| Revision as of 22:54, 15 November 2006 editSnozzer (talk | contribs)771 edits added military munition to fuse← Previous edit | Revision as of 07:25, 16 November 2006 edit undoSnozzer (talk | contribs)771 editsm Added text regarding burning fuse & origin/usage of fuses/fuze being unclearNext edit → | ||
| (One intermediate revision by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| The simplest form of fuse is the burning fuse, believed to date back to the 10th Century and originating in ], this simple fuse consisted of |
The simplest form of fuse is the burning fuse, believed to date back to the 10th Century and originating in ], this simple fuse consisted of lightweight paper filled with loose gunpowder, and served as a means of delaying ignition in fireworks. This simple form of burning fuse can still be found today in many modern ]. The commercial and military version of a burning fuse, is often referred to as a safety fuse. The safety fuse is a simply length of cord either filled with combsutible material, or itself made form comustible material. Safety fuse is often coded by its burn time for 30cms i.e. 60secs, which means that a length of use 30cm long will take 60 seconds to burn. | ||
| Modern day safety fuses are often used in ] and ] operations, to provide a time-delay before ignition, and they more often than not are used to initiate an explosive ], thereby starting an explosive chain reaction to detonate a larger more stable main charge. | Modern day safety fuses are often used in ] and ] operations, to provide a time-delay before ignition, and they more often than not are used to initiate an explosive ], thereby starting an explosive chain reaction to detonate a larger more stable main charge. | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
| * Some safety fuse has an outer layer of plastic around the cloth and black powder. This fuse can burn reliably underwater once lit. | * Some safety fuse has an outer layer of plastic around the cloth and black powder. This fuse can burn reliably underwater once lit, since the explosive provides both its own fuel and oxidant. | ||
| * ] is a very slow-burning fuse consisting of a hemp or cotton rope saturated with an oxidizer such as potassium nitrate. Slow match is used as a source of fire for manually lighting other devices, such as matchlock guns, or fuses on black powder cannons. Before percussion caps, slow match was most suitable for use around black powder weapons because it could be roughly handled without going out, and only presented a small glowing tip instead of a large flame that risked igniting powder supplies nearby. | * ] is a very slow-burning fuse consisting of a hemp or cotton rope saturated with an oxidizer such as potassium nitrate. Slow match is used as a source of fire for manually lighting other devices, such as matchlock guns, or fuses on black powder cannons. Before percussion caps, slow match was most suitable for use around black powder weapons because it could be roughly handled without going out, and only presented a small glowing tip instead of a large flame that risked igniting powder supplies nearby. | ||
| * Today's ] (wood splints covered with ground plant pith saturated with nitrate) used for lighting consumer fireworks are a type of slow match. | * Today's ] (wood splints covered with ground plant pith saturated with nitrate) used for lighting consumer fireworks are a type of slow match. | ||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
| * The ] was an early form of fuse. | * The ] was an early form of fuse. | ||
| ==Munition fuses |
==Munition fuses== | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| Also known as fuze, some countries use the z spelling to distinguish between burning fuses and more complicated munition fuses. The origin of this usage is unclear, and indeed many countries themselves are not clear on the usage and many examples of both spelling can be found. | |||
| ⚫ | A fuse also refers to a device used in ]s which is designed to detonate, or to set forces into action to ignite,detonate or deflagrate, the ] (or ]) under specified conditions. | ||
| ⚫ | A fuse |
||
| Types of fuse/fuzes include: | Types of fuse/fuzes include: | ||
| * ]s detonate after a set period of time by using mechanical, electronic, or chemical timers. | * ]s detonate after a set period of time by using mechanical, electronic, or chemical timers. | ||
| * ]s or ] fuses |
* ]s or ] fuses explode on impact. | ||
| * ]s cause a ] or other ] to explode when it comes within a certain distance of the target. Some proximity fuses |
* ]s cause a ] or other ] to explode when it comes within a certain distance of the target. Some proximity fuses utilize ], ], Infrared or television cameras. | ||
| * ]s use ]s or ] to remotely command the explosive to function. | * ]s use ]s or ] to remotely command the explosive to function. | ||
