IMPROVEMENTS IN FUSES FOR SHELLS FOR ORDNANCE
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FUSES FOR SHELLS FOR ORDNANCE."-A communication from abroad
by Frederika Schenkl, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of
America.
Sealed the 18th August 1865, and dated the 13th June 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Haseltine at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th June 1865.
I, GEORGE HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, South-
ampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
IN FUSES FOR SHELLS FOR ORDNANCE," a communication, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of time fuses for ordnance projectiles,
and consists chiefly in a fuse so made that the time of the explosion of the

page_text: projectile after leaving the gun may be regulated by adjusting the position
of the fuse, and also in the construction by which this adjustable time fuse
is ignited by percussion as the shell is fired from the gun, and in the means
employed for preventing the accidental explosion of the projectile. The fuse
charge is contained in a long cylindrical or frusto-conical sheath or tube, which
is fitted to a holder or case, which case is screwed into the projectile. The fuse
tube is so fitted to its case as to be capable of axial rotation therein, and a
hole through the side of the tube communicates (at proper times) with a hole
through the adjacent side of the fuse case, so that the fire from the burning
fuse, as it reaches down to these two holes in line runs through them into the
powder in the shell and explodes it. Instead of this one hole or fire passage
in the fuse tube, and the corresponding hole in in the fuse case, a series of
holes is pierced through the case in a helical or spiral direction along its
length, and a similar series along the fuse tube in an opposite direction, so
that by rotating the fuse tube corresponding holes in the tube and case may
be succesively brought into line or communication. It will be obvious,
therefore, if a rotator is applied to this fuse, and extended to the cap or end
of the projectile, and graduated with reference to these two series of holes,
that by rotation of the same the fuse may be set to burn any required
number of seconds before exploding the shell or other projectile. Such a
graduated and rotary cap is applied in carrying out the Invention, and the
fuse is fixed as follows:-The rotator is made tubular, and carries within it a
hammer or striker, also made tubular, and which at the time of firing is
connected to the rotator only by a slight pin; the inner end of this hammer
is at some distance from the top of the fuse tube, and this tube is provided at
the top thereof with an anvil or seat containing a suitable fulminate, which,
on explosion by percussion ignites the fuse charge below it.
When the gun
is fired the inertia of the striker, and the sudden movement or start of the
projectile, severs the pin connecting the striker and the rotator and drives
the fuse cap against the striker exploding the fulminate and igniting the fuse
charge; the fuse then burns down to the holes set in line to correspond with
the number of seconds to which the fuse is set, and thus communicates with
and explodes the charge in the shell or other projectile. The outer surface
of the fuse case may be channelled or chambered out opposite to its holes,
and this chamber may be covered by a coating, the chamber or groove being.
filled up with dry or meal powder, by which instant ignition is communicated
to the charge in the shell down through this channel. When the fuse bas
burnt to the communicating holes the channel extending down into the body
of the explosive charge in the projectile or the holes in the case may

page_text: communicate directly with the charge if desirable. The striker is confined
in the rotator, except when the projectile is inserted for firing, by a stout pin,
said pin extending through both the rotator and, striker, and locking them
securely together, so that it is impossible for the striker and fuse cap to come
into contact when such pin is in position, the fuse tube being at all times kept
in its position at the bottom of the case by the lower end of the rotator. The
striker may contain gun cotton or other explosive or inflammable substance,
and when the projectile is fired the hollow construction of the striker, and the
passage left by the removal of the strong pin securing the striker in the rotator,
affords a free vent for the burning fuse, and this vent being lateral is not
obstructed as it would be if a passage was continued through the head of
the rotator in line with the passage through the striker. To confine the
strong pin holding the striker in the rotator so that there shall be no liability
of displacement thereof by concussion, transport, or handling of the projectile,
said pin is run through a hole made in one end of a flexible taper; a head
upon the pin keeping the tape from slipping off. When the pin is inserted
in the rotator this tape is wound round the rotator head so as to extend over
the head of the pin, the end continued beyond being stitched to the part it.
overlaps. When unwound the tape serves to pull the pin out, and may also
serve with the pin to turn the rotator and fuse tube.
formed in the rotator for the insertion of a thumb or finger to break the stitches
holding the tape. The cap or flange of the fuse case has a circular series of
holes, and the flange of the rotator head carries a latch pin, placed in such a
position that when the rotator is applied to the case said pin can be pushed
down into any of the holes to which it may be opposite in the case cap. These
holes are graduated to seconds or half seconds, any suitable index or point
being applied to the rotator to designate the position at which the rotator is
to be latched to the case to effect the communication between the fuse and
the charge in the projectile at such period of ignition of the fuse as is denoted
upon the cap, the latch-pin being secured by a spring bearing against the
rotator head.
A notch or recess is.

page_text: Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Haseltine, Her special licence that I, the said George
Haseltine, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said George Haseltine, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the terin therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FUSES FOR SHELLS FOR ORDNANCE," a communication,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Haseltine, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their bands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby declare
the nature of the said 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 the construction of time fuses for ordnance pro-
jectiles, and consists chiefly in a fuse so made that the time of the explosion
of the projectile after leaving the gun may be regulated by adjusting the
position of the fuse, and also in the construction by which this adjustable time
fuse is ignited by percussion, as the shell is fired from the gun, and in the
means employed for preventing accidental explosion of the projectile. The
fuse charge is contained in a long cylindrical or frustro-conical sheath or tube,
which is fitted to a holder or case, which case is screwed into the projectile.
The fuse tube is so fitted to its case as to be capable of axial rotation therein,
and a hole through the side of the tube communicates (at proper times) with
a hole through the adjacent side of the fuse case, so that the fire from the
burning fuse as it reaches down to these two holes in line runs through them
into the powder in the shell and explodes it. Instead of this one hole or fire
passage in the fuse tube and the corresponding hole through the fuse case a
series of holes are pierced through the case in a helical direction along its

page_text: length, and a similar series along the fuse tube in an opposite direction, so,
that by rotating the fuse tube corresponding holes in the tube and case may.
be successively brought into line or communication. It will be obvious, there-
fore, that if a rotator is applied to this fuse, and extended to the cap or end
of the projectile, and graduated with reference to these two series of holes,
that by rotation of the same the fuse may be set to burn any required
number of seconds before exploding the shell or projectile. Such a graduated
and rotary cap is applied in carrying out the Invention, and the fuse is
fired as follows:-The rotator is made tubular and carries within it a hammer
or striker, which at the time of firing is connected to the rotator only by a slight.
pin; the inner end of this hammer is at some distance from the top of the
fuse tube, and this tube is provided at top with an anvil or seat containing a
suitable fulminate, which on explosion by percussion ignites the fuse charge
below it. When. the gun is fired the inertia of the striker and the sudden.
movement or start of the projectile severs the pin connecting the striker
and the rotator and drives the fuse cap against the striker, exploding the
fulminate and igniting the fuse charge, and the fuse then burns down to
the holes set in line to correspond to the number of seconds to which the fuse-
is set, and thus communicates with and explodes the charge in the shell or
projectile. To enable the Invention and the details of construction by which
it is carried out to be more closely understood, reference may be had to
the accompanying Drawings illustrative of a fuse embodying the Invention.
Figure 1 denotes a longitudinal central section of the fuse and its. case
and rotator; Figure 2, a side elevation of the fuse case; Figure 3, a side
view of the fuse tube; Figure 4, a top. view of the fuse and fuse case;
Figure 5,, a side elevation; and Figure 6 a top view of the rotator.
a denotes the fuse tube containing the fuse charge or powder, and provided
at its upper end with a cap b, made with a groove, or in any other suitable.
manner for application of the fulminate; c, denotes a series of holes pierced
through the tube and extending along its length in a helical direction (as seen.
in Figure 3); this tube fits into a case d (as seen in Figure 1), and in such
manner that it can be easily rotated axially, therein; this case is. pierced with
a series of holes e; extending helically in an opposite direction to the holes c,
partially around the case (as seen in Figure 2), there being a hole e-to-
each hole c in the same plane, so that by rotation of the tube a any two
holes in the same plane may be brought in line, while no other two can be at
the same time in line. The case & has a screw by which it is applied to the
projectile; at its upper end. this case: carries the rotator f, by which the
turning of the fuse tube is effected; this rotator is screwed into the case d

page_text: (as seen in Figure 1), and extends down in the case to or nearly to the cap of
the fuse tube, carrying at its lower end one or more projecting pins o, which
fit into holes in the tube a, so that as the rotator is turned the tube is rotated
with it in and with respect to the case d, as will be readily understood. This
rotation imparts (through the screw which confines it to the case) an endwise
movement to the rotator; but this is not communicated to the tube a, which
has only the rotary movement. The cap or flange of the case d has a circular
series of holes, as seen in Figure 4), and the flange of the rotator head carries
a latch pin g, placed in such position that when the rotator is applied to the
case said pin can be pushed down into any one of the holes h, to which it may
be opposite in the case cap. These holes are graduated to seconds or half
seconds to correspond with the movement of the fuse tube produced by the
rotatorf, and the consequent bringing into line of the corresponding holes in
the fuse tube and fuse case; any suitable index or point being applied to the
rotator to designate the position at which the rotator is to be latched to the
case to effect the communication between the fuse and the charge of the
projectile at, such period of ignition of the fuse as is denoted upon the cap.
The outer surface of the case d, opposite to its holes e, may be channelled out
or chambered out (as seen in Figure 2), and this chamber covered by a
coating (shewn as partially broken away in said Figure) the chamber or groove
being filled with dry or meal powder, by which instant ignition is commu-
nicated to the charge in the shell down through this channel. When the fuse
has burnt to the communicating holes this channel extending down into the
body of the explosive charge in the projectile or the hole e may communi-
cate directly with the charge if desirable. The latch pin g is fastened to a
spring k (as seen in Figure 5), the opposite ends of the spring bearing against
the surface of the head of the rotator and holding the pin securely in position
when pressed down into any index hole of the cap of the case d, and prevent-
ing any accidental rotary movement of the rotator f; this rotator is
chambered or made tubular, and contains the hammer or striker 1, said
striker being of tubular form, and having at its lower end an edge or points
suitably arranged with respect to the fulminate contained in the cap of the
fuse tube, so that by contact or percussion of the lower end of the striker and
said fuse cap, the fulminate shall be exploded and communicate ignition to
the fuse. The striker is inserted in the rotator at some distance from the
fulminate or percussion cap, as seen in Figure 1. In this position it is con-
fined (except when the projectile is inserted for firing) by a stout pin m, said
pin extending though the rotator and through the striker, and locking them
securely together, so that it is impossible for the striker and fuse cap to come

page_text: into contact when such pin is in position the fuse tube being at all times
kept at the bottom of its case by the lower end of the rotator. The striker
is also held in position within the rotatorf by a slight pin n which is capable
of rupture by the sudden endwise movement of the fuse case. When the
projectile is placed in the gun the pin m is withdrawn (and only at this time).
As the projectile is fired the inertia of the striker and the sudden forward
movement of the projectile cuts off the pin n and drives forward the fuse cap
against the end of the striker, exploding the fulminate and igniting the fuse,
said fuse burning down to the communicating holes and then exploding the
charge of the projectile as before described. The striker may contain gun
cotton or other explosive or inflammable substance, and when the projectile
is fired (the pin m. being removed) the hollow construction of the striker
and the passage left by removal of the pin m affords a free vent for the
burning fuse, and this vent being lateral is not obstructed as it would be if a
passage was continued through the head of the rotator in line with the
passage through the striker. To confine the pin m in the rotator head so
that there shall be no liability. of displacement by concussion, transportation,
or handling of the projectile the pin is run through a hole made in one end of a
flexible tapo p (a head upon the pin keeping the tape from slipping off), and
when the pin is inserted in the rotator this tape is wound around the edge of
the rotator head (as seen in Figures 1 and 6), so as to extend over the head
of the pin, the end continued beyond being stitched to the part it overlaps.
The pin cannot then be removed except by breaking the stitches and unwinding
the tape; when unwound the tape serves to pull the pin out, and may also
serve with the pin to turn the rotator and fuse tube. A notch or recess q
serves for insertion of a thumb or finger to break the stitches of the tape.
What is claimed is the construction of a time fuse for an ordnance projectile,
with a provision for adjustment, substantially as described.
Also, the combination with an adjustable time fuse of a means for igniting
the fuse by percussion, substantially as set forth.
Also, the means for holding the striker in place in the rotator before firing,
and the means for its slight confinement when the projectile is used, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Also, the employment of the latch pin for securing the rotater, and through
it the fuse in "timed" position, substantially as shewn and described.
Also, the tape p for fastening the pin m in the rotator, substantially as set
forth.
Also, the powder chamber i, arranged in line with the holes e, substantially
as shewn.

page_text: Also, the lateral vent or opening from the striker and rotator bead, suo-
stantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
ROWLAND GREEN.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.s.)