Time Fuses.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by DIE FIRMA FRIED. KRUPP, Grusonwerk, of
Magdeburg-Buckau, in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturers.]
Time Fuses.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
The invention hereinafter described relates to improvements in time fuses, and
has for its objects to enable an accurate adjustment of the burning periods to be
effected in a convenient manner, and to prevent with certainty an unintentional or
accidental displacement of the adjustable composition collar. These objects are
attained by artificially increasing the friction between the composition collar which
is capable of rotation and a fixed part of the fuse to such an extent that, while the
automatic displacement of the adjusted collar by concussions or the like is thereby
prevented, the turning of the said collar which is to be adjusted can still be effected
by hand or by a suitable instrument.
Referring to the drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in central section of a time fuse constructed
according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a section on the line y Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate slight modifications hereinafter described.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, and
Figure 6 is a plan of a further modification, and
Figures 7 and 8 are similar views showing a still further modification.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a is a split clamping ring which embraces the fixed
cylindrical spindle c¹ of the fuse plate c and lies between the adjusting nut d and
the movable collar b. The said clamping ring is cone shaped on its exterior
periphery, and said outer conical surface bears against a corresponding internal
cone formed in the said collar. When the adjusting nut d is tightened it presses
with its lower surface upon the upper flat face of the clamping ring a and forces
the ring which acts as an annular wedge between the collar b and the spindle c¹ so
that between these latter two parts friction is produced. Before setting the fuse,
the nut is first screwed up so far that the collar 6 can only just be turned by hand.
The adjusting nut is then locked by means of a screw e. The setting of the fuse
for any desired range may now be very accurately effected either by hand or by a
suitable key whilst the automatic displacement of the collar during transport or
loading is prevented.
The clamping ring a, instead of being made conical on the outside, may be made
conical on the inside as shown in Figure 3, or both on the outside and inside as
shown in Figure 4, the spindle and the collar in both cases being made of
corresponding form to fit therewith. In the construction represented in Figure 4
the clamping ring need not be split.
The arrangement herein described ensures that, in the firing, the clamping ring a,
by reason of its inertia is pressed so firmly between the spindle c¹ and the
composition collar b that the friction thereby produced is greater than the effort
tending to displace the collar, and produced by the rotation of the projectile on the

page_text: one hand and by the inertia of the collar on the other hand, so that, displacement
of the said collar is prevented.
In the time fuses represented in Figures 5 to 8 the friction acting to prevent the
turning of the collar is produced between the fuse body and the collar by a snap
spring.
Referring to Figures 5 and 6 the fuse has a pointer a made in the form of a
spring pin fixed to the fuse plate c and bearing with its free end against the
collar 6. On the collar the graduation lines indicating the burning periods or
distances are formed in itaglio, so that the pointer a can snap into said depressions
during the turning of the collar. The spring pointer a is sufficiently strong to
prevent accidental turning of the collar during transport, or loading, for example.
The zero line of the graduations and the line indicating the dead point of the
time fuse may be made somewhat deeper than the others, in order to entirely
prevent the collar being accidentally turned from the position in which it is set for
transport. By the arrangement herein described for causing the pointer to snap
into the graduations the further advantage is gained that the accurate adjustment
of the collar is materially facilitated.
The time fuse shown in Figures 7 and 8 differs from that of Figures 5 and 6 only
in that the spring pin is replaced by a small spring plate a which is fixed to the
fuse plate e by means of a screw or otherwise. This small spring plate is pressed
inwards at a to form a wedge-shaped ridge adapted to fit into the graduation
lines.
If desired the graduation lines may be formed in the fuse plate c and the pointer
fixed on the collar b.
While in general the clamping ring and the spring pointer have the common
function of preventing the automatic displacement of the composition collar by
increasing the friction, the former has the special advantage of still further
increasing the frictional momentum during the firing, and the latter has the
advantage of facilitating the more accurate adjustment of the collar. If it is
desired to secure both advantages both devices are combined in the fuse.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A time fuse provided with means for securing between the fixed part of the
fuse and the composition collar a frictional resistance sufficient to prevent accidental
turning of the said collar while permitting the turning thereof by hand or otherwise
to adjust the same, for the purpose specified.
2. A time fuse constructed with a clamping ring arranged between the adjusting
nut and the composition collar, said ring being made conical externally or internally
or both internally and externally, and adapted to engage with corresponding
surfaces of the said collar and the spindle of the fuse plate and produce between
the latter sufficient friction to prevent the accidental turning of the same relatively
to each other, for the purpose specified.
3. The modification of the device, consisting in the provision of deep graduation
lines indicating the burning periods or distances, in combination with a snap spring
or pointer engaging therewith, for the purpose specified.
4. In a time fuse, the combination, with the fuse body and the adjustable collar
movable on the body for regulating the time of explosion, of the securing means
adapted to engage said parts and lock them in the position to which they are
adjusted, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
5. In a time fuse, the combination of the fuse plate, the surrounding adjustable
collar, the clamping ring inserted between the adjustable collar and fuse plate, and
the locking catch carried by one of the parts and adapted to engage in the other
part, all substantially as described.
6. A time fuse constructed substantially as described with reference to Figures 1

page_text: and 2, or to either of the modifications illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, or in
Figures 5 and 6, or in Figures 7 and 8, and operating as, and for the purpose,
specified.
Doted this 23rd day of June 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.