Year: 1896

page_text: 1, HERBERT VIVIAN KEESON of 40, Loudoun Road, Saint John's Wood,
London, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to means for exploding projectiles at the required instant
of time.
The chief object of this invention is to avoid the defects of chemical fuses by
substituting mechanical apparatus.
According to this invention, one compartment of the fuse contains a spiral
spring. This spring is contained in a cylinder or wheel which is hereinafter called
the spring-box. This wheel or spring-box is made free to revolve in bearings so
that when the fuse twists suddenly at the moment of firing then the spring-box is
delayed by its inertia from revolving. To the spring-box is attached the outer end
of the spiral spring so that the spring is thus wound up by the operation of firing
the projectile. The spring-box and spring are then held in constraint by a pawl
and ratchet. The inner end of the spiral spring is attached to a tube which is free
to revolve in the hollow axles of the spring-box so that when the inert spring-box
winds up the spring then the spring-tube tends to revolve in a direction contrary
to the revolutions of the projectile. This spring-tube extends outside the spring-
box towards the aftermost part of the fuse. This extended part of the spring-tube
is provided with a slot. Into this slot is fitted a ridge which said ridge is fixed
upon and is parallel to the striker. This striker is free to slide longitudinally
inside the spring-tube but is compelled to revolve with the spring-tube by the
ridge which fits into the slot of the spring-tube. This striker is provided with a
screw-thread fitting into a screw-nut so that when the spring-tube and striker
revolve then the striker travels revolving into the fulminate provided at the base
of the fuse and thus explodes the projectile.
In order to delay the explosion until the required instant the ridge of the striker
also fits into and slides longitudinally in another slot of a hollow spindle which
I name the time-spindle. This time-spindle is connected with works in the
foremost parts of the fuse and it extends longitudinally through the spring-tube.
These said works move in accordance with a determined standard of time and are
hereinafter described. The ridge of the striker is fitted into the slot of the time-
spindle and thus the striker can only revolve in accordance with the determined
standard of time. The time-spindle revolves only so long as the ridge of the
striker is engaged in the slot of the time-spindle. When the ridge of the striker is
by the before-mentioned screw-threads withdrawn from the slot of the time-spindle
then the ridge of the striker remains only in the slot of the spring-tube and is
thus undelayed from revolving so that the striker is driven violently into the
fulminate.
In order to delay the release of the striker until the required instant of time the
time-spindle is connected with one or more multiplying toothed wheels. These
toothed wheels cause a pinion to revolve. This pinion protrudes into the foremost
compartment of the fuse. Here the protruding end of the pinion carries a disc.
This disc carries an eccentric projection or pin thus forming a crank. In order to
minimise centrifugal action arising from the revolutions of the projectile the disc is

page_text: pierced with several holes close to the before-mentioned pin so that the crank is
completely balanced. The pin of the crank fits into and slides in a slot cut
radially in a wheel so that when the crank revolves then the wheel oscillates in
alternate directions. This oscillator and the crank maintain the standard of time
at which the working parts of the fuse shall move. The rate of working is
adjusted by the distance of the pin from the centre of the disc.
In order to adjust the instant of explosion, the before-mentioned screw-nut in
which the screw-thread of the striker engages is made free to revolve and is
hereinafter called the wheel-nut. By turning this wheel-nut the ridge of the
striker is made to slide towards the end of the slot of the time-spindle so that the
interval of time between the starting of the fuse and the release of the ridge of
the striker from the slot of the time-spindle can be accurately adjusted. The
wheel-nut is provided with teeth around its periphery so that by means of tooth-
gear the wheel-nut can be turned by turning a toothed wheel which partly
protrudes through the outside case of the fuse. This protruding toothed wheel
engages into teeth cut in a sliding collar fitted to the case of the fuse. Upon this
collar is an index or pointer.
Upon the case of the fuse figures representing fractions of time are engraved.
By turning this collar the time of explosion is adjusted. This adjusting collar is
secured from shifting by a locking collar which is made to be screwed tightly
against the adjusting collar.
In order to prevent movement of the parts until the time of firing, a pin or bar
is inserted so that the striker and the spring-box are held stationary.
In order to prevent working until the projectile is actually in flight a spring
presses upon and holds one of the working parts. This spring is weighted at the
moveable end so that when the fuse revolves then the spring beads centrifugally
away from and frees the said working part.
In order to prevent the main-spring being overwound, a locking-nut is provided
which only allows the spring-box to revolve relatively to the fuse a determined
number of times. A screw-thread is cut upon an extended axle of the spring-box.
The locking nut travels in this screw-thread and tightens on the last thread before
the spring is fully wound. In order to cause the before-mentioned pawl and
ratchet for the spring-box to engage securely, the pawl is counter-weighted so that
centrifugal action presses the pawl upon the ratchet teeth.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of February 1896.
I, HERBERT VIVIAN KEESON of 40 Loudoun Road, St. John's Wood, London,
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 :-
This invention relates to means for exploding projectiles at the required instant
of time.
The chief object of this invention is to avoid the defects of chemical fuses by
substituting mechanical apparatus.
According to this invention, one compartment of the fuse contains a spiral spring.
This spring is contained in a cylinder or wheel which is hereinafter called the
spring-box. This wheel or spring-box is made free to revolve in bearings so that
when the fuse twists suddenly at the moment of firing then the spring-box is
delayed by its inertia from revolving. To the spring-box is attached the outer end

page_text: of the spiral spring so that the spring is thus wound up by the operation of firing
the projectile. The spring-box and spring are then held in constraint by a pawl
and ratchet. The inner end of the spiral spring is attached to a tube which is
free to revolve in the hollow axles of the spring-box so that when the inert spring-
box winds up the spring then the spring-tube tends to revolve in a direction contrary
to the revolutions of the projectile. This spring-tube extends outside the spring-
box towards the aftermost part of the fuse. This extended part of the spring-tube
is provided with a slot. Into this slot is fitted a ridge, which said ridge is fixed
upon and is parallel to the striker. This striker is free to slide longitudinally
inside the spring-tube, but is compelled to revolve with the spring-tube, by the
ridge which fits into the slot of the spring-tube. This striker is provided with a
screw-thread fitting into a screw-nut so that when the spring-tube and striker
revolve then the striker travels revolving into.the fulminate provided at the base of
the fuse and thus explodes the projectile.
In order to delay the explosion until the required instant, the ridge of the
striker also fits into and slides longitudinally in another slot of a hollow spindle
which I name the time-spindle. This time-spindle is connected with works in the
foremost parts of the fuse and it extends longitudinally through the spring-tube.
These said works move in accordance with a determined standard of time and are
hereinafter described. The ridge of the striker is fitted into the slot of the time-
spindle and thus the striker can only revolve in accordance with the determined
standard of time. The time-spindle revolves only so long as the ridge of the
striker is engaged in the slot of the time-spindle. When, the ridge of the striker is
by the before mentioned screw-threads withdrawn from the slot of the time-spindle,
then the ridge of the striker remains only in the slot of the spring-tube and is thus
undelayed from revolving so that the striker is driven violently into the
fulminate.
In order to delay the release of the striker until the required instant of time,
the time-spindle is connected with one or more multiplying toothed wheels. These
toothed wheels cause a pinion to revolve. This pinion protrudes into the
foremost compartment of the fuse. Here the protruding end of the pinion carries
a disc. This disc carries an eccentric projection or pin thus forming a crank. In
order to minimise centrifugal action arising from the revolutions of the projectile
the disc is pierced with several holes close to the before-mentioned pin so that the
crank is completely balanced. The pin of the crank fits into and slides in a slot
cut radially in a wheel so that when the crank revolves then the wheel oscillates in
alternate directions. This oscillator and the crank maintain the standard of time
at which the working parts of the fuse shall move. The rate of working is adjusted
by the distance of the pin from the centre of the disc. Or the pin of the crank
may be connected to the wheel by a connecting rod.
In order to adjust the instant of explosion, the before-mentioned screw-nut in
which the screw-thread of the striker engages is made free to revolve and is
hereinafter called the wheel-nut. By turning this wheel-nut the ridge of the
striker is made to slide towards the end of the slot of the time-spindle so that the
interval of time between the starting of the fuse and the release of the ridge of
the striker from the slot of the time-spindle can be accurately adjusted.
The wheel-nut is provided with teeth around its periphery so that by means of
tooth-gear the wheel-nut can be turned by turning a toothed wheel which partly
protrudes through the outside case of the fuse. This protruding toothed wheel
engages into teeth cut in a sliding collar fitted to the case of the fuse. Upon this
collar is an index or pointer. Upon the case of the fuse figures representing
fractions of time are engraved. By turning this collar the time of explosion
is adjusted. This adjusting collar is secured from shifting by a locking collar
which is made to be screwed tightly against the adjusting collar.
In order to prevent movement of the parts until the time of firing, a pin or bar
is inserted so that the striker and the spring-box are held stationary. In order to
prevent working until the projectile is actually in flight & spring presses upon and

