Improvements in and relating to Shells for High Explosives.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Shells for High Explosives.
I, LOUIS GATHMANN, of 46, Lincoln Avenue, in the City of Chicago, in the
County of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to shells for high explosives and has for its objects,
among other things: first, to provide a shell having a maximum capacity for
explosives combined with a minimum weight of shell; second to provide a
shell in which the metal shall be so distributed as to insure greater safety from
premature rupture or bulging of the shell upon the firing of the expelling
charge; third to provide a shell which shall have superior accuracy of flight;
fourth to provide a shell in which, upon impact, there shall be a closer proximity
to the bursting charge of the object struck and consequently a maximum efficiency,
and fifth to provide a shell having these characteristics in which a better or
more effective detonation of the bursting charge of the shell may be obtained.
My invention also has for a further object to provide a shell for high explo-
sives so
constructed that the fuse which comprises the priming charge and
detonator shall be positively held separated from the bursting charge within
the shell proper before firing the gun and shall be similarly held by the pressure
of the gases caused by the firing of the gun, until after the discharge of the
shell from the gun.
To these ends my inventions consists in certain novel features which I will
now proceed to describe.
Referring first to that portion of my invention which relates more particularly
to the shape of the shell I make the shell with a body or wall which is of
gradually diminishing thickness towards the head or point of the shell. This
diminution in the thickness of the body or wall of the shell is preferably obtained
by reducing the external diameter of the shell towards the front end thereof.
This diminution in thickness may exist gradually from the base of the shell
to the point, but I prefer to give to the body of the shell a form in which the
diminution in thickness of the wall or body thereof is dispensed with as to the
rear portion of the shell, the forward portion only being diminished in thickness
for about two-thirds of the length of the shell. In either case there is provided
at a suitable distance forward of the base an annular enlargement on the exterior
of the body of the shell, which is of a diameter substantially equal to that of the
bore of the gun and which serves to steady the shell while in position in the
gun. This annulus need not, however, be continuous but may be interrupted

page_text: or in the form of lugs. The fuse will be located at the base or thickest portion
of the shell.
By reason of this construction of the body of the shell, the weight of said
body is diminished relatively to the amount of space provided for the bursting
charge, and consequently the proportion of the bursting charge to the total
weight of the shell is increased. Moreover, the metal of the shell is so arranged
that the relative weight or mass of the metal which resists the forward move-
ment imparted to the base or rear part of the shell when the propelling gases
exert their forces against said base upon the discharge of the gun, is decreased,
and consequently the strain upon the base and upon that portion of the body
of the shell intermediate between the base and the front end is correspondingly
decreased, since there is no heavy mass of metal at the front end of the shell,
the inertia of which must be overcome by means of a strain upon the base and
intermediate part of the shell. By this means greater safety from premature
rupture or bulging of the shell within the gun is obtained, owing to the diminu-
tion of the strain upon the base and upon the body portion of the, shell inter-
mediate between said base and the head or front end of the shell. In addition
to these advantages, the tapering shape of the shell insures greater accuracy of
flight, as the increased rearward diameter of the shell serves to give
an increased frictional action of the atmosphere upon the rear part
of the shell, thereby tending to preserve the alignment of its flight. A further
advantage arising from the described construction lies in the fact that upon
impact the explosive charge of the shell is closer to the object struck by reason
of the thinness of the metal at the front end of the shell and a maximum effect
of the explosive upon the object struck such, for instance, as armour plate, is
thereby obtained. This increased effect is also aided by the fact that the shell
is made of tough steel, and upon impact will be flattened out so as to bring a
larger portion of the explosive close to the object struck by reason of the en-
largement of the area of the shell in contact with said object and the bringing of
the entire charge closer to the object. Again, the location of the fuse at the
rearward portion of the shell, where its body is thickest, serves to produce a
better or more effectual detonation of the charge and consequently a more effective
explosion.
