US1542169A - Fuse - Google Patents

Description

' June 16, 1925. v

' ,c. H. PEARSON FUSE primal Filed m. 7, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 w) a a Juine '16, 1925.

. c. H. PEARSON FUSE Original Filed Jan, 7, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' 'more particularly to mechanical time fuses- Refile of abandoned application Serial Patented June f I f CHARLES. i1. rmnson, or BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS. I

FUSE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. PEARSON,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brookline, in thecounty of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Fuses, of which the followmg description, in connection with the ac companying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings representing like parts;

My present invention relates to fuses, and

adapted to be applied to ordnance shells for the purpose of detonatihg the charge therein after a predetermined .length of time followiiig the discharge of the shell from gun In fuses in whielr'the firing pin is arranged to move. at approximatelyright angles to the axis of the fuse, no satisfactory arrangement forpreventing premature detonation of the primer and chargeof the shell has been devised to the presenttime;

noted above and with the primary object of improving-and perfecting devices of this character, Ihave devised the subject matter of my presenti'nvention, in which safety devices are associated with the firing pin to prevent exploding the primer and the consequent detonation ofthe powder charge in the base of: the'fuse. by any action of the firing pin prior to its being released following the shock of-firing; when such firing pin is installediapproximately at right an gles to the axis 'of'the fuse.

.In carrying outthis object, I; provide a swivel protecting element interposed .be-

tween: the striking point 'of the fi'ri'ngpin' and the primer, said protecting element be=- ing held in thisposition of safety by a pin to be dropped'out of such holding position on the shock of firing and said element then moved and being held out of its protecting position by the centrifugalforce which immediately or quickly follows the shock of firing, leaving the path of the firing pin clear for said firing pin to hit andexploole.

the primer'when the operation of the time train, set at a predetermined time,releases the. pin which is then, by the spiralspring surrounding it, snapped .onto and explodes the primer. p Other objects and novel features of con- 'struction and arrangement of parts will ap- No. 435,737, filed January 7, 1921.

1924. Serial No. 726,482.

pear as the description of the invention progresses. 3

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention,

This application fl led July 17,

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the complete fuse;

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view through i the fuse base, illustrating one-modification I of my improved invention;

6+6 of Fig. "5, looking in thedirection of i the arrows, showing the firing pin in nor- With a View of obviating the objectionsmal, or operative position, with "the. rotat able safety device carrying the primer, interposed in the path of the firing pin and.

.ticularly to Figs. "1, 2, 3 and 4, 10 designates a fuse base provided with threads 11, bymeans of which it. may be attachedto-the. nose of a shell, and with suitable 'means for holding and allowing the operation-20f a.

setting'cap 13' for predetermining-the moment of detonation of the charge within the shell. Arranged diametrically. ofthe fuse:

base and approximately atright angles to the longitudinal axis thereofis a hole;1 t,'- V the outer end of which is adapted tor'eceive the primer holder 15, while the inner end 16 is reduced in diameter to receive the'shank portion 17 of a firing pin 18, the shankbeing a free sliding fit in said reduced inner end 16. The forward portion 19of the firing pin is a free sliding fit in the hole 14, and' the end of the firingpin is pointed, as shown. A coil spring 20 located in the hole Ji l-behind the forward portion 19 of the firing pin; surrounds the shank portion 17 and nor mally tends to force the firing pin into its operated position, or position in engagement with the primer 21 in the primer holder 15.

Adjacent the rearend of the shank portion 17 is a-circumfere'ntial groove 22, which,

when the firing pin is forced tothe rear and into its normal position, lies in the circumference of a hole 23, parallel to the axis of the fuse base. Slidably mounted in the hole 23 is a release pin 24, controlled in its movement by the timing train (not shown) normally mounted on the top of the fuse base 10.

