GB670852A - Fuzes for land mines and like explosive devices - Google Patents

Abstract

670,852. Ammunition fuzes. POUDRERIES REUNIES DE BELGIQUE SOC. ANON. May 15, 1950. [March 2, 1950] No. 12067/50. Classes 9 (i) and 9 (ii). Percussion fuze for a land-mine or like explosive device comprises a casing 2 with an annular shoulder 3 resting on ribs 4 in the mine casing. A cover 5 is adapted to be driven into the casing 2 by pressure on a stopper 6 in the cover 7 of the mine. The cover 7 has ribs resting on an elastic ring (not shown), placed on the ribs 4 to prevent the device from functioning until the pressure on the stopper exceeds a predetermined value. Within the fuze casing 2 is a percussion rod 10 with a square-section upper end 11 engaging a cavity in the cover 5. Four projections 12, 13, 14, 15 (not shown) from the cover 5 are adapted to slide in V-shaped grooves 16, 17, 18, 19 (not shown) within the casing 2. The percussion rod is held retracted by three elastic non-metallic members 20, 21, 22 (not shown), each having a rounded end 23 bearing in a groove 24 while the opposite end 25 engaging between bearing surfaces 26, 27 on the percussion rod is concave to embrace a freely mounted ring 10a. The ends 33, 25 are of strong material, such as hardened rubber or polyvinyl chloride. A ring 28, secured by non-metallic screws 29, holds the cover 5 on the casing 2. During transport the device is locked by a safety pin 30 which can be removed by pulling a cord 31. The rod 10 is also held by a stop 32 which comes into alignment with a groove 33 after the projections 12, 13, 14, 15 have travelled along both arms of their respective grooves. The fuze may be rendered instantaneous by omitting the projectiongroove system and using a push-rod 35, Fig. 4, supporting a shoe 36 acting directly on the cover 5 against the thrust of an elastic thread 38. The mine may be provided with a trap 37, Fig. 5, which when tilted causes depression of the cover 5. When sufficient pressure is applied to the mine the cover 5 is depressed, rotating first in one sense then in the opposite sense. The elastic members 20, 21, 22 which are disposed at 120 degrees to each other are compressed longitudinally and given a rocking movement until they pass a dead centre and again expand forcing the rod 10 to strike a primer and so fire the explosive charge of the mine. Specification 670,853 is referred to.