Year: 1887

page_text: I DE LANCY KENNEDY, of 121 West Sixteenth Street in the City and County of
New York, United States of America, Machinist, 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:-
The object of this invention is to provide a projectile that will more easily penetrate
the armour-plates of a war vessel, and which object I propose to accomplish by
shaping the end of said projectile in such a manner as to effect a continuous shearing
cut, similar to that formed by a pair of shears, and thus with comparative ease and
certainty to puncture the armour of a ship or the turret of a monitor at which said
projectile may be fired; and it consists in giving the ends of such projectiles a chisel
point, with a spirally inclined contour around its periphery, by which such continuous
shearing cut is performed as it penetrates the plates.
The radial cutting edges of the said projectile may be square across or diagonal to
the axis of said projectile, inclining rearwardly. In the latter case, on striking the
target the penetration would commence at the centre, extending radially to the
periphery, and around the latter on an incline, performing as it were a shearing
operation in penetrating.
In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a
perspective view of my improved projectile. Fig. 2 is a section of same."
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout.
The forward end A of my improved projectile is formed chisel-shaped as shewn,
and is constructed preferably whole or in part of hardened or properly tempered steel
and is formed with a pin or axle a.
B represents the larger and heavier part of the body of the projectile, which is in
the form of a hollow cylinder and rests upon the pin or axle a upon which it is free
to turn. The part B constitutes about two thirds of the length of the entire
projectile which may be of any dimensions, and be made of cast iron. The two parts
A and B are grooved or recessed and provided with bands C, of softer metal. The
end of the pin or axle a is screw-threaded at its outer end to receive a circular nut, c,
which is preferably of the same diameter as the body of the projectile.

page_text: D is a washer, which may, if desired, be made of some anti-friction metal of any
suitable thickness, the washer surrounding the pin or axle and being placed between
the two parts A and B of the projectile.
The operation of my improved projectile is as follows :-
-
When the forward end of the projectile strikes and penetrates an armour-plate or
other object, this part of the projectile is prevented from continuing the rotary
movement imparted to it by the rifled construction of the gun from which the
projectile has been discharged; but as the part of the projectile having the greater
weight is permitted to revolve, while incapable of longitudinal or end movement, the
rotary movement given to this part of the projectile may continue until the force has
been expended. The object of making the heavier part of the projectile capable of
rotary movement, is to prevent said projectile from fracturing, which would be the
case, were the whole mass suddenly prevented from revolving.
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. A cylindrical projectile constructed with a cutting edge extended radially from
the axis to the periphery and thence spirally around or partially around the periphery,
substantially as set forth.
2. A cylindrical projectile having the part A constructed of steel, and said part A
formed with a pin or axle a and said pin or axle a provided with a screw washer 69
all substantially as set forth.
3. A cylindrical projectile having the part B adapted to revolve upon the pin or
axle a and said part B recessed and fitted with rings Û of soft metal, all substantially
as set forth.
4. The construction and general arrangement of my improved projectile, sub-
stantially as set forth and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 19th day of December 1887.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.