US1260287A - Device for igniting shell-fuses. - Google Patents

Description

v.' c. DOUBLEDAY.

DEVICE FOR IGNITING SHELL FUSES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1917.

1,260,287 Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

AT FFIC.

; .vrnnnnorcomvnr noUB EnAY, or onnon, ENGLAND.

'nrivion r03 IGNITINGSHEQLL-FUSES.

"Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented" Mari 19,1918.

Original applicatiomfi'lea flovember'fwi 1915, Serial No: 63,811. Divided andthis=applicjation filed February 1 24,1917. Serial No.150,848. I

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, VILLEROY CoRNnY V DOUBLEDAY, a subjectof the King of Great Britain, residing at'Ldndon', England, have invented a new. and usefullmproved Def vice for Igniting Shell-Fuses, of which the 3 following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved clevice for igniting shell fuses, chiefly applicable to pneumaticguns.

Explosive projectiles which are intended to explode not on imp-act but after a predeftermined period reckoned from the moment at which they are discharged from the gun, usually contain a time fusewhich when the propelling force is provided by an explosive, 1s ignited simultaneously with the explosion of the propelling charge, by

{the high temperature gases engendered thereby. I

Such being absent inpneumatic guns, gas guns and the like, where. no explosion but previous compression supplies the propelling force, other means for ignitingthe time fusesof the shells have to be adopted, and

it is the object ofthis invention to provide reliable, inexpensive and convenient means ,for this purpose.

These means may however be employed in guns of any kind, irrespectively of the pro.-

pelling medium and evenin guns using high explosives for propelling or throw ng prol .jectilesftimed to explode at a given mo- I yment, variable at will, may. form an alternative or additional safeguard for insuring the explosion of the shell charge;

The said means consists broadly in utmuzzle of the gun, or n close proximity thereto, which the nose of the shell carrying a .detonator strikes and thrusts away; the impact firing the detonator and the latter igniting the time fuse in the usual manner.

In carrying "out the invention, for ex ample, by means of a fixed construction, which may be used for a number of consecutive shots, I attachan arm outside the gun muzzle which by ,means of links, levers and the bore close to the muzzle. 1 "Such anvil, disk, block,

the like holds normally a metal disk, anvil, hammer, weight orthe like in the center of hammer or the like, may be suitably thickened in the center impact of the shell nose or its detonator and is then violently flung aside, the shock I being partly orwholly taken up by link- Work and the like, preferably by spring joints, helical screws, inclines or the like, so that the disk or weight may return by gravity, spring power or the like to its normal position. i

In the preferred form however,.the 0bstacle is detachably slipped on the muzzle and held by wire, strips of metal or the like and lost with each shot, being of so inexpensive a nature that this does not matter.

In the accompanying drawing Figures 1, 2 and 3 show views of a convenient form of obstacle support carried out in sheet iron, and

Figs. 4, 5 and6 show a similar support made from wire, both forms supporting a disk or the like-having suiiicient inertia to operate on impact a detonating device pro vided on or protruding from within the nose of the shell.

The obstacle 18 shown in section in Fig. .1 i

has a groove 19 to receive prongs 20 of a carrier clip 21, Figs. 2 and 3, forced over one shoulder 22 of the obstacle, and this clip or wire coils 26 may be employed to hold I the obstacle centrally relatively to the 1nuzzle 30 as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6,'where wire arms 31 partly or wholly encircle the obstacle. The wire arms being partly coiled around the groove 19, allow of being closed up, as in Fig. &, conveniently for transport. As a shell leaves. the muzzleof the gun, it strikes the obstacle 18 whereby the shell detonating device "carried at the nose of the shell (not shown) is caused to ignite the time fuse. p

The projectile will not be deflected by striking against the obstacle because the impact takes place while the body ofthe bore of the shell is still guided within the gun barrel.

I claim: I i

- 1. A shell detonating device comprising an obstacle, and means for supporting the obstacle at the muzzle of a gun.

2. A shell detonatlng device comprising a grooved obstacle anda carrier havinga art rommm withm't grow; in the ob V V 7 grooved obst'acle g arrir cli pfprongs on stacle, chps extgnchng outwardly theresaid clip lodged-.inthe groove in the 0b- 10 7 from.

W I v V V K 7' tstacle; claws-extendiilg from the clip. j Ashelldetonatingdevice comprisinga 7 5 grooved obstacleyand a carrier 011p provided Y Q F withprongs-10dged in the grogve in the, 'w tnesseszr 7 "-;'T sta le- V V f ERNS TAP R

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