AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF PROJECTILES FOR ORDNANCE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Edward Vickers, of Sheffield, in the County of
York, Steel Manufacturer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE
OF PROJECTILES FOR ORDNANCE”
ealed the 28th February 1878, and dated the 11th September 18
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Edward Vickers at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th September 1877.
THOMAS EDWARD VICKERS, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel Manufac-
turer. "AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF PROJECTILES FOR ORDNANCE."
The object of this Invention is to increase the penetrative power of chilled
projectiles when fired at armour plates.
Hitherto, in consequence of the comparatively fragile material of which the body
of the projectile is composed, when its motion is suddenly checked by its point
striking the armour plate, the momentum of the rear part of the projectile is
frequently expended in breaking itself up, thereby greatly impairing the penetrative
power of the projectile.
In order to remove this defect, I propose to construct projectiles partly of steel
and partly of chilled cast iron in such a manner as to combine the penetrative
power of a chilled point with the strength of a steel body, so as to obtain the full
penetrative power due to the momentum of the projectile. For this purpose I
prepare a mould, the lower part of which consists of a chill of the form necessary
for the point of the projectile, the remaining part to receive the body of the
projectile, being formed of the composition commonly used in moulding for steel
castings, a core being provided when it is intended to cast a hollow shell. Into this
mould I first pour a proper quantity of melted cast iron, or mixed steel and cast
iron, of suitable quality to form a chilled point, which is allowed to remain for a
time, say from one to ten minutes, according to the size of the projectile, in order
to become solidified, but not cold; and I then complete the casting by filling up the
remainder of the mould with melted steel. The projectile thus formed is allowed
to cool, and is afterwards finished in the lathe or other machines.
If thought necessary, the projectile, when removed from the mould, may be
annealed, and afterwards finished in the lathe.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Edward Vickers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
March 1878.
THOMAS EDWARD VICKERS, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Steel Manufac-
turer. AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF PROJECTILES FOR ORDNANCE."
"
The object of this Invention is to increase the penetrative power of chilled
projectiles when fired at armour plates.
Hitherto, in consequence of the comparatively fragile material of which the body
of the projectile is' composed, when its motion is suddenly checked by its point
striking the armour plate, the momentum of the projectile is frequently expended
in breaking up the rear part, and thereby greatly impairing the penetrative power
of the projectile.
In order to remove this defect, I propose to construct projectiles partly of steel
and partly of chilled cast iron in such a manner as to combine the penetrative
power of a chilled point with the strength of a steel body, and thereby to obtain
the full penetrative power due to the momentum of the projectile. For this purpose
I prepare a mould, the lower part of which consists of a chill of the form necessary
for the point of the projectile, the remaining part of the mould to form the body of
the projectile being made of the composition commonly used in moulding for steel
castings, a core being provided when it is intended to cast a hollow shell. In this
mould I first pour a proper quantity of melted cast iron, or mixed steel and cast
iron, of suitable quality to form a chilled point, which is allowed to remain for a
time, say from one to ten minutes, according to the size of the projectile, in order to
become solidified, but not cold; and I then complete the casting by filling up the
remainder of the mould with melted steel. The projectile thus formed is allowed
to cool, and is afterwards finished in the lathe or other machines.
If thought necessary, the projectile, when removed from the mould, may be
annealed, and afterwards finished in the lathe.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "An Improved Manufacture
of Projectiles for Ordnance," and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent
I claim manufacturing composite projectiles, in the manner and for the purpose
above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Edward Vickers, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eleventh day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.