GB214924A - Improvements in mechanical fuses for shells - Google Patents

Abstract

214,924. Soc. J. Cockerill, and Ternstrom, E. Nov. 29, 1923. Projectile fuzes. - Clockwork time fuzes. A detent adapted to be released by the clockwork has a central opening for the primer carrier and covers the percussion cap until released; this detent and the firing pin are locked by a pin on a tube which sets back on discharge, unlocking these parts and a percussion fuze simultaneously; and the detent may be released by a spiral groove in a disc rotated by the clockwork, enabling this action to be spread over more than one revolution. In the combined time and percussion fuze shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the clockwork is contained in a case 41 held by elastic packing 21 in a hollow dome 18, and its escapement spindle is connected to a disc 25 having a rim 26, which confines a transverse detent 7 arranged with its spring 8 in a groove in the fuze body 1. This detent has a central opening embracing the end of the primer carrier 13 and a projection 30, which normally locks the spring hammer 5. A side piece of the detent at the same time covers the percussion cap 33. The spring hammer 5 is arranged in a transverse groove in the fuze body, and, together with the detent 7 and the disc 25, is locked by a longitudinal pin 29 carried by a tube 14, which, on discharge, deforms a winged sleeve 15 and sets back on a momentum striker 16 of the percussion fuze, thereby arming the percussion fuze and releasing the clockwork fuze at the same time. The clockwork is provided with a further safety catch, not shown, which is released by centrifugal force. Further, on discharge, a ring 22 sets back and locks the dome 18 to the fuze body 1. At the appointed time, if the momentum striker 16 has not acted on previous impact, a tooth 27 on the detent 7, under the combined action of centrifugal force and its spring 8, escapes through a notch in the rim of the disc 25, releases the spring hammer 5, and simultaneously brings a window 32 in front of the percussion cap 33 to allow access of the spring hammer thereto. In a modification, Fig. 9, the detent 7 has a pivoted tooth 37 which rides in a spiral groove 35 in the rim of the disc 25, and finally escapes by a notch 36. Another pivoted tooth 38 riding in the same spiral groove is carried by a lever 39 connected to an index 40, which is thus made to rise gradually to follow a spiral scale on the dome 18. This arrangement enables the adjustment of the time fuze to be spread over more than one revolution. A key 42a for setting the fuze is shown in Fig. 13.