US1380774A - Fuse - Google Patents

Description

W. L. CLAY AND J. W. TAYLOR.

FUSE. v

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, i919. 1,380,774. PatentedJune 7,1921.

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FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE30. |919. l f 1 ,380,774, l Patented June 7, 1921.

2 SHEET SSSSSS 2.

Nlrsosrarss Artur Fries.'

WALLACE L. CLAY, F BRIDESBUBG, AND J'OH w. TAyLoit, or rmxronn,

, rENirsYLvAmA. LUsn Application led .Tune 80,

secmcation of Letters Patent. Patented J une 7, 1921.

1919. Serial No. 807,796.

` (FILED man m'Acror nAncn s', 188s, 2z sur. L., sas.)

' royalty thereon.

he general object of this invention is to provide a fuse for an explosive bullet which will be of extreme simplicity of construction and of great eiiciency in operation, and to this end resides in certain combinations and arrangements of structural parts, as will be clearly hereinafter pointed out. A

Other objects will appear as the specification proceeds and the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

.With these objects in view, the invention resides, generally stated, in an explosive bullet provlded with a fuse having a floating striker, the' inner or supporting surfaces thereof occupying a position in the air-wave having a greater pressurethan the position occupled -by the vexterior or retarding sur faces thereof.

The invention also resides in providing a firing-pin disposed relative to the primer so that the normal clearance therebetween is so small that chattering or vibration of the striker is prevented.

The invention further resides 4in safety members, normally holding the firing-pin in unarmed' position, provided with inclined .end faces seating on a conical 'seatysaid safety members remaining in safe position, while the projectile is in the bore of the gun, solely under' theiniuence of linear acceleration, due to their own weight, the center of avity of the locking 'members being well 1n toward the center, so" that centrlfugah force is overcome by the linear acceleratlon `j v head 8 1s cr1m ed .or spun around the neck without the aid of superimposed weights:

The invention also resides in a pecullar and novel construction of a firing-,pin pro.-

vided with a xed collar intermediate its len fh, safety members, and also forms a bearing surface for the superimposed firing-pin holder, as will be more clearly understood by the hereinafter detailed description of the drawings;

which supports thef-pin against the The invention also resides in certain felicitous constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully explained.

The accompanying drawings clearly disclose an exemplary embodiment of. the underlylng rinciples of 4 our invention. Brlefly descri ed Figure 1 is a longitudinal diametric section of an explosive bullet equipped with. the fuse. constituting our invention; l

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 isa view similar to Fig. 1 of an alternate construction of an 11 sive bullet;

Fig. l is a transverse section on the line 4.-'-4, Fig. 3; and A Fig. 5 is a. longitudinal diametric section of a 37 fuse, showing the application of our invention thereto;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 6 6, Fig. 5.

Referring, now, in detail to the drawings, and first, to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof:

1 designates the hollow lbullet body containing a suitable explosive charge 2 (the character of which may be varied in accord# ance with the work to be obtained) andthe booster charge A3, the latter being held in a suitable rupturable container or cup4 seated, at its inner end, against an'annular shoulder 4 in the bore interiorly of the bullet body. The open top of the container or cup is closed by a disk5 to prevent spilling of the booster charge. fn spot light work, it may be preferable-to provide a loose base plug 6 removably held in place in a suitable manner against accidental removal.

' ,The bullet body 1, is provided, at its open end -with a neck 7 having an inclined outer sur ace. One end of an elongated hollow mm. explo- 7 and: is there y held to the'bullet body 1,

y disk 5.

Normally seated in a truncated, coneshaped recess 14 in the outer face of the block 11 are safety members 15, having correspondingly beveled surfaces at one end bearing agalnst theinclined seat 14. These safety members may be in the form ofsegments, and while, in this instance, two thereof are shown, it is obvious that more. may be used, if desired. From the standpoint of simplicity and economy of manufacture, it is advantageous to use but two. Each of these segments is provided with a circumferential groovel, 1n which is disposed a helical spring 17 tending to hold the segments together, against separation. The segments are grooved throughout their depth, on the surface adjacent the firing-pin 19, to conform to the cross sectional contour. of the latter, as shown at 18.

That portlon of the firing-pin, which ex- A tends from the collar 20 to the end thereof opposite the penetrating end 21, projects into the axial bore 22 of a irin -pin holder 23 terminating, at its outer enr 1n an outwardly arin vhead. 24 having a plurality of symmetrica ly arranged holes 25, preferably four thereof being used. (Jarried by said head, at its outer end, is an inturned, cross sectionally annular skirt or flange 26, rovided with aplurality of radial holes 2 ,preferably 4 thereof being used. The holes/27 are preferably given an effective area of twice that of the holes 25.

The skirt 26 may be provided, at its free end, with an outturned, circumferential lip 28, and the free end of the head 8 maybe similarly provided with an inturned lip 29.

The lip 28,by engaging the lip 29, limits forward movement of the firing-pin holder 23.

The firing-pin holder 23, as well as the ring-pin 19, is preferably constructed of aluminum. l Y

It will be noted that thevilaring construc' tion of the head 24 of the firing-pin holder j provides a cavity* 30.

The operation is as follows When thbullet is fired in a gun, the inertia of the safety segments 15-15, due toA the linear acceleration of the projectile, holds rthe segments against outward .movement on thel seat 14 in the primer housing 11. It is obviouslyneoessary to retain these segments inthesafety position as long as these segrw ments are in the bore of the gun, as long as. linear acceleration is taking place, votherwise a premature explosion will be caused by the set-back of the striker' (comprising the firing-pin 19 Vand the firing-pin holder 23).

These segments are designedto obtain this result. The additional inertia of the'su rimposed striker is negligible, because o its light weight. j

' Therefore, in order that the linear inertia moments shall be greater than the centrifugal moments,l the center of gravity of the ,j segments is brought well in toward the center, so that the moments tending to hold the segments Aback in their seat are reater than the moments tending to throw t e segments out. As soon as linear acceleration ceases, which is after the bullet leaves the muzzle of the rifle, the centrifugal force throws the segments out. These segments, under the action of centrifugal force, expand their conlnin spring 17 andleave their seat bv tilting s ightly and moving the striker slightly away from the primer 11. They then move out Vtoward the wall ,of the head 8, and are held out of the way in this position by centrifugal force. The shoulder 20 of the firing-pin 19 is then unsupported, and the striker is free to act upon impact.

lnflight, the bullet creates avpressure in going through the air. This pressure 1s 1n the form of a wave, and, like all waves, the intensity of Spressure in the wave varles esr throughout its depth. This bow wave is not simply formed by the point, but is also formed by the entire head and body of the projectile. yThe air rushes into the holes 25 and 27 of the firing-pin holder 23 and forms a cushion for supporting this holder. The

interior pressure is thus built up to the maximum exterior. pressure. The radial holes 27 are given a greater area than the axial holes 25, as above explained. This is not onlyfto prevent an increase of resistance of the striker upon impact. The bow wave formed by the projectile in flight and the maximum pressure in th1s wave is a little way back from the extreme polnt due to the ogival shape of the projectile head. This throws the interior ov the fuse into communication with the maximum wave pressure, and keeps the striker floating on the air wave. Any tendency to throw the striker out of .this floating balance will be liable to cause a premature explosion, by

driving the striker onto the prlmer. Any tendency of the striker to chatter would also be liable to cause a premature explosion .if the vibration is sufficient to ive the striker the required energy to fire t e lr1mer. In order to prevent any vibration o the striker from developing, the clearance between the ring-pin and the primer is kept to a miniassente Upon encountering any resistance, such as an airplane wing or balloon, the external force is increased and overcomes the internal pressure, besides cutting off the supply of air necessar to maintain the internal .pressure, thus riving the firing-pin holder 23 inward, or `sto ping it in relation' to the movement of t e remainder of the bullet,

and -causing the firing-pin to penetrate the primer 9, which explodes and, in turn, :throu h the booster 3, detonates the explo sive c arge 2, fragmenting the base of the bullet. Any obstruction that will interrupt the continuity of the bow'waveof the projectile will function the fuse, as the striker will then be robbed of its supporting air pressure, and tle external pressure'will instantly jam back the striker onto the primer. Rain and snow do not interfere with the formation of the atmospheric wave and, therefore, do not interfere with the actionof the fuse,` though the fuse is sulciently sensitive to function on a light sheet of cloth.

