US1309669A - Explosive shell - Google Patents

Description

E. S. WARD- EXPLOSIVE SHELL- APPLICATION FILED 020.3. 1911.

Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ill

E. S. WARD.

EXPLOSIVE SHELL.

APPLICATION men nsc.3. 1911.

dno'nmz up Patented July 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 lm/ mesa EDWARD S. WARD, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

ExPLosIvE SHELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 3, 1917. Serial No. 205,164.

To all whom it may concern:

1 3e it known that I, EDWARD S. WARD, a c1t1zen of the' United States, residing at SanJose, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented a new and useful Explosive Shell, of which the follow- 7 ing is a specification.

The subject of this invention is an ex- 7 plosive shell and the objects of the invention are, first, to provide a shell which will cut wire and like obstructions with which it comes in contact, second, to provide a shell which may be exploded to scatter smaller explosive shells or bombs, and liquid fire, third, to provide a shell which will produce two separate and distinct main explosions, fourth, to provide means for firing the shell by fuse or fulminating cap, fifth, to provide means for converting the shell to a signaling or illuminating shell, sixth, to provide a simple, durable, and eflicient explosive shell. j

ith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as'the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter de scribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a View in elevation of the device as the same appears when not in use;

-Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the shell with the safety cap removed;

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4.-4 of Fig. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary v1ew 1n longitudinal section showing the shell equipped as an illuminating shell;

Fig. 6 is a sectional the illuminant;

Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of a modified form of tip for the shell;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectlon of the View of the holderfor same shown applied to the tip of a shell, a fragment of which shell is shown.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference In carrying out the invention, a cartridge 10 is provided in the closed or headed end of which may be secured a cap 11 for the purpose of igniting the powder 12 with which the cartridge is packed.

Within the cartridge 10, and upon the powder 12 is forced a wad or partition 13 which is formed with a centrally disposedflash hole covered with paper 14 or other easily ruptured material. Upon the wad 13 is placed a layer of powder 15 and the cylinder 16 is then forced into the cartridge with its fuse 17 embedded in the powder 15. The fuse 17 projects through a suitable central aperture formed in the head of cylinder 16 and communicates with the powder 18 with which the cylinder is packed.

Embedded in the powder 18 within cylinder 16 are vials 19, herein shown as four in number, which contain highly inflammable and explosive chemicals of any preferred composition. When the cylinder 16 is exploded by ignition of the powder 18 these vials are broken and their contents scattered and ignited by the powder causing liquid fire to be projected'in all directions.

Also embedded in the powder 18 are a desired number of shells or bombs 20, only one being shown herein. These bombs 20 are of any convenient form and consist of the usual shell or casing which contains some high explosive and which are provided with fuses 21 which are ignited by the exploding powder 18.- The cylinder is threaded onto .the reduced rear end of the forward section of the shell or projectile.

This forward portion 22 of the shell has helical grooves 23 formed thereabout so' that the section resembles a twist drill.

A head 24 closes the rear end of the section 22 to which it is secured by screw bolts 25. The bolts 25 are formed with central longitudinal bores through which project the fuses 26. These apertured bolts may be of any desired number and the fuse of each bolt communicates with a longitudinal duct 27 formed at intervals inthe section 22, and serves to convey a spark from the powder 18 to the inflammable material in its duct 27 i The ducts 27 lead to suitable magazines Patented July 15, 1919. p

or explosive chambers 28 in which high explosives are confined for the purpose of rending the section 22 at the proper time.

The section 22- is formed with a central longitudinal bore and is counter sunkat the rear end to provide a chamber 29. A firing pin or rod 30 extends through the central bore and is provided with a head 31 at its forward end. A washer 32 of lead or other soft metal surroundsthe pin 30 between the head 31 and the nipple 33 formed at the forward end of the section 22.

The pointed end of the firing pin is lo cated within the chamber 29 and upon the pin within this chamber is secured a collar 34. This collar 34 serves as an abutment for one end of a compression spring 35 which is located within the chamber 29 and surrounds the pin 30 and the other end of which abuts the disk or head 24.

The head 24 has a central boss 36 extending into the chamber 29 and through this boss and disk extends a flash hole communicating with the cylinder 16 and its powder 18. A fulminating cap 37 may be placed in position to fire through the flash hole and ignite the powder 18.

A cufi' 38 may be placed over the end of the shell fitting snugly on the nipple 33 and inclosing the end 31 to protect the device from accidental explosion. This cufl' is removed when the shell is to be placed in a gun and fired.

When it is desired to fire the shell by the fuse only, a cap 39 may be secured on the front end of'the device, that is on the nipple 33. While this cap may. be of any approved form it is here shown as cylindrical,

with a tapering or conical end and'provided with longitudinal grooves 40.

In Figs. 5 and 6 are shown a device which may be used when the shell is used for illuminating or signaling purposes.

In this instance there is embedded in the powder 18 within shell 16 a dart which consists of a cup or container 41 in which is a cork or suitable buoyant material 42. With in the container may be placed the illuminating substance 43, and, if desired, a slgnaling device such as the Roman candle 44 may be secured in and project from the 1lluminating substance.

The wick of the Roman candle or the fuse ofthe illuminating substance is embedded in the powder 18 so that such fuse or wick may become ignited when the cylinder is exploded by ignition of the powder therein. 7

Extending from the center of the bottom of the container or cup 41 is a tubular stem 45 to the end' of which is secured an enlarged member or weight 46 which may be provided with a spur 47. The tubular stem 45 may be filled with explosive and the weight 46 may also have a chamber for explosive as shown,

' the cork 42 and is ignited by which preferably is in communication with the tubular stem. This explosive may be ignited by a fuse 48 which extends through the illuminant or the Roman candle, as the case may be.

In practice the cufi 38 is removed and the shell loaded into a gun in the usual "way. When the shell is fired, the fuse 17 will be lgnited by the powder 15' and so be ready to ignite the explosive in the cylinder at the proper time.

The shell in its flight from the gun is given the usual rotary movement about its longitudinal axis. This movement will cause the sharp edge of the grooves 23 to cut wire or the like entanglements with which the shell may come in contact.

When the shell strikes'an object offering resistance, the firing pin is forced rearwardly, (the washer 32 being mashed by the impact) to fire the fuhninating cap andignite the explosive in the cylinder. Should the firing pin fail to act. the fuse 17 will ignite the explosive.

When the cylinder explodes, the action hereinbefore described takes place.

When used for illuminating or signaling the fuse may be timed to explode the cylinder while the shell is in flight.

Explosion of the cylinder releases the Sig.-

naling device which descends point down on account of the weight 46 and is supported in an upright position after striking by the point or spur 47 entering the soil. Should this device fall in water it will still remain in proper position, the cork 42 being sufiicient to floatthe device while the weight 46 holds it in upright position. 7

After the Roman candle has expended its energy and the illuminant has burned out, the fuse burns down and sets ofl the explosive in the tubular stem 45 and weight 46 thereby destroying them.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and sought by Letters Patent is 1. A projectile, including a cylinder, explosive in the cylinder, a signaling device embedded in the explosive, means for igniting the explosive to rupture the cylinder and discharge the signaling device and means for destroying the signaling device.

2. A projectile includinga cutting member, explosives in the cuttingmember, a cylinder secured to the cutting member, explosives in the cylinder, means for igniting the explosive in the cylinder to rupture the cylinder, and means, ignited by the explosive in the cylinder, for igniting the explosive in the cutting member to rupture said member.

3. A projectile including a cutting member, explosives in the-cutting member, a cylinder secured to the cutting member, explosivesin the cylinder, a cartridge embracing the cylinder, explosive in the cartridge In testimony that I claim the foregoing as for expelling the projectile, means for ignitmy own, I have hereto aflixed my signature ing the explosive in the cylinder, to rupture in the presence of two witnesses.

the cylinder, and-means, ignited by the ex- I EDWARD S. WARD. plosive in the cylinder for igniting the ex- Witnesses:

plosive in the cutting member to rupture said WM. F. Foss,

memiber. J OHN E. HoHAM.

Images