GB524860A - Improvements in or relating to projectile fuzes - Google Patents

Abstract

524,860. Ammunition fuzes. SKODA WORKS, PLZEN, and PANTOFLICEK, B. Oct. 20, 1938, No. 30385. Convention date, Oct. 20, 1937. [Class 9 (i)] A projectile fuze in which communication between the priming and delay charges is opened by a valve member tc ignite the delay charge upon impact with the target, is characterized in that the gases from the delay charge escape through or past the valve member so long as the projectile is subjected to retardation, the communication being closed as soon as the retardation ceases, such closure of communication causing a sudden increase of pressure of the combustion gases to disrupt the delay charge and thus ignite the detonator. The valve member may be in the form of a freely-mounted or spring- loaded ball, cylinder, or plate member. Fig. 1 shows a construction in which a ball 4 seated on a ring 5 and loaded by a spring 6 is provided between the primer and the delay charge 3. Upon impact of the projectile, the ball 4 moves forward against the spring 6 into contact with short ribs 17, thus allowing the gases from the primer to ignite the delay charge 3. When retardation ceases, the ball 4 is returned to its seating by the spring 6 and the gases from the delay charge, and the gas pressure due to the latter then increases in the space between the delay charge and ball, until the delay charge is disrupted and the detonator ignited. In a modification, the spring 6 may be omitted and the ball 4 may be pressed against the ribs 17 by a layer of compressed powder which is ignited by the priming charge to free the ball. In other modifications, the ball 4 is replaced by a cylindrical member or a perforated circular plate. Fig. 14 shows a fuze in which 50 is the priming charge, 33 the valve member, 3 the delay charge, 41, 42 the detonator and 32 a layer of lightly compressed powder which initially holds the valve 33 away from its seat 27.