US1516343A - Method and apparatus for unloading high-explosive shells - Google Patents

Description

1 9 Nov. 31.44

T. F. KNIGHT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELLS Filed June 13 1924 INVENTOR, Thomas Fl lfmy/zt.

ATTORNEY-5 I/ll/l/oI/Vlllll mercial Patented Nov. 18, 1924.

1,516,343 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS KNIGHT, OF LYNDHURST, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO COLUMBIA SALVAGE I CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HETEOD'AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING HIGH-EXPLOSIVE SHELLS.

Application filed June 18, 1924. Serial No. 719,767.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. KNIGHT, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of Lyndhurst, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Unloading High-Explosive Shells (Case No. 14), of which the following is a specification.

The main object of this invention is to provide a new and useful .method and apparatus for unloading high-explosive shells and separating and recovering the materials forming the high-explosive charge. It is necessary that the entire high-explosive charge be removed from the shells in order that the empty shells may be safely melted or reduced in a blast furnace or otherwise. These shells are of high quality steel and are valuable provided the explosive charge is entirely removed. When the high-exp1o-- sive charge is a mixture of several diiferent kinds of material it is'desirable to separate those materials after the charge has been removed from the shell, in order to render such materials separately available for comurposes. Y

A hig -explosive shell for artillery use consists, ordinarily, of a hollow steel shell filled with a charge of high explosive. The.

shell is usually pointed at one end, and said pointed end is known as the nose. In the nose is formed a longitudinally extending threaded aperture in which is screwed a flange adapter ring, said ri g carrying a booster casing which extends into the shell and contains the so-called booster charge.

The fuse, or fuse stock, is screwed into the adapter ring and this also carries a small charge of explosive within the booster casmg. A great many of these high explosive shells are charged with amatol. Amatol is a mixture of ammonium nitrate and trinitrotoluol (TNT) in proper proportions. It 18 fluid or semi-fluid at certaln temperatures and may be readil poured into-the shell. It cools and solidil ies within the shell and becomes a substantially solid mass of material which complletely fills the entire shell except for a sma space at the nose, which is designed to receive the booster casin Other similar hi h explosives are used, suii as pure TNT. e main purpose of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for safely, completely and quickly removing the amatol from the shells and separating it into TNT and ammonium nitrate. The process is also adapted for use in removing TNT and other similar high explosive charges from shells.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation, partly in section, of an apparatus for carrying out the invention;

Fig. 2 an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig.3 a detail side elevation of one of the spray nozzles of the apparatus; and

' Fig. 4 a view showing the lower end of the spray nozzle.

In carrying out this invention the adapter ring and the booster casing are first removed thereby leaving the threaded aperture in the nose of the shell open so that access ma be had therethrough to the interior of the s ell. When the booster casing is removed the booster cavity in the explosive charge is open to and axially in line with the threaded ap- .each' of the openings '2 1n the'plank is fitted the lower end of a vertically disposed c lin drical casing 3. The casing 3 is in the orm of a pipe union and is provided intermediate its length with oppositely extending branches 4 and 5 of relatively small diameter. The branches 4 and 5 are adapted to 'rest upon the upper face of the plank 2 and hold the-casing in place within the hole 2. The lower end of the casing is closed by a threaded plug 6'and the'u per end. of the casing is open 'and-adapte to receive and *snugly engage the tapered end of a shell and support the said shell in an upright position with its lower end extending down mto the casing. A steam sup 1y pipe 7 extends. longitudinally beneath t esupporting plank 1 and said pipe has a series of steam et nozzles 8 extending upwardly therefrom. Each of the nozzles 8 extends upwardly through an opening in the center of the casin plug 6 into the casing and has its upper end open and disposed in vertical. alinement with theopen end of a shell when the shell is supported by the casing. A tubular spray nozzle 9 is disposed within the casing 3 with its lower end surrounding the upper end of above the upper end of the easing into thethe steam jet nozzle 8 and resting upon the plug 6, and with its upper end extending booster cavity of the 'shell for substantially the length of the said cavity. 1 The spray nozzle 9 rests loosely upon the plug 6 and may be readily removed from the casing to give access to the jet nozzle 8 or to clean the spray nozzle. While the casings 8 are shown and described as mounted upon a plank, it is obvious that other suitable means for supporting the casings could be used.

