Improvements relating to Guns, and to a Method of Charging the same for Firing Torpedoes and other Projectiles.
Year: 1892

page_text: .Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by EDMUND LOUIS ZALINSKI, of Washington, D.C.,
United States of America, Captain, United States Army.]
Improvements relating to Guns, and to a Method of Charging the
same for Firing Torpedoes and other Projectiles.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co. Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to guns and cartridges which are chiefly designed for
throwing aerial torpedoes, intended to crush in the under-water hull of a ship, but
guns and cartridges constructed according to this invention will also serve for
throwing other projectiles.
It may be assumed from the result of experiments, that projectiles containing
any notable charge of high explosive cannot successfully penetrate armour of which
the resisting qualities absorb more than about of the energy. In other words,
the striking energy of the projectile must be overwhelming relatively to the
resisting ability of the armour. Where this is not the case, the shock of striking
and consequent loss of velocity of the projectile and heating of the same will
cause the explosion of either the charge or the detonator, and the premature
breaking up of the shell, thereby preventing the desired injury to the interior of
the protected structure.
Moreover, the strength requisite for the perforation of any notable thickness of
armour, necessitates considerable thickness of the wall of the projectile so that the
latter has not a sufficiently large capacity for such a bursting charge, to serve
efficiently for torpedo action.
To ensure the efficient action of an aerial torpedo it is desirable to throw a very
large charge in a shell made as light as possible. The maximum pressure used in
projecting the torpedo must therefore be comparatively low. But if such pressure
can be sustained or increased in the bore of the gun after the torpedo or projectile
commences to move through the same, a considerable range with an adequate charge
can be ensured. And the use of a low and well-regulated propelling pressure, in
guns of very little weight but of large calibre affords the means for very efficiently
arming comparatively small torpedo boats.
My said invention relates to guns constructed expressly for firing projectiles con-
taining large charges of high explosive with a low and regulated pressure in the
gun. It also relates to a method of arranging the powder-charge in the chamber of
any ordinary breech-loading gun in such a manner as to ensure its perfect com-
bustion in a comparatively slow and regulated manner. Therefore the pressure
existing in the gun during the passage of a projectile through the same, instead of
being represented by the ordinary curve which indicates a very great maximum at
the moment of starting, can be represented by a parabolic curve having its
maximum near the muzzle, or by an approximately parabolic curve having its
maximum somewhere between the breech and the muzzle and a parallel or nearly
parallel continuation to the muzzle, the maximum being in all cases considerably
lower than that produced with ordinary charges.
In constructing a gun for the purpose of my invention I form the same of a
single tube of steel or other suitable metal. One end of this tube is provided with
a charge chamber into which may be inserted a cylinder properly prepared for the
reception of a series of separate small charges or cartridges as hereinafter described.
Tbe said tube is strengthened at the breech end and, if necessary, at other parts,
by suitable rings, hoops or windings preferably of wire.

page_text: The propelling force is obtained by the use of either the ordinary gun-powders
or of some modifications of smokeless powders, in the manner herein described.
The powder instead of being in the ordinary form of grains or prisms is made
up in separate small cartridges, which may be enclosed in metallic or other suitable
These cartridges are placed in an iron or steel cylinder or tube having
radial perforations for their reception. And this cylinder or tube containing such
small cartridges is to be placed in the powder chamber of the gun.
cases.
If the ordinary gunpowders are used they should be compressed under a pressure
greater than the probable pressure that will exist in the gun. Such compression
will tend to prevent the breaking up of the masses of powder within the chamber
and to ensure the complete combustion of the powder within the cells. And as
these small cartridges are in the shape of a frustum of a cone and are placed in the
cylinder with the smaller end towards the axis of the chamber, they will present a
gradually increasing surface of combustion.
The separation of the charge into small cartridges will prevent a too rapid
inflammation and explosion of the powder. The hardness and compact form of the
powder will conduce to comparative slow burning. The retention of the powder
in the cells will conduce to uniformity of action.
Should it be found necessary or desirable to prevent the sudden production of
such a pressure as might result from the simultaneous or nearly simultaneous com-
bustion of the whole series of cartridges, some of the said cartridges may have
their inner end closed by a diaphragm of cast iron or other material which will be
fractured or perforated to allow the ignition of the powder only when the pressure
has attained a predetermined degree in the chamber. The moment at which any
cartridge in the series is to be ignited having been determined, the thickness of its
diaphragm will be regulated accordingly. In some instances I fix across the
diaphragms a bar or disc of cast iron or other suitable material of variable
thickness and dimensions, which must be broken before the pressure can act on the
diaphragm. Reinforcement of the pressure in the gun may thus be produced at
any desired intervals of time while the projectile is passing from the breech to the
muzzle of the gun.
Should it be desired to obtain a considerable increase of pressure at an advanced
stage of their combustion, the outer or large end of the said cartridges may be
perforated or may have a pocket filled with quick-burning granulated powder or
the like.
The aforesaid cylinder is formed of steel or other suitable metal and is of such
external dimensions as to fill the powder chamber of the gun in which it is to be
used, and it has a central space into which the inner ends of the aforesaid radial
perforations or cells extend. These cells are arranged in circular rows from one
end to the other end of the cylinder. They may be placed in a spiral so that two
openings may not be opposite. Their outer ends are recessed or countersunk to
receive the rims of the cartridges inserted into them. The said cylinder may have
at its rear end a suitable primer or ignition device preferably so arranged as to
give an approximately radial direction to the flame produced by its ignition. I may
use a small cartridge giving sufficient flame to fill the axial opening or a priming
plate having radial channels corresponding with the cartridge cells in the rear row.
Should it be found necessary, each of the other cells may be ignited by a cap which
is set into operation by a firing pin attached to a light diaphragm. The pressure
created from the charges first ignited will press the diaphragms upward and push
the firing pins into the igniting caps.
Delay of instants of ignition may also be obtained by protecting the open ends
of the powder composition by stearine wax or other similar material which upon
being melted by the heat of the gases already evolved will permit the ignition of
the charge. Such delay may be modified in duration, by the thickness of the
covering coat. Although the delay produced will be very short in actual point of
time, yet it will suffice, in view of the short duration of the passage of the
projectile through the gun bore.

page_text: Cartridge pellets without cases may be used, being inserted directly into the
cells of the powder-chamber cylinder.
Suitable gas checking rings are to be used on the ends of the powder-chamber
cylinder, in order to prevent the passage of the gases otherwise than into the gun
bore.
Dated thin 17th day of November 1802
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Guns, and to a Method of Charging the
same for Firing Torpedoes and other Projectiles.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 guns and cartridges which are chiefly designed for
throwing aerial torpedoes, intended to damage or destroy the under-water hull of
a ship, but guns and cartridges constructed according to this invention will also
serve for throwing other projectiles.
Experiments have shown that projectiles containing any notable charge of high
explosive cannot successively penetrate armour of which the resisting qualities
absorb more than about one third of the energy of the projectile. In other words
the striking energy of the projectile must be overwhelming, relatively to the
resistance of the armour, to ensure successful penetration. Where this is not the
case, the shock of impact and consequent loss of velocity and the heating of
the projectile will cause the explosion of either the charge or the detonator, and
the premature breaking-up of the shell, thereby preventing the desired injury
to the interior of the protected structure.
Moreover, the structural strength of the projectile requisite for the perforation
of any notable thickness of armour necessitates considerable thickness of the wall
of the said projectile, so that the latter has not a sufficiently large capacity for
such a bursting charge as would serve efficiently for torpedo action.
To ensure the efficient action of an aerial torpedo it is desirable to throw a very
large charge in a shell made as light as possible. The maximum pressure used in
projecting the torpedo must therefore be comparatively low. But if the initial
pressure can be sustained or increased in the bore of the gun after the torpedo or
projectile commences to move through the saine, a considerable range, with an
And the use of such a low and
adequate bursting charge, can be obtained.
regulated propelling pressure, in guns of very little weight but of large calibre,
affords the means for so efficiently arming comparatively small torpedo-boats as to
make them very formidable.
My invention comprises a method of arranging the powder charge in the chamber
of a gun in such a manner as to ensure the perfect combustion of the powder in the
manner above specified, that is to say in a comparatively slow and regulated
manner, so that projectiles containing large charges of explosive can be safely fired
therefrom. With this method of using the powder, the pressure existing in the
gun during the passage of a projectile through the same, instead of being repre-
sented by the ordinary curve, which indicates a very great maximum at the
moment of starting, can be represented by a parabolic curve having its maximum
near the muzzle, or by an approximately parabolic curve, having its maximum at
a point somewhere between the breech and the muzzle and a parallel or nearly
parallel continuation from this point to the muzzle; the maximum being in
all cases considerably lower than that produced with ordinary charges.

page_text: According to my invention I employ a series of separate small cartridges o
charges of either ordinary gunpowder or of some modifications of smokeless
powder, in the manner herein described.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will now.proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, on the line Figure 2, of a portion of the
chamber of a gun, containing a cylinder or tube, which I term a cartridge-holder,
provided with a series of separate small charges or cartridges of explosive or gas-
producing material.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the said cylinder on the line y y of Figure 1
without the small charges therein.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a portion of a cylinder substantially such
as that illustrated in Figure 1, with an alternative arrangement of the charges
therein.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of a portion of Figure 1 on the line z z of the
said Figure 1,
Figure 5 is a longitudinal central section of one of the said small charges or
cartridges,
Figure 6 is an end elevation of Figure 5, viewed from the smaller end of the
latter figure.
Figure 7 is a view of an alternative form of one of the details of Figures 5 and 6,
drawn to a larger scale.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 are, wholly, or in part, longitudinal central sections of
further alternative forms of one of the small charges or cartridges, or of portions
thereof, and will be hereinafter fully described.
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate in side elevation and plan, respectively, a screw cap
employed to close the outer ends of radial openings in the cylinder, under certain
conditions hereinafter set forth.
Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 1 and is hereinafter particularly
referred to.
rows,
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the wall of the breech of a gun, B is the breech-block, C is the vent in the
breech-block, D is the base of the projectile, E is a cylinder of metal, or of other
suitable material, slightly tapered, to facilitate its withdrawal from the chamber
after the explosion of a charge. E' E' are radial perforations or cells in the wall
thereof. The said perforations or cells, which in this instance are conical but
which may be of any other suitable shape, communicate at their inner ends with a
central space E' provided in the cylinder; they are arranged radially, in circular
from one end to the other end of the said cylinder. As an alternative they
may be placed spirally thereon, or arranged so that no two are directly opposite
each other. F F are separate small cartridges or charges into which the powder
is made up in a hard and compact form. Each cartridge has the shape of a
frustum of a cone. In cases where the perforations or cells are not conical, each
cartridge has the shape of the cell into which it is to, be inserted. The cartridges
are placed in the said perforations or cells E' with their smaller ends towards the
said central space E of the cylinder E, as they are shown in the said cells in
Figure 1. Each of the said cartridges is made to be ignited at its smaller end,
so that as it burns it presents a gradually-increasing surface of combustion.
The separation of the charge into small cartridges will prevent a too rapid
inflammation of the explosive. The hardness and compact form of the powder will
conduce to its comparatively slow burning and therefore the generation of gas
therefrom will be gradual. The retention of the powder in the cells will conduce
to uniformity of its action. Should it be found necessary or desirable to prevent
the sudden production of such a pressure as might result from the simultaneous or
nearly simultaneous combustion of the whole series of cartridges, means such as
áre hereinafter described are employed to regulate the ignition so that individual
cartridges or groups of cartridges are successively ignited.

page_text: If any ordinary gunpowder is used in the small cartridges or charges they should
be compressed under a pressure greater than the probable pressure that will exist
in the gun. Such compression will tend to prevent the breaking up of the mass
of powder forming each cartridge, and to ensure its regular and complete com-
bustion.
The small cartridges or charges may each consist of simple pellets or blocks of
explosive, or may be partially or entirely enclosed in metallic cases, or in a paper
casing, a thick or thin coating of wax, or any other suitable covering, as hereinafter
described.
The outer ends of the perforations or cells E' are countersunk as at E³ to receive
the rims F of the cartridges F. The said cartridges are kept in place by the
friction between their surfaces and those of the said cells or perforations. Or the
said perforations can be screw-threaded as at E to receive screw-threaded caps G
which will serve to keep the cartridges F in place, and which are illustrated separately
in Figures 11 and 12. The said caps are intended for employment where the
powder charge is placed in the perforations or cells E¹ without any casing except
one of paper or of wax,or the like.
An igniting-piece H, with an axial vent H' in line with the vent C in the breech
block of the gun, is screwed into the rear end of the cylinder E. The vent H₁
communicates with inclined channels H' shown clearly in Figures 1 and 4, and the
said channels are filled with priming which can be ignited in the usual or any
convenient manner, and which terminates in contact with the smaller ends of the
cartridges F, in the rearmost circle in the cylinder. J is a gas-checking ball or
valve placed in the vent H¹. Suitable grooves H³ are made in the portion of the
vent which contains the gas-checking ball J, so that the flame which comes through
the said vent to ignite the priming in the channels H can readily pass the said
ball. K is an annular gas-check placed in the space at the end of the cylinder E,
in front of the igniting piece H to prevent gas from blowing past the screw threads
of the said piece H. Instead of the igniting-piece H, I may use any other suitable
primer or ignition device, which should be preferably so arranged as to give an
approximately radial direction to the flame produced by its ignition. Or I may
use a small cartridge, giving sufficient flame to fill the central space E' of the
cylinder.
L L are larger annular gas-checks of copper and asbestos of the usual construc-
tion, which are placed in cannelures at the front and rear ends of the cylinder, to
prevent the access of powder gases to the exterior thereof. The said gas
checks L L are rendered operative by the pressure of powder gases on their
interior circumference, to which the gas has access by way of channels M which
extend to the said cannelures from the end and from the interior of the cylinder as
shewn. In addition to the gas check L at the front end of the cylinder a gas
check L² of a well-known type is provided; it is secured to the front of the cylinder
as shown, and operates in the usual manner.
The charge cylinder or charge-holder E may be contained in a casing or tube of
thin metal, if desired; in such a case the gas-checks L L' would be placed outside
the said tube. Or, as in Figure 13, the charge cylinder may have a casing of
tallowed asbestos cloth e or other suitable elastic material. Such a casing cloth
will act wholly or partially as a gas check and will also prevent the cylinder E
from sticking in the chamber after firing. It may be superposed, if desired, on the
said metal tube or casing.
When the cylinder E is not encased in cloth or within a thin metal tube, the
cap For G at the larger end of each cartridge should be made of a material
which will expand and act as a gas check when subjected to pressure, in order
that gas in the interior of the cylinder or in any of the cells or perforations E₁
may not be able to obtain access to the outside of the cylinder, or the surface of
the wall of the chamber around it, by passing the edges of the said cap.
The ignition of the rearmost series or row of charges in the cylinder by
the priming in the channels H, generates gas which immediately fills the central

page_text: space E and the space behind the projectile in the gun and successively reaches
and ignites the remaining charges in the cylinder. Arrangements are made whereby
the ignition of any charge can be accelerated or retarded, as is hereinafter set forth.
The order and rate of ignition, regulated by the separation of cartridges ignitable
by contact of the hot gases with their ends, or regulatable by the devices herein-
after fully exemplified, controls the pressure in the gun, and the method of
controlling the pressure is a very important feature of my invention.
I will now proceed to describe the various devices employed according to my
invention for accelerating or delaying the ignition and combustion of the
cartridges.
In Figures 5 and 6, the compressed explosive material is shewn enclosed in a
conical metallic case F³, which, at its larger end is screw-threaded and closed by
a screw cap F³, which is screwed upon the said threaded portion of the case. The
smaller end of the said case is closed by a portion F' thereof, which constitutes a
corrugated diaphragm.
In the centre of the diaphragm a firing-pin F' is secured, and a cap F is
placed in the smaller end of the explosive charge, immediately above the point
of the firing pin. The firing pin is sufficiently long to permit a cross-bar N of
suitable strength to be secured thereto, which cross-bar, until broken by the
pressure on the diaphragm of the powder gases in the central space or cavity E'
of the cylinder E, supports the said diaphragm. This device is suited for
employment in all the cells or perforations of a cylinder such as that shown in
Figure 1, except in the rearmost circle or row of cells, which must be so charged
that the explosive therein can be readily ignited by the priming in the
channels H2. As an alternative to the device shewn in Figure 5 the pin F*
may have its cross-section reduced, as shewn in Figure 7, just between the parts
which enter the diaphragm and the cross bar, so that as soon as the pressure on the
said diaphragm is sufficiently great the pin will break at the place where its cross-
sectional area is reduced and the diaphragm will be forced towards the charge of
explosive and will carry the point of the firing pin F against the cap F to produce
ignition.
