Improvements in Apparatus for Utilizing High Explosives in Warfare.
Year: 1888

page_text: PROVISIONAL DIMIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Utilizing High Explosives in
Warfare.
I, SAMUEL PEARCE WILDING, of the firm of Fell & Wilding, of 1 Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention (a communication to me from abroad by Stephen Henry Emmens of
Washington in the United States of North America, Engineer), to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to enable large quantities of high explosives to be
safely and accurately hurled to considerable distances, and there exploded.
"
For this purpose a 'gun" is constructed with a tube to receive the propelling
charge, and a thimble shaped projectile is applied externally to such powder tubo
which is preferably loaded from the breech, and to the muzzle."
The propelling charge may be composed of gunpowder, guncotton, Emmensite, or
any other suitable explosive, in one or more cartridges of any approved kind.
Preferably two or more cartridges are introduced, and, if the gun is loaded from the
breech, the charge may be readily graduated by means of one or more "dummy
cartridges" of wood or other suitablo material, interposed between the charge and the
breech plug.
The projectile is constructed with an annular charge-space extending rearwardly
behind its head, and with an axial guide bore, fitted to said powder tube, and
extending forward into said head. Its charge may consist of Emmensite, dynamite,
explosive gelatine, or any other "high explosive."
To facilitate applying the projectilo to the powder-tube and varying its
"elevation" in aiming it, the breech lock of the gun is provided with horizontal
trunnions, and is mounted in suitable bearings, together with suitable elovation-gear,
in a frame or carriage, which is in turn movable in a horizontal plane to provide for
shifting and training the piece.
Said elevation gear, in a light gun, devised for use in the field or wherever

page_text: *
portability is an object, coacts with a rearwardly lever arm on the breech block and a
pivotal part at the base of the frame, to each of which it is coupled, and comprises a
turn buckle or screw-and-nut adjusting-device.
Alternatively, in heavier ordnance, suitable for ships or forts, such elevation-gear
may consist of rocker-shaped projections fast on the breech-block, a sliding chock
having a concave double-wedge in contact with each of said projections, and a screw
to advance and lock said chock, with a relatively fixed nut for said screw, formed on
or attached to the base of the frame in which the breechblock is mounted.
The propelling-charge in the powder-tube is preferably fired at its front end; and
for this purpose the projectile is provided within its head with a suitable firing-device,
which may consist of a spring-projected, firing-pin, or hammer, retracted by a firing-
string, which is drawn back around a sheave in the head of the torpedo, a suitable
detonator being located at the front end of the propelling-charge to coact with such
hammer.
The flight of the projectile after it leaves the gun is directed by wings or vanes,
hree, more or less, in number which may project radially, equi-distant from each other
around the rear end of the projectile.
The high explosive charge of the projectile may preferably be exploded by a
percussion-fuse" inclosed within the charge-space of the projectile, and having a
detonating-charge at its front end and a heavy ball in an unobstructed space behind
said detonating-charge. Such ball will occupy the rear end of the fuse-tube owing
to inertia, during the flight of the projectile, and will fly forward and strike and
explode the detonating charge when the projectile strikes any object by which its
motion is suddenly checked.
Alternatively, the charge of the projectile may be exploded at the end of a given
time-period by an ordinary detonating time-fuse inclosed within the charge-space, or
by any other suitable means.
A bullet-proof shield or mantlet, attached to slanting front-bars, protects the men
engaged in handling the light gun. The frame of this gun is also thus effectively
braced. it comprises, additionally, slanting rear bars and longitudinal bottom-bars,
with pivotal connecting-devices including removable bolts. By withdrawing two or
more of these bolts, the gun may be quickly lowered flat upon the ground, or the
frame may be folded up or taken apart to facilitate transportation.
The frame or carriage of the heavier gun may be of any approved construction.
The following are some of the advantages of the main features which distinguish
the present apparatus from other forms of ordnance and projectiles hitherto
employed, viz. :-
First. The diameter of the projectile is independent of that of the tube or barrel
which contains the propelling charge. Henco projectiles of great size and carrying
large charges of. explosives can be thrown by this system without entailling a
corresponding augmentation of the gun, as is the case with ordinary artillery.
Second. The first shock of the propelling-charge is received by the head of the
projectile, and it is therefore possible to load its charge-space with high explosives
without incurring the danger of premature explosion.
Third. As the powder tube is wholly available for the propelling-charge, it may
take the form of a long tube of small diameter, thus greatly reducing the weight and
cost of the gun and increasing its strength as compared with ordinary artillery of the
same power.
Fourth. The forward movement of the projectile opens up immediately a gas space
of much greater area than that of the powder tube. The effect of this, in moderating
the pressure of the propelling charge, is equivalent to what would take place if the
shot is an ordinary cannon were to move with a vastly increased velocity. Hence it
becomes safe to use high speed gunpowder and other powerful explosives for the
propelling-charge, and so reduce weight, size and expense.
Fifth. Igniting the propelling charge at the front end insures its complete
combustion, and affords opportunity for using a column of cartridges charged with
explosives of increasing degrees of quickness.

