IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FUSES FOR PRO- JECTILES.
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FUSES FOR PRO-
JECTILES. A communication from abroad by Arthur Anthoni Voruz,
-
of Rue St. Sebastien, Paris, in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 28th October 1864, and dated the 20th May 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Cominissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 20th May 1864.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FUSES FOR
PROJECTILES," to be as follows:-
The principle upon which the present Invention is founded consists in com
bining in one whole, and completely independent of the projectile itself, the
several pieces which constitute a percussion fuse, and which pieces are the
abutment piece or anvil, the striker or percussion rod; the detonating cap,
and a metallic protecting disc, in addition to which there is a supporting
screw. The abutment piece is screwed at one part, and is fixed in the projec-
tile by being screwed into a socket which is tapped to correspond. A recess
is made therein at the inner end to receive the cap or detonating composition.
A cylindrical tube tapped inside is screwed on to the end of the attachment

page_text: piece and serves as a guide and envelope for the striking or percussion piece ;
between this latter (which is hollow and pointed) and the abutment piece
is placed a circular metallic disc which covers up and protects the cap or
detonating composition, and prevents the nipple of the striking piece from
reaching the cap, except when the projectile strikes an object. The striking
piece is kept in its place by a screw block. All these parts are connected
together and constitute a percussion fuse, which may be screwed into the
projectile, and when in its place is perfectly impermeable to water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th November 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, 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 Twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Newton, Her special license that I, the said William
Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as J, the said William Edward Newton, 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 term 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF FUSES FOR PROJECTILES," being a com-
munication from abroad by Arthur Anthoni Voruz, of Rue St. Sebastien, Paris,
in the Empire of France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, 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 William Edward Newton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
The principle upon which the present Invention is founded consists in com-
bining in one instrument, which is completely independent of the projectile
itself, the several pieces which constitute a percussion fuse.
The pieces
of which the instrument or fuse is composed are the abutment piece or
anvil, the striker or percussion rod, the detonating cap, and a metallic
protecting disc, in addition to which there is a supporting screw.
When
all these parts are assembled together the abutment piece is screwed at
one part and is fixed in the projectile by being screwed into a socket which
is tapped to correspond; a recess is made therein at the inner end to receive
the cap or detonating composition; a cylindrical tubé tapped inside is screwed
on to the end of the abument piece and serves as a guide and envelope for the
striking or percussion piece. Between this latter (which is hollow and
pointed) and the abutment piece is placed a circular metallic disc which
covers up and protects the cap or detonating composition and prevents
the nipple of the striking piece from reaching the cap except when the
projectile strikes an object. The striking piece is kept in its place by a
screw block. All these parts are connected together and constitute a per-
cussion fuse which may be screwed into the projectile, and which when in its
place is perfectly impermeable to water.
The Figure in the accompanying Drawing represents the improved per-
cussion fuse in longitudinal section taken through its central part. The dotted
lines represent (as an example) the exterior configuration of a conical pro-
jectile to which the improved fuse may be applied.
The abutment piece A, which is fixed to the projectile by its screwed part a,
is recessed for the reception of the percussion cap D. The socket or envelope
F, which serves as a guide for the percussion piece B, is screwed upon the
abutment piece, as shewn in the Figure. Between the rear end of the abut-
ment piece A and the part f of the envelope F, is interposed the metallic
dise C, which prevents the nipple of the percussion piece B from striking the
cap whilst the projectile is being handled. The percussion piece B is moved
forward inside the envelope F when the projectile strikes against any resisting
body.
These various parts thus combined and connected together within a small
space constitute a percussion fuse which is easily handled and is perfectly
impervious to water.
The dimensions given in the Drawing are applicable to the manufacture of
percussion fuses for projectiles of a certain calibre, but it will be understood

page_text: that these dimensions will necessarily vary according to the modifications in
the calibre of the projectiles to which they are to be applied.
Having now described this Invention of improvements in the construc-
tion of fuses for projectiles, and having explained the manner of carrying
the same into effect, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent, as aforesaid, the
mode herein set forth of constructing percussion fuses.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Nineteeth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)