
have been placed within it.
3. A shell substantially as described and represented by the annexed drawings.
Dated this 14th day of June 1889
THN. NORDENFELT.