US1299869A - Gun-destroying means. - Google Patents

Description

J. A. STEINMETZ.

GUN DESTROYING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I4. 1913.

1 ,299,869. Patented Apr. 8,1919.

JosephflSteirzmetf;

be separate from the shell.

J'OSEPH A. STEINMETZ, OF PHILADELPHIA PENNSYLVANIA.

GUN-DESTROYING MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 14, 1918. Serial No. 240,020.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH A. STEINMETZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gun-Destroying Means, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a destroying shell for guns and the object of my invention is to provide a shell by which the gun, when about to be abandoned, may be destroyed beyond repair; a further object of my invention is to provide a destroying shell which may be ignited by the firing mechanism of the gun; a still further object of my invention is to provide a shell which may be safely carried upon the gun carriage and handled without danger of an explosion, as it contains no explosive charge; and a still further object of my invention is to provide a destroying shell which may be used strategically by placing one or more of said shells in an ammunition case with regular shells and placing the ammunition case upon abandoned ground, which is expected will be occupied by the enemy, and marking said case of ammunition For use with enemy guns of caliber. When the destroying shells are found by the enemy and used in their guns, destroyed.

In carrying out my invention I construct a shell or container with a charge of inflammable substance instead of a propelling charge of explosive. Thus when fired the shell will not be expelled from the gun.

The inflammable substance with which the shell or container is charged is known on the market as thermit, which is a com-' pound consisting of a mixture of aluminum and iron oxid, and is used in foundry practice for welding. Thermit may be ignited by an electric spark, black powder or special powder and on reaction produces superheated liquid steel at'a temperature of over three thousand degrees Fahrenheit, which will melt and dissolve any metal with which it comes in contact, amalgamates with it, and when cool forms a solid homogeneous mass.

The destroying shell may be provided with a fuse or primer containing black powder or other thermit starter, or the primer may The primer is so arranged that the firing mechanism of the gun Will start it burn ng and the primer lery which, due

their guns will be shell 5 and I any will in turn ignite the thermit in the contamer or shell. The thermit, when burning, melts the metal shell and the parts of the gun with which it comes in contact and the molten metal will flow into the breech of the gun and weld the breech block fast in the gun and destroy the latter beyond repair.

Referring to the accompanying drawing; F igure 1, is a side elevation, (partly in sectlon), of a gun, showing a sheath suspended thereon containing the destroying shell; Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section through a shell containing the destroying charge; Fig. 3, is a similar view showing a different form of shell containing the destroying charge; and Fig. 4, is a perspective view of an ammunition case containing one or more destroying shells.

In the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer to like parts, 1 represents a gun, of a type of field artilto its weight, cannot be quickly conveyed to a place of safety and therefore must be destroyed in case of a sudden retreat. 2 represents a shell for destroying the gun, which shell may be carried in a sheath 3, secured in any convenient place upon the gun carriage, so that the shell will be accessible and also insure its being kept separate from the regular ammunition.

In Fig. 2, a shell of the fixed ammunition type is illustrated, in which a shell or projectile 5 is used in conjunction with the cartridge case 6, usually containing the propelling charge. In place of loading the the cartridge case 6 with the usual explosive charges, I load them with thermit 12 which is a non-explosive. The

thermit may be ignited by any standard form of primer now in use for shells, such as shown at 8, Fig. 2. Said primer contains black powder and a percussion cap adapted to be discharged by the firing mechanism of the gun.

Fig. 3, illustrates a projectile 10, without cartridge case. The projectile 10 is loaded with thermit 12 instead of a high explosive. An aperture 13 is provided in the base of the shell 10 for igniting the thermit 12 in the shell 10. An inflammable cap or plug 14 is used for sealing the aperture 13, which cap 1 1 will be readily consumed and allow the flame from the'starting primer to pass through the aperture 13 and ignite the contents of the container,

Patented Apr. 8, 1919. I

a gas mngs may be removed from the shell,

to allow sufiicient gas to escape around the shell to prevent an excess pressure of gas being formed back of the shell.

Fig. ft, illustrates an ammunition case 16 containing one or more destroying shells along with regular shells. The said case is marked in such a manner as to deceive the enemy, by indicating thereon that the ammu- -n1tion is for use with enemy guns when captured. When this ammunition is used in their guns the guns will be destroyed.

Having thus described my invention I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent: 1. A container adapted to be placed in a gun, .a'charge of inflammable material in .said container adapted to burn with suflicient heat when ignited to destroy the gun.

2. A container adapted be placedin a V i neeasee gun, a charge of inflammable material in sald container adapted to burn with suflicient heat to destroy the gun and means .for igniting the inflamma tainer. 1

3. A container adapted to be placed in a gun, a charge of inflammable material in said container adapted to burn with sufficient heat to destroy the gun and a rlmer in said container for igniting the said inflammable charge.

4. A shell for guns, a charge of inflammable material in said shell adapted to burn material in said conwith su'flicient heat to melt the shell, and.

means for igniting, said inflammable material.

5. A shell for guns,

a non-explosive charge in said shell adapted to burn with sufiicient heat to melt the shell, and a primer in the I shell for igniting the charge in the shell.

6. A shell for guns, a charge of thermit in said shell, and means for igniting the contents of the she-l1.

7. A shell for guns, a charge of inflamm-able material in said shell consisting of aluminum and iron oxid, and means for igniting the said charge in the shell.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH A. sTEm n z.

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