US1149830A - Projectile. - Google Patents

Description

F. 0. HOAGLAND.

FROJECTILE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY IB, 1913. 1,149,830 Patented Aug. 10,1915.

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llllllllll Ill/Il ED STATES PATENT carica.

FRANK 0. I-IOAGIAND, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UNION METALLIC CARTRIDGE COMPANY, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- NECTICUT.

PROJECTILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

Application filed July 18, 1913. Serial No. 779,657.

T0 all whom it may concern l Be it known that I, FRANK O. HoALAN'D, a citizen of the United States, residing in Bridgeport, in the county o f Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to projectiles of the general class known as expanding bullets,- also sometimes designated as mushrooming bullets,-and relates especially to such bullets for use in small-arms.

A principal object of my present invention is to furnish a projectile or bullet of that class, which shall be adapted to be made of small diameters Vand elongated form, .and capable of being fired at high velocities without prematurely breaking up, while readily expanding, or mushroommg in an effective manner when meeting any considerable resistance. j

Thile my present improvements are particularly applicable to bullets having their points of the elongated style and form herein illustrated, they are also adapted for use in bullets of varying styles and proportions, and to such bullets of various sizes. Heretofore in this art, bullets of an elongated form have sometimes been so made as to be crushable at the point-end, and thus become distorted and irregularly enlarged,but without a substantial reformation to a larger size, and without eliminating or materially reducing the normal tendency,.-paiticularly when using high-power eXplos1ves,-of the crushing action to break up and scatter the coremetal. It is therefore an object of my present improvements to avoid thosev objectionable results, by furnishing an improved proj ectile construction, as hereinafter more fully explained, whereby the rearward part of the coremetal may flow forwardly during the period of target-resistance, out of the basetube portion of a main core-case and become joined and incorporated with the more forward portion of the core-metal, and thereby transform or reshape the core into a relatively compact and tenacious mass or bullethead of a much larger diameter and located forwardly of the re-formed base-tube.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, I have illustrated my present improvements as applied in a preferred form thereof to a riHe bullet of a well-known elongated and pointed style or form usually made in sizes ranging between two-tenths and four-tenths of an inch in diameter.

In the drawing, Figure l is a side view, 0n an enlarged scale, of such a projectile or bullet for small-bore rifles, and made in accordance with my present invention and having the multi-part core-casing made with only two parts. Fig. 2 is a sectional side view, and is drawn in alinement with Fig. 1, to facilitate comparison therewith. Fig. 3 is a similar side View, but drawn as a diagram,- for illustrating in an approximate manner an early stage in the operation of the bullet when subjected to initial expansion by striking a yielding but resistant object. Fig. 4 is a similar diagrammatic view f or illustrating a later stage of the operation. Fig. 5 is a side view of the jacket in a preferred form thereof, and with some portions broken away, while Fig. 5a is an end View of the jacket as seen from the right hand in Figs. l, 2, 3 and 5. Fig. 6 is a side view of the point-case in a preferred form thereof, and with a portion broken away, while Figi 6 is an end view of the point-case as seen from the left-hand in Figs. l, 2 and 6, but with a portion thereof broken away. Fig. 7 is a modification in which the multipart core-casing has three parts.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the views.

The shell or jacket of the projectile o? bullet, is designated in a general way by H, and consists of a suitable tube, as 15 shaped at its forward end to receive a point-case and preferably provided at its rearward end with an integral head as h; in some instances however, this disk or head, h, may be omitted. The jacket H may be made of various materials,-and produced by turning or drawing processes, as desired,-hut I prefer to use therefor a mild steel or a suitable alloy.

The forward end, as 2, of the jacket H is preferably reduced in diameter to interlock the jacket with core C, and also to receive thereon the rearward edge 3 of the pointcase P, which should fit closely upon said reduced end-portion 2 of the jacket, preferably about as indicated, at 2,in Fig. 2. This over-lapping zone of the core-inclosing members H and-P, is preferably located substantially midway of the pointed portion of the bullet, these being about the proportions selected for illustration herein. This arrangement of said over-lapping members is found in practice to effect a suitable apportionment of the core-metal quantities, as re- Agai-ds the advance portion located within the point-case P and the main body, as G, located within the shell or vjacket H, and as regards the effectiveness of the expanding operation when the projectile strikes either a. yielding Or a highly resistant object or target. This arrangement provides for a longitudinal movement or telescoping action of the members H and P, (each relatively to the other, on the beginning of the flowage of any part of the core metal within said member 1),) and therefore provides for an instant and a proper mode of action directly the point of the bullet meets with any considerable resistance.

