Improvements relating to Armour piercing and other Projectiles or Shells.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 13th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Armour piercing and other Projectiles
or Shells.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of Crayford Works, Crayford, in the County of Kent,
and Victoria Mansions, in the City of Westminster, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to armour-piercing and other projectiles or shells and is
designed to afford the means for preventing or diminishing the rapid and destructive
wear or erosion which takes place in guns wherein heavy charges of powder are
employed with projectiles or shells as heretofore constructed.
It has been found that some of the most powerful guns heretofore constructed for
armour-piercing are practically unserviceable after they have been used for firing
say one hundred rounds, and that, in some cases, they are destroyed with much greater
rapidity.
By reason of this rapid wear and the enormous cost of manufacture of such guns,
the firing of each individual shot involves a very large expenditure of money, the
expenditure represented by the loss due to wear and tear of the gun being additional
to and greatly exceeding that represented by the loss of the powder-charge and of the
projectile, when the latter is not recovered.
The destructive action or erosion above referred to usually takes place in the bore
of the gun at or near the commencement of the rifling thereof, and is due to the escape
or rush of the gases between the projectile and the bore of the gun. With a view
to prevent such erosion, projectiles have been provided with driving-rings or gas-
checks of copper or other suitable metal, designed, in some instances, to be
expanded, and intended to fit into the grooves of the rifling. When, however, by
the explosion of the powder-charge in a gun, a pressure of say twenty tons per
square inch is set up in the chamber of the gun, the tendency of the gas to thus
escape between the projectile and the bore of the gun is very great. And the gas-
checks heretofore employed have not proved effective in the case of such high
pressures. Moreover, by reason of the torsion or twisting action to which the
driving-ring or gas-check ordinarily employed on the projectile is subjected when
entering the rifling of the gun, the said ring does not accurately fit the rifle-grooves,
a small space being left between the said ring and one side of each groove. The
rush of gas through the spaces thus left, rapidly erodes the steel and shortens to
a very great extent the life of the gun, the steel being eaten away almost as rapidly
as ice would be destroyed by a stream of boiling water.
Now the object of my invention is to provide for preventing the escape or rush of
gas between the projectile or shell and the bore of the gun, so that there will be but
slight erosion of the steel tube or lining and the life of the gun will be greatly
prolonged.
For this purpose I combine, with the projectile or shell, compressible packing and
suitable means whereby, when a powder-charge is exploded in a gun to effect the
discharge of the projectile or shell therefrom, the said packing will be subjected to a
pressure per square inch greater than that set up in the chamber of the gun, and
will, therefore, be forced outward against the bore of the gun and also backward
between the projectile or a cap or disc secured thereto and the bore of the gun against
the force of the gases which would otherwise escape between the projectile and the
bore of the gun.
I find it advantageous to make the projectile in two parts one of which is movable
longitudinally and is also capable of rotation relatively to the other, and to arrange,
between these parts, one or more rings or annular pieces of packing and one or more

page_text: air-chambers or other spaces, so that the surface of the rear portion of the projectile
which bears against the packing will be less than the surface thereof acted upon by
the pressure in the chamber of the gun, and the pressure per square inch exerted upon
the said packing will be correspondingly greater than that in the said chamber. The
said packing will thus be forced outward against the bore of the gun with such pressure
that no gas can pass the said packing.
When I make the projectile in two parts as above described, I sometimes provide
the rear portion of the said projectile with a driving ring of copper or other suitable
material, which, as the said rear portion is free to rotate relatively to the forward or
main portion of the projectile, will not be subjected to excessive torsion when entering
the rifling, and will, therefore, accurately fit the grooves of the rifling and thus
produce, if necessary, a more effectual obturation of the bore of the gun.
One portion of the projectile is preferably provided with one or more extensions
upon which the other part of the said projectile is fitted so that it can slide longi-
tudinally and also, if desired, rotate thereon.
For securing together the two parts of the projectile with the packing between
them, I find it advantageous to employ a screw-bolt, which is passed through the rear
portion of the projectile and screwed into the forward portion thereof, a gas-tight
joint being made between the said bolt and the said rear portion, which is free to slide
thereon, by means of suitable packing.
