Improvements in Ammunition, and in Gun Barrels for Use therewith.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 1st June, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ammunition, and in Gun Barrels for Use
therewith.
I, OTOKAR ROZVODA, of Palackého t743 Prague-Smichov, Bohemia, in the
Austrian Empire Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The use of explosives of rapid combustion and high tension, with ordinary
ammunition, is usually attended with danger to the gun. This danger would be
avoided if a certain initial velocity were imparted to the projectile previous to
the occurrence of the explosion; and the object of my invention is to effect
improvements in the application of such high explosive compounds to ammunition,
and to adapt the ammunition to its use, for the purpose of increasing the velocity
of projectiles.
According to my invention the cartridge is provided with a chamber, which is
filled with a highly explosive compound, such as nitro-cellulose powder which has
been steeped in ammonium-pierate, or the like, the cartridge being varnished with
a material which is easily ignited by friction, such as a suitable compound of
phosphor. For this purpose the bore of the barrel may be slightly enlarged at the
breech, and the rifling reduced in twist, so as to offer the least resistance to the
initial inovement of the projectile.
This initial movement may be imparted to the projectile, previously to the
explosion of the cartridge, by means of compressed air; strongly expansive gases;
by high pressure steam, or even by a powerful spring. I do not limit myself to
any particular means for the purpose of producing the initial velocity of the
projectile previously to the explosion of the compound.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, illustrating one form of cartridge.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged section, showing one method of forming the chamber at the
rear of the projectile.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a projectile, with a chamber for containing powerful
explosives screwed to the projectile.
Figs. 4 and 5 are details of Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of Fig. 7, in section.
Figs. 8, 9 and 10, illustrate projectiles formed upon the principle known as the
Krnka-Hebler system.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a is the projectile. 6 is the explosive chamber,
formed by an elongation of the case or cover of the projectile. d is a disc of
nitrated paper, wax, or the like, retained in position by lapping over the case, as
shown at c.
Referring to Fig. 3, the chamber is shown fixed to the projectile by a screw g.
fis the case of the chamber, containing the explosive material b, and fitted with a
detonator 1, (Figs. 3, 4, and 5).
In Figs. 6 to 8 the chamber is shown attached to the projectile by pressure, and
in Figs. 9 and 10 the chamber is formed in the rear end of the projectile itself;
the central longitudinal bore o being closed at m by the material forming part of
the chamber, or at n by a plug or stopper.

page_text: The chamber b is filled with a powerful explosive, for instance with nitro-
cellulose powder soaked in ammonium picrate, and the like. The explosion of the
compound in this chamber takes place after the cartridge has acquired a certain
velocity. The ignition of the compound is produced either by friction, or by means
of a fuse, or by electricity. For effecting the ignition by friction, the cartridge, or
a portion thereof, is coated with a suitable compound of phosphorus, chlorate of
potassium, or the like. The ignition by a fuse 3 is well known; 4 being a ring,
2 the plate, and 1 the fulminate (Fig. 3, 4 and 5.) The ignition may also be
effected through holes ii (Fig. 9), either by friction with a phosphorus conting or
by electricity, when the cartridge has acquired its initial velocity in the breech.
For this purpose the bore of the barrel is enlarged for a length of from 0.6 to 0.9
of the whole length of the barrel. The initial velocity, which must be acquired
by the cartridge before ignition takes place, may be produced either by compressed
air, powerfully expanding gases, steam, or by the power of a spring,-condensed
carbonic acid (CO2),-protoxide of nitrogen (N,O),-mixtures of air and carbonic
acid, of oxygen and hydrogen, or sulphate of hydrogen. The gases are compressed
to (say) 80 atmospheres, or more.
In this Specification the word "cartridge" is intended to include both the
projectile and the chamber attached thereto, or forming part thereof, both of which
are in all cases ejected from the muzzle of the gun; there being no case or shell, as
commonly understood, remaining in the gun after firing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The manufacture and use of projectiles fitted with chambers containing highly
explosive compounds, arranged to ignite after attaining suitable initial velocity,
substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In combination with ammunition as aforesaid, the method of imparting initial
velocity to the projectile previously to the ignition of the explosive charge, the
initial velocity being imparted thereto by compressed air, gases, steam, spring or
springs, or by any other suitable means, substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. In the application of highly explosive compounds to the purposes aforesaid,
the combination therewith of gun barrels formed with an enlarged and elongated
breech, in which the projectile acquires a certain initial velocity, previously to its
reaching the normal part of the barrel where its contained charge is ignited,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated 6th April 1805
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.