Improvements in Mechanism for Adjusting the Exploding of Projectiles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 11th July, 1894-Accepted, 11th Aug.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Adjusting the Exploding of
Projectiles.
I, HERBERT VIVIAN KEESON of 40 Loudoun Road, St. John's Wood, London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means for determining the time of explosion of shells
and other projectiles. The chief objects of this invention are firstly to accurately
regulate and ensure the explosion of projectiles at the required time, and secondly
to render the time of explosion quickly and easily atljustable.
A projectile while travelling forward also revolves upon its linear axis. The
essential feature of this invention is that inside the projectile I suspend a weight
upon an axle. The said axle coincides with and occupies part or all of the
projectile's linear axis. As the projectile revolves this weight hangs down almost
steadily into the lower half of the projectile. This revolving of the projectile
around a relatively stationary hanging weight supplies the motive power of the
mechanism for adjusting the exploding.
The position of the hanging weight is not essential in this invention. I prefer
to place it in a compartment near the base or after end of the projectile. This
compartment affords the requisite space for the hanging weight to hang down
while the projectile revolves, and the two walls or division-plates or frames of this
said compartment supply or contain in their centres the two bearings or supports
requisite for the axle. The aftermost wall consists of the projectile's base which
is screwed on or otherwise fastened.
The shape of the hanging weight except that it must be heavy enough to hang
steadily is not essential in this invention. I prefer to make it in the form of a
segment of a circular disc, and suspend it so that the greatest weight is furthest
from the axle. The flat sides of this hanging weight are approximately parallel to
the compartment walls. In order to make the hanging weight cut the air which
revolves inside and with the projectile I curve and sharpen the edges of the said
hanging weight. The hanging weight may consist of lead, iron or other suitably
heavy material.
In order to afford room for the adjusting and exploding mechanism I cause the
explosive which is in front of the compartment for the hanging weight to be
hollowed along its axis. This hollow may be formed by a tube fixed centrally
along the projectile. Along this hollow I prolong the axle from the hanging
weight. This prolongation or spindle runs also in a bearing in the foremost end of
the projectile. Upon this spindle is cut a screw thread. Fitted to this screw
thread is a nut or piece of screwed metal.. This nut, which, for convenience of
description, I name the traveller is made to revolve with the projectile while the
spindle remains relatively still. To make the traveller revolve upon the spindle I
make an arm or lever to project from the traveller and grasp or touch a bar. This
bar is fixed to the projectile and being parallel to and revolving round the spindle
it turns the lever of the traveller and winds the said traveller along the thread of
the spindle. Thus this traveller moves along the spindle in almost exact accordance
with the distance accomplished by the projectile.
The traveller is made to cause the explosion by its arrival at the foremost end
of the projectile by carrying a match, or cap, or piece of any convenient igniting
material, and pushing it into contact with a small striking wheel fixed to the
foremost end of the spindle. The time of explosion may be regulated by the

page_text: fineness of the screw-thread of the spindle, and also by adjusting the position of
the traveller upon the spindle at the time of starting the projectile on its course.
Dated this Eleventh day of September 1893.
Improvements in Mechanism for Adjusting the Exploding of
Projectiles.
I, HERBERT VIVIAN KEESON, of 40 Loudoun Road, St. John's Wood, London,
Gentleman, 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 time fuses in which the motion of the
projectile supplies the motive power for the firing mechanism.
Figure is a longitudinal section and Figure 2 a transverse section (on the
line 2, 2, Figure 1) of a fuse constructed according to my invention.
a is the outer case of the fuse which has upon it a screw thread a' by which it is
secured to the projectile. is a spindle running from end to end of the fuse and
free to turn in bearings in it and in the partition a fixed in it. As shown the left
hand end (Figure 1) of the spindle has a screw thread upon it whilst the right hand
end has a weight e fixed to it. When fired therefore the projectile rotates about
the spindle which is prevented from turning by the hanging weight c. d is a nut
upon the screw on the spindle band e is a guide bar fixed to the case a and passing
through a hole in a lever or extension on the nut. The nut therefore rotates with
the projectile and gradually travels along the spindle b. f is a 'match, cap or piece
of igniting material carried by the nut d. After the projectile has travelled a
certain distance (and has therefore revolved a certain number of times) dependent
on the initial position of the nut d on the screw b the fulminating material is
brought into contact with and is rubbed against the disc g fixed to the spindle band
is thereby exploded the flash passing through the hole in the case a and firing the
charge in the projectile.
In place of the screw b being fixed to the weight c and the guide bare to the
case a, the screw may be fixed to the case and the bar to the weight. This
arrangement is shown in side elevation, longitudinal section and transverse section
(on the line 5, 5, Figures 3 and 4) at Figures 3, 4 and 5 respectively. In this
case is a ring of fulminate and a striker.
Figure 6 is a side elevation, Figure 7 a longitudinal section and Figure 8 a left
hand end elevation (the case a being removed) of a modification by which the
length of the screw is considerably diminished. In this arrangement the screw b
takes the form of a worm fixed to the weight c and gearing with a worm wheel j
mounted on a screw spindle k working in bearings in brackets fixed to the
partition a which also carries the guide e for the nut d on the screw k. The action
of this apparatus is similar to that of the preceding ones;--the worm wheel j,
spindle and nut d all revolve with the projectile about the screw which is
prevented from turning by the weight c, the worm wheel j and screw & are therefore
driven about their own axis and the fulminate gradually approaches and ultimately
comes into contact with the disc g on the spindle b.
The nut d may be initially set on its screw (b or as the case may be) in various
ways but preferably I adopt the following arrangement:-The guide bar e in
Figures 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8 in place of being fixed to the case a is mounted eccentrically
on two discs free to turn about the screw (or k). One of these discs has teeth
on its edge gearing with a toothed wheel. By turning the toothed wheel therefore
the guide e is revolved around the screw (or k) and the nut d can be brought to

page_text: any position along the latter.
In Figures 3, 4 and 5 the screw is centrally fixel
to a disc which is turned as above described. If the friction is insufficient means.
are provided for locking the bar in the one case and the scrow in the other to the
casc a.
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. A fuse in which the motion of the projectile causes a traveller to gradually
approach a point or surface either the traveller or the point or surface carrying a
match, cap or piece of igniting material substantially as described.
2. A fuse in which the motion of the projectile causes a traveller to gradually
approach a point or surface revolving relatively to it either the traveller or the
point or surface carrying a match, cap or piece of igniting material substantially as
described.
3. The combination of a screw, a nut, a guide and a weight, the guide being
fixed to the projectile or the weight and the screw to the weight or the projectile
the nut sliding along the guide and the nut or the screw revolving relatively the
one to the other substantially as described.
4. Fuses substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
HERBERT. V. KEESON.