Improvements in Aerial Torpedo Projectiles, adapted to the Throw- ing of large Masses of High Explosives from Ordnance, and in Methods for Filling the same with High Explosives.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 26th Feb., 1898
Improvements in Aerial Torpedo Projectiles, adapted to the Throw-
ing of large Masses of High Explosives from Ordnance, and in
Methods for Filling the same with High Explosives.
I, HUDSON MAXIM, of Thurlow Lodge, 377, Norwood Road, London, S.E., Chemist
and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows: : -
The present invention relates generally to improvements in aerial torpedoes, that
is to say, projectiles of special construction adapted to contain large masses of
high explosive, and to be thrown from ordnance with a propelling charge of
gunpowder.
The object of the present invention is, mainly, to provide an aerial torpedo
projectile which shall carry the maximum of high explosive, with a minimuin of
weight of metal, and at the same time be of such constitution, strength and
integrity as to enable it to withstand the initial shock of the explosion of the
propelling gunpowder charge, even at ordinary service pressures, without danger
of disruption or distortion of the torpedo, or the premature explosion thereof.
In carrying out my invention, a torpedo projectile is made, preferably, in two
portions or sections, a forward and a rearward portion, and joined together in the
following manner. The forward portion is made preferably somewhat thicker than
the rearward portion, and the rear end of the forward portion is reduced in
thickness, or in diameter, sufficiently to permit of the two portions being telescoped
together, or the rearward portion forced on over the forward portion a desired
distance, preferably with a very close fit, or exceedingly tight joint, to secure the
two portions firmly together; or the two portions may be screw-threaded and
screwed together; but I preferably join them in the above manner.
In order to securely effect the uniform and simultaneous rotation of both portions
of the torpedo, they are preferably provided with corrugations or projections and
recesses adapted to interlock with one another, but leaving a space of, say, a
quarter of an inch, or thereabouts, between the ends of the projections of the one
part and the bottoms of the recesses in the other part, so as to permit of the rear-
ward portion of the torpedo shell being moved under great pressure, slightly
forward upon the forward portion, to thereby subject the contained explosive to
increased pressure, or to transmit to the contained explosive the pressure of gases
of the propelling charge of gunpowder applied to the rearward portion, when
thrown from a gun.
To impart rotation to the projectile, and to secure more firmly together the front
and rear sections thereof, suitable recesses or grooves are cut in the projectile about
its periphery, at or near the point of union of the two sections, and a strong copper
band or belt is shrunk or forced on to the projectile, into, and filling, the recesses
or grooves, in such wise as to overlap both forward and rearward portions and fill
the grooves, depressions or recesses in them provided for its reception, thus tieing
firmly together the two portions, and forming a perfect hermetical seal, or

page_text: absolutely tight joint about the projectile, to effectually prevent any evaporation
or escape of vapours from a wet explosive within the torpedo, and also to prevent
any of the gases or products of combustion of the propelling charge of gunpowder
from entering the forpedo into contact with the contained explosive.
The driving ring is turned down in the usual manner, to serve as a gas check,
to prevent windage or passage of the gases of the propelling charge past the
projectile in its flight through the bore of the gun. The driving ring and gas
check being located at the forward end of the rearward portion of the projectile,
the full pressure of gases of a propelling powder charge is uniformly exerted upon
it on all sides, and as the projectile is constructed in such a manner
as to permit of the rearward portion being moved slightly forward under
great pressure upon the forward portion, the pressure of the propelling charge
is thereby transmitted to the contained explosive and the copper of the driving ring
and gas check, which has been forced into the recesses at the point of union of the
two portions, is made to flow under the great pressure, and is thereby forced
outward with great force into the lands of the gun, and thus made more effectually
to serve as a gas check.
The high explosive which I preferably employ for the torpedo, is compressed
wet guncotton, which may be compressed under very high pressure in a series of
suitable molds of proper size and shape, to adapt the cakes or blocks of guncotton
compressed in them to fit a corresponding space in the projectile, and to fit the same
exactly, or very tightly; or the blocks of compressed guncotton may be made so
Large of require esilehe furre to insert. Île juth their petive mitions
in the shell at the torpedo,
Or, the shell of the torpedo may be slightly heated to expand it, and the cakes
or blocks of compressed guncotton may be filled into the shell at a low temperature
or at the temperature corresponding with the greatest density of the wet gun-
cotton, or I may employ a coating of paraffin, or other suitable plastic, or even a
fluid medium to fill any interstices or spaces which might otherwise exist between
the cakes of compressed guncotton, or intermediate of them and the walls of
the shell.
Both forward and rearward portions of the torpedo shell, after being filled in
the above manner, to a fulness sufficient to prevent the rearward portion being
forced quite home upon the forward portion, or abutted against the thicker body
of the forward section, are subjected to a considerable pressure in longitudinal
direction, and a sufficient pressure should be employed in forcing together the two
sections of the torpedo, as to subject the contained explosive to considerable
pressure to secure the maximum density of the contained explosive charge. The
gas check and driving ring is then affixed in the manner already described.
A torpedo projectile, made as herein described, may have comparatively thin
walls, the thickness being varied according to the character of high explosive it
is intended to carry, and to the purpose for which the torpedo is intended to be
used. When compressed wet guncotton is employed for filling the torpedo in the
manner above described, its density and unyielding nature enables it to serve as an
efficient support to the walls of the projectile and prevent the disruption or
distortion of the same under the great pressure of gases of the propelling powder
charge and the shock of sudden acceleration of the projectile. When employing
wet guncotton, the walls of the rearward portion may be made from one quarter
to five-eighths of an inch in thickness, varying somewhat with the size and length
of the shell.
The forward portion is preferably made with walls considerably thicker than
those of the rearward section, in order to give greater weight to the forward end of
the projectile, to secure the better flight of the same, and also to give it greater
strength to enable it to penetrate through thin armour, such as that of the deck
of a war vessel, or to penetrate deep into earthworks before exploding.
However, when it is desired to throw the maximum of explosive with a minimum
of metal, simply for torpedo action, especially as within the water about a vessel,

page_text: to disrupt the unprotected walls of a vessel below the water line, the forward end
of the torpedo shell may also be made as thin as practicable and the two sections
may be joined by a separate piece of metal made to screw or to telescope into
both portions, something in the manner of an ordinary pipe coupling. The forward
portion of the projectile is preferably made conical in form, similar to the
common conical shell, and the rearward portion is preferably made round or
globular at the base. Both portions may be made of equal length, or either
may be made considerably longer than the other, without departing from the
intent of my invention. The rearward portion, however, is preferably made of
a length equal to about half of the length of the powder chamber of the gun in
which it is to be used, and into which it extends backward from the gas check
and driving ring seat at the beginning of the rifling.
It is obvious that as the projectile passes forward through the bore of the gun,
the pressure of the gases of the propelling charge follow up the projectile and
surround the rearward portion as far as the gas check and maintain the same under
great pressure until the projectile leaves the gun. It is further obvious that in
so far as the rearward portion of the projectile extends backward into the powder
chamber, it is equivalent to the lengthening of the gun an equal distance. This
is important as serving to give greater velocity to the projectile, other things being
equal.
The form of propelling charge which I preferably employ is one described in
my British Patent No. 16,861 of 1895, and also in my British Patent
No. 8,569 of 1895, or made according to my British Patent 16,862 of
1895. By the employment of a multi-perforated smokeless powder as a pro-
pelling charge, made according to the specifications of these patents, great density
of loading may be employed, without excessive initial pressures, and consequently
& smaller powder chamber may be used and the difference in space be utilised by
the rearward portion of the torpedo projectile herein described.
