US961143A - Torpedo-shell. - Google Patents

Description

E. S. LAFFERTY.

TORPEDO SHELL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.Z1,1908. 961,143. Patented June 14,1910.

2 BHEETS-SHEET 1.

Fluveufoz illiuznu a M E. S. LAFFEETY.

TORPEDO SHELL.

. APPLIG'ATION FILED SEPT.21,1908. 961,148. Patented June 14,191).

2 SHEETSSHEET E.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EBAS'IUS S. LAFIEBTY, OI GALEBBUBG, ILLINOIS.

TOBIEDO-SHELL.

Specification or Letters Patent.

Patented J mm 14, 1910.

Application filed September 21, 1908. Serial No. 468,914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Enasros S. Larrrnrv, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gale'sburg, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful TorpedoShells, of which the following is a s ecification.

his invention relates to an improved shell for housin the detonating powder used in railway signaling torpedoes.

The object of the invention is to provide an article of this character which shall be simple in construction, easily manufactured, and which will not inflict injury, should it fly or scatter when exploded, and which further shall, while non-metallic in character, be thoroughly moisture and water-proof, whereby effectually to shield the contained explosive against deterioration.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists, generally stated, in a torpedo shell constructed from paper or fiber thoroughly impregnated or saturated with a water-proof material.

piece of prepared material or a plurality of pieces, and the parts of which are held assembled with a water-proof cement. The binding or clamping member which holds the torpedo assembled with the railway rail is so connected with the shell, that when the latter explodes, the clamp will not be hurled through the air, so that accidents frequently hap ening from this cause, will be prevented.

T e invention consists further in the vari ous novel details of construction of a torpedo shell, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts :-Figure 1 is a view in plan of one form of to edo blank constructed in ac cordance wit the present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through a torpedo constructed from the blank shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of a complete torpedo constructed from the blank shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical lon 'tudinal sectional view through a torp 0, showing a slightly modified form of blank. Fig. 5 is a view 1n plan of a slightly modified form of tor edo. Fig. 6 is a vert1- cal sectional view t rough a. torpedo constructed from the blank shown in Fig. 5.

7 is a vertical sectional view through a rther modified form of torpedo.

The blank, shown in Fig. 1, is constructed from pasteboard, fiber, or other suitable material that is non-metallic and which is capable of absorbing or becoming thoroughly 1mpregnated with any suitable water-proofing material. The blank is constructed from a single piece of such material, and consists of three approximately circular members 1, 2, and 3 that are connected by constricted necks 3. The members 1 and 3, as shown in Fig. 2, are fiat, while the member 2 is stamped up to form an ap roximately semispherical chamber 4 in w ich the explosive is placed. In constructing a torpedo with this form of blank, after the explosive has been placed in the chamber 4, one of the members, say the member 1, is folded over against the-member 2 and is secured to the periphery thereof by a suitable water-proof cement. The attaching member or binding strap 5, which is made of a length of easily bendable metal, preferably 0 thin sheet lead, is then disposed against the member 3, The shell may be constructed from a single and the member 1 is then folded over against the member 3 and is secured thereto by a water-proof cement. As the binding strap is below the explosive, it follows that when the torpedo is exploded, the strap will remain in position upon the rail and as the. shell is of light and soft material, it will either be wholly consumed by the heat of the explosion of the powder or will simply scatter without doing any harm.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 4, the shell is composed of four parts, namely, a powder chamber or receptacle 6, an annulus 7 cemented thereto, a closure or backing 8, and a binding strap retainer 9, all of these parts being constructed of a. fibrous water-proof material. The chamber is provided with a peripheral flange 10 to whlch the annulus 7 is cemented, and to this flange the backing 8 will also be cemented. The binding stra 11 is placed against the backing 8 and t e retainer 9 is then cemented to position.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, a novel means is provided for attaching the binding strap to the member 1 of the tor do blank. This device consists of a meta ic clip 12 constructed from sheet metal, such as tin, and having four arms 13, the terminals of which are bent around the member 1 to secure it in position, as shown at 1c in Fig. 6. lit the center portion of the I clip, the metal is incised to provide two lips c is emplo ed, and this is held in place b the clamps 5 in the same manner as the olding strap 16. Inasmuch as the clip will lie upon the rail and beneath the torpedo when the latter ex 'lodes, there will be no danger of its flying eterally and inflicting injury.

Torpedoes constructed from the shells herein shown, will be found in every par ticular as eflicient as those employing metallic shells but will have the added advantages of being chea er to manufacture and of being harmless w en exploded.

I ciaimz- 1. A tor do shell constructed from a single piece 0 fibrous material thoroughly sat ureted with a water-proofing material and embodying three approximately circular members connected by constricted necks, two of which circular members are flat, and one of which is approximately semi-spherical, to constitute an explosive receiving chamber, one of the flat members constituting a closure for the said chamber, and the other a means of connection with the attaching device.

2. tor edo shell constructed from a single piece 0 fibrous materiel thoroughly saturated with water-proofing material and embodying three approximatel members connected by constricte necks, the two terminal members of which shell are flet, and the intermediate one approximately semi-spherical, to constitute an explosive receiving chamber, one of the fiat members he I ing arranged to be cemented to the said chamber, and the third to inclose the intermediate portion of an attach device.

In testimony that I claim e foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my s1gnature in the presence of two witnesses.

ERASTUS S. LAFFERTY.

Witnesses:

J AIMEE K. AnnoLo, J nuns BARR.

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