CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOMB SHELLS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Davies, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn,
in the County of Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the
City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOMB SHELLS."-A
communication from abroad by William Rice, of Philadelphia, in the
United States of America.
Sealed the 12th February 1861, and dated the 25th August 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
August 1860.
I, GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil:
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOMB SHELLS," (a
communication from abroad by William Rice, of Philadelphia, in the United
States of America,) to be as follows:-
This Invention consists principally in charging an oblong or spherical shell
with a system of partially severed rings or strips of cast iron arranged within
the shell round a chamber containing gunpowder or other explosive compound,
as so adapted to each other as to form with the shell a compact mass of metal,
which on the instant the explosion takes place is shattered into a number of
pieces, the latter being scattered with greater force and with more destructive
effect than the detached pieces of metal with which shells are usually
charged.

page_text: In constructing an oblong or conical shell according to this Invention (to
be fired from a smooth-bored gun), the outer casing consists of a hollow
cylinder of cast iron with a series of grooves cut or formed longitudinally from
end to end, and nearly through the entire thickness of metal. The head and
butt of the shell are connected together, and to the cylinder- by a central tube
screwed at each end into the two former, which tube also forms a chamber for
the charge of powder or other explosive compound; around this tube and
between it and the outer casing are arranged a series of rings of a triangular
or other suitable section, so that when fitted together they shall form a com-
pact mass of metal; the said rings being each nearly cut through its entire
thickness at several points. Or the space between the inner tube and the
outer case may be filled with longitudnal bars of cast iron partially severed in
a number of places, or with a combination of.bars and rings. The shell is
provided with a lead or other soft metal washer at the shoulder to prevent the
head and cylinder of the same from abrading or otherwise injuring the bore of
the gun: The butt of the shell is also provided with a leaden-or other soft
metal-washer, which is expanded-by-mcans of an iron-collar: The face of the
butt is cut or formed so as to present two or more radial recesses' abrupt on
one side and inclined gradually towards the other (somewhat in the form of
an ordinary revolving ventilator); so that on its being fired from the piece the
concussion against the inclined-planes-shall impart to it a rotary motion round
its longitudinal axis.
.
In forming spherical shells according to this Invention the same system of
compactly fitting partially severed rings is employed, and the outer casing may
be either screwed together in two halves or the inner parts being compactly
fitted together and covered with a coating of clay or other material, so as to
forni a cone, may be placed in. a mould and the outer casing cast round them
so as to save all expensive fitting. This same method may also be employed
in making the oblong shells first named.
In constructing oblong or conical shells to be fired from rifled cannon the
whole casing of the shell is cast solid round the inner parts. The same being
provided at the shoulder with a soft metal colar, and having at the butt a shoe
or "sabot" (also made of soft metal), the butt of the shell being provided
with wedge-formed projections for spreading out, the shoe laterally at the
instance of discharge, and thus causing it to fit into the grooves or rifling of
the gun. In all cases there is a small tube at the fore part of the shell
leading to the chamber for the reception of the fuze employed to ignite the
explosive charge therein.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed:
by the said George Davies in the Great Seal Patent Office on the.
25th February 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE:
DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex,
and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil Engineer and,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord:
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me
the said George Davies, Her special licence that I, the said George
Davies, my executors, administrators; and assigns, or such others as I, the
said George Davies, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BOMB SHELLS," being a communication
to me from abroad by William Rice, of Philadelphia, in the United States of -
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Davies;
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.'
"
i
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Davies, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Drawings, that is
to say:-
:.
This Invention consists principally in charging an oblong or spherical shell
with a system of partially severed rings or strips of cast-iron arranged within
the shell round a chamber containing gunpowder or other explosive compound,
and so adapted to each other as to form with the shell a compact mass of
metal, which on the instant the explosion takes place is shattered into a

