US2409945A - Ammunition - Google Patents

Description

Get. 22, 1946. w. J. Low-Es AMMUNITION 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jung 25, 1943 l/E' DR miamfllpwes Oct 22, 1946- w. J. Lowes 2,409,945

AMMUNITIQN Filed June 25, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheerl 2 'Nv u S 49, zw L, W ,Y :6 4- 25 37 52 2 298 27'15 26 l a( I9 z/E ZDF( /pm Jlfowe l I@ MM5 Patented Oct. 22, 1946 AMMUNITION William J. Lowes, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Harris Trust and Savings Bank, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois, as trustee Application .lf une 25, 1943, Serial No. 492,257

(c1. 1oz-64) 6 Claims.

My invention relates in general to ammunition, but more specifically to a grenade or shell which may be thown by hand, or which may be projected by a propelling charge from a mortar or from a rie grenade launcher.

The shell unit comprises in general a grenade body filled with explosive and having n structure at one end and at its other end having a nose assembly Within which are elements controlled upon impact of the shell with the terrain to elect ignition of a fuse for explosion and disruption of the grenade body.

An important object of my invention is to provide, in the fuse controlling assembly, a movable vexplosive impact member or nose pro- Vided with a Vprimer or ring cap engageable, upon impact of said impact element with the terrain, with a liring pin for explosion, and ignik tion of the fuse for explosion of. the grenade body.

A further object is to provide improved safety means normally held interposed between the priming cap and the firing pin by latch mechanism from which the safety means may be manually released when the shell is to be thrown by hand, and which latch means will automatically release the safety means when the shell is projected from the mortar or other weapon by a propelling charge. v

Still another object is to provide latching means, which, upon projection of the shell by a propelling charge, will be controlled by inertia for release movement of the safety means so that, upon impact of the impact member with the terrain, the iiring cap may engage the firing pin for the explosion to set oi the fuse, and with such explosion of the impact member tending to hurl the shell back into the air for explosion of the shell body while in the air by the fuse which has been accordingly timed.

Still another object is to provide the fin structure with a bore for receiving the end of a rie, or a rifle attachment, Vfor rifle projection of the shell, or to receive a cartridge holder and cartridge when the shell is to be projected from a weapon such as a mortar.

The above referred to and other features of my inventon are shown embodied in the structure shown on the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the shell;

Figure 2 is a section of plane II-II of Figure 1 of the shell body and fin structure showing the application of a blank cartridge and a supporting bushing therefor in the lbore of the n structure for' mortar firing of the shell;

FigureV 3 is a section of the cartridge supporting bushing before insertion into the n structure bore;

Figure 4 is a section like Figure 2 but showing the fin structure bore receiving a rifle attachment for projection of the shell from a rifle;

Figure 5 is an end View of the fin structure;

Figure 6 is an enlarged section on plane II--II of Figure l of a portion of the shell body and the impact structure frame showing the retention pin and the safety pin or bar in normal position;

Figure 7 is a section on plane VII- VII of Figure;

Figure 8 is a section on plane VIII-VIII of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a section like Figure 'l but with the retention pin withdrawn and the safety bar released from the safety latch structure; and

Figure 1I) is a section like Figure 6 showing the arrangement of the various parts upon impact of the impact member ring cap with the firing pin. c

The shell comprises the substantially elliptical body I0 lled with a suitable explosive and serrated on its outerside to provide segments II. Intermediate its ends the body has the cylindrical belt I2 which will act as a piston when the shell is to be fired from a weapon such as a mortar. The inner end wall of the body III has the opening I3 in which is secured the end I4 of the body I5 of the fin structure F, fins I6 extending from the body in radial direction and with the radial extent of the fins such that their outer edges may engage in the bore of a mortar to assist the piston belt I2 of the body IIJ in guiding the shell through the mortar bore, the ns also serving to guide the flight of the shell.

Mounted on the outer end of the grenade body I Il, concentric therewith, is a nose frame I'I hav- `ing the outer dome-shaped or substantially semispherical end I 8. This frame has the exteriorly threaded flange I9 extending from its base for threaded engagement in the outer end of the grenade body I 0 to seat against the annular shoulder 2li. The domed end I8 has the cylindrical passageway ZI therethrough concentric with the frame II and the body Ill, and axially movable in this passageway is the impact member or nose 22 in the form of a cylindrical cartridge having the head 2,3 at its inner end and intermediate its ends a circumferential ridge 24 which normally engages againstthe inner side of-the domed end I8, as shown on Figure 6. The cartridge is filled with suitable explosive material and in its head it has the firing cap 25.

