Improvements in the Manufacture of Projectiles or Shells and other Forged Metal Articles and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1887
RE
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 28th Sept., 1888
Improvements in the Manufacture of Projectiles or Shells and other
Forged Metal Articles and in Apparatus therefor.
1, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57 Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of projectiles or shells and other forged
metal articles, and to apparatus therefor.
The main object of my said invention is to provide for the production of hollow
projectiles or shells of great hardness and strength, without the necessity for boring
out the solid metal.
In making a hollow projectile or shell according to my invention, I employ a
strong die or mould the space or cavity in which is of the same, or approximately
the same, size and shape or configuration as the exterior of the finished projectile.
take a blank of steel or other metal of substantially the same shape or configuration
as the cavity of the die or mould but of smaller diameter except at one or more
parts whose diameter is equal to that of the said cavity. This blank is produced by
rolling between suitable dies or forging plates or in any other convenient manner.
I heat the said blank and place the same in the die or mould with its pointed or
conical end downward. The blank is kept in a central position in the die or mould
by the parts of the said blank of larger diameter, so that annular spaces will be left
between the other parts of the said blank and the sides or walls of the die or mould.
While the blank is thus held in the die or mould, I force a punch or mandrel into
the same at the base thereof by hydraulic or other power. I prefer that the sai.i
punch should be rotated upon or about its axis, while it is being thus forced into the
blank, in order to facilitate this operation. I prefer, moreover, to make the said
punch or mandrel with spiral ribs and grooves so that, when rotated in this manner
it will work, or tend to work the metal in an upward direction and thus still further
facilitate its entrance into the blank. I may, however, make the said punch or
mandrel in any other suitable manner for this purpose.

page_text: By the operations above described the metal will be displaced from the centre of
the blank and caused to flow radially outwards until it fills the aforesaid annular
spaces in the die or mould; the projectile or shell will then be of approximately the
required diameter.
The base of the hollow projectile or shell thus produced may be closed in any
well-known or suitable manner. I prefer, however, to accomplish this result as
hereinafter described, that is to say :-I make the blank and the die or mould in such
a manner that the projectile or shell produced in the said die or mould will have a
circumferential rib or projection at the base thereof. I then heat the said projectile or
shell at its base or rear end, taking care to keep the remainder thereof as cool as
possible, and I force the said projectile or shell through a taper die or a die having an
inclined shoulder around its interior, whereby, when the projectile or shell is thrust
through it, a wedge-like action will be exerted upon the said rib or projection, the
metal whereof will thus be caused to flow radially inward until a circular rib or
internal flange is formed at the base of the projectile or shell. A mandrel is preferably
inserted in the base of the projectile to ensure the formation therein of a hole or
opening of the required diameter. 1 sometimes arrange this mandrel to slide within
a hollow ram for thrusting the projectiles through the die last above mentioned, and 1
provide for operating the said ram and mandrel so that the rain will push the projectile
from off the mandrel, or so that the mandrel will be withdrawn from the projectile
before the ram moves out of contact therewith. Or the projectile may be removed
from the mandrel by the combined action of the latter and of the ram.
I find it advantageous to make the aforesaid supporting die of mould of two or
more parts or segments to facilitate its removal from the projectile or shell. For
instance I make the said die or mould of three seginents which I place in a strong
die-holder. One of the said segments bears against, and is supported by flanges on
one side of the said holder; the other two segments are provided with screws or
other suitable devices whereby they may be moved into and out of their operative
position. I sometimes connect these movable segments with screws arranged to be
moved longitudinally by means of rotating nuts provided with bevel-wheels which are
geared with a bevel-wheel fixed upon a shaft to be operated by hand or other power.
The said die-holder is preferably so arranged that it can be moved to bring the die or
mould into its proper position beneath the punch or mandrel, or can be withdrawn to
permit the removal of the projectile or shell from the said die or mould.
For operating the punch or mandrel I provide a powerful hydraulic press, the ram
of which has attached thereto a cylindrical bar or shaft which is free to rotate in or
upon the said ram, and will participate in the end wise movement thereof.
The punch
or mandrel is formed on, or firmly fixed in this bar or shaft. A bevel-wheel is keyed
upon the said bar or shaft in such a manner that the shaft can move end wise in the
said bevel-wheel but will turn therewith. This bevel-wheel is geared with a bevel-
pinion fixed on a shaft carried in suitable bearings and provided with a pulley
whereby it may be connected with a steam-engine or other suitable motor.
The aforesaid die-holder is supported on the base-plate of this hydraulic press, and
may be fitted to slide between guides thereon to permit it to be placed in position
beneath the punch or mandrel and removed from this position as required.
