Improvements in Primers for Ordnance.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 18th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 2nd Oct., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Primers for Ordnance.
We, VICKERS SONS & CO. LIMITED of River Don Works, Sheffield, in the County
of York, Steel Manufacturers, ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON, of Oak Park, Sheffield,
Superintendent of Ordnance Works, and GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM of River Don
Works, Sheffield aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of a primer, for firing charges of
ordnance, in such a manner that it can be readily adapted for firing either by
electricity or by friction.
For both purposes, the primer consists of a metal tube having its front part
charged with gunpowder or other suitable explosive, and having a central rod
terminating in front in a cup, the lip of which operates as a gas check. When the
primer is to be fired by electricity the central rod and its cupped end are separated
from the metal of the tube by a lining of ebonite or other suitable insulating
material, and the cavity in the cup and for some distance in front of it is charged
with suitable fuse composition covered by a metal cap having holes through it.
A platinum wire or strip connects a nipple in the centre of the cup to the metal
cap, the flange of which is in close contact with the interior of the metal tube.
When a current of electricity is transmitted through the central rod and the
platinum to the metal of the primer tube, the platinum being heated fires the fuse
composition which in its turn fires the explosive in front of the cap thus igniting the
charge of the gun.
When the primer is used for firing by friction there is no insulation of the central
rod aud cup, which in this case are fitted to slide, the rod having on its rear end, a
head or loop by which it can be pulled. The nipple projecting forward from the
centre of the cup has a screw thread cut on it or is otherwise externally roughened
aud it passes through a hole, which may be screw threaded or otherwiso internally
roughened, in a boss fixed or bearing against a shoulder in the tube.
The nipple and hole are of such a form that, there is room for fulminating or other
explosive composition between the nipple and the interior of the hole.
When the central rod is pulled dragging the nipple along the hole, the fulminate
or other explosive composition is fired and thus the explosive and charge are fired.
In both forms of the priner, the lip of the cup, being expanded by the pressure of
the explosion gases, operates as a gas check, preventing the gases from passing
backwards.
In another arrangement the cupped spindle is in two parts, the spindle being
screwed into the cup, this cup has one or more holes in it into which screwed or
roughened bars the hends of which are in excess of the diameter of the holes are
fitted the fulminating composition being applied as before described.
When the central rod is pulled dragging the cupped portion over the roughened
bars the fulminate or other explosive composition is fired thus igniting the charge.
Dated this 20th day of November 1800.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Primers for Ordnance.
We, VICKERS SONS & CO. LIMITED of River Don Works, Sheffield, in the County
of York, Steel Manufacturers, ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON, of Oak Park, Sheffield,
Superintendent of Ordnance Worke, and GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM, of River Don
Works, Sheffield, aforesaid, Engineer, 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 stateinent:-
This invention relates to the construction of primers for firing charges of ordnance
in such a manner that the charge can be readily fired by electric or friction primers.
We shall describe our invention referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a primer arranged to be fired by electricity.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a primer arranged to be fired by friction.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a modified primer arranged to be fired by
friction.
Referring to Fig. 1, A is a metal tube having its front part A¹ charged with
gunpowder or other suitable explosive and having a central rod or wire A* terminating
in front in a cup A³. The rod A2 and cup A are insulated from the metal tube A by
a lining A of ebonite or other suitable material. The cavity in the cup A³ and for
some distance in front of it is charged with suitable fuse composition A covered by
a metal cap A having holes through it. A platinum wire or strip A' passes through
the fuse composition A and connects a nipple A8 in the centre of the cup A³ to the
cap A6, the flange of the cap A is in close contact with the interior of the metal
Lube A.
The action is as follows:-When a current of electricity is transmitted through
the central rod or wire A2 and the platinum wire or strip A' to the metal of the
primer tube A, the platinum wire or strip A7 becoming heated fires the fuse
composition A, which, in its turn fires the explosive A¹ in front of the cap A, thus
igniting the charge of the gun.
The lip of the cup being expanded by the pressure of the explosion gases, operates
As a gas check, preventing the gases from passing rearwards, when the charge is
fired.
Referring to Fig. 2, as the primer is fired by friction no insulation is required, the
central rod A and cup A are fitted to slide; the rod A having at its rear end a
head or loop A° by which it can be pulled. The nipple A projects forwards from the
centre of the cup A and has a screw thread out on it or is otherwise externally
roughened and is passed through a hole in a bush A10 screw threaded or otherwise
roughened. The bush A1 bears against a shoulder in the tube A and is thus
prevented from moving back. The nipple and hole are of such a form that there is
room for fulminating composition between the nipple and the interior of the hole.
The action is as follows:-When the central rod A is pulled, dragging the
nipple As along the hole in the bush A, the fulminate or other explosive
composition A
fired and thus the explosive A' and charge are in turn fired.
As in the case of the electric primer, Fig. 1, the lip of the cup A acts as n gas
check.
Referring to Fig. 3 which shews a friction primer no insulation is required, the
central rod As is screwed into a boss A³ which has a hole or several holes through it,
into which screwed or otherwise roughened bars A" and A¹ are fitted, the fulminating
composition being applied as before described with reference to Fig. 2.
The action is as follows:-When the central rod A is pulled, dragging the boss
along the roughened bars A" and A1 the fulminate or other explosive composition A
is fired, thus iguiting the explosive A' and charge in turn.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1 An electrical primer constructed and operating substantially as devoribed with
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1 An electrical primer constructed and operating substantially as devoribed with
reference to Fig. 1.
2. A friction primer substantially as described with reference to Fig. 2.
3. A friction primer substantially as described with reference to Fig. 3.