page_text: holds one of the working parts. This spring is weighted at the moveable end so
that when the fuse revolves then the spring bends centrifugally away from and frees
the said working parts.
In order to prevent the main-spring being overwound, a locking-nut is provided,
which only allows the spring-box to revolve relatively to the fuse a determined
number of times. A screw-thread is cut upon an extended axle of the spring-box.
The locking nut travels in this screw-thread and tightens on the last thread before
the spring is fully wound. In order to cause the before-mentioned pawl and
ratchet for the spring-box to engage securely, the pawl is counterweighted so that
centrifugal action presses the pawl upon the ratchet teeth.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fuse made according to this invention.
Figure 2 a longitudinal section and Figures 3, 4, and 5 transverse sections on the
lines 3.3. 4.4. 5. 5. in Figure 2 looking from right to left, the outer casing being
omitted in Figures 4 and 5.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are detached views of the striker and the tubes in which
it moves.
The outer case consists of the main case a, the cap b screwing onto a and the
plug. The main case a is provided with a screw thread a¹ to attach the fuse to
the projectile. d is the spring box (shown in elevation) revolving in a bearing d'
in the main case a and containing a helical spring (not shown) which is wound up
by the revolution of the projectile. The spring box is then retained by a spring
pawle and ratchet f. The inner end of the belical spring is attached to the
tube g, passing completely through the spring box which is provided with a slot gl
to receive a ridge on the striker h. This striker screws into the screw nut j
carried by the plate which abuts against a shoulder a² inside the case a so that
when the spring tube and striker revolve, the striker travels towards the fulminate
contained a cup cº communicating with powder in the cavity c¹ in the plug c which
is closed by a cap c² with a central aperture covered by a very thin metal disc c³
which is blown out on the explosion of the fulminate and the projectile is fired.
The ridge of the striker h also slides in a slot k in the time-spindle k which
extends through the spring tube g. The time spindle k is connected with a train
of wheels carried on a plate m. These wheels turn a pinion n on the spindle of
which is a disc o carrying an eccentric pin o forming a crank and driving by a
connecting rod pa fly wheel q the oscillations of which determine the time at which
the working parts of the fuse shall move.
To ensure that the fuse shall not explode until the projectile is fired, a spring
bolt or locking device engages with one of the train of wheels and is withdrawn
from it by centrifugal force on firing.
2+2
This
In order to adjust the instant of explosion, the nut j is furnished with teeth
gearing with a toothed pinion on a spindle carrying another pinion gearing
with the toothed wheels which projects through an opening in the case a.
wheels can be rotated by turning the collar or ring t which surrounds the case a
and is furnished with an internal ring of teeth. On the ring t being turned, the
shaft and the nut j are rotated and the striker h is partially withdrawn from the
time-spindle k and so the time of explosion is determined. The outside of the case a
and the ring t are suitably graduated and the ring t is clamped by a locking collar.u
and washer u'.
It will be obvious that the nut j might be fixed to the spring and the striker /
be free to move longitudinally in but not to turn relatively to a pinion gearing with
the pinion r.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a fuse for a projectile a striker moved towards the fulminate by its rotation
through a screw nut or by the rotation of a nut upon it.
2. In a fuse for a projectile a striker moved towards the fulminate by its rotation

page_text: through a screw nut (or by the rotation of a nut upon it), such rotation being
caused by the winding up of a spring due to the firing of the projectile but being
delayed for a time by clockwork.
3. The combination of the striker moving through a screw nut and the slotted
tube, connected with the clockwork, substantially as described.
4. The combination of a striker moving through a screw nut or of a nut moving
upon a striker with means for rotating the screw nut or the striker as the case may
be from the outside of the fuse.
5. The combination with the striker moving through the screw nut of the
toothed ring surrounding the outer case and intermediate toothed gearing for
rotating the nut or striker.
6. In combination with the subject matter of the preceding claim, the collar
substantially as described.
7. The combination with a striker controlled by clockwork of a bolt or
brake normally stopping the clockwork but put out of gear by the rotation of
the shell.
8. The fuse substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
H. V. KEESON.