Referring next to the second feature of my invention which relates more
particularly to the construction of the safety fuse and its combination with the
shell, provide the interior of the shell with a bursting charge, preferably of
wet or paraffined gun cotton, the base of the shell being closed by a threaded
breech plug which carries the fuse. This fuse is carried in a separate cylindrical
shell or cup-like stock which screws into the breech plug, said plug having an
opening of a sufficient diameter to permit the passage of the detonator from the
fuse stock into the body of the shell. This passage is normally closed by a
partition, which may be in the form of a block or plug, closing the fuse way and
adapted to move longitudinally therein. The fuse is longitudinally movable in
a fuse way extending through the fuse stock and, through the aperture in the
base plug into the body of the shell, and is prevented from moving into the
body of the shell in contiguity with the bursting charge thereof by means of
the partition. The partition is held in place so as to prevent movement
thereof by means of locking pins which engage a groove or apertures
in the partition, said pins extending outward to the exterior of the fuse stock
or shell, where they will be exposed to the pressure of the gases generated by
the firing of the charge from the gun under the circumstances hereinafter set
forth. These pins are held in their normal position, in locking engagement
with the partition by means of blocks or studs of compressed powder or other
combustible substance, which are pressed or held against the heads of the pins
by any suitable means, such as screw plugs having apertures whereby the flame
of the discharge of the gun may have access to said blocks or studs.

page_text: Under normal conditions the partition intervenes between the fuse and the
bursting charge, being held in position by the pins, so that any accidental explo-
sion of the priming charge within the fuse will be prevented from having such
access to the wet gun cotton in the body of the shell as will explode this latter,
so that such explosion, while it may destroy the walls of the fuse chamber, will
not explode the bursting charge of the shell. When the shell is being dis-
charged from the gun, however, the flames of the expelling charge will have
access to the powder studs, and these latter will burn out, so that the locking
pins will be free to move radially outward under the influence of the centrifugal
force generated by the whirling of the shell after the shell has passed from the
gun. It will be observed, however, that, while the shell remains in the gun
during its flight, the pressure of the gases produced by the firing charged
employed in expelling the shell is exerted upon the outer heads of the locking
pins, and these latter are therefore positively and firmly held in engagement
with the partition and preclude its longitudinal movement until the shell has
passed clear of the gun, and the pressure has been removed from the outer or
exposed heads of the locking pins. After the shell has passed clear of the gun,
the locking pins are free to move radially outward under the influence of the
centrifugal force generated by the whirling of the shell, and the partition is
thereby freed along with the fuse and will move forward into the detonating
chamber with the fuse in close proximity to the bursting charge of the shell.
I prefer to permanently connect the fuse to the longitudinally movable parti-
tion so that the two will move together and to provide within the fuse a plunger,
having a charge of fulminate and a cap to explode the priming charge of the
fuse. This plunger is held by a break pin, which is ruptured by the discharge
of the gun and permits the plunger to move forward upon impact of the shell,
thereby bringing its cap into contact with some relatively fixed part to explode
its fulminate charge and thus explode the priming charge and consequently
the bursting charge of the shell.
The longitudinally movable partition which I have devised is advantageous
not only for the reason that it renders it practicable to employ a partition of
great thickness, but also because there is not that liability of only partial move-
ment which might exist where a laterally moving partition is used, which
partial movement would, of course, prevent the fuse from being brought into
juxtaposition to the bursting charge of the shell. Moreover the strength of the
base of the shell is increased by reason of the absence of the lateral recesses which
are necessary when laterally moving partitions are employed. However, my
invention is not limited to the use of such longitudinally movable partition, and
I may employ, in conjunction with the locking pins which are held in place
by the pressure of the gases of the expelling charge of the gun, a laterally mov-
able partition or partitions. Nor is it essential to my invention that combustible
blocks or studs should be employed for holding the locking pin in position prior
to the discharge of the gun, as I may employ mechanical means operated by such
pressure for holding and releasing said pins. In this construction I employ
locking pins, each of which has an aperture or passage extending transversely
thereof and adapted to register with a similar aperture or passage formed in the
body of the fuse stock or shell, or in a sleeve threaded into said body. A pin
adapted to move longitudinally in such passages is inserted therein in such a
position that it extends partly into each passage, thereby preventing movement
of the locking pin, and is itself held from longitudinal movement by a break
pin. Upon the discharge of the gun the pressure of the gases will rupture the
break pins and force the holding pins forward into the aperture in the locking
pins. The holding pins are shorter than the apertures in the locking pins, so
that when thus forced forward they will not project beyond said locking pins,
and the locking pins are therefore free to move outward except for the pressure
of the expelling charge upon their heads, said pressure retaining them in position

page_text: until the shell has passed from the gun, when they move outward by centrifugal
force and release the separating partition.
