Improved Methods or Means of Treating High Explosives such as Dynamite, and for the Utilization, Protection, and Firing of such Explosives in Projectiles, Torpedoes, Cartridges, and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1889
Complete
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb., 1889-Accepted, 20th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Methods or Means of Treating High Explosives such as
Dynamite, and for the Utilization, Protection, and Firing of
such Explosives in Projectiles, Torpedoes, Cartridges, and the
like.
I, ROBERT SOUTHWORTH LAWRENCE, of the Langham Hotel, Portland Place, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
In the Specification of a former application for Letters Patent No. 5027 dated
4th April 18SS I described a method of charging a shell with a high explosive such
as dynamite, by dividing the said explosive into small portions enclosed in covers,
cases or envelopes which isolate the portions from one another. Between the shell
and the charge there was interposed a lining that was a non conductor or a bad
conductor of heat such as asbestos. To prevent friction of the packets or covered
portions of explosive amongst themselves the cavity of the shell was divided into
compartments or chambers by divisions.
The present invention has for object other improved methods of treating high
explosives in order to prevent the nitro glycerine or other active agent in the.
explosive from becoming separated from the body with which it is associated and
becoming concentrated in some part of the charge, and assuming the dangerous state
which nitro glycerine assumes when not combined with an absorbent material.
High explosive treated according to this invention can be carried and manipulated
without danger. It is applicable for all purposes for which it is used in its untreated
state and also for purposes for which it could not be so employed.
Among these latter purposes is the charging of projectiles, torpedoes, mines and the
Jike.
One method of treating high explosive such as dynamite according to this invention
is to enclose it within a tubular container or envelope or hollow rope. Conveniently
this container may be made of flexible or elastic material, such as woven, felted or
plaited fabric, indiarubber or the like. It may also be metal. Or in place of the
tubular container the explosive may be applied to or incorporated with a flexible or
elastic substance preferably in sheet form such as cloth. This substance may after+
wards be utilized in different ways. For instance it may be rolled up upon itself or
upon a core, or it may be cut into pieces of various shapes such as discs, rings, tapes
and the like. Whichever method of treating the explosive is adopted the separation
of the explosive from the body with which it is associated is prevented by covering or
enclosing the container or envelope or sheet material (in case it is of pervious nature)
with an impermeable material or coating such as paraffin or varnish or varnished paper.
When I employ high explosive treated according to this invention in a projectile or
torpedo means may be employed in certain cases to preveut relative motion between
the various portions of the charge and to prevent the weight of one portion coming.
upon another portion when subjected to great shock longitudinally as on the firing of,
the impelling charge, be it gunpowder, air or other fluid.
Such means are partitions or divisions either at right angles to the axis of the
projectile or at oblique or other angles. In the latter case the partition or partitions,
may conveniently take the form of a screw blade or blades.
To protect the charge from heat transmitted through the wall or base of the pro-
jectile there is interposed a non conducting and gas producing lining comprising, a.
salt which gives off gas on being heated to a sufficiently high temperature. Such a
salt is uitrate of potash which I mix with a medium such as lard and spread on the

page_text: inside of the projectile. Such a lining is also applicable to shells charged with
high explosive in the manner set forth in my herein before mentioned former
Specification.
To obtain great penetration against armour plates and fortifications from a shell
charged with high explosive it is desirable that a slow acting fuse should be used, as is
well known. According to this invention an electric fuse is employed the action of
which is delayed by opposing the motion of the circuit maker by a spring or other
equivalent device so that a sensible time elapses between the impact of the shell and
the closing of the circuit and the firing of the shell charge. In one form of fuse a
small electric battery is enclosed within the shell and the poles are connected by
conductors to contact pieces which stand in the path of a moveable circuit maker.
This circuit maker is held in position by a strong spring until the shell strikes. The
contact maker then moves forward and compresses the spring until it reaches the
contact plates and completes the circuit, whereupon the fuse composition, which, by
preference, is situated in the axis of the charge, is exploded.
