US2741594A

US2741594A - Apparatus for electrolytically penetrating shell casings

Info

Publication number: US2741594A
Application number: US154122A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles F Bowersett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-04-05
Filing date: 1950-04-05
Publication date: 1956-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 1973-04-10

Description

Apnl 10, 1956 c. F. BOWERSETT 2,741,594

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROLYTICALLY PENETRATING SHELL CASINGS Filed April 5, 1950 IN VEN TOR. CHARLES E BOWERSE TT United States APPARATUS FOR ELECTROLYTICALLY PENETRATING SHELL CASINGS Charles F. Bowersett, Laurel, Md. Application April 5, 1950, Serial No. 154,122

3 Claims. (Cl. 204-212) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), see. 266) This invention relates generally to metal cutting apparatus and more particularly to the new and improved electrolytically penetrating the hardened casings of explosive filled shells, or the like, for the purpose of removing therefrom their explosive filling without detonating or firing the explosive filling.

The operation of dismantling recovered enemy projectiles for the purpose of analyzation and study has always been a precarious and highly dangerous procedure and particularly so since the development of fuzing mechanisms adapted to explode the shell if an attempt is made to remove the fuze therefrom.

It has been found, however, that much of the danger involved in dismantling projectiles of the explosive type may be obviated if prior to an attempt to extract the fuze therefrom,'the explosive filling of the shell is first removed. The removal of the explosive from a shell has been done heretofore by first producing an opening in the shell casing adjacent the explosive filling and through which steam or boiling water is then admitted under pressure to wash from the shell the now molten exploslve.

The procedure of penetrating a projectile, for the purpose indicated, has been done most frequently heretofore by either of two methods: by drilling, when penetrating projectiles of the soft or mild steel variety, or by grinding when opening projectiles of the hardened armor piercing type. By either of the methods indicated considerable heat is generated along the cutting edge of the tool and, even though liquid coolants may be directed continuously against the surface being cut, explosions have frequently occurred as the result of either heat or sparks being produced as the tool bites through the last remaining portion of the shell and penetrates the explosive filling thereof.

A further disadvantage of conventional methods of cutting hardened projectile shells is the ditficulty in producing therein an opening of sufficient size that, after the remoyal of the explosive therefrom, access is had to the booster charge of the fuze which should likewise be removed prior to any attempt to extract the fuze and thus forego the possibility of ignition of the booster which could very effectively so damage the control mechanisms of the fuze as to render it of little or no value as a source of military information.

The apparatus provided by the present invention for cutting explosive filled shells, or the like, includes an arrangement for rotating the projectile to be cut about its longitudinal axis and concurrently therewith directing thereagainst from a plane perpendicular to this axis a plurality of high velocity jets of negatively charged electrolytic fluid thereby to cause an electrolytic erosion of the surface of the shell along a line drawn through the points of contact therewith of the jets and thus to sever the shell as the erosion thereof penetrates to the explosive filling without detonation of the same.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an cally cutting an explosive filled projectile, or the like, by

applying a stream of negatively charged electro-conductive fluid to a circumferential portion thereof.

A still further object is to provide a metal cutting apparatus wherein a positive voltage is applied to the part being cut and a negatively charged electrolyte is directed at high velocity thereagainst.

A still further object is to sever an explosive filled shell by applying a negatively charged electrolyte thereagainst at high velocity while the shell is continuously rotating.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein the single figure thereof is a plan view in section of the cutting apparatus of the present invention according to a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown thereon a device suitable for use with the present invention, the device including an open end tank, generally designated 5, adapted to receive and retain a copious quantity of liquid 14 such, for example, as brine or a solution of acid or the like and having the required electrolytic char-' acteristics for the purpose intended.

Centrally arranged within the tank and extending upwardly from the thickened base portion 6 thereof to which it is secured as by brazing, welding or the like, is a vertically disposed hollow member 7 wherein is press fitted, cemented or the like, a tubular sleeve 8 composed of suitable insulating material, such, for example, as fiber impregnated plastic. Formed about the upper or free end of the hollow member 7 and preferably made integral therewith is an annular flange 9 whereon is formed an inverted conical baffle 10 the purpose of which will become clearly apparent as the description proceeds.

Closely fitted within the sleeve 8 and adapted for jour nalling therein is a shaft section 11 to which is secured for rotation thereby a mounting plate or platform 12, about a vertical axis and above the level of the fluid in the tank,.the platform being adapted to support for rotation the article to be cut, for example, the explosive filled shell or projectile 13. An insulating washer 15 interposed between the mounting plate 12 and flange 9 is so arranged as to receive therein the end of the sleeve 8 which is effective to cooperate therewith to insulate the shaft and mounting plate 12 from the hollow member 7 and tank 5 and electrolyte contained therein. Arranged about the tank is an annular conduit or header 16 from which project inwardly into the tank a plurality of pipe sections 17 equipped with jet nozzles 18; header 16, pipe sections 17 and nozzles 18 being generally disposed in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of platform 12. Fluid from the header 16 is directed by the nozzles 18 forcibly against the side of the projectile as the projectile rotates. Fluid to the header is supplied through a pipe conduit 19 leading from a high pressure pump 20 preferably of the gear type and connected with the tank by way of conduit 21 of which the end 22 thereof extends upwardly into the tank and is preferably provided with a suitable strainer 23, the pump and conduits constituting a hydraulic conduit system for supplying the fluid.

The operation of the device will now be described. The projectile 13 or similar such article to be cut is first mounted upon the plate or platform 12 in a position sub- Patented Apr. 10, 1956 tantially centrally thereof so that the axis of the proectile'is substantially coincident with the axis of rotation )f the platform, whereby the position of the projectile vill tremain substantially equidistant from the nozzles 18 pleted from the positively energized projectile-to thenega :ively charged nozzles 18 by way of the fluid streams or lets 30 thereby to effect an electrolytic action .or galvanic erosion of the shell surface along the line 31 correspondinglto the point of intersection of the charged electrolyte. emitted .athi'gh'velocity from each 'of the nozzles. The back gear assembly generally designated 32 and preferably formed as an integral part of the motor generator unit 26 is shown as connected with the shaft section 11 as by the belt and pulley arrangement 33 and 34 respectively, that during the interval of the cutting operation of the device, the object being cut is rotated between the, concentrated jets 30 whereby an annular groove 31 is .cut in this manner through the metallic casing of the shell to the explosive filling thereof whereupon the casing isseparated and the explosive therein may thereafter be removed safely. V

The cutting efiect of the apparatus is greatly facilitated 4 3 h were of. h a en e practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The invention described hereinmay be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes Without payment of any royalty thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United Statesisa 1. Apparatus of the character disclosed for cutting an explosive filled metallic shell comprising, in combination, a tank containing a quantity of electrolytic fluid, a platform mountedfor'rotation in saidtank about an-axis and above the level of the fluid, said platform being adapted by the arrangementand force of the liquid streams or'jets against the surface being cut by applying thereto a scrubbing action to removeas it is formed the oxide resulting from the galvanic erosion of the metallic casing of the .shell. 7 V v The arrangementof the end of the baffie 10in close but spaced adjacency with a depending flange portion 36 of .the mounting plate 12 prevents spattering of the electrolyte. from the tank to the'surface of the insulating Washer 15 which would consequently reduce its dielectric characteristics.

T he spattering 37 of the electrolyte from the shell due to the velocity with which it strikes the surface thereof after being directed thereagainst by the nozzles 18, so breaks up the liquid particles as to prevent an effective electrical circuit being established between the shell and tarikas the electrolyte returns to the latter after performingfitscuttingoperation upon the shell. Ina similar manner the liquid falling to the surface of the plate 12 is thrown. therefrom in a discontinuous stream or spray:38 as the plate is rotated during the cutting operation of the device.

