GB234513A - Improvements in or relating to clockwork-operated fuses for projectiles - Google Patents

Abstract

234,513. Tavannes Watch Co. Soc. Anon., (Assignees of Gros, C.). Aug. 2. 1923, [Convention date]. Projectile fuzes. - Relates to clockwork fuzes wound and set for time simultaneously and comprising a member adapted to release the striker when rotated through a predetermined angle by the driving spring. According to the invention. a reducing gear is interposed between this rotatable member and the driving spindle to which the spring is attached. This ensures greater accuracy of action by providing several turns of the driving spindle for one turn of the rotatable member and requiring less multiplication between this spindle and the clockwork regulator. As shown in Fig. 1, the driving spring 35 is attached at its outside end to a drum 30 forming part of the inner casing of the fuze and at its inner end to a collar 38 on an axial spindle 39. The front end of this spindle has a pinion 42 in mesh with a pinion 82 on the rear end of a countershaft 71, the front end of which is fitted with a slidable pinion 69 normally in mesh with an axial key (not shown). The rear end of the driving spindle 39 has a pinion 43 in mesh with a pinion 44 on the front end of a countershaft 51, the rear end of which has a pinion 54 adapted to drive a rotatable member (not shown) controlling the release of the striker. This countershaft mechanism constitutes the reducing gear aforesaid. The driving spindle 39 is also provided at its front end with a ratchet crown-wheel 83 engaged by another ratchet crown-wheel 85 under the influence of springs 87<1>, the crown wheel 85 being provided with internal teeth 88 for transmitting motion to the clockwork regulating mechanism, as described in Specification 232,636. Initially, the spring drum is only partially wound, the striker is cocked, and the several, parts are locked in safety. The fuze is wound up and simultaneously set for time by a rotation of the key, which is transmitted through the countershaft 71 to the drum spindle 39, and thence also through the countershaft mechanism 51, the ratchet mechanism 85 above the spring drum being meanwhile locked and the ratchet wheel 83 riding freely round. When the projectile is discharged, a bolt 81, Fig. 2, sets back by inertia and releases a lever 77, which then swings out about its pivot 78 under centrifugal force. A finger 101 on this lever releases the clookwork regulating mechanism and a fork 76 at the end of the same lever releases the pinion 69, which is moved back by a spring 75 out of mesh with the axial setting key. The clockwork being thus released, the spring 35 unwinds itself and drives back the various elements of the fuze until the rotatable member releases the striker. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3) (a) describes also the details of the axial setting key, and of the rotatable mechanism controlling the release of the striker. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.