When a torpedo is launched through the air against a vessel it is desirable to
explode it at a considerable depth beneath the water, in order that its destructive
action may be exerted against the weakest part of the vessel. To obtain this end I fit
such torpedo with a fuse which comes into action when the torpedo reaches the
determined depth. This fuse contains a piston or plunger or diaphragm to one face
of which the sea can gain access. The other face is subject to the pressure of a spring
and carries or is connected to an electric circuit closer. As the torpedo descents in
the sea the plunger, piston or diaphragm is forced inwards and at the determined
depth the circuit closer comes into action and fires the fuse and consequently the
charge.
Such a fuse hay be used in conjunction with a contact fuse or with a time fuse.
High explosive according to this invention may be used in a shell in conjunction
with missiles such as bullets or scrap metal.
Such shells are grape, shrapnel and the like.
Dated this 5th day of Januar 1990
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant. -
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Methods or Means of Treating High Explosives such as
Dynamite, and for the Utilization, Protection, and Firing of
such Explosives in Projectiles, Torpedoes, Cartridges, and the
like.
1, ROBERT SOUTHWORTH LAWRENCE. of the Langham Hotel, Portland Place, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, 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:-
In the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me No. 5027 dated
4th April 1888 I described a method of charging a shell with a high explosive such as
dynamite divided into small portions enclosed in, covers, cases or envelopes adapted to
isolate the portions from one another.
Between the shell and the charge there was interposed a lining that was a non-
conductor or a bad conductor of heat such as asbestos.
To prevent friction of the packets or covered portions of explosive amongst
themselves, the cavity of the shell was divided into compartments or chambers by
divisions.
An object of the said invention was to prevent the nitro-glycerine or other active
ngent in the explosive from becoming separated from the body with which it was

page_text: associated, becoming concentrated in some part of the charge and assuming the
dangerous state which nitro-glycerine assumes when not combined with absorbent
material.
Now my present invention has reference to other means of effecting the like object
and to other improvements hereinafter described.
This invention will enable high explosives to be carried and manipulated without
danger and to be used not only for all purposes for which high explosives are now
used in bulk but also for purposes for which they could not be so employed.
Among these latter purposes is the charging of projectiles, torpedoes, mines and the
like.
In the accompanying drawings Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views illustrating one
method of treating high explosive, such as dynamite, according to this invention.
Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views illustrating another method of treating the high
explosive.
According to the method shewn in Figs. I and 2 the high explosive is enclosed
within a tubular container or envelope or hollow rope (hereinafter called a tubular
container) the diameter of which may advantageously be about one quarter of an inch.
Conveniently this tubular container may be made of flexible or elastic material such
as woven, felted or plaited fabric, india-rubber or, the like. It may also be of metal.
It may with advantage he made of cotton cloth or of other material which will not
break in handling and which is also flexible and a good absorbeni. The length of
the tubular container will depend upon the quantity of explosive to be put up, and
when the charge for a shell is very large, several tubular containers filled with high
explosive may be used. In Fig. 2 a length of such container charged with high
explosive is shewn coiled up to form a cartridge.
Or in place of the tubular container 2 the explosive may be applied to or be
incorporated with a flexible or elastic substance 3 which may advantageously be in
sheet form such as woollen or cotton-cloth or other like fabric as shown in Figs. 8
and 4. When the high explosive is in a form such as dynamite, it may be applied to
one or to both surfaces of the sheet material; when nitro-glycerine is used, the sheet
material may be saturated with it. The sheet thus prepared may afterwards be
utilized in different ways. For instance it may be rolled up upon itself or upon a
core 4 as shewn in Fig. 3 to form a cartridge, or it may be cut into pieces of various
shapes such as dises or rings as shewn in Fig. 4, or into tapes and the like. Which-
ever method of treating the explosive is adopted, the separation of the explosive from
the body with which it is associated may be prevented by covering or enclosing the
container 2, or prepared sheet material 3, (in case it is of pervious nature) with an
impermeable material or coating such as paraffin, or varnish such as shellac.
