Improvements in or connected with High Explosive Projectiles and in Detonating Fuses and Attachments or Fittings therefor.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1899-Accepted, 23rd Sept.,
1899
COMITUMIE
Improvements in or connected with High Explosive Projectiles and in
Detonating Fuses and Attachments or Fittings therefor.
I, HARRIS PRIULI HURST, of No. 1103, East Capitol Street, Washington, D.C.,
United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 high explosive projectiles and to detonating fuses and,
their attachments or fittings for exploding or detonating the high explosive
projectiles and particularly to fused shells using guncotton as a main or bursting
charge.
The object of this invention is, first, to charge the ordinary armour piercing
and other projectiles with a main or bursting charge securely protected and
attaching thereto a detonating fuse so fitted as to be incapable of exploding or
detonating the main charge until the shell has been discharged from the gun, and,
secondly, to arrange the fuse so that it will explode or detonate the main or
bursting charge at the proper time.
My invention consists in a novel device or devices whereby a protecting central
section is arranged to slide or telescope with the projectile and open a channel
for a travelling fuse-way having a sliding fuse, or fuse constructed to move
with or follow the moving central section into exploding or detonating relation
to the main or bursting charge carried by the projectile, the fuse movable longi-
tudinally within and relatively to the projectile. In the normal position the
central section may alone separate, isolate and protect the main charge from the
fuse, or the travelling fuse-way, when held by its retaining device, may of itself
separate, isolate and protect the main charge from the fuse, or both the central
section and the travelling fuse-way may jointly separate, isolate and protect
the main charge from the fuse. The travelling fuse-way may be attached to the
central section or be separated and independent thereof, or the fuse may follow
the central section, the travelling fuse-way being omitted. Any suitable con-
struction of fuse or detonator and any desirable explosive or explosives may be
used as a fuse charge or charges and as a main or bursting charge for the pro-
jectile.
My invention may be embodied in various forms of construction, some of which
are represented in the accompanying drawings, which will now be described.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section partly in elevation, showing my invention
applied to an armor piercing shell, the front portion of the shell being omitted
and the mechanism showing the fuse in the normal position, i.e., the position it
occupies before the shell is fired from the gun.
Figure 2 is a broken longitudinal section of the fuse and attachments or
fittings of Figure 1, showing the position of the fuse and fittings just after the
shell has been fired from the gun, the explosive material of the fuse being at
the remotest position in the rear extension of the shell from its main or bursting
charge.
2 is a broken longitudinal section of Figure 1, showing the position of

page_text: the fuse and fittings upon retardation or impact of the shell just at the moment
of explosion of the fuse material.
Figure 4 is a detail in perspective of some of the parts of one form of the
anchor mechanism for locking or holding and releasing the safety devices of the
fuse.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are modifications of Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a cased fuse arranged for storage and, when used, attachable to
Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a cross section of Figures 5 and 7 on lines rr.
Figure 10 is a cross section of Figure 5 on lines y-y, and
Figure 11 is a detail of the fuse, showing some of the parts detached.
Letters of reference are used to designate the various parts and similar letters
indicate similar parts.
The shell, A, may be cast or forged of steel or other suitable metal of any
preferred design, and the main charge chamber, B, may be of any desired size
and shape. In Figures 1 and 3 the forward portion of chamber, B, is screw
threaded and a hollow anchor, C, is securely screwed therein, leaving an opening
any desired depth in the shell wall in line with the hole through the anchor.
On opposite sides of the anchor stem are secured thereto, by screws or rivets or
other means, the spring arms, 1), of the locking lugs, E. A circular plate, F,
having a central opening, F1, Figure 4, is fitted in chamber, B, so as to effectually
separate the chamber into two compartments and secured so as to permit the lugs
to move outwardly. A hollow central section, G, having one end open and
interiorly screw threaded, is filled with a saturating fluid or smothering substance,
as shown in Figures 1 and 3, or an explosive, H, as shown in Figure 5, and the
section is then closed by a screw plug, I, having a spindle, I', projecting forward
therefrom. The central section is then inserted through opening, F1, of plate, F,
and is estopped from forward motion by the soft metal plate, F", attached to the
section in any suitable manner, and bearing upon the rubber or other sealing
material, between the plates, F and F, the extreme end of the spindle, 11,
projecting into the longitudinal hole through anchor, C, as shown in Figure 1,
the lugs E, of any desired width lying against the spindle, 1', and between the
anchor stem and the forward end of the section. The main or bursting charge,
preferably of suitably prepared guncotton, H, enclosed in hermetically sealed
metal boxes, J, having a central longitudinal hole therethrough, are placed
over the rear end of section, G, and the boxes pressed into position in chamber, B.
A screwed threaded base plug, K, having a central longitudinal hole therethrough
is screwed into the screw threaded open end of the shell, the rear end of the
section projecting in the hole in the plug, and the front face of the plug, when
in position, bearing upon the shoulder, L, on the rear end of section, G, causing
the section to press the plate, F", against the sealing material, F, spreading it
so as to seal the chamber containing the explosive and prevent the escape of
moisture if wet guncotton is used as a bursting charge. The rear end of section, G,
has a screw threaded projection, M, surrounded by a metal or rubber packing, N,
sealing the entrance to chamber, B, through the plug: Over projection, M, is
screwed the recessed and screw threaded solid head of the travelling fuse-way, O,
having a tubular portion, O, extending rearward any desired distance.
firing pin, a, is carried by the interior wall of the solid closed head of the
travelling fuse-way, and surrounding the firing pin is a coiled spring, b, under
compression, one end resting against the travelling fuse-way and the other end
pressing against the head of the fuse case, c, having a central hole, d, in the top
of the case, and a central tube, c, of less diameter than the case extends longi-
tudinally through the case and projects rearward therefrom any desired distance.
The tube may be integral with or screwed into and through the center of the
screw threaded piece, f, closing the case, c. In case, c, are dry guncotton disks, g,
having a central hole through the charge for the passage of the tube, e, which
has in its forward end a case h, containing fulminate of mercury, i, and having
A

page_text: C
3:
192
An
the head of the case. In tube, e, is an annealed coppor coil, k, resting
cap, in
small coiled spring, in
gainst the rear end of case, h, and a
rear of case, h
he centre of coil, K, also resting against the
C
screw threaded plug m,
The coil and spring are seated" against the
Case, h, is closed by a screw plug n
losing the tube,” e
annealed, copper coil, o, surrounds tube, e, the upper end resting against the base
of the case, c, and the coil extends the length of the tubular portion, O¹, of the
ravelling fuse-way O. Over the tubular portion, O', carrying the cased explosive
material of the fuse held therein between the compressed spring, b, and coil, o, as
hown in Figure 1, is a tubular covering, P, having the inner forward wall cut
way and weakened and screw threaded interiorly. When the shell is ready for
use the travelling fuse-way, O, is screwed into the. section; "G, the explosive
material of the fuse and attachments or fittings placed into position as a single
P.,
piece with the travelling fuse-way, or separately as desired, and the ced
screwed into the annular recess, Q, formed in the rear of the plug, K,
threads on the plug facing outwardly and the cover walls back of the
screw
end rest upon a shoulder, R, under 'the screw threads when the cover, P, is screwed
into. position. Over this shoulder,, R, is an annular groove, S, in the plug, K.
The rear of the cover, P, has a screw threaded opening, closed by a screw
plug, U, having a handle or ring, U, to facilitate the removal of plug, 'U,"
An annular chamber, p, is shown around
to withdraw the fuse charge.
the tubular portion of the travelling fuse-way, O, in its normal position, and a
rubber or other suitable buffer, q, is secured to the forward end of plug, U,
against which plug the coil, o, rests, holding the explosive material of the fuse in
case, c, against the compressed spring, b.
The operation of my invention, as illustrated by Figures 1, 2 and 3, is as
follows: When the shell is fired from the gun, the case, c, containing the
explosive material of the fuse, retires rearward, compressing the annealed coil, o,
which acts as a shock buffer, but has no return elasticity, and the spring, b,
uncoiling, holds, by its stored power, the case, c, in the rear end of the tubular
portion, O, of the travelling fuse-way, 0, as shown in Figure 2, the plug, m,
resting against the buffer, q. The case, h, containing the fulminate of mercury,
also retires rearward through tube, e, carried by case, c, compressing the annealed
copper coil, k, which also acts as a shock buffer; but has no return elasticity, and
as soon as the set back pressure is relieved, which is not until the shell has left
the muzzle of the gun, the small coiled spring, l, which has also been compressed,
returns the case, h, as soon as the shell has left the muzzle of the gun, to the
position shown in Figure 1, the cap, j, lying under the hole, d, in case, c. The
set back pressure will tend to hold the locking lugs, E, in the normal position
until the shell had left the muzzle of the gun when centrifugal force, due to
the rotary motion of the shell, causes the lugs to overcome the resistance of
the spring arms, 1), and fly outwardly, as shown in Figure 3, clear of the forward
end of section, G, and upon retardation or impact of the shell the central
section, G, cuts through the soft metal plate, F, attached thereto, and flies
forward in the shell cavity until stopped by the screw plug, I, coming in contact
with the forward portion of the stem of anchor, C, as shown in Figure 3, the
spindle, I, telescoping with the hollow anchor.
As the central section moves through the main charge and telescopes with
the forward portion of the shell cavity, the explosive material of the fuse in
case, c, also moves forward in the travelling fuse-way into chamber, B, com-
pressing the spring, b, upon retardation or impact of the shell, until the pin, a.
has entered the hole, d, in case, c far enough to explode cap, j, in case, h, held
in the forward portion of case, c, by spring, l, which explodes the fulminate of
mercury, which in turn explodes the dry guncotton and this explosion taking
5 place in the midst of the main charge, H, as shown in Figure 3, the exploding
fuse material detonates the main charge of guncotton and the shell is broken
or shattered into numerous dangerous fragments..

page_text: In Figure 5 the locking lugs, E¹, are placed into recesses, V, in the plug, K,
and held in position by coiled springs, D¹, bearing against the inner walls of
the shell. The central section, G, is anchored by a transverse pin, C', preferably
of brass or copper, passing through the forward portion of the section and
bearing upon the forward side walls of the charge chamber. The travelling
fuse-way has a projection, M¹, laying against the rear of the central section.
When the shell is fired from the gun, the lugs fly outwardly by centrifugal
force and compress springs, D', when the set back pressure is relieved, and the
central section, upon retardation or impact, shears off the pin, C, and slides
forward into the open channel, W, in the shell cavity, which may be of any
desired depth, and, when the forward movement of the section is arrested, the
fuse is in the position shown in Figure 3, in the midst of the main charge, H,
and the detonation of the shell charge is the same as heretofore described.
I shown in Figure 6 the central section, G, held by an anchor, C", formed
with a cupped portion, X, having a projecting stem, X, entering a longitudinal
channel, X, in the central section and held by pin, v, passing through the
stem and section walls. The shell cavity is packed with wet guncotton, H,
which holds the anchor cup, X, against the shell walls. This shell is shown with
the fuse detached and the cover seat closed by a temporary plug, r, when the
shell is intended for storage. Any suitable fuse may be used. A fuse to be
attached to Figure 6 is shown in Figure 8, excepting spring, b, enclosed in a
storage case, s, having a top, u, with a handle to facilitate opening and carriage.
When this fuse, including spring, b, is attached to and the shell fired from the
gun, upon retardation or impact, the stem, X', shears off pin, v, and telescopes
with the central section G, as it drives through the charge, H, and the fuse is
brought into the midst of the wet guncotton charge as previously described, i.e.,
by the central section telescoping with the shell charge, the weight of the section
enabling it to penetrate the charge, H, of wet guncotton upon the retardation
or stoppage of the shell.
In Figure 7 only a portion of the central section, G, of Figure 6 is enclosed in
a tubular projection, Y, of the plug, K, which may be integral with the plug
or attached thereto in any suitable manner, and the section is held in place by a
coiled spring anchor, Cui. The operation of this shell is the same as Figure 5,
except the section, G, compresses the spring, C, upon retardation or impact of
the shell, and the travelling fuse-way follows the section, G, forward into the
tubular projection, Y, extending into the shell, and in other respects the operation
is the same as heretofore shown and described, except that the exploding fuse
material must rupture the walls of the tubular projection, Y, to detonate the
main charge.
In Figure 5 the guncotton charges, H, are packed in boxes, J', placed longitu-
dinally around section, G, as shown in Figure 10.
Figure 11 illustrates the parts of the fuse in detail. This fuse is the same
construction as the one shown cased in Figure 8, and it may be so cased and
stored. Some of the parts may be omitted and various modifications may be
made, using any suitable metal and any desirable explosive or explosives.
The tube, e, may be of any desired size, strength and length, and its rear
extension is of great advantage, as it gives the sensitive fulminate, i, in case, h,
considerable backward movement upon its yielding check spring, k, enabling it
to withstand the initial or firing shock. The coils, and o, may be of any
desired resistance and the spring, b, needs to have only sufficient reserve force
to hold the fuse case, c, in the position shown in Figure 2, when the fuse case
compresses coil, o, and the spring, 7, needs to be only strong enough to push the
case, h, back to the position shown in Figure 1, after the firing shock has cause.l
it to retire rearward.
Upon an accidental or premature explosion of the explosive material of the
fuse, the covering, P, would rupture at the weakened portion and the longitu-
dinal section, G, if made heavy enough and used without the locking lugs, would

page_text: 5
move forward rapidly enough to permit the exploding Tust
plode or detonate the main charge. If the central section be filled with a
urating or smothering substance, it will rupture and saturate or smother the
ain charge upon an accidental or premature explosion of the fuse material to
ch a degree that it will be impossible to detonate the main charge of suitably
epared guncotton, while the safety devices are in the normal or closed position
own in Figures 1, 5, 6 and 7, by any fuse.
It will be understood that the several features heretofore described may be
ombined or re-arranged in various forms, and some of them, although desirable,
ay be omitted or modified without departing from the principle of my inven-
on, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the precise details of construction
eretofore described and shown in the drawings; as, for instance, the travelling
use-way, O, may be omitted and the fuse carried by the cover, P, the channel
herein being made of the same diameter as the section, G, the fuse passing
hrough the cover upon retardation or impact of the shell, and the section, G,
moving forward through the main or bursting charge, making an opening for
the fuse to follow.
In Figures 5 and 7 the lugs, E', are made wedge-shaped and fit in the
recesses, V, so as to be estopped after projecting almost against the projection, M¹,
on the travelling fuse-way, O, which is preferably made with a solid closed head
and a thin tubular portion, 01, adapted to expand like an ordinary cartridge case
and seal the channel through the plug, K, upon an accidental or premature
For some form of shell and fuse the central section
explosion of the fuse.
may be omitted, the lugs, E¹, stopping the solid head of the travelling fuse-way
and the tubular part expanding, upon an accidental or premature explosion of
the fuse material, so as to make it impossible for the gases from the fuse to
have access to main or bursting charge contained in the shell.
It will be observed that the springs, D', fit in recesses in the top of the lugs, E,
to center the springs, and these lugs can be tested by removing the travelling
fuse-way and inserting a coned or tapering rod between the lugs and forcing them
outward so as to be sure they will readily move outward when the fuse is in
position and the shell fired from the gun, and the lugs actuated by centrifugal
force due to the rotary motion of the shell.
use.
In Figure 6 the central section, G, and the part, 0, of the travelling fuse-way
are in one piece, and the tubular part, O', is shown in Figure 8, the rear end
closed and the forward end cut away on the outside at w to mesh with the
A cover, P, shown
interior cut away portion, wl, of the part, O, of Figure 6.
in other figures, is then screwed into the recess, Q, and the shell is ready for
Rubber or other sealing materials, N¹ and Z, are shown in channels in
0 plug, K, to prevent the escape of moisture if wet guncotton is used as a bursting
charge or to hermetically seal the shell chamber, B. The packing, N, Figure 1,
and material, N1, Figure 6 also acting as a gas check for the explosive material
of the fuse upon its accidental or premature explosion, and the rear end of
section, G, Figure 5, is cupped for this purpose. Dotted lines indicate that a
45 saturating or smothering substance may be carried by section, G, which is
shown in Figure 6 as a solid tapering piece made of any suitable metal. Th
saturating or smothering substance may be water or other fluid, or wax, or othe
substance, or wax combined with asbestos or other substance.
In the several forms of my invention it is apparent that, should any accidenta
50 or premature explosion of the fuse material occur, the cover, P, would rupture a
the weakened portion and separate from the shell, the annular groove, S, bein
made in the plug, K, for this purpose, the covering parting at the point of attack
ment by pressure from within, but the shoulder, R, on plug, K, affords an intern
support for the cover to prevent collapse under external pressure; and t
55 safeguards, already fully described, in any preferred form, will prevent t
exploding or detonation of the main or bursting charge in the projectile.

page_text: Obviously, some of the features of construction may be modified in other
respects than those already pointed out.
The central telescoping section which I have devised makes it possible to do
away with a walled chamber, as shown by Y, Figure 7; or a closed fuse tube
projecting into the bursting charge and carrying a longitudinally moving barrier
normally isolating and separating the explosive material of the main or bursting
charge (as first employed in Great Britain by me in my British Patent, No. 7100
of 1898), and thereby permit the explosive material of the fuse in a suitable
thin metallic case to slide after or follow the telescoping section or move with
a travelling metallic fuse-way with thin side walls, into the. midst of the main
or bursting charge carried by the projectile, without any rigid and comparatively
thick intervening detonating chamber walls, and explode, in contact with the
main charge, upon retardation or impact or stoppage of the projectile, insuring
the exploding or detonation of the main or bursting charge at the proper time.
I, therefore, claim broadly the telescoping section and the travelling fuse-
way without regard to their construction or whether they are combined or used
separately in the projectile.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
1. A projectile provided with a sliding fuse, and means to separate said fuse
from the main or bursting charge carried by the projectile; said means telescoping
with the main or bursting charge upon retardation or impact of said projectile.
2. A projectile provided with a sliding fuse moving in a travelling fuse-way.
3. A projectile provided with a travelling fuse-way having a closed forward end
interposed between the main or bursting charge and the fuse; means to hold said
fuse-way in the normal or closed position until the projectile is fired from the
gun, when said fuse-way is adapted to pass into the main or bursting charge
after the holding devices release said fuse-way.
4. In a projectile, a main charge, a fuse, an interposed section; means to
telescope said section and open communication between said charge and fuse.
5. In a projectile, a main charge, a fuse, a section telescoping with said
charge to permit the entrance therein of the fuse, and locking or retaining
devices for said fuse, said devices movable during the flight of the projectile to
release said fuse.
6. A projectile provided with a fuse, a longitudinal section separating, isolating
and protecting the fuse and telescoping with the main charge, and means to
hold said section in the normal or closed position.
7. In a projectile, a telescoping section extending into the main charge, and a
fuse constructed to follow said section into exploding or detonating relation to
the main charge after the projectile has been fired from the gun.
8. In a projectile, the combination of the projectile body, a bursting charge
therein, a movable section through, said charge, and a fuse movable with said
section.
9. In combination, a projectile provided with a fuse, a main or bursting charge,
a movable section between the fuse and charge and telescoping through the
charge to uncover said charge for the entrance therein of said fuse.
10. A projectile provided with a main charge, and a fuse separated therefrom
by a movable section, and means to hold said section in its normal or closed
position until the retardation or impact of said projectile.
11. A projectile provided with a fuse, separating means normally interposed
between the fuse and the main charge, in combination with a travelling fuse-
way carrying said fuse into said charge upon retardation or impact of said
projectile.
12. A projectile provided with a central section extending longitudinally
through its main charge, locking lugs normally holding said section and movable

page_text: 0
ntrifugal force to release said section, ana
on upon retardation or impact of the projectile: said section carrying
osive charge.