page_text: Sixth. Directing wings or vanes of effective size, permitted by the internal
application of the propelling charge, obviate any necessity for rifling the gun to attain
accuracy of flight. There is accordingly a great saving of power as well as of first
cost.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Utilizing High-explosives in
Warfare.
I, SAMUEL PEAROE WILDING of the firm of Fell and Wilding, of 1 Queen
Victoria Street in the City of London, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature
of this Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING HIGH-
EXPLOSIVES IN WARFARE," (a communication from abroad by Stephen Henry
Eminens, late of Washington, District of Columbia, now temporarily residing at
Harrison in the State of New York, both in the United States of America, Engineer)
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 this invention is to enable large quantities of high-explosives to be
safely and accurately hurled to considerable distances and there exploded.
The nature of the invention and the means proposed for carrying the same into
effect will be understood on reference to three sheets of drawings, accompanying this
specification, in which--
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) is a side view, partly in section, and partly in elevation, of a
light gun with its projectile designed for uso in the field, or wherever portability is a
requisite; Figs. 1° 1° and 1° are perspective views respectively of a "percussion
fuse," a detonator-cartridge and a "dummy" cartridge represented in Fig. 1; Fig. 2
(Sheet 2) is a rear end view of said light gun and projectilo; Fig. 2 is an end view
of the projectile detached; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the projectile as
provided with a time-fuse; and Figs. 4 and 5 (Sheet 3) are respectively a side view,
partly in section, and a rear end view of a heavier weapon or apparatus, suitable for
use on ship-board or in a fort, a section of its projectile being represented in dotted
outline in Fig. 4.
Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures.

page_text: Each of said guns comprises a cylindrical barrel or tube," A, a breech-piece, B,
into which the tube A is screwed fast, and a breech-plug, C, fitted to a cross bore of
said breech-piece B, and shown in position except in dotted lines in Fig. 5; the
breech-piece having a loading-bore, b, corresponding with the bore of the tube A,
and closed by the insertion of said plug C before firing the charge.
The gun, in each case, is loaded to the muzzle of the tube A, as represented in
Fig. 1, its charge consisting of an outer cartridge, C, having a detonating primer, e¹,
at its front end, and usually one or more additional powder-cartridges, C2, with or
without primers according to the nature of the explosive. To diminish the charge,
when desired, one or more "dummy cartridges," C³, of wood or other suitable
material, may be inserted between the rear of the charge and the breech-plug C.
Otherwise the charge of the tube A may be composed of ordinary gunpowder, gun-
cotton, Emmensite, or any other suitable explosive, in one or more cartridges of any
approved kind.
The projectile, D or D2 or D³, is thimble-shaped, having an axial guide-bore, d,
fitted to said tube A, and an annular space, d, concentric with such hore, which space
is filled with Emmensite, dynamite, explosive gelatine, or any other "high-explosive,"
as the charge of the projectile. Said charge-space, d², extends rearward behind the
metallic head of the projectile, while said guide-bore d extends forward into said
head, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
To facilitate applying the projectile, and for varying the elevation of the tube A in
aiming the same, said breech-block B of each gun is constructed with horizontal
trunnions, 62, whereby it is mounted, together with elevation-gear, E, or E², in a
suitable frame, For F2, which is in turn movable in a horizontal plane, to provide
for shifting and training the piece.
In the light gun Figs. 1 and 2, the breech-block B is provided with a rearwardly
projecting lover-extension, B¹, terminating in a handle, ¹, by which to manipulate
the gun; and said trunnions & rest in sockets in the flat faces of semi-circular
bearings, G, from which arms, g, project laterally to the respective sides of the
frame F, passing through the upper ends of two pair of slanting bars, which, together
with a pair of base-bars, constitute the main members of said frame F. Compare
Figs. 1 and 2. Said trunnions 2 are held in their sockets by a pair of hand-
screws, H, engaging with the peripheral backs of said bearings, G, and working in
nut-projections, 63, 64, which are respectively formed on or attached to said lever-
extension B and the breech-piece B, itself. A tie-piece or strut, 1, between the lower
ends of the rear bars of the frame, forms a convenient connection between the frame
and said elevation-gear E, which comprises an eye, e, embracing a cylindrical portion
of said strut I, a central turn-buckle, e², and a hook, el, at its lower end. The latter
engages a stud, 65, on one side of said lever-extension B of the breech-piece B, and
through these media said elevation-gear elevates or depresses the tube A, so as to
direct the projectile for its flight.
The propelling charge within the tube A is fired at its front end by means of a
firing-device, E, located within the head of the projectile. The particular device
designed to fire said cartridge having a detonating primer, c', at its front end,
consists of a sliding hammer and a spiral spring arranged within an axial chamber in
the head of the projectile, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. A firing-string, F1, attached
to an eye on the hammer, is drawn backward around a sheave, G', in the head of the
projectile, to put the spring in tension, and the recoil of the spring causes the
hammer to explode the primer.
The premature escape of the projectile, when the muzzle of the gun is depressed, may
be prevented by a cord, H', stretched between an eye d³, on the rear end of the
projectile, and the perforated upper end of the breech-plug C, as shown in Fig. 1.
This cord breaks as soon as the primer c¹ is fired.
The flight of the projectile is directed, after it leaves the tube A, by wings or
vanes, d, which may project to any required extent. Three are shown on each
projectile, projecting radially, equi-distant from each other, around the rear end of
the projectile.

