Improvements in or connected with Explosive Shells and in Fuses and Fuse Fittings therefor.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 27th May, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Explosive Shells and in Fuses
and Fuse Fittings therefor.
I, HARRIS PRIULI HURST, of 1103, East Capitol Street, Washington, D.C., United
States of America, Inventor, 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:-
-
This invention relates to explosive shells and to fuses, and fuse fittings for explod-
ing or detonating the explosive, and the fittings for closing and opening the
channel of the fuse.
The object of the invention is to construct a cheap, simple and efficient shell so
arranged as to be harmless until the same has been fired from the gun and at the
same time provide an independent attachable fuse that will afford sure means of
protecting the shell charge and igniting or detonating the charge at the proper
time.
The fuse fitting is composed of a carrier having therein a safety chamber closed
by a movable partition secured therein; the carrier attachable to the shell when
used.
The shell, when the safety fuse is attached thereto, has a safety fuse chamber
and a detonating chamber, and the passway or channel connecting the chambers
is normally closed by a double movable partition attached to the fuse carrier,
arranged as a door or shutter provided with a gas check and closing the passway
or channel of the fuse, so that, should the fuse explode accidentally or prema-
turely, pressure on the door or shutter seals the passway or channel and isolates
the explosion, and acts as a barrier to the passage of the burning gases through
the passway or fuse channel. The door or shutter being so arranged as to move
laterally by centrifugal force or mechanical means and open the fuse channel only
when the shell is fired and rapidly rotated, by any means, as, for instance, in its
passage through the rifle bore of the gun.
The explosive charge, commonly called the main or bursting charge, is divided
into detached isolated masses of explosive material of a less quantity than is subject
to detonation by the initial or firing shock.
I accomplish these results in the following manner, reference being made to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view partly in elevation, showing the chief
features of my invention.
Figure 2 is a cross section of Figure 1 on line
Figure 3 is a cross section of Figure 1 on line y-y.
Figure 4 is a perspective of the fuse carrier.
Figure 5 is a broken section of the base of a shell closed by a temporary plug.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fuse detached.
Figure 7 is a detail of the doors or shutters, showing the locking teeth or
ridges.
Figure 8 is a transverse section of one of the segments.
Figures 9 10 11 and 12 are modifications of the segment shown in Figure 8.

page_text: Figure 13 is a longitudinal section of a modification of Figure 1, showing a time
fuse on a 3-inch field gun shell.
Figure 14 is a cross section through the segments of Figure 13.
Figure 15 is a modification of Figure 14, showing the central passage through
the segments filled with balls, and
Figure 16 is a cross section of an explosive ball.
Reference letters are used to designate the various parts and like letters indicate
like parts.
The shell may be of any construction and of any suitable material and may
be provided with any suitable fuse, igniter or detonator. In Figure 1 the body
is composed of a steel tube, A, each end having interior screw threads to receive
the screw threaded base piece, B, and head, C. The interior of the shell is filled
with segments, D, each segment having a curved recess, E, and correspondingly
curved key, El, whereby the segments are locked securely against torsional motion,
as shown in Figure 3. The segments, D, may be made of cast iron or cast steel,
preferably with a flask-shaped recess, pocket or cell, F, having a mouth, F
through which the explosive, G, is placed or packed. The explosive is held in the
cells by any means, as, for instance, by a plug of wood, cork or paper, 'a, or any
other suitable material, or the explosive may be left exposed. The segments,
when fitted or locked together, form a charge carrying core with a central channel
or fuse-way, H, and surrounding the segments, D, may be packed asbestos.
