Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct.. 1886.
Complete Left, 2nd July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 2nd Aug., 1887.
RESERVE
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57° Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of cartridges and explosive projectiles, and
its main object is to provide for the use of projectiles or shells containing blasting-
gelatine, nitro-glycerine or similar materials of high explosive force without danger
of their accidental explosion.
Another object of my said invention is to improve the construction of the cartridges
and thus increase their efficiency.
There is reason to believe that, in the use of projectiles or shells containing nitro-
glycerine or similar compounds, the accidental explosion of such projectiles at the
moment of firing the gun, is not caused by the shock or jar occasioned by the
explosion of the charge of gunpowder in the cartridge, but is due to beat developed
by the compression of atmospheric air or other compressible gases present in the
projectile.
An important feature of my present invention is, therefore, the exclusion of
atmospheric air or other compressible gases from the said projectiles or shells.
I accomplish this result by removing every trace of air from the chamber of the
projectile, that is to say, by forming a vacuum in the said chamber, which may be
effected by means of any suitable punip; or I accomplish the said result by filling
the interstices in the said chamber with water or other liquid, or by any other
suitable means.
I arrange the charge of gunpowder in the cartridge in such a manner as to ensure
a progressive action thereof. For instance, I employ a charge consisting of layers or
sections differing from each other in respect of the qualities or grades of gunpowder
of which they are composed, as described in the specification of former Letters Patent
granted to me and dated 14th January, A.D. 1885, No. 552. I prefer that the layer
or section which is first ignited should be of very slow burning powder so that the

page_text: initial pressure in the barrel will be very low and a comparatively slight shock will
be imparted to the projectile in starting the same. The remaining layers or sections
are made of such qualities or grades of powder that each layer or section will burn
more rapidly than that immediately preceding it, the layer or section which is last
ignited being of very quick burning powder, so that the requisite velocity will be
imparted to the projectile before it leaves the gun.
Instead of making the cartridge-case in a single piece as usually practised, I make
the same in two parts or pieces, that is to say, a short tubular piece having the head
or base of the cartridge formed integrally therewith, and a long tubular piece, in one
end of which the projectile is secured. These parts or pieces are united in such a
manner that, when the gun is fired, the forward or long piece of the cartridge-case
will be detached from the short piece and will be discharged from the gun without
being detached from the projectile.
By these means, I provide for ensuring accuracy of flight without the necessity for
rifling the barrel, the portion of the cartridge-case which extends backward from the
projectile acting as a tail and keeping the said projectile with its point foremost.
Moreover a very small portion of the cartridge-case is left to be extracted by the
breech-mechanism, the operation of the said mechanism is, therefore, facilitated.
My improved cartridge is conveniently and advantageously constructed as follows,
that is to say I take a tube of steel or other suitable metal and fix in the same
about midway between its extremities a metal disc, which divides the chamber for
containing the nitro-glycerine or similar_explosive compound from the chamber for
containing the charge of gunpowder. In the forward end of the tube I secure a
conical or pointed piece of brass or other suitable metal. A central tube for containing
the fuse and detonator is firmly secured in the said conical or pointed piece and in
the said disc. By arranging the said central tube in this manner, I provide for the
insertion of the fuse and detonator without affecting the vacuum in the chamber
containing the nitro-glycerine or similar compound. The rear end of the outer tube
or case is united in any suitable manner to the base or short piece of the cartridge-
The powder-chamber is filled with powder so arranged that it will act
progressively. The chamber of the projectile is filled with blasting-gelatine, nitro-
glycerine, or the like. The air is then pumped from the said chamber, or the said
chamber is filled with water or other liquid, or other means are adopted for extracting
or excluding the air therefrom for the purpose above specified.
case.
I sometimes provide the projectile with means whereby it may be closed, after it
has been exhausted of air, without affecting the vacuum therein.
Dated this 2nd day of
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cartridges and Explosive
Projectiles.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 57 Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
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:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of cartridges and explosive projectiles, and
its main object is to provide for the use of projectiles or shells containing blasting-
gelatine, nitro-glycerine or similar materials of high explosive force, without risk of
their accidental explosion.
Another object of my said invention is to provide more effectually than heretofore
for ensuring accuracy of flight of a projectile when discharged from a gun.
