Chapter 22: Develop rockets

Shangwen returned to his residence and first listed a memorial. He ordered the men of Meng Tian to be sent out of the hands of King Qin. Shang Wen began to study rockets.

Shangwen feels that there is a certain degree of difficulty in studying rockets. First of all, the material is more difficult to solve. Although wood has been considered as the material of choice. However, wood cannot be used for nozzles and nozzles. In the case of using gunpowder as a propellant. The high-temperature burning easily decomposes the body of the rocket, causing it to deviate when it finally flies to the target. I don't want to see this situation.

It seems that iron has to be used. Only the ductility of iron meets current needs. But iron must be made thin and light. This is the only requirement.

Thought of this. Shang Wen began to paint the nozzles and nozzles by hand. In order to save the difficulty of processing. Shang Wen directly put the two together. At the same time, I planned the size.

Larger rockets have a diameter of one foot, and smaller ones have a diameter of one-third of a foot. The nozzle is designed in a funnel shape. The mouths designed at the bottom of the funnel are one-foot to one-third of a foot respectively. An analogy of one-third of a foot. that's fine. Indicates the size. Then write notes. Ask people to go to the blacksmith to build it. When leaving, warned again and again. It must be thin and light.

After designing the spout. Next is the projectile. Taking into account the overall situation of the projectile, Shangwen also designed a lot of specifications, basically designed into two categories. Big rockets, and small rockets. Large ones can set up launchers to launch. The small ones can be carried on their shoulders.

The big rocket is designed to be longer. But the specific size depends on the balance of the overall assembly. And the trajectory after launch. There is also the trajectory of the movement. These are all raw data and must be measured. Think about testing. Shangwen felt that a big head would not work, and he didn't have any measuring instruments. Even time, there is only an hourglass. This thing is a shit.

In order to get first-hand data. Shangwen only needs to design more projectiles. Three feet, four feet, and five feet. And ten feet. In order to facilitate future production, Shangwen all adopts the technology of selling out in half a year and finally using the card lock to synthesize. This technique is not too difficult in the hands of Chinese carpenters. Shangwen deliberately left some blind spots in the middle, where the propellant and warhead were encapsulated. Because everything is missing. Shangwen must solve it by himself.

Similarly, after designing the drawings, hand them to the next person to handle. Meng Tian came in and brought breakfast, it seemed that he had been busy all night. Tired enough, but the problem has not been solved yet. Shang Wen held a piece of dry bread in one hand and ate the drawing in the other. Is it correct to change it? Meng Tian went into the house and took a look, and left without saying anything. Because I'm used to it. Shangwen is so busy every day.

Warhead. To detonate the warhead, the weight of the warhead must be considered. At this time, everything must be combined together. There is also a way to detonate. Which method is used? Shang Wen sat on the bed, flapping the table with one hand to get inspiration.

Suddenly he slapped the table heavily and threw a cannon. This kind of thing was studied by Shangwen in elementary school, but it needs materials. Shang Wen immediately drew out the list. The most important of these is silver salt. This thing can be extracted from table salt. Extracted from saline-alkali land. After ordering the next person. Shangwen began to consider another detonation method. Shang Wen felt that it was not reliable to throw a gun, so another very simple way to detonate is to draw a fuse from the propellant. This length is more difficult to grasp. It exploded before it reached the distance when it was short, and it didn't make any sound when it landed when it was long. This can be tested multiple times.

Another is to use one's own invented grenade device. This is mainly due to the tightness that must be improved. Shangwen found that the first few batches of grenades had a dud problem due to sealing problems. This is not a joke. I already have paper, just add wax or grease to develop wax paper, and the problem can basically be solved. The next step is to prepare the materials.

Shang Wen listed a lot of things on a piece of paper, and began to take medicine. The people who bought the materials to build the projectile parts are back. Only then did Shang Wen realize that he had been busy all morning.

After eating at noon, Shangwen began to assemble the projectile. Processing oil paper, because candles are still a scarce product. You can only use greased paper.

After taking a nap, it was already night when I got up. The servant dug a stone of sand from the saline-alkali soil. Shangwen solve the problem of silver salt. boiled. filter. It's boiling. Filter and crystallize. The salt can be extracted, but Shang Wen has unexpectedly discovered that there is a very small amount of sodium carbonate. Then boil again. Filtered, crystallized, still nothing. Shangwen began to consider other detonation methods.

Giving up the extraction of silver salt, began to assemble the projectile. Fill with gunpowder. With oil paper. Shang Wen easily separated the warhead from the launch potion. and. To prevent moisture. Specially wrapped in greased paper. Simply connect the fuse. A rocket is basically formed. This is the fuse between the propulsion unit and the warhead. The impact type will be redesigned.

Shangwen draws on the lighter for designing the pull cord of the grenade. Later, in the design, the grenade was gradually improved. It was just a rudimentary form at first. Consider the impact effect of the rocket. Shangwen decided to give it a try. This time Shangwen was to avoid the rockets from being unable to detonate after hitting the ground. The detonation method of double insurance is adopted. That is, a double iron ring is installed on the flint pole. Then in parallel, the two action rods jointly detonate the warhead. Shangwen is designed separately. Become the prototype of a modern fuze.

After all this is done, it is already night. Shang Wen took a sip, only to realize that he was really tired. Such a desperate job. It is really undesirable. I just don't know, Daqin will not give subsidies.

See if the rest is assembly work. Shang Wen cleaned up briefly. Instructed Meng Tian's men to take care of him strictly. Go to the bedroom and fall asleep. It's too tired.

In his sleep, his head kept combing through the results of the day. And those unexpected discoveries. What happens when it has been tested. The data that should be recorded. These keep flashing.

Shang Wen felt that someone was pushing himself. Woke up dazedly. Meng Tian when found. Meng Tian looked frightened. Wait for a while. Only then did I hear clearly: "Sir, you finally woke up. We thought it was you who had a demon. I kept talking about something. It was going to scare us to death."

Shang Wencai felt that he was really tired. Waved his hand to indicate that it was all right. Let everyone go. Just get up. Continue to load the projectile. These things are handed over to the subordinates. Shang Wen is not at ease. After all, this is a test product. Not a finished product. Meng Tian looked at Shangwen and stopped talking. Did not say anything.

Two days later, the rocket started testing. The princess got the news and came. Shang Wen felt his scalp numb.