Dated this 9th day of December 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
improvements in and relating to Shells for High Explosives.
I, LOUIS GATHMANN, of 46, Lincoln Avenue, in the City of Chicago, in the
County of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America, Engineer, 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 shells for high explosives and has for its objects,
among other things: first, to provide a shell having a maximum capacity for
explosives combined with a minimum weight of shell; second to provide a
shell in which the metal shall be so distributed as to insure greater safety from
premature rupture or bulging of the shell upon the firing of the expelling
charge; third to provide a shell which shall have superior accuracy of flight;
fourth to provide a shell in which, upon impact, there shall be a closer proximity
to the bursting charge of the object struck and consequently a maximum efficiency,
and fifth to provide a shell having these characteristics in which a better or
more effective detonation of the bursting charge of the shell may be obtained.
My invention also has for a further object to provide a shell for high explo-
sives so constructed that the fuse, which comprises the priming charge and
detonator, shall be positively held separated from the bursting charge within
the shell proper before firing the gun and shall be similarly held by the pressure
of the gases caused by the firing of the gun until after the discharge of the
shell from the gun.
To these ends my invention consists in certain novel features which I will
now proceed to describe and will then particularly point out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a view showing a shell embodying my invention in one form, the
same being one-half in section and one-half in elevation, and shown in position
within a gun, a portion of which appears in longitudinal section;
Figure 2 is a similar view, illustrating a modified form of my improved shell;
Figure 3 is a detail view in half section of a portion of a shell having applied
thereto a fuse embodying my invention with relation to fuses in one form;
Figure 4 is a transverse, sectional view of the same, taken on the line 2-2
of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a view, similar to Figure 3, illustrating a modified form of fuse;
Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, illustrating my improved fuse as
applied to an armor piercing shell; and
Figure 7 is a detail view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 5.
Referring first to that portion of my invention, which relates to the conforma-
tion of the body of the shell and which is shown more particularly in Figures 1
and 2 of the drawings, 10 indicates the shell as a whole, the body or wall 11
of which is made of gradually diminishing thickness towards the head or point
of the shell. This diminution in the thickness of the body or wall of the shell is
preferably obtained by reducing the external diameter of the shell towards the

page_text: front thereof, as shown in the drawings. The diminution in thickness may
exist gradually from the base of the shell to the point, as shown in Figure 2,
but I prefer to give to the body of the shell the form shown in Figure 1, in
which the diminution in thickness of the wall or body thereof is dispensed with
as to the rear portion of the shell, the forward portion only being diminished
in thickness for about two-thirds of the length of the shell. In either case
there is provided at a suitable distance forward of the base an annular enlarge-
ment 12 on the exterior of the body of the shell, which is of a diameter sub-
stantially equal to that of the bore of the gun and which serves to steady the
shell while in position within the gun, which is indicated at 13. In the con-
struction shown in Figure 2, in which the diminution in thickness extends from
the base to the point of the shell, the annular enlargement 12 is discontinuous,
or in the form of lugs, and this construction may be also employed in the case
of the shell shown in Figure 1. The shell is provided at its base or thicker
portion with a fuse 14 of any approved construction.
