US1367464A

US1367464A - Explosive shell

Info

Publication number: US1367464A
Application number: US234975A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert N Cook
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1918-05-16
Filing date: 1918-05-16
Publication date: 1921-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1938-02-01

Description

R. N. 100K. EXPLOSIVE SHELL.

APPLICATION H LED MAY 16. 19I8.

1,367,464. Patented Feb.- 1, 1921.-

WITNESSES INVENTOR ROBERT N. COOK, F AS?INWAI .|L, PENNSYLVANIA.

nxrLosIvE SHELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Application filed May 16, 1918. Serial No. 234,975.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BonnnrN. CooK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Asginwall, in the county of Allegheny and specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in explosive projectiles, of the general class adapted to be propelled to any deslred point, and to be exploded by ignltlon of a time fuse. The device is adapted and intended for use in connection with a firing gun of suitable design and proportions, generally similar to the usual breech loadlng rifle or shot gun, but of a gage sufiiclently large to admit of the insertion in the breech of the entire projectile and its cartrldge shell.

The device, in its entirety, comprises acartridge shell containing a sufiicient amount of explosive material as powder, and the projectile itself, interfitting with the shell, and adapted to be propelled by discharge of the cartridge through the barrel of the gun as directed toward any point of use, the projectile itself containing a time fuse wh1ch 1s ignited by the primary cartridge dlscharge, and a priming and a main body of explos ve substance adapted to explode the projectile in the manner of such devices, or similar to shrapnel shells.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of the invent10n:

Figure l is a central longitudinal sectional view of the entire projectile, of substantially full size;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line II II of Fig. l; and

l ig. 3 is a sectional partial detail view similar to Fig. l but showing a modified construction.

In the drawings, 2 is the cartridge shell adapted to be inserted in the breech of the firing gun and fired in the usual way by primer 3. 4 is the shell itself comprlsing a hollow casing, the walls of which are sufiiciently thin and of a suitable material adapting it to be broken into a number of fragmentary pieces upon internal explosion. If desired, the shell may be grooved or weakened in any suitable manner, as indicated at 6, as is customary in devices of this type whereby to facilitate its separation into small fragments upon explosion.

The rear end of the shell is in interfitting telescoping engagement with the outer end of shell 2, as indicated at 5, so that when assembled the entire device resembles an ordinary cartridge, and is adapted to fit within the breech and barrel of the firing gun. The

other end of the shell 4 may, if desired, be rounded as shown, or shaped in any other.

suitable manner. The ends of the device are closed'by

terminal walls

7, and 8 respec-.

in the rear head 8 by screw threaded engage.

ment, as at 10, and a turning head '11 with an intervening packing gasket 12 of asbesto or other suitable material. I -.;-Tube 9 provides by its centralopening for a priming charge 13,, of suitable, explosive material, as powder, and an igniting fuse 1a extends from the rear end of the shell forwardly and terminates at any desired point, depending upon the length of the fuse and the desired time of explosion.

The forward terminal of the fuse extends into the priming charge 13 and its other terminal extends into the contents of cartridge shell 2, whereby it is immediately ignited upon explosion of the powder, or other charge therein.

The main interior body of the shell is filled with a highly explosive material 15, as powder, dynamite, T. N. T., or other suitable substance, and this main charge is ignited by the priming charge 13 through the inner terminal opening'of the tube 9, which is temporarily closed bya thin cap 16 of lead or tin. The main explosive charge 15 is inserted within the shell through a central opening at its outer end, which is then closed by a screw plug 17.

Said plug is centrally hollow and is provided with a spring 18 and a terminal disk 19 retained in position by turned over lugs 20 of the plug shell. The object of such construction is to provide a resilient compensation for internal expansion, the device also providing in itself a separable shrapnel element upon explosion.

In Fig. 3 I show a modified construction in which the tube 9 is provided with a very thin wall portion 21, as by grinding the tube at one side, providing a weakened portion which will be blown out upon ignition ofthe explosive 13 and exploding the main charge 15 when ignited by the fuse 14*. Such modification may be used either with or without the temporary closing cap 16 as desired.

With either construction, upon firing the shell, the time fuse, of suitable length, will effect explosion of the priming and main charges at the desired time limit, whereupon, the shell will be exploded at the time and location intended. 'lhe matter of locating the point of discharge of the shell is greatly facilitated, and its range of travel is much amplified,and accuracyof placement is practically insured, by making it'in the manner described, so that it can be fired from a gun in the manner of an ordinary bullet or other projectile. The gun itself may be of simple, light, and easily portable construction, and needs no further description.

The shell may be made of any desired or suitable dimensions, design, or quality of material, adapting it to its intended use, and may be furnished with time fuses of varyin length, suitably indicated on the shell itself so as to adapt it to selective use at different ranges.

The invention may be variously changed and modified by the skilled mechanic in different details of construction, design or other features, but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

hat I claim is 1. In combination, a main explosive shell having its interior surface provided with series of weakening grooves for facilitating explosive fracture of the main shell, :1. breech shell telescopically engaging the main shell and provided with a main propelling charge and an igniting cap, a fuse conduit extending from the interior of the breech shell to the interior of the main shell having within its rear portion a fuse and within its forward portion a primary explosive charge, and a conmpensator in the main shell.

2. In an explosive projectile, a main explosive shell having aniexplosive charge and a terminal closure provided with an elastic compensator, a firing breech shell having a propelling charge, a conduit extending from the breech shell charge to the explosive shell charge having a priming charge, and a fuse adapted to ignitesaid priming charge from the breech shell charge.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ROBERT N. COOK.