Improvements in Fuses and in Apparatus for Setting the same.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 25th July, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fuses and in Apparatus for Setting the same.
We, HERBERT STANLEY WILSON, of Dunardagh, Blackrock, in the County of
Dublin, Ireland, Lieutenant in the Royal Horse Artillery, and WALTER GORDON
WILSON, of Great Peter Street, in the City of Westminster, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in time or time and percussion fuses and
in apparatus for setting the same.
According to this invention the part of the fuse which is screwed or other-
wise fastened into the projectile is provided with a ring or shoulder and with
a central stud screw threaded at the end or otherwise fashioned so as to allow
of some kind of a fastening for the dome and ring for containing the composition
and igniting device which go over the stud and extend down to the shoulder.
The side of the shoulder adjacent to the ring is made with a number of ratchet
teeth or alternate depressions all round and the ring is made correspondingly,
so that the ring can turn round on the shoulder in one direction only, a spring
between the dome and the nut on the stud serving to force the dome and the
ring on to the shoulder sufficiently to hold the dome normally in any position
with regard to the shoulder to which the dome and ring may be turned; or the
spring may be put in any other convenient position so as to force the ring against
the shoulder. The ratchet teeth are so arranged that it is impossible for the
revolution of the projectile when fired to cause the dome and ring to move in
relation to the shoulder on the fuse. The dome serves to cover the ring and the
ring has a chamber with a percussion cap which ignites some inflammable
material in an annular groove in the said ring which groove comes fair with a
hole in the shoulder leading to the interior of the fuse which contains the ex-
plosive material for firing the contents of the projectile. By turning the ring
so as to necessitate the burning of a greater or lesser length of the inflammable
mixture in the ring before the flame from the said inflammable mixture or
material can strike through the hole in the shoulder communicating with the
interior of the fuse, a greater or lesser length of time elapses between the period
of the igniting of the inflammable material in the ring and the explosion in the
fuse which explodes the charge in the shell. It is evident that in order to permit
the gunner to know the amount of time that the inflammable material is to burn
before igniting the explosive material in the fuse the ring is marked with
numbers or in any other suitable manner and the shoulder is conveniently
provided with an arrow to show where the number desired is to be made.to
correspond or to point.
It is impossible as aforesaid for the dome and ring to be turned in any but the
right direction and it is also impossible for the dome and ring to move when
the fuse leaves the gunner's hand.
At the present time it is usual for the gunner to slacken the nut at the end
of the fuse and release the ring which is then turned by hand until the desired
figure thereon stands opposite the arrow on the shoulder but it so happens that

page_text: sometimes the gunner does not again screw up the nut sufficiently and the effect
is that the setting of the fuse may alter in handling, firing or in travelling
through the air. Now by this invention none of these contingencies can take
place.
and
In cases where rapid firing is required or where further convenience is desired
in setting the fuse the latter may be set practically in an automatic manner so
as to render a wrong setting impossible and a convenient way of doing this is
as follows. The shoulder of the fuse is provided with a depression or a pro-
jection and the ring or the ring and the dome is or are provided with a depression
or projection. Attached to the limber or in any other convenient place is a
gauge or key into which the dome and ring of the fuse may be put and this
gauge is provided with a projection or a recess which engages with the recess
or projection in the ring dome sufficient to hold the same while the gunner
turns the shoulder part round and in order that the ring shall only be turned
as far as is necessary the gauge is provided with an adjustable stop against
which the depression or projection on the shoulder comes into contact thus
arresting the rotation of the shoulder. The stop in the gauge may conveniently
be made on a ring capable of turning and of being fixed in the desired position
by clamping or otherwise or the ring may have ratchet teeth and the gauge may
be similarly provided a spring tending always to keep the teeth engaged. There
is also an arrow or pointer and numbers to correspond with the numbers on the
ring of the fuse.
or
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fuses and in Apparatus for Setting the same.
We, HERBERT STANLEY WILSON, of Dunardagh, Blackrock, in the County of
Dublin, Ireland, Lieutenant in the Royal Horse Artillery, and WALTER GORDON
WILSON, of Great Peter Street, in the City of Westminster, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in time or time and percussion fuses and
in apparatus for setting the same.
Figure 1 of the first sheet of the accompanying drawings shows partly in
elevation and partly in section an ordinary time and percussion fuse with our
invention applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof with the screwed cap D, dome E, and ring F
removed.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the apparatus or key for setting a fuse and
showing also a fuse therein and
Figure 4 is an elevation of the said key.
