Improvements in Time Fuzes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1899
We, Sir W. G. ARMSTRONG, WHITWORTH & COMPANY LIMITED, Manufacturing
Engineers, and GEORGE STUART, Engineer, both of Elswick Works, Newcastle
upon Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a simple and reliable means of setting
the composition ring of time fuzes to regulate the time of burning, whereby,
no key is required and also adapting the fuze to be set in the dark, the setting
being regulated by sound producing clicks of a ratchet spring.
33
To obtain this object a ratchet spring is inserted into the circumference of
the body, and the composition ring deepened so that part overlaps the body
and the spring ratchet teeth are cut on the inside of the overlapping ring, each
tooth corresponding with each division of the composition ring. The space
between "0" and "18" is blank except that under the arrow indicating
"safe position one tooth is cut, so that in the dark the ring can always be
restored to zero, and the counting recommenced. The end of the ratchet spring
is provided with a projection representing the zero point, and by pressing this
the ring can be turned in the opposite direction. A strong spring is placed
under the nut sufficient to keep the ring in contact. The nut is also secured so
that it cannot be altered after adjusting. The ratchet prevents the ring from
rotating during flight, thereby doing away with the necessity of key clamping.
Dated this 29th day of September 1899.
Improvements in Time Fuzes.
We, Sir W. G. ARMSTRONG, WHITWORTH & COMPANY LIMITED, Manufacturing
Engineers, and GEORGE STUART, Engineer, both of Elswick Works, Newcastle
upon-Tyne, 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
-
insantion has for its chiest a simple and reliable MoonB
Betfing

page_text: the composition ring of time fuzes to regulate the time of burning whereby
no key is required and also adapting the fuze to be set in the dark, the setting
being regulated by sound producing clicks of a ratchet spring.
"
"
To obtain this object a ratchet spring is inserted into the circumference of
the body and the composition ring deepened so that part overlaps the body
and the spring-ratchet teeth are cut on the inside of the overlapping ring, each
tooth corresponding with each division of the composition ring. The space
between "0" and '18" is blank except that under the arrow indicating
"safe position
one tooth is cut, so that in the dark the ring can always be
restored to zero, and the counting recommenced. The end of the ratchet spring
is provided with a projection and by pressing this the ring can
be turned in the opposite direction. A strong spring is placed
under the nut sufficient to keep the ring in contact. The nut is also secured so
that it cannot be altered after adjusting. The ratchet prevents the ring from
rotating during flight, thereby doing away with the necessity of key clamping.
Figure 1 of the drawings is an elevation and Figure 2 a part section of a
fuze made according to this invention. Figure 3 is a part horizontal section on
the line 3-3 Figure 1 showing the spring and a few of the teeth while Figures 4
are developed views of the composition ring.
a is the body of the fuze in a recess in which is inserted the ratchet spring b
furnished with a projection and the tooth 63 engaging with the ring of teeth c¹
cut on the inside of the lower part of the composition ring c which is keyed to the
dome d by the key d. The teeth are kept down over the ratchet by the pressure
of the spring e under the nut f on the central stem g.
To set the fuze the dome and ring are turned and the clicks counted, each click
being equivalent say to a quarter of a second. Should the counting go wrong.
the ring can easily be returned to the zero position (known by the single slot ²
in the middle of the plain piece 3) either by turning on in the natural direction
or by pressing in the projection 61 and turning back in the opposite direction.
It is obvious that the spring might be carried by the ring and the teeth cut
in the body.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is;-
1. In a time fuze the combination of a ring of teeth and a ratchet spring
for the purpose specified.
2. Time fuzes substantially as described and illustrated.
1 1 £1000.
SIR W. G. ARMSTRONG, WHITWORTH & CO., LIMITED,
P. WATTS,
Director.
G. STUART.
T. M. FALKNER,
Secretary.