GB218991A - Improvements in percussion fuses for aircraft bombs and other purposes - Google Patents

Abstract

218,991. RÚmondy, L. E. July 12, 1923, [Convention date]. Projectile fuzes.- Percussion fuzes are provided with a fuze carrier adapted to be moved longitudinally on impact according to the resistance of the target encountered, to cause the fuze to act with or without delay. As shown in Fig. 1, the fuze mechanism is of the kind described in Specification 172,326 and comprises a casing F carrying firing-pin F<1> and containing a percussion cap F<2> held away from the firing-pin by a spring F<3>. This fuze is mounted between a stop c<1> and a spring f in a fuze carrier C, C<1>, C<2> which is secured by an annular nut E against a washer c<2> bearing against a collar D<1> on a delay device D. This device, as described in Specification 213,547, contains a delay charge d and a relay charge d<3>, and has flash holes d<1> opening :out from the delay charge. Additional holes d<2> opening out from the relay charge d<3> are now provided below the collar D<1>. On impact with a highly resistant target, the fuze carrier C, C<1>, C<2> is rammed in and shears the collar D<1>, whereby the holes d<2> are uncovered to the flash from the percussion cap F<2> and explosion of the projectile occurs without delay. On impact with water or like non-resistant target, however, the collar D<1> is not sheared, and the flash is transmitted by the delay charge d. The casing F may be arranged to project beyond the nose of the projectile A. In a modification, the flash holes, d<2> are arranged above the collar D<1> and are adapted to be closed when the fuze carrier is rammed in, the explosion being thus delayed when the target offers a strong resistance, but is immediate when the target is weak. In this modification, the fuze is held in its carrier by a split ring. In another modification, Fig. 3, the ramming in of the fuze carrier C by a strong target capable of shearing a washer D<1> causes a firing-pin G<1> to strike a percussion cap G' producing immediate explosion, the cap G<3> being normally held away from the firing-pin G<1> by a spring G<2>, and the casing G carrying the firing-pin and enclosing the cap being normally held forwards by a spring H. When. a weak target is encountered, the fuze mechanism G<1>, G<3> acts only when the casing G is driven back by the explosion of the relay charge d<3> after the combustion of the delay charge d, which is ignited by the nose fuze. In the nose fuze shown in this Figure, the percussion cap F<2> bears against a washer F<4> having ears f<4> held between a sleeve C<2> and a shoulder c', and the casing F has slots F<3> for slidingly accommodating the ears f<4> of the washer. The displacement of the fuze carrier may control the immediate or delayed action by opening passages by perforation, or by means of an auxiliary device, such as a throttle. A number of shearing stops may be provided to make the delay longer or shorter according to the resistance of the target.