FOR PROJECTI
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Noble at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th October 1882.
ANDREW NOBLE of the Elswick Works Newcastle upon Tyne
IN FUZES FOR PROJECTILES."
"
IMPROVEMENTS
The object of this Invention is to enable shrapnel shells which are fired from a
gun to be used instead of "case "which breaks up in the gun at the time of firing
and which is now used when firing against troops at close quarters. For this
purpose I provide shrapnel shell with a fuze which explodes the shell immediately
that it leaves the muzzle of a gun. I form the fuze as is usual of a cylindrical or
other form of chamber which is carried in the nose or other part of a projectile
and which has loose within it a hollow striker or hammer carrying a cap or
detonating material at its forward end and which hammer is by a safety pin or
other arrangement with like object held back so that the cap at its front end
cannot come into contact with a fixed pin which stands out from the front end of
the outer cylindrical case. The forward end of the hammer enters the rear end of
a small metallic cylinder called the safety cylinder contained within the forward
end of the outer case. The ends of the safety pin as in the fuzes now used rest
against the rear end of this small cylinder. When the projectile is fired from a
gun this small cylinder by its inertia shears off the ends of the safety pin and
passes backwards a distance along the hammer as in the fuzes now used.
According to my invention I place around the rear end of the hammer a coiled
spring to bear against a collar upon it. When the projectile is fired off from a gun
and the safety pin is sheared in the usual way the spring is unable to throw the
hammer forwards and fire the fuze so long as the projectile is in the gun and is
having an accelerating movement imparted to it but the instant it leaves the gun
the spring throws the hammer forwards and fires the fuze.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Andrew Noble in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th April
1883.
ANDREW NOBLE of the. Elswick Works Newcastle upon Tyne
IN FUZES FOR PROJECTILES
"
"
"IMPROVEMENTS
The object of this Invention is to enable shrapnel shells which are fired from a
gun to be used instead of "ense' which breaks up in the gun at the time of
firing and which is now used when firing against troops at close quarters. For
this purpose I provide shrapnel shells with a fuze which explodes the shell
-immediately that it leaves the muzzle of a gun.
I form the fuze as is usual of a cylindrical or other form of chamber which is
carried in the nose or other part of a projectile and which has loose within it a
hollow striker or hammer carrying a cap or detonating material at its forward end
and which hammer is by a safety pin or other arrangement with like object held
back so that the cap at its front end cannot come into contact with a fixed pin
which stands out from the front end of the outer cylindrical case. The forward
end of the haminor enters the rear end of a small metallic cylinder called the safety
cylinder contained within the forward end of the outer case. The ends of tho
safety pin as in the fuzes now used rest against the rear end of this small cylinder.
When the projectile is fired from a gun this small cylinder by its inertia shears off*
the ends of the safety pin and passes backwards a distance along the hammer as
in the fuzes now used.
According to my invention I place around the rear end of the hammer a coiled
spring to bear against a collar upon it. When the projectile is fired off from a gun
and the safety pin is sheared in the usual way the spring is unablo to throw the
hammer forwards and fire the fuze so long as the projectile is in the gun and is
having an accelerating movement imparted to it but the instant it leaves the gun
the spring throws the hammer forwards and fires the fuze.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
The Drawing represents a section of a fuze constructed according to my
invention.
a is a bushing piece screwed into the front of the shell, it receives the cylindrical
fuze chamber b. c is the hollow hammer or striker within the chamber b it is armed
with the cap c¹ and priming c². d is a coiled spring bearing against a collar upon
the hammer or striker and pressing it forward towards a pin e fixed in the fore
end of the chamber b. f is the safety cylinder which holds back the hainier or
striker.
'
In the Drawing the hammer or striker is shown provided with wings c³ ³ which
bear on the end of the safety cylinder and are shorn off by it when the gun is fired.;
but in place of these wings a safety pin inserted through a hole in the hammer or
striker may be employed wliich is also a well known arrangement.
The hammer or striker is thrown forward by the spring & when the shell-having

page_text: What I claim is a fuze having a hammer or striker liberated by the firing of the
gun and thrown forward by a spring when the shell leaving the muzzle ceases to
be accelerated so causing the charge to be fired substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof I the said Andrew Noble have hereunto set my hand
and seal this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
A. NOBLE. (L.S.)