According to a modification instead of only covering or enclosing the charged
tubular container 2 with an impermeable material such as paraffin or varnish, it may,
just before being used, be saturated with nitro-glycerine or other active gas producing
agent or with a weak solution of nitric acid after which it is covered or enclosed with
impermeable material as before, and then placed in the projectile by coiling it in the
charge chamber thereof.
By saturating the tubular container with a gas producing agent such as referred to,
it is converted into a gas producing substance thereby preventing a considerable
portion of the charge chamber being taken up by non-explosive material.
In Figs. 3 and 4 sheets 5 of impervious material, such as paraffined paper, are
shewn as applied to both surfaces of the sheet material 3 for the purpose of confining
the high explosive within or upon such material, the sheets and 5 being cemented
together if necessary and wound up to form a coil as in Fig. 8.
When the prepared
sheet material is cut into discs (Fig. 4) a number of these are placed together to form
a cartridge of the desired size; when these discs are to be used in a shell having
central fuse tube they should be perforated centrally as at 6*.
al
When employing high explosive according to this invention in a projectile or in a
torpedo, mms may be employed in certain cases to prevent relative motion between
the various portions of the charge and to prevent one portion striking or pressing

page_text: upon another portion when subjected to great shock longitudinally as on the firing of
the impelling charge be it gunpowder, or air, or other fluid. Such means are
partitions or divisions, either at right angles to the axis of the projectile, or at oblique
or other angles. In the latter case the partition or partitions may conveniently take
the form of a screw blade or blades.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a projectile of a class suitable to be thrown or
delivered by a torpedo thrower, and hereinafter called a "torpedo," in the shell 6 of
which a number of perforated plates or divisions 7 are employed. These plates are
fixed upon a perforated fuse tube 8 and between them the material prepared as
described with high explosive, is placed in either of the forms shewn in Figs. 2, 3
and 4.
Fig. 6 is a similar view to Fig. 5 shewing the partition or division in the form of a
perforated screw blade 9 between the several convolutions of which the charged
Hexible tubular container 2 (Fig. 1) is wound.
Fig. is an elevation of a projectile or torpedo" with parts of the shell broken
away to shew the charge of high explosive, in tubular form, coiled therein and also an
electric circuit closer hereinafter described.
In Fig. 6 the division 9 is secured to and supported by the perforated fuse tube 8
which is arranged longitudinally of the charge chamber 10 of the shell or casing 6.
12 is a screw threaded plug for closing the rear end of the charge chamber. The fuse
tube S is closed at its fore end and open at its rear end and is filled with a detonating
charge of fulminate of mercury or other like material, enclosed in paraffined paper
(not shown). To load the shell, or torpedo, as the case may be, I commence at one
end of the division 9, (which together with the fuse tube is removable from the charge
chamber) and wind the charge tube or container 2 upon the fuse tube until the other
end is reached, and then wind back again and so on winding backward and forward
from end to end until the coils of the container are of the full diameter of the screw
blade. I then place the support within the charge chamber 10 with the open end of
the tube S rearwards and then screw the plug. 12 into place. It will be seen that the
division 9 serves to support the charge-tube and to isolate one part thereof from
another in the direction of the length of the shell or torpedo, thus preventing undue
pressure and consequent density of the bursting charge in any part of the shell. Any
suitable form of fuse may be used with the shell or torpedo.
