Improvements in Electric Tubes and Fuzes for Firing Ordnance and Exploding Torpedoes and Mines and for like Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1889-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Tubes and Fuzes for Firing Ordnance
and Exploding Torpedoes and Mines and for like Purposes.
HENRY CAPEL LOFFT HOLDEN Captain Royal Artillery Royal Arsenal Wool-
wich S.E. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In this invention the tube or fuze consists of a case containing a suitable iron core,
(which if possible should form part of a closed magnetic circuit with the rest of the
apparatus), surrounded by a coil of insulated wire, the ends of which are connected
together by means of a fine wire bridge of the usual description, this bridge being
imbedded in an easily ignitable composition.
When it is required to fire this tube or fuze an interrupted or alternating current
is sent through another coil of wire, also surrounding an iron core, which core may
be either part of the above mentioned tube or fuze itself or separate from it-By this
means an induced current is produced in the closed circuit of the tube or fuze which
is thereby ignited.
1 I
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Tubes and Fuzes for Firing Ordnance
and Exploding Torpedoes and Mines and for like Purposes.
1, HENRY CAPEL LOFFT HOLDEN Captain Royal Artillery, Royal Arsenal Woolwich
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:
In my invention the tube or fuze for igniting the charge contained in the gun
torpedo, mine, or other receptacle for the gunpowder, or explosive substance, consists
of a case A containing a suitable iron core B. (which if possible should form part of
a closed magnetic circuit or at any rate of a circuit of low magnetic resistance with
the rest of the apparatus) surrounded by a coil of insulated wire or its equivalent C,
the ends of which are connected together by means of a fine wire D or other bridge
of one or other of the usual descriptions, this same bridge being imbedded in an easily
ignitable composition.
The whole of the above is contained within the case A, and the coil of insulated
wire C, or its equivalent together with the bridge D is hereinafter termed the induced
circuit.
When it is required to fire the tube or fuze an interrupted or alternating current is
sent through another coil of wire or its equivalent E, called the inducing circuit,
disposed so as to magnetize an iron core F, which may be that described as being in
the fuze or tube itself, or may form part of the same magnetic circuit with it, and to
thereby produce currents in the induced circuit so as to cause the ignition of the
fuze or tube.
The inducing circuit has a separate coil or its equivalent suitably disposed in or
on the gun, torpedo, mine or receptacle, connected with the current generator, firing
key and other apparatus for setting it in action, so that when the interrupted or
alternating currents are passed through it, the inducing circuit, other currents are
produced in the induced circuit, causing the ignition of the tube or fuze.

page_text: 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:
A-tube or fuze.containing. a-closed electric circuit as described which is so disposed
as regards its electric,and, magnetic,circuit, that an electric current or currents can
be induced therein for the purpose of heating the bridge contained therein and
thereby firing the tube or fuze.
Dated this First day of December 1889.
HENRY CAPEL LOFFT HOLDEN.