My torpedo shell is provided with a fuse, preferably centrally located within the
same, that is to say, located at the point surrounded by the driving ring and gas
check. The fuse employed is preferably similar to that described in my British
Patent No. 20,439 of 1895, having a plunger body of detonative material adapted
to move forward relative to the projectile upon its retardation, and with a rapidity
and force in proportion as the projectile is retarded in striking an object of resis-
tance. But the fuse is provided with several improvements to particularly adapt
it to this form of projectile. The tube containing the plunger body of detonative
material is surrounded by an exterior tube or chamber, providing an air space
about the body of the detonative material, the whole being surrounded by the body
of compressed wet guncotton with which the shell is filled. The function of the
exterior chamber or air space intervening between the detonative material and
the body of wet guncotton is to provide a free space into which the detonative
charge may expend or exhaust itself to such an extent that, after disrupting its
containing tube and expanding into the outer chamber, it will, even if it then
disrupts the walls of the outer tube or outer chamber, not possess sufficient deton-
ative power to explode the surrounding wet guncotton. This arrangement
effectually provides against any danger from premature explosion of the detonative
charge.
At the forward portion of the fuse, and within a chamber preferably located
at about the point encircled by the driving ring, is contained a body of com-
pressed dry guncotton, and the tube or guide within and through which the
plunger body of detonative compound passes, is made to enter the chamber con-
taining the dry guncotton, in such wise that, upon the striking of the torpedo
upon a resisting object, retarding its motion, the plunger body of detonative
compound will fly forward into the chamber containing the dry guncotton, where it
strikes and is detonated, detonating also the dry guncotton, which, in turn,
detonates the entire mass of wet guncotton in the torpedo.
The plunger body of detonative substance preferably consists of a fulminate

page_text: compound described in my British Patent No. 18,682 of 1894. The plunger body
of detonative fulminate compound is provided at its forward portion with a per-
cussion cap, and under the percussion cap, and between the same and the body of
the fulminate compound, is preferably interposed a layer or body of dry guncotton,
the flash of which, from the explosion of the percussion cap, secures a more violent
and effective detonation of the fulminate compound.
The container for the body of fulminate compound is made sufficiently strong
to resist the shock of the propelling powder charge, that is to say, the shock of
initial acceleration of the projectile; and the fulminate container is held in place
and prevented from moving forward toward the chamber containing the dry
guncotton, by means of strong springs, with inwardly projecting flanges or tongues,
bearing upon its forward end, and arranged to hold it firmly in position, and
absolutely to prevent its dislodgment by any handling of the torpedo, however
roughly, prior to its being thrown from the gun. The said springs are arranged
and adapted to release the plunger body of fulminate compound only by centri-
fugal force due to the rapid rotation of the torpedo shell, effected by its passage
through the bore of the gun. At the rear of the body of fulminate compound is
provided a spiral spring or other suitable device, by which, upon the release by the
rotation of the shell, of the retaining springs, the plunger body of fulminate
compound will be forced slightly forward, and the return of the retaining springs
prevented, until the shell strikes some object of resistance, thus permitting the
plunger body of detonative compound to then move freely forward toward and
into the chamber containing the dry guncotton, to explode the torpedo.
The chamber containing the dry guncotton is constructed with partitions crossing
it at right angles, thus dividing the chamber into two or more parts or spaces,
into each of which may be placed a body of dry guncotton. This arrangement of
partitions effectually prevents the rotation of the projectile about the dry gun-
cotton, and the ignition of it by friction due to the rapid rotation of the shell
in its flight from the gun. The said walls or partitions furthermore serve the
purpose of supporting or strengthening the walls of the shell at the point encircled
by the driving ring, thereby permitting greater pressure to be employed to shrink
the driving ring upon the shell.
A portion of the cross partitions or webs are cut away from the guide tube for
the plunger body of detonative compound, near the centre of the dry guncotton
chamber, so that less force will be required to break down the walls of the guide
tube and to effect the detonation of the dry guncotton.
