US1313930A - Atytoselective fuse - Google Patents

Description

UTED STATES PATENT QPFIC.

JOHN WALLACE TAYLOR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ATOSELECTIVE FUSE.

Application filed September 11, 1918.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN WALLACE TAY- Lon, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadel h-ia, in the county of Philadelphia and Sltate of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Autoselective Fuses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in auto selective fuses, and has for its object to provide mechanism in connection with the striker or plunger mechanisms of artillery fuses, for neutralizing the elastic energy of the recoil, to prevent the premature action of the striker or plunger.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical section through the fuse mechanism of a shell;

Fig. 2 is a partial side view of the locking sleeve.

As is known, artillery fuses frequently have plunger or striker mechanisms intended to function on impact with the target. It occasionally occurs, however,that the striker is immediately driven forward by the recoil from the shock of impact, before the safety device can recover itself, thus firing the primer prematurely. In order to neutralize the elastic energy of the recoil and so prevent the premature action of the striker, this invention introduces a shock pad to protect the features concerned.

The usual delayed action fuse has a denite predetermined delay period, and, therefore, does not give maximum results. The object of the delayed action fuse is to prevent the action of the fuse until either the target is penetrated or the projectile comes to rest. This delayed action s hould vary with the resistance and must automatically be taken care of by the mechanism of the fuse. For example, a shell striking the smoke stack 0r the rigging of a ship should explode without delay in order to damage the vessel, but a shell striking the armor plate must delay sufficiently to penetrate the armor before exploding in order to attain a maximum amount of damage. It is desired to have such selective delay projectiles pierce a tank and explode inside, penetrate a wall and explode just in rear for destroying personnel, or enter the ground and explode when coming to rest for maximum mining penetration to destroy emplacements.

However, delayed action fuses have been Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 26, 1919.

Serial No. 253,532.

erratic and unsatisfactory due to the fact that the initial shock of impact sets ufp a vibration in the mechanism with a su ciently powerful impulse to cause the mechanism to function prematurely.

In order to dampen these disturbing vibrations, the present invention introduces a shock pad which absorbs the powerful recoil impulse and saves the starter from being forced to act ahead of time, thus permitting the mechanism to function properly and to give the required delay.

In the ordinary type of auto selective delay, the mechanism is completely armed by the force of impact with the target, but is prevented from functioning until the target is penetrated by the inertia forces of the component parts of the mechanism which are sufficient during penetration to overcome the motive power of the mechanism. As the forward part of the projectile is being retarded by the target, any rearward and interior component parts of the mechanism exert a tremendous force ahead, due to their inertia. Since this force is suddenly applied it causes an elastic deforn'lation, considerably greater than that normally obtained with the same pressure. The metal, due to its elasticity, immediately attempts to return to a state of equilibrium and in doing so naturally moves past the mark, setting up a vibration with rapidly decreasing amplitude. The elastic energy stored up in the initial deformation of the component parts of the mechanism is almost entirely restored on the first surge of the vibration and, therefore, the inertia upon which the mechanism depends for its brake is momentarily neutralized and the device allowed to function.

The present invention, however, introduces a non-elastic element which is incapable of restoring energy and, therefore, cannot neutralize the intertia of the components, and so permits the mechanism to delay until retardation of the projectile ceases. In the present embodiment of the invention the projectile, indicated at l, carries at its nose or point the usual fuse stock 2 which has threaded engagement with the proj cctile and extends into the shell charge (not shown), and the firing pin housing 3 has threaded engagement with the fuse stock at the open end thereof. The fuse stock carries a transverse partltion 4 intermediate its ends and within a central opening in the partition is threaded one end of the detonator casing 5.

This casing has the thread-ed end closed but provided with an axial opening, outer end of the said openingis recessed or countexbored to receive the primer casing G. The booster charge, indicated at 7, is a1'- ranged withinv the 'fuse stock between the partition t and the inner end of the stock. The cylindrical axial portion S of the iiring pin housing,` has slidably mounted therein a firing' pin 9, the said pin being adapted at its pointed end to engage the primer to set ol' the charge, and the pin is normally pressed toward the primer by a coil spring 10 which encircles the pin 'between the closed end of the extension S and an annular rib 11 on theV pin.

The rib 11 has a radially extending' latch pin 12 which engages a slot 13 extending longitudinally of the cylindrical extension A8. A key sleeve 16 is mounted in the extension f5, and this key sleeve has a longitudinally extending' slot or notch 15 at its lower end ior engagement by the pin.

At its upper end the sleeve also has a notch or slot 17 which is engaged by a guide screw 1S on the extension 8. rfhe slot 13 has at its upper end a lateral extension 13a eX- tended at an oblique angle with respect to the slot. A coil spring' 19 encircles the cylindrical extension S between the sleeve I6 and the body oi'l the firing' pin housing, normally acting to n'iove the sleeve vtoward the primer.

The operation of the parts just described is as follows: On the impact of the projectile with the target the locking` sleeve 1G moves forward, compressing the light retaining spring 19, and releasing the pin 12, which has been held in the portion 13 of the slot 13 tby the key sleeve 1G. The inertia of the iiring pin retains the actuating spring 10 thereof un-der compression, until retardation of the projectile ceases, when the spring immediately drives the pin into the primer 6, exploding the shell.

In order to absorb the impact forces of the striker and dampen any possible Vibration that would cause the firingpin to act and the preniaturely a shock pad, indicated at 20, is arranged between the firing pin or striker and the closed end of the bore of the cylindrical extension 8 of the firing' pin housinO'. This shock pad is composed of any suitable non -elastic material, as, for instance, fiber, lead or annealed copper, and the said pad absorbs the impact force of the striker and dampens any possible vibration. The very low coeflicient of restitution of lead makes it especially adapted for use in this connection.

I claim:

1. In a shell, the combination with the primer, the spring operated striker and the impact released holding' mechanism for the same, ot' a sho-ck absorbing' pad between the striker and the impact end of the shell for absorbing the shock of impact and preventingr premature movement of the striker toward the primer.

2. In a shell, the combination with the primer, the. spring operated striker' and the impact released holding mechanism for the same, ot a pad having` a low coeflicient of restitution between the striker and the impact end of the shell for the purpose specitied.

3. In a shell, the combination with the auto selective fuse mechanism, of a shock pad for neutralizing' the elastic energy of recoil to prevent premature action.

4. The combination of a shock pad with a fuse mechanism to neutralize the elastic energy of recoil and so prevent the premature action of the striker by accident during transportation.

5. The combination of a shock pad with an auto selective delay fuse to absorb the recoil impulse of target impact and prevent the neutralizingi of the inertia forces of the mechanism components.

(i. The combination of a shock pad with projected mechanisms to dampen the disturbing vi'brations due to shock of target imp-act.

JOHN WALLACE TAYLOR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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