Improvements in the Manufacture of Cast Steel Hollow Projectiles, and Means for Carrying same into Effect.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cast Steel Hollow Projectiles,
and Means for Carrying same into Effect.
We, ROBERT ABBOTT HADFIELD of The Grove, Endcliffe Vale Road,
Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel Manufacturer, and ALEXANDER GEORGE
MACKENZIE JACK of Fir Vale House, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Steel Works Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
When casting steel projectiles it has been a practice to form on the upper parts
large feeding heads in order to obviate the formation in the castings of cavities
such as would otherwise be liable to result from the sinking or settling away of the
metal in cooling. Now the object of this invention is to enable such feeding heads,
to be dispensed with, for which purpose we, in lieu thereof, cast a small stalk
or stem on the point of the projectile, which is cast uppermost in the mould, and
which point, being of small diameter, entails only a trifling loss of material, and
can be easily removed. For carrying this into effect we provide a metallic mould
or chill (hereinafter called the mould) in three or other suitable number of parts.
The lower part is recessed for the collar of the core barrel and has suitable
attachments such as screws for securing the core barrel; the middle part forms the
parallel part of the body, and the upper part the ogival head of the shell, together
with the point slightly enlarged as before explained. Above, and on the upper
chill, we secure a metal box which is rammed with sand, which sand is hollowed out
so as to form a funnel shaped runner. Over this box is placed a runner box
through which the molten steel is run. The hole in this runner box is smaller than
the opening by which the steel enters the mould so as to permit free exit of gases
from the mould when pouring. The point or apex of the core onto which the
molten steel falls when being cast is formed of wrought iron or other suitable metal,
and is placed in the core box and rammed up as part of the core.
This point
prevents or tends to prevent the casting from being hollow or "piped" at the apex
of the shell. The metallic point or chill is removed when dressing out the core,
and it may again be used for the same purpose.
When the shell is cast or very soon afterwards we remove the runner box and
also the box below, which is fixed immediately on top of the upper part of the
mould. In doing this we break off the stem or shank while it is yet in a plastic
condition, and thereafter the casting may be removed from the mould.
As a precaution against the occurrence of cracks on the surface of the castings,
especially in the case of shells of large diameter, we coat the surface of the mould
with a refractory material, such as chalk, which may be either rubbed on in a dry
state or washed on the surface of the mould.
Dated this 20th day of December 1895.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Cast Steel Hollow Projectiles,
and Means for Carrying same into Effect.
We, ROBERT ABBOTT HADFIELD of The Grove, Endcliffe Vale Road,
Shoffield, in the County of York, Steel Manufacturer, and ALEXANDER GEORGE
MACKENZIE JACK of Fir Vale House, Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel
Works Manager, 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 :—
When casting steel projectiles it has been a practice to form on the upper parts
large feeding heads in order to obviate the formation in the castings of cavities
such as would otherwise be liable to result from the sinking or settling away of the
metal in cooling. Now the object of this invention is to enable such feeding heads,
to be dispensed with, for which purpose we, in lieu thereof, cast a small stalk
or stem on the point of the projectile, which is cast uppermost in the mould, and
which point, being of small diameter, entails only a trifling loss of material and can
be easily removed.
For carrying this invention into effect we provide a metallic mould or chill
(hereinafter called the mould) in three or other suitable number of parts as we will
now proceed to explain by reference to the accompanying drawing which is a vertical
section of a mould made in three parts. The lower part 1 is recessed at 2 for the
reception of the collar 3 of the core barrel 4 and has suitable attachments such as
screws 5 for securing the core barrel in position; the middle part 6 forms the
parallel part of the body, and the upper part 7 the ogival head of the shell, together
with the point slightly enlarged as before explained. Above and on the upper part
or chill 7, we secure a metal box 8 which is rammed with sand 9, which sand is
hollowed out so as to form a funnel shaped runner 9* as shown. Over this box and
supported it may be by projections 8* thereon, is placed a runner box 10 through
which the molten steel is run. The hole 10" in this runner box is smaller than the
opening 9 by which the steel enters the mould so as to permit free exit of gases
from the mould when pouring, the gases escaping between the box 8 and runner
box 10 as indicated by the arrow. The point or apex 11ª of the core 11 onto which
the molten steel falls when being cast, is formed of wrought iron or other suitable
metal, and is placed in the core box and rammed up as part of the core.
This
point prevents or tends to prevent the casting from being hollow or "piped" at the
apex of the shell. The metallic point or chill is removed when dressing out the
core, and it may again be used for the same purpose.
When the shell is cast, or very soon afterwards, we remove the runner box 10
and also the box 8 below. In doing this we break off the stem or shank on the
shell while it is yet in a plastic condition, and thereafter the casting may be
removed from the mould and the point thereof formed to the required shape.
As a precaution against the occurrence of cracks on the surface of the castings,
especially in the case of shells of large diameter, we coat the surface of the mould
with a refractory material, such as chalk, which may be either rubbed on in a dry
state or washed on the surface of the mould.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In the manufacture of cast steel hollow projectiles, the use of a box fixed upon
a vertical mould and formed with a runner and above this box a runner box having
a discharge hole smaller in cross-section than the runner in the first mentioned box

page_text: by which the steel enters the mould, the arrangement being such as to permit of
the free exit of the gases from the mould during pouring or casting and to form a
small stalk or stem on the point of the projectile which is cast uppermost in the
mould, substantially as hereinabove described.
2. In the manufacture of cast steel hollow projectiles as referred to in the
preceding claim, the use of a vertical core having its point or apex onto which
the molten steel falls during casting, formed of metal, substantially as herein
described for the purpose specified.
3. The manufacture of cast steel hollow projectiles in the manner and by the
means hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in the drawings.
annexed.
Dated this 17th day of September 1896.
For the Applicants,
.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent..