US612495A - High-explosive shell - Google Patents

Description

' lo. 6|2,495.A Patented Oct. I8, |898.

G. M HATHAWAY.

HIGH EXPLUSIVE SHELL.

(Application led July' 1 1, 189B" llsnewod Mar. 18, 1898.) (No Model.)

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(Appliuton lld July 11, 1896. Renewed Mar. 18, 1898.)

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WITNEESEE- UNTTnD STATES ATnNT Ormea.

GEORGE M. IIATHAVAY, OF NEV YORILYN. Y., ASSIGNOR TO M. O. ARNOT, OF ELMIRA, NEI/V YORK.

HlG'H-EXPLOSIVE SHELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 612,495, dated October 18, 1898. Application led July 11, 1896. Renewed March 18, 1898. Serial No. 674,395. (No modell) To all whont t may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE M. HATHAWAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in High-Explosive Shells;`

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in explosive projectiles for ordnance; and it consists in providing a shell with a mixing-chamber having therein salts or other desired composition and locating therein a liquid-holding chamber composed of two slotted tubes, one fitting within the other, the inner one stationary or fixed to the shell and the other partially revoluble.

The invention further consists in arranging a detonator or percussion-cap to kbe struck by a suitably-arranged anvil to explode an explosive compound, one element of which is contained in the liquid-chamber and the other element or elements in the mixing-chamber; and the invention still further consists in so constructing the slotted tubes forming said liquid-holding chamber that when the shell is fired the partially-revoluble tube will be caused to turn until its slots register with the slots of the fixed tube, thus permitting the liquid element tointermingle with the element or elements contained in the mixingchamber of the shell, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

My improved shell is particularly designed to be employed in connection with certain chemical ingredients which are inert, harmless, and inexplosive when separate, but which become highly explosive when mixed; and the invention has for its object to so construct the shell that the ingredients forming the explosive compound will be kept separate during the charging and handling of the same and during the firing of the gun, but will be caused to become mixed and thoroughly intermingle during the flight or transit of the shell and be exploded by the impact or shock of the shell in striking an obj ect or by means of a suitable time-fuse. This object is attained by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l represents a longitudinal sectional view of my improved shell and its interior mechanism; Fig. 2, a plan view of the liquidholding chamber in closed position; Fig. 8, a similar view showing the said chamber in open position; Fig. 4, an enlarged transverse section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a similar view on line 5 5 of Fig. 3, and Fig. G an enlarged longitudinal section of the breech-plu g and the exploding device.

For convenience in describing the invention I will proceed to describe the same under the following-named heads-viz., first, construction of shell; second, internal mechanism; third, detonator and device for exploding same 5 fourth, charging the shell, and, fifth, firing the shell.

In the drawings similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Construction of the sheZZ.-The numeral l indicates an oblong conoidal shell or projectile which is constructed of steel or other suitable material and is provided or formed with an internal chamber 2, which I shall hereinafter refer to as a mixing-chamber. The breech of the shell is provided with a central internally-screW-threaded opening 3, which is adapted to be closed by a screwthreaded breech-plug 4, having a central recess 5 formed therein. The said recess is screw-threaded a short distance internally at its mouth, but having a plain bore or wall for the remaining portion, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully explained. At the forward end of the mixing-chamber the shell is provided with a circular recess 6, axially in line with the longitudinal axis of the shell. This recess is screw-threaded for the reception of a screw-threaded neck of one of the slotted tubes composing the liquid-holding chamber 7, as will be presently described.

Internal mechanisch-The numeral 8 indicates a tube which is provided at one end with a flanged solid cap 9, having a screwthreaded neck 10, and at the other end with a cap ll provided with a central screw-threaded illingaperture 12, closed by a screwthreaded plug 13. rPhe tube 8 is securely fas- IOO tened in the chamber of the shell by screwing the neck 10 into the screw-threaded recess 6 and held concentric with the inner wall thereof. Over this tube and concentric with it is fitted a tube 14:, which is adapted to partially rotate in close contact with it, both tubes tapering from their forward to their rear ends for the purpose hereinafter explained. The iixed or stationary tube is slightly longer than the partially-revoluble tube, and both are provided with a series of longitudinal slots 15 and 16, respectively, the series in each tube being separated by a central portion 17, said portion of the fixed tube being provided with an oblique slot 1S, into which projects the end of a screw or pin 19, passing through the central portion of the outer or partially-revoluble tube. The central portion of each tube is provided with a perforation 2O for the reception of a pin 2l, of soft metal, to lock the tubes together in closed position and maintain them in such position against accidental displacement.