Intersecting the hole 14 at a point between the pointed end of the firing pin in its normal position, and the primer '21 is'a fiat-arcuate shaped chamber 25' in which is pivotally mounted a safety device or arm 26, this arm being held in its normal or safety position as shown in Fig. 3, by a pin 27 this pin being a rather tight fit in the hole 28, and capable of being moved out of position with respect to the arm 26 by the shock of firing. An opening 29 through the top of the fuse base 10 into the chamber 25 provides means whereby the arm 26 may be assembled in position in said chamher. This pin 27 is a safety device supplemental to the arm 26, and prevents accidental displacement of said arm 26.

\Vith the elements constituting this modification of my improved device correctly assembled in position as shownin the figures referred to, the firing pin 18 is forced rearwardly in the hole 14, compressing the spring 20, and when the groove 22 comes.

into alinement with the hole 23, the release pin 24 drops into place to hold the firing pin 18 in the operative position just described. The arm 26 is now moved into the safety position shown in Fig. 3, by properly manipulating the fuse base 10, or by means of a suitable instrument inserted through the hole 29 and the supplemental safety pin 27 inserted in the hole 28. The primer holder 15, with a primer 21 in position therein, is positioned in the open end of the hole 14, and the device is set ready for action. Assuming that the timing train '(not shown) is set to operate the release pm 24 at a predetermined length of time after the discharge of the shell and attached fuse from a gun, and'that the fuse, assembled and set as shown in Fig. 3 is fired from a gun, the shock of firing causes the pin 27 to be driven into the hole 28 and out of the path of movement of the arm 26. W'hen the shell to which the fuse is attached takes the rifiing of the gun, it is rapidly rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 3 and 4, and when the centrifugal force generated by such rotation is equal to or exceedsa predete1= mined amount, the arm 26 is rotated on its axis from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4, thus providing a clear path for the firing pin 18 when released.

After the expiration of the time for which the timing train (not shown) is set, the release pin 24 is operated to free the firing pin 18,'and the spring 20, expanding, forces the firing pin into engagement with the primer 21 to explode the same and thus cause the detonation of the charge of the shell.

With the arm 26 interposed between the firing pin 18 and primer 21, premature explosion of said primer by the accidental release, from any cause, of the firing pin 18 is impossible. To ensure absolute safety, the pin 27 is provided to positively hold the arm 26 in position until the fuse is subjected to the shock'of firing or an equivalent shock.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6, I provide, adjacent the outer end of the hole 14, a circular recess 30, having a centrally located hole in the bottom thereof which acts as a bearing for the circular projection 32 on the bottom surface of a disc 33, this disc having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the recess 30. The upper surface of the disc 33 is provided with diametrically arranged arcuate members 34, which when the disc 33 is in the set, or normal position, as shown in the figures, prevents any movement of the firing pin across the recess 30. Arranged on theupper surface of the disc 33, and approximately midway between the members 34, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, is a primer holding holding the primer 21. It is obvious therefore, that should the disc be rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, through an angle of approximately ninety degrees, the member or members 34 will be moved out of the path of movement of the firing pin and the primer 21 brought into said path of movement. In order to assure that the disc 33 can only rotate through an angle of approximately ninety degrees, I have cut away'the periphcry of said disc as shown at 36, and have inserted a pin 37 in the bottom face of the recess 30, which engages with one end of .the cut away portion 36 when the disc 33 is in set or normal position, and with the other end of said cut away portion when the disc is rotated through an angle of approximately ninety degrees, the length of this cut away portion 36 being proportioned to allow such movement. In order to hold the disc 33 and parts carried thereby in the set or normal position, I provide the disc -with a hole in alinement with a similar hole in the fuse base 10, .and place in these holes a pin 38 which fitstightly enough so that it will only be moved downwardly into the hole in the fuse base and out of the hole in the disc 33 by theshock of firing. One of the members 34 is made heavier than the other in order to ensure the rotation of the disc 33 onits pivot when the fuse is rotated, and in order to ensure that the disc is retained in its rotated .position, I provide a spring pressed catch 48 in the fuse base, that registers with the depression 39 (shown in dotted lines in Fig.

6) in the undersurface of the disc 33. A closure 40 is provided for the hole in the base in alinement with the hole 14. The

disc 33 is provided with a hole 4=1 immediately in front of the primer holder 35, this hole being brought into alinement' with the hole 42 in the fusebase that leads to the powder chamber 43.