By reason of this construction of the body of the shell, the weight of said body
is diminished relatively to the amount of space provided for the bursting charge,
and consequently the proportion of the bursting charge to the total weight of
the shell is increased. Moreover, the metal of the shell is so arranged that the
relative weight or mass of the metal which resists the forward movement im-
parted to the base or rear part of the shell when the propelling gases exert their
forces against said base upon the discharge of the gun, is decreased, and conse-
quently the strain upon the base and upon that portion of the body of the shell
intermediate between the base and the front end is correspondingly decreased,
since there is no heavy mass of metal at the front end of the shell, the inertia
of which must be overcome by means of a strain upon the base and intermediate
part of the shell. By this means greater safety from premature rupture or bulging of
the shell within the gun is obtained, owing to the diminution of the strain upon
the base and upon the body portion of the shell intermediate between said base
and the head or front end of the shell. In addition to these advantages, the
tapering shape of the shell insures greater accuracy of flight, as the increased
rearward diameter of the shell serves to give an increased frictional action of
the atmosphere upon the rear part, of the shell, thereby tending to preserve the
alignment of its flight. A further advantage arising from the described con-
struction lies in the fact that upon impact the explosive charge of the shell is
closer to the object struck by reason of the thinness of the metal at the front
end of the shell and a maximum effect of the explosive upon the object struck,
such, for instance, as armour plate. is thereby obtained. This increased effect is
also aided by the fact that the shell is made of tough steel, and upon impact will
be flattened out so as to bring a larger portion of the explosive close to the object
struck by reason of the enlargement of the area of the shell in contact with said
object and the bringing of the entire charge closer to the object. Again, the
location of the fuse at the rearward portion of the shell, where its body is thickest,
serves to produce a better or more effectual detonation of the charge and conse-
quently a more effective explosion.
Referring next to the second feature of my invention which relates more
particularly to the construction of the safety fuse and its combination with the
shell, which feature is more particularly illustrated in Figures 3 to 7 of the draw-
ings. 10 indicates the body of the shell, the interior of which contains, enclosed
within a suitable thin casing 11, a bursting charge 12, preferably of wet or
paraffined gun cotton. The shell is provided with a breech plug 13, which is prefer-
ably so constructed as to fit the base of the ordinary regulation shell, being
threaded to screw into place and serving to carry the fuse, which is enclosed in
a separate shell or cup like stock 14, which screws into the breech plug 13 in
the manner shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. This separate shell or stock contains
a fuse chamber 15. The fuse comprises a thin metallic case 16 enclosing a detonating
charge 17 of dry gun cotton. The separating partition, indicated as a whole by

page_text: the reference numeral 18, comprises a body portion 18 which is annular in shape
and provided with a centrally threaded opening, and a threaded plug portion 18b
which screws into said opening and completes the partition. It will be noted
that the partition is of considerable thickness, extending some distance longi-
tudinally of the shell. The forward portion of the fuse chamber is enlarged
to receive the partition 18, the rear end of which is reduced so as to extend into
the smaller portion of the fuse chamber or fuse chamber proper, there being
thus formed a shoulder 14" in the fuse chamber, against which abuts a similar
shoulder 18 on the partition.
19 indicates the detonator stock, which, as a matter of convenience, is formed
in one piece with the plug 18, and which is closed at its free end by a screw
plug 20, said stock having a thinned or reduced wall 21 adapted to be ruptured
by the explosion of the charge of the detonator. This latter consists of a charge
of fulminate 22, carried by a plunger 23, mounted in the stock 19 and retained.
in position by a break pin 24, and adapted to be exploded by the contact of the
forward end of the plunger with the rear end of the plug 18b, the forward end
of the plunger being shod with a percussion cap 25 for this purpose. The
separating partition 18 is held against longitudinal movement by means of
pins 26, which are mounted to move radially in apertures in the shell or stock 14
and which, when in their innermost positions, engage apertures (or a groove 27
in the partition 18. The heads of these pins are provided with packing rings 28
to prevent ingress of the gases of the explosing charge to the dry gun cotton
of the priming charge, and the pins themselves are held in place in engagement
with the partition by means of blocks or studs 29, of compressed powder or other
combustible substance, which are pressed or held against the heads of the pins
by any suitable means, such as screw plugs 30. having a central aperture 31,
which permits the flame generated by the explosion of the powder constituting
the expelling charge to have access to said blocks or studs of compressed powder.