Dctonaor and devices for exploding the same--The numeral 22 indicates a metallic ring which is iitted snugly in the recess 5. Fitted within this ring isan anvil 23, formed at its forward end with a central firing pin or projection 24k. The anvil is held in normal position within the ring by means of a pin 25, of 'soft metal, passing through the ring and the anvil, as shown. Screwed into the screw-threaded portion of the recess 5 is a detonator-holder 26, which consists of a fianged tube of soft metal open at the flanged end and closed at the other. The opening at the ilanged end is provided with a shouldered recess 27, which receives the head of a percussion-cap 28, which extends well down into the metal and is protected from accidental explosion thereby." It will be observed that the forward end of the ring 22 abuts against the rear of the detonator-holder and that the rear of the anvil abuts against the rear of the recess 5, and as the ring and anvil are fixed together under ordinary circumstances they cannot move longitudinally within the recess 5 and the firing-pin of the anvil will be held safely away from the cap of the detonator.

It will be seen that the tube of the detonator-holder extends into the mass of salts at the rear of the shell, so as to insure the explosion of the charge when the cap is exploded. This tube protects the cap from exploding by the sudden packing of the salts and liquids around it.

Charging the sheZL--The tapering slotted tubes are placed in closed position, which is accomplished by turning the outer tube until the solid portions thereof come directly over the slots in the inner tube or until the pin 19 reaches the extreme limit of one end of the slot 18. ln this position the tubes are locked together by inserting the soft-metal pin 21 in the perforations 20 and the edges of the slots in the outer tube well parafned. rlhe screwthreaded plug 13 is then removed and the chamber thus formed is filled with the liquid element of the explosive compound and the plug replaced. The chamber is now inserted through the opening in the breech, the plug 4 having been first removed, and is fastened into position by screwing the neck 10 into the recess 6. The shell is now ready to receive the other element or elements of the compound, which is fed through the breech-opening and loosely packed around the liquid'- holding chamber. The breech-plug, which has been fitted with its detonating mechanism, is screwed into the breech-opening and thel shell is ready for storing, transportation, or to be iired from a gun.

Firing the shell- The instant the shell is fired the sudden and severe shock given it by the explosion of the gun-charge causesI an instantaneous and rapid backward movement of the outertube, breaking or rupturing the soft-metal locking-pin, and being guided by the pin moving in the oblique slot said tube is caused to turn until said pin reaches the limit of the slot, which when reached the slots of the inner or fixed tube will then register with the slots of the outer tube, and the liquid contents will be thus liberatedto and intermingle with the other element or elements of the compound, the mixing being assisted by the rapid revolutions of the shell in its iiight. Y

During the ilight of the shell the anvil is held by the soft-metal pin; but the instant the shell strikes an obj ect the momentum imn parted to the anvil duringtheY flight ofv the shell will cause the anvil to suddenly start forward, shearing or breaking the pin and causing the firing-pin to strike and explode the cap of the detonator. The explosion ruptures the tube of the detonator and explodes the mixture of salts andliquid in the chamber of the shell.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to 4secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination,with a chambered shell or projectile, of a iixed tube secured Within said projectile, and a partly-revoluble tube fitted upon the iixed tube, the tubes being provided with registering longitudinal slots which are normally closed, but which are caused to register and open by the firing of the shell, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a chambered shell or projectile, the

combination, of a fixedtube located therein, and a revoluble tube fitted on said xed tube, the tubes being provided with registering slots at each side of the central portion thereof, and with mechanism at such central portion, to give the revoluble tube a rotary movement when the shell is fired, the slots being closed when the tubes are in normal position, the tubes constituting a receptacle for a liquid, forming. a portion of the explosive charge of the projectile, substantially as specified.

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3. The combination, in a chambered shell *I 612,495 si 4 and slotted at each side of the central portion zo or projectile, of the stationary and revoluble and slotted tubes located therein, the stationary tube being provided With an oblique centrally-located slot, and the revoluble tube With a screw or pin entering said slot, to cause the revoluble tube to rotate When it moves backward, and cause the slots to register, substautially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a chambered shell or projectile, the combination, of the ixed and revoluble slotted tubes, located therein, of the locking-pin of soft metal, whereby the tubes are held normally in a closed position, substantially as specified.

5. Aliquid-receptacle for shells or projectiles consisting of two tubes one of which is secured in a fixed position Within the projectile, the tubes being fitted one upon another thereof, the central portion of one tube being provided with an oblique slot, into which eX- tends a screw or pin secured to the central portion of the other, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. A liquid-receptacle for shells or projectiles, consisting of tWo tubes one of which is secured in a fixed position Within the projectile, the tubes being provided With a series of registering slots, at each side of the cen-' tral portion thereof, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE M. HATIIAVAY. Vtnesses:

J. R. NOTTINGHAM, THos. J. STALEY.

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