The chamber containing the dry guncotton is preferably separated from the body
of wet guncotton, at both front and rear, by strong partitions, the rearward wall
or partition being, preferably, the stronger and thicker, to effectually resist dis-
ruption from any accidental explosion of the body of fulminate compound at the
rear of it, and the consequent accidental ignition or firing by it of the dry gun-
cotton, thus securely providing that, in order to ignite the dry guncotton, the body
of fulminate compound must necessarily pass forward through the said rear wall
of the guncotton chamber before its explosion would be able to ignite the dry
guncotton charge.
The dry guncotton chamber is further preferably provided with strong lateral
walls, which serve to further strengthen the shell in this region, not only to resist
a pressure exerted by shrinking on the copper driving ring, but to resist penetra-
tion of a quick-firing gun shell which might accidentally strike the torpedo in this
region, and the strong lateral walls further serve a useful purpose in slightly
resisting disruption, or serving in a slight degree as tamping of the dry guncotton,
and thereby directing more strongly the force of its explosion or detonative
influence to the wet guncotton located at front and rear of the dry guncotton
chamber.
The dry guncotton chamber is arranged to fit closely, but yet freely, within the
shell of the projectile, in such wise that pressure applied to the explosive contained
in the rearward portion will be transmitted to that contained in the forward portion,

page_text: and vice versa. However, without departing from the invention, and by a
modification of the invention, I may provide the periphery of the guncotton
chamber with screw-threads, and the interior of the shell with screw-threads_at
that portion designed for the reception of the powder chamber, and the powder
chamber may be screwed firmly into the shell and thus serve as a base to the
forward portion, and as a head for the rearward portion of the projectile.
While I have herein described the high explosive which I prefer to employ in
my torpedo as compressed wet guncotton, still I may employ other high explosives,
as, for example, the shell of the torpedo may be filled with fused picric acid, or I
may employ a form of nitro-gelatin, made sufficiently insensitive, as to withstand
the shock of acceleration of the propelling powder charge. Such a nitro-gelatin
may be made by incorporating together and gelatinising twenty parts of gelatin
pyroxylin in eighty parts of nitro-glycerin with or without the addition of
another solvent, or by gelatinating fifteen parts gelatin pyroxylin with seventy-
five to eighty parts nitro-glycerin, in which has been dissolved five to ten parts of
gum camphor. When employing nitro-gelatin which is considerably plastic and
yielding, although practically incompressible, I preferably employ stronger walls
for the rearward section of the torpedo shell, especially at the forward portion of
the rearward section.
.....
Improvements in Aerial Torpedo Projectiles, adapted to the Throw-
ing of large Masses of High Explosives from Ordnance, and in
Methods for Filling the same with High Explosives.
HUDSON MAXIM, of Thurlow Lodge, 377, Norwood Road, London, S.E., Chemist
and 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 ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention relates generally to improvements in aerial torpedoes, that
is to say, projectiles of special construction adapted to contain large masses of
high explosive, and to be thrown from ordnance with a propelling charge of
gunpowder.
The object of the present invention is, mainly, to provide an aerial torpedo
projectile which shall carry the maximum of high explosive, with a minimum of
weight of metal, and at the same time be of such constitution, strength and
integrity as to enable it to withstand the initial shock of the explosion of the
propelling gunpowder charge, even at ordinary service pressures, without danger
of disruption or distortion of the torpedo, or the premature explosion thereof.
Without limiting my invention to the construction shown, I have illustrated
practical forms of the invention in the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the improved projectile.
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line - Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the fuse.
-
Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of the gas check and driving ring, with accom-
manne narte

page_text: Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the projectile.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the gas check of the projectile shown in Fig.
and the neighbouring parts.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the gas check and a portion of
the shell.
