Improvements relating to Time and Percussion Fuses.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Time and Percussion Fuses.
I, SAMUEL VICTOR DARDIER, of Victoria Mansions, 32 Victoria Street, in the City of
Westminster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to time and percussion fuses for explosive projectiles or shells.
My said invention is chiefly designed to improve the construction and increase the
safety of fuses of the kind or class wherein the transmission of the flame or flash from
the detonating composition to the ring of fuse-composition, is effected by the aid of
mealed powder or quickmatch arranged in a radial passage or channel in a part of the
fuse-case or body which is adjustable relatively to the other part thereof in such a
manner that the said mealed powder or quickmatch can be moved in either direction
relatively to the composition-ring, for the purpose of regulating the interval between
the ignition of the fuse and the bursting of the shell.
The main feature of my said invention is the provision of a separate or readily
detachable box or casing in which are arranged the caps, primers or detonators of
both the time and the percussion portions of the fuse, and which is intended to be
inserted in its place in the fuse-case or body when, but not until the projectile or
shell is about to be rammed into a gun.
I find it advantageous to so construct this box or casing that it will contain the
pellet of the time portion of the fuse. In some instances I construct the said box or
casing so that it will also contain the concussion pellet. The said box or casing is
adapted to be screwed into, or otherwise secured to the fixed part of the fuse-case or
body and, when thus secured, will extend through a hole in the adjustable part thereof,
so that the latter can be freely rotated about its axis. I provide a suitable plug or
stopper for closing this hole when the said box or casing is removed.
For preventing displacement of the concussion pellet when the said box or casing is
removed, I sometimes provide the fuse-case or body with an internal projection or
flange which bears against the corresponding end of the said pellet. In this case, the
lower end of the chamber containing the concussion pellet is closed by a screw-threadod
or other suitable base-piece. In other instances I make the said chamber with a solid
bottom and insert the pellet through the top of the said chamber, and I so construct
the aforesaid plug or stopper that, when screwed or otherwise secured in the hole in
the adjustable part of the fuse-case, its inner end will bear against the corresponding
end of the said pellet.
I prefer to provide in the said detachable box or casing, two or more primers or
pieces of detonating composition, so that, whatever may be their position relatively to
the mealed powder or quickmatch contained in the aforesaid radial passage or channel,
one of the said primers will always be sufficiently near to the said mealed powder
or quickmatch to ensure the transmission of the flame or flash thereto.
The cap or primer of the percussion portion of the fuse may be arranged within a
perforated cup on the rear or under side of the said detachable box or casing, or in
any other convenient manner.
The aforesaid plug or stopper may be made of wood, cork, metal or other suitable
material.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Time and Percussion Fuses.
1. SAMUEL VICTOR DARDIER, of Victoria Mansions 32 Victoria Street in the City
of Westminster Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:―
My invention relates to time and percussion fuses for explosive projectiles or
shells.
My said invention is chiefly designed to improve the construction and increase
the safety of fuses of the kind or class described in the Specification of former Letters
Patent applied for on the 6th March A.D. 1890, No. 3604, that is to say, fuses
wherein the transmission of the flame or flash from the detonating composition to a
ring of fuse-composition held in the body of the fuse-case, is effected by the aid of
mealed powder or quick-match arranged in a radial passage or channel in a cap or
cover which is adjustable relatively to the body of the fuse-case, for the purpose of
regulating the action of the fuse by varying the interval between the ignition of
the time-fuse and the bursting of the shell.
The main feature of my present invention is the employment of a separate or
readily detachable box or casing in which are arranged the caps, primers or detonators
of both the time-fuse and the percussion-fuse, and which is intended to be inserted
in its place in the body of the fuse when, but not until the projectile or shell is
about to be rammed into a gun.
It will be seen, therefore, that my said invention affords increased safety in the
handling, storage and transport of shells provided with fuses of the kind or class
above mentioned.
I find it advantageous to so construct the said detachable box or casing that it.
will also contain the pellet of the time-fuse, and, if desired, also the concussion pellet.
The said box or casing is adapted to be passed through a hole in the adjustable cap
or cover of the fuse-case and to be screwed into, or otherwise secured to the fixed
part or body thereof; the said adjustable cap or cover can, therefore, be freely rotated
about its axis relatively to the body. I provide a suitable plug or stopper for closing
the said hole in the cap or cover when the said box or casing is removed.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section, and
Figure 2 a side elevation of one form of my improved fuse.
Figure 3 is a transverso section on the line a, a, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal central section, and
Figure 5 a side elevation, showing the aforesaid box or casing detached.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal central section of my improved fuse, the said box or
casing being removed and the aforesaid plug inserted in the hole in the adjustable
cap or cover of the fuse-case.
