Shell.

(Application filed June 23, 1900.).

Patented Sept. 18, I960.

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United States Patent Office.

HIRAM BICKEL, OF GUFFEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHELL.

nnmiMMX »*· “^e·²³¹· ““““θ' ’ IppUoationfiled June23,1900. SerialHo.21,350. (Bomoael.;

To all whom it may concern:I

Be it known that I, Hieam Bickel, a-eiti- | zen of the United States of America, residing at Guffey, in the county of McKean and State s of Pennsylvania, ha vein vented new ana useful Improvements in Shells, of which the following is a specification,·

This invention relates tbiipprovements in explosive shells or cartridges for rifles or guns io of large caliber; and the object of said invention is to provide a shell of this charactei which is of peculiar construction and designed to be exploded by a time-fuse and hurl a Targe number of balls in every direction to tc afford a maximum degree of destructiveness.

The invention contemplates the production of a shell or cartridge in which the-projectile carries a time-fuse for exploding the same, the said projectile comprising an outer shell 2o or casing, an inner shell or canister containing the explosive, and means for connecting the outer and inner shells and to provide for the reception of an adjustable time-fuse, the said inner and outer shells being of such rela25 tive size as to leave a space between them to receive the balls. . , , „„„

The invention consists m the peculiar construction and combination of the parts which make up the shell or cartridge, all as is hereto inafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims. .

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in wlncn like letters of reference indicate similar parts , s throughout the several views, Figure lis a- vertical sectional view through a cartridge or explosive shell constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. hig. a 40 is an enlarged detail view.

In carrying out my invention I employ a cartridge-shell A, comprising the head A , wide iris provided centrally with an opening a to'receive the firing cap or primer a, the 45 said cartridge-shell being adap ted to hold the projectile, hereinafter described, and form a chamber a² for the powder charge which is to send the projectile from the rifle or gun.

The projectile is made up of an outer shell or casing B, pointed at its forward end and at its . rear open end provided with, threads swaged thereon; as shown in the detail view, l?ig. 3.

Within said shell or easing B is placed an inner shell or canister C, having its forward end correspondingly pointed, while its rear 5 5 open end terminates a slight distance from . the rear end of the outer shell or easing. These shells B and Care of siteh relative size as to leave a space between ^hem·, and The inner shell is held in proper portion within 60 the outer shell by means of outwardly-projecting rods c, as shown. The said^gtermediate space contains the balls D, while the inne? shell or canister contains the explosive of the projectile. ,

Screwed into the rear end of the shell or casing B is an annular nut or head E, threaded at its outer and inner edges, and when in place this nut or head covers the. champer which contains the-balls and provides* een- 70 tral opening to receive the device winch carries the time-fuse. Said device consistsof a round nut F, having an opening f there-, through threaded at its inner end to receive a nipple/', and through this opening Rd nip- 75 pie is passed a time - fuse G, regulated by screwing the nipple into the round niit., . 1 he outer shell is also provided with an indentation a^&amp;, swaged therein to engage the threads at the end of the projectile and hold toe parts 8o firmly together. । / , &lt;

In assembling the parts the shell G is placed within the shell B, and the cylindrical balls D are dropped in to tho space provided therefor between said shells, after which the an- 85 nular nut or section E of tho head of the projectile is screwed into the end of. the shell or easing B against the canister C. Theexplosive

I is then placed into the canister through the opening in said npt, and the fuse-carrying 90 nut F, after adjusting said fuse therein, is screwed into the aforesaid opening, completeing the projectile. 'The projectile is now inserted into the cartridge-shell and attached thereto, said cartridge-shell having been pre- 95 viously loaded with the required amount of. powder. . \ . ..

An explosive shell or cartridge made up in the manner hereinbefore described can be produced at comparatively.small cost, and 10c the parts are so arranged as to give simplicity of construction and provide for readily assembling said parts, also making provision forthe required adjustment#;.y The effectivebrss or. destructive power of such a cartridge v »11 be readily apparent, for it, will be understood that wiien the projectile is fired from the rifle or gu n t-ne powder charge of the car5 .tndge will ignite the fuse, and the latter being· properly timed the spark will not reach the exploslve'of the projectile unril _u projectile arrives at its destination, pre >ic triacd by the powder charge of- the < huGg». The so explosion of the projectile will hurlt-he bails in every direction arid prove ponsiderablymore destructive than thefiyingpieces of an ordinary solid shell.