page_text: number of pieces, the latter being scattered with greater force and with more
destructive effect than the detached pieces of metal with which shells are
"usually charged.
In constructing an oblong or conical shell according to this Invention (to
:be fired from a smooth-bored gun), the outer casing consists of a hollow
.cylinder of cast-iron with a series of grooves cut or formed longitudinally from
lend to end, and nearly through the entire thickness of metal. The head and
butt of the shell are connected together and to the cylinder by a central tube
screwed at each end into the two former, which tube also forms a chamber for
the charge of powder or other explosive compound. Around this tube and
between it and the outer casing are arranged series of rings of a triangular
or other suitable section; so that when fitted together they shall form a com-
pact mass of metal; the said rings being each nearly cut through its entire
thickness at several points. Or the space between the inner tube and the
outer case may be filled with longitudinal bars of cast-iron partially severed in
a number of places, or with a combination of bars and rings. The shell is
provided-with-a lead or other soft metal washer at the shoulder to prevent the
'head and cylinder of the same from abrading or otherwise injuring the bore of
the gun. The butt of the shell is also provided with a leaden or other soft
métal washer, which is expanded by means of an iron collar. The face of the
butt is cut or formed so as to present two or more radial recesses abrupt on
one side and inclined gradually towards the other (somewhat in the form of
an ordinary revolving ventilator), so that on its being fired from the piece the
concussion against the inclined planes shall impart to it a rotary motion round
its longitudinal axis.
"
In forming spherical shells according to this Invention the same system of
compactly fitting partially severed rings is employed, and the outer casing may
be either screwed together in two halves, or the inner parts being compactly
fitted together and covered with a coating of clay or other material, so .as..to
form a 'core, may be placed in a mould and the outer casing cast round them
so as to save all expensive fitting. This same method may also be employed
in making the oblong shells first named.-
In constructing oblong or conical shells to be fired from rifled cannon, the
whole casing of the shell is cast solid round the inner parts, the same being
provided at the shoulder with a soft metal collar, and having at the butt a shoe
or "sabot" (also made of soft metal), the butt of the shell being provided
with wedge-formed projections for spreading out the shoe laterally at the
instant of discharge, and thus causing it to fit into the grooves or rifling of the

page_text: gun. In all cases there is a small tube at the fore part of the shell-leading to
the chamber for the reception of the fuze employed to ignite the explosive
charge therein.
Such being the nature and object of the said .Invention for "Certain
Improvements in the Construction of Bomb Shells," I will proceed to
describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be
.performed or carried into practical effect. And in order that the same
may be distinctly understood I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings
illustrative thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of
reference corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof, that
is to say:
: 3
Figure 1 in the annexed Drawing represents a longitudinal section of an
oblong shell illustrating the improved mode of charging the same; Figure 2 is
a transverse section on the line 1, 2, Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view of the rear
end of the shell, and Figure 4 is a transverse section illustrating a modification
of the improved shell; Figures 5-and 6 represent the improvement as applied
to spherical shells. Similar letters refer to the like parts throughout the
several views.
On reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4; A represents the outer casing; B;
the head, and C the butt of the improved oblong shell. The outer casing A
consists of a hollow-cylinder of cast iron with a series of grooves cut longitu
dinally, from end to end, and nearly through the entire thickness of metal, as
seen in Figure 2; D is a metal tube screwed at one end into a recess of the
butt C, and at the opposite end into a recess of the head B of the shell, thus
serving the double purpose of confining both the butt.and head.to the cylinder
A, and of forming a chamber for the charge of powder or other explosive
compound. On to the tube D are fitted a series of cast-iron rings.a, a, and
b, b, each ring being of the angular form represented in Figure 1, and so
arranged that there shall be an annular space between the rings.a.and b
for the reception of an intermediate ring c, which is of the angular form neces;
sary to fit into the said intervening space. It will thus be seen that the rings
a, b, and c, form, when fitted together and adapted to each other, a hollow
cylinder surrounding the tube D and confined between the head. B and butt C
of the shell. Another system of angular rings d, d, e, e, f,f, arranged in a
manner precisely similar to that above described are fitted together, and, form
a hollow cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder of rings and confined between
the head and butt of the shell. Each ring of both sets is cut nearly through
its entire thickness at several points, as seen in Figure 2. The cylinder A.
has at each end an annular lip or projection.fitting one lip into the butt, and

