US42185A - Improvement in percussion-fuses for shells - Google Patents

Description

G. P. GANSTER,

Shell-Fuse.

No. 42185 Patented Apr. 5, 1864.

I b am.

llllllllllllllllillllllll /A IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!"I'M 57pm adlfv M3515, PHOTO-UTHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTOM D C Unrren sue-a PATENT @rrrcn GEORGE P. GANSTER, OF Nl llV YORK, If. Y.

lMPROVEMENTIN PERCUSSION-FUEES FOR SHELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent- No. l2,ll5, dated April 5-, i864.

To aZZ who/72, it may concern i shoulder c. I) is an annular plunger, of lead Be it known that LGEORGE P. GANSTER, or other-soft and heavy metal, fitted loosely of the city, county, and State of New York, I to the smaller portion of the iinterior of the have invented a new and useful Improvement in Percuss1on-Fuses for Explosive Projectiles; terior of the tube a, and having formed upon and I do hereb declare that the following is a its front end rivets c e,'of the same metal, by full, clear, and exact description of the same, which it is riveted, as shown in Fig. 1, to the reference being had to the accompanying plate (Z, through holes it h, Fig. 2, inithe said drawings, forming part of this specification, plate. This plunger has strongly attached to in whichits front end a thin metal tube, f, the internal Figures 1 and 2 are central longitudinal caliber of which is the same as that of the in sections of the fuse, Fig; 1 showing the con terior of the plungerthat is to say, it fits dition of the parts easily to the exterior of the tube a. The started by the firing of the charge of the gun, length of this tube f is such that when the and Fig. 2 their condition after the starting plunger is attached closely to the plate (Z, as of the projectile. shown in Fig. 1, its front end will touch or Similar letters of reference indicate cone I nearly touch the cap B is the capsule, of a size to fit loosely sponding parts in the two figures.

' within the tube f, but too lar e to enter This invention relates to percussion-fuses,

fire by the contact of the liquid on the brea rtube f, and a few grains of fine gunpowder ing of the capsule by the percussion produced are introduced among the cotton or other soft by the striking of the projectile against any material. The annular space between the resisting body when fired from a gun. I tube f and the larger surrounding portion of It consists in certain means whereby the l the tube A, in front of the plate (Z, is nearly capsule is prevented from being broken in the filled with shot, a g, or with some hard and handling of or by the accidental dropping of heavy granular material, and a layer of cotton the projectile,- but its breakage is insured or other soft material placed as packing bewhen the projectile strikes on being fired from tween the shot or granular material and the the gun. a cap 13.

To enable others skilled in the art to make The fuse, having its parts in the position and use my invention, I will proceed to (10- and condition shown in Fig. ,is screwed into scribe its construction and operation. A is the projectile in the usual manner, and the the outer tube or shell of the fuse. This is plungerbremainsin that position,undisturbed closed at its rear or inner end, except that it by any action to which it can be subject before has a central opening, in which is inserted being inserted in the gun and during the loadand tightly secured a tube, a, which extends ing; but when the gun is tired. and the proforward about two-thirds of its length, and its jectile is started suddenly by the sudden imfront or outer end is open and provided with pact produced by the explosion of the gunan internal screw-thread for the reception of powder, the inertia of the heavy plunger 1) thread on its exterior to screw into the fuseh h, and the plunger, with the attached tube hole of the projectile. The front portion is f, moves forward slower than the other parts bored out a little larger than the rear portion, of the fuse, until the plunger is left in contact to form a shoulder, c, a little in rear of the with the closed rear portion '5 z, of the tube, front end of the tube a. (Z is an annular plate, surrounding the tube, and the tube f is withfitted to slip easily to the larger front portion drawn from in front of the plate (Z, and ceases of the interior of the tube, and having in its to separate the capsule G from the surroundcenter a hole a little larger than the exterior ing shot or granular material The said of the tube a, and which :rcsts against the capsule is, however, protected by the cotton or other soft material, j, from being broken by the centrifugal action of the shot which I ensues on the discharge of a projectile from a cannon; but on the projectile striking any resisting body, the capsule and the shot or granular material are all caused to move forward together within the tube A, and the shot or hard granules are brought into violent contact with the capsule, which, on being broken, causes the ignition of the i'ulminate, the fire from which passes through the tube a and ignites the bursting-charge of the projectile. I propose, generally, to fill the capsule O with sulphuric acid, and to coat its exterior with a compound of potash and sulphur, as described in the specification of an applical tube, A, closing-cap 13, tube a,

mare:

tion for Letters Patent made by myself and G. Schuylerto the United States Patent Office.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, as an improved article of manufacture A percussion-fuse composed of a screwthin tube f, with attached annular plunger 1), globule 0, soft material 9', and shot or granular material 5 the whole united in the manner herein shown and described.

.GEORGE l GANSTER.

\Vitnesses:

M. M. LIVINGSTON.

Images