IMPROVEMENTS IN CHARGING SHELLS WITH POWDER
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Pieper, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, of
74, Belle-Alliance-Strasse, Berlin, S.W. Prussia, for an Invention of
'IMPROVEMENTS IN CHARGING SHELLS WITH POWDER." A communication
from Hermann Gruson, Councillor of Commerce, of Buckau, Prussia.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Pieper at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th January 1880.
CARL PIEPER, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, of 74, Belle-Alliance-
Strasse, Berlin, S.W. Prussia. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHARGING SHELLS WITH
POWDER." A communication from Hermann Gruson, Councillor of Commerce, of
Buckau, Prussia.
This Invention relates to an improved mode of charging shells with gunpowder.
Hitherto shells have always been charged with ordinary granular gun-powder,
which is put into the shells without being compressed. This mode of charging
gives rise from the very commencement to hollow spaces in the powder, or such.
are formed during the transport of the shells by the grains of the powder being
shaken closer together. On account of such spaces the centre of gravity of the
shell does not remain in the geometrical axis of the latter, and its position becomes
variable, in consequence whereof the shell is apt to deviate in an irregular manner
from its true line of flight.
A second disadvantage arising from the loose state of the powder (and which is
even more serious than the former) consists in the circumstance that the powder
may rub against the wall of the shell. When the shell is fired from the gun first
of all its metallic body is impelled forward in a straight line, and is moreover made
to rotate by the grooves of the cannon. The powder, however, does not rotate also
from the very first moment with the same speed as the shell, as it is held back by
the inertia of its mass, and it is solely the friction between the wall of the shell
and the powder which gradually transmits to the latter, although within a very
short time, the rotating motion of the shell. On account of this friction the powder.
may take fire and cause the shell to burst within the gun, wherefrom the most
serious consequences may arise.
By the arrangement of the shell and its charge forming the subject-matter of this
Invention the described disadvantages are obviated.

page_text: The charge consists of a number of powder-cakes partaking of the nature of the
prismatic powder, and formed by pressing the explosive substance into moulds.
The cakes are either made of the full size and shape of the transverse area of the
cavity in the shell, or they are formed in such a manner that two, three, or more
of them will be required to fill out this area. The height of the cakes is such that
a certain number of them will correspond with the height of the said cavity.
For promoting the speedy inflammation of the cakes they are or may be provided
with suitable perforations, channels, or grooves, or with all or any of them. The
shell may also have grooves on its inside.
For allowing the cakes to be put into the shell the latter must consist of two
parts to be screwed together. The inside transverse shape of the shell, as also the
shape of the cakes is, by preference made polygonal or otherwise, of such a character
as to prevent the cakes from turning.
On the upper cake a piece of cloth, felt, &c., may be placed. The charge is ignited
by any suitable firing device..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Carl Pieper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th July 1880.
CARL PIEPER, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, of 74, Belle-Alliance-
Strasse, Berlin, S.W. Prussia. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHARGING SHELLS WITH
POWDER." A communication from Hermann Gruson, Councillor of Commerce, of
Buckau, Prussia.
This Invention relates to an improved mode of charging shells with gunpowder.
Hitherto shells have always been charged with ordinary granular gun-powder,
which is put into the shells without being compressed. This mode of charging
gives rise from the very commencement to hollow spaces in the powder, or such are
formed during the transport of the shells by the grains of the powder being shaken
closer together. On account of such spaces the centre of gravity of the shell does
not remain in the geometrical axis of the latter and its position becomes variable,
in consequence whereof the shell is apt to deviate in an irregular manner from its
true line of flight. A second disadvantago arising from the loose state of the
powder (and which is even more serious than the former) consists in the cir-
cumstance that the powder may rub against the wall of the shell. When the shell
is fired from the gun first of all its metallic body is impelled forward in a straight
line, and is moreover made to rotate by the grooves of the cannon. The powder
however does not rotate also from the very first moment with the same speed as
the shell as it is held back by the inertia of its mass, and it is solely the friction
between the wall of the shell and the powder which gradually transmits to the
latter, although within a very short time, the rotating motion of the shell. On
account of this friction the powder may take fire and cause the shell to burst within
the gun, wherefrom the most serious consequences may arise.