For forming the said gas-tight joint, I sometimes form in the rear portion of the
projectile an annular taper or conical chamber or recess, in which I place soft metal
or other suitable packing. In combination with this packing, I provide a disc of soft
metal or other suitable material which is inserted in a dovetail recess or cavity in
the rear portion of the projectile or is otherwise secured thereto. When the rear
portion of the projectile is moved forward upon the said bolt, the pressure of the gases
acting upon the said disc will force the said disc and the packing into the said
conical recess, and the packing will thus be tightly wedged against the said bolt.
The aforesaid screw-bolt can be used, if desired, for imparting an initial compression
to the packing between the two parts of the projectile. The said bolt, moreover,
affords the following advantage, riz. :-In target practice, or in testing the gun or the
gun-mounting, when there is no necessity for great rapidity of firing, the said bolt
can be turned, after the projectile has been rammed into the gun, so as to compress
the packing and force it outward against the bore of the gun, thus making a gas-
tight joint between the projectile and the bore of the gun before firing the gun. By
this means I avoid any slight erosion which might take place before the inertia of the
rear portion of the projectile has been overcome and the packing forced outward by
the pressure of the gases generated by the explosion. It is obvious that I can, if
desired, employ other means for compressing the packing by hand, or for securing
together the two parts of the projectile.
In the case of an explosive projectile or shell, it is advantageous to arrange the fuse
in a chamber in the forward end of the said bolt, and to secure it therein by means
of a screw-threaded ring or plug, or in any other convenient manner. I thus provide
for the removal and replacement of the fuse with the said bolt without disturbing any
other parts of the projectile, and without detaching any of the parts of the fuse from
each other.
The ring er rings of packing forming the gas-check or obturator between the
projectile or shell and the bore of the gun may be formed of various materials, for
instance lead, canvas and gum, asbestos, plumbago and tallow, jute or hemp mixed
with composition such as that used for the manufacture of printers' rollers. In fact
any suitable material or composition or combination of materials may be used, which,
when subjected as above described to a pressure per square inch greater than that due
to the explosion in the gun, will be compressed and forced outward so as to fit gas-
tight into the rifling of the gun, I sometimes arrange between the two parts of the
projectile, two rings or annular pieces of lead or other soft metal, or of stiff fibrous
packing, which bear against the adjacent surfaces of the parts of the projectile, and
between which is arranged another ring or layer of softer and more easily compressible

page_text: packing, consisting, for instance, of a mixture of asbestos, plumbago, Burgundy pitch,
Russian tallow and beeswax. This easily compressible packing will, when the rear
portion of the projectile commences to move forward, be forced outward against the
bore of the gun, and, as the pressure to which the said rear portion of the projectile
is subjected increases, the rings of stiffer or harder packing will be forced outward
against the bore of the gun and will prevent escape of the softer packing between
the projectile and the bore of the gun. The forward ring or annular piece of soft
metal or stiff fibrous packing may, if desired, be made slightly cup-shaped or
formed with a flange extending a short distance forward. In some instances, I so
construct and arrange the parts of my improved projectile or shell that, when the
rear portion or movable cap or disc is driven forward by the explosion of the
powder-charge in a gun, the aforesaid packing will, when forced outward, fill up
a recess or cavity between the rear driving ring on the forward or main portion
of the projectile and the driving ring on the rear portion thereof.
If necessary or desirable, I provide in the projectile one or more pipes or passages
communicating at one end with the air-chamber or air-chambers between the two
parts of the projectile and at the other end with the exterior of the projectile at any
convenient point forward of the ring of packing.
Instead of arranging the packing at the base of the projectile, I can arrange it
at any other convenient part thereof. For instance, I may place the ring or rings
of packing about. midway between the ends of the projectile, a suitable shoulder being
formed upon the projectile and a cap being fitted upon the rear end of the projectile
to transmit the pressure of the gases to the said packing.
Or I may provide other convenient means for ensuring the requisite compression
and forcing outward of the packing for the purpose above specified.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Armour-piercing and other Projectiles
or Shells.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of Crayford Works, Crayford, in the County of Kent,
Mechanical Engineer, 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 armour-piercing and other projectiles or shells, and is
designed to afford the means for preventing or diminishing the rapid and destructive
wear or erosion which takes place in guns wherein heavy charges of powder are
employed with projectiles or shells as heretofore constructed.
This destructive action or erosion usually occurs in the bore of the gun at, or near
the commencement of the rifling thereof, and is due to the passage of the between
gases
the projectile and the barrel.