My torpedo projectile is made, in two portions or sections, a forward portion 1,
and a rearward portion 2, and joined together in the following manner. The
forward portion is made preferably somewhat thicker than the rearward portion,
and the rear end 3 of the forward portion is reduced in thickness, or in diameter,
sufficiently to permit of the two portions being telescoped together, or the rearward
portion forced on over the forward portion any desired distance, preferably with a
very close fit, or exceedingly tight joint, to secure the two portions firmly together;
or the two portions may be screw-threaded and screwed together.
In order to securely effect the uniform and a simultaneous rotation of both
portions of the torpedo, they are preferably provided with corrugations, projections,
or tongues 4, and recesses adapted to interlock with one another, but leaving a
space, 3, of, say a quarter of an inch, or thereabouts, between the ends of the
projections of the one part and the bottoms of the recesses in the other part, so as
to permit of the rearward portion of the torpedo shell being moved under great
pressure, slightly forward upon the forward portion, to thereby subject the con-
tained explosive 6, to increased pressure, or to transmit to the contained explosive
the pressure of cases of the propelling charge of gunpowder applied to the
rearward portion, when thrown from a
To impart rotation to the projectile, and to secure more firmly together the iront
and rear sections thereof, suitable recesses or grooves 7 & 8 (see Figs. + & 5) are
cut in the projectile about its periphery, and a strong copper band or belt 9, is
shrunk or forced on to the projectile, in such wise as to overlap both forward and
rearward portions and fill the said grooves, depressions or recesses 7 & 8, thus
tieing firmly together the two portions, and forming a perfect hermetical scal, or
absolutely tight joint about the projectile to effectually prevent any evaporation or
escape of vapours from a wet explosive 6, within the torpedo, and also to prevent
any of the gases or products of combustion of the propelling charge of gunpowder
from entering the torpedo into contact with the contained explosive.
The driving ring 9, is turned down in the usual manner, to serve as a gas check,
to prevent windage or passage of the gases of the propelling charge past the
projectile in its flight through the bore of the gun. The driving ring and gas
check being located at the forward end of the rearward portion of the projectile,
the full pressure of gases of a propelling powder charge is uniformly exerted
upon it on all sides, and as the projectile is constructed in such a manner as to
permit of the rearward portion being moved slightly forward under great pressure
upon the forward portion, the pressure of the propelling charge is thereby trans-
mitted to the contained explosive, 6, and the copper of the driving ring and gas
check, 9, which has been forced into the recesses, 5, 7, and 8, at the point of union
of the two portions, is made to flow under the great pressure, and is thereby forced
outward with great force into the lands of the gun, and thus made more effectually
to serve as a gas check.
The high explosive which I preferably employ for the torpedo, is compressed
wet guncotton, which may be compressed under very high pressure in a series of
suitable molds of proper size and shape, to adapt the cakes or blocks of guncotton, 6,
compressed in them, to fit a corresponding space in the projectile, and to fit the same
exactly, or very tightly; or the blocks of compressed guncotton are made so
large as to require considerable force to insert them into their respective positions
in the shell of the torpedo.
Or, the shell of the torpedo is slightly heated to expand it, and the cakes or blocks
of compressed guncotton are filled into the shell at a low temperature, or at the
temperature corresponding with the greatest density of the wet guncotton, or I
employ a coating of paraffin, or other suitable plastic, or even a fluid medium to fill any

page_text: interstices or spaces which might otherwise exist between the cakes of compressed
guncotton, or between them and the walls, 10 & 11, of the shell.
Both forward and rearward portions of the torpedo shell, after being filled in
the above manner, to a fulness sufficient to prevent the rearward portion, 2, being
forced quite home upon the forward portion, or abutted against the thicker body, 10,
of the forward section 1, are subjected to a considerable pressure in longitudinal
direction, and a sufficient pressure should be employed in forcing together the two
sections of the torpedo, so as to subject the contained explosive, 6, to considerable
pressure to secure the maximum density of the contained explosive charge. The
gas check and driving ring, 9, is then affixed in the manner already described.
