Improvements in Fuses or Igniting Apparatus for Armour Piercing Shells.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1889
TROTIDIONAL SIEVITICATE
Improvements in Fuses or Igniting Apparatus for Armour Piercing
Shells.
I, ANDREW NOBLE, late Captain in the Royal Artillery, of Jesmonddene House,
Newcastle upon Tyne, Manufacturing Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in fuses or igniting apparatus for
armour piercing shells.
I provide the projectile with a separate nose piece furnished with a stem which
screws into an aperture provided to receive it. Around the stem there is a flanged
ring and the noso piece is screwed in until this ring is nipped.
When the projectile strikes the object the ring is crushed and the thread is
stripped from the screw stem. The stein on being thrust inwards fires the shell
by crushing a small glass vessel enveloped in lead and containing sulphuric acid.
The acid is thus brought into contact with a charge of Chlorate of Potash and
sugar. The ignition of this charge may be delayed by thicknesses of paper interposed
between the acid and the Chlorate mixture.
The Chlorate in turn ignites a charge of high explosive.
All these parts are contained in a strong tubular case inserted into the neck of
the shell and secured by a screw ring. The body of the shell may contain a charge
of wet gun cotton or other suitable explosive. According to another arrangement
the nose piece of the projectile when thrust in is inade to drive a needle against
a patch of fulminate and so to fire a priming or detonator such as the explosive
may require for its proper ignition.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fuses or Igniting Apparatus for Armour Piercing
Shells.
I, ANDREW NOBLE, late Captain in the Royal Artillery, of Jesmonddene House,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Manufacturing 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 statement:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in fuses or igniting apparatus for
armour piercing shells. I arrange a fuse either for the nose or for the base of the
projectile.
When arranging the
with a separate nose
provided to receive it.
fuse for the nose of the projectile I provide the projectile
piece furnished with a stem which screws into an aperture
Around the stem there is a flanged ring and the nose piece
is screwed in until this ring is nipped.
When the projectile strikes the object the ring is crushed and the thread is stripped
from the screw stem. The stem on being thrust inwards fires the shell by crushing
a small glass vessel enveloped in lead and containing sulphuric acid. The acid is
thus brought into contact with a charge of Chlorate of Potash and sugar. The
ignition of this charge may be delayed by thickness of paper or other medium
interposed between the acid and the chlorate mixture.
The chlorate in turn ignites the charge of the projectile.
All these parts are contained in a strong tubular case inserted into the neck of the
shell and secured by a screw ring. The body of the sheil may contain a charge
of gunpowder, wet gun cotton, or other suitable explosive.

page_text: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a fuze or firing apparatus arranged for the
nose of a shell, and constructed in accordance with my invention and part of the
shell to which the fuse is applied is also shewn.
X is the fore part of the armour piercing shell. Y is a screw ring securing the
fuse and carrying the steel nose piece A, which is screwed into the ring Y, nipping
the leaden ring B. When the shell strikes the armour plate the nose piece A is
driven in, the screw thread which retains it stripping, and the leaden ring being
crushed. The fuse case D contains the inner metal case C which in turn contains
a lead envelope stamped to the form required and having within it a glass sphere
filled with sulphuric acid the remaining cavity in the lead envelope being filled up
with shallac, putty, or other suitable material.
Also in the fuse case D and below the inner case C is the pellot II of compressed
chlorate of potash and sugar, of cylindrical form and having an axial passage
through it.
Over the chlorate of potash composition is placed a disc or discs of porous
paper For other suitable material and under the centre of this is a metal washer G
closing the axial passage through the chlorate of potash composition.
When the nose piece A is driven in the lead envelope and the glass sphere are
broken and the acid passing through the perforation in the case C into the space
above the disc or discs F saturates the dise or discs and so reaches the chlorate
composition. This composition is in this way inflamed and the flash from it passes
through the aperture in the base of the case D and fires the charge of the shell.
These operations occupy an appreciable time sufficient for the shell to get through
the armour plate before it bursts. The fuse or firing apparatus shewn in figure 2
differs from that above described in being arranged for the base of a projectile
instead of for the nose, and in the following particulars:-The head II carries a
gaine or sheath A which together screw into the base of the projectile. Within
the sheath A is a brass tubo B containing a high explosive charge. On the shell
striking its object, the plunger F shears its copper pin G and travels forward
crushing the lead envelope E and the glass sphere containing sulphuric acid and
forces the acid through the aperture in the carrier D when it soaks and ignites
the slow-burning chlorate or other suitable composition I which in turn ignites the
chlorate composition J, the flash from which passes through the aperture in the
carrier C to the high explosive charge in the brass tubo B. This high explosive
charge fractures the tube B and the gaine or sheath A and fires the charge of the
shell. These operations occupy an appreciable time, sufficient for the shell to get
through the armour plate before it bursts.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A fuse or firing apparatus for an armour piercing shell substantially as described
and in which a nose piece on front of the projectile or a plunger in the rear being
forced in on impact fires a slow burning powder or material which in turn fires the
charge of the shell or which causes a high explosive to be fired, the said explosive
being confined in a strong metal fuse case contained within the shell in proximity
to its bursting charge.
2. A fuse or firing apparatus for an armour piercing shell substantially as described
in which a nose piece on the projectile or a plunger in the base being forced in
liberates a liquid which coming into contact with a suitable material ignites the
same & in which the passage of the liquid to the inaterial to be ignited by it is
delayed by a diaphragm of porous or other material.
3. Fuses or firing apparatus for armour piercing shells substantially as shewn
by the annexed drawings.
Dated this and do of A1000
A. NOBLE.