It has been found that some of the most powerful guns heretofore constructed for
armour-piercing are, by such erosion, rendered practically unserviceable after firing
about one hundred rounds, and in some instances in a much shorter time.
By reason of this rapid wear and the enormous cost of manufacture of such guns,
the firing of each individual shot involves very large expenditure of money, the
expenditure represented by the loss due to wear and tear of the gun being additional
to, and greatly exceeding that represented by the loss of the powder-charge and of
the projectile when the latter is not recovered.
With a view to prevent the erosion of guns in the manner above mentioned,
projectiles have heretofore been provided with a ring of copper or other suitable
inetal, designed, in some instances, to be expanded, and intended to fit into the grooves
of the rifling and to serve as a gas-check, and also as a driving-ring which by its

page_text: engagement with the rifling, will ensure rotation of the projectile about its axis.
When, however, by the explosion of the powder-charge in the chamber of a gun, a
pressure of say twenty tons per square inch is set up in the said chamber, the copper
or other rings heretofore employed have not proved effective, that is to say, although
the said ring may serve its purpose as a driving-ring, it does not act efficiently as a
gas-check, chiefly for the following reason, viz.:-As very rapid rotation has to be
imparted to the projectile in the short space of time which it takes to travel along
the bore of the gun, the driving-ring, on entering the rifling, is subjected to very great
torsional and shearing stresses; consequently the projections formed on the said ring
are compressed and abraded by the driving side of the grooves of the rifling to such
an extent that the said ring does not fit the grooves with sufficient accuracy to.
completely close the space between the surface of the projectile and the interior
surface or bore of the gun, small spaces or passages being left between the other side
of the grooves and the projections formed on the driving-ring. The gas rushing
through the spaces thus left, rapidly erodes the steel of which the gun or its inner
tube or liner is composed, and shortens to a very great extent the life of the gun, the
steel being rapidly eaten away in a manner which may be compared to the melting
of ice by a stream of boiling water.
Now the object of my invention is to provide for effectually preventing the escape
or rush of gas between the projectile and the barrel, and the consequent erosion of
the steel tube or liner, thereby greatly prolonging the life of the gun.
To accomplish this result, 1 provide for the complete obturation of the bore of
the gun by means of a gas-check of soft or ductile metal or other yielding or
plastic material, which is suitably arranged upon the projectile or shell in addition
to the driving ring or band of copper or similar metal which, by its engagement
with the rifling, effects the rotation of the projectile.
1 arrange the said gas-check between the body of the projectile and a part which
is movable relatively thereto, in such a manner that, when the said projectile is
fired from a gun, the gas-check will be subjected to pressure and thus forced outward
against the interior surface or bore of the gun.
The employment of this gas-check in combination with a driving-ring of copper
or similar metal is an important feature of my said invention, as no metal which
has sufficient strength to resist the torsional and shearing stresses to which the
driving-ring is subjected by the rifling of the gun, would be sufficiently ductile or
plastic to be forced outward in such a manner as to fill up all the cavities or spaces
between the projectile and the barrel.
I find it advantageous to so construct my improved projectile, that the front and
rear portions thereof are movable longitudinally and capable of rotation relatively to
each other, and have between them one or more air-chambers or spaces, and to
arrange between the said two parts of the projectile, a gas-check composed of one or
more rings or annular pieces of soft or ductile metal or other suitable packing
surrounding the said chamber or chambers, so that the surface of the rear portion of
the projectile which bears against the said packing will be of less area than the surface
thereof acted upon by the pressure in the chamber of the gun; and consequently, in
the firing of the projectile from a gun, the pressure per square inch exerted upon the
said packing will be correspondingly greater than that of the gases in rear of the
projectile, as hereinafter more fully explained.
When I make my projectile with a rotating rear portion or base as above
described, I sometimes provide the base of the said projectile with a ring of copper or
similar metal, which serves as a driving-ring to effect the rotation of the said rear
portion of the projectile and also acts efficiently as a gas-check.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section, and
Figures 2 and 3 are side elevations partly in longitu inal central section, showing
different forms of explosive projectiles or shells constructed according to my sail
invention.

page_text: a is a portion of a rined gun.