A torpedo projectile, made as herein described, may have comparatively thin
walls, the thickness being varied according to the character of high explosive it
is intended to carry, and to the purpose for which the torpedo is intended to be
used. When compressed wet guncotton is employed for filling the torpedo in the
manner above described, its density and unyielding nature enables it to serve as an
efficient support to the walls of the projectile and prevent the disruption or
distortion of the same under the great pressure of gases of the propelling powder
charge and the shock of sudden acceleration of the projectile. When employing
wet guncotton, the walls, 11, of the rearward portion may be made from one quarter
to five-eighths of an inch in thickness, varying somewhat with the size and length
of the shell.
The forward portion is preferably made with walls, 10, considerably thicker than
those of the rearward section, in order to give greater weight to the forward end of
the projectile, to secure the better flight of the same, and also to give it greater
strength to enable it to penetrate through thin armour, such as that of the deck
of a war vessel, or to penetrate deep into earthworks before exploding.
However, when it is desired to throw the maximum of explosive with a minimum
of metal, simply for torpedo action, especially as within the water about a vessel,
to disrupt the unprotected walls of a vessel below the water line, the forward end
of the torpedo shell may also be made as thin as practicable, and the two sections
may be joined by a separate piece of metal, 12, made to screw or to telescope into
both portions, something in the manner of an ordinary pipe coupling. See Fig. 6.
The forward portion of the projectile is preferably made conical in form, similar
to the common conical shell, and the rearward portion is preferably made round or
globular at the base, 13. Both portions may be made of equal length, or either
may be made considerably longer than the other, without departing from the
intent of my invention. The rearward portion, 2, however, is preferably made of
a length equal to about half of the length of the powder chamber of the gun in
which it is to be used, and into which it extends backward from the gas check
and driving ring seat at the beginning of the rifling.
It is obvious that, as the projectile passes forward through the bore of the gun,
the pressure of the gases of the propelling charge follow up the projectile and
surround the rearward portion, 2, as far as the gas check, and maintain the same
under great pressure until the projectile leaves the gun. It is further obvious that in
so far as the rearward portion of the projectile extends backward into the powder
chamber, it is equivalent to the lengthening of the gun an equal distance. This
is important as serving to give greater velocity to the projectile, other things being
equal.
By the employment of a multi-perforated smokeless powder as a propelling
charge, great density of loading may be employed, without excessive initial
pressures, and consequently a smaller powder chamber may be used and the
difference in space be utilised by the rearward portion of the torpedo projectile
herein described.
My torpedo shell, 10 & 11, is provided with a fuse, 15, preferably centrally
ocated within the same, that is to say, located at the point surrounded by the
driving ring and gas check, and may be surrounded entirely by the contained
explosive charge, 6. In the smaller sizes of projectiles, as shown in the drawings.

page_text: a dry gun-cotton chamber described below preferably closely fits the walls of the
projectile. The fuse is one having a plunger body of detonative material and
adapted to move forward relative to the projectile upon its retardation, and with a
rapidity and force in proportion as the projectile is retarded in striking an object
of resistance. But the fuse is provided with several improvements to particularly 5
adapt it to this form of projectile. The tube, 16, containing the plunger body, 17,
of detonative material, is surrounded by an exterior tube or chamber, 18, pro-
viding an air space about the body of the detonative material, the whole being
surrounded by the body of compressed wet guncutton, 6, with which the shell is
filled. The function of the exterior chamber or air space intervening between the 1
detonative material and the body of wet guncotton is to provide a free space into
which the detonative charge, 17, may expend or exhaust itself to such an extent
that it will not possess sufficient detonative power to burst the walls of the
chamber, 18, or to explode the surrounding wet guncotton. This arrangement
effectually provides against any danger from premature explosion of the detonative 1
charge.