The simplicity of our fuse is emphasized by the fact that it has made practicable its pplication to projectiles as small as 30 caliber service bullets. Figs. 3 and 4 disclose an alternate construction of our 11mm. explosive bullet. In this construction, instead of making the bullet and its elongated head in two parts', we make them integralo 1' is the hollow body'of the bullet and 8? is the elongated head formed integral with the body l. The

head 8 is provided interiorly, at the end thereof adjoining bullet body 1', with an annular shoulder or ledge 3l. The inner rthe washer surface of the wall of the ahead 8 is tapered, being of least width at the free end of the head. A tubular liner 32 is carried within the head 8 and snugly lits the same. This liner is of a length nearly equal to that of the head 8 and bears at its inner end upon a centrally apertured washer 13 disposed on said ledge 3l. Adjacent said washer and inside of said liner 32 is a primer holder l1', in a recess of which is seated the primer 9 held from spilling by disks 33 and 34 disposed respectively against the bottom of said recess in the primer holder 1l and between the inner end face of said holder and 13. The safety segments 15-15, the firing pin 19 carrying the collar 20, and the ring-pin holder 23" with its head 24 and skirt 26 are the same as the corresponding parts in the device of Figs. l and 2.

Figs. 5 and 5 disclose a )construction of a 37 mm. fuse with the principles of our invention applied thereto. In this construction, 37 designates the externally threaded fuse body provided, at onesend, with an internally .threaded socket 38, in which is threaded 'the cup 39, containing an explosive charge 40., Internally of this cup 39 is a second-cup 41 provided, at its mouth, withl an outtmned annular flange 42, bearing against a centrally apertured washer 43 in the bottom of the socket 38. The second cup 4l contains an ex lesive charge 42.

When the larger cup 39 1s screwed fully into the socket 38, the wall of the mouth thereof bears against the flange 42 of thexsmaller cup 41, :thus holding the latter firmlg in position. Axially of the body 37, is isposed the primer 44. The fuse body 37 is pro-4 parts in the devices heretofore describe The fuse body 37 is provided, at the endthereof adjacent the head 45, with a tapering recess 52, for the reception of the inclined Afaces of the safety segments 46-46. Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters vPatent is i.' ln a fuse for projectiles, the combination with the primer, of a liring-pin, safety means for'normally maintaining the firingpin in unarmed position, a firing-pin holder having a tubular stem within which said firing-pin projects, a hea-d at one end of said stem provided with air inlet apertures, and a tubular flange extending circumferentially of said head for guiding the holder durin longitudinal motion thereof.

' 2. lgn a fuse for projectiles, the combination with the primer, of a tiring-pin, safety means normally maintaining the firing-pin in unarmed position, a firing-pin holder having a tubular Stem within which said firing-pin projects, a head at one end of said stem provided with air inlet apertures, and a tubular flange extending. circumferentially of said head, and provided with air inlet apertures, whereby the firing-pin is maintained in close proximity to the primer, after the release of said safety means, by the balanced internal and external air pressure on said head, v

3. in a fuse for projectiles, the combination with the primer, of a firing-pm provided with a xed collar intermediate its lengh, safety members normally contacting with said collar. and maintaining the firingpin in unarmed position, a firing-pin holder having a tubular stem within which said.

firing-pin projects, a head at one end of said stem provided with air inlet apertures, and

tion with the primer, of a ringfpin, safety mechanism normally maintaining the firingpin in unarmed position, a firing-pin holder comprising a tubular stem into one end of which the ring-.pin projects and' a head at the other end of said stem, having on its exterior face a pocket against which the air impinges in the passage of the projectile through the atmosphere and a tubular flange lextending circumferentially of said head and provided with air inlet apertures for supplying an air pressure on the interior of said holder.

5. In a fuse for projectiles, the combination with the primer, ing pin holder for carrying having oneend provided with air apertures, and a tubular flange extending circumferentially of said head having air apertures, whereb said holder is maintained in floating position by the internal and external air pressures thereon, generated during the flight of the projectile.

WALLACE L. CLAY.

JOHN W. TAYLOR.

of a firing-pin, a firthe firing-pin

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