US465230A - wilson - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets- R. WILSON, Jr. PROJEOTILE WITH FRANGIBLE GAP.

Sheet- 1.

(No Model.)

No. 465,230. Pate-ntedDec. 15, 1891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets Sheet' 2. CT. R. WILSON, Jr.

' PROJIEGTILE WITH FRANGIBLE GAP.

, 5N9. 465,230; Patented Do. 15 1891..

"U ITE ATES ATENT FFECEQ inone'i: R. wILsou; JR.,'OF wAsiu-ucroir, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR 'ro JOHN w. ROSS, TRUSTEE, OF SAME PLACE.

PRO-JECTELE WlTH FRANGIBLE CAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,230, dated December 15, 1891.

Application filed November 4, 1890; Serial No. 370,309- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE RWILSON, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Wash ington, in the District of Columbia, have-invented new and useful Improvements in Projectiles for Ordnance, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain novel improvements in projectiles for heavy ordnance,

to the purpose thereof being to provide a solid shot or a shell having such formation that it may not. only plow through, penetrate, or tear .up the armor of avessel, but that its flight from the piece firing said projectile may be [5 accurate in aim and the range as great as in projectiles of usual or different construction.

It is my further purpose to provide a projectile having a hollow imperforate conoidal point detachable from and attachable to the body of the projectile and composed of any suitable frangible materiahsuch as cast-iron,

a thin plate of high steel, or even porcelain or glass, although the two latter materials may prove in practice less desirable, the inclosed end of the projectile, which is the active working, penetrating, or plowing end, be-

ing provided with one, two, or more concentric rings orangular shoulders of successively,

increasing diameter from thepointof the pro- 3o-jectile toward its base, whereby the impact of the shot upon the armor of a vessel at any angle will shatter the conoidal point and expose the active working, penetrating, orplowing end having angular shoulders, which will instantly bitcinto and plow up or penetrate the metal of the armor, preventing the projectile from deflection or glancing and cansing far greater destruction and adeeper penetration than is possible with a solid conical 40 shot or a shell unprovided with my said invention.

The invention consists to these ends in the several novel features of construction and new combinations of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and then definitely pointed out in the claims following this specification.

To enable others skilled in the art to practice my said invention, I will proceedto dc- [sdribe the same in detail, reference being had to the drawings accompanying this specification, in which Figure l is a side elevation ofa projectile embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of the same, showingthe cap removed. Fig. 3' is a central vertical section of the projectile. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation showing a modified construction. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the application of the invention to a shell. v In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 6o 1 denotes the body of the projectile, which may be solid, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, and which is formed of suitable metal int he' usual manner and of 'an'y'ee'sim'd form, and provided with a head, which is composed of angular and substantially concentric shoulders 2, having a successively-diminished diameter as they proceed toward the extreme point 3 of the projectile. These angular shoulders will preferably be'of circular form, though it is evident that they may be made of polygonal shape, whereby sharp cutting angles will be provided, which may alternate one with another, so that one or more will invariably come in contact with the object aimed at. Said shoulders also may be of any number from two upward, and will usually be made of hardened steel orother suitable metal.

Surroundingand inclosing the active, working, penetrating, or plowing point of the projectile upon which the angular shoulders 2 are formed is a conoidal or approximately cone-shaped iznperforate cap 4, which surrounds the lower shoulder upon the end of the projectile, the exterior of said cap forming flush surfaces with the body of the projectile. This cap is constructed of some brittle and easily-shattered matcrial-such, for example, as a thin shell of cast-iron or other metal, though glass, porcelain, or even earthenware may be used, provided a sutlicient body is employed to impart the necessary strength. This cap may be shrunk upon the shoulder next to the end of the body 1, or it may be screwed thereon; or, if preferred, it may, if formed of metal, be brazed, whereby the seam or point will be practically imperceptible. Its presence preserves the symmetry of the projectile, insures accuracy of too flight, and increases the range, whereas should the projectile be fired without the conical or colloidal cap or point i the resistance exerted by the atmosphere upon. the se rres of angular shoulders 2 would necessarily impede its flight and might seriously interfere with the accuracy of the aim.

'When the projectile strikes the object at which it is fired, the point or cap 4 is shattered instantaneously, and the angular shoulders 55, which are thereby exposed, are driveninto the Wall, armor-plate, or other object, such as the armor or a vessel of war, instead of being deflected or glancing oil, as is usually the case wth conical shot, unless they strike fairly upon the point. The angular shoulders, however, of whatever form they may be made bite into, plow up, and shatter the metal of the armor, and not only makea deeper penetration, but effect far more damage and destruction than is possible with a conical shot not provided with my invention.

I have shown in the drawings in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 a smooth joint between the cap and the projectile, whereby the two maybe united by shrinking or by brazing or such other suitable means as are adapted to this form of cou struction, l have also illustrated in. Figs. 4 and 5 a male and female thread cut upon the head of the projectile or shell and within the cap, respectively, whereby said parts are united. I may, however, unite these parts in any other suitable manner, and my invention is not limited in this respect to any specified construction.

My invention may be applied Without material chaugeto shells of whatever construction, provided, of course, that they are of such form'as to require a conical or colloidal point, as shown in Fig. These shells may be on plodedfby any of the usual means, such as ,high explosives, time fuses, or other means.

I am aware that heretofore a frangible cap has been used having a plug entering an opening in the end of the shell to fire the bursting charge. A sheet-rnetai cap has also been known for the purpose of yielding an impact to fire a percussiomprirncr. A point my hand and adi two subscribim witnesses.

composed oi? angular shoulders has also been known, said point being screwed upon the end of the shell, and a point composed of angular shoulders, which Wind spirally about the point, has also been invented. I make no claim, broadly, to any of these features.

What I claim is- 1. A. projectile for ordnance, consisting ol a body portion. having a striking, plowing, and penetrating point composed of a series of angular concentric shoulders of successively-diminished diameters, and an ixnper forate conical or conoidal cap composed of frangible material, the open base of said cap being engaged with the shoulder at the end of the projectile, the exterior of the cap being flush \vitirthe outer surface of the projectile, the striking-point of which. is received in and inclosed by said cap, substantially as descrihed.

2. A projectile for ordnance, consisting of a cylindrical body portion having at one end a strilring-point composed of a series of circular and angular shouiders having sides which are parallel to and concentric with the axis of the projectile and fiat faces at right angles with said axis, in combination with a frangible, conical, or couoidal imperforate v cap forming flush exterior surfaces With the body of the projectile, its open base surrou uding and engaging the circular angular shoulricr nearest the end of the projectile, the said strikingpoint of which is received in and inclosed and protected by said cap without contact with the auguiar shoulders, the latter being successively diminished in diameter as they approach the apex of the striking-point,

substantially as described. in i s-tawny whereof I have hereunto set my seal in presence of one. a. WILSON, JR.

"Witnesses:

James L. Noaius, James A. itu'runaronn.

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