GB585026A - Improvements in fuzes for bombs and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

585,026. Bomb &c. fuzes. MIDGLEY, A. H. May 31, 1940, No. 9582. [Class 9 (i)] A delay-action fuze of the solvent type comprises a spring striker, the tail of which receives a screw having its head embedded in a disc or discs of soluble or softenable substance, e.g. gelatine or celluloid, and means for perforating on impact a thin metal closure plate for the container for the solvent or. softening liquid, e.g. water or acetone. The bomb tail fuze shown in Fig. 1 has a spring-urged striker b, movement of which is prevented by discs i, i<1> i<2> of gelatine in which the head of a screw k is embedded. The discs are inserted into a metal cup h having a, number of prongs h<1>. The water container y is closed by a thin metal plate g<1> and is normally held off the prongs h<1> by balls l<2> which look into a groove in a stem g<2> on the container. The balls are held in place by the base of a U-shaped member l, which is secured to an externallv threaded disc l<1> screwed into the recessed end a of the fuze body. The members l, l<1> are, prior to use, locked by a spring plate m<1> which is removed when the bomb is about to be dropped. During descent, a small propeller (not shown) rotates the members until the balls l<2> are cleared and the stem g<1> is freed. On impact, therefore, the container g is projected on to the prongs h<1> and the plate g<1> is perforated. The released water acts upon the gelatine discs i-i<2> until they are sufficiently softened to enable the striker spring b<1> to pull the screw head therethrough and effect explosion of the bomb. Impact of the bomb also causes a heavy ring f to set-down and expand the split end e of the fuze into tight contact with the wall of the exploder tube. Any attempt made thereafter to unscrew the fuze before the bomb can burst, results in the fuze body being unscrewed from the end e, whereupon balls d<3> fall outwards and release a sleeve d which can then be propelled downwards by a spring d<1>, carrying with it the striker b and thus exploding the bomb, in the manner described in Specification 585,027.