In Fig. 6 and to a larger scale in Fig. 8 there is shewn in longitudinal section a
very simple and effective form of time fuse that it is advantageous to employ in a
torpedo such as herein described but which is not claimed as forming part of the
present invention being included in the subject matter of another application by me
for Letters Patent bearing even date with my present application and numbered 251
of 1889. In this time fuse, 13 is a hollow stud screwed into the inner side of plug 12
the former being formed with a small conical projection or anvil 134. The upper end
of the stud is recessed as at 14 for the reception of a flange 15 on the forward end of
the fuse tube 16 containing any suitable fuse 17 which may be cut so as to burn any
desired length of time. On the rear end of the fuse tube is placed a fulminate of
mercury cap 18. 16 is a spring secured at one end to the hollow stud 13 and
hearing at its other end against the flange 15. When the gun is discharged and the
torpedo launched the stud 13 will gain on the fuse iube 16 until the anvil 13 strikes
the cap 18, thereby setting fire to the fuse, which after burning one, two or any other
predetermined number of seconds to which it may have been set, will ignite the
fulminate of mercury in tube 8 the explosion of which will detonate the bursting
charge, all the coils of said charge being simultaneously reached and detonated by the
gas through the perforations in the charge support or screw blade 9.
19 is a safety rod screwed into the stud 18 and into the flange 15 for the purpose
of fixing the fuse tube 16 with its cap 18 clear of anvil 13 and so preventing
accidental discharge of the torpedo during handling. The safety rod must be
removed just before the torpedo is inserted into the gun or torpedo thrower in
order that the fuse may be ignited in the manner described when the torpedo is
launched.

page_text: Figure 9 is a longitudinal section illustrating certain improvements in high
explosive shells for use with powder guns.
Heretofore some high explosive shells have had as herein before mentioned, a lining
of some material a non-conductor of heat, such as asbestos, the function of the lining
heing solely to prevent heat, caused by the explosion of the propelling charge in the
gun, from reaching the bursting charge. I am not aware however of the previous use
of a lining made of a material which, while capable of resisting the maximum degree.
of heat thus produced, will when subjected to the very much higher degree of heat.
produced by the explosion of the bursting charge, be converted into a gas, thus adding
to the force of, the explosion of said charge. Now I provide a lining adapted to serve
both these purposes.
20 (Fig. 9) represents finely pulverised salt that will give off gas on being heated to
a sufficiently high temperature, such as nitre or nitrate of potash. This salt 20 is
placed between two layers 21 of cloth or other suitable fabric, the whole being
surrounded by paraffined paper 22 to exclude moisture of the atmosphere, for which
nitre has an affinity, and which, if absorbed, would render the nitre less efficient as a
heat resisting agent. Instead however of using paper for this purpose, I can obtain a
good result by coating each layer of cloth on one side with shellac. Instead of using
the gas producing salt in the form of powder enclosed between layers of cloth or other
material as shewn in Fig. 9, it may be mixed with a medium such as lard and then
be spread upon the inside of the charge chamber. Such a gas producing lining is also
applicable to shells charged with high explosives prepared in the manner set forth in
my herein before mentioned former specification. 23 represents the bursting charge
which is composed of a roll of fabric prepared with high explosive in the manner
herein before described with reference to Fig. 3, and which is of a width to extend
nearly the length of the charge chamber. The charge instead of being in the form of
a roll as shewn, may consist of a number of perforated dises of fabric charged with
high explosive such as shewn in Fig. 4, which are placed side by side upon the fuse
tube 8 so as to fill, or nearly fill the charge chamber. To obtain great penetration
against armour plates and fortifications from a shell charged with high explosive, it is
desirable that a slow acting fuse should be used as is well known.
According to this invention an electric fuse is employed the action of which is delayed
by opposing the motion of the circuit maker by a spring or other equivalent device so
that a sensible time elapses between the impact of the shell and the closing of the circuit
and consequent firing of the shell charge. One arrangement of such a fuse is shewn
in Fig. 9 and somewhat modified to a larger scale in Figs. 10 and 11 which latter
Figures are respectively a central section of the electric battery and adjacent part of
the fuse tube 8 and a longitudinal, section of an uncharged shell.