At the forward portion of the fuse, and within a chamber, 19, preferably located
at about the point encircled by the driving ring, is contained a body of compressed
dry guncotton, 20, and the tube or guide, 16, within and through which the plunger
body, 17, of detonative compound passes, is made to enter the chamber containing 2
the dry guncotton, in such wise that, upon the striking of the torpedo upon a
resisting object, retarding its motion, the plunger bedy of detonative compound
will fly forward into the chamber containing the dry guncotton, 20, where it
strikes and is detonated by the hammer or pin, 21, detonating also the dry gun-
cotton, which, in turn, detonates the entire mass of wet guncotton, 6, in the 2
torpedo.
The plunger body, 17, of detonative substance preferably consists of a fulminate
compound. The capsule 22, containing the plunger body of detonative fulminate
compound is provided at its forward portion with a percussion cap 23, and under
the percussion cap, and between the same and the body of the fulminate compound,
is preferably interposed a layer or body of dry guncotton 24, the flush of which,
from the explosion of the percussion cap, secures a more violent and effective
detonation of the fulminate compound.
The capsule or container 22, for the body of fulminate compound is made
sufficiently strong to resist the shock of the propelling powder charge, that is to 3
say the shock of initial acceleration of the projectile; and the fulminate container
is held in place and prevented from moving toward the chamber 19, containing the
dry guncotton, by means of strong longitudinal flat springs, 25, with tongues 32,
projecting into the tube 16, bearing upon the forward end of the said container and
arranged to hold it firmly in position, and absolutely to prevent its dislodgment by 4
any handling of the torpedo, however roughly, prior to its being thrown from the
gun. The springs are arranged and adapted to release the fulminate container
only by centrifugal force due to the rapid rotation of the torpedo shell, effected by
its passage through the bore of the gun. (See dotted lines in Fig. 3.) At the
rear of the body of fulminate compound is provided a spiral spring 26, or other 4
suitable device, by which, upon the receding of the retaining springs 25, by the
rotation of the shell, the plunger body of fulminate compound will be forced
slightly forward, and the return of the retaining springs prevented, until the shell
strikes some object of resistance, thus permitting the plunger body of detonative
compound to then move freely forward toward and into the chamber containing the
dry guncotton to explode the torpedo.
By this means the plunger body of detonative material is forced forward into a
position nearer the chamber containing the dry guncotton, so that, upon the
striking of the projectile, an explosion will take place with less retardation of
the projectile.
The container is provided with a weighted rear end, 14, to increase the force of
the impact of the percussion cap, 23, on the hammer, 21.

page_text: The chamber containing the dry guncotton is constructed with partitions, 27,
crossing it at right angles, thus dividing the chamber into two or more parts or
spaces, into each of which may be placed a body of dry guncotton. This arrange-
ment of partitions effectually prevents the rotation of the projectile about the
dry guncotton, and the ignition of it by friction due to the rapid rotation of the
shell in its flight from the gun.
The said walls or partitions furthermore serve the purpose of supporting or
strengthening the walls of the shell at the point encircled by the driving ring,
thereby permitting greater pressure to be employed to shrink the driving ring
upon the shell. These partitions or strong lateral walls, 27, serve to further
strengthen the shell in this region, to resist penetration of a quick-firing gun shell
which might accidentally strike the torpedo in this region, and the strong lateral
walls further serve a useful purpose in slightly resisting disruption, or serving in
a slight degree as tamping of the dry guncotton, and thereby directing more
strongly the force of its explosion or detonative influence to the wet guncotton, 6,
located at front and rear of the dry guncotton chamber.
A portion, 28, of the cross partitions or webs is cut away from the guide tube 16
near the centre of the dry guncotton chamber, so that less force will be required
to break down the walls of the guide tube and to effect the detonation of the dry
guncotton.
