US42818A - Improvement in explosive shells - Google Patents

Description

J. GROVES,

Shell.

Patented May. 17, 1864.

N.PETERS, PHOTO LITHOGRA TATES ATENT Orrrca.

JOHN GROVES, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, lV.

BEESTON, AND THOS. BOTTOMLEY, OF SAME PLI XCE.

IMPROVEMENT IN EXPLOSIVE SHELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 12,8H8, dated Mayl7, 1864.

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, JOHN GRovEs, of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Explosive Projectiles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is an inside view of the projectile as exposed to view by the removal of one half of the outer shell. Fig. 2 is a central section of the same in a plane perpendicular to Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

This invention relates to the placing within the shell of an explosive projectile of several smaller explosive shells, the fuses of which are ignited by a fire from the bursting-charge of the larger or outer shell, so that the smaller shells are caused to explode at a suitable time after the larger or outer one.

It consists in the attachment of the smaller explosive shells to the larger or outer one by means of chains for the purpose of compelling them to fly with the fragments of the larger or outer one when the latter is burst by the ex plosion of its charge. In order to make the outer shell burst in such a manner as to leave each of the smaller shells attached to a sepa rate fragment of it, its interior is grooved,

and thereby weakened in lines between thepoints of attachment of the smaller ones.

This invention also consists in the attachment of the smaller shells to the larger one, until the time of the bursting of the latter, by means of screws and a frangible frame, whereby the adjustment of the smaller shells to balance the larger one before and during its flight is permitted. 1

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A is the larger or outer shell, made of a spherical form in two halves, which are screwed together, as shown at ca inFig. 1, or secured together in any other suitable manner. In one half of this shell there is placed a castiron frame, 0, which is secured therein by screws 1) b, and which contains a number of tapped holes, corresponding with the number of smaller shells, B B, which are to be inclosed within the larger one. The smaller shells are like ordinary bomb-shells, except that each is made with or has firmly secured to it a screwed pin, 0, which is screwed into one of the afore said tapped holes in the frame 0. Each of the smaller shells is also attached to that half of the larger one which contains the frame 0 by means of a separate short chain, (1. Between the points of attachment of the chains (Z (Z the said half of the larger shell has its interior so grooved, as shown at c c, and thereby weakened, that when its bursting-charge explodes it will break in the said each of the smaller shells attached by its chain (1 to a separate fragment of the larger shell. The other half of thelarger shell is also grooved in a substantially similar manner, as shown at ff, to insure its breakage into a number of pieces. The shells B B are charged in the same manner as any of the explosive projectiles heretofore known or used, and fitted with time-fuses g g in the usual manner, and, when charged, their pins 0 c are screwed into the tapped holes in the frame 0, to bring the said shells into such positions that the larger shell will benearly equallybalanced 011 all sides. The balancing is effected by screwing the pins far ther in or out, as may be necessary, after putting the two parts of the larger shell together and trying whether the weight is properly distributed on all sides. After the larger sh ell has been balanced in this way, the chains (Z (l are secured to it and to the smaller shells, and the two parts of the larger shell are put together and the said shells charged with gunpowder, and fitted with a time or percussion fuse in the usual manner. lVhen the charge of the larger shell explodes, the said shell breaks in the grooves e e f f and in the joint a, and the frame 0, being light and of cast-iron, is also broken, leaving the shells B B attached to fragments of the larger shell, by which means the said shells are caused to seatter better than they would if detached from the larger shell. The fuses g g are ignited by the fire from the explosion of the charge of A, and after the proper interval the shells B B are burst.

Zhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The attachment of the inner shells, B B,

grooves, and so leave to the outer one, A, by means of chains (1 d, I on the smaller shells with the frangible frame substantiahy as and for the purpose herein O, securedwithin thelargershell,substantially specified; I as and'for the purpose herein specified.

JOHN GROVES.

, 2. The arrangement of the grooves e e, 111

combination with the connections of the chains (1 d, with the outer shell, A, substantially as I \Vitnesses:

and for the purpose herein specified. I M. M. Lrvrxos'rox,

3. The combination of the screwed pins 0 c l G110. XV. linen.

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