The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

FRICTION AND ELECTRIC FUSES. These qualities combinée! make this a very serviceable powder, especially for shrapnel shells. in wbich the space available for the charge is very small. PRIMERS. Firing Tubes.—In considering the place allotted to the primers, the guns may be divideel into classes and sub- divisions, as follows : Firing-tube in breech- block », »» Firing-tube in car- tridge case ... Firing by friction ,, percussion ,, electrieity Percussion firing Firing by electrieity Old type guns. Non-quick-firing guns. Accelerated-firing guns, without metallic car tridge cases. Quick- firing guns. Whatever be the method of firing adopted and the calibre of gun, the primer in the Schneider-Canet ordnance can always at any time be replacée! by another identical oiie, or sirnply by a plug, without it being necessaiy to modify æny of the conditions of the charge. I his con- 323 Percussion Tubes.—The Schneidor-Canot percussion tubes are of one type, manufactured in two sizes, namely : No. 1 9 mm. .354 in. Smooth. No. 2 9 mm. .354 in. Threaded. No. 3 13 mm. .511 in. Smooth. No. 4 13 mm. .511 in. Threaded. Theyare shown on Fig. 1041, and consist of the tube body, the threaded nipple inside, the percussion cap, and the charge of fine black powder. Varnish and isolating sub- stances are placed between the black powder and the body of the tube, and between the nipple and the fulininating compound. The déflagration of the fulminate causes the powder charge to burn, the fulminate being fired by the shock of the striker against the bottom of the tube. Ihe smooth tube is used with guns that do not take cartridge- cases, also for the discharge of automobile torpedoes. It is placed in a suitable vent cut in the breech-block, in whicli it is held by a fitted with the striker. The percussion tubes ave greased on the outside, and rwiCE FULL SIZE Friction Fuse. Friction Fuse. Electric Fuse. stitutes an important measure of safety and a great advantage. Friction Tubes. — These are still used by many Governments; they are suppliée! with the Schneider- Canet ammunition, only when they are ordered specially. Their mode of acting is so well known that it is not necessary to describe it. They consist of a large tube filled with powder, of a smaller one containing fulminating- powder, and of a friction-bar ending in an eye in which is hooked the firing-line. By drawing the firing-line, the friction-bar explocles the fulminate and this lights the powder charge. Several types of friction-tubes are used. Fig. 1039 shows a smooth-shafted tube 5 millimétré (.196 in.) in diameter and 45 millimétré (1.771 in.) long, with feit ring to keep it in place. This is used with small calibre guns. The second type, Fig. 1040, is made with threads; it is screwed in the breech-block, and is used especially for large calibre guns. These tubes are generally packed in strong paper, in sets of ten, to make up parcels of a hundred tubes. They are kept in air-tight cases. When the tubes are liable to be kept long in the magazines, tlie cases are fittecl with a moveable cover, for inspection at stated intervals. are tied together in sets of ten ; packets of hundred tubes are then formée!, and put in small metallic cases, closed and solclered, or in large eheste, with moveable cover to allow periodical inspection, Electric Tubes. -The recent patterns of Schneider- Canet quick-firing guns are fired with electric tubes, unless otherwise spécifiée! in the order. The breech-blocks, however, are always désignée! with a view to percussion- firing1 also, either in order to be able to use existing ftinmunition, or as a iiwasure of safety, should the clBctric connections get ont of order. The electric tube is therefore the normal primer of the Schneider-Canet ammunition ; and this does away with fuhïiinatiüg compounds which constitute a permanent danger of prématuré explosions, that might be caused by shocks during the many manipulations of the cartridge- cases. The Schneider-Canet electric tubes hâve exactly the same outside dimensions as the percussion tubes, this facilitating the change in the method of firing, lhey consist of a brass body, threaded for screwing in the cartridge-case. In the centre, inside, is placecl a cylindrical rod, swelled out on part of its length, to prevent tlie gases 4 b