The point-case member l. may usually be made thinner than the tube or shell f. and may be made of a relatively softer material (of copper, if preferred). since in the final operation, it is deemed to be desirable for the expansion to begin in this cap piece l, before the open forward end, 2, of the tube 1f shall begin to give way. The member P, in the form thereof which I prefer, may have one or more side openings, as 5,.:3, (see Figs. 1, and into which the coren'ietal may extend, and thus form an interlocking of the point-case l with the core C; thus the members ll and l. may be held properly assembled by the inter-engagement of each with the same core member, and without any direct interlocking of the member H with the member l). This arrangement has the advantage that it provides for a, relatively free movement for a slight distance of the point-cap l on and rearwardly over the outside of the member ll at the instant when the core-metal begins to flew-vl and before the said retaining deviccs,-iu this instance the lugs or projectioi'is at 5, 5,--are disengaged or become ineffective. A further advantage is that in the manufaeture of the projectiles, when the members H and l are pressed together in the assembling dies and over a. predetermined size (or quantity) of core-metal, this metal flows out to form the lugs at 5 and o', while the absence of any direct interlock of the parts ll. and l), permits these to be brfmght together to a distance which .mayv var v sutliciently to secure a comj'ilete filling of the interior space` even when this space may vary somewhat in (.lifferent projectiles. By this means the construction and assembling of the parts are reduced in cost while securing a l'iighly reliable and uniform quality, and overcoming the risk of there remaining within the projectile any space not completely filled by the core-metal, which would, of course, unfavorably affect the balance and flight of the projectile.

The forward open end, 2, Fig. 2, of the jacket H being fitted closely within the rearward end 3 of the point-case l), when the bullet is going at high velocity and the point 4 meets any Aconsiderable resistance, the said jacket end 2 operates within the case-point and at first, after the manner of a piston, and thus vtends to forcethe flowable-metal, at C', in the bullet-poilnt forward and outwardly by this Huid-like ac- `tion. Also, and at the same time, the forward outer zone at 2 of the tube t of the jacket, especially when made somewhat tapering as illustrated, naturally operates as a wedge to assist in effecting or inaugurat ing an initial expansive movement in the rearward part of the said point-case. These initial features of the mushrooming operation, tend to open out the point-case approximately after the manner indicated in the diagran'i, Fig. 3, and thereby form an annular outlet at 7, through which the inner metal may flow out, and thus permit a continuance (under a reducing speed) of the forward movement of the jacket H during the upsetting of the point caseby the resistance at 4. Thus, at one vstage of the operation, the metal in, the point-core C', is resisted from the front bythe crushing in of the point 4l ofthe point-case, while being driven forward by the pressure of the filled acket l-l. During this time, as will now be evident, the point-case will normally'be rapidly expanded in advance of the 'expansion of the main core-casingvH,`into aA broader cup-shape,-or umbrella formdwhile the jacket itself is rapidly retarded in velocity.

But the jacket being of relatively stable n'ietal, while its core C is relatively fluid in character (after the manner of lead or soft alloys), this core C tends to continue its forward movement, and so flows forward and outward around the jacketend, and then backward to thus forinia substantial enlargement, or mushroom about such. for instance as described in connection with Figs. 3 and l. By reason of the described re-forming of the said point-case P,-by the opposing forces and the flowing core-metal,-into a guide-cup, as l, Fig. El. of relatively shallow form and enlarged size., the flowing stream of metal normally attains great force' during the medial stage of the expanding operation (Fig. 3), with the result that after this operation is well advanced, the forward end of the jacket itself usually and naturally will be turned outwardly by such high-pressure stream or flowage of the core-metal and then will be curled or turned backwardly (see 2, Fig. il), thereby forming an enlarged forward end on the jacket for assisting in maintaining the re-formed core-metal in a compact mass, and in driving forward this re-formed mass by the combined force oi' momentum of that mass and of the jacket, while, at the same time,- preventing the jacket from being driven through the re-foimed core-metal and thus break up the bullet or reduce the effectiveness of the action and the shock of the impact. 1n order to further insure a proper operation in these respects, the jacket Ii, (see Fig. 2) is preferably made with base portions t and k of an increased stability relatively to the stability of the forward end 2, so that the powder-pressure and the relative fiuidity of the core-metal will not deform the base of the jacket, and so that this base-portion will Stay intact and thus operate as an impelling member -for the expanded forward end 22L during the described reshaping of the same.