By the arrangement of the shell and its charge forming the subject-matter of this
Invention the described disadvantages are obviated.
As represented by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the
charge consists of a number of powder-cakes g, g, partaking of the nature of the
prismatic powder and formed by pressing the explosive substance into moulds.
The cakes are either made of the full size and shape of the transverse area of the
cavity in the shell, or they are formed in such a manner that two, three, or more of
them will be required to fill out this area. The height of the cakes is such that a
certain number of them will correspond with the height of the said cavity.
For promoting the speedy inflammation of the cakes they are provided with
suitable perforations, channels, or grooves, or with all or any of them. The shell
may also have grooves on its inside. Thus in the shells shown by the Drawing
one central channel c passes through all the cakes, and from this channel a number
of grooves d radiate, which are formed on the top or the bottom of the cakes.
For allowing the cakes to be put into the shell the latter must consist of two
parts, to be screwed together. Fig. 1 shows a shell, the point or head b of which
is separable from the main part , whereas according to Figs. 2 and 3 the bottom
part is screwed into the part a. With the latter construction the head of the
shell is maintained stronger. For the purpose of preventing the joint between the
parts a and f of this shell from being exposed to the gases produced by the firing of
the gun (which gases might otherwise cause a bursting of the shell within the
gun) the check-ring / is placed on the bottom-part f.
The cavity of the shell, Fig, 1, is cylindrical, whereas for the purpose of obtaining
the possibly largest charge with the proportionately greatest strength of shell the
cavity of the shell, Figs. 2 and 3, has been made conical at the ends. Also the
screwed part of the bottom f is formed on the outside in the shape of a cone, so as
thereby to increase its strength at the base, while the charge extends into this
part

page_text: Considering that in spite of the greatest care which may be taken in the manu-
facture of the powder-cakes the total height of a set may differ from the height of
the cavity intended for its reception it is advisable to make every set slightly lower
than the said cavity, and to place on the upper cake (or the last one introduced) a
piece of cloth, felt, or other suitable elastic material, so as well to secure the cakes
within the shell.
The inside transverse shape of the shell may be made polygonal, for the purpose
of preventing the cakes from turning at the moment the shell is fired. It has
however been found by experience that the powder-cakes when manufactured as
will hereafter be described, and when duly secured as stated, are not subject to
any shifting whatever, even when the cavity of the shell and the cakes are round
in their transverse section.
The powder-cakes with which the shells are filled are by preference made by
pressing completely dried, grained, and polished gunpowder into the required form.
If powder were applied which is but air-dried (and which contains still a certain
percentage of moisture) a subsequent shrinkage of the cakes from loss of moisture
might ensue, which would inevitably cause them to become slack within the shell,
and to be subject to displacement and to friction, the former giving rise to a
deviation of the shell from its true line of. flight, the latter to danger of untimely
ignition of the charge, as is the case with granular powder imtroduced loosely into
the shell.
The conical cakes applied in the shells, Figs. 2 and 3, have to be manufactured
with a cylindrical head, such as is termed in metal-casting "dead head," and which
is subsequently cut off. Without such cylindrical part it would be impossible to
obtain a conical cake of sufficient density.
It is of advantage for the special purpose to use a powder having a specific
gravity of from 1.5 to 1.8, and which is not very easily inflammable.
For firing the shell the same may be provided with any suitable kind of fuze;
or it is made without fuze, in which case the firing of the charge is caused directly
by the impact of the shell against its mark.
Having thus described the nature and object of this Invention, and the manner
in which it is to be carried out in practice, as communicated to me by the inventor,
I hereby claim as new and important features of the same,-
1. A hollow projectile whose charge consists of powder-cakes, provided with
suitable channels and arranged together in the cavity of the projectile so as to fill
the same completely, with exception however of any firing-grooves with which
the projectile may be fitted, substantially as herein before described and for the
purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Pieper, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and nighty
CARL PIEPER. (L.S.)