IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PROJECTILES
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,"
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
PROJECTILES." A communication from abroad by Hermann August
Jaque Gruson, of Buckau, Magdeburg, in the Kingdom of Prussia.
Sealed the 28th October 1864, and dated the 2nd May 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd May 1864.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane..
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare, the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PRO-
JECTILES," to, bé as follows:-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of projectiles, whether hollow or
solid, of chilled iron. The material is, by preference, a mixture of white and
grey best charcoal iron. This mixture is cast in an iron mould consisting of
one or more pieces, and having the exact form of the projectile; the surface
of the projectile is therefore chilled in the casting, and obtains a steel-like
tenacity, increasing its power of resistance to an extreme degree..
In preparing the metal moulds for an elongated shot or shell it is preferred
to make them in two main parts or divisions, that is, one for the forward or:
pointed end, and the other for the cylindrical part of the projectile; the botto:u

page_text: is is moulded in sand, and consequently that part of the projectile is not
chilled. The cylindrical portion of the mould consists either of one or more
pieces, and may be constructed to be used once only or repeatedly; if used
only for one casting, the mould must be broken up on the finished projectile.
The cylindrical portion of the mould together with the pointed end is to be
put in a moulding box, and the space between the mould and box is to be
filled in with loam or sand. Over this box is to be placed a top box filled
with loam or sand, which completes the mould of the projectile, and in
which the runner for the molten metal is formed. The core for the hollow
projectile is drawn over a hollow spindle, which is perforated on its circum-
ference; this spindle is to be put in the open ene of a conical pipe fitted into
the pointed end of the mould, and secured thereto by a nut. Over the under
part of the core a wrought-iron. pipe is drawn, which is to be cast into the
projectile; in this wrought-iron pipe is to be tapped the thread for the recep-
tion of the apparatus for igniting the powder. In projectiles of larger dimen-
sions the core receives on its bottom another guide. The gases which are
developed during the casting will be conducted in the described method of
moulding downwards through the core.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special license that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PROJECTILES," being a communication

page_text: from Hermann August Jaque Gruson, of Buckau, Magdeburg, in the King-
dom of Prussia, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton; do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly. described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon. (that is to say) :-.
This Invention, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, relates
to the manufacturing of projectiles, whether hollow. or solid, chilled cast iron.
The metal which is by preference used is a mixture of white and grey best
charcoal iron. This mixture is cast in an iron mould consisting of one or
more pieces, and having the exact form of the projectile; the surface of the
projectile is thus chilled in the casting; and a steel-like tenacity is thereby
imparted to it, which greatly increases the power of resistance of the projectile,
and enables it the better to penetrate iron plating.
In preparing metal moulds for casting elongated shot or shell, similar to
those shewn at Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in the accompanying Drawing, it is
preferred to make them in two main parts or divisions, that is, one for forming
the forward or pointed end, and the other for the cylindrical part of the pro-
jectile; the bottom of the shot or shell is moulded in sand, and consequently
that part of the projectile is not chilled. This kind of mould is shewn in
longitudinal section at Fig. 6, and in transverse section at Fig. 7.
The
cylindrical portion of the mould consists of two semi-cylindrical parts A and A',
which are secured together by holdfasts and wedges, and the forward end of
a,cup-shaped piece B, to which the cylindrical portion is closely fitted. In
rear of the cylinder A, A, A¹, a sand flask C is applied, and the whole are
bound together by coupling rods, which are fitted to a clamping plate D, and
pass through 'lugs cast on the sand flask, and secured thereto by keys or
wedges. The mould when fitted, as shown at Fig. 6, is intended to cast the
shell shewn at Fig. 4, it being provided with a sand or porous core for forming
the hollow in the projectile. Before applying the sand flask a loose ring E,
having an undercut annular projection, is fitted to the rear end of the mould
to form the rearmost annular projection on the shell.. Over this ring is then
fitted the sand flask C, which is furnished with a central guide for receiving a

page_text: hollow spindle F, which carries the core. This hollow spindle is perforated
on its circumference, and to it is moulded the conical or tapering core G,
through which the gases generated in the act of casting will find their passage
out of the mould by the hollow spindle F. In rear of the core, and upon
the spindle F, a short flanged tube H is placed. This tube is intended to be cast
into the rear end of the projectile, and for the purpose of securing it firmly
in place it is jagged or roughened on its periphery. The flask being filled
with sand or loam, and fitted with the core and stem, is applied to the mould,
as shewn, and the whole being keyed together, as already explained, the mould
is ready to receive. the molten metal. The runner for the molten metal is
formed in the cylindrical part of the mould, as shewn at Fig. 7. The casting
is then carried on in the ordinary manner. The tube which is cast into the
rear end of the hollow projectile is to be threaded to receive a screw forming
a portion of the apparatus, which may be of any approved kind, for igniting
the charge of powder inserted in the projectile.
, Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements in
the Manufacture of Projectiles," as communicated to me by my foreign cor-
respondent, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish
it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I
claim, manufacturing hollow and solid projectiles in the manner above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Second day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four..
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON.
(L.S.)
: