US313150A - Shell-fuse - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

B. L. ZALINSKI.

ELECTRIC SHELL FUSE No. 313,150. PatentedMar. 3, 1885.

&m\\\\\\m\ WI NESSES: NVEN [1a mm RMWM @wmdzzalwa 4 m Mam ?N1TED STATES ATEnirj i Erast s S-H sir-Fossil SPEGEFIGTIQN forming'part oflietters latent No. 313,150, dated March 3, 1835. v H

- V Application illedDecember 16, (No model) i To 'aZZ whom it may coiragernr r nBeit known that I, EDMUND L. ZALINSliI,

of the Unitedfit'ates Army, now onvduty at Fort Hamilton, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shell-Fuses, of which the following is a specification, reference being liad'therein to iheaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to shell-fuses; and it consists in certain improvements whereby the fuse may be fired and the shell exploded by the closing of circuit of a contained electrical firing-battery, or by a; simultaneous action of ClOSlilg-Cii'CUib. and a percussive action,- thus increasing chances'of successful ignitionof the.

bursting charge. 3

The object of my invention is to make'a fuse which may be attahhedto .a shell, either in" front or rear, or embedded in the explosive charge, which will act with certainty to fire the charge on contact with the target or at the expiration of any desired time after leaving the gun.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is acentral longitudinal section of one form of shell-fuse and contained battery. Figs. 2, 3, and 4. are similar views showing modifications of certain details, as will be hereinafter explained. Fig. i") represents an electrical tifne and percussion use.

A indicates the fuse tube or casing,of metal, any usual fuse-tube being adopted, and A a portion of an explosive shell. lnclosed in the tube'is a battery, B, the zinc element b form-' ing the cell and being in contact with tube A,

th'eother element being insulated therefrom, and having a projecting pole, c, with a suitable contact-plate. By the use of proper chemicals and materials well known in theand thus avoid the retardation of movement A contact-' by the intervening air-cushion, piece, d, which may be of platinum or other metal, isplaced near the front end of tube A, and in theline-of moveinent of the pole 0.

The piece (1 may be on the end of an insulated wire, 6, which is electrically connected to the high velocity.

penetration into the latter before the explosion;

The impulse of firing vthegun casing through theiusewire bridge l," or:

be otherwise connected bye metallic circuit with said casing. ,Tbe slidiiig) battery-cellB has a rearward extension, g, in Fig. 1,.whioh,

of the fuse-tube as will regulate the distance oftrarel of thesliding casing, andso in a' measure determinethe time of; explosion (which occurs when plates c and dQCOHftG together) after the contact of the ,shellwith While this difierence intim-eoi' its target. explosion after contact is very minute, it is yet suiiicient to permit a penetrationoi" several inches when a projectileismoving at a This is to secure a degree of takes place. tears the projections 9 free frornthose in disk f, and carries the battery B asiar as possible to the rear of the fuse tube. On'strilring the target the battery 13 is throwr violently forward and circuitclosed through 0 of, causing an incandescence or heating of the platinum, or a spark, according to the materials used, and thus igniting the fuse composition sur rounding or in contact with the bridge-wire,

. and the dash passes through apertures a, as

usual.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the contact-piece d in circuit with the metal lic plug a, forming the front of the fuse-tube. The fulrninate in this case may be in recess K, and a spiral spring, m, prevents closing of circuit on slight contact, as by dropping the fuse. The battery is held in place by a small lead wire or wooden pin, 0, which breaks on firing the gun.

In Fig; 3 a rubber washer, r, surrounds the contact-piece d, and the piece 0 mustcoinpress this washer before it can close circuit with d. The piece (1 can be moved out or in by screw 8, to prevent closing of circuit alto gether, or to determine the contact force necessary to bring the parts 0 (Z into engagement.

percussion or contact fuse, the battery B may be a; double cell made so thatit will have a complete and distinct battery at each end. The tube A has at one end-what isknown as a ,ti 1,,,g -fuse, which may be set to explode the'shell at any desired-time. This contains also an electrical wire bridge similar tfi the one previously described. The battery is forced backward, the circuit is closed. and the time-fuse is ignited when the gun is, fired. Meanwhile, if the projectile strikes the target sooner than allowed for'in thetime-fuse, the

battery B flies forward owing to its inertia, and thus the fuse is ignited and theshell is exploded, as previouslyexplained, The same results for firing thetime-fuse may be obtained by a single battery-cell and a suit-able arrangement of wire, but the double form is preferred.

The details of the arrangement'of the time fuse may be the same as ordinarily used.

Instead of the battery described, theplunger B may be a form of battery known as a secondary battery, with essentiallythe samedevice for causing the current to pass through the bridge-wire of the fuse.

It will be understood that the battery may be fixed and the contact-plate movable, thus 3, 5 reversing the position of the parts,without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim 5 1. In combination with an explosive shell, a contained electric battery therein, and electrical connections from the same in contactwith the fuse-charge.

2 In combination with the casing of a shelltube, a contained electric battery therein, an electric circuit in contact with the fuse-charge,

and a movable contact-piece which closes circuit when thepmiectile strikes the target, as

set forth.

3.'Iu a shell-fuse, the combination of peromission-striker and an electric battery, both contained in the sh ell, and arranged to explode the fuse-charge when the projectile strikes its target.

4. In a shell fuse, a time-charge, and an electric battery contained-in the shell, and-are ranged to close circuit and ignite the timecharge on the firing of the gun.

5. In ashell-fuse, the combination of atimecharge, a percussion-charge, and an electric battery contained in theshell, and arranged to close circuit through ing charges.

1 6. In an electrical shell-fuse wherein an electric battery is contained within the shell, the

combination, with the movable pole of the battery, of adjustable mechanism, substantially as described, whereby the movement may be made greater or less; and the time of explosion aftercontact thus regulated I 7. In a shell-fuse, a contained battery therein, and an electric circuit some portion of which is in contact with the fuse-charge, and a safety device which holds the poles of the battery apart against slight. shocks, as-described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDMUN DQL. -ZALINSKI.

1 f Witnesses v S. D. SCHUYLER, G120. F. RI EY.

and ignite the 'explod 6o

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