Figure 7 is a transverse section on the line a, a, Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal central section showing another form or modification of
the said box or casing, which is adapted to contain both pellets.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal central section, illustrating a slight modification in the
construction of my improved fuse, and
Figure 10 is also a longitudinal central section, showing another form of plug for
closing the hole in the adjustable cap or cover of the fuse-case when the said box or
casing is removed.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings:
a is the fixed part or body of the fuse-case, which is to be screwed tightly into the
end of the projectile or shell. b is the adjustable cap or cover for regulating the action
of the time-fuse. This cap or cover may be secured to the body a by means of a
ring or washer c of cork or other suitable material, and a screw-threaded ring d, as
shown in Figure 1, and as described in the said former Specification, or in any other

page_text: convenient manner. f is the fusible metal tube containing the incomplete ring of fuse-
composition and enclosed in an annular channel g between the two parts a, b of the
fuse-case. is the channel or passage filled with mealed powder or its equivalent for
communicating the flame from the fuse-composition to the bursting-charge of the
shell. is the radial channel or passage filled with mealed powder or its equivalent for
communicating the flame or flash from one or other of the primers or detonators to
the fuse-composition in the tube f, the said passage being closed at its outer end by a
plug ² as described in the said former Specification. m is the pellet of the time-fuse;
n is the pellet and the primer or detonator for effecting the explosion of the shell
upon impact.
q is the removable or detachable box or casing for containing the caps, primers or
detonators.
In the fuse illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, the primer-box 9 is screw-threaded at its
inner end so that it can be screwed tightly into the body a, and is adapted to contain
the primers and p and also the pellet m; the said box or casing g is closed at its
outer end by means of a plug q'. A central hole is formed in the cap or cover b,
through which the box or casing q will extend when screwed into the body a.
The primers or detonators (of which there may be four or any other suitable
number) are so arranged in the said box or casing that when they are exploded,
one or other of them will cause the ignition of the mealed powder or quick-match in
the channel k.
For preventing displacement of the concussion pellet n when the said box or
casing is removed from the fuse-case, I sometimes provide the body a with an
internal projection or flange a', Figure 1, which bears against the corresponding end
of the said pellet. In this case, the lower end of the chamber containing the concussion
pellet is closed by a screw-threaded plug a² or other suitable base-piece.
1 provide in the said detachable box or casing q, two or more primers or pieces of
detonating composition so that, whatever may be their position relatively to the
mealed powder or quick-match contained in the radial passage or channel k, one of
the said primers will always be sufficiently near to the said mealed powder or quick-
match to ensure the transmission of the flame or flash thereto.
The cap or primer p of the percussion portion of the fuse is arranged within a
perforated cup q² on the rear or under side of the said detachable box or casing q;
or it may be arranged in any other convenient manner.
When the box or casing 9 is removed, the hole in the cap or cover 6 is closed
by a plug or stopper of wood, cork, metal or other suitable material. The plug
shown in Figure 6 is provided with a cord or wire to facilitate its withdrawal.
In Figure 8 I have shown a modified form of the primer-box q, which is adapted
to contain the two pellets m and n in addition to the primers. The said box is, in
this case, made with a second chamber q³ for containing the pellet n and this chamber
is perforated as at q* to permit the passage of flame from the detonator p to the mealed
powder in the passage h.
I sometimes make the body a with a solid bottom, as shown in Figure 9, and insert
the pellet n through the top thereof, and I so construct the plug or stopper ŕ that,
when screwed or otherwise secured in the hole in the adjustable cap or cover b, its
inner end will bear against the corresponding end of the said pellet n, as shown, for
example, in Figure 10.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood
that I claim:-
First. The herein described method of providing for the safe handling, storage and
transport of shells provided with fuses, by enclosing the caps, primers or detonators of
the fuse in a separate box or casing for insertion into the body of the fuse when, but
not until the shell is about to be rammed into a gun.
Second. A time and percussion fuse of the kind or class hereinbefore referred to,
wherein the caps, primers or detonators and one or both of the pellets are enclosed in a

page_text: separate box or casing which can be readily secured to and removed from the body
of the fuse and which is passed through a hole in the adjustable cap or cover, for the
purposes above specified.
Third. The body of the fuse having the removable plug at its rear or inner end to
permit the insertion of the concussion pellet, and provided with the internal flange for
retaining the said pellet in place, substantially as above specified.
Fourth. The improved time and percussion fuse provided with the separate primer-
box, and constructed substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of
the accompanying drawing, for the purposes above specified.
Fifth. The modification of my invention wherein I make the body of the fuse with
a solid base and provide for the retention of the concussion pellet in place, when the
primer-box is removed, by means of a plug secured in the adjustable cap or cover,
substantially as described with reference to Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying
drawing.
قيم
בז
1
1000
S. V. DARDIER.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.