The chamber containing the dry guncotton is preferably separated from the body
of wet guncotton, at both front and rear, by strong partitions, 29 & 30, the rear-
ward wall or partition, 30, being, preferably, the stronger and thicker, to effectually
resist disruption from any accidental explosion of the body of fulminate compound
at the rear of it, and the consequent accidental ignition or firing by it of the dry
guncotton, thus securely providing that, in order to ignite the dry guncotton, the
body of fulminate compound must necessarily pass forward through the said rear
wall of the guncotton chamber before its explosion would be able to ignite the dry
guncotton charge.
The dry guncotton chamber, 19, is arranged to fit closely, but yet freely, within
the shell, 10, of the projectile, in such wise that pressure applied to the explosive, 6,
contained in the rearward portion, 2, will be transmitted to that contained in the
forward portion, 1, and vice versa. However, without departing from the invention,
und by a modification of the invention, I may provide the periphery of the gun-
cotton chamber with screw-threads, 31, and the interior of the shell with screw-
threads at that portion designed for the reception of the powder chamber, and the
powder chamber may be screwed firmly into the shell and thus serve as a base to
the forward portion, and as a head for the rearward portion of the projectile,
(See Fig. 6).
While I have herein described the high explosive which I prefer to employ in my
torpedo as compressed wet guncotton, still I may employ other high explosives,
as, for example, the shell of the torpedo may be filled with fused picric acid, or I
may employ a form of nitro-gelatin, made sufficiently insensitive, as to withstand
the shock of acceleration of the propelling powder charge. Such a nitro-gelatin
may be made by incorporating together and gelatinising twenty parts of gelatin
pyroxylin in eighty parts of nitro-glycerin" with or without the addition of
another solvent, or by gelatinating fifteen parts gelatin pyroxylin with seventy-
five to eighty parts nitro-glycerin, in which has been dissolved five to ten parts of
gun camphor. When employing nitro-gelatin, which is considerably plastic and
yielding, although practically incompressible, I preferably employ stronger walls
for the rearward section of the torpedo shell, especially at the forward portion of
the rearward section.
The chamber 18, surrounding the detonative body or plunger body of detonative
material, may be wholly or partially filled with a suitable non-explosive material,
such as cork, which will act as a buffer to deaden the shock of the detonative
compound upon the explosive located externally of the chamber, or the chamber
may be wholly or partially filled with water, which, upon the premature explosion

page_text: of the detonative body, will not only serve to deaden the force of the blow of its
explosion, but will serve to extinguish the flame of explosion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a fuse for an explosive projectile, the combination of a body of detonative
compound, with another body of detonative compound, located at the rearward of
the same, and adapted to be thrown forward to explode the forward body of detona-
tive compound upon the retardation of the projectile on impact, and thereby
explode the main body of explosive in the projectile.
2. In an explosive projectile a fuse in which a plunger body of detonative
compound is held in position by springs or catches until released by centrifugal
force due to the rotation of the projectile, and is then driven forward by a pro-
pelling device such as a spiral spring, through a distance sufficient to prevent the
re-engagement of the said springs or spring catches, and so that upon impact, the
plunger body may move freely forward relatively to the projectile upon the retar-
dation of the projectile, and through a shortened distance to be exploded upon a
firing pin, or equivalent device.
3. In an explosive projectile a fuse in which the forward and main detona-
tive charge of the fuse is sub-divided by webs or partitions, to prevent the rotation
of the projectile upon the charge, and which webs also serve as supports to
strengthen the walls of the chamber containing the forward baily of detonative
compound.
4. The herein described projectile adapted to be shortened longitudinally by
the pressure of the propelling charge exerted upon it in the gun, whereby the
pressure of the propelling charge is transmitted to and exerted upon a charge of
explosive within the projectile, for the purposes specified.
5. In an explosive projectile a fuse having a body of detonating compound held
normally from acting within a chamber in which it is surrounded by an air-space
or by a protective body whereby any premature explosion of the detonative com-
pound will be received within the said chamber, and the accidental explosion of
the main explosive charge of the projectile prevented.
Dated this 10th dow of Tanum 1808