In Figure 1 the base piece, B, has the fuse-way or fuse channel, H, opening
through it, and the rear portion of the base piece is recessed or cupped and
interiorly screw threaded and the separable fuse in its carrier, K, screwed therein,
as shown, and has a safety chamber, H¹, corresponding with the fuse-way or fuse
channel, H, which may be closed at any desired point by a partition. I, having a
nipple or firing pin, I. The upper portion of the carrier is enlarged and a
chamber or recess, L, formed therein. In chamber, L, is mounted a transverse
partition composed of overlapping doors or shutters, band b₁, each secured to the
carrier by pivot pins, c and c¹. The shutters close the chamber, H¹, and they
are held in the closed position by stops or abutments, & and d, and springs, e
and e, secured to the shutters and pivot pins, the springs being under tension
and holding the shutters against the stops or abutments. Safety chamber, H
may carry any suitable igniter or detonator. In Figure 1 I show a detonator M
resting on a ball bearing plate, N, beneath which is an annealed copper spring, 0,
all secured in the safety chamber by a screw plug, P, having handle bars, Pl, to
facilitate opening the chamber. On the upper face of the shutter, b₁, is a copper
plate gas check, f, and on the base piece, B, are two projecting annular ridges, g,
terminating in sharp edges. The space between the partition, I, and shutter, 61,
constitutes the detonating chamber. The detonator shown is composed of a case, h,
having a top, i, screwed therein, and carrying the primer or cap, j, seated below
the outer surface of the case. In the case are fulminate of mercury pellets,,
separated by cement, k¹, to insure the detonator from premature explosion by the
initial or firing shock. Case, h, has rubber rings. 1, seated in channels, 11, as a
shock buffer. Other yielding material besides untempered copper wire may be
used to check the rearward movement of the explosive material of the fuse. The
shutters, 6 and 61, may be placed in the head of the shell. In Figure 1 I show
a fuse-way or channel, H", having an asbestos lining, Q. and closed by a top.
piece, o, having a hot bar of iron, p, supported by wire rods, r, and held just out
of contact with the thin partition wall, s, closing the fuse-way or channel, H.
The operation of my shell is as follows: When fired from the gun, the asbestos
packing, J, keeps down excessive heat and the rubber rings, 7, diminish the shock
on the detonator, M, which retires rearwardly on its yielding cushion, the annealed
copper spring, O, it being compressed and without return elasticity.
In the meantime the rotary motion of the shell during flight swings, by centri-
fugal force, the metal shutters, 6 and 61, clear of the passway or channel between
the safety chamber and the detonating chamber, as shown in dotted lines, Figure 2,

page_text: the springs, e and e¹, readily yielding to the weights put upon them. Upon
retardation or impact of the shell, the passway or channel from the safety chamber
into the detonating chamber being open, the igniter or detonator slides forward
and, passing the open shutters, brings up against the partition, I, and is ignited
in the midst of the explosive charge by the firing pin exploding the primer or
cap, j, thus firing or detonating the explosive charge in the shell.
The thick wall of the carrier, K, Fig. 4, is shown cut away at t to accommodate
the shutters, but in large shells this will not be necessary, as the enlarged recess
or chamber, L, would afford sufficient space for the shutters to swing clear of the
passway or channel of the fuse. The soft metal plate on the shutter is of the
utmost importance, for a hard metal shutter bearing on the mouth of a hard
metal fuse channel would not prevent the passage of gas, should the fuse explode
accidentally or prematurely. The mouth of the fuse channel, when pressure is
applied to the shutter, cuts into the soft metal, preventing the movement of the
shutters to uncover the fuse channel, and thus the passage of gas is effectually
prevented. The explosive, which may be gunpowder, nitroglycerine, explosive
gelatine or any other suitable explosive, is put up in small quantities and in this
form is not easily fired or detonated by shock. Each segment has its own explosive
charge entirely separated from its neighbor, but the containing walls of the
segments have weakened sections or breaking lines, m, which, when one segment
is exploded, every segment is subjected to detonation at the same instant.
In using a chilled or frozen explosive charge, in some instances it may be
desirable to dispense with the fuse or detonator and depend on excessive heat to
thaw out, or, with wet gun-cotton or other saturated explosive, to take the moisture
out of and detonate the explosive.
With this object in view, I have made the point or top of the shell adapted to
crush on impact, thus insuring forcing the hot iron, 2, through the partition, s,
into the fuse-way, H, the excessive heat carried by the iron exploding or detonating
the explosive charge in the shell cavity.
Figure 7 shows the inner face of the shutters and a cross section on lines 2-2
having a file surface, or ridges or teeth, u, to interlock and bind or hold the
shutters against transverse movement, when pressure is applied thereto, as would
be the case upon the accidental explosion of the explosive material of the fuse
or detonator. It is intended to keep carrier, K, with its fittings and explosive
fuse material separate from the shell until ready for use, and in Figure 5 I show
the opening in the base of the shell closed by a temporary plug, R, having a
thumb piece, t¹, to unscrew the same. Figure 6 represents the separable fuse
having as a protection from the heat generated in firing, an asbestos cover, v, and
a temporary top, S, provided with a thumb piece, S¹, to unscrew the top when
the fuse is attached to the shell.