The openings through the branches 1 and 5 of the casing 3 arespaceda material. distance above the bottom of the casing formed by the plug 6 and also above the upper end of the steam jet nozzle 8. A well which is adapted to contain li uid is thus formed in the casing below the ranch 4. The spray nozzle 9 is materially larger in diameter than the steam jet nozzle which it surrounds and is formed at its lower end with apertures or notches 10 through which the liquid in the well is adapted to circulate. The .branch 4 provides an overflow for the well and governs the height of the liquid level therem. When the liquid rises to thelevel of the branch 4 the upper end of the steam jet nozzle within the spray nozzle will be submerged with liquid to the properdepth. A pipe 11' leads downwardly from the branch 4 of each of the casings 3 and connects with an inclined drain ipe 12 empties into a settling tank 13. The

\ oranch 5 of each of the casings 3 connects by means ofan upwardly extendin elbow it to a-liquid supply pipe 15 Whlll leads from an elevated tank 16 and is adapted to supply liquid to the wells in the casing 3. The tank 16 is adapted to receive water from p a source, not shown, through a pipe 17, the

.I water being elevated to the tank by a suitable pump 18. The flow of water to the pump is regulated by means of a valve 19 and the flow of liquid from the tank 16 to the casings 3 is regulatedby. means-025a valve 20 in the supply pipe 15. The steam supply to the steam jet nozzles is regulated by means of a valve 21 in the steam supply 7. A branch pipe 22 leads upwardly from the pi e 7 an is adapted to supply steam to a eatingcoil 23 within the tanklti, whereby the liquid is heated before its delivery to the wells in the casings 3. The supply of steam to the heating coil 23 is regulated by .means of a valve 24 in thepipe 22. The tank 13 is connected by means of an overflow duct 25 to a second tank 26.

zles 8 blow up through the spray nozzl 9' and into the booster cavities in the ex 10 pipe 12. The 1 sive charges. Some of thesteam will be condensed and the hot water thus formed will flow down into the wells in the casin s 3..

rises therein above the steam jet nozzles S it will be blown up into the shells by the steam jets. The hot liquid thus blown up into the shells and swirled around therein by the steam will assist greatly in softening and liquefying the explosive charge. When the wells in the casing are full the surplus liquid will overflow into the pipe 12 and from thence into the tank 13. In order for the charges to be pro erly liquefied and removed from the she ls at a rapid rate it is necessary that a certain amount of moisture be delivered in the spray nozzles. If the steam that is elivered to the'jet nozizl'es is very dry the moisture will be insutficient to li uefy the charges at the proper rate. In this case liquid from the tank 16 may be supplied to the casing wells and the nozzles. Through the means of the valve 20 the deliver of liquid may be properly regulated. At tlie beginning of the operation the shell is cold, the steam condensation therein is rapid and very little or no liquid need be supplied to the nozzles but as the operation progresses the shells b come heated, there is the delivery of the proper amoimt of moisture.

The charge that falls from the shells consists oi a mixture of liquefied TNT and a solution of ammonium nitrate andwaten,

This mixture flows through the pipe-.ldljto the tanlr 13, wherein the TNT being oi greater specific gravity will be precip tated to the bottom and the ammonium nitrate sirable for commercial reasons that the ammonium nitrate solution be of a certain strength, and it may happen that owing to the delivery of too much water to the shells, through the spray nozzles or through condensation of the steam, that the strength of the solution falls below thestandard. This ditiiculty maybe readily overcome by clos ing the valve 19 in the water pipe. 17 leading the to the pump 18 and opening the valve-28 in M the pipe 2? lea ing fromthe ammonium ni- 'trate solution tank 26 to the pump. 'Ammonium nitrate solution will then be ole livered to the tank 16, where it will be heated and delivered to thecasings it and the spraynozzles in accordance with the ad j ustment of the feed valve 20. By a proper adjustment of the difi'erent valves to cut down the water supply and re-circulate the nitrate solution, as described, the strength of the solution in the tank 26 may be built up to the required degree.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for liqueiying and removing a solidified charge rom a shell, comprising a casing formed with a circular opening in its upper end and adapted to hold a shell in an upright position with its open tapered end fitting in said circular opening and extending downwardly into the casing, and an upwardly directed steam jet nozzle within the casing in vertical alinement with the open end of the shell, the casing being formed with a well in* its lower end adapted to contain liquid and formed with an overflow drain opening above the level of the upper end of the steam jet nozzle, whereby .the nozzle is adapted to be submerged by the liquid in the well.