| * ]s cause a bomb to explode at a certain altitude above ] by means of an ] ], ], or ] ] | * ]s cause a bomb to explode at a certain altitude above ] by means of an ] ], ], or ] ] | ||
| Many weapons have fuse |
Many weapons have fuse systems to ensure that they do not initiate (explode) prematurely. In most cases the munition has to travel some distance or wait for a period of time before it can detonate. | ||
| In modern artillery shells, most fuses |
In modern artillery shells, most fuses incorporate several safety features to prevent a fuse arming before it leaves the gun barrel. These safety features may include, arming on "set back" or rotational speed. Set Back arming utilises the forces of inertia inherent in an artillery shell when made to go from rest to its in flight speed to remove a safety feature in the fuse/fuze. Rotational features require that the artillery shell reaches a certain rpm before arming (artillery shells are fired through a rifled barrel, therefore they spin during flight). | ||
| In other cases the bomb, ] or projectile has a '''fuse |
In other cases the bomb, ] or projectile has a '''fuse''' that prevents accidental initiation (for example, stopping turning of a small ] so that the striker-pin cannot touch the detonator even if the weapon is dropped on the ground). These sort of fuse operate with aircraft weapons where the weapon may have to be dropped over ''friendly'' territory to allow a damaged aircraft to continue to fly. The crew can choose to jettison the weapons ''safe'' by dropping the devices with fuses/fuzes still attached, or drop them ''live'' by retaining the fuses/fuzes as the weapons leave the aircraft. | ||
| Aerial bombs and ]s can be ''nose'' and ''tail'' fuses/fuzed using different detonator/initiator characteristics so that the crew can choose which effect (fuse/fuze) will suit target conditions that may not have been known before the flight. The arming-switch is set to one of ''safe'', ''nose'' or ''tail'' at the crew's choice. | Aerial bombs and ]s can be ''nose'' and ''tail'' fuses/fuzed using different detonator/initiator characteristics so that the crew can choose which effect (fuse/fuze) will suit target conditions that may not have been known before the flight. The arming-switch is set to one of ''safe'', ''nose'' or ''tail'' at the crew's choice. | ||
| There also exist other fusing |
There also exist other fusing systems. | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 07:25, 16 November 2006
- See fuse for the other meanings of the word.
In an explosive, pyrotechnic device or military munition, a fuse (or fuze) is the part of the device that initiates function.
Burning/Safety fuse
The simplest form of fuse is the burning fuse, believed to date back to the 10th Century and originating in China, this simple fuse consisted of lightweight paper filled with loose gunpowder, and served as a means of delaying ignition in fireworks. This simple form of burning fuse can still be found today in many modern pyrotechnics. The commercial and military version of a burning fuse, is often referred to as a safety fuse. The safety fuse is a simply length of cord either filled with combsutible material, or itself made form comustible material. Safety fuse is often coded by its burn time for 30cms i.e. 60secs, which means that a length of use 30cm long will take 60 seconds to burn.
Modern day safety fuses are often used in mining and military operations, to provide a time-delay before ignition, and they more often than not are used to initiate an explosive detonator, thereby starting an explosive chain reaction to detonate a larger more stable main charge.
Fuses are found in fireworks, model cannons, antique smoothbore firearms, some improvised explosive devices and many forms of pyrotechnics.
Burning fuse may take many forms:
- Some safety fuse has an outer layer of plastic around the cloth and black powder. This fuse can burn reliably underwater once lit, since the explosive provides both its own fuel and oxidant.
- Slow match is a very slow-burning fuse consisting of a hemp or cotton rope saturated with an oxidizer such as potassium nitrate. Slow match is used as a source of fire for manually lighting other devices, such as matchlock guns, or fuses on black powder cannons. Before percussion caps, slow match was most suitable for use around black powder weapons because it could be roughly handled without going out, and only presented a small glowing tip instead of a large flame that risked igniting powder supplies nearby.
- Today's punks (wood splints covered with ground plant pith saturated with nitrate) used for lighting consumer fireworks are a type of slow match.
- Black match is a type of fuse consisting of cotton string coated with a dried slurry of black powder and glue. This acts as a simple pass-fire, and was used to fire ancient cannons. It is used today in fireworks construction.
