Improvements in Means or Apparatus for use in Starting Self- Propelling Projectiles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for use in Starting Self-
Propelling Projectiles.
I, WILHELM THEODOR UNGE, of Villagatan No 24 Stockholm, Sweden, Captain, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus by means of which flying-torpedoes, such as
described in the provisional specification filed by me and numbered, 25,945 of 1896,
or other self-propelling projectiles or rockets, intended for carrying explosives
sensitive to percussion, shell or grenade-charges, lighting-charges, lines for saving
purposes and other objects can, for the purpose of hitting or reaching a distant spot
so as to cause shelling, bombarding, illumination etc., be put into motion without
any shock and have imparted to them an initial velocity suiting the purpose in view
and also be given a definite direction, and an initial rotation necessary for
preserving the same direction while flying through the air.
This apparatus or "torpedo-cannon," as I prefer to call it, comprises two main
parts separated from each other-viz, a chamber closed at the rear end it may be
by a breech-loading mechanism and adapted to hold the whole or part of the flying-
torpedo or other self-propelling projectile that is to be projected; and a tube fixed at
a certain distance in front of the mouth of the chamber with its axis coinciding
with the prolongation of the axis of the said chamber.
Instead of being bodily separated from each other the two parts may be made in
one piece and provided with one or more suitably located apertures of sufficient
size.
When a flying-torpedo or other self-propelling projectile is to be projected it is
inserted into the cannon from the mouth or by means of the breech-loading mechanism
into the chamber, where it is afterwards ignited by a safety-fuse or by means of an
electric conductor through the bottom of the chamber. The gas generated in the
torpedo then rushes out into the chamber behind the torpedo, where it expands, thus
causing the torpedo to move gradually towards the mouth of the cannon without any
shock. In order to reduce as much as possible the quantity of gas necessary for
starting the torpedo, a suitable propelling-charge may be placed behind the torpedo
or projectile; this charge may be ignited by the gas rushing out from the torpedo
and contribute to the starting of the torpedo. When, however, the whole of the
torpedo has entered the tube and consequently passed the opening or openings between
the tube and the mouth of the chamber, the expanding gas behind the torpedo
rushes out into the external atmosphere and the gas-pressure behind the torpedo con-
sequently suddenly ceases; the gas that is continually generated in the torpedo is
now free to rush out through the gas-turbine of the torpedo and immediately com-
mences to rotate the torpedo about its longitudinal axis, whilst the torpedo is forced
through the bore with increasing speed by the vis viva that it has acquired in the

page_text: chamber and the continual reaction-pressure and leaves the bore with a definite
initial direction and velocity and with an initial rotation necessary for maintaining
the direction of movement.
Dated this 7th day Dec 1900
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn, London, W.C.
Improvements in Means or Apparatus for use in Starting Self-
Propelling Projectiles.
I, WILHELM THEODOR UNGE, of Villagatan No. 24, Stockholm, Sweden, Captain,
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:-
This invention relates to apparatus by means of which flying-torpedos, such as
described in the Complete Specification filed by me and numbered 25,945 of 1896,
or other self-propelling and self-rotating projectiles or rockets, intended for carrying
explosives sensitive to percussion, shell or grenade charges, lighting-charges, lines
for life saving purposes, or other objects, can, for the purpose of hitting or reaching
a distant spot so as to cause shelling, bombarding, illumination, etc., be put into
motion without any shock and have imparted to them an initial velocity suiting the
purpose in view and also be given a definite direction and an initial rotation
necessary for preserving the same direction while flying through the air.
This apparatus or "torpedo-cannon," as I prefer to call it, comprises two main
parts separated from each other-viz. a chamber closed at the rear end-it may be,
by a breech-loading mechanism-and adapted to hold the whole or part of the flying-
torpedo or other self-propelling projectile that is to be projected; and a tube or barrel
hereinafter referred to as a barrel fixed at a certain distance in front of the mouth
of the chamber with its axis coinciding with a prolongation of the axis of the said
chamber.
Instead of being bodily separated from each other, the two parts may be made in
one piece and provided with one or more suitably located apertures of sufficient
size.
When a flying-torpedo or other self-propelling and self-rotating projectile
(hereinafter referred to as a torpedo) is to be projected, it is inserted into the cannon
from the mouth, or by means of the breech-loading mechanism, into the chamber,
where it is afterwards ignited by a safety-fuse or by means of an electric conductor
through the bottom or end wall of the chamber. The gas generated in the torpedo
then rushes out into the chamber behind the torpedo, where it expands, thus causing
the torpedo to move gradually towards the mouth of the cannon without any shock.
In order to reduce as much as possible the quantity of gas necessary for starting the
torpedo a suitable propelling or throw-charge may be placed behind the torpedo ;
this charge may be ignited by the gas rushing out from the torpedo and contribute
to the starting of the torpedo. When, however, the whole of the torpedo has entered
the tube and consequently passed the opening or openings between the barrel and
the mouth of the chamber, the expanding gas behind the torpedo rushes out into the
external atmosphere and the gas-pressure behind the torpedo consequently suddenly
ceases; the gas that is continually generated in the torpedo is now free to rush out
through the gas-turbine of the torpedo and immediately commences to rotate the
torpedo about its longitudinal axis, whilst the torpedo is forced through the bore with
increasing speed by the vis viva that it has acquired in the chamber and the

page_text: continual reaction-pressure-and leaves the bore with a definite initial direction and
velocity and with an initial rotation necessary for maintaining the direction of
movement.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings illustrate in longitudinal section
and in plan respectively a torpedo-cannon or gun according to this invention made
of two parts, the barrel and the chamber, kept together by an external casing
which may, as shown, also carry the trunnions. Fig. 3 is a cross-section
corresponding to the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. a is the chamber, 6 the barrel and c d the
casing that connects them in such a manner that they have their axes in the
same straight line but have a space e between them for the escape of the gas
during the passage of the projectile through the barrel b. f is a breech-loading
mechanism, which may be of any suitable kind, and g g are the trunnions of the
gun.
Fig. 4 illustrates in longitudinal section a gun according to this invention made
of a single piece. Between the chamber a and the barrel b there is or are made
through the wall of the gun a hole or holes h so large that the gas is able to
escape from the gun without much resistance during the passage of the projectile
through the barrel b. f represents a breech-loading mechanism of any suitable kind
and g g are the trunnions of the gun.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A gun for self-propelling and self-rotating projectiles or rockets comprising
a chamber closed at the rear end, whether by a breech-loading mechanism or not,
and a barrel and provided between the chamber and the barrel with one or more
openings communicating between the interior of the gun and the external atmosphere
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. Guns for use in starting self-propelling projectiles constructed substantially
as herein before described with reference to and shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and in Fig. 4
of the drawings annexed.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.