US34242A - Improvement in shells for rifled ordnance - Google Patents

Description

CONN EL & HALL.

Shell.

Patented Jan; 28, 1862.

UNlTED STATns PATENT @rrres.

J. H. (JONNEL, OF NEWARK, AND JOIIX S. l'l'Alill, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

llVlPFlOl/EMENT IN SHELLS FOR RIFLED ORDNANCE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. ZMLQ BQ, dated January I28, 1862.

T0 ctZZ whom, it Wzay concern.-

.Be it known that we, JAMES M. Cowman, of Newark, in the county of Licking and State of Ohio, and J OHN S. HALL, of Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State aforesaid, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Explosive Projectiles for Billed Cannon; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specifieation, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a finished projectile with one half of its lead packing stripped off in order to show the construction more plainly. Fig. 2 is asection of the projectile loaded and ready to be put into the cannon. Fig. 3 is a similar section, showing the other half of the projectile without the loadingmaterial andignitingmagazine. Figs. i and 5 are implements used in filling the pro j ectile.

The same letters of reference in each of the several figures indicate corresponding parts.

Thenature of our invention consists in a novel construction of the exterior and interior of the projectile, and also in a novel ignitingmagazine combined with the same.

To enable others skilled in the arts to make and use our invention, we will proceed to describe it with reference to the drawings.

A B represent an explosive projectile made of two hollow parts, which are fitted together by means of a reduced extension, A, of the part A, and a circular extension-flange, B, of the part B, so that A slides in B, and a space, 0, exists between the facing heads or ends a b of the two parts, as shown in Figs. 2'and The part A has cireumferentially-segmental recesses or cavities D formed in it, and the part B has angular cavities E, beveled projections. F, and a continuous beveled edge, G, formed in and upon it circumferentially, as shown. The two parts thus constructed are held together by lead packing H, which is run round the extension A of part A, and round the flange B of the part B, and also run into the recesses and over the projections of said parts, as illustrated in the drawings, the lead taking the form of that part of the projectile with which it comes in contact, as illustrated at H, Fig. 1. NVhen the lead is thus made to encircle the intermediate portion of the projectile and iill the cavities, the two parts A B are tied together by it, so as not to separate .longitudinally; but while this is the case the part B B is free to slide over the part A A and under the lead packing, when the explosive action of the charge in rear of the projectile and in the cannon comes upon the spherical end of the projectile. This approximation of the part B B to the part A A causes an ex tension of the diameter of the lead, and the rifle-grooves of the cannon are filled by the lead, and the end desired-viz., a spiral mo tion of the projectile-is produced. The part A of the projectile has a cone-point, in which a screw-plug, I, screws a short distance. The chamber J terminates at said screw-plug in a shoulder, a, and at the end opposite to it in a shoulder, d, said shoulders serving as rests for a hollow open-ended tube, K, which is used to separate the contents of chamber J from an igniting magazine, K, said magazine being placed in the tube at such time as it is desired to fire the projectile from a cannon. Vl ere not this tube provided. it would be difiieult to 'insert the magazine K after the chamber J had been loaded with powder and ball. or other destructive agentssueh as sulphur, rosin, Ate-inasmuch as the magazine has closed ends, which cannot readily penetrate the mass contained in chamber J, whereas the ends O't tube K are open and any obstructing substance in the chamber can enter it, and when the tube is in place the projectile can be turned on its cone end and the substances in the tube discharged.

In the center of the end a of the part A A of the projectile a circular hole, f is formed, and directly in line with this hole another similar hole, g, is formed in the end I) of the part B B of the projectile, as shown. By means of these holes the chamber J of part A A communicates with the chamber J of the part B B, as shown.

The magazine K is made cylindrical from its front end, h, to the point h, where it abuts against the end a of the part A A of the proj ectile, and therefrom is reduced in diameter and takes a conical form, K, to its terminus, as shown. 'The communication to the magazine K is formed by means of a vent and capnipple, '13, at the end it of the magazine. The

communication between the magazine and the chamber J is effected by means of small punct- "tile', and an explosion of the cap and of the powder in the magazine takes place, and immediately the contents of chambers J J become ignited and the projectile explodes with a destructive effect.

To charge the double-chambered projectile, weunserew the plug I andinsert a funnelmouthed tube, L, through the cone end into the chamber J, and by means of this tube conduct the powder into the chamber J. Having withdrawn the tube, we introduce a guide-rod, M, into the chamber J, the small tenon Z thereon entering the central opening, f, and the enlargement m entering the recessed ring formed by shoulder d. WVe then charge the chamber J with powder, and-if balls are to be introduced move the stem of the rod to one side of the screw-plug hole, so as to make room for their passage. The tube K is next slipped over the rod into chamber J, its rear end finding a rest within the recess formed by the shoulder d,

and its front end in the fuse-hole c, as shown in Fig. 3. i In this condition, and the screwplug replaced, the projectiles are transported. \Vhen the projectiles are to be fired, the magazine K is inserted through the screwplug hole and the screw-plug replaced, as shown in Fig. 2.

Instead of filling the chamber J first, the powder may be introduced at about the same time that the magazine is adjusted to its place.

In molding the shells or projectiles, it may be found beneficial to bevel the shoulders s s in the manner shown by red dotted lines If t, so that the lead packing will hug the cast metal more securely, or to provide wrought-iron dowels r 1', as shown in red, so that the tendency of the lead to strip shall be prevented.

It is obvious that the peculiar circumferential configuration of the projectile at the points where the lead packing is applied serves the I twofold purpose of enabling the lead to hold the two parts of the projectile together longitudinally, and of preventing the lead slipping round on the projectile at the time that the spiral grooves of the rifledcannon are being impressed into its circumference.

IVe do not claim under the first clause of our claim any one of the elements therein named, separately considered and used; nor do we claim under the second clause of our claim a tube which has one or both of its ends closed and arranged other wise than herein described and shown; nor do we claim under the third clause of our claim a trail-magazine, except when combined with a double-chambered projection; nor do we claim under the fourth .clauseof .ourclaima sliding :magazine with cap-nipple, except when combined with a hollow explosive projectile constructed substantially as specified; but

That we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The explosive projectile made oftwo hollow parts, A A B B, which are fitted together so that a space, 0, exists between their facing ends a I) and the part A A, having circumferentially-segmental cavities D, and the part .B B, having angular cavities E, beveled projections F, and a beveled continuous circumferential edge, G, and the whole being encircled and held together by a lead packing-ring, H, in the manner and for the purposes herein de scribed.

2. Constructing the interior of one portion of the projectile with a front and rear rest or shoulder, 0 (Z, and arranging in or against the same an open-ended hollow tube, K, for the purpose of separating the contents of the eham bear J from theigniting-1nagazine K, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with the shoulders e (Z and tube K, providing a central opening, 1', in the end a of the part A A, and a similar hole, 9, in the end Z) of part B B, and arranging an igniting-magazine, K K, Within the hollow tube K and in the openings 7" g, in the manner and for the purpose herein described.

4-. The combination of a sliding ignitingmagazine with the hollow explosive projectile, substantially as and for the purposes herein described.

\Vitness our hands and seals, in the matter of our application for a patent for an improved projectile, this 19th day of December, A. D. 1861.

J. M. CONNEL. n s.] JOHN s. HALL. [n s] \Vitnesses as to signature of J. M. Coiinelz A. W rLKiNs, \VILLIAM B. A'RvnN. I'Vitnesses as to signature of John S. Hall:

ROBT. W. FENWICK, R. L. Cones.

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