A projectile provided with a longitudinal section telescoping through the
or bursting charge, engaging stops normally locking said section and
able by centrifugal force to unlock said section, and a fuse movable with
central section upon retardation or impact.
4. A projectile provided with means to separate the main charge and the fuse
refor, said means carrying a saturating or smothering substance for the charge
movable longitudinally into said charge upon the retardation or impact
the projectile to open communication between the fuse and main charge.
5. A projectile provided with a central section through its charge, said section
rying a saturating or smothering substance for said charge, and movable, on
ardation or impact of the projectile, through the charge to open a passage
the fuse therefor.
16. In a projectile, a bursting charge, a fuse separated therefrom by a central
ction projecting into said charge, and an anchor normally holding said section
etween said charge and fuse.
17. A projectile provided with a channel in its charge, a movable section
lling said channel and normally separating the charge and the fuse therefor and
ovable through said charge after the projectile has been fired from the gun;
aid section carrying an explosive charge.
18. A projectile provided with a longitudinal channel in its charge, a movable
ection closing said channel, and means to lock said section in its normal position.
19. In, or in combination with a projectile, a fuse, a central section extending
into the main charge, a locking or retaining device to normally hold said section
and movable to release said section, during the flight of the projectile, to permit
the forward movement of said section and fuse, substantially as shown and
described.
20. In a projectile, a main or bursting charge, a fuse, an interposed central
section, and means to seal the openings into the main or bursting charge chamber
of said projectile.
21. A projectile provided with a plug closing its main charge chamber, a
central hole through said plug carrying therein separating and isolating means
for the fuse charge rearward thereof, lateral openings extending outwardly from
the central hole, through said plug, to the projectile walls, and engaging stops
in said lateral openings projecting into the plug hole and held by the projectile
walls and releasing said isolating means after the discharge of the projectile from
the gun.
22. In combination with a projectile, a fuse projecting therefrom, and a cover
for said fuse, weakened at its forward end or point of attachment to the projectile,
substantially as described and shown, whereby it is adapted to be ruptured at
said point by pressure from within.
23. In combination with a projectile, a fuse projecting therefrom; and a
45 cover for said fuse weakened at its point of attachment to the projectile to
facilitate rupture by pressure from within; and an internal support for the
cover at said point to prevent collapse under external pressure.
24. A projectile provided with a central longitudinal section, a main charge
carried in boxes arranged longitudinally around said section, and a fuse at th
50 rear thereof isolated and protected by said section and movable forward with sai
section after the discharge of the projectile from the gun.
25. In combination with a projectile, provided with a bursting charge;
fuse movable longitudinally within and relatively to the projectile; and mear
to separate or isolate the fuse from the bursting charge, said means adapted
55 retain its separating position during the flight of the projectile, but to mo
longitudinally upon impact or stoppage of the projectile and thereby to perm
the fuse to come into detonating relation to the bursting charge.

page_text: 26. A fuse charge contained in a case provided with a tube of less diameter
projecting rearward therefrom, and a sliding fuse charge therein.
27. A fuse charge contained in a case having a hole in its forward end; said
case provided with a tube of less diameter projecting rearward therefrom, and
a sliding fuse charge therein.
28. A fuse case containing an explosive charge, a tube of less diameter than
the case projecting rearward from said case and then forward into said case, and
an explosive charge carried in said tube.
29. A fuse charge contained in a case provided with a central tube projecting
rearward therefrom, a charge in said tube; means to check the rearward move-
ment of said charge, when the projectile is fired from the gun, and a spring to
return said charge.
30. A fuse provided with means to check the rearward movement of the
explosive material thereof, when the projectile is fired from the gun, and a spring
to hold said fuse material against forward movement until the retardation or
impact of the projectile.
31. A fuse provided with a travelling fuse-way or tube consisting of a metal
head having a tubular portion extending rearward therefrom covering the
explosive material of the fuse; said tubular portion adapted to expand and check
the forward passage of gas upon an accidental or premature explosion of said fuse
material and seal the channel to the main or bursting charge carried by the
projectile.
1000
LOWA
1000.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.