The advantage of a bullet having relatively large diameter, because of its greater stopping effect;7 is well-known, while the use of a small caliber to secure a long range, is nou' regarded as a necessity. It is, therefore, one object of my present invention to secure the greater -stopping effect of the larger bullet while retaining the small caliber. For this purpose the small-caliber projectile is made of` a composite construction and is so organized,as elsewhere herein explained,-that during its rapid retardation by the resistance of a target or other object, the projectile will be expanded or re-formed in a regular and effective manner into a much larger diameter. Thus, the projectile acts at first chiefiy as a piercing instrument and during retardation becomes enlarged and so exerts a more destructive pressure or force over a greatly increased area.

1n the operation of re-forhiing the projectile, this is accomplished,-as will now be evident,-by the direct-action of the target-resistance (this being applied mainly in a direction longitudinally of the core) com-- bined with the outwardly-acting fiowagepressure of the core-metal within the pointtube, this pressure being, of course, developed by the target-resistance in proportion to the momentum and rate of retardation.

-base-tube,-is simultaneously re-formed, or

transformed, intol a bullet-head of ,larger diameter located forwardly of the base-tube,

and is supported by and against the original i point-tube now yout-spread as a' backin therefor. In practice the metal-status an( the proper proportioning of the point-tube may be readily ascertained and brought to a proper relation by-the usual methods of trial and measurement, having in View the size and weight of the projectiles and the forward by its own momentuml it is also being drawn forward (by means of said integral connection) by the pull of the said outwardly moving core-metal; thus the continuity of the core-metal in a single elongated core coperates with other features, during the rapid retardation of the projectile by target-resistance, in securing the complete and proper reformation, or transforming, of the small-diameter small arms projectile into the enlarged form as herein set forth. And in this transforming of the entire elongated core into a broadened bullet-head, metal is supplied to the forming head at the rearward side thereof by drawing such supply from within the rearward part of the core-case, this action normally occurring during the later stage of the outspreading of the point-portion of the main core-casing.

When the several members are organized in the particular manner herein illustrated, one feature of the operation, when the projectile strikes the target, is a telescoping action which takes place in the multi-part core-inclosing casing. This casing,-com prising a rearward casing member as H, and

a forward casing-member as 1) (see Fig.

2),-lias the further feature that from the point i and going rearwardly therefrom, its component members have an increasing resistance to reformation by pressure from within. These features being associated in one combination, results in a complex and progressive action, whereby the initial expanding of the forward part C of the core is regulated by the telescoping feature, and whereby the expandingaction is finally extended to nearly or substantially the whole mass of the projectile. For further modifying and regulating these functions and results, the core-casing may in some instances be made up of a plurality of more than two sie members, one such arrangement being shown in Fig. 7, in which the base member H and the point member P are joined through the intermediate band or ring P2. When the member PZ is made to have a low resistance and is made of ductile metal, it is evident the iowage of the core-metal will be regulated in a modied manner. In effect, the parts P and P2 constitute one multi-part point-case, as regards the combinations specifying a two-part core-casing.

In applying my present improvements to the particular kind of expandible projectile shown in the drawing, I prefer to make such a reduction in diameter of the forward end of the main core-container or core-case H, as will bring the cross-sectional area at th'e telescoping zone 2, to a substantially smaller size, preferably about one-half of the area of the base-portion of said main-core casing. These approximate proportions, when taken in connection with the substantially conical construction of the telescoping portions of said members H and P in said zone 2, and in connection with a relatively high resistance to deformation of the member H and the relatively low resistance to deformation of the member P,-especially when the elongated soft-metal or fiowable core C is made of lead or of an alloy nearly all lead,-result in a mode of action which I find, in practice, to be particularly reliable and regular under service conditions. Also, in this style of elongated projectile, I make the casing H substantially double the length of the point-case P, while the member P is about or substantially one-half the total length of the reduced or curved point-part, this extending from the projectile point 4 rearwardly to about 8, near the middle of the member H. Thus, in this preferred specific construction, the point-case P extends back to the middle of, or about midway of the point-curve, or point-portion as indicated by the line 2-3, Fig. l, and at that point or zone has about one-half (preferably from forty to sixty one-hundredths) the cross sectional area of the rearward end of the casing H. In some cases, however, the point-curve may be from one-half to three-fourths the length of the projectile, and the two parts of the core-casing may join where the crosssectional area of the projectile is substantially smaller than the base portion thereof. This construction gives favorable ratios as between the several members and their principal dimensions, and secures a proper balance of the projectile, while giving suitable proportions for the flowable core and providing for a sufficient expansion which will begin in a proper location and thence proceed in a relatively regular and uniform manner. In some instances, the elongated point-portion, as from 4 to 8, Fig. 2, may be conical or ellipsoidal, or be of a variable curvature, but I prefer a substantially circular curvature, about such as illus; trated in the drawing, unless the projectile shall be made of a different style or considerably modified in its proportions.

