Improvements in Exploders or Fuses for Projectiles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1894
CUMI LEIE
Improvements in Exploders or Fuses for Projectiles.
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM JOHN SMITH, Mechanical Engineer,
residing at No. 698; Chapel Street, City and County of New Haven, State
of Connecticut, United States of America.
ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 & 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
The invention relates to exploders or fuses for projectiles which are adapted
more particularly to what are generally known as time fuses or exploders, that is,
they will explode after a given time, which may be predetermined, and this may be
counted from the discharge of the projectile from the gun, or from the impact of
the projectile on the object against which it is fired, and the invention consists in
such an exploder or fuse having the features of construction and arrangement of
parts, and mode of operation substantially as hereinafter set forth.
Referring to the accompanying drawings wlierein I have illustrated the preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 1 is a sectional viow of a portion of the shell and of the exploder, shewing
the parts in their normal or charged condition;
Fig. 2 is a similar section of the exploder, shewing the parts in their discharged
position,
Fig. 3 is an end view of the exploder;
Fig. 4 is a transverse horizontal section;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the regulating valve; and
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a convenient device for adjusting the regulating
valve.
The exploder or fuse is made as a complete article of manufacture, containing
within itself all the necessary parts to its operation, and is adapted to be secured
to a shell or other projectile by screw-threads or other equivalent means and it
comprises a hammer actuated by a spring or equivalent, a locking device for the
hammer, means for controlling the lock, and means for regulating the movement
of the lock, so that its time of operation may be controlled and these parts may be
arranged and combined in many and various ways to carry out the broad principles
of the invention. In the drawings I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of
this invention, which is simple, cheap, compact and effective in operation, and I
will now proceed to describe the details of construction as therein shewn.
The drawing shews a section of a portion of a shell in the rear wall of which
is an opening in which the exploder or fuse is secured, it being shewa as
arranged in the central portion of the base of the shell, and while this is the
preferred location of the fuse, it can, of course, be arranged in different locations,
as desired.
There is a case A, which is fitted with certain recesses and passages containing
the operative parts of the exploder, and mounted in one of the recesses is a
hammer B, which is shewn as having a recessed rear end in which is mounted a
spring 4, tending to force the hammer forward, and beneath the hammer or in
front thereof, is placed some sort of an igniter, shewn as provided with a
percussion cap w; having fulminate or similar explosive material. This hammer

page_text: is held in position by some sort of a locking device, shewn in the present instance
as being provided with a rod 5, entering a recess or opening in the hammer-head
and serving to retain the hammer in position against pressure of the spring.
This hammer is shewn as provided with a piston C, sliding in a transverse
recess y, in the case, and actuated by a spring 7, tending to force the locking
device to the right, or to a position to unlock the hammer. Of course, it will be
understood that some means must be provided for holding the lock in position until
the proper time, or when it is desired to use the projectile, and while various means
may be used for this purpose, I have shewn a sliding bolt or detent D; which is
mounted in a recess in the case, in this instance parallel with the recess of the
hammer, and which is provided with an opening, as 3, through which an extension 5ª,
of the locking rod can pass when the detent is in the proper position. It is
necessary that the detent or bolt should be prevented from turning in this recess,
and it may be made square or provided with ribs, or other well-known form,
although it is shewn in the present instance as circular in cross section and as
baving a flattened lower portion against which the end of the rod 5ª normally.
impinges, thus serving to hold the detent in position against rotation as well as
against accidental movement.
This rod may extend to the outer surface of the case A, and be acted upon
directly by the force of the expansion of the gases, but in order to furnish a
protection against accidental movement of the bolt, my correspondent has provided
a disc D', which is mounted on a shoulder of the recess, and is preferably flush with
the face of the exploder and is provided with a small opening D', through which
the gases can pass and act upon the bolt.
The parts as thus far described may be utilized as an exploder operating by
concussion or impact of the shell which would force the bolt forward, releasing the
lock, when the spring would quickly release the hammer and cause an almost
instantaneous explosion. It is, however, desirable in many instances to have an
interval of time before the shell explodes after it strikes the object aimed at, or to
cause the shell to explode at a certain definite time after it is fired from the gun,
and in order to do this, means are provided for retarding the movement of the lock
after the detent or bolt has been operated, either by impact or by the force of the
exploding gases in firing the gun. To do this, the recess or chamber y is provided
with some sort of fluid and provided also with a by-pass or channel, connecting
the two ends of the recess y, on opposite sides of the piston C, so that the fluid
in front of the piston has to pass through the channel to the rear thereof before
the locking bolt can release the hammer. Any suitable fluid or liquid may be
used; as oil, glycerine, mercury, or water, which may be found available or desirable
under the circumstances.
In order to control the flow of this fluid through the by-pass and thus regulate
to a nicety the exact time of the movement of the locking bolt, there is provided a
regulating valve E, which is arranged to form part of the by-pass f, having an
opening E, in its side communicating with the central opening in its lower end,
and it will be seen that by turning this valve to the right or left the size of the
by-pass can be varied or it can be throttled to control the rate of flow of the fluid
therethrough. In order that this can be more accurately and delicately adjusted
there is preferably also made a tapering slot or recess E, in the side of the valve,
the wide portion of which opens into the slot E, and with this means an
exceedingly accurate and delicate adjustment of the flow of fluid can be attained.
This regulating valve preferably projects practically flush with the surface of
the case, and is provided with a slot, as shewn in Fig. 3, for the reception of a
suitable adjusting device, such for instance as that illustrated in Fig. 6, which
consists of a pointer e', and a blade or handle e, which can be fitted into the slot in
the valve E, and the pointer co-operates with the scale e on the face of the case to
indicate the exact relative location of the valve, so that the time necessary for the
operation of the locking device can be adjusted to suit the requirements of any
.particular case.