The base 26 of the nose frame I1 has a threaded opening therethrough for receiving the plug 21 from which a post 28 extends axially in the frame I1 and terminates in a firing point or pin 29 in ali-gnment with the ring cap 25. The base 26 and the plug 21 form a closure for the outer end of the grenade body I0, the plug having the hole 3B therethrough for a fuse 3|, the linterior of the nose frame I1 constituting a firing chamber 32 for the fuse. When, after projecting of the shell, the impact nose 22 impacts the terrain or an obstruction and is shifted inwardly to explode upon engagement of its firing cap with the firing pin 29, the ignited fuse will, aftera predetermined time interval, ignite the explosive charge in the grenade body I0.

Safety means for normally preventingY engagement of the impact nose firing cap with the firing pin comprises a safety pin 33 and a retention pin 34. The safety pin is shown in the form of a bar insertable through the opening 35 in the side of thenose frame I1 to extend normally diametrally through the firing chamber 32 with its inner end resting on a ledge 36 at the-opposite side o-f the frame I1, the bar being thus normally disposed between the firing cap and the firing pin, andthe bar inwardly of its middle pointhaving upwardly extending cross ridges 31 engaging the head23 vof the impact nose to hold it with its ridge 24 normally in engagement with the inner side of the domed end I8 of the frame I1, as shown'on Figure 6.

The retention pin 34 is shown in the form ofV a fiat bar insertable through a passage 387m the side wall of the frame I1 for extension radially in the firing chamber 32 with its inner end between the safety bar 33 andthe firing pin, as shown in Figures 6 and 7. A ring 39'at the outer end of the retention pin facilitates withdrawal thereof at. the proper time before the shell is to be thrown. Thus the safety pin and the retention pin are normally interposed between the fir-ing pin and the impact member firing cap.

AtV its-outer end the safety pin 33 has a head 4D`normally tting into a recessliI in theA framel I1 to shut off the firing chamber 32 from the exteriorya grip flange or knob 42 being formed at the outer end of the pinV so that it may be grasped forV manual pulling when the shellY is'to be-thrown by hand;

A compression spring 43extending between the l side wall of frame I1 and the safety pin 33 tends to swing the safety pin out of its normal position (counterclockwise Figure '7) such swing being normally resisted by latch mechanism.- This latch mechanismcomprises a latch bolt 4l!V shiftable in a bore 45 in the base wall-26 of the frame I1, the bore at its-inner end being closed by a plug 46.- The latch boltterminates in a head 41 between which and the base 26 isinterposedy a spring 48 which tends tofhold'the bolt out. The

latch bolt head has the latch pin- 49y extending therefrom for engagement' normally in the inner endvof a longitudinally extending slot 53 in the end of the safety pin, from the outer'end of which slot a transverse slot` extends to the rear edge of the-safety pin, as shown onFigures 7- and' 9.. When the safety pin is thus held in itsnorrnal position against swing by the spring 43,the spring 43 willurge the latch bolt upwardly against the inner end of the safety pin to hold the safety pin ridges Y3.1 against the `impact nose tohold this nose in its normal position, as shown in Figure 6.

If the shellis to be thrown by hand, the safety pin 33 will rstv be released from the lath 130.11?

4 44, this being accomplished by a short outward pull of the safety pin to bring the outer end of the longitudinal slot 5l] into register with the latch pin 49 so that the spring 43 may swing the safety pin with its inner end away from the ledge 36 and with the central portion of the safety pin away from its normal position between the impact member ring cap and the firing pin, as shown on Figure 9, the pin coming to rest when its inner end strikes the wall of the frame I1 at the end of the recess 52 in the wall. After release of the safety pin, the retention pin will stillbe in with its inner end between the firing cap and the firing pin, and just before the shell is-thrown, the retention pin is pulled out. Now, when the projected impact nose hits the terrain or other obstruction, it will be shifted inwardly in the frame I1 for engagement of its firing cap with the firing pin, as shown in Figure 10. The impact nose or cartridge will then explode and create fire in the firing chamber 32 for ignition of the fuse 3I and then ignition of the explosive charge within the grenade body It). When the impact nose or cartridge is fired upon hitting the ground, the explosion thereof will tend to recoil and throw the vshell back up into the air, and therate of' burning or timing of the fuse 3I is such that .the explosive within the grenade bodyl I0 will be ignited when the shell is in the air after such recoil or rebound, thus making the shell much more effective in destructiveness.

Provision is made for projecting the shell from a weapon such as a mortar bya propelling charge as from a cartridge. For this purpose, the

Abodyi5 of the nn structure F is provided with a cylindrical axial bore 53r` into which a bushing 54 may be inserted for seating a blank cartridge 55. Spring legs 56- onthe bushing will tend to hold it frictionally in the bore 53, thecartridge being inserted through the bushing hole 51 for engagement of its end in the recess 58 in the extension I4 of thefinstruc'ture which is secured in the opening I3 of the grenade body IIJ. Now, when the shell is inserted intothe bore of a mortar, andthe cartridge is red'by a ring pin, the shellwillbe projected from themortar. To provideadditional projection force, powder or other explosive increments 59may beinserted in or through slots 60 in the ns I6 sothat when thecartridge 55-is-fired, the flame therefrom may pass through openings 6 I in the n structure'body for firing ofthe explosivematerial 59.