page_text: the butt.
the other lip into the head of the shell, so that both the eylinder butt and head
may be retained in their. proper relative position. Between the cylinder A,
and head of the shell intervenes a washer h of lead or other soft metal, the
edge of the washer being bent down over the end of the cylinder for the purpose
described hereafter. A shoulder is formed on the end of the butt C for the
reception of the lead washer i, and the iron collar j, which fits snugly on to
On the face of the butt are cut four recesses k, abrupt on one side
and inclined' gradually on the other side, as seen in Figure 3. The tube in
the above described shell having been filled with powder, and a fusee commu-
nicating with the latter having been inserted through an orifice. of the head,
the whole is inserted into a smooth bored gun having the requisite charge of
powder. On the explosion of the latter taking place the force applied to the
iron collar j will cause the lead washer i to expand and fit tight against the
gun, thereby preventing the escape of explosive gases, at the same time the
concussion against the butt of the shell will through the inclined recesses k, k,
impart to it a rotary motion, which will be continued as it passes through the
bore of the gun, and after it leaves the mouth of the latter. The washer h
with its turned down edge bearing against the bore of the gun prevents the
liead and cylinder from coming in contact with and abrading or otherwise
injuring the surface of the bore. When the charge of powder within the
shell is exploded an immediate disruption of the tube D, and a simül-
taneous breaking up of the rings and outer cylinder A takes place, the rings
being 'broken at the points where they are partially severed, the outer cylinder
being shattered by the explosion and the disconnected pieces of the rings and
casing being scattered with great force in every direction and having the
desired destructive effect on every object within their reach. As the entire
shell is packed closely with rings fitting to each other, and as each ring
may be partially severed at any number of points, it will be evident that the
contents when exploded may be scattered in a large number of pieces, the
explosion having greater effect owing to the compactness of the contents of
the shell than in shells charged with detached pieces of metal. The shell may
be charged with 'partially severed rings-arranged in a manner differing from
that above described. In Figure 4, for instance, the space intervening between
the tube D and the outer cylinder A is fitted with rings partially severed,'
having pointed projections, the angular spaces on the inside of the outer
cylinder being fitted with longitudinal strips a, partially severed at intervals.
A system of partially severed rings may be applied to spherical shells as seen
in Figures 5 and 6, which will be readily understood without further reference.
In applying the Invention to this class of shell, the rings with the chamber

page_text: containing the charge of powder may be arranged in a compact mass covered
on the outside with a coating of clay or other suitable material, so as to form
a core, which is placed in the mould, and the outer casing cast around it, all
expensive fitting being thus avoided.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of an oblong shell made according to
this Invention with a loose shoe or "sabot" and intended to be fired from a
rifled cannon, and Figure 8 is a view of the rear end of the same with the shoe
removed. In this case the body of the shell is cast around the partially
severed rings previously arranged. It is provided at its forward shoulder with
a soft metal collar a, and at its rear end with a soft metal shoe or "sabot" A,
the butt of the shell being provided with wedge-formed projections b, b, for
spreading out the shoe laterally, and causing it to fit the grooves at the instant
the explosion takes place.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention for
"Certain Improvements in the Construction of Bomb Shells," together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as the Invention
communicated to me by the aforesaid William Rice.
Firstly, the employment for such purpose of partially severed rings or strips
of metal (or a combination of both strips and rings in an oblong or spherical
casing as above set forth.
Secondly, forming such partially severed rings or strips or both into a core
and casting the casing around the same.
Thirdly, the combination of the central chamber of any suitable material
with the partially, severed rings or strips, substantially as and for the purposes
above set forth.
And, fourthly, the application to such shells, when intended to be fired from
rifled cannon, of a soft metal shoe or. "sabot," which is expanded at the
moment of the discharge by wedge-shaped projections on the rear end of
the shell.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Davies, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
GEORGE DAVIES. (L.S.)