I provide for a considerable increase of pressure at an advanced stage in the
combustion of a charge by forming a cavity O therein to produce acceleration of
the combustion thereof; or, for a like purpose, the said cavity is filled with a quick-
burning explosive.
In the modification illustrated in Figure 8 the metal or other casing F' does not
extend across the smaller end of the charge, which is closed by a coating P of wax,
paint, stearine, paraffine, or other similar material, which will delay the ignition of
the explosive by the period of time required for the penetration of such coating by
the flame and heated gases in the interior of the cylinder or charge-holder in
which the charge is used. The cavity O in the said cartridge differs in form from
the cavity shewn in Figure 5, but is provided for similar purposes.
Figure 9 shews the small end of the charge provided with a thin coating P', of
lead, brass, copper or other fusible metal or alloy of metal, or of paper, for the
same purpose as that of the coating P in Figure 8.
The charge or cartridge illustrated in Figure 10 is closed at its smaller end by a
diaphragm of cast iron or other brittle material, which is to be broken by the
pressure of the gases in the central space E of the cylinder E. The upper portion
of Figure 10 shows the diaphragm secured in place by two rings Q, Q, one on each
side of the diaphragm P' and both screwed into the internally-threaded end of the
casing F
The lower portion of the same figure illustrates a method of securing the
diaphragm P in place by a screw-threaded ring Q' which is screwed into the smaller
end of the cartridge casing to hold the diaphragm in place against a flange F
formed in the said smaller end.
The strength of the aforesaid cross-bars, the thickness of the said diaphragms,
and the material of which they are composed, and the thickness of the aforesaid

page_text: coatings of wax and other materials, can be varied to retard the moment of ignition
of each charge or cartridge, as may be required, so that the reinforcements of
pressure in the gun may be produced at any desired intervals of time while the
projectile is passing from the breech to the muzzle of the gun.
To accelerate the ignition of the explosive charges, the rearmost charges in each
longitudinal row can be connected, as shown in Figure 3, by a paper or other tube R
filled with quick-burning powder or composition, to the remaining charges of the
same row, or the priming materials in each channel H may be similarly connected
with the cartridges so that they will be successively ignited with the desired
rapidity, immediately after the ignition of the priming, or of the rearmost charge.
The said tube is secured to the inner surface of the cylinder in the central space E,
by any suitable means, and the powder within it is, as aforesaid, connected with,'or is
in close proximity to, the charge in the rearmost cartridge of the longitudinal row,
and is connected with the explosive material in the remaining cartridges in the
same row. The composition of the material within the tube may be varied as
desired.
Although the accelerations or retardations of combustion produced by the
aforesaid devices may be very slight in actual time, yet they are so regulated
relatively to the short duration of the passage of the projectile through the gun
bore, as to effect the desired result.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
-
1. The herein-described method of using explosive charges in a gun, for the
purposes above specified.
2. A cartridge or charge holder, consisting of a hollow cylinder or the like
having a series of separate explosive charges arranged in the wall thereof, for the
purpose specified.
3. A cartridge or charge holder consisting of a hollow cylinder or the like,
having a series of separate explosive charges arranged in the wall thereof, and
provided with gas checks or with a casing or casings such as those hereinbefore
described, for the purposes specified.
4. A cartridge or charge-holder consisting of a hollow cylinder or the like,
containing in the wall thereof a series of separate explosive charges, some or all
of which are provided with means for regulating their time of ignition, for the
purpose specified.
5. The means for regulating the ignition of the separate charges, substantially as
hereinbefore described.
6. In a cartridge or charge-holder such as that herein described, the combination
with one or more of the separate charges, of means, substantially as described, for
accelerating the combustion of the said charges for the purpose specified.
7. In a cartridge or charge-holder such as that herein described, the axial
vent H' in combination with the radial channels H', substantially as described for
the purpose specified.
8. The improved cartridge or charge holder constructed substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or to Figure 3 or to Figure 13
of the accompanying drawings for the purposes specified.
9. An explosive cartridge substantially such as either of those described with
reference to Figures 5, 6, 8 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings, for use in a
charge holder constructed according to my invention.
Dated this 17th day of August 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.