Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Projectiles or Shells. and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1888.
Complete Left, 18th May, 1888
Complete Accepted, 29th June, 1888
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Projectiles or Shells.
and to Apparatus therefor.
We, CLAUD THORNTON CAYLEY, Engineer, and REUBEN SAMUEL COURTMAN,
Engineer, both of Acre Street, New Road, Wandsworth Road, in the County of
Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:―
Our invention relates to the manufacture of hollow projectiles or shells and to
improved apparatus to be used in such manufacture..
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted to us and dated 24th December
A.D. 1886, No. 16,943, we have described a method of manufacturing a hollow pro-:
jectile from a solid projectile or from a solid block or piece of metal of the same, or,
approximately the same diameter and shape or configuration as the finished projectile..
This method comprises the formation of the central chamber or cavity by driving
punches or mandrels into the said block or piece while confined in a die or mould.
fitting around the same so that the metal displaced from the centre by the said punches
is compelled to flow or expand endwise.
In making a hollow projectile or shell according to one part of our present invention,
we take a solid block or piece of steel or iron of slightly greater weight, than that
which it is desired the projectile should have when finished, and of the shape or con-
figuration hereinafter described, that is to say, the main portion of the said block or:
piece is slightly conical or taper and is considerably larger in diameter than the
finished projectile or shell; the smaller end of the said block or piece is tapered to
the same or approximately the same diameter as the base of the finished projectile.
We heat this block or piece and place it in a supporting die or mould, and we form a
cavity in the said block or piece by driving one or more punches or mandrels into the
larger end thereof and thereby causing the metal to flow or expand endwise around
the mandrel. This part of the process, however, is not intended to cause endwise
flow of the metal to such an extent as to make the walls of the projectile or shell of
approximately the required length, thickness and diameter, the cavity formed being
simply designed to afford an entrance for a supporting mandrel hereinafter mentioned,
the required thickness of metal being left at the lower end of the block or piece for
the base of the projectile.

page_text: The walls of the hollow block thus formed are much shorter and thicker than those
of the finished projectile.
To elongate the said walls and reduce their diameter and thickness, we place the
said block upon a mandrel and force or draw it, by means of a hydraulic press or
otherwise, through a ring or die, or successively through two or more rings or dies of
different internal diameter, the said block being reheated as often as may be required.
We then close the open end of the partially made shell, leaving an aperture at the
apex for introducing the bursting-charge and the fuse.
According to a modification of our present invention we proceed as follows, that is
to say-We first take a solid cylindrical block of metal of the required dimensions
and place the said block in a die or mould which will prevent lateral expansion
of the said block or enlargement of its diameter; we then form in the said block,
by means of punches or mandrels, a. chamber or cavity of the required size
and shape or configuration; and we then impart the desired external form or
configuration to the said block by rolling it in the manner described in the specifi-
cation of Letters Patent granted to G. F. Simonds and dated 12th December A.D.
1885, No. 15,299, by means of dies such as those described in the specifications of
Letters Patent granted to said G. F. Simonds and dated 9th June A.D. 1885,
No. 7028, and 9th January AD. 1886; No: 396. We prefer to place the said block upon
a mandrel before subjecting it to the rolling operation, to prevent deformation of the
chamber or cavity within it.
In our said former specification, we have described a method of drawing hollow
projectiles or shells to reduce the thickness of their walls or to make them parallel or
cylindrical. For this purpose, as stated in our said former specification, we sometimes
force the base only of the projectile or shell through a die by means of a mandrel
and then draw or force the said projectile or shell by other means completely through
the die while the mandrel is held stationary therein, so that the walls of the projectile
or shell are; drawn between the said maudrel and the die.
Our, present invention comprises improved apparatus whereby. we are. enabled-very
advantageously.to.draw projectiles or shells in this manner.
In our improved apparatus, we employ a tubular mandrel and a ram or piston fitted
to slide longitudinally therein. The partially made hollow projectile or shell' is placed
upon the said mandrel and ram, which are then moved by hydraulic or other power
until the base of the said projectile or shell has passed through the die and an enlarge-
ment at or near the extremity of the mandrel' arrives opposite or within the part of the
die of smallest diameter; the mandrel is then held stationary while the movement of
the ram or piston is continued so that the said ram forces the projectile or shell'
completely through the die. By these means; we provide for stripping the projectile
or shell off the mandrel whilst making the walls of the projectile or shell truly,
parallel or cylindrical, and, at the same time, ensuring uniformity in the thickness of
the said walls. We thus obviate the disadvantages arising. from the use of a taper
mandrel; as in some of the methods heretofore practised, which necessitates the
formation of a taper chamber or cavity within the projectile or shell. These means
are, moreover, applicable for drawing partially made projectiles or shells for the
purpose of reducing the thickness of their. walls, whether the said projectiles or sholls;
previous to such reduction, are of conical or cylindrical form:
Dated this 6th day of January 18881.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45; Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Projectiles or Shells
and to Apparatus therefor.