2. An apparatus for liquefying and removing asolidified charge from a shell, comprising a casing having a circular opening in its upper end and adapted to hold a shell 111 an upright position with its open tapered end fitting in said circular opening and extending downwardly into thecasing, an upwardly .directedspray nozzle within the casing and adapted to extend upwardly into the shell through the open lower end thereof, and a steam jet nozzle extending up into the spray nozzle, the casing being formed with a well in its lower end adapted to contain liquid and formed with an overflow drain opening above the level of the upper end of the steam 'et nozzle whereby the noz- Z1618 adapted to e submerged by the liquid in the well. I

3. An apparatus for liquefying and re:

I moving a solidified charge from a shell,

comprising a casing formed with a circular opening in its upper end and adapted to hold a shell in an u right position with its open tapered end ttmg 1n said circular opemng and extendin downwardly into the casing, an upwardly irected steam jet noz zle within the casing in vertical alinement with the open end of the shell, the casin being formed with a well in its lower en adapted to contain liquid and formed with an overflow drain opening above the level of the up er end of the steam jet nozzle whereby t e nozzle is adapted to be sub-" merged by the liquid in the well, a pipe connected to the casing to supply liquid to the well, and a valve to regulate the flow of liquid through the pipe.

4. An apparatus for liquefying and removing a solidified charge froma shell, comprising a casing adapted to support ashell in an uprightpositlon with its open end ex-.

tending downwardly into the casing, an up-' I the open end of the s ell, con

body of liquid around the spray nozzle and wardly directed steam jet nozzle within the casing in vertical alinement with the open end of the shell, the casing being formed with a well in its lower end adapted to contain liquid and formed with an over-flow drain opening above the level of the upper end of the steam jet nozzle whereby the no?- zle is adapted to be sumerged by the liquid in the well, and valve controlled means for delivering liquid to the well fromeither or both of two different sources.

5. An apparatus for liquefying and removing a solidified charge from a shell,-comprising a casing adapted to support a shell in an upright position with its open end ex tending downwardly into the casing, an upwardly. directed steam jet nozzle within the casing in vertical alinement with the 'open end of the shell, a steam supply pipe connected to said nozzle, the casing hein formed with a well in its lower end adapte to contain a liquid and formed with an over-flow opening above the level of the upper end of the steam jet nozzle whereby the nozzle is adapted to be submerged by the liquid in the well, a pipe adapted to deliver liquid to the well, a valve for regulating the flow through said pipe, means foring, the lower end of said casing being closed 7 and the upper end being open and adaptedto support a shell in an upright. position with its open ta ered end fitting in said opening and exten ing downwardly into the casing a tubular spray nozzle adapted to extend upwardly from the lower closed end of the V caslng and into the loweropen end of the shell, and a steam jet nozzle extending upwardly into the casin and into the ower end of the spray nozz e, said casing being adapted to contain liquid in its lower en surrounding the steam jet nozzle and formed with a liquid supply opening and a dram opening, said dra n opening being located a 0 ve the upper end 0 the steam et'nozzle and the lower end of the spray nozzle being provided with apertures, whereby the steamjet nozzle is adapted to be submerged by li uid.

k 7. dhe method of removing a solidlfied charge of amatol from a shell consisting in lacmg the shell with its open end directed downwardly, directin maintaining said liquid at a constant level,

directing a jet of steam up through the spray nozzle and into the shell whereb the charge will drop from the shell in v e form of a spra nozzle intoti ning a small.

liquefied TNT and ammonium'nitrate solution, separatin the ammonium nitrate solution from the NT, and re-circulating separated ammonium'nitrate solution to the said blody of liquid surrounding the spray nozz e.

8. An apparatus for liquefying and re- I moving a solidified charge from a shell,

comprising means for supporting a shell in an upright position with its open end downwar asteam supply pipe, an upwardly directed steam jetnozzle in vertical alinement with the open end of the shell and connected to-the steam supply pipe, at well adapted to contain liquid surroundin the jet nozzle and adapted to permit the liquid to over-flow therefrom above the level of 'the upper end of the nozzle, and means independent of the steam jet nozzle to sup 1y liquid to the well to keep the upper end of the nozzle submerged.

9. An ap aratus for liquefyin and removing a so idified charge from a s ell, comrisin a casing 'havin a circular o enin ih its pper end and ad apted to hold shell in an upright position with its open tapered end fitting in said circular opening and extending downwardly into the casing, an upwardly directed tubular spray nozzle within the casing and adapted to extend upwardly into the shell through the open lower end thereof, and a steam jet nozzle extending up into the lower end of the spray nozzle, the easin being formed with a well in its lower en adapted to contain. liquid and formed with an over flow opening above the level of the upper end of the steam jet nozzle and the said spray nozzlebeing vmaterially larger in diameter than the jet nozzle and being loosely supported in the bottom of the well and formed with apertures at its lower end.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

. THOMAS F. KNIGHT.

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