The forward end of the casing-part H being largely reduced as at 2, preferably to about one-half of the cross-sectional area of the base portion, 71 is so increased in resistance by this means and by the overlapping of the edge 3 of the cap P, as to delay the outward turning over of that reduced portion at 2, until a moment later than the initial expansion of the said edge-portion 3, (see Fig. 3) and until after the outflowing actioln of the core-metal has been inaugurate( flaring of its forward end, takes place con-l currently with the continued out-flowing of the core-metal, and while this metal by its outward force operates against the outspreadlng end of the casing H (see Fig. 4) to increase the area of resistance for stopping the projectile. Thus the core-metal and the casing member H are re-formed in such a manner as to have the effect of a projectile of an enlarged size. And owing to the organization set forth the projectile is adapted for effective use at widely varying ranges, and with widely varying velocities.

The particular means herein illustrated and described as being one way for securing the point-cap P upon the-core C, and which consists of the holes 5, 5, in said cap and the core-metal projections extruded from the core and filling said openings, constitutes in part the subject-matter of a separate application, concurrently pending herewith, and to which reference may be had.

Havlng thus described my invention, I claim l: In an expandible projectile, the combinatlon of a two-part telescoping core-casing having a point-case extending rearwardly outside of the forward end of a main corecasing and a core filling the casing and having a separate interlocking engagement, rel spectively, with each part of the casing.

2. In an expandible projectile, the combination with a two-part telescoping corecasing having the forwardpart extending rearwardly outside of the rearward part and arranged for expansion in advance of the rearward part, of a core filling the casing and fixedly-connected directly with each part of the core-casing, whereby the two parts of the core-casing are held assembled by the core.

3. In an expandible projectile, the combination with a tubular main core-case, of the core having its point extending beyond said core-case, and a point-case covering the corepoint and having its rearward end extending rearwardly outside the forward end of After this, the shortening of the, casing-part H by the continued outward# said main core-case, substantially as described.

t. In an expandible projectile, the combination with the soft-metal core having a body-portion and a point-portion, of a main core-case extending over the body portion of the core and having a relatively high resistanee to deformation, and a co-acting point-case covering the point-portion of the core and expandible forward of said main core-case and having a relatively low resistance to deformation.

5. In an expandible projectile, the combination with the integral soft-metal core having a body-portion and a point-portion, of the relatively high-resistance tubular casing for the main portion of the core and having a reduced forward end, and a relatively lowresistance point-case covering the point of the core and having its rearward end located in position for coacting with said reduced forward end of the high-resistance casing on the initial deformation of the core.

6. In an expandible projectile having an elongated point-portion, the combination with the core, of the main core-Case containing the rearward end of the core and eX- tending forwardly to a point about midway of such point-portion, and a point-case inclosing and thereby reinforcing the point of the core and also inclosing the forward end of said main core-case.

7. In an expandible projectile of the class described, the combination, with an integral soft-metal core, of a two-part deformable core-casing having a reduced point-'por-v tion more than one half the length of the projectile, and having the two parts of the casing with the forward part extending rearwardly outside of the forward end of the main core-casing at a point about inidway of the length of said point-portion and having said casing parts proportioned for the forward part to expand earlier than the rearward part when the metal of the core is subjected to flowage, substantially as described.

8. In an elongated projectile of the class described, the combination with a soft-metal core, of a two-part core-casing having a reduced point-portion between one-half and lthree-fourths of the length of the projectile, and having the two-parts of the casing with the forward part over-lapping outside of the rearward part, at a point about mid-way of the length' of said point-portion, and having such overlapping part located where the cross-sectional area of the core is substantially smaller than the base portion thereof.

9. In an elongated projectile, of the class described, the combination, with a softmetal core, of a two-part core-casing having a point portion between one half and three fourths the length of the projectile, and comprising a main core-casing reduced at its forward end to a cross-sectional area of or between forty and sixty per cent. of that of the base portion thereof, and a point-casing having its rearward end larger and adapted for overlapping the reduced forward end of said main core-casing, whereby said casing members, when the projectile is expanded by a target resistance, have in connection with the flowing metal of the core, a telescoping co-action which begins in a location about mid-way of the point-portion thereof.

FRANK o. HOAGLAND.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES E. CARROLL, IVM. H. SKINNER.

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