Athough I have herein before described my improvements as applied to projectiles or
shells, it is evident that they are also applicable for the manufacture of other forged
metal articles in which a central chamber or cavity has to be formed similar to that
in a hollow projectile or shell.
Dated this 19th day of November 1887.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Projectiles or Shells and
other Forged Metal Articles and in Apparatus therefor.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57° Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
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 the manufacture of hollow projectiles or shells and similar
forged metal articles, and to apparatus therefor, and comprises various improvements
hereinafter set forth.
The main object of my said invention is to provide for the production of hollow
projectiles or shells of great hardness and strength, without the necessity for boring
out the solid inetal.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing two metal blanks shaped as hereinafter
described.
Figure 2 is a vertical central section of a die or mould hereinafter described,
showing also, in side elevation, a blank inserted in the said die or mould, a punch or
mandrel hereinafter described and part of a ram to which the said punch or mandrel
is attached.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal central section of a hollow body or partially made
projectile or shell produced as bereinafter described.
Figure 4 is a vertical central section of a ring or annular die hereinafter described
with the partially made projectile or shell therein, showing also, in side elevation, a
mandrel and part of a ram hereinafter described, the projectile or shell and the ram
and mandrel being shown in the position which they occupy when the said ram has
been moved into contact with the base of the projectile in the die or mould.
Figure 5 is a similar view, showing the projectile, ram and mandrel in the position
which they occupy when the said projectile has been forced partly through the ring
or die.
Figure 6 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, of an apparatus constructed
according to my present invention for use in the manufacture of the hollow projectiles
or shells, and
Figure 7 is a horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 6.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
In making a hollow projectile or shell according to my invention, I employ a strong
die or mould a, Figure 2, the cavity in which is of approximately the same diameter
and shape or configuration as the exterior of the finished projectile, but is of slightly
greater length than the said projectile and has its upper end enlarged in diameter
at a' for the purpose hereinafter specified. I take a blank A, Figure 1, of steel or
other metal, which throughout the greater portion of its length is of smaller diameter

page_text: than the said cavity, the parts A¹, A2 of the said blank being, however, of such
diameter that, when the blank is placed in the die or mould these parts will be in
contact with the wall of the said die or mould and will keep the blank central
therein.
The blanks are shaped or forged by rolling between suitable dies or forging plates,
or in any other convenient manner. Two or more of the said blanks may, if desired,
be formed in one operation; in which case, they are wholly or partially severed from
one another in the said operation, for example as shown in Figure 1.
I heat the blank A and place the same in the die or mould with its pointed or
conical end downward as shown in Figure 2. The blank being kept in a central
position in the die or mould, as above stated, by the ribs or projections A¹, A³, there
are annular spaces between the said blank and the wall of the die or mould, as at a¹, a³
and a. While the blank is thus held in the die or mould, I force a punch or mandrel b
into the said blank by hydraulic or other power, thereby displacing the metal from the
centre of the blank and causing it to flow or expand radially outwards until it fills
the aforesaid annular spaces in the die or mould. These spaces should be of sufficient
capacity to permit the required radial flow of the metal displaced by the action of
the punch or mandrel, so that a cavity of the desired length will be formed in the
blank without endwise flow of the metal.
I find it advantageous that the punch or mandrel b should be rotated upon or about
its axis while it is being thus forced into the blank, in order to facilitate this operation.
Moreover, I make the said punch or mandrel with spiral ribs and grooves as shown
in Figure 2, or otherwise, so that, when rotated, it will tend to work the metal around
it in an upward direction and thus still further facilitate its entrance into the blank.
The said punch or mandrel b may, if desired, be formed with or attached to the ram c
of a hydraulic press.
The main portion of the hollow body produced as above described will be of
approximately the external diameter required in the finished projectile or shell. The
base of the said hollow body will, however, have an external circumferential rib or
projection A³, Figures 3 and 4, corresponding with the enlarged portion a¹ of the cavity
in the die or inould a.
I then heat the base or rear end of the said hollow body, taking care to keep the
remainder thereof as cool as possible, and I force the said hollow body through a ring
or annular die d, Figure 4, having an internal inclined shoulder d', whereby, when the
hollow body is forced through the said ring or die, a wedge-like action will be exerted
upon the said rib or projection A³, causing the metal thereof to flow radially inward
and thus partially closing the base or rear end of the hollow projectile or shell, as
shown in Figure 5.
A mandrel e is preferably inserted in the base of the projectile during this operation,
so that a hole or opening of the required diameter will be left in the said base. In
some instances, the said mandrel e is formed with or attached to the ram f of a hydraulic
press. I prefer, however, that the said mandrel should be arranged to slide within a
hollow ram, and that suitable provision should be made for operating the said ram and
mandrel in such a manner that the ram will push the projectile from off the mandrel,
or so that the mandrel will be withdrawn froin the projectile before the ram moves out
of contact with the said projectile. Or the projectile may be removed from the
mandrel by the simultaneous movement of the said mandrel and ram in opposite
directions.
If desired a ram of the same diameter as the rib or projection A³ is first employed
for forcing the projectile through the ring or die d, the operation being completed by
means of a rain of the diameter shown. I thus avoid any liability of the ram entering
the metal at the base or rear end of the projectile.
I find it advantageous to make the aforesaid die or mould of two or more parts or
segments, to facilitate its removal from the projectile or shell.
In the apparatus shown in Figures 6 and 7, the die or mould a is formed of three
segments or sections which are placed in a strong die-holder g. One of the said
segments bears against and is supported by ribs or projections g' on the interior of the

page_text: said holder g; the other two segments are provided with screws h whereby they may
be secured in their operative position or released so that they may be reinoved
therefrom. These screws are passed through screw-threaded holes in the die-holder g
and are arranged to be rotated by means of bevel-wheels k, which are geared with
a bevel-wheel fixed upon a shaft ¹ arranged to be operated by hand or other power
The said die-holder g is preferably so arranged that it can be moved to bring the die
or mould into its proper position beneath the punch or mandrel b, or can be withdrawn
to permit the removal of the projectile or shell from the said die or mould. For this
purpose, the said die-holder is fitted to slide between suitable guides ¹ on the
base-plate j.
For operating the punch or mandrel b, I provide a powerful hydraulic press m, the
ram or piston-rod m¹ of which has attached thereto a cylindrical bar or shaft n which
is free to rotate in or upon the said ram, but will participate in the end wise movement
thereof. The punch or mandrel b is formed on or firmly fixed in this bar or shaft.
A bevel-wheel n' is keyed upon the said bar or shaft n in such a manner that the
shaft can move endwise in the said bevel-wheel, but must turn therewith. This
bevel-wheel is geared with a bevel-pinion o fixed on a shaft o¹ supported in suitable
bearings and provided with a pulley o³, or with a spur-wheel or other suitable device,
whereby it may be connected with a steam-engine or other motor.
I sometimes employ a screwed rod provided with a handle p for effecting the
withdrawal of the die-holder g from beneath the press as above described. A hole g
is formed in the base-plate j through which the projectile or shell will fall when the
die-holder is thus withdrawn and the die-segments are separated.
Although I have hereinbefore described my improvements as applied to hollow
projectiles or shells, it is evident that they are also applicable for the manufacture of
similar forged metal articles in which a central chamber or cavity has to be formed,
that is to say, articles which are tubular or annular in transverse section throughout
the whole or a portion of their length.
Moreover I can, if desired, somewhat modify the construction of my apparatus and
the shape or configuration of the blanks which I use, without departing from the
nature of my invention. For instance, I can make the die without the enlargement a¹
of the cavity therein, and close or partially close the base of the projectile or shell in
any convenient manner other than that hereinbefore described. And, although I have
shown the blank formed with circumferential ribs or projections for keeping it central
within the die or mould, I can provide the said blank with other ribs or projections
for this purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 wish it understood that
I am aware of the methods or processes described in the Specification of former
Letters Patent dated 24th December A.D. 1886, No. 16,943 for the Manufacture of
a hollow projectile or shell from a solid block by driving punches into the same
while the said block is supported in a die or mould fitting closely around it so that
the metal displaced from the centre of the block will be compelled to flow or expand
endwise; and I make no claim to any of the methods or processes described and
claimed in the said former Specification; but I claim :-
First The improved method of manufacturing a hollow projectile or shell or
similar forged metal article, consisting in first forming a blank with ribs or projections
for the purpose above specified, and then forcing a punch or mandrel into the said
blank while it is supported in a die or mould so that the metal displaced from the
centre of the said blank will flow or expand radially outwards, substantially as set
forth.
Second-The above described method of providing for partially closing the open
end of a hollow projectile or similar forged metal article, by forming a rib, flange
or projection around the open end of the same and then forcing the said article,
with or without a mandrel therein, through a ring or annular die formed with an
inclined shoulder for the purpose above specified.

page_text: Third The employment, in the manufacture of a forged metal article as above
described, of a punch or mandrel provided with means for rotating it upon or about
its axis while it is being forced into the blank, as, and for the purpose, above
specified.
.
Fourth-The die-holder adapted to receive the die-segments and provided with
means for adjusting the said segments or either of them, substantially as, and for the
purpose, set forth.
Fifth The improved apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings and.
operating as, and for the purposes, above specified..
Sixth-A hollow projectile or shell or other forged metal article manufactured by
the improved method or process hereinbefore described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,.
Agents for the Applicant..