GB262916A - Improvements in or relating to aerial bombs and depth charges - Google Patents

Abstract

262,916. Vickers, Ltd., and Ogden, A. Nov. 26, 1925. Projectile fuzes.-A bomb intended to be dropped from aircraft is provided with means whereby, when the bomb strikes a solid obstacle offering a relatively small resistance, it is prevented from exploding but is thereby armed so that it can explode upon meeting a further obstacle. In the form shown, a nose-piece F covers a direct-impact striker L, and is held in place against a shearing ring m<2> by spring clips f. On impact with a light obstacle, such as the light deck of a vessel, the bomb penetrates the deck with a slight check, which causes the nosepiece F to be dislodged by momentum, leaving the striker L free to act on a subsequent impact. If the bomb strikes a hard target in the first instance, the nose-piece F shears the ring m<2> and operates the striker L at once. The striker L is arranged to force back a firing pin e, while a primer G is simultaneously moved forward by momentum against a detonator D, and forces said detonator towards the firing pin. If the bomb falls in water, it is operated by an hydrostatic fuze similar to that described in Specification 251,751 comprising an air chamber N and two additional ones k, k<1> for depth regulation. Firing takes place when hydrostatic pressure causes the primer G, and the pistol J to approach each other sufficiently for the detonator j to fit into the primer and for the release of the spring striker j<6> of the pistol.