Figure 8 shows a modified segment in which a recess, w, is shown on the outer
surface to engage with a rib on the interior of the shell cavity, and a curved metal
disk, a¹, closes the cavity by spreading or flattening the disk, as shown, the
mouth, F, being recessed to retain the disk.
In Figure 9 the segments have the explosive charge contained in a cartridge, T,
and Figure 10 shows the segments charged from the outside and the opening
closed by a screw plug, al, and the plug may have a hole through it, as shown
in dotted lines.
Figure 11 shows a segment having its mouth closed by a cap or primer, j¹, and
Figure 12 illustrates a segment stamped or cut out of metal with a die, the two
sections to be united by electrowelding. Dotted lines around the cavity. E, show
the-transverse weakened or breaking lines, m. In Figure 5 a recess, gl, may he
used instead of the ridges, g, shown in Figure 1, and this recess may be filled
with asbestos and tallow, or any other suitable material as a gas check. The pivot
pins in Figure 1 are shown screwed into the carrier, K, or they may be formed
thereon, as shown in Figure 6, and may be of any desired size and strength.
In Figure 13 I show a scale drawing of a shrapnel shell for a 3-inch field gun

page_text: having a time fuse, V, and the tube, A', has a screw threaded groove, W, shown
also in dotted lines, constituting transverse breaking lines, and longitudinal
breaking lines or grooves, W, Figure 14, into which are keyed the longitudinal
ribs or keys, E", on the segments, D¹. The cavity in the head of the sheil and
the radiating tiers of pockets or cells in the segments, and the central channel
extending through the charged metal core, and also the cavity and cells or pockets
in the base piece, B, shown in dotted lines, may be filled with gunpowder, or any
other suitable explosive. Or the sectional metal core may be of but two pieces,
or each disk divided into two pieces, as shown in Figure 15, and the central
channel may be filled with lead or other metal balls, the spaces between filled
Or the
with gunpowder or other suitable explosive, as shown in Figure 15.
central channel, especially in large shells, may be filled with metal bombs,
Figure 16, having breaking lines, m", and a fuse or opening, a¹, therein, as shown.
The cells or pockets may be of any size and shape. The central channel through
the segments may be made larger or smaller and filled with gunpowder or metal
to produce a shrapnel effect.
As a shrapnel the segments shown in Figures 1 and 13, when filled with gun-
powder or with a high explosive, will furnish numerous dangerous fragments.
These segments may be plated by metal electrodeposited thereon, either before or
after charging the same; or the segments may be formed into a charge and all
the crevices, and the mouths of the cells, closed and securely cemented together
by metal electrodeposited thereon. The base plate, B, bears the weight of the
charge-carrying core in this form, and the walls of the shell can be made very
thin.
The fuse and fuse fittings shown in Figure 1 can be applied to some of the
shells in use, modifying the same to meet the particular explosive carried as a
bursting charge. In using wet guncotton and other explosives in a mass, the
detonating chamber, or partition, I, separating the mass of explosives in the shell
from the shutters, 6 and 61, may be of any desired size, form and strength with
rupturable walls, or walls with openings or mouths, F, covered or uncovered, to
enable the explosive material of the fuse or detonator to more effectually ignite
or detonate the bursting charge.
Many modifications can be made without departing from the letter, spirit and
scope of my invention. The hot iron, 7, may be carried in a telescopic tube
extending well forward of the head of the shell, so that at no time could the
explosive within the shell be fired or detonated by the hot iron, as it would be too
remote from the explosive charge to fire or detonate it.
I am not aware that any one has heretofore made, shown or described an explo-
sive projectile having the passway or channel of the fuse closed by a partition
or shutter attached to a separable fuse carrier and movable laterally therein, by
centrifugal force or otherwise, during the travel of the projection; and I desire
to protect my invention broadly without regard to the means I employ to accom-
plish the desired result.
It is apparent my invention covers broadly any equivalent mechanical means
for holding the movable partition in place in the fuse carrier, and moving the
same laterally clear of the passway or channel of the fuse, so that the same may
be enabled to ignite or detonate the main or bursting charge carried in the shell.
I also claim broadly the sectional charge-carrying metal core.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A shell having therein an explosive charge, and provided with a separable
fuse carrying a swinging door or shutter and a gas check isolating said fuse from
said charge.
