Iм- PROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES FOR ORDNANCE
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancer
ounty
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES FOR ORDNANCE."-A communication from
abroad by Charles Wesley Stafford, of Burlington, Des Moines County,
State of Iowa, United States of America.
d the 14th July 1863, and dated the 20th February 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th February 1863.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES FOR ORDNANCE," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to what are technically known as "sub-calibre "
shot and shell, that is to say, shot and shell of a calibre less than that of the
guns
from which they are intended to be fired.
It consists, firstly, in the combination of a bolt or elongated shell of iron or
steel, having a cutting face, and a surrounding casing of wood or other light
material.
Secondly, in a rear cap of metal, so applied in combination with the bolt or
shell and the wooden casing so as to serve as a means of holding the wooden
casing, as a means of attaching the packing device, and as a means of sup-
porting and guiding the rear end of the projectile in the bore of the gun.
Thirdly, in a front cap of metal so applied in combination with the bolt or
shell and the wooden casing as to serve the purposes of holding the forward
end of the said casing, of supporting and guiding the front end of the said
casing in the bore of the gun, and of effecting the explosion of the charge of

page_text: the shell by resistance against the surface of the body penetrated by the shell
itself.
In the accompanying Drawing, forming part of this Specification, Fig. 1 is
a longitudinal outside view of a shell constructed according to my Invention;
Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 3 is a central longi-
tudinal section of a shot 'illustrating a modification of the Invention. Similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
A is the bolt which forms the body of the shot or shell made of cast steel
or of iron faced with steel at its front end, and if intended for operating
against metallic armour its face is made concave, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to
produce a sharp cutting edge. For a shell the exterior of this bolt may be
made perfectly cylindrical, as shown in Fig. 2, as the cavity for the charge
may be so arranged as to bring the centre of gravity nearer the front end;
but for a solid shot the bolt is tapered toward the rear end for about two-
thirds of its length, as shown in Fig. 8, to bring the centre of gravity at the
desirable point. B is the casing of wood or other light material surrounding the
bolt A, and extending from the rear nearly to the front end thereof, having a
periphery of cylindrical form to fit the bore of the gun. This casing may be
made to fit the whole space between the bolt and the bore of the gun, as
represented in Figs. 1 and 2, or for projectiles to be used in guns of large
calibre, may for the sake of lightness, be composed of staves secured around
the exteriors of bands which encircle and fit snugly to the exterior of the bolt.
C is the rear cap made of malleable iron or other metal, fitting over the rear
end of the casing B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. D is a cup-shaped annular
disc of copper or other soft metal fitting over a projection c upon the rear
face of the cap C, which projection is made of angular or irregular form in
its transverse section to prevent the disc D turning thereon. The cap C per-
forms three functions, to wit, holding the rear end of the wooden casing,
supporting and guiding the rear end of projectile within the bore, and con-
stituting the means for the attachment of the packing disc D. I represents
hemp, candle wicking, or other fibrous material thoroughly saturated with a
composition of tallow, black lead, and sulphur, coiled between the disc D and
cap C, and when compressed between the said disc and cap it expands
radially in all directions, so as to assist the disc D in closing the windage.
The composition above mentioned is likewise very beneficial in lubricating the
bore of the gun and preventing heating and scaling.
In the illustration given in Fig. 2, the cap C also constitutes the means of
closing the orifice through which the chamber of the shell is charged with
explosive material, for which purpose the said cap is formed with a projec-

page_text: tion c adapted to screw into the chamber, the pitch of its thread being in the
reverse direction to that of the lands or rifle grooves in the gun in which the
projectile is to be used. The cap C may be attached to a solid shot by
fitting it over a stem a' provided on the rear end of the shot, and securing it
by wedges c, as represented in Fig. 3, or by upsetting or rivetting the said
stem at the back of the cap. F (Fig. 2) is a nipple secured in an oblique
position in the side of the shell; G is the front cap of metal, having a portion
of its exterior cylindrical, and of a size to fit the bore of the gun, and having
in its front part a central opening to fit the bolt or body A, so that it may
turn freely therein. In the rear portion of the said cap there is a screw
thread to enable it to be screwed on to the front end of the wooden casing B,
as shown in Fig. 2, that it may hold the said end of the said casing in place
and support and guide it in the bore of the gun. The said cap covers the
nipple F. In the case of the solid shot, the forward end of the wooden casing
may be held by a simple metallic band slipped over its exterior, and secured
by screws v, v, as shown in Fig. 3.
The operation of the shell is as follows:-The charge having been inserted
in any suitable form or manner, and a percussion cap put on the nipple F. and
the cap G having been adjusted to a suitable position with respect to the
nipple, the shell is ready for placing in the gun. The first effect of the
carrying charge in the gun is to expand the cup-shaped disc D, forcing it and
the packing and lubricating material I into the rifle grooves, and effectually
closing the windage, and ensuring a spiral motion to the shell as it is
impelling forward through and from the bore, the screw c¹ being in the mean-
time tightened by the rotary motion received from the packing disc D.
Owing to the great area exposed to the explosive force of the charge of gun-
powder in the chamber of the gun in proportion to the weight of the shell a
very high velocity is produced, as is well known to be the case with sub-
calibre projectiles. On striking any resisting body, such as metal armour, the
small diameter of the bolt A causes its concave cutting face a to enter with
great facility, and it passes in until the front of the cap G reaches the surface
of the said body and is arrested, when the momentum of the bolt continuing
carries it forward through the said cap G and into the said body, the percus-
sion cap on the nipple F is driven against the oblique inner surface, g of the
said cap G, the angle of which is such as to strike evenly upon the top of the
percussion cap. After having done its work of communicating fire to the
exploding charge within the shell, the nipple F is crushed or broken off in
passing through the cap G, and the bolt A is carried by its momentum into
and through the armour, and at the same time exploded thereon. The shell B

page_text: is crushed and dropped, or thrown off with or before the cap G. The nipple F
may be placed in any suitable position to effect the explosion of the shell at
any period or degree of penetration. The operation of the solid shot only
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th August 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said
William Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Clark, 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,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN PROJECTILES FOR ORDNANCE," a com". to me from abroad by
Charles Wesley Stafford, of Burlington, Des Moines County, State of Iowa,
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to what are technically known as "sub-calibre "

page_text: shot and shell, that is to say, shot and shell of a calibre less than that of the
guns from which they are intended to be fired.
It consists, first, in the combination of a bolt or elongated shell of iron or
steel, having a cutting face and a surrounding casing of wood or other light
material.
Secondly, in a rear cap of metal so applied in combination with the
bolt or shell and the wooden casing as to serve as a means of holding the
wooden casing, as a means of attaching the packing device, and as a means of
supporting and guiding the rear end of the projectile in the bore of the gun.
Thirdly, in a front cap of metal so applied in combination with the bolt or
shell and the wooden casing as to serve the purposes of holding the forward
end of the said casing, of supporting and guiding the front end of the said
casing in the bore of the gun, and of effecting the explosion of the charge of
the shell by resistance against the surface of the body penetrated by the
shell itself.
In the accompanying Drawing forming part of this Specification, Fig. 1 is a
longitudinal outside view of a shell constructed according to my Invention,
Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same, Fig. 3 is a central longi-
tudinal section of a shot illustrating a modification of the Invention. Similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
A is the bolt which forms the body of the shot or shell made of cast steel or
of iron faced with steel at its front end and if intended for operating against
metallic armour, its face is made concave as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to
produce a sharp cutting edge. For a shell the exterior of this bolt may be
made perfectly cylindrical as shown in Fig. 2 as the cavity for the charge may
be so arranged as to bring the centre of gravity nearer the front end, but for
a solid shot the bolt is tapered towards the rear end for about two-thirds of its
length as shown in Fig. 3 to bring the centre of gravity at the desirable point.
B is the casing of wood or other light material surrounding the bolt A and
extending from the rear nearly to the front end thereof, having a periphery of
cylindrical form to fit the bore of the gun. This casing may be made to fit
the whole space between, the bolt and the bore of the gun as represented in
Figs. 1 and 2, or for projectiles to be used in guns of large calibre may for the
sake of lightness be composed of staves secured around the exteriors of bands
5 which encircle and fit snugly to the exterior of the bolt. C is the rear cap
made of malleable iron or other metal fitting over the rear end of the casing B
as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. D is the cup-shaped annular disc of copper or
other soft metal fitting over a projection c upon the rear face of the cap C
which projection is made of angular or irregular form in its transverse section

page_text: to prevent the disc D turning thereon. The cap C performs three functions
to wit, holding the rear end of the wooden casing, supporting and guiding the
rear end of the projectile within the bore, and constituting the means for the
attachment of the packing disk D. I represents hemp, candle-wicking, or
other fibrous material thoroughly saturated with a composition of tallow, black
lead, and sulphur coiled between the disc D and cap C, and when compressed
between the said disc and cap it expands radially in all directions so as to
assist the disc D' in closing the windage. The composition above mentioned
is likewise very beneficial in lubricating the bore of the gun and preventing
heating and scaling. In the illustration given in Fig. 2 the cap C also con-
stitutes the means of closing the orifice through which the chamber of the
shell is charged with explosive material, for which purpose the said cap is
formed with a projection c¹ adapted to screw into the chamber, the pitch of its
thread being in the reverse direction to that of the lands or rifle grooves in
the gun in which the projectile is to be used. The cap C may be attached
to a solid shot by fitting it over a stem a¹ provided on the rear end of the shot
and securing it by wedges c, as represented in Fig. 3, or by upsetting or
riveting the said stem at the back of the cap. F (Fig. 2) is a nipple secured
in an oblique position in the side of the shell. G is the front cap of metal
having a portion of its exterior cylindrical and of a size to fit the bore of the
gun, and having in its front part a central opening to fit the bolt or body A so
that it may turn freely therein. In the rear portion of the said cap there is
a screw thread to enable it to be screwed on to the front end of the wooden
'casing B, as shown in Fig. 2, that it may hold the said end of the said casing
in place and support and guide it in the bore of the gun. The said cap covers
the nipple F. In the case of a solid shot the forward end of the wooden casing
may be held by a simple metallic band slipped over its exterior and secured by
screws V, V, as shown in Fig. 3. The operation of the shell is as follows:-
The charge having been inserted in any suitable form or manner, and a
percussion cap put on the nipple F, and the cap G having been adjusted to a
suitable position with respect to the nipple, the shell is ready for placing in
the gun. The first effect of the carrying charge in the gun is to expand the
cup-shaped disc D, forcing it and the packing and lubricating material I into
the rifle grooves, and effectually closing the windage, and insuring a spiral
motion of the shell as it is impelled forward through and from the bore, the
screw C being in the meantime tightened by the rotary motion received from
the packing disc D. Owing to the great area exposed to the explosive force
of the charge of gunpowder in the chamber of the gun in proportion to the
weight of the shell; a very high velocity is produced, as is well known to be

page_text: the case with sub-calibre projectiles. On striking any resisting body, such as
metal armour, the small diameter of the bolt A causes its concave cutting
face a to enter with great facility, and it passes in until the front of the cap G
reaches the surface of the said body, and is arrested, when the momentum of
the bolt continuing, carries it forward through the said cap G, and into the
said body, the percussion cap on the nipple F is driven against the oblique
inner surface g of the said cap G, the angle of which is such as to strike evenly
upon the top of the percussion cap. After having done its work of commu-
nicating fire to the exploding charge within the shell, the nipple F is crushed or
broken off in passing through the cap G, and the bolt A is carried by its
momentum into and through the armour, and at the same time exploded
therein. The shell B is crushed and dropped or thrown off with or before
the cap G.
G. The nipple F may be placed in any suitable position to effect
the explosion of the shell at any period or degree of penetration. The
operation of the solid shot only differs from that of the shell in its not
exploding.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, a sub-calibre shot or shell, having a cutting face a, and fitted with a
casing of wood B applied in any manner, substantially as herein set forth.
Secondly, the rear cap C applied in combination with the wooden casing B,
in the manner and to serve the several purposes herein specified.
Thirdly, the front cap applied in combination with the wooden casing B, in
the manner and to serve the several purposes, substantially as herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
W. G. SWINNOCK,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.B.)