A is the main portion or body of the said projectile or shell. B is a cap or base
secured to the rear end thereof as hereinafter described. C is a plug or block fixed in
the rear end of the body A. D is a screw-bolt for securing the cap or base B to
the main portion or body A whilst permitting it to move longitudinally and to
rotate relatively thereto. E is a driving-ring of copper or similar metal. E' is the
ordinary steadying-ring. F is a ring of copper or similar metal which is secured
to the movable cap or base B for the purposes hereinafter mentioned. The plug or
block C is formed with an annular projection C₁ which fits into a corresponding
recess or cavity B₁ in the cap or base B in such a manner that the said cap or base
can move a short distance forward upon the said projection. Two annular air-
chambers G are thus formed between the two parts A, B of the projectile. The said
rear portion or base B is designed to be moved forward relatively to the body A, when
acted upon by the pressure of the gases generated by the explosion of the powder-
charge in the gun, for the purpose hereinafter explained.
H, H are two rings or annular discs of lead or other soft or ductile metal, or of
stiff fibrous packing or similar material. These discs are arranged between and bear
against the adjacent surfaces of the said two parts A, B of the projectile. Between
these rings or discs H, H¹ is arranged another ring or layer J of softer or more easily
compressible or more plastic packing, such for instance as a mixture of asbestos,
plumbago, Burgundy pitch, Russian tallow, and beeswax. This easily compressible
or plastic packing will, at the commencement of the forward movement of the rear
portion of the projectile relatively to the body thereof, be forced outward against the
interior surface or bore of the gun, and, as the pressure to which the said rear portion
of the projectile is subjected increases, the rings or discs of stiffer or harder packing
will also be forced outward, and will prevent the oozing out and spreading of the softer
packing between the projectile and the bore of the gun. These three discs of packing
form my improved gas-check or obturator. It is obvious, however, that I can employ
any other convenient number of discs of the same or other suitable material if desired.
The forward disc or annular piece H of soft metal or stiff fibrous packing may, if
desired, be made slightly cup-shaped or formed with a thickened rim or flange
extending a short distance forward as shown.
The screw-bolt D for securing together the two parts A, B of the projectile with
the packing or gas-check between them, is passed through the movable rear portion
or base B and screwed into the plug or block C in the body A of the projectile, a gas-
tight joint being made between the said bolt and the cap or base B by means of
suitable packing, so that the said cap or base is free to slide upon the said bolt, whilst
the entrance of gas to the air-chambers G is prevented. For forming the said gas-
tight joint, I sometimes provide in the rear portion or base B an annular taper or
conical chamber or recess B2, in which I place soft metal or other suitable packing K.
In combination with this conical packing, I provide a disc or washer L of soft metal
or other suitable material which is inserted in a dovetail recess or cavity in the rear
portion or base B, or is otherwise secured thereto. When the said rear portion B is
moved forward upon the bolt D, the pressure of the gases acting upon the disc L will
force the said disc and the packing K into the said conical recess B2, and the packing
will thus be tightly wedged against the said bolt, and will prevent the entrance of the
gases into the chambers or spaces G.
The said screw-bolt D can be used, if desired, for imparting an initial compression
to the packing between the two parts of the projectile, before the said projectile is
inserted in the gun. The said bolt, moreover, affords the following advantage, viz.:-
In target practice, or in testing the gun or the gun-mounting, when there is no
necessity for great rapidity of firing, the projectile may be rammed into place
in the gun-barrel with sufficient force to prevent its turning too freely in the
barrel, and then the bolt D can be screwed up with a long spanner, or in any other
convenient manner, thus squeezing the packing or gas-check outward against the
interior surface or bore of the gun. This operation very effectually prevents any
slight erosion that might take place by the passage of gas between the projectile and

page_text: the barrel before the inertia of the cap or base B has been overcome, and the gas-
check forced outward by the pressure of the gases generated by the explosion.
It is obvious that I can, if desired, employ other means for securing together the
two parts of the projectile with the gas-check between them, and for compressing
the said gas-check by hand for the purpose above specified.
In the case of an explosive projectile or shell, it is advantageous to arrange the
fuse in a chamber or cavity D' in the forward end of the holt D, and to secure it
therein by means of a screw-threaded ring or plug M, or in any other convenient
manner; thus provide for the removal and replacement of the fuse with the said
bolt without disturbing other parts of the projectile and without detaching the parts
of the fuse from each other.