- Quick match or piped match is a type of black powder fuse that burns very quickly, some hundreds of feet per second. It consists of black match covered with a loose paper wrap (pipe). When lit, the flame propagates quickly down the paper pipe from the hot gases produced by the burning powder. Quick match is used in professional fireworks displays to pass fire nearly instantly between devices that must be physically separated while firing simultaneously, such as a finale rack. Devices which should fire in sequence can be branched from a single master fuse, consisting of quick match spliced onto Visco fuses of various length for time delays.
- An Ignitor Safety Fuse Electric (ISFE) lights a main fuse or device when activated by an electrical current. They typically consist of a pair of wires leading to a thin resistance wire that heats when current is applied. The resistance wire is covered by a bit of pyrotechnic composition that ignites from the wire heating, providing enough fire to reliably ignite the main fuse via a mechanical connection, or the device directly. Estes model rocket motors are lit by a type of electric match. Large fireworks displays are launched with complex timing sequences using a computer that energizes electric matches connected to the individual device fuses.
- Flying fish fuse is an unusual type of component for fireworks. It is made like Visco fuse, but contains a metallic spark composition or other effect instead of black powder. Flying fish can thus perform as a main effect instead of just an initiator. For example, simply lighting a short piece of flying fish on the ground makes it fly through the air, seeming to swim in random directions, while emitting sparks and noise. A aerial shell loaded with many such pieces results in a beautiful myriad of pieces flying and sparking high in the air.
- A spoolette is a delay fuse consisting of a hollow wooden dowel rammed full of black powder. A spoolette is glued into the wall of a fireworks shell and ignited by the lift charge that launches the shell into the air. The spoolette, after a delay that allows the shell to reach its top of trajectory, ignites the shell's main effect(s). The tough wood construction ensures that the fuse burns reliably despite the explosive force and acceleration of the launch.
- The saucisson was an early form of fuse.
Munition fuses
Also known as fuze, some countries use the z spelling to distinguish between burning fuses and more complicated munition fuses. The origin of this usage is unclear, and indeed many countries themselves are not clear on the usage and many examples of both spelling can be found.
A fuse also refers to a device used in munitions which is designed to detonate, or to set forces into action to ignite,detonate or deflagrate, the charge (or primer) under specified conditions.
Types of fuse/fuzes include:
- time fuses detonate after a set period of time by using mechanical, electronic, or chemical timers.
- contact detonators or point detonating fuses explode on impact.
- proximity fuses cause a missile or other munition to explode when it comes within a certain distance of the target. Some proximity fuses utilize radar, sonar, Infrared or television cameras.
- remote detonators use wires or radio waves to remotely command the explosive to function.
- altitude fuse s cause a bomb to explode at a certain altitude above sea level by means of an infrared rangefinder, radar, or barometric altimeter
Many weapons have fuse systems to ensure that they do not initiate (explode) prematurely. In most cases the munition has to travel some distance or wait for a period of time before it can detonate.
In modern artillery shells, most fuses incorporate several safety features to prevent a fuse arming before it leaves the gun barrel. These safety features may include, arming on "set back" or rotational speed. Set Back arming utilises the forces of inertia inherent in an artillery shell when made to go from rest to its in flight speed to remove a safety feature in the fuse/fuze. Rotational features require that the artillery shell reaches a certain rpm before arming (artillery shells are fired through a rifled barrel, therefore they spin during flight).
In other cases the bomb, mine or projectile has a fuse that prevents accidental initiation (for example, stopping turning of a small propellor so that the striker-pin cannot touch the detonator even if the weapon is dropped on the ground). These sort of fuse operate with aircraft weapons where the weapon may have to be dropped over friendly territory to allow a damaged aircraft to continue to fly. The crew can choose to jettison the weapons safe by dropping the devices with fuses/fuzes still attached, or drop them live by retaining the fuses/fuzes as the weapons leave the aircraft.
Aerial bombs and depth charges can be nose and tail fuses/fuzed using different detonator/initiator characteristics so that the crew can choose which effect (fuse/fuze) will suit target conditions that may not have been known before the flight. The arming-switch is set to one of safe, nose or tail at the crew's choice.
There also exist other fusing systems.