Figure 5 Sheet 2 represents partly in elevation and partly in section a modified
construction of a time and percussion fuse.
Figure 6 is a transverse section of a modified form of key with a fuse therein
and
.
Figure 7 represents the same key in elevation.
According to this invention and referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2,
and 3, the part A of the fuse which is screwed or otherwise fastened into the

page_text: projectile is provided with a ring, flange or shoulder-B and with a central stud C
screw threaded at the end or otherwise fashioned so as to allow of some kind of
a fastening such as a nut D for the dome E and ring F which go over the stud C
and extend down to the flange B. The end of the dome and the nut D are
preferably enclosed by a screwed cap X. The ring F is attached to or in one
with the said dome E and contains the composition in the annular groove G and
the igniting device, say in the space H. The side of the flange B adjacent to
the ring F is made with a number of ratchet teeth or alternate depressions all
round as shown best in Figures and 3 and the ring is made correspondingly
as shown best in Figure 3 so that the ring can turn round on the flange in one
direction only a helical or other spring I in a housing Z attached or in one with
the dome E between the latter and the nut D on the stud C serving to force the
dome and the ring F on to the flange B3 sufficiently to hold the dome normally
in any position with regard to the flange to which the dome and ring may be
turned or the spring may be put in any other convenient position so as to force
the ring against the flange. The ratchet teeth are so arranged that it is im-
possible for the revolution of the projectile when fired to cause the dome and
ring to move in relation to the flange on the fuse. The dome E serves to cover
the ring and the latter has as aforesaid a chamber H with a percussion cap
which ignites some inflammable material in the annular groove G in the said
ring which groove comes fair with a hole K in the flange B leading to the
interior of the part A of the fuse which contains the explosive material for
firing the contents of the projectile.
By turning the ring F so as to necessitate the burning of a greater or less
length of the inflammable mixture in the groove G in the said ring before the
flame from the aforesaid inflammable mixture or material can strike through
the hole K in the flange B communicating with the interior of the fuse, a greater
or less length of time elapses between the period of the igniting of the inflammable
material in the ring and the explosion in the part A of the fuse which explodes
the charge in the shell. It is evident that in order to permit the gunner to know
the amount of time that the inflammable material in the annular groove G is to
burn before igniting the explosive material in the part A of the fuse, the
ring F is marked with numbers as shown in Figure 3, or in any other suitable.
manner and the flange B is conveniently provided with an arrow to show where
the number desired is to be made to correspond or point. This arrow is shown
as pointing vertically in Figure 3 and there may also be horizontal arrows as
shown to indicate the direction in which the fuse is to be turned. It is im-
possible as aforesaid for the dome and ring to be turned in any but the right
direction and it is also impossible for the dome and ring to move when the fuse
leaves the gunner's hand.
At the present time it is usual for the gunner to slacken the nut at the end
of the fuse and release the ring (such as F) which is then turned by hand until
the desired figure thereon stands opposite the arrow on the flange (such as B),
but it so happens that sometimes the gunner does not again screw up the nut
sufficiently and the effect is that the setting of the fuse may alter in handling,
firing or in travelling through the air. Now by this invention none of these
contingencies can take place.
In cases where rapid firing is required or where further convenience is desired
in setting the fuse the latter may be set practically in an automatic manner so
as to render a wrong setting impossible and a convenient way of doing this is as
follows. The flange B of the fuse is provided with a depression or as shown
with a projection L and the ring F, or the ring and the dome E is or are
provided with a projection or as shewn, with a recess M (Figure 1). Attached
to the limber or in any other convenient place is a gauge or key N (as shewn in
Figures 3 and 4) into which the dome E and ring of the fuse may be put and
this gauge is provided with a recess or as shewn with a projection which
engages with the projection or as shewn with the slot or recess M on the ring F

page_text: and
or
dome sufficient to hold the same while the gunner turns the flange part B
round and in order that the latter shall only be turned as far as is necessary
the gauge N is provided with an adjustable stop P against which the depression
or as shewn the projection L on the flange B comes into contact thus arresting
the rotation of the flange. The stop P in the gauge or key may conveniently be
made on a ring Q capable of turning and of being fixed in the desired position
by the handle R by clamping or otherwise, or as shewn the ring Q may have
ratchet teeth S and the key N may be similarly provided with teeth T, a spring
or springs U tending always to keep the teeth engaged. There is also an arrow
or pointer or a hole V on the handle R and numbers on a covering ring or
plate W fixed to the key as shewn to correspond with the numbers on the ring F
of the fuse.
Referring to Figures 5, 6 and 7 the part A of the fuse which is screwed or
otherwise fastened into the projectile is provided with a flange B and with
a central stud C (Figure 5) screw threaded at the end Ol' otherwise
fashioned so as to allow of some kind of a fastening such as a nut D
for the dome E and ring F which go over the stud C and extend down to the
flange B. The end of the dome and the nut 1) are preferably enclosed by a
screwed cap X. The ring F is attached to the dome E say by means of a pin Y
and it contains the inflammable composition and the igniting device as previously
described with reference to Figure 1. The side of the flange B adjacent to the
ring is made with a number of very small teeth or it is slightly rough and the
ring F is made correspondingly or the aforesaid side of the flange B is made
fairly smooth, the ring is made to correspond and a washer of asbestos, leather
or other suitable material is interposed to afford sufficient grip for the ring F
on the flange B while yet allowing of the ring being turned on the flange, a
helical or other spring I between the dome E and the nut D on the stud C
serving to force the dome and the ring F on the flange B sufficiently to hold
the dome normally in any position with regard to the flange to which the dome
and ring may be turned."
and
or
The flange B of the fuse is provided with a depression or as shewn with a pro-
jection L and the ring the dome or as shewn the dome itself is or are provided
with a projection M' Attached to the limber or in any other convenient place
is a gauge or key N' (as shown in Figures 6 and 7) into which the dome E and
ring of the fuse may be put and this gauge is provided with a recess 0¹ into
which the projection M can take sufficient to hold the dome and ring while the
gunner turns the flange part B round and in order that the latter shall only be
turned as far as is necessary the gauge is provided with an adjustable stop P¹
against which the projection L on the flange B comes into contact thus arresting
the rotation of the flange. It is evident that if the flange of fuse be provided with
a recess instead of a projection L the stop P¹ must be made in the form of a spring
stop so as to ride over the flange until the said recess registers with it when
the said stop will take into the aforesaid recess and prevent the further revolution
of the flange. The stop P¹ in the gauge or key may conveniently be mounted
on or be in one with a ring Q¹ capable of being turned and of being fixed by hand
roughly in the desired position by means of the lugs or handles R'R For
fine adjustment and for locking and unlocking the ring Q¹ there is provided a
worm R2 mounted on a spindle having a milled head R³ and capable of revolving
in an eccentric bearing R which is also capable of being moved in the key so as
to cause the worm R2 to engage with a worin wheel Q2 mounted on or in one with
the ring Q. In order to manipulate the eccentric bearing it is conveniently
provided with a small handle or lever. R which may if desired be held in position
by a spring or other device. The ring Q¹ is also provided with an arrow or pointer
and numbers on a covering ring or plate W₁ fixed to the key to correspond with
the numbers on the ring F of the fuse substantially as described with reference
to the first construction.
i

page_text: By our invention a fuse may be set without a spanner and more speedily than
in the case of the present form of fuses. Further the present form of fuses may
be readily altered without much expense to conform to our invention and finally
by means of our key the gunner may set a fuse without looking at it and in a
tithe of the time expended heretofore.
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:-
or
1. A fuse capable of being set without the use of a spanner in which the dome
and
the ring (or other part or parts containing the igniting device and the
inflammable material) and the flange have frictional surfaces and in which the
said ring and the flange are pressed together by means of a spring substantially as
set forth.
2. A fuse consisting of a dome and a ring (or other part or parts for containing
the igniting device and the inflammable material) a body part provided with a
flange and a space for the explosive mixture and means for elastically holding
the dome and the body part together in frictional contact the said parts being
capable of being revolved in one direction only relatively to each other substan-
tially as described and shown.
and
or
-
3. A fuse key consisting of a fixed part in which the dome the ring of the
fuse is held in one position and an adjustable part provided with a stop so that
the fuse can be set by turning it until a projection or recess on or in the body
part comes into contact with the said stop substantially as set forth.
4. The constructions of fuses substantially as described and shown on the
drawings.
5. The constructions of fuse keys substantially as described and shewn on the
drawings.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of July 1800