The breech plug 13 has a central aperture of a diameter slightly greater than
that of the partition 18, and there is secured on the inner side of said breech
plug a detonating stock 32, which screws into the breech plug 13 and which
consists of a cylindrical body, having a reduced wall 33 adapted to be ruptured
by the explosion of the priming charge, and a screw plug 34 closing the inner
end of said stock thus forming a detonating chamber 35 of a diameter equal to
that of the partition 18.
Under normal conditions the partition 18, which is of great thickness, inter-
venes between the priming charge and bursting charge, being held in position
by the pins 26, so that any accidental explosion of the priming charge within the
fuse will be prevented from having such access to the wet gun cotton in
the body of the shell as will explode this latter, so that such explosion, while it
may destroy the walls of the fuse chamber, will not explode the bursting charge
of the shell. When the shell is being discharged from the gun, however, the
flames of the expelling charge will have access through the apertures 31 to the
powder studs 29, and these latter will burn out, so that the locking pins 26 will
be free to move radially outward under the influence of the centrifugal force
generated by the whirling of the shell after the shell has passed from the gun.
It will be observed, however, that, while the shell still remains in the gun during
its flight, the pressure of the gases produced by the firing charge employed in
expelling the shell is exerted upon the outer heads of the locking pins 26,
and these, latter are therefore positively and firmly held in engagement with the
partition 18 and preclude its longitudinal movement until the shell has passed
clear of the gun and the pressure has been removed from the outer or exposed
heads of the locking pins. After the shell has passed clear of the gun, the
pins 26 are free to move radially outward under the influence of the centrifugal
force generated by the whirling of the shell, and the partition 18 is thereby
freed along with the fuse and will move forward into the detonating_chamber
with the fuse in close proximity to the bursting charge of the shell. It should

page_text: be noted that, upon the discharge of the shell from the gun, the break pin 24
is broken by the setting back of the plunger 23 owing to the inertia of this latter.
Upon impact the said plunger will move forward, and by the contact of its cap 25
with the partition 18 will explode its charge of fulminate, whereupon the priming
charge 17 of the fuse will be exploded, and this in turn will explode the bursting
charge 12 of the shell.
The longitudinally movable partition which I have devised is advantageous
not only for the reason that it renders it practicable to employ a partition of
great thickness, but also because there is not that liability of partial movement
only which might exist where a laterally moving partition is used, which partial
movement would, of course, prevent the priming charge of the fuse from being
brought into juxtaposition to the bursting charge of the shell. Moreover the
strength of the base of the shell is increased by reason of the absence of the
lateral recesses which are necessary when laterally moving partitions are em-
ployed. I also deem it advantageous to so connect the partition and fuse so
that in practice they form a single body and move in unison, although such a
construction is, of course, not an essential feature of my invention.
While I deem the combustible blocks or studs a desirable and efficient means
for holding the locking pins in position prior to the discharge of the gun, I do
not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this particular means, as other means
may be employed, and in Figure 5 of the drawings I have shown a construction
generally similar in its construction to that shown in Figure 3. In this case,
however, each locking pin 26 is provided with an aperture or passage 48 extend-
ing transversely of said pin, said aperture or passage registering with a similar
aperture or passage 49 formed in a sleeve 50, which is threaded or otherwise
inserted and secured in the shoulder 14ª of the fuse chamber or stock 14. 51
indicates a pin, which is adapted to move longitudinally in the passages 48
and 49 and which is of less length than the passage 48. This pin is held in
position in the sleeve 50 by means of a break pin 52 in such a manner that it
projects beyond the sleeve 50 and into the aperture 48 in the pin 26.
The action of this mechanism is as follows: Upon the discharge of the gun
the pressure of the gases will force the pins 51 forward into the apertures 48,
breaking the pins 52. The pins, 51, being shorter than the apertures 48, do not
project beyond said apertures and the pins 26 are therefore free to move outward
except for the pressure of the gases of the gun upon their heads, said pressure
retaining them in position until the shell has passed from the gun, when they
move outward by centrifugal force and release the separating partition.
In this construction I have shown the separating partition 18 as formed in a
single piece instead of in two pieces as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and the
shoulder 14 of the previously described construction is dispensed with. The
case 16 is of a diameter equal to that of the partition 18 and the detonator
stock 19 screws directly into the rear end of said partition. A break pin 53 in
front and in the path of the plunger 23 serves to prevent contact of the cap 25
thereof with the partition 18 until impact of the shell, while a soft metal pin 54
at the rear end of said plunger takes up the shock of firing.
I have also shown in this figure a construction wherein the locking pins 26
are provided with segmental shoes 55, which fit within the groove 27 of the
partition and serve to more effectually lock the same, this feature being shown in
detail in Figure 7 of the drawings.
In Figure 6 of the drawings I have shown my invention as applied to an armor
piercing shell, in which construction the breech plug 13 and stock 14 are made
in a single piece. Between the breech plug and the bursting charge 12 is placed
a diaphragm 56 of thin metal, by means of which, owing to its resistance to
the forward movement of the fuse, the shell is made a delayed action shell. The
remaining features of construction shown in this figure will be readily understood
from what precedes without particular description.
The several features hereinbefore described may be combined in various ways,

page_text: and some of them, although desirable, may be omitted or modified without de-
parting from the principle of my invention, and I therefore do not wish to be
understood as limiting myself strictly to the precise details of construction herein-
before described and shown in the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A shell for high explosives, the body wall of which is thinner towards its
forward end than towards the base of the shell, substantially as described.
2. A shell for high explosives having the wall of its body of decreasing thick-
ness towards the front end or head thereof, substantially as described.
3. A shell for high explosives having a body of decreasing external diameter
towards its front end or head, the wall or body of said shell being of decreasing
thickness towards the front end or head thereof, substantially as described.
4. A shell for high explosives, the body wall of which is thinner towards its
forward end than towards the base of the shell, and a fuse located at the base
of the shell, substantially as described.
5. A shell for high explosives having the wall of its body of decreasing thick-
ness towards the front end thereof and provided externally with an annular
enlargement at a point intermediate the base and front end, adapted to the bore
of the gun, substantially as described.
6. A high explosive shell comprising separate chambers for the bursting and
detonating charges, a partition normally separating said chambers, and locking
devices exposed to and adapted to be retained in position by the pressure of the
gases of the firing charge of the gun, substantially as described.
7. A high explosive shell provided with a main chamber containing a bursting.
charge, a separate or isolated chamber containing the priming or detonating
charge located rearward thereof, a partition separating said chambers when in
normal position and adapted when free to be moved during the flight of the
shell to open communication between them, locking devices for holding said
partition in its normal position, retaining devices for holding said locking
devices in their normal position, said retaining devices being adapted to release
the locking devices upon the discharge of the gun; and said locking devices
being exposed to and retained in position by the pressure of the gases in the
gun until discharged therefrom and being adapted to release the movable parti-
tion when so discharged, substantially as described.
8. A high explosive shell comprising separate chambers for the bursting
charge and priming or detonating charge, a partition normally separating said
chambers, locking pins normally engaging said partition, and combustible
blocks or studs arranged to hold said locking pins in their normal position and
exposed to the gases of the firing charge, substantially as described.
9. A high explosive shell provided with a main chamber containing a burst-
ing charge, a separate or isolated chamber containing a priming or detonating
charge located rearward of the main chamber, a partition normally separating
said "chambers and adapted when released to slide freely longitudinally of the
shell, and means for holding said partition in its normal or closed position until
the discharge of the shell from the gun, substantially as described.
10. The combination, with a shell having a fuse way therein, of a separable
fuse stock adapted to be connected thereto, a partition and detonating devices
longitudinally movable in said fuse way and stock when free, and locking pins
extending from the exterior to the interior of said fuse stock, engaging the parti-
tion and adapted to be released by the discharge of the shell from the gun, sub-
stantially as described.
11. A fuse for high explosive shells, comprising a stock adapted to be attached
to the base of the shell, a block or partition closing the front end of said stock,
a priming or detonating charge within the stock, radial locking pins extending

page_text: from the exterior of the stock into engagement with the block or partition, and
retaining devices for said locking pins adapted to be released upon the discharge
of the gun, substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of December 1898..
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.