Improvements in Shells or Projectiles Containing High Explosives such as Dynamite, Protecting the same, and Fuses therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Shells or Projectiles Containing High Explosives
such as Dynamite, Protecting the same, and Fuses therefor.
I ROBERT SOUTHWORTH LAWRENCE of Hotel Victoria, Northumberland Avenue,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
It has heretofore been impracticable to fire shells containing highly explosive
substances such as dynamite from guns of ordinary construction in consequence of
the heat and shock, due to the discharge of the ordinary powder charge causing the
ignition of the high explosive. The object of the present invention is to overcome
this difficulty and enable a shell, which may be of ordinary construction, to be
charged with a highly explosive substance, such as dynamite, and to be fired from
any of the ordinary types of light or heavy guns or cannon, without danger of
premature explosion of the shell.
According to this invention, a lining of nonconducting material, such as asbestos
cloth, or millboard, separates the high explosive from the metal of the shell, and
prevents the transmission of heat from the metal of the shell to the explosive. A
wad of nonconducting material, between the powder charge and the shell, serves to
guard the latter from a good deal of heat.
The high explosive contained within the shell is in the form of small packets, such
as discs, cubes, spheres, prisms, or irregularly shaped bodies, each packet being
enclosed in an envelope of impermeable material, such as parafined or varnished
paper or pasteboard-These packets are of small size, preferably not exceeding in
bulk a half inch sphere, and are designed to prevent the nitro glycerine or other
active agent in the explosive from becoming separated from the body or bodies with
which it is associated, and becoming concentrated in some part of the charge. They
also serve to prevent the shock of the explosion of the firing charge being transmitted
through the high explosive in the shell.

page_text: In large shells, the division of the high explosive, and the isolation of the various
portions of it, is increased by the use of partitions or divisions or boxes within the
shell These prevent relative motion between the packets, and if placed lengthwise,
ensure that the latter shall follow the rotation of the shell, without friction, among
themselves.
Shells charged according to this invention can be fired by either time or contact
fuses of ordinary construction. To obtain great penetration against armour plates
and fortifications, it is desirable that a slow acting contact fuse should be used. A
convenient arrangement for this purpose is to oppose to the movement of the contact
piece or striker a stout spring, which must be compressed through a considerable
distance before the fulminating powder is ignited.
Date : T
17
1
11000
R. S. LAWRENCE.
W. Lloyd Wise,
16, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: отошел
ти
оцено
such as Dynamite, Protecting the same, and Fuses therefor.
I, ROBERT SOUTHWORTH LAWRENCE, of Hotel Victoria, Northumberland Avenue
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 :-
It has heretofore been impracticable to fire shells containing highly explosive
substances such as dynamite from guns of ordinary construction in consequence of
the heat and shock, due to the discharge of the ordinary powder charge causing the
ignition of the high explosive. The object of the present invention is to overcome
this difficulty and enable a shell which may be of ordinary construction, to be
charged with a highly explosive substance, such as dynamite, and to be fired from
any of the ordinary types of light or heavy guns or cannon without danger of
premature explosion of the shell.
According to this invention, a lining of non conducting material, such as asbestos
cloth, or millboard, separates the high explosive from the metal of the shell, and
prevents the transmission of heat from the metal of the shell to the explosive. A
wad of non conducting material, between the powder charge and the shell, serves to
guard the latter from a good deal of heat.
The high explosive contained within the shell is in the form of small packets, or
portions such as discs, cubes, spheres, prisins, or irregularly shaped bodies, each
enclosed in an envelope of impermeable material such as paraffined or varnished
paper, cloth, asbestos, papier-maché, or pasteboard. These packets or covered portions
are of small size, preferably not exceeding in bulk half a cubic inch, and are
designed to prevent the nitroglycerine or other active agent in the explosive from
becoming separated from the body or bodies with which it is associated, and becoming
concentrated in some part of the charge, and assuming the very sensitive and
dangerous state which nitroglycerine assumes when not combined with an absorbent
material. They also serve to prevent the shock of the explosion of the firing charge
being transmitted to the high explosive in the shell in such a manner as to fire the
same.
In large shells, the division of the high explosive, and the isolation of the various
portions of it, is increased by the use of partitions or divisions or boxes within the
shell. These prevent relative motion between the packets, and if placed lengthwise,
ensure that the latter shall follow the rotation of the shell, without friction among
themselves.
Shells charged according to this invention can be fired by either time or contact
fuses of ordinary construction. To obtain great penetration against armour plates
and fortifications, it is desirable that a slow acting contact fuse should be used. A
convenient arrangement for this purpose is to oppose to the movement of the contact
piece or striker a stout spring, which must be compressed through a considerable
distance before the fulminating powder is ignited.

page_text: In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 shews partly in longitudinal section, and partly in elevation, a shell charged
with high explosive according to this invention and provided with a contact fuse.
Fig. 2 illustrates in longitudinal section a modified method of charging the shell,
and indicates the position the shell occupies in a gun, relatively to the firing charge,
which is shown in elevation.
In Fig. 1, 1 is a steel shell, formed with a charge chamber 2, which is lined with
asbestos paper or millboard 3, or with some other suitable material that is a bad
conductor of heat; the chamber is closed by a screw plug 4,-5 represents the
explosive charge, in the form of small packets, or portions enclosed in envelopes of
impermeable material, such as paraffined or varnished paper, cloth, asbestos, papier
maché or pasteboard, as hereinbefore described, and arranged to tightly fill the
chamber 2, so as to prevent relative movement of the packets during the firing and
flight of the shell. The contact fuse comprises a thin metal cylinder 6, charged with
rifle or meal powder or other explosive 7, and provided with a percussion cap 8; it is
placed within another thin metal cylinder or case 9, surrounded by the explosive 5,
and is normally kept in the rearward position shewn, by a spiral spring 10, soldered
or otherwise secured to its front end, and arranged to bear against the forward end of
the charge chamber. With this arrangement, when the shell strikes the object at
which it is aimed, the cylinder 6 will move forward relatively to the shell, thereby
compressing the spring 10; this will allow the percussion cap 8 to strike, and fire
the powder charge 7, and explode the shell charge. A short time will thus elapse
after the striking, by the shell, of the object fired at, before the shell is exploded,
hence the explosion will occur after the shell has entered or partly entered the said
object. It is desirable that the fuse should rend or shatter the whole of the cases
covers or envelopes of the packets, in order that their contents may be fired
(practically) simultaneously.
Any other suitable form of contact fuse, or a time fuse, may be employed in lieu of
that shewn and described, for exploding the charge within the shell. In Fig. 2 the
explosive charge 5 is shewn divided up by transverse partitions 11, which serve to
prevent the packets moving backwards or jamming against each other and producing
heat by friction at the starting or firing of the shell. The partitions Il may be
arranged longitudinally, instead of transversely as herein-before mentioned, for the
purposes stated; or the packets of high explosive may be packed in boxes, and so
placed in the charge chamber, with a like object. The fuse in the arrangement shewn
in Fig. 2 is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 ; but any other suitable fuse may be
substituted.
When a shell, charged with high explosive in the manner herein before described, is
to be fired from a gun or cannon, a wad or wads 12 (Fig. 2) formed of discs of
-material that is a bad conductor of heat, it may be asbestos board, is placed between
the shell 1 and the firing charge 13 of powder. The said wad or wads, which is or
are preferably about two inches in total thickness, serves or serve to prevent or
obstruct the transmission of heat from the firing charge 13 to the shell 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Charging a shell with a high explosive such as dynamite divided into small
portions enclosed in covers cases or envelopes that isolate the portions from one
another.
2. Charging a shell with a high explosive such as dynamite divided into small
portions enclosed in covers cases or envelopes that isolate the portions from one
another and interposing between the charge of packets or covered or enveloped
portions of explosive and the metal of the shell a substance that is a non conductor
or is a bad conductor of heat.
3. A shell charged with a high explosive such as dynamite in small portions
enclosed in impermeable isolating coyers oases or envelopes substantially as described.

page_text: 4. In a shell charged with a high explosive such as dynamite providing between
the said charge and the metal of the shell a layer or lining of material that is a non-
conductor or is a bad conductor of heat such for example as asbestos for the purpose
of protecting the explosive charge from the heat produced by the combustion of the
firing charge in a gun.
5. In a shell charged with a high explosive such as dynamite disposed in small
packets or envelopes or covers, providing divisions, walls, partitions, or boxes, disposed
in such a manner that the cavity of the shell is divided into or contains two or
more compartments or chambers in which the said packets or covered portions of
explosive are contained, for the purpose of preventing friction of the packets or
covered portions of explosive amongst themselves, or one against another.
6. The hereinabove described shell charged with an explosive such as dynamite in
isolated portions, whether substantially according to Fig. 1, or according to Fig. 2 of
the drawings annexed; and whether with the particular kind of fuse illustrated, or
any other suitable fuse.
7. In a shell charged with a high explosive in the manner set forth, a fuse in which
the movement of the striker is resisted by a spring to delay the ignition of the
fulminate substantially in the manner described.
8. The hereinabove described charge consisting of high explosive such as
dynamite in small portions in envelopes all enclosed in a cover 3.
.
P T 1
7000
1000 Cina in fun as
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.