24, 24 are battery cells secured within a case 25, that rests against the inner end of
plug 12 and is kept in place by the bursting charge 23 and the lining. The rear end
of the perforated fuse tube passes through a perforation in the case 25 and is (in
Fig. 9) held a short distance from the plug 12 by a flange 26 which rests against the
front end of the battery case. Within the rear end of the fuse tube 8 is secured a dise
wire or bridge 27 of material such as platinum capable of being sufficiently heated
by electricity to fire the fuse material." To the disc wire or bridge are connected
wires 28, 29 from the opposite poles of the battery. (Fig. 10). 30 and 31 are other
wires connected to the negative and positive poles of the battery and leading to the
front end of the charge chamber where they are secured to binding posts 32 which
in the arrangement Fig. 9 are inserted in a screw plug 33 screwed into the shell the
said posts being insulated from each other and provided with the usual contact
plates 34. 35 is a metal plunger (Figs. 9 and 11) located in the forward end of the
fuse tube. It is held normally out of contact with the contact plates 34 by means
of a coil spring 36 which encircles it and is secured at its front end to the fuse iube 8
and at its rear end to the plunger. When the shell is thrown from the
strikes an object the momentum of the plunger 35 will carry it forward against the
action of spring 36 and between the contact plates 34 and thus close the electric
circuit,
gun and

page_text: The platinum dise, wire, or bridge 27 will at once become heated and ignite the
fulminate of mercury in the fuse tube 8, the explosion of which will detonate the
bursting charge 23, which in turn will act upon the liningwith the result above indicated.
Fig. 12 is a similar view to Fig. 11 illustrating the application of such an electric
contact fuse to a projectile or torpedo which being intended to be launched from a
smooth bore gun with a small charge of gunpowder or from an air gun or from a
machine such as is sometimes called a torpedo thrower is made much thinner and
consequently much lighter in weight than an armour piercing shell.
In this figure similar parts to those shewn in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are marked with
the same reference numerals.
It is to be understood that I do not confine myself to the form of electric fuse shewn as
other. forms of fuse, such as a time fuse (Figs. 6 and 8) or a percussion fuse may be
employed in shells and torpedoes charged according to my invention.
An electric circuit closer for firing a fuse by electricity when the torpedo strikes an
object, is also illustrated in Fig. 5 where it is shown located at the front end of the
torpedo. In this case 30 and 31 are wires connected to the negative and positive
poles of a battery as before; they are secured to binding screws 32 which are inserted
in a hollow screw plug 33 of insulating material screwed into the shell, the said wires
being provided with the usual contact plates 34.
The metal plunger 35 in this arrangement passes through a perforation 37 in the
forward end of the shell and through the hollow plug 33 and is held normally out of
contact with the contact plates by means of a coiled spring 36 seated in a recess 88
formed in the front end of the shell and surrounding the plunger, the rear end of the
said spring bearing against the end of the recess, and its forward end engaging with
a flange on the plunger; a pin 39 passed through the forward end of the plunger
limits theoutward movement thereof. In order to prevent theplunger being accidentally
pushed into contact with the contactplates and also to prevent moisture enteringthe shell
the outer end of the plunger is covered with a soft metal cap or shield 40 which is
screw threaded internally to screw on to a screw threaded projection 41 on the front end
of the shell.
The operation of this electrical fuse is as follows:-
When the shell strikes an object the shield 40 will be broken and the plunger forced
into contact with the contact plates, thus closing the electric circuit. The platinum wire
in the fuse tube 8 will at once become sufficiently heated to ignite the material of the
fuse the force of whose explosion will be transmitted to all parts of the bursting
charge through the perforations in the tube; and if the bursting charge be dynamite
or other high explosive the detonation will be simultaneous and complete.
The plunger 35 instead of completing an electric circuit when forced inward as
described with reference to Fig. 5 may strike and explode a fulminate cap fixed upon
the forward end of the perforated fuse tube 8 and so explode the bursting charge.
Such a percussion fuse is illustrated in section in Fig. 15.
When a torpedo is launched through the air against a vessel it is sometimes
desirable to explode it at a considerable depth beneath the surface of the water, in
order that its destructive action may be exerted against the weakest part of the vessel.
To obtain this end I fit such torpedo with a circuit closer and fuse that automatically
come into action when the torpedo reaches the pre-determined depth.
Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section of part of a torpedo shell fitted with an automatic
circuit closer; the electric battery and fuse are not shewn, but they may be similar to
those shewn in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, as will be readily understood.
This part of the present invention is based upon the principle that practically the
pressure of a body of water at a given depth is always the same, and that this pressure,
upon a given superficial area, is susceptible of being definitely ascertained.
Therefore, in order that a given resistance may be overcome at a certain depth of
water, it is only necessary that that resistance should be slightly less than will be the
pressure of the water upon it at that depth.
In the shell 6 of the torpedo there is an opening leading into the charge chamber;
into this opening there is screwed a tube 43 the bore of which for one part of its length

page_text: is of small diameter as seen at 44, the bore of the other part of the tube being con-
siderably larger as seen at 45. The inner end of the tube may have its interior screw
threaded for the reception of a support 46 for holding the spring in the tube, and
the position of which may be adjusted as required to vary the tension of the spring
the part 464 being a ring with a male screw thread at its periphery.
35 represents the circuit closing plunger to the outer end of which is secured a disc
or diaphragm 47, that may advantageously be of flexible material such as india rubber,
and which fits within a recess in the eularged bore 45 of the tube so as to exclude
water.
A spring 36 is coiled around the plunger 35; its outer end either rests on the
disc 47, or (as shewn) is secured to the plunger, its inner end resting against the
support 46, through which the plunger extends inward as shown. The spring is to be
so regulated as to hold the disc 47 seated until the torpedo has reached the depth at
which it is desired its explosion shall take place, that is to say, so that the resistance of
the spring will be overcome by the pressure of water at that depth.
32, 32 are binding screws, inserted in the inner end of the tube 43 and insulated
from each other; each is provided with a contact plate 34, the free ends of these plates
being bent outward into the path of the circuit closing plunger.
30 and 31 are the battery wires also secured to the binding screws and in electrical
connection with the poles of the electric battery within the torpedo, as before.
43, 43, 43 are perforated plates secured a short distance apart at the outer end of
the bore 44, the holes in one plate being out of line with those in the next plates..
These plates serve to prevent water rushing through the bore 44 and operating
the circuit closing plunger 35 when the torpedo strikes the water, but will allow.the
pressure of water due to its depth to act upon the disc or diaphragm 47 for the
purpose mentioned.
19 is a safety rod as before which must be removed before
launching the torpedo.
It will be apparent that when the torpedo has reached the pre-determined depth in
the water, the pressure of such water will overcome the spring and force the circuit
closing plunger inward between the contact plates and thus establish the electric
circuit, when the fuse will be ignited and the explosion will take place.
Torpedoes may in some cases (as illustrated in Fig. 7) be provided both with a
circuit closing device to operate in an automatic manner by pressure of water as just
described, and with a contact fuse that will come into operation when the torpedo
strikes an object, or with a time fuse.
High explosives and fuses according to this invention may be used in a projectile in
conjunction with missiles such as bullets or scrap metal.
Such projectiles are grape, shrapnel and the like.
Figs. 14 and 15 are longitudinal sections with paris in clevation of grape and
shrapnel projectiles respectively.
In these Figs. the bursting charges and fuses are marked with the same reference
numerals as used for denoting like parts in the previously described arrangements and
the construction of such projectiles will be readily understood without further
description.
For the purpose of lubricating the bore of the gun or torpedo thrower, as the shell
or torpedo is being ejected, the point of the shell may be provided with a flexible
porous sack 48 filled with oil, the oil sack being cemented or otherwise secured to
the shell as seen in Fig. 9. The oil will be expressed by air pressure as the shell or
torpedo is leaving the gun.
As friction is one of the main sources of heat to which the shell is subjected while
passing through the gun, and as it is of great importance that a shell filled with a high
explosive like dynamite, should be subjected to as little heat as possible, the utility of
the lubrication will be manifest.