We, CLAUD THORNTON CAYLEY, Engineer, and REUBEN SAMUEL COURTMAN,
Engineer, both of Acre Street, New Road, Wandsworth Road, in the County of Surrey,
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:-
Our invention relates to the manufacture of hollow projectiles or shells, and to
apparatus for use in such manufacture.
In the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to us and dated 24th
December A.D. 1886, No. 16,943, we have described the manufacture of hollow
projectiles or shells by driving punches or mandrels into a solid block or piece of metal
while it is confined in a die or mouli which prevents enlargement of its diameter
and compels the metal displaced from the centre by the punches to flow or expand
endwise.
Our present invention comprises various improvements which are based upon the
invention described in our said former Specification.
According to one method of manufacture described in our said former Specification,
we take a block or piece of metal of approximately the form of a truncated cone, and
we drive punchies or mandrels into the said block or piece while it is held in a
supporting die or mould, thereby displacing the motal from the centre of the said
block and compelling it to flow endwise in the space around the punch or mandrel
until the wall of the hollow block, that is to say, the metal around the cavity thus
formed in the block, is of approximately the required length and thickness. We thus
produce a hollow conical or cup-shaped body which we force or draw.through a die or
dies to make it parallel or cylindrical.
In making a hollow projectile or shell according to ono part of our present inven-
tion, we commence operations as above,lescribed, that is to say, we take a solid block
or piece of metal of slightly greater weight than that which it is desired the projectile
should have when finished, and of the shape or configuration hereinafter described, and
we heat this block or piece and place it in a supporting die or mould and form a cavity
in the said block or piece by driving punches or mandrels into the larger end thereof
and thus causing the metal to flow or expand endwise in the space around the mandrel.
In this manner we provide an entrance for a supporting mandrel, as, and for the
purpose, hereinafter specified, and we reduce the metal at the end of the cavity to the
thickness required for the base of the projectile or shell. This part of our improved
method or process, however, is not intended to cause endwise flow of the metal to such
an extent as to make the wall of the projectile or shell of the required length and
thickness as described in our said former Specification.
The wall of the hollow block as formed by this part of our process is much shorter
and thicker than in the finishell projectile..

page_text: To elongate the said wall and reduce its diameter and thickness, we place the said
block upon a mandrel and draw it, by means of a hydraulic press or otherwise, through
an annular die or ring, or successively through two or more of such dies or rings
of different internal diameter, the said block being reheated as often as may be
required.
We then close the open end of the partially made shell, leaving an aperture at the
apex for the introduction of the bursting-charge and the fuse.
In the accompanying drawings
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are sectional elevations illustrating different steps or stages
in the manufacture of a hollow projectile or shell according to this part of our
invention.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal central section illustrating improved apparatus for
drawing the hollow blocks as hereinafter described the ram hereinafter referred to
being shown in side elevation.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal central section of a projectile or shell manufactured as
hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is a block or piece of metal which is to be converted into a hollow projectile or
shell. The lower part of this block is taper or conical, the diameter of its lower end
being the same as, or slightly greater than that of the base of the projectile or shell
when finished. The upper or main portion of the said block is of considerably larger
diameter than the base of the projectile or shell when finished; it may be cylindrical
if desired; we prefer, however, to make it slightly conical, its diameter being larger
at its upper than at its lower end.
The supporting die or mould a consists of a solid piece of metal in which is bored a
hole or cavity of the requisite size and shape or configuration to receive and support
the block A, and a cylindrical hole is bored through the bottom of the die or mould,
into which is accurately fitted a solid metal cylinder b. The said die or mould and
the cylinder bare supported upon a bed or anvil c.
d is the punch or mandrel which is to be driven into the block A, by hammering or
otherwise, to form the recess or cavity therein and which is formed with a shoulder d*
for the purpose hereinafter explained.
