US1632156A - Universal system of identification markings for projectiles - Google Patents

Description

June 14, 1927. 1,632,156

Filed July 8, 1924 i H I A :l 1 A H I A U w I! *|l- Ti. E94- .135-

gin new x or 5 Emu E1 llEH Patented June 14, 1927.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL WILEY, OF METUCHEN, NEW J ERSQEY.

UNIVERSAL SYSTEM OF IDENTIFICATION MARKINGS FOR IPROJECTILES.

Application filed July 8,

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF The invention described herein may be used by the Government, or any of its otficers or employees in prosecution of work for the Government, or by any other person in the United States, without payment to me of any royalty thereon, in accordance with the act of March 3, 1883.

The subject of this invention is a universal system of identification markings for proj ectiles.

For the purpose of identifying various classes of projectiles, it is necessary to provide them with markings which may be determined even under conditions of darkness and when the operator is wearing heavy gloves.

The present method of identification does not permit of a wide range of adaptations under the above conditions. The method of blending vari-colored stripes or crosses upon the projectile does obviously not fulfill the above requirements. The method of using raised or stamped lettering lends itself to confusion and is not readily distinguishable when the operator is wearing gloves, while the method of inserting pronged discs of various designs or configm'ations into a top cap or stopper invites loss of the disc by reason of its detachability and limits the range of markings to a particular class of projectiles.

My improved system of identification markings which may be used on cartridges, grenades, shells, and bombs consists in form ing the markings on the body of the projectile during fabrication and instead of de noting the content of the projectile by irregular markings as heretoiore used, 1. cmploy regular markings which denote the contents of the projectile, the location and number of the markings, determining the class and character of the contents. 1 may use grooved or embossed markings finished in any manner and of any number, disposed circumferentially or longitudinally at the base, nose, or center of the shell. The number of markings may denote the general class of the contents, while the location of the markings may denote the particular character of the contents as various colors for signal light cartridges or the specific description of gases and the like used in gas shells or bombs. When a projectile is to be 1924. Serial No. 724,814.

MARCH 3, 1883; 22 STAT. L. 625.)

discharged from a rifle barrel the grooved markings are preferable.

To these and other ends, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements, described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

A practical embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a signal cartridge shell formed with raised rings;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing grooved rings;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a shell formed with longitudinal markings, united to designate a tracer;

Figs. 4, 5, and 6, are side elevations of an artillery shell formed with my improved means of identification.

Referring to the drawing by numerals of reference The projectile may constitute a signal cartridge A as shown in Figures 1 to 3 or a shell B for artillery, mortars and projectors, as shown in Figures 4 to 6.

The identification formed on the shell during fabrication may consist of grooved or embossed rings 10 or ribs 11, the markings being knurled or smooth finished, and positioned on the shell or cartridge in conformity with a predetermined plan.

The general class of the contents may be denoted by the number of the markings. In the case of signal cartridges one ring or rib may designate a star signal; two rings or ribs an illuminating signal; three, a smoke signal; four,.an incendiary signal; five, a flare, and so on. The colors of the star or smoke signals may be denoted by the location of the markings at the base, nose, or prescribed intermediate portions of the cartridge. It will be understood, of course, that the foregoing description of the arrangement as to class and character may be reversed.

As it is desirable in certain classes of signals to convey to surrounding troops the point from which the signal emanates, a tracer composition may be used to define the trajectory of the signal cartridge. A tracer cartridge may thereforebe denoted by uniting the class markings as at 12. Obviously designate a high explosive shell; two, shrapnel; three, smoke; four, incendiary; and five, gas. The specific description or character of the contents of a gas shell as mustard, chlorine, phosgene, or lachrymose, may be denoted by the location of the markings at the base, nose, or intermediate points.

. Tracer shells for use in obtaining clearance and adjusting the sight of the gun may be denoted by uniting the markings as described above. The location of the markings which appear thereon may likewise denote the type of fuse which is assembled in the projectile,

It is a parent that my system of identification a its of a Wide range of class and character designations applicable alike to all types of projectiles, while the probability of error or confusion is reduced'to a minimum under all circumstances.

lVhile in the foregoing there has been illustrated and described such combination and arrangement of elements as constitute the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is nevertheless desired to emphasize the fact that interpretation of the invention should only be conclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A system of identification for tracer projectiles consisting of forming markings on a projectile body to denote class and character of the contents, and uniting said markings to denote a tracer projectile.

2. A system of identification for projectiles, consisting of forming spaced markings thereon, the number and position of the markings denoting the class and character of the projectile and uniting said markings to denote additional characteristics which may be had in common with the different classes or characters.

SAMUEL WILEY.

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