AN IMPROVED METHOD OF CHARGING HOLLOW PROJECTILES WITH COMPRESSED GRANULAR EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1885

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention for "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF CHARGING HOLLOW PROJECTILES WITH COMPRESSED GRANULAR EXPLOSIVE
SUBSTANCES." A communication from Wilhelm F. Wolff Commerzienrath of
Walsrode and Max de Förster, Premier Lieutenant I R of Berlin, both in the
German Empire and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be'
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The explosive substance in sufficiently minute particles is introduced through the
mouth of the hollow projectile until it is nearly filled. A cylinder of a compressed
mass of the same or of another explosive substance, which causes the first
explosive substance to detonate and serves for a priming cartridge, is then
introduced into the hollow projectile after which the latter is filled up with liquid
paraffin. The paraffin fills the interstices between the individual grains of the
explosive substances and also the space between these grains and the wall of the
projectile; it congeals quickly and converts the whole charge into a rigid solid
body.
In lieu of paraffin, wax may be employed, or a mixture of wax and paraffin or
any similar substance, which does not prevent the transfer of the detonation from
one particle of the explosive substance to the other.
Instead of introducing the priming-cartridge before pouring in the paraffin a.
cylinder made of any other solid material of metal for instance, may be temporarily
introduced, the paraffin filled in and the cylinder taken out after the paraffin has
congealed. A hollow space is thus formed into which the priming cartridge is
lodged. The latter is caused to detonate by means of a flame from a fuze placed
at the head of the hollow projectile into the interior of the cavity of the projectile.
When porous explosive substances are employed the several grains and the
priming cartridge are protected by a coating against the entrance of the paraffin as
far as is necessary for the detonation.
In nitrated cellulose as gun cotton for instance, this coating is easily effected by
dipping the pieces into a solvent of the nitro cellulose.

page_text: In ordinary black powder a coating is not necessary. To produce the detonation
of a priming cartridge made of nitrated cellulose a copper cap is used.
The copper cap is the same which has been hitherto used; it consists of a metal
tube provided with a bottom at one end and open at the other end, it is filled in
part with fulminating mercury. The copper-cap is lodged in a cavity of the
priming cartridge with the open end turned towards the mouths of the hollow
projectile.
The following improvements may be applied.
1). When the priming-cartridge is made of nitrocellulose and a liquid dissolving
nitrated cellulose is filled up into its cavity and the copper cap placed therein,
whilst the dissolved parts of the walls are still damp the copper is fixed in the
priming cartridge as soon as the latter is perfectly dry. The diameter of the cavity
is equal to that of the copper-cap. The copper cap is not in mechanical connection
with the fuze of the hollow projectile.
In Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawing a is the.copper-cap filled in part with
fulminating-mercury. b is the priming cartridge with a cavity in its centre the
diameter whereof is equal to the exterior diameter of the copper-cap; c is the
fuze of the hollow projectile, d, its wall, e the filling.
.
2). The metal tube of the copper cap may be provided at its opening with a rim
strong enough to sustain the pressure and shock exerted thereupon and so that the
metallic tube will not be separated from the rim, supposing the material of the
metal tube to offer sufficient resistance. When the diameter of the metal tube is
6mm the rim is nearly 5mm thick and its exterior diameter is nearly 12mm The
copper cap by means of its rim can be fixed in a metallic cylinder which is connected
with the fuze. The copper cap penetrates into the priming cartridge whose diameter
is a little greater than that of the copper cap.
The rim of the copper cap may be surrounded with a capsule of india rubber by
which it can be fixed in the metal cylinder. Shocks caused by the intermediation
of the tube upon the copper-cap, are mitigated by the india rubber.
In Figures 3 and 4 a is the border of the copper cap. the india rubber
capsule. c, the metal cylinder of the fuze, in which the copper cap is placed.
d the metal tube of the copper cap filled in part with fulminating mercury.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
A method of charging hollow projectiles with compressed granular explosive
substances in such a way, that the hollow projectile charged with explosive
substance is filled up with liquid paraffin or other similar mass such as Japanese
bees wax and Chinese wax, solid distilled fatty acids, as for instance palmitic acid,
morganic acid, stearic acid, that furthermore, when the priming cartridge consists of
a nitro-cellulose, the copper cap is fixed by means of a solvent of nitro cellulose or
that the metal tube of the copper-cap is provided with a rim which is sufficiently
strong to prevent its being bent and the metal tube being separated from it, and
that, by means of this rim the copper-cap is fixed in a cylindrically shaped
prolongation of the fuze of the hollow projectile, and that finally the rim of the
copper cap is surrounded with india rubber substantially as and for the purpose
above described.