Patent GB-191516807-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Explosive Bombs or Shells and the like.
Inventor: CADDY SYDNEY CHARLES
IPC: F42C1/14
Filed: 1915-11-29
Abstract: 16,807. Caddy, S. C. Nov. 29. Projectiles ; projectile fuses.-Consists in providing a bomb intended to be dropped from aircraft with one or more " feelers " connected to the bomb by cords or the like, the feelers being positively projected from the bomb as it drops, and being adapted to effect ignition when a connecting member becomes slack by contact of one of the feelers with the ground. In the construction described, there are three feelers d, d<1>, d<2>, housed within a drum q fixed at the lower end of the body of the bomb (not shown). Around the drum are wound separate lengths of cord p, p<1>, p<2>, Fig. 6, connected to the respective feelers, the lowest length p partly covering a flap r, which tends to spring outwardly. Each feeler has behind it a cartridge e for expelling it. The first cartridge is fired at a predetermined time after the bomb is released by a time fuse comprising a length of Bickford fuse f which passes into a tube a<1> running centrally through the bomb, and which is adjustable with respect to an igniting-passage g, Fig. 2. The fuse is ignited at this point when the bomb is dropped by means of a spring-controlled hammer j haying a cross-pin k which is normally supported on tapered projections, as described in Specification 9563/15. In this case, the hammer is actuated when, on the release of the bomb, a spring-controlled member m is freed and allowed to rise. On the firing of the cartridge e the feeler d, Fig. 6, is projected, thereby unwinding the cord p after pulling out a pin 19 which retains the flap r in position. The cord, by rapidly wiping over the flap, prevents it from rising, but if the feeler strikes the ground the flap is at once thrown outwardly by a spring and effects the explos on of the bomb as subsequently described. Should the cord p become fully unwound before the feeler touches the ground, the cartridge of the second feeler d' is automatically fired as the cord p leaves the drum. This is effected by the pulling down of a rod 20, Fig. 6, by the cord p as it tears away, the rod 20 releasing mechanism which fires the second cartridge. Thus the second feeler d<1>, together with its length of cord p<1>, functions in the same way as the first. The third feeler d<2> and length of cord p<2> are if necessary similarly brought into action. The final tearing away of the cord p<2> from the drum would release the flap. The main firing mechanism, Fig. 3, is contained within the central tube a<1>. It comprises a spring-actuated firing- hammer s, which is controlled through mechanism similar to that shown in the upper part of Fig. 2, by a rod w, which tends to rise but is restrained by the engagement of a foot x with a jointed arm y, Figs. 4 and 5. The arm, which is pivoted at z, is normally blocked by a cam 16 at the upper end of the spindle on which the flap r is mounted, but when the flap is moved outwardly the cam 16 frees the arm y, whereupon a spring 17 shifts the arm out of the way of the foot x, and the firing- mechanism operates. Means are provided for firing the bomb by direct impact, comprising a spring-controlled rod 33, Fig. 4, having a projection 35, Figs. 4 and 5, passing through a hole 37 in the end of the arm y. If the head of the rod 33 strikes the ground, the part 35 being moved upwards, turns the outer portion of the arm y about a pivot 14 so that it clears the cam 16 ; the spring 17 thereupon throws the arm out of engagement with the foot x and so releases the firing-mechanism, The body of the bomb is preferably provided with a suspending-hook and with guiding-vanes.