Wherein as in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the electrolyte emitting nozzles are shown in; a

single .plane it will be understood that this has been done for the purpose of description only and that the nozzles may be arranged, if desired, in different planes Without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

The present invention may further be advantageously employed for cutting a hole or a plurality of holes in metallic plates or the like, ,it being-only necessary to stop rotation of the platform 12 as by removal of the belt 33 effective to connect the driving'pulley of the shaft 11 with the backgear assembly 32' forming a part of the m otor g enerator unit 26. 1

Obviously many other modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within to support said shell with the axis of the'shell substantiallycoincident with said axis of rotation of the-platform, a plurality of jet nozzles arranged around said shell and disposed in a planenormal to 'said axis of rotation and directed toward the shell, a hydraulic system including a pump for conducting 'fluid from said tank and forcing the .same through said nozzles as high velocity jets which impinge upon said shelhmea'ns electrically insulating said platform-from, said tank, and electrical means for apply ing'concurrently a positive voltage to said platform and a negative voltage to said tank whereby the-shell is positively charged and the jets of fluid forced from the nozzles are negatively charged and electrolytic action occurs v along a line where the plane of the jet nozzles intersects the surface. of the shell as the shell is rotated 'to cut through the same without firing said explosive.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which ofrolationof the platform is vertically disposed.

.3. Apparatus ofthe characterdisclosed forcutting an explosive filled metallic shell comprising, in combination,

a tank containing a quantity of electrolytic fluid, .said tank having a horizontally disposed bottom, a vertical hollow membercentrally arranged in'said tank and passing upwardlythiou gh saidbottomto. a point above the level of the fluid, a tubular sleeve composed of insulating I material 'andfittedwithin said member, a rotatable shaft journalled in said sleeve and extending upwardly beyond said rne mbe na horizontal platform secured to the upper end of-saidv "shaft, a washer of insulating material be tween said member and said platform, said platform being adaptedv to support said shell for rotation with the axis of, the .shellsubstantially coincident with the axis of said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a plurality of jet nozzles mounted on said tank and arranged around said shell, said nozzles beingdirected toward said shell and disposed'in .a plane perpendicular to the axis thereof, a conduitv system connected to said nozzles and the bottom of said tank, said system including a pump for drawing fluid from the tank and forcing the same through; the noz 'zles. as high velocityjets which impinge upon the shell,

and an. electrical circuit. connected to said shaft and said;

tank and having means for applying a positive voltage to the shell through the shaft and platform as -the shell rotates andfor applying a negative voltage to the fluid through said tank whereby the shell is severed by electrolytic action without firing said explosive.

References Cited in the file ofithis patent UNITED STATESPATENT-S Engle Sept. 18,

sh ms t qnma b r the axis

Claims

1. APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DISCLOSED FOR CUTTING AN EXPLOSIVE FILLED METALLIC SHELL COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A TANK CONTAINING A QUANTITY OF ELECTROLYTIC FLUID, A PLATFORM MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN SAID TANK ABOUT AN AXIS AND ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE FLUID, SAID PLATFORM BEING ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAID SHELL WITH THE AXIS OF THE SHELL SUBSTANTIALLY COINCIDENT WITH SAID AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE PLATFORM, A PLURALITY OF JET NOZZLES ARRANGED AROUND SAID SHELL AND DISPOSED IN A PLANE NORMAL TO SAID AXIS OF ROTATION AND DIRECTED TOWARD THE SHELL, A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM INCLUDING A PUMP FOR CONDUCTING FLUID FROM SAID TANK AND FORCING THE SAME THROUGH SAID NOZZLES AS HIGH VELOCITY JETS WHICH IMPINGE UPON SAID SHELL, MEANS ELECTRICALLY INSULATING SAID PLATFORM FROM SAID TANK, AND ELECTRICAL MEANS FOR APPLYING CONCURRENTLY A POSITIVE VOLTAGE TO SAID PLATFORM AND A NEGATIVE VOLTAGE TO SAID TANK, WHEREBY THE SHELL IS POSITIVELY CHARGED AND THE JETS OF FLUID FORCED FROM THE NOZZLES ARE NEGATIVELY CHARGED AND ELECTROLYTE ACTION OCCURS ALONG A LINE WHERE THE PLANE OF THE JET NOZZLES INTERSECTS THE SURFACE OF THE SHELL AS THE SHELL IS ROTATED TO CUT THROUGH THE SAME WITHOUT FIRING SAID EXPLOSIVE.