GB576664A - Improvements in fuzes for aerial bombs, shells and other explosive projectiles and missiles - Google Patents

Abstract

576,664. Fuzes for bombs and shells. MIDGLEY, A. H. Dec. 13, 1943, No. 20846. [Class 9 (i)] Two percussion fuzes are described, one (Fig. 1) acting with delay and the other (Fig. 2) acting without delay. In both, the striker m (or electric-contact member) has a conical enlargement m<1> pressed by the spring o onto a ball or balls n, the lateral escape of which, to release the striker, is normally prevented by the enlarged lower end l<2> of a sleeve, the smaller-diameter upper part l<1> of which houses the spring o. In the bomb tail-fuze shown in Fig. 1, the sleeve is locked to a second sleeve k by a ball q and by a lead wire p. The ball q is anchored by a third sleeve e. This sleeve is supported by a deformable member h and carries an air-vane g which unscrews during the descent of the bomb so that, on impact, the sleeve e can move downwards by momentum and align an aperture e<2> with the ball q. Return of the sleeve e is prevented by a coiled-spring detent i. Sleeves l<1>, k remain connected by the lead wire, but the pressure of the spring o causes the wire to be slowly sheared, whereupon the spring lifts the sleeve and frees the balls n so that the striker can operate. The fuze-body comprises two slidably-connected parts a, b, locked against separation by a ball c which is released when an aperture e<3> in the sleeve e is, aligned with it on impact. Thereafter, if an attempt be made to unscrew and remove the fuze before the lead wire is sheared, the spring o will raise the two sleeves k, l<1> as the body-parts a, b are moved apart, the balls n will be released, and the striker will act. The momentum sleeve e is made of hardened steel to defeat any attempt to drill into the fuze. In the fuze of Fig. 2, the striker-spring sleeve l<1> is locked by an unstably-supported ball r<1> normally held in position by a sleeve r which is urged upwardly by a spring r<2>. Movement of the sleeve is prevented by a finger r<5> which bears against the air-vane nut g. Unscrewing of the nut allows the sleeve r to lift and free the ball r<1>, which is unseated on impact to permit the fuze to act instantaneously.