US320393A - Bomb-lance - Google Patents

Description

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EBEN PIERCE, OF NEV BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOMB-LANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,393, dated June 16y 1885.

Application filed March 24, 1885. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it. vlrnown that I, EBEN PIERCE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at New Bedford, in the county ot' Bristol, State ot' Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improve- Inents in Bomb-Lances, ot which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of bomblanees for destroying whales and other animals, exemplitied by my Patent No. 211,7787 dated January 28, 1877, and in which an explosive charge contained in a proper magazine is tired by a fulminate-cap exploded by ahammer or plunger brought into action by the ooncussion caused by the `discharge ot' the gun used for throwing the bomb-lance.

The object of my invention is to provide simple and et't'ectivemeans for insuring a reguA lar ignition and burning ofthe iuse which lires the explosive charge, for preventing a premamature explosion ot' the boInb-lance, or its explosion before the time predetermined upon.

Another object of the invention is to cause the fulminatecap to ignite the fuse with certainty and precision by providing Ineans for escape of the gases generated by the tiring of the i'ulminate, and also preventing all liability ofthe cap nipple or tube from being battered out of shape by the hammer, which is liable to occur in bomb-lances heretofore devised, by reason ot' the direct connection of the cap-nipple with the fuse-tube and the mere provision of a very small orifice for the escape of the gases produced by the explosion of the fulminate.

In the present invention the cap or fulminate-nipple has no connection with the fusetube, and the fuse itself terminates in a space formed in the plug which carries the cap-nipple, the latter being supported in such a manner that a firm hearing is formed for preventing it from being battered by the plunger or hammer, thus removing all liability ot' the gasescape oriice closing and preventing the fuse from being unevenly or irregularly ignited, or not ignited at all, by reason of the complete closing of the gasescape and vent orifices.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation ot' a bomb-lance of the type in which my invention is embodied. Fig. 2 is a sectional view representing my improved fuse supporting and tiring devices. Fig. 3 shows detailed sectional views ot' the screw-plug, fuse tube,and independent fulminatecap tube. Fig/1 is a detail view ot' the hammer or plunger for exploding the cap. p

The reference numeral l designates the barrel or magazine ot' a bomlrlance, which con tains a charge ot' powder or other explosive material. The magazineichamber is closed at one end by means ot' a cylindrical plug, 2, which has a continuous screw-thread engaging with an interior screw-thread in the magazine and with asimilar screw-thread oi a hollow extension, 3, ot' the lance or harpoon head 4. 'lhe rear end ol' the magazine is closed by means ot'a screw-plug, 5, which is extended to form a hollow stem, (5, to give the lance the requisite length. The stem 7 has a disk, S, at its rear end, i'or properly packing the lance in the gun-barrel,am1 said stem is also provided with wings or feathers 9, i'or insuring an accurate liight ot the lance. The plug 2 has an aperture, 10, extending axially through the same, and its front end is provided with slots 1l, which intersect 0r communicate with said axial bore, as is clearly shown in Fie. 3. A tube, l2, extending from the rear end of the plug 2, serves for the reception of a fuse, 13, which is otl suoli a nature and is so disposed as to effect a tiring of the charge in the magazine when said fuse has burned to its rear end. rlhe tube 12 is screw-threaded at its front end, and enters a screw-threaded portion of the axial bore 10 to such an extent as will leave the remainder ot' said bore free for the reception ot the fuse and the tube-extension lei of the nipple 15. The latter has a iiange, 16, at its base, which rests upon the front end of the head 2, a wire or other suitable device serving to hold the nipple and the cap placed thereon in position, as is indicated in Fig. 2. The tube-extension ot' the nipple enters the axial bore of the plug, and is made sufficiently smaller than said bore so as to leave an annular space which communicates with the slots 1l. It is evident that by such arrangement a large vent-passage is formed, which is always open, and will effectua-ll y serve to convey the gases caused by the explosion of the cap from the bore of the plug outward into the point 4. r1 he cap is exploded by means of a plunger or hammer, 17, which is held at the front of the hollow extension of the lance-head by 'means of a break-pin, 18. WhenY the lance is tired from a gun, the concussion will cause said pin to break, thus throwing the hammer upon the cap placed on the nipple and igniting the fuse. It is evident that by reason of said fuse not being inclosed at its front end that an absolute and even ignition always takes place, and since the capnipple and its tube-extension form no part of the fuse-tube, but are supported upon n the plug 2 in the manner already stated, it will be seen that I obviate all danger or liability of the ignition and combustion of the fuse being irregular or out of time. For these reasons the explosion ot' the charge in the magazine takes place at the time predetermined upon, according to the length or nature ofthe fuse. The latter is secured by means ot a wrappin g, 36, of twine, wire, or other suitable material, which lies in a segmental slot, 20, inside near the inner end or" the fuse-tube, a suitable coating ot' wax or other material being applied to the wrapping for tightening the same and causing the lire ot' the fuse to pass beyond the fusetube in order to consume the projecting portion of the fuse.

I have shown the nipple as constructed to receive a gun-cap for igniting the fuse, but I intend tovalso use what is termed a primer for this purpose, and where a primer is employed the nipple will be constructed in a manner suitable to receive it. The cap is held upon the nipple to prevent accidental displacement by means ot' a wire which passes over the head ofthe cap and has its ends secured to the trout closing-plug.

' lVhat I claim is- 1. The combination, with the magazine ot' a bomb-lance, of the front closing-plug having an axial bore and provided in its outer end with'lateral slots or openings intersecting said l bore, the independent nipple arranged iu and of a less diameter than said bore and seated upon and supported by the outer end of the front closing-plug, and the fuse-tube extending from therear end of said plug, substantially as described. v

2. The combination, with the magazine of a bomb-lance, of the front closing-plug having an axial bore and provide-d in its outer end with lateral slots or openings intersecting said bore, the nipple havin g a tube-extension and provided with a horizontal flange seated upon and supported by the outer end of the plug.

3. The combination, with the magazine of a bomb-lance, of a front closing-plug having au a-xial bore and slots intersecting the upper end thereof, an independent nipple having a tubular end extending within the bore ot the plug and provided with an annular liange that rests upon the end ot' the plug above its slots, and a wire for contining the cap on the nipple, substantially as described.y

4. In a bomblance, the combination of the plug having an axial bore and openings communicating therewith, theindependent nippletube supported upon the front end of said plug, and the fuse-tube extending from the rear end ot said plug with the magazine, the lance-head, aud the plunger or hammer, substantially Vas described.

5. In a bomb-lance, the combination ot' the nipple, the plug having the axial bore, and the i'usetube with the Wire t'or holding the cap on the nipple, substantially as and for the purpose described.

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

EBEN PIERCE.

Witnesses:

JAMES L. NoRRrs, J. A. RUTHERFORD.

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