GB272221A - Improvements in or relating to percussion ignition devices for projectiles and bombs - Google Patents

Abstract

272,221. Soc. Italiana E. Breda, (Assignees of Scaglia, G.). June 4, 1926, Convention date]. Projectiles; projectile fuzes.-Relates to projectile fuzes comprising two members which are caused to approach each other on impact in any direction. According to the invention, one member 5<1> is attached to the casing 19<1> by a universal joint 20<1> and the other member 8<1>, which is normally kept away from the first by a spring 10, bears against a concave seat in the casing 18<1> so shaped that any swing of the members about the universal joint out of the axial line causes the members to approach each other and a percussion cap 9 on one of the members to be struck by a firing-pin 6 on the other. When this fuze is used in a grenade, as shown in Fig. 4, the member 8<1> is constituted by the whole bursting charge with the detonator 21 and projects through a hole in the bottom of the casing 18<1> so as to be exposed to direct impact. A safety bar 22 is interposed between the firing pin and the percusion cap and is hinged to an outer cap 23 which is locked by a detachable pin 24 provided with a finger ring. When this pin is removed and the grenade thrown, the cap 23 swings round and pulls the safety bar 22 out, leaving the fuze ready to act on impact. In'a modification, the cap 23 is replaced by a ring; and in another modification, the ball joint 20<1> is replaced by another form of universal joint comprising a central spindle and hemispherical seats. A similar joint is used for another modification applied to a projectile to be discharged from a gun; and in this modification, the safety bar between the firing pin and the percussion cap is replaced by a pivoted centrifugal barrier secured by a detachable screw.