US1333667A

US1333667A - Time-fuse mechanism

Info

Publication number: US1333667A
Application number: US172774A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas W R Mccabe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1917-06-04
Filing date: 1917-06-04
Publication date: 1920-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 1937-03-16

Description

w. 8., McCABEQ' TIME1FUS E MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 191l- Patented Mar. 16,1920.

UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS'W. B. MCCABE, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

TIME-FUSE MIECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented B131. 16, 1920.

Application filed June 4, 1917. Serial No. 172,774.

' To all whom it ma 1 concern Be it knownthat I, THOMAS V/R. Mo-

CAB'E, a" citizen of the United States, residcertain new and useful Improvements in Time-Fuse Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,"clear, and

' exact description jectiles and of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in. the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. This invention is an improvement in pro has particular reference. to a time fuse mechanism for explosive shells and the like. t '7 An object of the invention is'to provide an'improved mechanism which will insure the accurate tnmng of the explosion of the designed.

A sions, one of which,

' Y and; rotary regulating connection with the invention.

1 The projectile n -ing-t-he present The inventive ideafinvolved is capable of receiving av variety of mechanical expresfor the purpose of illustrating the invention, is shown in the accompanying drawing; understood that the construction shown in said drawing is used only to illustrate the invention as a' whole and not to define the limits thereof, reference being had to the claims for this purpose.

' In the drawing;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an eXplo-' sive hell constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig.2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section showing the time fuse in position therein.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged secti'on'of a detail. 1 p

- Fig 4 isa plan view of a release valve dev ce employed in or explosive shell embodyinvention preferably comprovided with a reprises a body portion 5 having mounted on cess 6 in one end and said end the cap or nose 7[ This cap isproing at \Vaterbury, in the county of New; Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented but it is to be expressly .locked position by a set vided in its inner end with'a recess '8' similar to the recess 6 and forming therewith a chamber the purpose of which will appear 1n the course of the description; Adjacent the. outer end of the cap the same is provided with a second chamber 9' which communicates with the first named chamber through an opening or passage 10, the outer end of said chamber 9 being closed by a plug 11." Mounted to slide longitudinally of the body portion 5 and cap 7 is the spring pressed firing pin or hammer 12 the forward end of which preferably extends through a longitudinal slot 13 in the outer end of a transverse locking pin lt provided with a shoulder 15 for normally engaging the lateral extension 16 of said firing pin whereby to prevent actuation thereof. The inner end of the locking pin is beveled as indicated at 17 and projects into the chamber 9 and is arranged in the path of movement of the beveled head 18 of the plunger 19, the longitudinal axis of which is preferably coincident with that of the projectile so that when said plunger moves,- as will later appear, the beveled head 18 will contact with the beveled end 17 of the locking pin at a predetermined time and adjust the same transversely so as to release-the firing pin. The locking pin 14' is normally retained in its screw 20 engaging the outer end thereof so as to prevent any accidental outward movement and this set screw must be removed before the projectile is fired. j v

A cylindrical casing or receptacle 21 is preferably mounted longitudinally of the opening or passage 10 and is provided at one end with a reduced portion 22 extending into the chamber 9 and encircling the plunger 19 which has a coil spring 23 mounted thereon the inner end of which engages the piston 24 of said plunger which moves longitudinally of thecasing 21. Retarding means, preferably in v granular material 25 of any desired kind is placed within the casing 21 between the iston 24: and the inner end of said caslng which is tapered or reduced and made to terminate in a restricted neck or spout26 the form of a forming an outlet for said casing and offset or inclined from the longitudinal amen thereof. This outlet is so arranged in order to permit of the release of the material 25 from thecasing by the centrifugal force due force the piston 24 inwardly v head 18 to approach and eventually contact with the lockingpin 14: with .already described.