To ensure a gas tight joint between the torpedo or shell and the bore of the smooth
bore gun or air torpedo thrower employed for launching it, a gasket or other similar
ring 49 may be secured to the rear end of the torpedo or shell as shewn in Figs. 5, 6,
7, 14 and 15,

page_text: 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 charge adapted to be wound or laid in coils for use in a shell, torpedo or other-
wise and comprising a quantity of high explosive, such as dynamite, and a flexible
tubular envelope or container enclosing such high explosive and made or rendored
impervious to liquid such as nitro-glycerine substantially as hereinabove described.
2. A charge adapted to be wound or laid in coils for use in a shell, torpedo or
otherwise and comprising a quantity of high explosive, such as dynamite, and a
flexible tubular envelope or container of absorbent material saturated with nitro-
glycerine or with nitric acid and subsequently rendered impervious to liquid such as
nitro glycerine substantially as described.
3. A charge comprising sheet fabric, high explosive such as dynamite or nitro-
glycerine applied to such fabric and a coating or covering of paraffin or other material
capable of preventing the exudation of nitro-glycerine substantially as described.
4. The improved charges with high explosives made up as hereinabove described
with reference respectively to Figure and to Figure 4 of the drawings annexed.
5. The combination of a shell and a flexible tube charged with high explosive and
coiled within the shell.
6. A shell with a charge made up substantially as described with reference to
Figure of the drawings whether adapted to be used as a shell or as a torpedo..
7. A shell with a charge made up substantially as described with reference to
Figure 4 of the drawings whether adapted to be used as a shell or as a torpedo.
8. The combination of a shell, a rigid perforated tube extending longitudinally of
the charge chamber of such shell, a detonating charge within such tube, a spiral
partition or division surrounding it, a flexible tube coiled around the said perforated.
tube between the spirals of the said partition or division, a bursting charge within the
flexible tube and a device for firing the detonating charge.
9. A shell with a high explosive charge and a heat resisting gas producing lining or
layer or layers interposed between the charge and the wall of the charge chamber.
10. A shell having a fuse arranged longitudinally within the charge chamber, a
flexible tube containinghigh explosive arrangedaround the fuse and an electrical device
for firing the fuse.
11. A shell having a high explosive charge made up as referred to in claim 3, a fuse
extending lengthwise of the charge chamber and around which the said explosive is
arranged and an electrical device for firing the fuse.
12. The combination with a shell of a heat resisting gas producing lining, a fuse
arranged longitudinally within the charge chamber, a high explosive charge interposed
between the said lining and the said fuse and an electrical device for firing the fuse
and explosive charge.
13. The combinations and arrangements described with reference respectively to
Figure 9, to Figures 10 and 11 and to Figure 12 of the drawings.
14. A shell charged with missiles and with high explosive enclosed in protective
covering and provided with a fuse.
15. A projectile with grape, high explosive enclosed in protective covering and a
fuse substantially as described with reference to Figure 14.
16. The projectile described with reference to and illustrated in Figure 15 of the
drawings annexed.
17. In a projectile, the hereinabove described electrical fuse consisting of a battery,
a fuse tube containing fuse material, a dise, wire or bridge of material capable of being
sufficiently heated by electricity to fire the fuse material, battery wires normally out of
circuit and a moveable plunger adapted to be forced into a position in which it will
close the circuit.
18. In a projectile, the electrical fuse as illustrated in Figures 9, 11 and 12, or.
modified as illustrated in Figure 5.

page_text: 19. The combination with a torpedo shell of an electrical battery, the circuit of
which is normally broken and a circuit closing plunger adapted to be actuated and
caused to close the circuit by pressure of the water when the torpedo has become
submerged to a predetermined extent.
20. The improved circuit closing device for a torpedo constructed arranged and
operating substantially as herein before described with reference to and illustrated in
Figure 13 of the drawings annexed.
21. A projectile charged with high explosive with a protective covering as herein-
above described provided with a fuse and having a lubricator of the kind hereinabove
specified applied to the exterior of the projectile at its fore end for the purposo
specified.
10
W. Lloyd Wise.
R. S. LAWRENCE.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.