Improvements in the Construction of "High explosive" Shells.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of "High explosive" Shells.
I, THOMAS BLACK of 18 Elmore Road, City of Sheffield Iron Merchant do
bereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same has to
be performed, to bo particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention being a communication from Gilbert Harroun of Fifth Avenue
New York, United States, Gentleman, is for the improved construction of shells
for carrying high explosives, for example dynamite, with safety, and certainty of
action.
The construction is illustrated in the annexed sheets of drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in any of the figures in which
they occur.
Fig. 1, is a section of a complete shell made according to this invention.
Fig. 2, section through lines 2. 2.
Fig. 3, section through lines 3. 3.
Fig. 4, sention through lines 4. 4.
Fig. 5, enlarged section (vertical) of end of shell.
Fig. 6, enlarged part sectional end of shell.
Fig. 7, section through line 7. 7.
Fig. 8, section through line 8. 8.
In carrying out the invention I construct the shell as follows:
A, is the outer casing of the shell with the usual belt B, and shoe C, of softer
metal which forms no part of this invention.
The open end of the shell onse is closed by a cap D, and the interior forms a
clear chamber E, for the reception of what I term the cartridge and its carriage.
In the longitudinal centre line of the case I fix a tube or seinitubular rod F, the
rear end of which enters and is secured to the cap D, and the front end passes
partly through a corresponding hole made through the solid point G.
Upon this rod F, I place the cartridge carriage H, which encloses the cartridge
containing the high explosive mixture or material; the carriage is a metal casing
provided with a central tube which fits upon the rod F, so that it can slide upon it
in either direction, but this movement is controlled by coiled springs, ono I, being
placed at the rear, and another J, in front, both bearing against the carriage and
the shell case.
The cartridge carriage with its charge is thus securely suspended in the
space E, with an air space surrounding it, the springs 1, and J, being of the
requisite strength to resist any serious movement of the carriage from which there
might be danger of exploding the charge, either caused by shocks in transit or
from the impulse given to the shell at the moment of firing the gun.
The cartridge or inner case which contains the bursting charge is made
preferably of wood, it is marked K, and an air space is left between it and the
enclosing shell of the carriage.
The interior is fitted with a central perforated tube, round which the dynamite
or other explosive agent L, is filled in.
Passing through the cartridge tube N, is a second or intermediate tube O,
attached to the carriage H, also perforated, and forming the sleeve bearing through
which the tube F, passes.
All the three tubes are perforated as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6,
marked M, the interior of the tube F, and the perforations being filled with
gunpowder.

page_text: The front end of the tube F, is provided with a percussion cap or other
fulminating equivalent P, aud a pin striker or hammer Q is secured above the
cap P, by the nut R.
The front end of the cartridge carringe H, is closed by a screw cap S, provided
with nipples T for percussion caps, and communicating through passages charged
with powder, with the explosive charge L; the rear end of the carriage is covered
by a sliding cap U, with interposed springs.
It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that the bursting charge
of the shell is carried in a wood (or other non-conducting material) case, enclosed
in a metallic casing separated from it by an air space, and carried by and upon a
tube which is supported centrally in the shell case A but capable of moving upon
the tube longitudinally, such movement being controlled by springs I and J, and
that it is thereby protected from generated heat, and from accidental discharge iu
transit and the like.
When the shell is fired and strikes an object such for example as an armour
plate, the point is crushed back by the force of impact and the striker Q explodes
the cap or its equivalent P, which ignites the bursting charge L, while if for
example the sbell was to strike and pierco a wooden structure without damaging
the point, the carriage H, at the moment of impact would slide forward and
the capped nipples T, would strike the solid face of the point thus igniting the
charge.
The perforations in the tubes of the cartridge and its carriage as well as the
tubo F, will cause the ignition of the charge L, in whatever position the cartridge
may be upon the tube F.
The spring I, is preferably ande lighter at the end next the cartridge case, but
two springs may be used one lighter than the other to take up the first movement
of the cartridge case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In explosive shells, the method of carrying the high-explosive charge clear
from the shell case, upon a centrally located tube, and coutrolled in its longi
tudinal movement upon the tube, by means of springs as hereinbefore described
and shown.
•
2. In explosive shells, the means for carrying a high-explosive charge,
consisting of a case of wood or other non-conducting material containing the
charge, a surrounding metallic casing with an air space between the two, and
supported upon a central tubular rod, clear from the sides of the shell case,
provided with means for igniting the charge, as hereinbefore described and
shown.
3. In the construction of an explosive shell the combination and arrangement
of the parts for carrying the bursting charge, namely the charge-case or cartridge
case K, with its ceutral tube N; the outer casing or carriage H, with its central
tube O, and cap nipples T; the supporting tube F, with its means of ignition
at P, and controlling springs 1, and J, as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated the 18th day of August 1896.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant.