US1316607A

US1316607A - Detonator for projectiles

Info

Publication number: US1316607A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1919-09-23
Anticipated expiration: 1936-09-23

Description

C. P. WATSON. i DETONATOR FOR PROJECTILES. APPLlcATloN man ma. 1s. van.

1,316,607. Ptentedsept-23,1919.

Watson,

@Hmmm pliedto vuniTnD sTATEs PATENT onirica CHARLES P. `WATSON, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNQRVTO WATSON ARMS COMPANY, INC., 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DETQNAIOR FOR PROJECTILES.

Patented Sept. 23, 1919.

Application led January 13, 1917. Serial No. 142,200.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. WATSON, a citizen of' the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county 'of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detonators for Proj ectiles, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to detonators for ordnance shells, it being.. designed particularly as a nose impact detonator to be apshells containing high explosive and adapted particularly for. use in fiel operations, although the invention 'is not limited in its useful applications to use in connection with shells of this particular kind.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a central longitudinal sectional view of a detonator embodying my improvements, a small portion of the shell to which it is applied being represented, and the parts of the detonator being represented as in armed position and adjusted for quick firing or detonation.

Fig. 2 is acentral longitudinal section of thedetonator, the parts thereof being represented in unarmed or safety position and adjusted for slow firing or a delayed detonation..

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the main lpiece or body of the detonator, taken on the

line

3, 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4. is a transverse sectional view on the line 4, 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a diierent form of the invention from that shown in the other views. Y f

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of a diierent form of mechanism employed for adjusting the iring pin.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the tiring pin adj uster shown in Fig. 6.

VIn the drawings. 2 indicates ashell or projectile adapted to carry a charge of high explosive that is placed within the chamber 45 of the shell. It is provided with a detachable nose piece 3 that serves to close the opening into the chamber 45, at the forward end of the shell. lTo this nose piece is secured, through screw-threaded connection 4, the lbody or main supporting piece 5 of the detonator, whichlpiece is formed with a neck 6 that is screwed into the 'nose piece and has a 'shoulder 7 that abuts against the rear face of the nose piece when the parts are assembled, constituting a strong abutment at this point. The body 5 of the detonator is externally screw-threaded near its middle, as indicated at 8, to engage with the shell, and its rear portion is reduced in diameter and externally screw-threaded, as indicated at 9 to provide for the attachment of the casing 10v that carries the booster charge. ing a detonator such as here illustrated,

`whether placed in the front or the rear end of a shell, the casing containing the booster charge enters a recess formed therefor in the mass of high explosive constituting the bursting charge of the Vshell 2. The casing l() is therefore of sufficiently thin and fragile material to properly yield to the booster -charge upon its being detonated or exploded. By making the casing 10 separate from the body of the detonator it can bel formed from It is well understood that in us-' a single piece of metal, its inner end being thus integral with its side walls, and hence not liable to lseparate therefrom under the shocks to which the detonator is exposed when in service use. Furthermore, there are decided advantages in construction and manufacture incident to making the body 5 and casing 10 separate, as much Shorter stock material is thus required for the detonator proper. dent to making the casing containing the booster charge separate from the body or main portion of the detonator, containing the firing and other functioning mechanism, is that the booster casing may be loaded and shipped separate from the body part of the detonator; and as such part contains the iulminateof miercury or other sensitive charge, the danger of accidental and destructive explosions in transit is thus reduced.

The casing 10 is preferably provided with a shoulder 12 abutting against the inner end of the bodyV of the detonator or the purpose of taking shocks due to impact and relieving the screw threads 9. Ithas been also found advantageous to provide the cas ing with an external screw thread 11 of the same pitchV and diameter as the thread 8, and adapte-,dV to directly engagev with the screw-threaded part of the shell 2 when the detonator is applied thereto, particularly when this .feature of the invention is used Another advantage inciof line therewith and entirely cut off therein connection with fuse or detonator adapted to Ibe applied to the rear end of a shell, as these threads are found to support and hold the casing securely in position and prevent its separation from the other parts of the detonator, as might take place should the screw threads 9 he alone relied upon for this purpose.

The body 5 of the detonator is internally chambered as indicated at 23, and in this chamber is mounted a plunger 22 -which is free to moveto a limited extent therein. rlhe chamber is closed at its inner end by a plate or partition 24, and between this and the plunger is located a coiled spring 25 that tends to hold the plunger in its forward position, that is, toward the nose of the shell. The plunger is transversely slotted as indicated at 13, and in the slot is mounted an oscillating turret 14 supported upon bear-o ings 15 on-which it is free to rock.

The turret is chambered as indicated. at 18 to receive a capsule or miniature projectile 19 in which is placed the detonating charge 0f fulminate of mercury or other sensitive explosive.

The plunger body in rear of the turret 14, and the partition 24, are perforated, the perforations in these parts being in alinement with each other, their axis being preferably the longitudinal-axis of .the detonator. A tube 27 constituting a runway is Etted into the aperture in the rear portion of the plunger, and another runway tube 53 is secured to the partition 24 inline with the said apertures. The turret 14 is adapted to be oscil lated upon its trunnions or bearings 15 so that the chamber 18 therein shall aline with the apertures and. runway tubes just referre to, as indicated in Fig. 1, when the parts are in armed position; or shall he out from, as indicated in Fig. 2 when the parts are in safety or unarmed position. The parts are held ositively in the latter position by a locking bolt 28 `mounted in the plunger and acted upon by a spring 29 that holds it in locking position with itsv end in a recess formed therefor in the turret'.

Another .locking pin 58 may be employed for holdin the turret positively in armed position. his locking pin is seated in. a

recess 59 formed in the turret, which recess is adapted to come into alinement with a recess 60 formed in one wall of the plunger 22 thaty bounds the. slot 13 in which the turret is located, when the latter comes to the position indicated in Fig. 1, that is, to armed position. The pin 58 is free to slide in the

recesses

59 and 60, and when the shell begins Ato spin,'centrifugal force tends to throw the pin outward, so that when the turret rocks and the

recesses

59 and 60 come into alinement the pin will be shot into the latter, locking the turret in armed position. It

will be understoodl that the pin is short enough to lie entirely within the recess, 59, and that itis held therein by the bounding wall ofthe slot 13 luntil the parts corne to the position indicated in Fig. 1.

The turret is formed with an eccentric projection 16, adapted, when the parts are in safety or unarmed position, to occupy a seat 17 formed at the inner end of a plug 47 screwed into the forward end of the body piece 5. The projection 16 is held against this seat bythe action of the spring 25, and constitutes a means, in addition to the lockw ing bolt 28, for holding the parts in safety position.

In practice the turret is so made that it is balanced upon its pivotal supports 15, that is to say, any two parts thereof diametrically ,tion indicated in Fig. 2 to that indicated in Fig. 1. In the former position not only is the projection 16' seated, but the capsule 19 containing the detonating charge is out of line with the runway leading into the midst of the booster charge, while in the latter position, the turret having turned, the capsule-is in lin-e with this runway and ready to he projected along the said runway, that is to say, the detonator is in armedpositon.

Behind the capsule is located a charge of eX- .plosive 21, such 'as black powder, that is adapted to be fired by a cap or primer 20 supported in the turret.

30 indicates a tiring pin mounted in the plug 47 at the forward end of the detonator and arranged to engage with the cap 20 under conditions to be presently stated. The firing pin is carried by a plunger 31 that is mounted in a recess 33 formed in the plug 47. A coiled spring 32 acting upon the plunger tends to retract the iring pin and hold it out of firing position, that is, so that upon impact of the shell it will not act upon and lire the cap 20'. The plunger 31 is provided with a contact extension 34 upon which bears an adjustable wedge ortapering plug 35. This wedge is provided with a screw-threaded portion that is adapted to engage with either of two internal screw threads, 36 and 37, cut in the walls of a recess 51 formed in the nose piece 3. When the plug is engaged with the outer screw- Yby the spring 32 is forced forward 'and the firing pin 30 is retracted. When, however,