2. In a shell, the base thereof having a central opening closed by a separable

page_text: fuse having a pivoted swinging door therein normally isolating the shell charge
therefrom.
3. In a shell, the base thereof having a central opening, said opening closed
by an attachable fuse provided with a gas check, and a double shutter closing the
passway or channel of the fuse to the bursting charge in the shell cavity.
4. In a shell, an explosive charge having a central passage into the same, a
separable fuse provided with a barrier closing said passage, and fuse stop or
partition forward thereof.
5. In a shell, an explosive charge, a separable fuse carrying a barrier closing
the passway or channel of the fuse, and a lateral recess or chamber in the passway
or channel of the fuse into which the barrier is moved during the travel of the
shell.
6. In a projectile, an explosive charge, a separable fuse provided with means
to isolate the gases upon the accidental or premature explosion of the explosive
material therein, and means to afford open communication between the fuse
material and the explosive charge during the travel of the projectile.
7. In a projectile, a fuse with a channel to the main or bursting charge, and
means to close the channel consisting of a hard metal barrier provided with a gas
check adapted to seal said channel upon the accidental or premature explosion
of the explosive material of the fuse; said barrier uncovering said channel during
the travel of the projectile.
8. In a projectile, an explosive charge, a fuse provided with a partition normally
closing the passway or fuse channel, said partition composed of hard and soft metal
to check the passage of gas upon the accidental or premature explosion of the
fuse material; said partition movable by centrifugal force, due to the rotary
motion of the projectile during the travel of the projectile, to open the passway
or fuse channel.
9. A projectile carrying an explosive charge, a separable fuse having therein
a safety chamber, a partition forward thereof, a detonating chamber forward of
said partition, and a lateral recess in the separable fuse into which the partition
is moved during the travel of the projectile; thereby opening the passway between
said chambers."
10. In a shell, the interior thereof having grooves or breaking lines, and an
explosive charge therein consisting of a metal core provided with cells or recesses
for the reception of the explosive charge, each cell or recess containing a charge
adapted to burst or shatter the walls of said cell or recess.
11. In a shell, the interior thereof having longitudinal grooves, and a sectional
metal core carrying a bursting charge in cells or pockets; said core provided with
ribs or keys to engage said longitudinal grooves and prevent the rotation of the
core within the shell.
12. For use in an explosive projectile, a double partition mounted in the passway
or channel of the fuse and completely closing the same; and means between said
partitions to lock the same against motion; said partitions movable laterally clear
of the passway or channel of the fuse during the travel of the projectile; thereby
enabling the fuse to ignite or detonate the explosive charge.
13. For use in an explosive projectile; a double partition provided with locking
ridges or teeth on their inner surfaces, said partition mounted in the passway or
channel of the fuse and movable laterally clear of the passway or channel of the
fuse during the travel of the projectile; thereby enabling the fuse to detonate or
ignite the explosive charge:
14. For use in an explosive projectile; a partition provided with a gas check
mounted in the passway or channel of the fuse and completely closing the same; -
said partition movable laterally clear of the passway or channel of the fuse during
the travel of the projectile; thereby enabling the fuse to ignite or detonate the
explosive charge.
15. For use in an explosive projectile, a fuse carrier provided with an isolating
partition and an interposed gas check normally closing the channel of the explosive

page_text: material therein; whereby the accidental or premature explosion or detonation of
the bursting charge, carried by the projectile, is prevented; and a cushion or
yielding check for the explosive material of the fuse.
16. For use in an explosive projectile, a fuse carrier constructed with a partition
normally closing the fuse channel, and movable laterally in a chamber in the
fuse carrier to uncover said channel; whereby the main or bursting charge, carried
by the projectile, may be exploded or detonated, and yielding means to check the
rearward movement of the explosive material of the fuse.
17. As a new article of manufacture; an explosive charge for shells consisting
of a sectional metal core provided with a series of cells or pockets for the reception
of the explosive, each cell containing an isolated amount of explosive material of
a less quantity than is subject to detonation by the initial or firing shock.
18. As a new article of manufacture; an explosive charge for shell consisting
of a sectional metal core provided with a series of cells or pockets for the reception
of the explosive and having a central longitudinal channel into which the radiating
tiers of cells open, each cell containing a walled-in isolated amount of explosive
material of a less quantity than is subject to detonation by the initial or firing
shock.
19. As a new article of manufacture; an explosive charge carrier for shells
consisting of a sectional metal core provided with cells or recesses for the reception
of the explosive, each solidly walled recess or cell containing an isolated charge;
said core, when exploded, will produce a multiple shrapnel effect.
20. As a new article of manufacture; an explosive charge carrier for shells
consisting of an interiorly recessed sectional metal core having a central longi-
tudinal channel into which the radiating tiers of cells or pockets open, each cell
or pocket containing an isolated bursting charge and a liner or packing between
the shell walls and the metal core containing the explosive.
21. As a new article of manufacture; a charge carrier for shells, consisting of
a section of a disk having a shallow cavity therein, a relatively heavy exterior side,
and locking means on said section and the interior of the shell walls.
22. As a new article of manufacture; a charge carrier for shells, consisting of
a section of a disk having a shallow flask-shaped cavity therein, a relatively heavy
exterior side, and a locking recess on said longitudinal side, and a key on the
opposite side thereof, whereby the segments are locked against torsional movement.
23. As a new article of manufacture; a charge carrier for shells, consisting of a
section of a disk having a shallow flask-shaped cavity therein, a relatively heavy
exterior side, and sections of the containing walls weakened.
24. As a new article of manufacture; an explosive charge carrier for shells, con-
sisting of a sectional metal core provided with recesses or cells for the reception
of the explosive and having a longitudinal channel into which the recesses or
cells open, each cell or pocket containing an isolated charge; said core, when
exploded, will produce a multiple shrapnel effect.
25. As a new article of manufacture; a charge carrier for shells consisting of
a metal core provided with cells or pockets for the reception of the explosive, and
caps or primers seated in the mouths of said cells or pockets to ignite or detonate
the explosive.
26. As a new article of manufacture; a charge carrier for shells consisting of
a metal core provided with cells for the reception of the explosive, said explosive
carried in cartridges adapted, when exploded, to shatter the cell walls.
27. As a new article of manufacture; an explosive charge carrier for shells
consisting of a metal core. provided with cells or recesses for the reception of the
explosive and having a central longitudinal channel containing balls: each cell
or recess containing an isolated charge; said core, when exploded, will produce
a multiple shrapnel effect.
28. In a shell, an explosive charge, a separate and previously highly heated
substance carried in a chamber out of contact with said charge; said material

page_text: retiring rearwardly through the chamber wall, upon retardation or impact of
said shell.
29. In a shell, an explosive charge, and an independent chamber carrying a
previously highly heated substance isolated from said charge by a barrier.
30. In a shell, a chilled or frozen explosive charge, and a previously highly
heated substance to detonate the explosive charge upon retardation or impact of
said shell.
31. In a shell, an explosive charge, and a previously highly heated bar, and
means to hold the bar out of detonating contact until the shell is propelled by
the gun.
32. In a shell, an explosive charge, and a previously highly heated bar, to
detonate the charge; the point of said shell adapted to retire rearward or crush
upon retardation or impact.
33. An attachable fuse for shells carrying therein a barrier closing the passway
or channel therefrom to the main or bursting charge contained in the shell, and
means to hold said barrier in the closed position until the shell is propelled by
the gun.
34. An attachable fuse for shells carrying a barrier closing the passway or
channel therefrom to the main or bursting charge in the shell; said barrier mov-
able to uncover said passway or channel during the travel of the shell.
35. A fuse composed of detonating material suitably cased or covered, and a
yielding ring or band surrounding the fuse case as a shock buffer.
36. A fuse, the carrier thereof containing a safety chamber normally closed by
a barrier mounted in a recess or chamber in said carrier and movable therefrom,
open the passway or channel from the fuse during the travel of the shell.
to
37. A separable and independent safety fuse for shell, consisting of a carrier
containing the igniting or detonating charge isolated therein by a movable barrier
secured in a recess or chamber in said carrier; said barrier uncovering the passway
or channel of the igniter or detonator during the travel of the shell.
38. A fuse composed of a carrier having a safety chamber therein provided with
igniting or detonating material protected by a movable barrier mounted in a
recess or chamber in said carrier, and a temporary cover or top closing the recess
or chamber.
39. For use in an explosive projectile; a base piece provided with recesses.
cells or pockets for the reception of the explosive, each recess, cell or pocket
containing a charge adapted to burst or shatter the base of the projectile into
numerous fragments.
Data: 02-11
f Tanna1900
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.