Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Projectiles, Rockets, Torpedoes, and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1890
[Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM M. WOOD, of Washington, D.C.,
United States of America, Lieutenant.]
Improvements in and relating to the Manufacture of Projectiles,
Rockets, Torpedoes, and the like.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton. Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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:—
My invention relates to projectiles of the various kinds adapted to be used in
warfare and applies more particularly to those which are made hollow to hold a
bursting charge, although in some particulars it is of advantage in the case of solid
armor-piercing projectiles.
Among the kinds of projectiles to which the invention is applicable may be named
the following:
Projectiles, hollow or solid, designed to be fired from rapid fire guns or revolving.
cannon.
Common shell for use in all calibers of rifled guns and made of cast steel; cast iron
or thin rolled or forged metal.
Armor piercing sheel, such as are now made by forging or rolling of solid metal,.
usually a hard high carbon or chrome steel, capable of taking a higher temper.
Shrapnel and similar projectiles now made of thin cast iron or steel or thin rolled
or forged metal and closed by a head or base screwed into the body of the shell.
Shells and like missiles projected by rifled howitzers, pneumatic guns and like
machines.
Solid projectiles for armor piercing in which it may be desirable to have the
point of high grade steel or other hard metal and the body and base of a softer
or inferior metal.
Casing of various projectiles known as automobile or other torpedoes.
Rocket cases made of one or more metals, and in fact all kinds of projectiles
whether the same are to be of the same metal or of different grades or kinds of
metals.
The object of the invention is to produce a projectile made in sections of the same
or dissimilar metals the sections being welded together. This result has never before
been attained.
The object of the invention is further to do away with the difficulties incident, to
the methods of manufacture at present in vogue for projectiles, to lessen the cost, and
to facilitate the manufacture. A further object of the invention is to produce a
projectile of low cost and at the same time of high strength and efficiency.
The invention consists in manufacturing hollow or other projectiles. by forming the
same in two or more sections and then electrically welding the said sections together.
The point is preferably formed. as one of the separate sections, and the body and base
separately as two other sections. In the case of hollow projectiles, the body section
is formed preferably as a tubular section or a section open from end to end. The
point in the case of hollow projectiles may be entirely solid, but preferably has a
rather shallow depression forming the forward end of the hollow chamber. In the
case of solid projectiles it is easy and in fact preferable to form them in two sections,
the point being one section and the body and base the other. The same may be done
in some cases with hollow projectiles when they are short, but it is preferable to make
the base separately.
The projectile might be made of two sections joined on a line parallel to the axis of
the projectile instead of on a line transverse to the axis as in the case where the point

page_text: is made separately from the body. This method, however, is not so advantageous in
making armor piercing projectiles in which it is desirable to make the point a..
body of different grades or kinds of metal.
Armor piercing projectiles constructed according to my invention may be produced
at low cost and with great rapidity and may have a high strength and efficiency.
Heretofore armor piercing projectiles have been made with the body and head
integral with one another, and in some cases it has been attempted to form the body,
head and base section integral by a sort of rolling or forging operation. Hollow
projectiles have likewise been made by casting and then turning out the charge
chamber, the body and head being integral. It has also been proposed to make a
solid armor piercing projectile in a single piece with the head case-hardened. Where
the head of the projectile is made separately and welded to the body in the manner of
the within invention the head or point may be of a higher grade metal than the
body, or of a different grade of metal, or of a different material from that constituting
the body.
The invention also consists in forming a hollow armor-piercing projectile with a
strengthening internal burr or projection at a line between the point and body
where great strain and liability to breakage exist when the projectile strikes armor
plating.
This invention consists also in the manner of providing a projectile with a rotating
band by forming the projectile in transverse sections the line of union of which
corresponds with the location of the band, applying the band to the said sections at
the joint end and then welding the two sections together.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1, shows in longitudinal sections the three portions of a common shell, to wit;
the point, body and base as completely formed preparatory to being electrically
welded together.
Fig. 2, shows in a similar way the two parts of a shell which is made in two
sections, the point end and the butt or base end being approximately of equal
length.
Fig. 3, shows in perspective the complete manufactured shell.
Figs. 4 and 5, show the three sections of an armor piercing shell, detached in
Fig. 4, and joined in Fig. 5.
Fig. 6, shows in longitudinal section a modification in which the end section or
butt is made as a plug, but the point is welded to the body in accordance with my
invention.
Fig. 7, shows in longitudinal section a shrapnel shell formed in accordance with
my invention.
Fig. 8, shows one of the halves of a shell to be made by welding in a line parallel
to the longitudinal axis of the projectile.
Fig. 9, illustrates the application of the invention to an aerial projectile or shell.
Fig. 10, is a longitudinal section of a solid amor piercing projectile made in
accordance with the invention.
Fig. 11, is a side elevation and partial section of a portion of an electric welding
apparatus that may be used in practising the invention.
Fig. 12, shows a modification in the form of one of the holders of the electric
welding apparatus.
Fig. 13, is an end elevation of the upper part of the apparatus Fig. 11.
Fig. 14, is a similar view of an apparatus in which a modified construction of clamps
is employed.
Referring to Fig. 1, A, indicates the head, B, the body and C, the base of a
common shell arranged in the order in which the parts are joined to form the
complete shell.
The head A, of the usual form is made by any desired or convenient process, as for
instance by casting, or by other process, such for instance as one of those employed in
the case of armor piercing shell to be presently described, as drop forging, rolling,
bydraulic pressure, stamping or other usual processes employed in metal working.

page_text: The body B, is made tubular or open from end to end, and the base C, is separately
formed in any desired manner. It may be made of a drawn tube of homogeneous
metal, and of the same metal as the head, or it may be made of short sections of
suitable metal, swedged, expanded, or reamed out, or by any other method. The base
of the shell may be of the same thickness as the body, and may be stamped out,
flanged up, or otherwise made and provided with a suitable fuse hole.
The shell might be made in two parts as shown in Fig. 2, where the point section is
longer than in Fig. 1, and the base section is also extended. This form of base and
point section is better adapted, however, to the case of short shells than to those of the
proportions indicated in Fig. 1. It will be obvious that in any case, whether made in
two or three separate sections, the point may be made to embrace a greater or less part
of the charge space or none at all, as desired. The head and base may be made of
any desired form or thickness.
In the case of an armor piercing shell such as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the head of
the usual ogival form, and of the requisite or usual thickness of walls, may be made
by drop forging, rolling, hydraulic pressure, stamping or other usual methods. The
body of the shell may be made of a drawn tube of homogeneous metal, and of the
same metal as the head, or it may be made of short sections of suitable metal,
swedged, expanded, or reamed out, or by any method by which the interior cavity
may be made of the proper shape and to give the walls the proper thickness and
proportion. The base of the shell may be of the same thickness as the body,
and may be stamped out or flanged up, or otherwise made and provided with a
suitable fuse hole.
To apply a rotating band D, I form the several sections in transverse lines corre
sponding to the desired location of the band D, and turn down or provide the end of
the section with an offset as indicated to which the band may be applied before the
sections are joined together. Hitherto the practice has been to force the band into
position over the base and body of the shell by the application of great pressure which
necessarily strains the band.
The several sections having been formed as indicated, are now joined by the process
of electric welding in any suitable apparatus such for instance as that indicated in
Figs. 11 to 14, where I have shown one of the forms of welding apparatus suitable
for the purpose.
E, E, are bars or blocks of copper forming part of the secondary of an induction
coil by which currents of large volume but low electro-motive force may be developed
when an alternating electric current from any suitable source, such as an alternating
current dynamo machine, A3, is passed through the primary coil F. The bars E, E.
are radial extensions from a tube or cylinder H2, of copper through which the primary
coils F, are strung as indicated. The tube and bars are of large mass so as to carry.
the usual currents of large volume developed. The tube H2, has extensions or feet H³,
which support the apparatus upon a suitable base 7, of insulating material, preferably.