.the outlet 26 for controlling the, passage of tothe rotary movement of the projectile while traversing its trajectory and said material will empty into'the chamber 6'. It

will be apparent. that as thematerialis released from the casing =the spring 23 will and cause. the

the. result Means are provided in connection-with the material 25 therethrough and said means preferably comprises a valve 27 slidably mounted in theh'ead '5 .and provided upon one end with an enlargement 28 operable in a recess 29 in said head, said recess being closed by a-screw which forms a stop v whereby to limit the rearward movement of said valve when the same is operated. The endsof the valve 27opposite the enlargement 28 is provided which is normally out of registration with prevent the the outlet 'endiof the neck 26 whereby to material 25 from escaping fronrthe'casing. vThe valve 27 is yieldably re- .tained in its normal-position by a spring verse SCI'BW 'pressedpin 32- slida'bly mounted in a trans- -the body '5', the pressure of said pin being The actuation of the releasing valve 27 is- .ca used by regulated opening. and bearing against the spring 35.

its relative inertia when the projectile is fired and the shock of said firing will'cause said valve to overcomejthe pressure of the pin '32 thereagainst and the same will move rearwardly until the enlargement 28' contacts with the stop screw 30 where-.

upon the opening-'31 will register with the outlet end of the neck 26 .and the valve will then be in a position to permit of the passage of the material'25 from'the casing into era'bly comprises a 'slstlng of a the chamber 6.

The means for regulating or. controlling the flow of the material from the teasing 21 and the consequent, speed of movement of 38 is normally locked by a screw 39 engaging the same so as to prevent its rotation.

said screw being removed prior to setting the device. The inner end of the shank 36 has formed thereon a disk or plate 40 be- V tweenjwhich ,and 1 the va "e27.

the outlet 26 is interposed .The plate 40 is provided adts periphery with a plurality of with' a valve opening 31- threaded opening-33 formed in byuascrew '34 adjustable in said the material 8. The outer end of the shank '36 is provided with a graduated trainsveise tapered or conical openings ll of various sizes each of which is adapted to be registered with the valve opening 31 and the outlet 26 when the valve 27 is in its releasing position. It will be understood, of cour se,-that the speed at which the material 25 escapes from the casing .21 is controlled by the size of the opening" 41 and a the larger the opening the, shorter will bethe interval between thesfiring'of the 'pro-'' jectile-and the explosion thereof. The plunger 19 is so arranged 'n the cap. 7 that should the mechanism fail tooper- .ate, through any defect in construction, in

the usual manner the same will be actuated to release thefiring pin by the impactr'and consequent inward mox'ement, of the plug 11 with anobject. 1 i

It will be noted-that the discharge of the material 25 is radially orat rightangle to the axis of the projectile. The speed of rotation of the projectile varies in proportion to the speed ofits flight from the gun.

Thus,-'ii asmuch as the discharge of the 1na terial 25 will be modified in its speed: by centrifugal action, -in proportionto the speed of rotation of theshell, its discharge will also be in proportion to its speed 'of flight. Thus the more quickly the shell 7 reaches the objective, the more quickly \vill" 25 be discharged so that when p the mechanism is properly set ,-the explo sien will. occur .at the proper instant notw thstandlng a variation in the-time of its @1001 What is claimed is 1. In a time fuse mechanism for explod.--'

.ing projectiles. the combinati'on'of a firing pin, a lock therefor. a casing. a plunger movable in' said casing -and adapted. when .moved, -to contact with said lock to release .the same,means releasably held within said casing to retard themovement of. said plunger. and sl dable means actuated by the firing of the projectile *to release said retard-. I

ingmeans 2. In a time [fuse mechanism. for explod ing projectiles,.-.the combination of afiring pin, a lock therefor, a casing, a plunger movable 1n s aidcasing-and adapted. .when

mox'ed. to contact ,with said lock to release the same. means releasablv held'within' said casing to retard the l novenlent of said plun-g ger, slidable' means actuated li vthe firing-- of the projectile to release said retarding means. and means regulating the release of said retardmg'means whereby to control the speed of movement of the plunger in said 3. In a time fuse mechanism forexploding projectiles. the combination of a firing pin. a lock therefor. a casing. a plunger mov able in said casing and adapted. 'when moved. to contact. with said lock to release v the same, means releasably-held within said'iso whereby to control the speed ger, slidable means actuated by the firing of the projectile to release said retarding means,

'androtatable means adjustable from the 6X-,

terior ofthe projectile for regulating the rate of release of said retarding means of movement of the plunger in said casing.

Y 4. In a. time fuse mechanism for exploding projectiles, the'combination of a firing pin, a lock therefor, a casing, a plunger movable in said casing and adapted, when moved. to contact with said-lock to release the same, means relcasably held Within said casing to retard the movement of said plun ger, and a slidevalve actuated bythe firing of the projectile to release said retarding means.