the plug is caused to engage with the screw thread 37 the expanded or wider portion of the wedge is brought opposite the projection 34, and this forces the plunger 31 forward, compressing the spring 32 and projecting the firing pin into active or armed position, as indicated in Fig. 1. The recess 51 is open from the outside, permitting access to the head of the plug 35 in which is formed a kerf 52 adapted to receive the end of a 'screw driver', by which it may be maniputhe wedge or plug in place. There are preferably two split spring rings 63 and two grooves formed in the plug or wedge, in the construction illustrated in theseiviews. When tie wedge is 'adjusted to the position indicated in Fig. 6, the firing pin 34 then being in unarmed or safety position, the outer ring 6'3 lies partially in the first .or inner groove 62, while the inner ring is in engagement with the smooth, cylindrical portion of the wedge. Under these conditions, t-he wedge is held with sufficient security to prevent any accidental displacement thereof. l/Vhen it is desired to arm the detonator, the wedge is driven inward, the elasticity of the springs permitting it to move past them, until the two grooves become respectively opposite the two rings, when they will contract and enter the grooves in the wedge, securely locking it in the position corresponding to the position of the wedge illustrated in Fig. 1, and vholding the firing pin armed. i

The inner end of the plug 47 is shaped to form a firing rim 38 v'which is preferably concentric with the firing pin 30, and is adapted to engage with and explode a second cap or primer 39 seated-in the turret and arranged to igniteA a powder train lo cated in a channel 40 formed in the turret 14. This channel communicates with the inner end ofthe chamber 18 in whichvis seated the capsule 19.

The capsule is provided at its lforward end with a cap 50vthat is adapted to be,

engaged by a firing pin 46 carried at the inner end of the runway tube 53. The det-- onator has now been sufficiently described to warrant its operation being set forth. After the shell 2 has been loaded the detonator, with the nose piece attached, is applied, being screwed into the forwardend of the shell. yThe then in the positions indicated in Fig. 2, so far as the turret is concerned. Upon the parts of the detonator are A discharge of the gun the violent impulse given to the shell causes the plunger 22 to set back, compressing the spring 25. This withdraws the projection 16. from the seat in which it was resting. At the same time the locking bolt 28 is set back, freeing the plunger so that it may be rocked upon its trunnions 15 under the influence of centrifugal force. The parts are so related that centrifugal' force, due to the rotation of the shell imparted by the riiing of the gun, acts to rock the turret, bringing it to the position indicated in Fig. 1 at about the time or shortly after the shell leaves the muzzle of the gun and before acceleration ofthe shell in its flight has ceased, which acceleration insures that the plunger 22 and the locking bolt 28 shall be maintained in their set back positions just referred to. Upon the shell attaining its maximum velocity the spring 25 acts to set forward the plunger, the turret now being in the posi-n of the turret and arrests it in proper armed position. The turret is provided with a shear pin 48 that enters a recess 49 formed l in the inner wall of the detonator body 5 when'the turret is rocked into armed osi'- tion. As the plunger and the turret w ich is carried thereby are moved forward by the spring 25, during the flight of the shell, the shear pin 48 reaches the end of the recess 49 where it is stopped and positively arrests further forward movement of the plunger and turret, as indicated in Fig. l1. The movable parts now come to rest relative to each other, in position arming the shell. If it be desired that the shell shall be ex; ploded instantly upon impact, the plug will have been adjusted to the position indicated in Fig. 1 immediately before the shell was loaded in the gun, forcing the firing pin forward and linto position to engage with the primer 20. This can be safely done, because the parts are then in the unarmed, safety, position indicated in Fig. 2. Upon impact of the shell the plunger and turret set forward, shearing the pin 48, and the primer 20 is carried forcibly into engagement with the firing pin 30,'which is backed and held rigidly in firing position by the adjustable plug or wedge piece 35. The explosion of the primer 20 ignites the black powder charge, 21, which fires the capsule. or miniature projectile fromits seat and along the runway through the partition 24. Upon reaching the end of this runway, the capsule then being in the tube 53 and in the midst of the detonating charge in the casing 10, the cap 50 at the forward end of the capsule comes into engagement with the firing pin 46 which explodes the cap, and that in turn sets off the detonating vcharge carried by the capsule. This causes the detonation of the booster charge. and that in turn causes an explosion or detonation of the main charge carried by the shell. Since the capsule fits the aperture 26 through the partition 24 and the bore of the tube 513 quite cl0se ly,\the body of air confined in front of the capsule would be compressed very highly were the tube 53 air-tight, possibly highly enough to offer sufli-cient resistance to stop the capsule before it reached the firing pin 46,-or to so reduce its velocity that the engagement with the firing pin 46 would not be sufiiciently forcible to cause the cap 50 to be fired. I therefore prefer to perforate the inner end of the tube 53, as indicated at 42, and to cause the end of the tube 53 to register` with or entera tube 41 secured, as by a bolt 43, to the inner end of the easing 10. With this arrangement the air passes from the tube 53 before the moving capsule and into the tube 41, and the size of the latter is sufficient to take care of the' entire body of air moved without causing serious compression thereof. When it iS desired that the vbursting of the shell shall be somewhat delayed after impact, as for instance to permit it to penetrate the earth to a considerabledistance before exploding, the adjustable plug is left in the position indicated in 35 Fig. 2. The firing pin is then retracted through the action of the spring 32. Upon impact of the shell the cap 20 is not eX- ploded because the firing pin is retracted, but the cap 39 is exploded by the engage- 40 ment of the firing rim 38 therewith. This ignites the powder train located in the groove v40, which finally ignites the powder charge 21, whereupon the operations already described take place. It will be understood that when the parts are arranged for quick firing upon impact the cap 39 is exploded at j thesame instant as is the cap 20, but before the powder train is consumed the shell has burst` and hence this more slowly acting means of firing may be ignored, as its effect is m'l, unless the cap 20 should fail to function.

44 indicate passages within the detonator leading to the recess 51 in the nose of the 55 projectile. If from any cause any one, or

evenall, of the explosive charges carried by the turret should become accidentally ignited or detonated, no serious injury would result to the detonator beyond rendering it dead,

provided the turret occupied its normal safety position. The walls of the detonator body 5 are suiicientlystrong, especially when reinforced,v by the walls of the shell into which the detonator is placed, to resist 66 lpressure due to explosonsor detonations such as just supposed, and the passages 44 make provision for permitting expansion of the gases incident toac-cidental explosions,

in a direction away from the booster charge. The expansion of the gases through these 70 passages and the loss of heat, which would be conducted away by the surrounding' metal, would hence reduce pressures below a dangerous point.

In Fig. 5 I have shown an arrangement 76 of the parts of the detonator different from that embodied in the detonator that has been described. Referring to this View, 55 j indicates a firing pin, carried by the turret in a position about the same as that occupied by the cap 20 in the arrangement first described. The ycap or primer that is arranged tobe fired by this pin is designated 56 and is located at the inner end of the plug 47. Flash passages 57 lead from the e5 recess in which is located the cap 55 past or alongside of the firing pin 55 to the base of the chamber 18 in which is located the capsule carrying the detonating charge, so that when the cap is ignited the flame there- 9) from willfire the charge of black powder 21.

Some of the features of the detonator herein described, including the `plunger adapted to be set back when the shell is fired from the gun, and the oscillating turret carried by the plunger and constituting a seat for the capsule that carries the det onating Charge and is adapted to normally occupy a position of safety with the capsule out of line with the course it takes to the position where -it detonates the booster charge, and is also adapted to move into position in line with that passage' under the action of centrifugal force when the gun is fired, are shown and claimed in a col pending application of mine led July 27, 1915, Serial No. 42,134. l therefore have not herein described the construction of all the parts of the detonator here shown and the advantages inherent to them with that degree of plarticularity that l employed in my saidv o' er case, as that seems to be unnecessary.