page_text: While the piston and locking rod may be mounted in any desired way, there is
preferably provided a plug B', which enters a recess in the side of the case and is
provided with an opening for the hammer, and forms a sleeve or abutinent for the
spring 7.
"
While any suitable igniter may be used, I have shewn a construction which has
been found exceedingly effective, and which consists of a hollow gland, supporting
the fulminating cap w, on its end, and is provided with a notch whereby it can be
accurately adjusted in the recess beneath the hammer.
This gland is filled with some explosive material, and the recess closed by
another gland z, also screw threaded which confines the exploding charge in the
recess. This gland, is provided with a narrow transverse slit 2, which not only
furnishes means by which it can be readily adjusted, but furnishes a narrow slit or
channel through which the products of combustion of the explosive material cau
flash in a thin sheet of flame, and it has been found that with this construction,
with a relatively small amount of explosive, a longer penetrating flame is
produced, which insures the explosion of the main charge of the shell.
It will thus be seen that this device is a very simple and compact exploder,
which can be readily constructed, all the openings being bored from the outside by
proper tools, und some may be closed by screws or pins, and the parts can be readily.
adjusted in position. It will also be seen that there is little danger of the accidental
operation of the exploder, as the locking bolt is protected against accidental
movement, and nothing but a serious concussion could possibly operate the bolt,
and that when in a right direction and of sufficient severity to causo the bolt to
move under tension of the locking rod.
The operation of the device will be understood from what has been set forth,
and need not be described in detail. It will be seen that this exploder answers all
the requirements of such a device in that it can be used simply as a concussion or
impact exploder, so that the shell will explode practically instantaneously on
impact it can be used as a time fuse or exploder operated by impact, that is
the impact will move the detent or bolt and release the locking rod or device, which
will be controlled by the regulating means, so that the hammer will be released in
a given time after impact; it can be used as a time fuse or exploder, operating at a
given time after it is fired from the gun, when the bolt or detent is operated by the
explosive force of the gases passing through the opening D³, in the disc D¹ and
this releases the bolt, which releases the hammer after a given time, depending
upon the adjustment of the regulating valve. Of course, when it is used as an
impact exploder, the disc D', is imperforate, to prevent the detent D being moved
by the explosive gases.
While have thus described the preferred embodiment of the essential features
of the invention, may state that my correspondeut has embodied the same in
many and various different arrangements, all involving the same general mode: of
operation, and it is evident that the invention is not limited to the precise location
and construction of the parts but that the essential features. of the invention may
be embodied in many and various different ways, without departing from the spirit
thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An exploder for projectiles, provided with a spring actuated hammer, a lock
for holding the hammer in position with the spring compressed, means for moving
the lock in one direction to release the hammer, and meaus for holding the lock in
position; substantially as described.
2. An exploder for projectiles, provided with a spring actuated hammer, a lock
for holding the hammer in position. with the spring compressed, a spring for
moving the lock in one direction to release the hammer, and a deteut for holding
the lock in position with its spring compressed, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. An exploder for projectiles, provided with a spring actuated hammer, a
lock therefor, a detent for holding the lock, a spring for actuating the lock,
and a regulating device controlling the movements of the lock, substantially as
described.
4. An exploder for projectiles, provided with a spring actuated hammer, a lock,
a spring for netuating the lock, a detent for holding the lock, a regulating device
comprising a passage, and an adjusting valve arranged to regulate the flow of
liquid through the passage, substantially, as described.
5. An exploder for projectiles, provided with a spring actuated hammer, a lock,
a spring for actuating the lock, and a detent consisting of a block arranged to be
shifted to release the lock on concussion of the shell on striking an object,
substantially as described.
6. An exploder for projectiles, provided with a spring actuated hammer, a lock,
a detent therefor, a spring acting on the lock, and a regulating device for the lock,
the said detent being arranged to be moved by concussion of the shell on striking
an object, and the regulating device controlling the movement of the lock after it
is released, substantially as described.
7. An exploder for projectiles, provided with spring actuated hammer, a lock,
a spring for moving the lock in one direction, and a detent consisting of a
sliding block having a flattened surface against which the lock impinges, and
an opening through which it passes when the detent is moved, substantially as
described.
8. An exploder for projectiles, comprising a case or block containing a spring
actuated hammer, a sliding rod extending beneath said hammer when the spring
is compressed and provided with a piston sliding in a recess in the block, a
spring bearing against said piston, a passage extending between the ends of the
recess around the piston, an adjusting valve controlling said passage, and a detent
controlling the sliding rod, substantially as described.
9. An exploder for projectiles, comprising a case provided with a hammer, a
lock, means for actuating the lock, adjustable means for controlling the movement
of the lock when released, and a detent controlling the lock and arranged to be
operated by the explosion of the charge of the gun, substantially as described.
10. In an exploder for projectiles, the combination with the case, the hammer,
lock, and controlling means, of a detent controlling the lock, the detent being
mounted in a recess the outer end of which is closed by a perforated disc;
substantially as described.
11. In an exploder for projectiles, the combination with the case provided with a
hammer, lock, and detent, of means for actuating the lock, means for regulating
the movement of the lock when released, and an adjusting valve having the slot
and passage, substantially as described.
12. The combination in an exploder for projectiles, with the case containing a
hammer, a lock, a detent, and means for actuating the lock, of a plug provided
with a valve controlling the movement of the lock, the plug having a slot in its
outer face and adapted to be operated by a hand tool, having a pointer to adjust
the valve, substantially as described.
13. In an exploder for projectiles, the combination with the hammer and means
for controlling its movements, of an igniter comprising a gland supporting the
fulminating cap, and a second gland having a slot on the inner face of the
exploder,, substantially as described.
Dated the 8th day of October 1894.
:
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.