In a. time fuse mechanism for explodingprojectiles, the'combination of a. firing pin, a lock therefor, a casing, a plunger movable in said casing and adapted, when moved, to contact with said lock torelease the. same, means releasably held Within said casing to retard the movement of said plunger. means regulating;- the release of said retarding means whereby to control the speed of movement of the plunger in said casing,

and means interposed betweensaid casing v and actuated by the firing; of the projectile to release said retrifugal action projectile and the last named: means tarding means.

6. In a time ing projectiles, pin, a lock therefor,'-a casing, able in said to contact with said lock to release the same, means releasably held within said casing to retard the movement of-said plunger, means regulating the release of said retarding means whereby to control the speed of movement of the fuse mechanism for explodthe combination of a firing;

a plunger movplunger in said casing, and a slide valve interposed between said casing and the last named means and actuated by the firing of the projectile to release said retarding means.

7. In a time ing projectiles, pin. a lock therefor, a. movable in said casing and adapted, when movech to contact with said lock to release the same, meansrelcasably held within said casing to retard the movement of said plunger, rotatable means ad ustable from the exterior of the projectile for regulating the release of said retarding means whereby to control the speed of movement of the plunthe combination of a firmg casing, a plunger ger in said casing, and means interposed be- I ing ing projectiles,

of the projectile to casing and adapted, when moved,

, I v 'lea'sed therefrom partly fuse mechanism for ezg'plod projectile for controlling the "ing material normally body portion thereof, granular retarding mate-rial normally held Within said casing' and released ther'efrom partly through centrifugal action due to the rotation of the projectile when moving through its trajectory, and means movable within said casing. as the material isbeing released to actuate. said lock whereby to permit of the operation" of said firing pin.

" 9. In a time fuse mechanism for explodpro ectiles, the combination of a firing a lock therefor,

- lock whereby to permit of the operation of said firing, pin, and means regulating the release of said material 'and the speed of: movement of the last named means.

. 10. In atime fuse mechanism pin,-a1ock therefor. a casing having an outlet otfset from the longitudinal axis of the. body portion thereof,a granular retarding material normally held Within said easing and released therefrom partly through 'cendue to the rotation of the when moving through its trajectory, a .valve device actuated by the firing permit of the release.- of said material from said casing, and means movable in said casing as the material is being released to actuate said. lock whereby to permit of the operation of said firing pin.

11. In a time fuse mechanism for exploding.

projectiles the combination of a firing pin, a lock therefor, set from thelongitudinal' axis of the body portion thereof, a granular retarding mate rial normally held within said casing and rethrough centrifugal action due to the rotation of the projectile when moving through its trajectory, a va ve device actuated by the firing of the pro ectile to permit ofthe release of said material from said casing. means movable in said casing, as; the material is being released to actuate said lock whereby to permit of the operation of said firing pin. and regplating means operable from the exterior of the release of said mate ial and the consequent speed of move ment of said movable means,

12. In a time fuse mechanism for exploding projectiles. the combination of a firing pin. a lock therefor. a casing having an outlet offset from the longitudinal axis f the-body portion thereof. a granular retardheld within said casingfand released therefrom-partly through for'explod the combmation'of a firinga casing havingan outlet offset from the longitudixialaxis ofthe a casinghaving an outlet oifiio centrifugal aetion due to the rotation of the projectile when moving through its trajec-' {tor-y; a slide valvegaotuated bythe firing {bf the projectile; to'permit' of the release of 5853M material, and mean's'movable in said casing .as the material is; being released to wtuate said look -.fwher'eby permitiot, the- Operation of "said fi n 5 material normally held-Within said casing g5: and released therefrom partly through cen Ztrifugal action due tothe rotation of the 'iprojeetile when n o'vingthrough its trajec- 1 'EIn a time: fuse m hani'sfm'forexplod tory, a slide valve actuated the firing of the projectile to permit of the release of "said material, means movable in said as the material is being released to actuatesaid lock whereby to permit-of the operation of said firing pin; and rotarymeans mounted in. the projectile and operable from the exf terior thereofto regulate the release of said "aterial andthe'eonsequent speed of.move-, 'ment [Oi said movable means.

' In testimony whereof, I aflix my "signature in the presence of two Witnesses. THOMAS W. R. MQCABE.

'VVitnesses:

A. LOUISE BUTLER, .MARY E. MONAGAN,