Applied to the tube H2, are a number of washers or plates T, of iron which serve to
form a magnetic mass that will heighten the inductive action between the primary and
the secondary. The tube H2, may be made in two parts united in any desired manner
at the center, or the extensions E, may be united to said tube by slipping upon the
ends of the same after the application of the plates or washers T.
A suitable rheostat or resistance G2, in the circuit of the primary coil serves to
adjust the amount of current flowing in the primary so that the amount of current
flowing through the clamps may be governed. The arm of the artificial resistance
may be turned to one side to cut off the current.
Mounted on the ends of secondary E. and in electrical connection therewith are the
copper blocks or bearings G, H, which support the parts to be welded. Block G.
may be provided with a step or seat adapted to receive the base C, and with a clamping
lever I, operated by a screw as shown and adapted to hold C, firmly connected to its
support. Clamp block H, has a movable clamp plate K, and fastening bolts, both
clamp and plate being suitably conformed to the section of projectile to be held by

page_text: them. For holding the head or point of the projectile, a clamp like H, K, might be
used where the head or point section is long enough to embrace a part of the
cylindrical portion of the projectile, or the clamp or holder might be a solid block, as
in Fig. 12, having a cavity conformed to the head and perforated at its rear to admit a
rod for dislodging the work after the welding operation.
For holding the tubular or round section of the projectile whether solid or hollow,
it is preferable to employ a clamp like that in Fig. 14, where the clamping devices are
shown divided in a vertical line so that both parts are in electrical connection with the
secondary directly, and the current is more evenly distributed in the work. In the
form shown in Fig. 13, the upper plate K, can only receive current through the work
and the clamp screws and the upper part of the tubular section is therefore liable to
heat less rapidly than the lower:
The clamp body H, moves on suitable guides on bar or block E, and can be forced
towards its opposite clamp by means of a screw L.
The parts of which the projectile is composed having been first properly made
separately in a way to fulfil their several requirements, as described, whether they are
to form a common shell or an armor piercing shell or projectile, are united by placing
them in their proper positions in the clamps of the electric welding apparatus with the
ends of the sections abutted against one another. A heating current of electricity is
then passed through them from one to the other, of a volume and for a length of time
sufficient to raise the contacting portions to a welding temperature. Pressure or
other mechanical force is then applied as well understood in the welding art to
complete the union, and the exterior of the projectile is finished off in any of the
usual ways.
In uniting the parts I may employ any of the devices or expedients used in the
electric welding process. I may for instance insert a mandrel, preferably of non-
conducting material, at the joint during the welding operation to prevent the.
formation of an internal burr, or I may bevel or taper the ends of the sections
where they abut as shown in dotted lines on sections A, B, C, in Fig. 1. By thus
bevelling the abutting ends the tendency to formation of an internal burr is relieved,
the metal being thrown outwards when the welding takes place.
I ordinarily prefer, however, especially in the case of an armor piercing shell, to
leave the end square as indicated in Fig. 4, on sections A, B, so that on application
of the end pressure to form the weld an internal burr or projection m, Fig. 5, will be
formed, the end pressure operating to crowd the metal inward beyond the plane of
the interior surface of the projectile. This interior burr or projection has an
important function in strengthening the projectile at the point where it is subjected
to great strain and liability to fracture when it strikes armor plating.
The several sections of the projectile may be of the same or dissimilar metals. Thus
in the case of armor piercing projectiles the point section would be made of a high
grade steel and the body portion of a lower grade steel or of some metal easier of
manipulation. Any metals or combinations of metal capable of being joined together
solidly by electric welding may be used.
Hitherto the practice has been to force the rotating band D, into position over the
base and body of the shell by the application of great pressure.
I propose instead of
this process to form the several sections in transverse lines corresponding to the
desired location of the band D, and to turn down or provide the end of the sections.
where they abut with an offset or reduced portion as indicated to which the band may
he applied before the sections are welded together.