The operation of the modification of my invention just described is as follows, it

' by the difference in weight of the members 34. The rotation of the disc 33 brings the primer 21 into the path of movement of the firing pin, which is released at thepropor instant by the timing gear (not shown) -toexplode the primer, the flames from the primer passing through the holes 41 and 42, which are at this instant in alinement, into the powder charge in the chamber 43. As

the disc 33 rotates to its extreme limit, as determined by the pm 37 and cut away portion 36, the spring pressed catch 48 moves upwardly into the depression 39, thus holding the disc 33 and associated parts in the operated position.

Referring now to Fig. 7, which illustrates a modification similar to the modification illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, 49 indicates the disc rotatably mounted in the recess BOjtbis disc being similar in construction to the disc 33, above described, except that it does and is not pronot carry a primer hold videdwitha hole 41; Instead, the primer holder is identical with the primer holder illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and is therefore,

designated by the refe'rence character 15. The disc 49 is cut away at 50, which assists inoverbalancing the same and. thus assists in the rotary movement and this-cut away portion is brought into alinement with the hole 42 in the fuse base when the disc 49' is 'rotated to-the operated position. The'op- I may vary the size, shape and arrangement of parts constituting my improved device, Within wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention. My invention is further described and defined in the form -ofclaims as follows:

1. In a time fuse, the combination of a base,

.a firing pin in said base movable in a right line and at right angles to the axis of the fuse in its flight, a primer lying in the path' of movement of saidfiring pin, and a safety device interposed between said firing pin and primer, a second safety device retaining said first safety device in its normal position. L

2. In a time.fuse, the combination of a base, a firing pin in said base movable in a right line at right angles to the axis of the fuse in its flight, a primer lying in the path of movement of said firing pin, and a safety device interposed between said firing pin and primer and movable therefrom by centrifugal force, a second safety device retaining said first safety device in its normal position, said second safet device being operated by the shock of firing to release said first safety device.

3. In a time fuse, the'combination ofa. base, a firing pin in said base movable in a right line and at ri ht angles to the axis of the fuse in its ight; means normally tendingto force said firing pin to its operated position, means for holding said firing pin in its normal position, a primer lying in the path of movement of said firing pin, a safety device interposed between said firing pin and primer, a second safety device retaining said first safety device in its normal' position, said safety devices being operated by the shock of firing and centrifugal force respectively to clear the path of movement of the firing pm.

'4. In a time fuse,. the combination of'a base, a firing pin in said base movable at right angles to the axis of the fuse in its flight, means normally tending to force said firing pm to its operated position, means forholding said firing pin in its normal positon, a primer lying in the path of movement of said firing pin, a-safety device interposed between said firing pin and primer,

a-sec'ond safety device retalning said first safety device in its normalposition, said second safety. device being operated by the shock of firing to release, said first safety device, said first safety device being operat ed by centrifugal force tomove out of the path of movement of said firing pin, and releasing means for said firing pin operatingafter the safety devices have operated.-

5. In a time fuse, the combination of a* base, a firing pin in. said base, said firing pm being located in a passage extending diametrically of said base, a spring normally tending. to force said firing pin to its operated position, means for holding said firing pinin its normal position, a primer lying in the path of movement of said firing pin, a safety device interposed between said firing pin and primer andmovable therefrom by centrifugal force, and releasing means for said firing pin operating after the safety devices have operated.

6. In a time fuse, the combination of a base, a firing pin in said base, said firing pin being located in a passage extending diametrically of said base, a spring normally tending to force said firing pin to its operated position, means for holding said 15 firing pin in its normal position, a primer lying in the path of movement of said firing pin, a safety device interposed between said firing pin and primer, a second safety de vice retaining said first safety device in its normal position," said second safety device being operated by the shock of firing to release said first safety device, said first safety device being operated by centrifugal force to move out of the path of movement of said firingpin, and releasing means for said firing pin operating after the safety devices have operated.

In testimony whereof, Ihave signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES H. PEARSON.

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