Improvements in Percussion Fuses.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 189U-Accepted, 20th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Percussion Fuses.
I, HENRY AUGUSTUS SCHLUND, of the Aston Arms Company Limited, Aston Cross,
in the City of Birmingham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to further improvements in percussion fuses of the kind
described in the Specification of Patent No. 112 of 1886 for use with shell torpedoes
and the like, the object of the present invention being to adapt the principle of the
fuse described in the said former Specification No. 112 of 1886 to fuses that are
screwed from the outside into the base of shells and also to produce more uniform
results in the working of the fuse.
In carrying out this invention the outer and inner cases are so designed that these
parts of the fuse can be made by drawing up tubes like cartridges and finishing them
off. The inner case has a recess at the upper end for receiving the detonator and is
screwed home into the outer case, and by this means an important improvement is
effected the detonator being imprisoned and not liable to be moved or to get out of
order. The arrangement of the screw threads affords ease and cheapness in
manufacture.
The pellet instead of being prolonged and having to be opened as described in the
said former Specification is made in two parts, one screwing into the other the washer
being held between them.
The conical part of the pellet when the shell is bursting is forced back against the
shoulders in the base thus causing the screw threads thereof to be firmly fixed and
kept in their place by the pressure of the powder gas and also making the base into a
solid block. This is an important point in fuses as they are often blown out by the
pressure, the threads acting as a cam and the fuse body collapsing.
Dated the 90th day of February 1890
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Percussion Fuses.
I, HENRY AUGUSTUS SCHLUND, of the Aston Arms Company, Limited, Aston Cross,
in the City of Birmingham, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in percussion fuses of the kind described in
the Specification of Letters Patent No. 112 of 1886 for use with shell torpedoes and
the like, the object of the present invention being to adapt the principle of the fuse
described in the said Specification to fuses that are screwed from the outside into the
bases of shells and also to produce more uniform results in the working of the fuses.
In the accompanying drawing-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved fuse :
Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views of the different parts detached:
Figure 8 is a view illustrating a modification.
a is the base of the fuse which is designed to be screwed into the base of a shell,
and b, c are outer and inner cases which are preferably formed by drawing up tubes
like cartridges and finishing them off. The inner case c has a recess d at the upper
end for receiving the detonator and is designed to be screwed into the outer case b,
Dim 11

page_text: an important improvement being thereby effected as the detonator is imprisoned and
not liable to be moved or to get out of order. The arrangement of the screw-threads
also affords ease and cheapness in manufacture.
e is a pellet or striker which is made conical for a portion of its length and cylindrical
for the remaining portion, and adapted to fit into a corresponding conical seat and
recess in the base, the said conical and cylindrical portions being made separate and
adapted to be screwed together so that a washer f, which serves for holding the said
striker out of contact with the detonator, may be held between them.
During the ignition of the explosives within the shell the striker is forced back into
its recess by the pressure of the gas, the conical portion of the said striker being
thereby pressed upon its seat. The pressure is thus utilized for holding the threads of
the base of the fuse in contact with the threads in the base of the shell and thus
preventing the escape of gas. This is an important advantage in fuses as they are
often blown out by the pressure, the screw-thread acting as a cam so that the fuse
body or base collapses.
I sometimes modify the construction of the striker, as shown in Figure 8, by
forming the cylindrical part thereof with a long shank g extending entirely through
the conical portion, and having its end coned to serve as the point of the striker. In
some cases it may be advisable to make the front part of the conical portion of the
striker, indicated above the dotted line h, separate from the other portion so that it
constitutes a lock-nut.
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 1
claim is :-
1. A percussion fuse the striker of which is adapted to fit a recess in the base in
such a manner that, when acted upon by the pressure of the gases due to the explosion.
it will be moved into the said recess, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
2. In a percussion fuse of the kind hereinbefore referred to connecting the striker
to the supporting washer substantially as described.
3. The modifications in the construction of the striker, substantially as described
with reference to Figure 8 of the drawing.
4. The manufacture and use of the improved percussion fuse hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 20th day of November 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.