Any other desired form of electric welding apparatus may be used for joining the
parts, the clamps or holders thereof being properly conformed to hold and make
good connection with the sections of the projectile.
In Fig. 8, is shown one half of a shell made in two sections joined on a line
parallel to the longitudinal axis. Each half may be formed by swaging or other
process and then electrically welded to the other half by placing it in a suitably
formed clamp or holder of an electric welding apparatus and subjecting them

page_text: to the electric welding process. This modification is not so desirable because it
does not so readily admit of making the point and body of dissimilar metals.
When a mandrel is employed to prevent the formation of an interior burr, as may
be sometimes desirable in the case of other projectiles than armor-piercing projectiles,
such mandrel may be made of any suitable material such as iron but preferably of a
material which is a bad conductor of heat and a poor conductor of electricity.
It is obvious that my invention is applicable not only to the form of projectile
shown but to other forms of projectile, especially to those which require to have an
armor or net piercing point. The advantages of the construction described in the
case of armor piercing shell are apparent, as I dispense with all boring into solid
metal which is usually of high carbon or chrome steel to form the required cavity
for the bursting charge. Again as both classes of shells referred to are made in
sections, each section permits of more exact manipulation, being easier to wield and
allowing a more ready use of tools thereby insuring a greater accuracy of form, weight
and relative proportion.
It is also obvious that in my construction the use of fastening devices, as in the
case of Shrapnel shell for fastening the head or base to the body may be dispensed
with.
The construction of shell invented by me is especially useful in the case of armor
piercing shell which in order that they may be of the required strength must be made
by forging or rolling a piece of solid metal, usually a hard high carbon or chrome steel
capable of taking a high temper which requires afterwards to be bored out to form the
charge chamber and to have a suitable plug at its base fastened in place.
While I have shown one form of welding apparatus for uniting the several sections
by an electric welding process, it will be readily understood that other forms might
be used and that the welding might be effected by pressure applied otherwise than as.
an end pressure or by other welding manipulation practised in electric welding
processes.
Having described my invention in its application to shells of ordinary form, its
application to the construction of other forms will be sufficiently clear from the other
figures of the drawings which will be briefly referred to.
In Fig. 6, the separate end section C, is replaced by a screw plug, the shell being
formed in practically two parts A, B, welded together.
In Fig. 7, a Shrapnel shell is shown the three sections of which are indicated by
the dotted transverse lines.
Fig. 9, illustrates an aerial projectile or shell. Hitherto this form has been made
in two sections of rather thin metal fastened together on a line as y, y, where the walls
of the shell are required to be strengthened by the application of internal rings brazed
into place. I dispense with these rings and weld the point end to the body as before
described. In some constructions the base C, and body B, have been made as a
single integral piece shaped up by a forming operation analogous to spinning and
difficult to accomplish. I prefer to make this part in two sections B and C, the
part C, being short and capable of being struck up from sheet metal while the
section B, may be made from tubing.
Fig. 10, shows a solid projectile the point A, of which may, by my invention,
be high grade steel while the body may be of an inferior metal joined to it.
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:
1. The herein described improvement in manufacturing hollow and other projectiles
by forming the same in two or more separate sections and then electrically welding
the said sections together to form the complete projectile, as and for the purpose
described.
2. An armor-piercing projectile having a point of high grade steel or other metal
welded to a body portion of a lower grade or different metal,

page_text: 3. An armor-piercing shell having an internal burr at the line of union where the
point or head is welded to the body.
4. The herein described method of manufacturing a projectile with a rotating
band, consisting in forming the same in sections whose line of union is at the point
where the band is located, applying said band to the end of one of said sections, and
then welding said sections together, as and for the purpose described.
5. The herein described method of manufacturing hollow projectiles, consisting in
forming the hollow body as a tubular section separately from the point and base,swaging
the head and base to the desired form, and uniting the three several sections thus
formed by electric welding, as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 16th day of December 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.