When the explosion occurs and the pressure is developed in the chamber of the
gun, this pressure acting upon the movable cap or base B drives the same forward
relatively to the main portion or body A, and the packing or gas-check is compressed
or squeezed between these parts, so that first the more easily compressible material
and then the harder or stiffer material will be forced into the space or cavity around the
projectile between the driving-rings E, F. A gas-tight joint is thus formed between
the projectile and the barrel before the inertia of the main portion or body of the
projectile is overcome and before the driving-ring E enters the rifling.
It will be readily seen that the area of the annular surface of the cap or base B
which acts upon the packing or gas-check is less than that of its rear surface which
is acted upon by the pressure generated by the explosion of the powder-charge in
the gun. Therefore the pressure per square inch exerted upon the said packing or
gas-check will, at all times during the movement of the projectile through the bore
of the gun, be greater than that in rear of the projectile, that is to say, from the
moment when the initial pressure is set up by the explosion, until the projectile has
left the muzzle of the gun, the passage of the gas between the projectile and
the bore of the gun is opposed by soft or ductile metal or other compressible or
plastic material which is under a higher pressure per square inch than that of the
gas. In other words, the pressure to which the packing between the driving-rings
is subjected ensures the formation of a gas-tight joint before the said driving-rings
have entered the rifling, and, during the entire passage of the projectile through the
rifling of the gun, the packing is pressed into the grooves of the rifling, filling
every little cavity depression and scratch, and thus effectually preventing escape of
the gases and consequent erosion of the bore of the gun. The packing is, moreover,
confined or imprisoned between the two driving-rings, and, therefore, cannot be
displaced.
I prefer, in some instances, to so construct and arrange the parts that the packing
forced or squeezed out from between the forward and rear portions of the projectile
will fill the recess or cavity around the projectile between the two driving-rings E, F.
To prevent the existence of excessive pressure in the chambers G, G, in case the
gases should enter the same, these chambers may, if necessary or desirable, be con-
nected with a tube or passage extending therefrom to the exterior of the projectile or
shell forward of the driving-ring E to permit the escape of such gases, or I provide
other suitable means for such escape.
It will be seen that the driving-ring F has but little work to do in bringing about,
by its engagement with the rifling, the rotation of the part B to which it is attached.
The said driving-ring F will, therefore, be but slightly damaged or abraded by the
torsional or shearing stresses, the said part B being free to revolve on the body A of
the projectile; consequently the driving-ring F will act much more efficiently as a
gas-check than the driving-ring E and will assist in effecting a complete obturation
of the bore of the gun for the purpose above specified. In some cases I form the
ring F of alloys of copper softer than usually employed for driving-rings, or of other
suitable metals or alloys, and thus, in some cases, I am enabled to dispense with the
rings of packing between the front and rear portions of the projectile.
The ring or rings of packing forming the gas-check or obturator may be of various
materials, for instance, lead, canvas and gum, asbestos, plumbago and tallow, jute, or

page_text: hemp mixed with composition such as that used for the manufacture of printers'
rollers. In fact any suitable material or composition or combination of materials may
be used, which, when subjected to pressure as above described, will be forced outwards
so as to fit and form a gas-tight joint in the rifling of the gun.
I prefer to use for the central ring or layer J of the packing, a material so soft or
plastic that a very slight pressure will force it outwar1. The rings or layers H, H¹
may be made of sheet lad, or the lead may be pulverized and mixed with wax to
render it more difficuit to force through a small aperture, or these discs or rings may
be made of strong fibrous material which cannot be forced through a small aperture
by the gases.
It is obvious that, instead of employing parallel surfaces between which the packing
is arranged, I can, if desired, make the said surfaces conical so that, the distance.
between them increases from their inner to their outer edges, as illustrated in Figure 2,
in which only one ring J of packing is shown.
It will be seen that, in my improved projectile, there is a driving-ring of com-
paratively hard metal such as cepper, and in rear of this driving-ring is arranged
between the two parts of the projectile, the gas-check or obturator of softer or more
ductile metal such as lead, or of yielding or plastic material such as those above
mentioned.
In the firing of the projectile from the gun, the said driving-ring enters the rifling.
and ensures the rotation of the main portion or body of the projectile, the soft material
of the gas-check is, by the pressure of the gases acting upon the rear part of the
projectile, squeezed between the two parts of the same and thereby forced radially
outward so that it enters the rifling in rear of the said driving-ring, thus preventing
any escape of gas between the projectile and the bore of the gun.
In the projectile shown in Figure 3, there is only one annular chamber G, and the
driving ring or band on the rear part of the projectile is dispensed with..
Instead of arranging the gas-check or obturator at the base of the projectile, I can
arrange it at any other convenient part thereof. For instance I may place the ring
or rings of packing about midway between the ends of the projectile, a suitable
shoulder being formed upon the projectile and a movable cap or hase being fitted
upon the rear end of the projectile to transmit the pressure of the gases to the said
packing. Or I may provide other convenient means for ensuring the requisite com-
pression and forcing outward of the packing or gas-check for the purpose above
specified.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that I do
not claim generally or irrespectively of my improvements herein described, the
employment of a ring or disc of soft or ductile metal arranged between the body of
the projectile and a rear portion or base movable relatively thereto, as I am aware that
such a ring has been used on a projectile to serve both as a driving-ring and as a gas-
check. But in order to ensure the requisite rotation of the projectile and at the same
time effectually prevent any escape of gas between the projectile and the bore, I
employ rings of different kinds of material on the said projectile, one ring of
sufficiently hard material to perform the work of rotating the projectile, and another
ring of material sufficiently ductile or plastic to be forced into and to accurately fill
the rifling when subjected to the pressure of the gases in the manner above set forth;
and I claim :-
First. The herein described method of providing for the obturation of the bore of
a gun for the purpose above specified, by the employment on the projectile, in com-
bination with a driving-ring or band, of one or more rings or discs of metal softer
or more ductile than that of the driving-ring, or other suitable packing so arranged
that it will be forced outward against the interior surface or bore of the gun by the
pressure of the gases in rear of the projectile.
Second. The herein described method of providing for the obturation of the bore
of a gun for the purpose above specified, by the employment on the projectile, in

page_text: combination with a driving-ring or band, of a gas-check or obturator consisting
wholly or partly of a material which, by the end wise compression or squeezing action
to which it is subjected between the two parts of the projectile, will be caused to
expand or flow radially therefrom against the surface of the bore, for the purposes
specified.
Third. A projectile provided with a driving-ring and with a gas-check or obturator
so arranged that, in the firing of the projectile from a gun, the said gas-check or
obturator will be subjected to a direct end wise pressure per square inch greater than
that of the gases in rear of the said projectile, whereby the material of which it is
composed will expand laterally as and for the purposes, above specified.
Fourth. A projectile provided with a gas-check or obturator and with suitable
means whereby, after the projectile has been rammed into a gun, the soft material in
the said gas-check or obturator may be compressed and forced outward against the
interior surface or bore of the gun before the rainming-in of the powder-charge, for
the purpose above specified.
Fiftb. A projectile provided with a driving-ring of copper and with one or more
rings or annular pieces of softer or more ductile metal or other suitable material
arranged between the body of the projectile and a cap or base secured to the same and
movable relatively thereto, for the purposes above specified.
Sixth. A projectile provided with a driving-ring upon its main portion or body, and
having a cap or base which is secured to the said main portion or body so that it is
capable of rotation relatively thereto and which is also provided with a ring of copper
or other suitable metal (with or without a ring or rings of packing between the two
parts of the projectile), for the purposes above specified.
Seventh. A projectile comprising front and rear portions each of which is provided
with a ring of copper or similar metal and which are capable of endwise and rotative
motion relatively to each other, and one or more rings or annular pieces of softer or
more ductile metal or other suitable material arranged between the said front and
rear portions, for the purposes above specified.
Eighth. The combination, with the main portion or body of the projectile, of the
movable cap or base, the screw-bolt (with or without the chamber or cavity for the
fuse) for securing the said cap or base to the main portion or body, and a ring or,
rings of packing arranged between the said body and the cap or base, substantially as.
and for the purposes, above specified.
Ninth. The combination, with the main portion or body of the projectile and the
movable cap or base secured thereto by the screw-bolt, of the packing contained in
the taper or conical recess or cavity in the said cap or base and surrounding the said
screw-bolt, and the disc or annular piece secured to the said cap or base in rear of
the said packing, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Tenth. The employment, between the two parts of the projectile, of one or more
rings or annular pieces of soft or easily compressible or plastic packing arranged in
combination with rings or annular pieces of harder or stiffer packing, substantially as,
and for the purposes, set forth.
Eleventh. The improved projectile or shell constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figure 1 or to Figure 2 or to Figure 3 of the accompanying
drawings, for the purposes above specified.
1
T
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.