IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES FOR ORDNANCE
Year: 1880

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Palliser, of No. 21, Earl's Court Square, in the
County of Middlesex, Knight, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROJECTILES FOR ORDNANCE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Palliser at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th August 1880.
WILLIAM PALLISER, of No. 21, Earl's Court Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Knight. IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES FOR ORDNANCE."
15
My Invention relates to projectiles for ordnance so constructed as to be
particularly adapted for the penetration of armour plates, although they may be
used for other artillery purposes. The body of the projectile is cylindrical, smaller
than the bore of the gun. Its head extends in the form of a long pointed, conoid,
the conoidal part being cast with a number of longitudinal ribs, by preference of
triangular form, projecting from its surface. At the base of the ribs, which is at
the springing of the conoidal curvature, the diameter measured across from point to
point of any two opposite ribs is nearly equal to that of the bore of the gun. On
the cylindrical body, close up against the ends of the ribs, I shrink a metal ring
having an external diameter nearly equal to that of the bore of the gun. I also
shrink or screw on a ring of like externa! diameter on the base of the projectile,
which is reduced in diameter to receive it. This latter ring is turned down smaller
for part of its length, and has a screw cut on the reduced part; on this is screwed
a ring of copper or other comparatively soft metal having a deep groove cut in its
face. When the projectile is in the gun it rests evenly on the two rings, the one
at each end of its cylindrical body, and when the charge is fired the pressure of the
powder gas acting in the groove of the soft metal ring expands it outwards, so that
it acts as a gas check, and takes the rifling. The head may be chill cast in one
piece with the body of the projectile, as described in the Specifications of previous
Patents granted to me, or the head may be made as a separate piece, and fixed to
the body. Its sharp conoidal form gives great penetrating power, the angular ribs
on it having the effect of initiating cracks in an armour plate, and causing it to
star in its fracture. The projectile may be cast solid, or it may be cast with an
internal cavity to receive a bursting charge.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Palliser in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st February
1881.
WILLIAM PALLISER, of No. 21, Earl's Court Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Knight. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES FOR ORDNANCE."
My Invention relates to projectiles for ordnance so constructed as to be
particularly adapted for the penetration of armour plates, although they may be
used for other artillery purposes. The body of the projectile is cylindrical, smaller
than the bore of the gun. Its head extends in the form of a long pointed conoid,
the conoidal part being cast with a number of longitudinal ribs, by preference of
triangular form, projecting from its surface. At the base of the ribs, which is at
the springing of the conoidal curvature, the diameter measured across from point to
point of any two opposite ribs is nearly equal to that of the bore of the gun. On
the cylindrical body, close up against the ends of the ribs, I shrink a metal ring
having an external diameter nearly equal to that of the bore of the gun. I also
shrink or screw on a ring of like external diameter on the base of the projectile,
which is reduced in diameter to receive it. This latter ring is turned down smaller
for part of its length, and has a screw cut on the reduced part; on this is screwed a
ring of copper or other comparatively soft metal having a deep groove cut in its
face. When the projectile is in the gun it rests evenly on the two rings, the one
at each end of its cylindrical body, and when the charge is fired the pressure of the
powder gas acting in the groove of the soft metal ring expands it outwards, so that
it acts as a gas check, and takes the rifling. The head may be chill cast in one
piece with the body of the projectile, as described in the Specifications of previous
Patents granted to me, or the head may be made as a separate piece, and fixed to
the body. Its sharp conoidal form gives great penetrating power, the angular ribs
on it having the effect of initiating cracks in an armour plate, and causing it to
star in its fracture. The projectile may be cast solid, or it may be cast with an
internal cavity to receive a bursting charge.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a longitudinal section of a shell according
to my Invention, the head portion being shewn in elevation; and Fig. 2 is a plan
of the head, which is cast with longitudinal chisel edged ribs A for the purpose
mentioned above, the extreme diameter from edge to edge of these ribs being a
little less than the bore of the gun. Behind the ribs a wrought iron or steel ring B
is shrunk on, the exterior part of this ring nearly fitting the bore of the gun. It
is preferably rounded off in front, as shown, so as to encounter less resistance of the
air. At the base of the shell another ring C is shrunk on, and behind it a ring D
of copper or other soft metal is screwed on the base of the shell at its reduced part.
This soft metal ring is made with a deep groove so that the pressure of the powder
gas may expand it, causing it to operate as a gas check. Instead of screwing on
the gas check ring D, as shewn, it may be merely driven on tightly on the boss at
the base of the projectile, which may be slightly undercut or have one or more
grooves round it, into which the pressure of the powder gas forcing the ring
inwards, as well as outwards, will cause it to engage firmly on firing.
projectile may be made as a shell to receive a bursting charge, as shewn, or it may
be cast as a solid shot. In either case it is preferred that the head portion with
its ribs be chill cast.
The
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I claim,-
The construction of projectile for ordnance having an elongated conoidal ribbed

page_text: head, a bearing ring at the springing of the ribs, and a bearing ring at the base of
the projectile, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Palliser, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
W. PALLISER
(LS.)