Improvements in or applicable to Projectiles.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in or applicable to Projectiles.
I PHILIP HENRY HOLMES of Gardnier, Kennebec County in the State of
Maine U.S.A. Mechanical 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide a projectile with a lubricating material
which will be formed or shaped by and conform to the rifling of a gun and which
will cause the projectile to be turned as it is fired from the gun.
This object I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth.
'
In carrying out my invention I make a ring of plumbago and fibre bound
together in any suitable manner but by preference I mix fine plumbago with finely
divided fibrous material preferably wood fibre then compress and mould it to the
desired form and then treat the mixture with, a solution of oil or other varnish.
When dried by the action of heat there is formed a solid ring of lubricating
material which when secured on the projectile will have a substantially uniform or
smooth surface to fit the breech of the gun but which will be readily shaped by the
"lands" of the rifling during the passage of the projectile through the gun, the
ring will at the same time have enough strength and tenacity to rotate the pro-
jectile on its longitudinal axis in its passage through the gun, so as to give it the
required motion and speed.
In this instance the proportions of fibre and plumbago may vary according to
circumstances, the object being not merely to produce a lubricating ring but also
to produce a ring which will have strength enough to prevent the projectile from
tearing away the ring in its passage through the gun.
The excellent lubricating qualities of plumbago combined with the toughness
and elasticity of the bonding material I use in making the rings for the projectiles
together with the readiness of the plumbago to spread itself upon any surface
against which it is rubbed renders a ring made in accordance with my invention
especially applicable for the purpose specified.
The presence of the fibre in the ring gives the requisite strength while the
plumbago is sufficiently lubricant to make the passage of the projectile from the
gun comparatively easy and at the same time the plumbago will coat the bore of
the gun in the firing filling up the interstices therein so that at every discharge the
projectile forms a lubricating coat on the rifled bore of the gun. There is thus
insured better results in the firing and the life of the gun is also increased.
I prefer to make the rings in the following manner :-
They are first moulded then saturated with a drying oil and thoroughly hardened
by baking, the rings are then secured to the projectile and then turned in a lathe to
the proper dimensions, or the rings may be first turned and then applied to the
projectile. The bottom of the groove in each projectile is preferably roughened
and the ring in some instances is cut into halves cement is then inserted in the
groove and is applied to the inside of the ring and then the two halves of the rings
are securely held in place on the projectile until the cement sets. The projectile
thus has a complete ring securely fastened to it.
It will be understood that other means of applying the rings to the projectile
may be used without departing from the nature of my invention and in some
cases a series of segments or guiding projections may be used in place of the
complete ring

page_text: 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 :-
First. A projectile having a guiding portion composed of a compound of which
plumbago is an element and which will be shaped by the rifling of the gun and turn
the projectile substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. A guiding ring for projectiles consisting of plumbago and fibre bound
together substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third. A guiding ring for projectiles formed of a compound consisting of
plumbago fibre and a drying oil.
Fourth. A projectile having a guiding ring composed of plumbago and fibre and
a binding material the said ring being made in halves and secured to the projectile
by cement substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 16th day of June 1891.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.