Mechanical Distance Fuze for Causing the Explosion of Shells
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left 5th Feb, 1896-Accepted, 14th Mar, 1896
PROVISIONAI SPECIFICATION
A Mechanical Distance Fuze for Causing the Explosion of Shells
We, FRANK WILLIAM HAWKINS 67 New Road Chatham Engineer, and
PFTIR WATSON Masson, Weymouth Villa, Belvelee Engineer, both in the
County of Kent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
follows
as
This invention hereinafter called "the fuze," consists of a device for mechanically
explodin the explosive charge in shell, or other projectile, and more
particully one fired from a rifled gun, when the said shell has passed through a
certain definite and predetermined distance, from the point of discharge, the fuze
bein adju table for any required distance within the limits of its constinction
66
At
Ihe fuze is constructed of a body of gun met al, or any other suitable materials,
and consi ts of several pieces built together, approximating externally in shape to
a cone, with an elongated flattened nose In the sud nose is provided an aperture
or apertures, running parallel or nearly so to the axis of the fuze through which
a sticam of air passes when the shell is in flight, to which the fuze is attached
the rear end of sud apertures is placed an u wheel or vane, hereinafter called the
actuator,' and this actuator, is used to rotate on its axis, by the action of said
stream of an The air having passed thioul, or by, the actuator, escapus into a
chambe between the inner and outer cising of the fuze, and passes into atmospheric
space through several openings in the side of the fuze The rotary movement of
the tuator, is communicated by its arbor, to a ti un of wheels, the last motion
whech of which is caused to release a pellet, at any previously determined point in
the path of flight The said pellet, on being rele ised is forced violently against a
percussion cap, or other equivalent device, for communicating a flash to the
explosive charge in the shell
"
The novelty in this invention, consists more particularly in the manner by wh
the actuator," '- which actuator is set in a pline, at right angles or nearly so to the
axis of the fuze, is rendered independent of the rotation of the projectile, caused
by the fling of the gun, from which it is discharged
This independent action, is obtuned by means of several passages in the afore-
said elongated nose of the fuze through which the air enters, which causes the
air, is it passes through them, to acquire the rotary motion of the projectile, and
thus neutralizes the effect of the said iotary motion, before the air pisses through
or by, the actuator The fuze is thus dependent solcly for its action, upon the
longitudinal distance traversed by the projectile
Another feature of novelty in the construction of the fuze, is the method
employed to reduce the effect of the shock of discharge more particularly in the
actuator Beneath, or behind, the actuator there is interposed, on its spindle, or
I his box, or
arbe, in a tight box or drum, preferably with corrugated ends
drum, ict as buffer, to reduce the effect of the shock of discharge, on the
actuitor, & other parts relative thereto In some cases the fuze may be provided
with a sing to supplement or take the place of sind drum or box
The gulation of the fuze, for cu ing the explosion of the shell, at any
predetermined point in its flight, is obtained by an ingular movement between the
upper ind wer parts of the fuze The releasing pin or trigger, is thus caused to
approach to, or recede from, the arm, on the striking pellet, in consequence thereof,

page_text: the actuator will have to make, a lesser or greater number of revolutions, before
the pin or tigger is brought into contact with the pellet arm The upper and
lower parts of the fuze can be locked in any relative position within the limits of
their construction by any simple and efficient device such as a set screw or
trictional arrangement
The fuze is graduated on its periphery, in terms of line il distance, or in seconds
of time as may be preferred
conanical Distance Fuze for Causing the Explosion of Shells
FRANK WILLIAM HAWKINS Engineer late of 67 New Road Chitham but
now of 187 Shirebrook Road, Heeley, Sheffield and PETER WATSON MASSON
Engineer ate of Weymouth Villa, Picardy Hill, Belvedere Kent but now
of 54 Bexley Roid, Belvedere, Kent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in whit minner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by he following statement
-
The object of this invention is to provide, an efficient and safe distance fuze for
explosive shells or projectiles The fuze is mechanical in its action, and the
movements and functions are substantially as described and set forth in the
Provisional Specification Carrying forward this description, we at once proceed
to describe in detail the various parts and the construction of the fuze
With reference to the accompanying drawing
Figs sectional clevation of the fuze
-
Fig 2 is a plan of the rear part D showing the top of the striking pellet in the
armed position
Fig 3 is an external elevation of the fuze with the protecting cap removed
F 4 is a plan thereof
Fig 5 is a section al elevation of the gearing
Fig 6 is sectional plan thereof
I ike chacters will be used to indicate different views of the same piece,
throughout the drawing
A is the nose of the fuze and is provided with one or more openings a, a leading
to the actuator chummber, and through which openings, the air passes on its way to
the actuator H
B is a
conical shell piece, forming within, a distributing chamber for the air,
after it has passed the actuator It is also provided with several openings e, e,
through which the an escapes to the external atmo phere In certain case, we
provide small circular shield piece externally, in front of these openings e, e,
to aid the circulation of the stream of air pas ing through the fuze
is the centi il body, in which is provided, a chamber for the gear casing, and
for the spring box It is also provided with a cylindricd projection, in which is
a V groove and this said projection enters into a corresponding recess in the part D
The two pieces C & D are locked together in any relative angulu position by
the screw h
with an
D is the retr pait, which is provided with a pellet chamber w
opening, through which the pellet stem and irm pa ses with a ledge seating for
the pellet arm, and with cucular ridges and grooves on the upper fice, sub tantially
as shown in drawing Externally it is provided with screw threads or their
equivalent, by which it is firmly secured to the nose of the shell
Lis the base plug, which carries the percussion cap g, and is also provided with

page_text: This
a flash opening u, communicating with the explosive charge in the shell
flash opening u, may also be provided with, a small chamber for mealed powder, to
intensify the flash from the percussion cap
F is the striking pellet which is substantially a flanged stem, with a conical
point and a projecting arm k on the top en l The arm A, rest when the armel
position, on ledge as shown in drawing Between the pellet flange and the bottom
of chamber w, is a coiled compressed "pung v
When the pellet is rotated on its axis, through a small angle, it is carried
off its seating or ledge, and is then free to pass through the opening provided for
the purpose
Therefore, when it is completely off its seating, the compressed sping drives it
violently backwards when the needle point conies in contact with the percussion
cap, and fires it, and through the cap, the explosive charge in the shell
is a safety piece, to prevent the pellet being turned either accidentally or
otherwise so as to carry the pellet arm off its serting This piece is constructed
of a semi-circular collar or ring, with a small stem pissing through the opening for
the pellet arm It is sprung on to the pellet stem and adheres to it by friction, and
it may be further secured, against sliding down the stem accidentally, by providing
on the stem a slight shoulder
When the fuze is fired in the gun, the inertia of this piece causes it to overcome
the friction between it and the stem, and slide down the stem till it reaches the
flange The striking pellet is now free to revolve and to be carried off its
seating
G is the gear casing and train of wheel, which is constructed substantially as
shown, of plates and distance pieces and ordinary clock gealing This train of
wheels is provided so as to suitably reduce the speed of the actuator, which is
transmitted to the last motion wheel m
Said wheel m caries on its under face a stud or projection, which revolves in
the groover
When this stud comes in contact with the arm of the striking pellet,
its further movement, carries the pellet arm off its seating, when the spring v
will dive said pellet backwards against the percu sion cap as before de cribed
15 spring box, with top and bottom preferably corrugated, and the object of
this box is to act as a buffer and to soften the shock of di charge on the parts,
immediately connected thoreto In some cases this box may be replaced by a
dished or coiled spring or it may be left out altogether
1
p & n
are studs which enter into corresponding holes in the art C, and the
object of these stud, is to prevent the wheel casing revolving independently of the
part C
H is the actuator, which is constructed as an au wheel or vane, with radiating
blades, suitably pitched o that a stream of ur passing through or by it, will cause
it to rotate on its axis, at a speed proportional to the velocity of the air and the
pitch of the blide Adopting therefore a convenient & suitable pitch for these
blides, the actuator will make a ceitun definite number of revolutions, for any
particula lineal distance ti versed by the fuze in flight Every yard of lineal
distance passed over, will cause the actuator to make definite number of turns or
parts of a turn and this ratio adopted or obtained the gearing can be propoi-
tioned and the fuze graduated, and set, to explode the charge in the shell at any
predetermined point in the path of its flight
The actuator is mounted on the spindle band attached to it
provided with arbors running in suitable beatings
The spindle is
g is protecting cap for the nose of the fuze during transit or handling, and
the cap is provided with a long stem, which reaches down to and enters between
any two of the actuator blades This stem effcctually secures the actuator
When the fuze is ready
against rotating on its axis during transit or handling
for firing the cap is removed, ind with it, the stun f
Agun referring more particularly to Fig 1, it will be evident, that the
parts A B & C together with the gear casing G, are when built up substantially

page_text: one piece, and constitute the front part of the fuze Any angular movement
given to this front part will affect all the above mentioned parts, and, their
components alike
Similarly and in like manner the parts D E & F and their components form the
rear portion
It follows therefore, that by giving the front part, an angular movement
relative to the lower, or ce versa, the study on the last motion wheel m will be
carried nearer to, or farther from, the striking pellet arm k The length of the
Journey study has to perform, before it reaches the pellet arm k, will thus depend
on the relative angular positions, of the front and rear parts of the fuze
The two
parts can be locl ed in any relative position, within the limits of the angular
movement by the screw or any equivalent device
By graduating the C & D parts externally (Fig 3) on any convenient and
adjacent parts of their periphery, in terms of lineal distance or time if desired,
the fuze can now be set for any range within the limits of its construction The
studs s&t (Figs 2 & 5) are provided as safety studs and to limit the relative
angular movement between the front and reu pirts
It will be further evident, that in the construction of the fuze, several of the
pieces may be modified in shape and appearance, without departing from the real
nature of the invention
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 -
First A mechanical distance fuze with an actuator set in a plane at night angles
o nearly so to the axis of the fuze, or with its albo parallel t the axis of the fuze,
and the means whereby, this actuator is rendied independent of the rotary
movement of the shell caused by rifled guns
Second A mechanical distance fuze with an au tight sping box, to act as a
buffer and to soften the effect of the shock of dicharge on the parts immediately
attached thereto
Thud A mechanical distance fuze, gradunted preferably in terms of lineal
distances, which can be set for any range, within the limits of its construction,
and can be ficd from any gun laige enough to pa s it, without reference, within
practical working in its to the velocity or twist of the shell, the only necessary
factor requied being the predetermined ange
Fourth The combination of parts, subst intially as hereinbefore described and
shown on drawing
Dated this 4th day of February 1896
P W MASSON
FRANK WILLIAM HAWKINS