GB234084A - Improvements in or relating to projectile fuses - Google Patents

Abstract

234,084. Bethlehem Steel Co., (Assignees of Essen, P. D. van). May 15, 1924, [Convention date]. Projrctile fuzes.- A direct-action percussion fuze, Fig. 1, has a cage-like distance-piece 30 between the detonator carrier 20 and the striker 17, which is made hollow for lightness. The front end of this cage has curved spring tongues 31, Fig. 2, which are normally maintained in a groove 19 in the striker by the surrounding wall 29 of the fuze body; and the rear end of the cage has an inturned shoulder 34 and bent lugs 33, which fit over a stirrup 35 and press same against the front end of the detonator carrier. An inertia ring 37 is supported in the forward position shown by a spring 38 and by the lugs 33. In the safe position shown, the secondary detonator 28, which transmits detonation from the primary detonator 25 to the magazine 40, is screened from the latter by a lining 41 of paraffin wax, cerasin wax, or bitumen, which damps down any premature accidental detonation. The charge in the magazine may be compressed pellets of trinitrotoluene, trinitrophenylnitramine, or tetranitraniline. The fuze functions as follows : On discharge, the ring 37 sets back by inertia, and becomes wedged on a tapered part 26 of the detonator carrier. When acceleration is over and air resistance on striker 17 has sufficiently diminished, the spring 38 returns the ring 37 forwards, and with it the detonator carrier and the striker. The striker then projects beyond the fuze body in readiness for impact; the spring tongues 31 lies in an enlarged space 16 and can therefore be forced open by the striker on impact; and the secondary detonator 25 is withdrawn from the liner 41 and can therefore transmit unimpeded detonation to the magazine 40.