Before the shell' is put' into` the mortar, the retention pin 34` isV withdrawn. Now, when the shell-is projected from-the mortar, the latchbolt 44- Will be automatically withdrawn to release the safety pin 33'from-the latch pinA 49' for swing of the safety pin out of itsnormal position by the spring 43 so that the' impact' nose 22 will be free to engage its ring cap with the firing pin when the impact nose strikes the ground. This automatic action of the latch bolt is caused by the force of inertia` when thel shell is projected from the mortar, this inertia effect on the latch bolt causing it to be shifted to withdraw the latch pin 49 from the slotv Ein the safety pin to permit the latchbolt to be movedreadily into the bore 45 by the inertia effect, the bolt may be provided witha longitudinal groove 62 for escape of' the air out of the bore 45fwhen the bolt is shifted thereinto.-

When theA shell is projected from' a mortar', the impact nose-or cartridgeZZ'will also beA subjectedrto inertia force tending to shift it inwardly.

As the mass of the:` impact nose isgreater'tharr that of the latch bolt 44, and response of the bolt 44 to the inertia is resisted -by the spring 48, the safety pin 33 which normally rests at its outer end on the bottom of the slot`35 and at its inner end on the shoulder 36, will absorb and dissipate the inertia pressure of the impact nose before the inertia becomes effective to shift the latch bolt 44 for unlatching of the safety pin. The impact nose thus remains in its normal or outer position until impact thereof with the ground and then, as the released safety pin has been swung to its released position by the spring 43, the impact nose will be shifted inwardly by the impact for engagement of its firing cap with the ring pin 29, the safety pin, during such inward movement of the impact nose, being swung down as shown on Figure 10. If the shell is to be launched from a rifle, the bushing 54 is withdrawn from the bore of the n structure and an A, T. grenade launcher 63 is attached to a rie and its end projected into the n structure bore 53, as shown on Figure 4. For such rifle launching, powder increments 59 would not be applied to the fins. The powder increment would be applied before launching of the shell from a weapon such as a mortar, but would not be applied for rifle launching or for hand throwing.

In the face of capture by an enemy, the retention pin could be pulled out and the safety pin released from the latch bolt so that the impact nose would be free and any attempt by the enemy to use the shell would probably result in engagement of the impact cartridge with the ring pin and explosion of the shell during launching from a weapon such as a mortar or rifle and with destruction of the enemy within range of the explosion, The shell could also be used as a personal mine or booby trap after withdrawal of the retention pin and release of the safety pin.

I have thus produced a shell which can be thrown by hand or launched by a propelling charge from weapons such as mortars or ries and which, after impact of the impact nose with the ground, will be hurled back into the air for explosion of the grenade body while in the air `by the delayed fuse connection,

I have shown a practical and eiilcient embodiment of my invention but I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement and operation shown and described as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim as follows:

1. In a shell of the type described, a grenade body containing explosive material, a nose frame secured to said body, a fuse connection between the interior of said body and said nose frame, an impact member mounted in the end of said frame to project therefrom for axial inward movement upon impact, said impact element containing an explosive and having a firing cap therefor, a firing pin in said frame in the path of said element, a safety bar extending into said frame from the exterior thereof to be normally disposed between said firing cap and pin to prevent engagement thereof, a spring tending. to swing said bar laterally out of its normal position, a safety latch normally engaged by the inner end of said safety bar to hold said bar in normal position against the force of said spring, means whereby said bar upon outward manual movement thereof will be released from said safety latch for swing by said spring out of its normal position, whereby, when said shell is thrown and said impact member is impacted, said `firing cap may come into engagement with said ring pin for explosion' of said impact member and ignition of said fuse connection and the explosive material in said grenade body.

2. In a shell of the type described a grenade body containing explosive material, a nose frame secured to said body, a fuse connection between the interior of said body and said nose frame, an impact member mounted in the end of said frame to project therefrom for axial inward movement upon impact, said impact element containing an explosive and having a, firing cap therefor, a firing pin in said frame in the path of said element, a safety bar extending into said frame from the exterior thereof to be normally disposed between said firing cap and pin to prevent engagement thereof, a spring tending to swing said bar out of its normal position, a safety latch normally engaged by the inner end of said safety bar to hold said bar in normal position against the force of said spring, means whereby said bar upon outward manual movement thereof will be released from said safety latch for swing by said spring out of its normal position, whereby, when said shell is thrown and said impact element is impacted, said ring cap may come into engagement with said firing pin for explosion of said impact element and ignition of said fuse connection and the explosive material in said grenade body, said fuse connection being timed so that the explosion of said impact element may rebound the shell back into the air before the explosive material in said grenade body is ignited. v

