IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOLLOW PROJECTILES
Year: 1881

page_text: A
LETTERS PATENT to Raphael Hunter Brandon, of No. 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris,
in the Republic of France, Engineer and Patent Agent, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOLLOW PROJECTILES."
communication from Benjamin Berkley Hotchkiss, of Paris, in the Republic
of France.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Raphael Hunter Brandon at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th December 1881.
RAPHAEL HUNTER BRANDON, of No. 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Engineer and Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF HOLLOW PROJECTILES." A communication by Benjamin Berkley Hotchkiss,
of Paris, in the Republic of France.
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the construction of hollow projectiles,
and more especially those made of steel, which are usually bored out of the solid
metal. For this purpose hitherto it has been necessary to make this bore of two
different diameters, the first or inner one destined to receive the bursting charge,
being as large as the shell admits of in practise, whilst the outer one at the rear
end of the projectile is of such reduced diameter, that is, limited to the diameter of
the fuse therein inserted; this mode of constructing the cavity of hollow shells is
due to the necessity of reducing as far as possible the surface of the plug, closing
the same to avoid its being blown out by the bursting charge, which would reduce
the pressure at the moment of the explosion, and thus prevent the bursting of the
shell.
I overcome this difficulty of construction or boring by the use of a fuse con-
taining plug of a novel construction, whereby the pressure of the gases at the time
of the explosion acts laterally on the same, thereby insuring its resistance to being
blown out of the shell, and consequently the bursting of the shell.
In order that my improvements be clearly understood and easily put into
practise, I will describe the same in detail conjointly with the four Figures of the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which I have represented in sectional elevation
as an example an ordinary steel, or cast iron, or other metallic shell, provided with
my novel gas check plug.

page_text: Fig. 1. 1 is the shell in section, and 2 the metal plug, preferably of steel, screwed
in the rear of the projectile and with a central tapped hole 3 for the insertion of
the fuse; the innovation in this case consist in the hollowing out of the plug at its
front end, leaving inclined and relatively thin edges 4, 4, which at the moment of
the explosion are driven by the gases with sufficient force against the inner surface
or bore of the projectile to prevent its being driven out of the same.
Fig. 2. In this Figure the fuse 5 is shown inserted in the plug from the rear,
and round its upper or inner end it is covered by a conical extension 6 of the plug
on which the gasses act and prevent the blowing out of the fuse, in a similar
manner to the action of the flanges 4, 4, which serve to retain the plug 2 in the
shell 1 as above explained; in this case it will be seen that the plug acts in the
capacity of a double check.
Fig. 3. In this Figure the fuse 5 is simply screwed in a tubular projection 7 cast
with the plug 2.
Fig. 4. In this Figure the tubular case 7 is mado to form part of the fuse 5, and
is screwed in the inner face of the plug previous to the latter being screwed in
the shell.
It is evident that this application to shells may be modified in a variety of
manners, and may further be usefully applied in other cases to resist sudden and
direct pressures; however, the-four-exemplifications-above.are.simply sufficient for_
explaining the action or principle evolved in my Invention without reference to
any particular size or shape of hollow projectile; and having thus explained the
same, I claim,—-
First. The construction of fuse containing plugs with relatively thin metallic
inner sides 4 to receive laterally the pressure of the gases, and thereby prevent
their being blown out of the shell by the explosion of the bursting charge therein
contained, as shown in the 4 Figures of the accompanying Drawing.
Second. The construction of this description of gas check plug 2 with the
fuse 5, screwed in a tubular housing 7 cast with the plug, as shewn in Fig. 3.
Third. The construction of this description of gas check plug 2 with the fuse 5,
inserted in tube 7, which is screwed into the plug, as shewn in Fig. 4; and
Fourth. The construction of a double gas check plug 2, as shown in Fig. 2,
wherein the explosion is utilised for the double purpose of securing by pressure the
position of the plug in the shell, as well as that of the fuse in the plug.
In witness whereof, I, the said Raphael Hunter Brandon, hath hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witnesses,
HENRY MEA,
1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris.
D. H. BRANDON,
1, Rue Laffitte,
Paris.
R. H. BRANDON. (L.S.)