US32293A - Improved projectile for rifled ordnance - Google Patents

Description

B. B. HOTCHKISSJ Projectile.

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I Patented May 14, 1861..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

B. B. IIOTCHKISS, OF SHARON, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVED PROJECTILE FOR RIFLED ORD NANCE.

S cvilirntion forming part of Letters Patent No. 32,293, dated May 14, 13131.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, B. B. Horoniirss, of Sharon, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Projectiles for Bifled Ordnance, of which the following is a full and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section of the projectile before firing; and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the shot after firing, showing the manner in which the several parts act one upon the other.

My invention relates to and is an improve. ment 011 the projectile shown in my patent dated July 24, 1860.

The nature of any invention consists in the arrangement of certain conical portions and certain cylindrical or nearly cylindrical 'portions of the body of the shot in connection with the ring of softmeta-l, so as better to insure an easy and equal expansion thereof.

The nature of my invention also consists in the introduction of a quantity of lubricating material, either in mass or in the form of saturated fibrous material, immediately in front of the softmetal ring, so that as the latter is forced forward upon the body of the shot by the action of the powder or other force, it compresses the formcr and forces out-a portion of its substance, so as to lubricate the bore for the passage of the shot. This insures the proper lubrication of the gun and prevents the tendency to lead the grooves, heretofore experienced to a greater or lesser extent in lead or other soft-metal belted expanding proj ectiles.

The nature of my invention also consists in the construction and use of a projecting ring or flange on the rear end of the cap, finished to fit the bore or lands of the gun, for the purpose of accurately guiding the rear of the cap while the latter is being driven home upon the body, and of serving, in connection with the expanded soft-metal ring, to hold the shot with its axis coinciding with the axis of the gun while moving, and thereby insuring accuracy The nature of my invention also consists in winding the soft-metal ring with tape or equivalent strips of cloth or other material in a spiral manner, so that the folds of cloth or tape overlap and permit the expansion of the ring without exposing any portion of its surface to the interior of the gun, the cloth or tape servto leave the projectile as soon as the latter emerges from the muzzle, and is prevented from exerting any injurious effect on the flight of the shot by reason of the resistance of the air.

In the drawings, A is the body of the shot with a conoidal point similar to ordinary elongated projectiles. The rear end of Ais smaller, and is cylindrical. Ashort incline or conical portion, B, unites this cylindrical portion to the other, and a sharp projecting lip, C, extends a short distance over B, as represented. The soft-metal ring D is fitted upon the cylindrical portion of A, as represented, and the space E between that and the lip C is filledwith tallow, or with candle-wicking or other suitable substance soaked with. tallow or other lubricating material. The cap F is also fitted to slide over the cylindrical portion of A. Its front end is beveled both on the inner and outer sides, as represented, a projecting lip,'f, being formed on the outer bevel, f, as shown in the drawings. The action of this cap is to cut into the body of the soft-metal ring D and force it up the incline B against. the lip C, as is shown in Fig. 2. At the rear end of F is a slight projecting ring or flange, G, and this projecting part is accurately turned to fit the bore or lands of the gun, so that when placed in the barrel the whole weight of the projectile is received upon the projecting ring G and the soft-metal ring D. These being formed true and at a sufficient distance apart hold the axis of the projectile in a line with the axis of the gun and insures the ejection of the balltin that position. L. Before I place the ring D on the shot A, I wind it with tape or other suitable material, H, passing-the tape through the middle and around the outside, in the manner shown in Fig. 1, and allowing each successive coil of the tape to overlap the preceding a portion of its width. This forms a close envelope for the ring D, and allows the covering to so change its form that the several coils spread as the ring expands, but still cover the whole exterior by reason of the lapping of the coils.

This covering, when greased in the manner above explained, serves as a patch in an ordinary rifle to prevent any of the leaden particles from sticking to the metal of the gun, or producing what is technically called leading. 7 To prevent the possibility of this patch becoming ragged, and by the action of the air thereon causing the shot to deviate from its true course, the lips O and f are made to cut into the ring D, and thereby sever the patch in such a manner that it is immediately stripped from the projectile by the resistance of the air, on emerging from the gun. The patch does not leave the shot while in the gun, for the reason that the friction against the surface of the gun is less than that required to slip it on the belt D, owing to the superior smoothness of surface in the former and the action of the unguent E. As soon as the projectile leaves the gun, however, there being nothing to confine the patch to the ring D, it flies off by the action of the atmosphere.

The projectile is placed in the gun in the form represented by Fig. 1, with the cap F next the powder. When the latter is fired, the expansive force of the gas first acts on the cap F G, and, owing to the inertia of A, drives the belt D forward, pushing out the grease E, and by the action of the inclines B and f expanding the ring D, so as to cause it to fit the bore. The edge of the cap F and the projections 0 and f cut into the substance of the belt D and bind it firmly to A and F, so that it will not become separated therefrom in its flight. As soon as the belt D has expanded sufficiently to fill the grooves, the cap F strikes the body A of the projectile and prevents any further expansion of D. There is therefore no extra strain on the gun, as there always is if the expansion of the soft-metal belt is unlimited. The action of the inclines or cones B and f on the soft-metal belt D is not so much to upset its substance as to increase its diameter, and as the tenacity of soft metal is much less than its resistance to crushing, it follows that such action is more readily and surely performed than when the ring is upset.

It will be seen that the manner in which I cover or patch the belt D is not equivalent to covering it in any manner previously known, because it allows the diameter of the belt to be increased to a considerable extent without straining the covering or uncovering any portion of the metal.

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

1. The arrangement of the inclined surfaces or cones, B and f, and the cylindrical portion a, in connection with the ring of soft meta-l, D, placed between B and f, substantially as and for'the purpose herein specified.

2. The employment of a quantity of lubricating material, E, within proper recesses in the body of the projectile, and in front of the belt D, so arranged that a portion or the whole shall be forced out to lubricate the bore, by the action of the metal ring D, or its equivalent, substantially as herein specified.

3. The employment of the projecting ring G, made to fit the bore of the gun, in combination with the cap F and belt 1), substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. Covering the belt D with cloth or other suitable material, H, wound spirally thereon, substantially as and for the purpose above described.

5. Cutting the patch H, after the belt D has been sufficiently expanded by means of the lips O f, or their equivalents, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. B. B. HOTCHKISS.

\Vitncsses:

THOMAS D. S'rn'rsox, (l. H. BABoocK.

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