page_text: "1
The high-explosive charge of the projectile may be exploded either by percussion
or at the end of a given time-period. In said projectile D, Figs. 1 1ª 2 and 2, a
'percussion-fuse," I', Figs. 1 1º, is inclosed within the charge-space d' of the
projectile. This fuse consists of a tube having a detonating-charge, i, of fulminate of
mercury or other suitable fulminate, at its front end, and provided with a ball, i, of
some hard and heavy material, as lead, which is free to roll or move back and forth
in the fuse-tube, and will therefore occupy the rear end of the fuse-tube, owing to
inertia, during the flight of the projectile, and will fly forward and strike and explode
the detonating-charge when the projectile strikes any object by which its motion is
suddenly checked. The shock so produced, directly within the main charge of bigh-
explosive, explodes the latter with certainty, and in the most effective manner.
A bullet-proof shield or mantlet, K, attached to the slanting front-bars of the
frame F, protects the men engaged in handling the light gun, and together with
a pair of screw-bolts, L, at the ends of said strut I, and a pair of pin-bolts, M, at
the front lower corners of the frame F, completes the latter. Said shield thoroughly
braces the front of the frame, and when the parts are united, as shown in Figs. 1
and 2, the frame is rigid and adapted to resist the strains to which it is subjected
by the firing of the piece. By removing either pair of said bolts, L or M, the
frame may be quickly lowered flat upon the ground, said arms g, strut I, and
bolts M forming pivots at the respective angles of the frame, as indicated in Fig. 1;
or the frame may be readily folded up or taken apart to facilitate transportation,
owing to its construction as aforesaid.
The modified projectile D³, Fig. 3, is provided with an ordinary detonating time-
fuse. I, and is or may be otherwise identical with said projectilo D.
The projectile D³, Fig. 4, may be identical with said projectile D or with said
projectile D³ as preferred, save as to immaterial details of size and proportions, in
regard to which it is fitted to the barrel or tube of the heavier gun, Figs. 4 and 5.
The elevation-gear E² and frame F represented in Figs. 4 and 5 are designed
with reference to their heavier work as compared with those previously described.
Said elevation-gear E2 is composed of a pair of rocker-shaped projections, N, fast on
the breech-piece B', a sliding "chock," O, having a concave double-wedge in contact
with each of said projections, and a screw, P, to advance and lock said chock, with
a relatively fixed nut, Q, for said screw, formed on or attached to the base of said
frame F, upon which the chock slides. An ordinary hand-spike, R, accommodated
by a socket, S, in the top of the breech-block B2, supplements said elevation-
gear E. The frame F is composed of its said base and a pair of simple bearings
for the trunnions 62 of the breech-piece B². Its said base is further provided with
a vertical pivot, X, which occupies a central socket in a bed-frame, Y, mounted in
turn upon ball-castors, Z.
Details of tho respective parts and devices which have not been specified may
be of any approved description; and other modifications will suggest themselves
to those skilled in the art, together with other analogous uses of parts of the
apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
"
1. A thimble-shaped projectile, in combination with a gun having a barrel or
"
tube to receive the propelling-charge and to which the projectile is applied
externally, substantially as hereinbeforo set forth.
2. A thimble-shaped projectile having an annular charge-space for high-oxplosives
extending rearwardly behind its head, and a guide-bore extending forward into said
head, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
3. The combination with the barrel or tube and its breech-piece having horizontal
trunnions of the elevation-gear shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or the alternative elevation-
gear shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

page_text: 4. In combination with a gun having a suitable tube to receive the propelling-
charge, an externally applied thimble-shaped projectile provided with a suitable device
for firing said propelling-charge at its front end, substantially as hereinbefore
set forth.
5. In combination with a gun having a suitable tube to receive the propelling-
charge, an externally applied thimble-shaped projectile having peripheral wings or
vanes for guiding its flight, substantially as hercinbefore specified.
.
6. The projectile D), Figs. 1, 1ª, 2 and 2*, having a charge-space containing a
high-explosive, and provided within said space with the percussion-fuso 1', Figs. 1 1º,
having a detonating-charge at its front end and a heavy ball in an unobstructed space
behind said detonating-charge.
7. The frame F, Figs 1 and 2, comprising slanting front and rear bars and longi.
.tudinal bottom bars with pivotal connecting devices, and provided with a bullet-proof
shield attached to said front bars.