3. A shell of the type described comprising a grenade body loaded with explosive material and having a iin structure extending from one end thereof, a nose frame secured to the other end of said body and defining a firing chamber, a fuse connection between said firing chamber and the interior of said grenade body, an impact member projecting through the outer end of said nose frame for inward movement therein upon impact on the outer end thereof after projecting of the shell, said impact member containing explosive material and having a firing cap therefor, a firing pin within said firing chamber in the path of said firing cap when said impact element is shifted inwardly, said nose frame having an opening through one side and an internal shoulder on the other side, a safety bar extending through said opening for engaging with its inner end on said shoulder to be normaly between said impact element and firing pin and to hold said element in its outer position, a spring tending to swing said safety bar laterally out of its normal position, said bar at its inner end having a bayonet slot, a spring urged latch bolt having a latch pin normally extending into said slot to hold said safety bar on said shoulder and against swing by said spring, a short manual outward movement of said safety bar releasing the inner end of the slot from said latch bolt pin whereby said spring becomes effective to swing said safety bar' out of its normal position for exposure of said ring pin to said firing cap when said impact member is shifted inwardly upon impact thereof after projection of the shell.

4. A shell of the type described comprising a grenade body loaded with explosive material and having a iin structure extending from one end thereof, a nose frame secured to the other end of said body and deining a firing chamber, a fuse connection between said ring chamber and the 7 interior of said-grenade body, an impact element projecting through the outer end of said nose frame rfor inward movement therein upon impact on the outer end thereof after projecting of the shell, said impact element containing explosive material and having a firing cap therefor, a firing pinvvithin said firing chamber in the path of said ring cap when said impact element is shifted inwardly, said nose frame having an opening through one side and an internal shoulder on the other side, a safety bar extending through said opening for engaging with its inner end on said shoulder to be normally betweensaid impact element and firing pin and to hold said element it its outer position, a spring tending to shift said safety bar out of its normal position, said bar at'its inner end having a latch slot, a spring urged latch bolt having a latch pin normally extending into said slot to hold said safetybar on said shoulder and against movement by said spring, said latch bolt, upon launching of the shell from a weapon such as a mortar or riiie, being responsive to inertia to withdraw its latch pin from the slot in said safety bar Jfor movement of the safety bar out'of normal positionV by said spring for exposure of said firing pin to said iiring cap when said impact element is shifted inwardly upon impact engagement with the terrain or other obstruction.

5. A shell of thev type described comprising a grenade body loaded with explosive material and having an n structure extending from one end thereof, a nose frame secured to the other end of said body and dening a firing chamber, a fuse connection between said iring chamber and the interior of said grenade body, an impact element mounted in the end of said nose frame for inward movement upon impact of its outer end with the ground when the shell is projected, said impact element containing explosivematerial and having a ring cap, a firing pin in said firing chamber in the path of said firing cap when said impact element is shifted inwardly, said nose frame at one side having an opening and at its other side having an internal shoulder, a safety bar extending through said opening to rest normally With itsinner end on said shoulder so as to be normally disposed below said impact element to hold it in normal position and to be interposed between the firing cap and the ring pin, a spring tending to swing said safety bar away from said shoulder for exposure of the ring pin to the firing cap, said safety bar at its inner end having a latch slot, the base of said nose frame having a bore, a latch bolt movable inwardly in said bore and terminating at its outer end in a latch pin, a spring for said latch Vbolt normally holding it shifted out with its latch pin in said slot for holding said safety bar in normal position`v against the force of saidv rst mentioned spring, said latch bolt, upon projection of said shell under a projecting charge, being' responsive to inertia to withdraw its pin from said slot whereby said iirst mentioned spring may swing said safety bar for exposure of said firing pin to said ring cap for explosion of said impact element when it strikes the ground.

6. A grenade firing head having a chamber thereinA having ring connection with the grenade interior, an explosive impact member within said chamber havinga firing cap at its inner end, a firing pin in said chamber in alignment with said ring cap, a safety bar extended through said chamber from the exterior thereof and abutments normally holding said bar against the lower end of said impact member to be interposed between the firing cap and the firing pin, a spring tending to shift said bar from said abutments for exposure of the firing pin to the firing cap, said bar at its inner end having a bayonet slot comprising atransverse portion extending from one edge of the bar and an inner portion extending longitudinally of the bar, a lath pin normally engaging inthe inner end of said slot to hold said bar against displacement from its normal position by the spring, a slight outward movement oA said bar manually bringing the transverse end of said slot into alignment with said pin whereby said spring may then shift said bar out of its norma] position for firing of the impact member upon impact thereof with the ground When the shell is projected. Y

WILLIAM J. LOWES.

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