The block A, when placed in the die or mould, rests upon the metal piece bas
shown in Figures 1 and 2, its lower taper end fitting in a taper portion of the hole or
cavity in the said die or mould, and its upper or main portion, which is, as above
stated, preferably slightly conical, fitting in a correspondingly shaped portion of the
said hole or cavity. The punch or mandrel d is made with a cylindrical portion which
fits into the upper cylindrical portion of the hole or cavity the die or mould, so
that the said punch or mandrel will be guided in its downward movement when driven
into the block A.
The block A and punch or mandrel & having been placed in the die or mould as
shown in Figure 1, the said punch or mandrel is driven into the said block, the metal
of which is thus displaced from the centre and caused to flow endwise into the annular
space around the punch or mandrel until the shoulder * of the said punch.or mandrel
comes in contact with the upper surface of the said block, as shown in Figure 2.
The punch or mandrel d is then withdrawn from the block A and from the die or
mould.
.
The hollow body produced as above described is removed from the die or mould
and is reheated and drawn to elongate its wall and reduce the thickness and diameter
thereof. This operation is effected by forcing the said hollow body by means of a
punch d' through an annular die or ring such as that shown at e in Figure 3, or
successively through two or more of such dies or rings by means of punches, the
annular space between each ring and punch being less in each successive operation,
the internal diameter of the 'die or ring through which the partially made projectile or
shell is to be finally forced or drawn being equal, or nearly equal to the external
diameter of the finished projectile or shell.
The open end of the partially made projectile or shell is then closed, or partially:

page_text: closed as described in our said former Specification, or in any other convenient
manner.
:
:
A projectile or shell having the shape. or configuration shown in Figure 5 is thus
produced.
It is obvious that: the supporting die or mould may, if desired, be made in two
pieces, or otherwise suitably constructed. Also that one or any other suitable number
of punches or mandrels may be used in the formation of the cavity in the metal block,
as above described.
In drawing the hollow body produced by micans of the punches or mandrels as
above described through the annular dies or rings, we prefer that, as soon as the base
of the projectile has entered or passed a short distance through a die or ring, the
mandrel should be held stationary, whilst the said hollow body is drawn, by other
suitable means, completely through the said die or ring, so that the wall of the. said
hollow body will be drawn through the annular space between the said mandrel and
the die, substantially as described in our said former Specification.
Our present invention comprises improved apparatus whereby we are enabled to
accomplish this result in a very advantageous manner. For this purpose we employ
a tubular 'mandrel and a ram fitted to slide longitudinally therein. The said ram is
| preferably made with an enlargement or head of approximately the same diameter as
the mandrel; we prefer, moreover, to make the said mandrel with an enlargement at,
or near its extremity, and to form the die with a contracted part as hereinafter
described. The hollow body is placed upon the said mandrel and ram, which are then
moved by hydraulic or other power until the base of the said hollow body has passed
through the contracted part of the die and the enlargement of the mandrel has arrived
opposite or within the said contracted part of the die. The mandrel is, then held
stationary while the movement of the ram is continued, so that the said ram forces the
hollow body completely through the die. By these means we provide for stripping
the partially made projectile or shell off the mandrel whilst reducing its diameter and
thinning and elongating its wall and making it truly parallel or cylindrical, and, at
the same time, ensuring uniformity in the thickness of the said wall. We thus obviate
the disadvantages arising from the use of a taper mandrel, as in some of the methods
heretofore practised, that is to say, we avoid the formation of a taper chamber or
cavity within the projectile or shell. This apparatus is, moreover, applicable for
drawing partially made projectiles or shells for the purpose of making the walls
thereof parallel or cylindrical as described in our said former specification.
•
In Figure 4, we have shown one form of our said apparatus. is the ram, which
is formed with a head, and which is fitted to slide in a hollow mandrel g having an
enlargement g. The said ram and mandrel are to be so connected with a hydraulic
or other press that they may be moved simultaneously through a short distance and
the movement of the mandrel may then be arrested while the ram continues to move.
The die e is made with a contracted part el. In using this apparatus, the hollow body
placed upon the mandrel 'g with its end or base against the enlarged end or head f
of the ram and is forced into the die or ring e by the simultaneous movement of the
said ram and mandrel until the parts occupy the position shown, the movement of the
mandrel is then arrested whilst the ram continues to move and thus draws the hollow
body through the annular space between the enlargement g' of the mandrel g and the
contracted part e¹ of the die e.