In the use of projectiles or shells containing nitro-glycerine or similar compounds,
considerable danger is frequently caused by the accidental explosion of the projectile
at the moment of firing the gun; there is reason to believe that such accidental
explosions are not caused by the shock or jar occasioned by the explosion of the
charge of gunpowder in the cartridge, but are due to the heat developed by the
compression of atmospheric air or other compressible gases present in the projectile.
An important feature of my present invention is, therefore, the removal or exclusion
of atmospheric air or other compressible gases from the said projectiles or shells.
I accomplish this result by forming a vacuum in the said chamber by means of any
suitable pump either before or after charging the said chamber; or by filling the
interstices in the said chamber with water or other liquid; or in any other convenient
manner.
.
Instead or making the cartridge case in a single piece as heretofore, I make the
same in two parts or pieces, one of which comprises the base or head of the cartridge
and a short tubular piece formed integrally therewith, and the other of which is a long
tubular piece in one end whereof the projectile is to be secured. These parts or
pieces are united in such a manner that, when the cartridge is exploded in the barrel
of a gun, the forward or long piece of the cartridge-case will be detached from the
short piece thereof and will be discharged from the gun with the projectile, instead
of being left in the gun as heretofore. By these means, I provide for ensuring
accuracy of flight of the projectile when used with either a rifled or a smooth bore
gun, the portion of the cartridge-case which leaves the gun with the projectile acting
as a tail and keeping the said projectile with its point foremost. A further advantage
of this improved construction of the cartridge is that a very small portion of the
cartridge-case is left to be extracted by the breech-mechanism, and the operation of
the said mechanism is consequently facilitated.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown, in vertical longitudinal section, one
form of my improved cartridge.

page_text: a is a tube of steel or other suitable metal, in which, about midway between its
extremities, is fixed a metal disc b. This disc divides the said tube into two chambers
or compartments c, d. The chamber c is designed to contain the blasting-gelatine,
nitro-glycerine or similar explosive compound constituting the bursting charge of the
projectile; the chamber d is designed to contain the charge of gunpowder. In the
forward end of the tube a is secured a conical or conoidal piece e of brass or other
suitable metal. A central tube for containing the fuse and detonator is screwed
tightly into the disc band into the said conical or conoidal piece e. The rear end of
the outer tube or case a is united in any suitable manner to the base or short piece g
of the cartridge-case.
The powder in the chamber dis preferably so arranged as to ensure a progressive
action thereof. For instance a charge is employed which consists of layers or sections
differing from each other in respect of the qualities or grades of gunpowder of which
they are composed, as described in the specification of former Letters Patent granted
to me and dated 14th January A.D. 1885, No. 552. I prefer that the layer or section
which is first ignited should be of very slow burning powder, so that the initial
pressure in the barrel will be very low and a comparatively slight shock or jar will be
imparted to the projectile in starting the same. The remaining layers or sections are
made of such qualities or grades of powder that each layer or section will burn more
rapidly than that immediately preceding it, the layer or section which is last ignited
being of very quick burning powder so that the requisite velocity will be imparted to
the projectile before it leaves the gun.
To avoid liability to accidental explosion of the projectile when the gun is fired,
I extract or otherwise remove any air or other compressible gases that may be present
in the chamber c. For instance I connect the said chamber with an air-pump and
withdraw the said air or other gases through the aperture c' which must then be closed
by means of the screw h. Or I fill the said chamber with water or other liquid, or
I extract or exclude the air or gases from the said chamber in any other suitable
manner for the purpose above specified. I sometimes provide the projectile with
means whereby the closing of the chamber c, after it has been exhausted of air, will be
automatically effected without affecting the vacuum therein.
By arranging the central tube f in the manner above described, I provide for the
insertion of the fuse and detonator without affecting the vacuum in the chamber
containing the bursting charge.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood that I claim ;-
First. The above described method or manner of providing for the safe use of
explosive projectiles by the removal or exclusion of air or other compressible gases
from the chamber containing the bursting charge.
Second. A cartridge which is so constructed that, when it is exploded in the barrel
of a gun, the body or main portion of its case will be discharged from the gun with
the projectile, as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Third. The improved. cartridge consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing, for the
purposes above specified.