What I claim is 1. In animpact detonator for projectiles carrying a detonating'charge, means for rendering'the detonator safe should the said detonating -.charge accidentally explode,

means for armin the deton-ator arranged. to act only when t e projectile is `fired from a gun, meansy acting upon impact of the l projectile for quickly firing the detonating charge, other meansalso acting upon .impact of .the projectile for causing a delayed firing of the detonating charge, and means for renderingone of the said firing means inoperative at will. y

' l2.v In an impact detonator for projectiles carrying a detonating charge, means act-- ing upon impact of the projectile for quickly 13| the projectile, a plunger carrying .asiatica quick iii-in means inoperative at will with' yout distur ing the delayring means and means for normally holding both the quick and delay firing means in nontunctioning positions, arranged to operate to bring the vsaid ring means into functioning relations onlyupon the projectile carrying the fuse beinered from a gun.

fzln an impact detonator for projectiles c'arryinga detonating charge, means acting upon impact of the projectile arranged to quickly fire the detonating charge, other means also acting upon imp-act of the projee-tile for causing a delayed iring of the detonating charge, the quick firing means comprising a longitudinally movable ring pin that normally occupies a retracted position with its point shielded so that it can not act, and means under the control of the unner for setting the said ring pin either into projected firing position or retracted inactive position.

4;. In an impact detonator for projectiles ,carrying a detonating charge, a plunger movable within the detonato'r, a tiring pin' movable with reference to the plunger and acting upon impact of the projectile and the forward movement of the plunger due to such impact, tol cause quick tiring of the detonating charge, a firing rim also acting upon impact and the forward movement of the plunger to cause a delayed firing of the detonating charge, and means under the control of the gunner for setting `the liring pin either into active or inactive posi. tion. I y

5. In an impact detonator for projectiles, a firing pin arranged to act upon impact of the said pin', a spring for normall ho ding 'the plunger in position so that til inactive, anda vmember adjustable at the will of the gunner for positively moving the plunger against the action of the spring to cause the firing pin to assume active position before the projectile is fired.

6. Ink an impact detonator for projectiles, a firing'pin arranged to act` upon impact of the projectile, a plunger carrying the said pin, a spring for normal-ly holding the plungerA in position so that the firing pin is in inactive7 nonfunctioning position, a member adjustable at the will of the gunner for positively moving` the pin-carrying plunger j against the action of its spring to cause the pin to assume active, iring positionbeforey the projectile is fired, and means for normally maintaining the fuse in safe, non firing condition arranged to function and arm the fuse only upon the projectile carrying it being fired from a gun.

e firing pin is 7, ln animpact detonator carrying. a detonating charge, a primer arranged to cause quick firing of the detonatin charge, another primer for causing a delayed firing of the charge, an adjustable ring pin for acting 'upon impact of the projectile to tire the quick acting primer, other nonadjustable tiring means acting immediately upon impact or' the projectile for firing the delayed action primer, means under the control ci the gunner for rendering' the said adjustable firing pin inoperable at will and means for normally maintaining the fuse in safe, non-tiring condition arranged to iunction and arm the fuse only upon the projectile carrying it beingired from a gun.

8. In an impact detonatoi' for projectiles carrying a detonating charge, means for inaintainin the parts of the detonator normally in sa Jety positions, means acting upon impact of the projectile for quickly firing the detonatingl charge, other means also acting upon impact of the projectile for causing a delayed iiring of the detonating charge, the said firing means comprising 'parts that are separated and inactive for firing when the parts of the detonator are in safety positions, means ttor arming the detonator and causing the firing means to assume functioning positions, arranged to act only when the projectile is ired from the gun, and means for rendering the quick firing means totally inoperative at will.

9. A nose impact detonator arranged to be applied to a projectile carrying a charge of high explosive, comprising al booster charge of explosive, a detonating charge of explosive, a movable capsule containing the detonating charge, a movable carrier in which the said capsule is placed, a runway -along which the capsule isl adapted to travel extending from the said carrier into the lbooster charge, means tor positively hold vsaid powder charge, other means acting upon impact of the projectile for causing a delayed iiring of the said powder charge,

and means for rendering one of the said im pact tiring means inoperative at will.

10. An impact detona-tor for a projectile comprising a capsule loaded with a detonating charge, a runway along .which the said detonating capsule is impelled to the position where it is to be red, a plunger mov- Miki laL

able in the detonator and arranged vto set back when the projectile is fired from a gun and; to set forward ywhen the projectlle strikes, the said plunger being perforated inline with'the runway for the passage of the said capsule, a carrierY for the said cap.

'projectile striking to impel the capsule" along thersaid runway.

11. An impact detonator for a projectile,

comprising a partition centrally perforatedv and dividing the detonator into two chambers, in one of which is located a booster` charge, a plunger located. in the ether chamber, the plunger being perforated in line with the perforation through the said partition, a runway tube extending from the saidA partitioni into the midst ofA the y booster charge and arranged in linev with thrp'erforationsin the plunger and the partition. acapsuleloaded with a detonating charge adapted to be impelled throughpthe said perforations and along the runway into the midst of Ythe booster charge where it. is` to be fired, a carrier for the said capsule supported in thepllunger and free to move @from a normal safetynposition with the. capsule out of line with the runway to an arming position with the capsule in line therewith,

rmeans for normally 4holding the carrier in safety position and arranged to be operated to releasethe carrier only upon theY projectile vbeing fired froni'a gun, and means caused to operate when the projectile strikes to impcl the capsule along theV runway.

12. impact detonator fora projectile, comprising a partition centrally perforated and dividing the detonator into two chambers, in one of which is located a booster charge, a plunger located in the other chamber, being arrar ged to back when the proj ectile is fired from a gun and to set forward when the projectile strikes, the plunger being perforated in line with the perforation throughfthe said partition, a runway tube eX- tending from the saidpartition into themidst of the booster charge and arranged in line with .the perfor-ations in the plunger and the partition, a capsule loaded with a detonat-v ing charge adapted tobeirnpelled through thesaid perforations and along the runway fto fire the booster charge, these two explosive charges but having a Y:communicating passage between them, a

into -`the midst of the booster lchargel where it is to be fired', a carrier for the said Veapsuie supported. in the plunger EVand free to move from a normal safety position with f the capsule out of line with .the runway to arming positionfwith the capsule inline therewith, means for normally holding the carrier in safetyY positio'n and arranged to` be operated to release the carrier only upon tlreprojectile being fired from a gun, a spring arranged between the said partition and the plungerand tending to move the plunger forward, and means caused to operate when /the projectile strikes to impel the Ycapsule along runway.

'13. A VYnose impact detonator for a 'projectile comprising a main supporting piece in which is formed a central chamber, a

boosterchar e located in rear of the said central chamier, a runway leading into the midst ofY the booster charge, a plunger located in the said central chamber and perforated in line of the said runway, an oscillating turret supported in the said plunger,

' the turret being formed with a seatffor a capsule containing a detonating charge, the, turret being freely movable from a normal safety position with the capsule which it carries out of line ,with the said runway toan arming position with the capsule in line therewith, means for normally holding the Acarrier in the said safety position and arranged to beloperated to release the carrier oniy upon the projectile being fired from a gun, and firing means arranged to cause the capsule to `beimpelled from its seat and into the runway arranged to be operated when" the ,plunger sets forward upon the projectile striking. .14. In an impact detonator for ordnance projectiles, the combination of a container for a booster charge, a 'carrier for a detonating charge ofY sensitive explosive 'adapted means Separating movable support for the carrier containing the detonating charge adapted either to be v moved into safety position with the detonating charge cut olf from the booster charge, or to *armed position with the detonating chargeV in lineY with the passage communieating with the booster charge, means for' Y'holding-the said support lolcked in safety position arranged to release the carrier upon- Ythe projectile being fired from a gun, and Ymeans for positivelyY locking thesaid support againstmovement when it comes to armedposition. Y E YYCHARLES P. WATSON.