We sometimes prefer to subject the hollow body to one or more drawing operations
while hot, and then to one or more drawing operations when cold; that is to say, we
draw the said hollow body successively through several annular dies or rings, reheating
it before the first, and, in some instances, before one or more succeeding drawing
operations, the subsequent drawing operation or operations being effected while the
metal is cold. The metal is thus more effectually compressed or condensed than when
reheated before all the successive drawing operations to which it is subjected.
We have shown a solid block A of the form which we prefer to employ in the
manufacture of projectiles or shells according to our present invention. It is obvious,

page_text: however, that blocks of somewhat different shape or configuration may be converted
into hollow projectiles or shells by our improved method or process.
According to another modfication of our invention we proceed as follows, that is to
sayWe take a solid cylinder of metal of the required dimensions and place the said
cylinder in a die or mould which will prevent lateral expansion of the same or
enlargement of its diameter; we then form in the said cylinder, by means of punches
or mandrels in the manner above described, a chamber or cavity of the required size
and shape or configuration; and we then roll the hollow cylinder thus produced in
the manner described in the specification of Letters Patent granted to G. F. Simonds
and dated 12th December A.D. 1885, No. 15,299, by means of dies such as those
described in the specifications of other Letters Patent granted to the said G. F.
Simonds, vizt. No 7028 dated 9th June A:D. 1885, and No. 396 dated 9th January
A.D. 1886; we thus produce a hollow projectile or shell having any desired external
shape or configuration. We prefer to place the hollow cylinder upon a mandrel
before subjecting it to the rolling operation, to prevent deformation of the chamber or
cavity within it.
It is obvious that we can adapt our invention to the manufacture of armour-piercing
projectiles or shells in which the aperture for the fuse is at the base instead of at the
apex.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we wish it understood that we do not.
claim broadly or irrespectively of our improvements as herein set forth, the
manufacture of a hollow projectile or shell by driving punches or mandrels into a solid
block, drawing the hollow body thus produced through one or more annular dies or
rings and then closing or partially closing the open end thereof, as we have, in our
said former Specification No. 16,943, already described and claimed such method of
manufacture. But in the method described in our said former specification, the
hollow body formed by means of the punches or mandrels has its wall of the required
thickness and length, and it is drawn through a die or dies merely for the purpose of
making it parallel or cylindrical, and not, as in our present invention, for the purpose
of elongating, reducing the diameter of, and thinning its wall. Moreover we are
aware that, in the specification of Letters Patent granted to J. Baldie and dated
5th March A.D. 1885, No. 2932, a method of manufacturing hollow projectiles or
shells is described which consists in casting a hollow body the wall whereof is of much
greater thickness than is required in the finished shell, then inserting a mandrel in the
said hollow body and reducing the thickness of its wall and increasing its length by
forging it between swages and drawing it through an annular die or ring; we there-
fore make no claim to such method of manufacture; our present invention, however,
differs from that of Baldie inasmuch as the solid block or piece is, by our inethod of
manufacture, converted into a hollow projectile or shell entirely by forging and the
metal is, therefore, compressed and condensed so that the projectile or shell has greater
strength than when made by drawing a hollow casting as described in Baldie's
Specification; and we claim :-
First. The above described method of forging a hollow projectile or shell, that is to
say, by first driving punches or mandrels successively into a solid block or piece while
it is confined in a die or mould as described in our said former specification and for the
purpose hereinabove specified, then lengthening, reducing the diameter of, and
thinning the wall of the hollow body thus produced, by drawing it through one or
more annular dies or rings substantially as hereinbefore described, leaving the end of
the said hollow body open or closing or partially closing the open end thereof as may
be required.
Second. The modification of our method of manufacture, wherein we subject the
hollow body to the action of the annular dies or rings whilst hot and also when cold,
substantially as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Third. The employment, in combination with an annular die, of a tubular mandrel

page_text: having a ram fitted to slide longitudinally therein and suitable means for moving the
said ram and mandrel simultaneously through a short distance and for then holding
the mandrel stationary while the movement of the ram is continued, substantially as,
and for the purpose, set forth.
Fourth. The manufacture, substantially as set forth, of a hollow projectile or shell
by driving punches or mandrels into one end of a solid metal cylinder to form therein
a central chamber or cavity and then rolling the said cylinder between suitable dies,
as, and for the purpose, specified.
Fifth. A projectile or shell manufactured substantially as hereinbefore described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicants.