US2481546A - Projectile launcher - Google Patents

Description

R E K L A w B PROJ ECTILE LAUNCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May '7, 1945 mm. uw .wm uw. w uw. ww mm \wue/wto4b EIREIDKE V VALKER,

www

Q Y Flinll n lmH|| www Sept. 13, 1949.. B. WALKER PROJECTILE LAUNCHER Filed May 7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 13, 1949 ,UNITED STATES PATNT; QFFICE PROJECTILE LAUNCHER Brooks Walker, Piedmont, Calif. Application May 7, 19457,V Serial No. 592,438 (C1. 42e-1y (Granted under the act of March 3, V1883, as

7 Claims.

amended April 30, 1928; 3704 O. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any. royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an improved launcher for use in launching projectiles such as mortar shells `and hand grenades from a rifle.

The rpresent forms of launchers employed with rifles for launching hand grenades include ladapters which form an expendable part of the launchers and which are launched therefrom with the grenades and remain in engagement ther-ewith until the grenades are detonated.

It is therefore a lprimary object of the [present invention to eliminate the necessity of providing an expendable adapter member by providing an improved launcher wherein the adapter is movably mounted relatively to fixed parts of the launcher but which remains at all times in engagement therewith and from which :a projectile is launched.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a launcher capable of not only being used for launching -hand grenades but which is also capable of launching mortar shells, as for eX- ample, a 60 mm. moritar shell, by applying a special adapter element to the launcher which is capable of being quickly applied or removed.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a launcher wherein a reciprocally mounted element, which carries the projectile, is projected by operation of the expanding gases from a propelling cartridge, fired in the barrel of a rie to which the launcher is applied, to accelerate lthe projectile, and the movement of which is thereafter rapidly decelerated for launching the projectile therefrom by inertia.

Still a further object of the' invention is to provide a launcher which is so constructed that a portion of the propelling gases will be trapped, during acceleration of al telescoping part of the launcher within a chamber thereof, and thereafter utilized by being compressed to decelerate said telescoping part. Y

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the followingdescription lof the drawings, which illustrate .preferred embodiments thereof, Iand wherein;

Figure 1 is a top` plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention and with a mortar shell shown applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof taken along the line 2-2of Figure 1;

Figure 3is.a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the launcher parts in an intermediate or partially projected position;

Figure'4 is an enlarged View partially in section and partially in side elevation showing the launcher in a ful-ly extended or projected position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional Vview` similarto Figure 4 and showing a slightlymodifled form of the launcher;

Figure 6 is a cross'sectional vieW of the launcher taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line GAG of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a modification `of the launcher for use with a hand grenade; and I Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view, partially in elevation, of Aanother modification of the launcher for use with a hand grenade.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like `or corresponding parts throughout :the several views, and referring particularly to Figures 1 to 4 and 46, I0 designates gener-ally a preferred em- .fbodiment of the improved launcher in its entirety and whichincludes a connector member, designated generally `I I, which is pro/vided with a rst cylinder or tubular portion I2 which is adapted to nt over the muzzle Aend vof a rie barrel I3 and which is recessed in the upper portion thereof, as seen at lIIL; to accommodate the front sight I5 of the rifle. At its rear, the tubular portion I2, on opposite sides thereof, carries hinge pins I6 on which areipivotally mounted hinge leaves I'I and I8 vwhich are swingable into position for engaging over theportion of the barrel I3. The hinge leaf VI'I yrearwardly of sight I5 is lprovided with threaded aperture I9, which is disposed transversely thereof. Aclamping screw 20 is carried by the leaf `I'I by threaded engagement with the aperture and provided with a bent end 2 I. 1 The end of the threaded portion ofthe screw Z0, which is adjacent to'rthe end 2I, is provided with a fixed collar 22. The hinge leaf I8 is provided w'ith-a groove 23 for receiving a part of the threaded portion ofthe `s'crew'ZIl and which terminates in a recessed `seat for the collar 22 so that by tightening the screw 20 the two hinged leaves willbe clamped about the barrel in an obvious manner to thereby rigidly secure the launcher to the riile'barrel.

The tube I2 extends beyond the muzzle of the barrel I3 and the extension 24 of tube I2 is aligned internally and externally with barrel I3, the bore 25 of Said extension being of slightly greater diameter than the bore of the barrel I3 and in axial alignment therewith. The extension 24 is externally grooved circumferentially to form a plurality of longitudinally spaced collars 26 of different widths and which are spaced varied distances apart. The inner end of the extension 24 is externally threaded at 21 to receive a nut 28 which is provided with .an externally threaded portion 29. A secondV cylinder 3l) is provided with an internally threaded end 3| which engages the externally threaded portion 29 for mounting the cylinder 30 around and in spaced relationship to the tubular extension 24. Cylinder 36 extends beyond the forward end of the tube 24 and terminates in a restricted externally threaded neck 32 which forms an annular rearwardly facing shoulder 33 within the cylinder 30. A bushing 34 is provided with an enlarged internally threaded socket end 35 rwhich engages the threaded neck 32 and forms an extension thereof. -The bore of ,the bushing 34 is of substantially the same diameter as the bore of the neck .32 and forms an .aligned continuation thereof.

' A sleeve 36 is slidably mounted in the bushing 34 and neck 32 and has an outer end which eX- tends therebeyond. The inner end of the sleeve 36 is disposed about and slidably engages the rings or collars 26 ofthe tube 24 and is disposed within and radially yspaced fromrthe wall of the cylinder-36.Y The innerY end of thersleeve 36 is enlarged to form a collar 31 having an annular outwardly opening groove 38 which contains an expansion ring v33 which bears against the wall of the cylinder 30 and which combines with the collar 3lto-form an annular piston for the annular cylinder chamber 4l)y formed by the cylinder 36 and the sleeve 36. Sleeve 36 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports 4I which form communicatngpassages between the interior of the sleeve 36 and the chamber 40 and which are normally Yclosed by engagement with the tube Y24, as when the sleeve 36 is in a retracted position as seeniin'Fgure 2.

The outer end of the sleeve 36, beyond the bushing 34, terminates in a restricted internally threaded neck '42 for receiving the restricted threaded shank 4310i a readily. removable adapter head 44. The head 44 extends a. substantial distance beyond the neck 42 and is circular in cross section andas indicated may be'nternally recessed and openat its outer end. YThe adapter head 44 is sized to Yslidablyv engage the unoccupied propelling cartridge recess 45 in the tail fin assembly 46 of a mortar shell,fs uch as a 60 mm. mortar shell, a portion -of which is shown at 41 in Figures l and 2., Ther neck 42 isA provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced outwardly opening bores 4.8 which are internally th-readedY to receive'headed screws 46 on each of which is mounted aspri-ng claw or nger 50. A washer i engages around the adapter head 44 and against the vouter end of the: neck 42 and is provided with circumferentially spaced slots 52 through which correspor-irlingy portions of the lingers 56 extend for holdingpsaidngers inproperly spaced relationship relatively to onev another. The spring fingers; or claws 5l).v combineto form a VspringY clip for; engaging: a frag-mentation hand grenade 53, as shown in. dotted lines in Figure 7, when the adapterhead 44. `isvremoved and replaced by'a plug 54. However, the spring fingers 56 may be left in place whilefutilizing the launcher Il) for launching; mortar shells 41 as said fingers" will not interfere,l with thei .launching 01* support of the mortar shells and will assume positions between the ns of the tail n assembly 46 and out of engagement therewith. Consequently, by the simple expedient of substituting the plug 64 for the adapter head 44 the launcher I6 can be used for launching either mortar shells or hand grenades.

In the embodiment of the invention previously described, the means for attaching the launcher I0 to the barrel I3 is especially constructed for `use in conjunction with a U. S. Army rifle M1903. By the Vsimple expedient of substituting the attaching means of a grenade launcher M7 for the attaching means, illustrated in Figure 1, the launcher I6 could be adapted for use with a U. S. rie M1. Similarly, the launcher I0 could be used with the U. S. Carbine lVil and MlAl by substituting the attaching means of the carbine rifle grenade launcher for the attaching means, illustrated in Figure 1.

Assuming launcher Ill to be applied to rifle barrel I3, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, and with the parts thereof in retracted position ready for operation and with the mortar shell 41 mounted on the adapter head 44, when a conventional propelling cartridge is discharged in the chamber, not shown, of the rifle barrel I3, the propelling gases will initially llthe chamber formed by the bore 26 and the portion of the sleeve 36, disposed therebeyond. The rapidly expanding gases will impinge against the innerend of the shank 43 to cause the sleeve 36 to telescope outwardly on the tube 24 and within the cylinder 36. This sliding movement of sleeve 36 will be guided by engagement of the sleeve with the tube or extension 24, the cylinder 30, through the collar 31, and the neck 32 and bushing 34. As the sleeve 36 is accelerated in its outward movement, the ports 4I will pass out of engagement with the tube 24 as the sleeve 36 in moving from its position of Figure 2 reaches its position of Figure 3. This will uncover the ports 4I so that a part of the gases, as indicated by the arrows 56, will pass therethrough and into the annular chamber 46, which has been reduced in volume by the outward movement of the piston 3l. The outward movement of the sleeve 36 will continue without substantial deceleration .until the ports 4I move into engagement with the neck 32 which will promptly close said ports and trap the expanding gases in the nowl diminished chamber 43. Further movement of the sleeve 36 outwardly will be rapidly decelerated by the compression of the gases within the chamber 4B so that the projectile 4l will be launched by inertia from the adapted head 44, and thejoutward telescoping movement of the sleeve 36 will cease at substantially its position of Figure 4 due to the pressureY in the now greatly reduced chamber 46.. Thus, the collar or piston 3l will' not strike the annular rearwardly facing shoulder 33 which, if it were not for the trapped gases in the chamber 40, would Aoccur with damaging results to parts of theglauncher I6. Thus, the collar 31 functions in the chamber 46 as apistonand with the annular' rearwardly facing shoulder 33 as a xedy cylinder head for the cylinder chamber 40; When the bolt, not shown, of the' rifle of which the barrel I3 forms a part, is opened, the gases contained in the barrel I3 and in the extended launcher I0 will be vented through the barrel chamber so that the sleeve 36 can be telescoped inwardly and back to its initial position of Figures-f1' and 2, ready for use in launching another projectile'4'l.

InfFigure 5, a. slightlymodied 'form of a launcher I0 is illustrated in which bushing 34 is omitted. With this embodiment,` the ports 4I move rst into engagement with the bore of the neck 32 for trapping the gases inthe chamber 40 and thereafter move beyond the neck 32 to vent the gases from the sleeve 36to the atmosphere. This sudden release of the pressure within the sleeve 36 greatly increases the rate of deceleration of the sleeve and thus greatly augments the inertia launching of either the mortar shell or fragmentation grenade from the launcher.

By the simple expedient of substituting the plug 54 for the adapter 'head 44 the launcher Il) is ready for use for launching a fragmentation hand grenade, Mk. 11A1. The operation of the launcher Il) in launching the hand grenade is identical with its operation in the launching of a mortar shell and the description of the opera# tion will not be repeated. One of the spring lingers 50, not shown, is of the type employed with the adapten grenade projection M1, provided with an arming clip for engaging and holding the safety lever, not shown, of the grenade 53 after the safety pin thereof, notr shown, has been removed. This arming clip is removed by setback upon acceleration of the grenade through acceleration of the sleeveV 36. As its function herein is identical as in the adapter M1 and as this feature forms no part of the claimed invention of the present application, a further disclosure thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Figure 8 shows a slightly modified form of launcher, designated generally 56, having a modied form of connecting means, designated generally 51, including an elongated member 58 which is substantially semicircular in cross section for engaging under a rie barrel,` and which is provided at its rear end with a hinge 59, disposed at one side thereof, for mounting a hinge leaf 6B, which is likewise arcuately shaped in cross section for engagement over the rifle barrel and which is clamped in an operative position by a wing nut and pivoted screw connection 6|. The forward end ofthe member 58 terminates in an enlarged internally threaded socket 62 which receives the enlarged externally threaded collar 63 of a tube 64 which has a bore 65 which is adapted to align with the bore of a rifle barrel, on which the launcher 56 is mounted and which is of a larger diameter than the rine bore. The tube 64 is also provided with longitudinally spaced annular grooves forming longitudinally spaced annular collars or rings 66 whichV are of different widths and varying distances apart in correspondence-with collars or rings 26, shown upon Figs. 2 and 3. A collar 67, formed of sections, is removably mounted in the rearmost groove of tube 64 and is retained in an applied position by a nut 68. which engages an externally threaded portion of the collar 61. The nut 63 is also externally threaded to engage: the internally threaded ent-1.69 of a cylinderli, whichis disposed around and spaced from the tube 64 and which extends therebeyond. The cylinder 10 is provided with a restricted neck 1l at its forward end forming an annular shoulder 12 which faces rearwardly. A pin 13 extends radially through and is reciprocally mounted in the neck 1l and is urged inwardly thereof by a leaf spring 14, carried by the neck 1l. A sleeve 15 is slidably mounted on the tube rings 66 and in the neck 1I and is provided at its rear end with an outturned annular flange or collar 16 the periphery of which slidably engages the inner wall of the cylinder 10. It will be understood that sleeve has one or more ports through its wall, which correspond in location and function to ports 4| in the species of Figs. 1-4. These ports do not appear iny Fig. 8 because they are located in that portion of sleeve 15 which is broken away. A shortened sleeve section 11 is brazed or otherwise secured in the forward end of the sleeve 15 and extends beyond the outer end thereof and forms a support for a plurality of spring claws or fingers 50 which are mountedl by screws 49 in the same manner as the claws 50 are mounted on the launcher l0. VA curved bracket 18 projects from a portion of the periphery of the exposed end of the sleeve 11 and carries a pivot pin 19' by means of which a trap door or closure 8E! is pivotally supported in a position for closing the outer end of the sleeve member 11, to thus closethe outer end of the sleeve 15. The pin 13 is provided with a rounded end which engages a rounded indentation 8l in the sleeve 15, when said sleeve is in a fully retracted position, as seen'in Figure 8 for holding the-sleeve thus positioned against casual displacement. The ange 16 functions as a piston within the annular chamber 82 in the same manner as the collar 31 of the launcher l0.

When a fragmentation'grenade 531s iapplied to the launcher 55 and held by the claws 5l) the base of the grenade will bear against and retain the closure S0 in a closed position in relationship to the sleeve member 11. The fuze lever is held by one of the claws in the same manner as previously described in the description of the embodiment of Figure 7. Assuming a propelling cartridge to be red in the chamber ofV rifle,v not shown, to which the launcher 56 is connected, the initial acceleration of the sleeve15 produced by the expanding gases will cam the pin 13 out of the indentation 8l to allow the sleeve 15 to be telescoped outwardly. The outward movement of the sleeve 15 will be resisted by the air in the chamber 82 being compressed by the flange 16 moving toward the shoulder 12 to restrict chamber 82. The deceleration of sleeve 15 thus produced will only become material as the ange 16 approaches shoulder 12 and will then increaserapidly to stop outward movement of sleeve 15 before ange 16 engages shoulder 12. The inertia projection of the grenade 53 from the claws 50 will be augmented by force of the expanding gases bearing against the innerside Vof the closure which will force said closure to 4`swing outwardly as the grenade is released by the claws 50 thereby augmenting the launching of the grenade.

By removing the adapters from the threaded neck 42, ball ammunition can be fired through the barrel I3 and through the launcher Ill without requiring removal of the launcher. In fact, the launcer l0 under such conditions will function eiectively `as a flashhider. Ball ammunition can also be red through the launcher 56 if the closure 80. is removed .maintained in an open position,and the launcher 56 likewise will functionas a ashhider.

The launcher I 0 will also function as a silencer, since there is no release of the propelling gases therefrom until the bolt is opened so that the report resulting from the launching of a projectile, which ordinarily occurs, will be substantially elminated.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to 'without departing from the spirit and scope of lclaim: 1. A projectile launcher for firearms comprising a launcher adapted to be mounted on the barrel of a Yfirearm to extend forwardly of the muzzle thereof and in gas-tight connection with the bore of said barrel, said launcher including a reciprocably mounted member adapted to be projected by expanding gases from the bore of said barrel, means for releasably mounting a projectile on the outer end of said member, and means including said member and responsive t a'. predetermined forward movement of said member for receiving trapping and compressing a part 0f the propelling gases, said gases acting to stop the outward movement of the member and to thereby launch the projectile therefrom by inertia,

' 2. In a missile launcher, a tube, a cylinder of larger diameter than said tube, means rigidly connecting said tube 'and cylinder at their rear ends in coaxial relation, said tube terminating within and substantially midway between the end of said cylinder, said cylinder having a reduced extension at its forward end having an internal diameter a little greater than the external diameter of said tube, a sleeve of substantially the same length as said cylinder and slidably fitting said tube and reduced forward end of saidV cylinder, in gas-tight relation therewith, piston means rigid with the rear end of said tube and having a gas-tight sliding fit in said cylinder, there being an aperture in the wall of. said sleeve in position to be closed by said tube when said sleeve is in rearwardmost position in said cylinder, means for closing the forward end of said sleeve, means for releasably mounting a missile on said forward end of said sleeve, and means for rigidly mounting said tube in gas-tight relation with the muzzle of a riile barrel and in coaxial relation therewith, said aperture moving on the end of said tube and into said reduced forward end during a full forward stroke of said sleeve.

3. A launcher as recited in claim 2, the forward end of said sleeve having a forwardly extending projection adapted to slidably fit the propelling cartridge recess of a standard motar shell.

4. In a missile launcher, a tube, a cylinder, means rigidly connecting said tube and cylinder in coaxial relation at one end, said cylinder being of greater length than said tube and having an internal diameter'greater than the external diameter of said tube, to form an annular chamber therebetween, said cylinder having an extension at its forward end reduced to an internal diameter alittle greater than the external diameter of said tube, a sleeve. slidably fitting over said tube and slidably tting and extending through said forward reduced extension, said sleeve having piston means at its rear end in sliding gastight relation with the internal wall of said cylinder, to Vform a chamber between the walls of said cylinder and said sleeve which decreases in volume as 'said sleeve' slides outwardly lalong .said tube and cylinder, said sleeve having an' aperture through its wall in position to be closed by the walls of said'tube when said sleeve is in rearwardmost position and which places said chamber in communication with the interior of said tube and sleeve as said sleeve moves forwardly to a position where said aperture clears the forward end of said tube, means for rigidly attaching said tube to the muzzle of a rifle barrel in gas-tight relation therewith, and in coaxial relation with the bore thereof, means closing the forward end of said sleeve, and means for detachably mounting a missile on the forward end of said sleeve.

5. A launcher as recited in claim 4, said aperture being so located longitudinally of said sleeve that said aperture passes Yinto the reduced forward end of said cylinder as said sleeve ap'- proaches its forward limit of travel, to thereby trap a quantity of gas in said annular chamber. 6. In a projectile launcher, a tube, lmeans adapted to rigidly mount said tube on and in gas-tight relation with the muzzle of the barrel of a rearm in coaxial relation with and forwardly extending from said muzzle, a sleeve having a closed forward end and reciprocably fitting said tube, means on the forward end of said tube to detaohably mount a projectile, and cylinder means external and coaxial of said tube, said cylinder means coacting with said sleeve to receive and trap a quantity of propelling gas from said barrel, only after said sleeve has moved for-Y wardly on said tube a predetermined distance, said cylinder means and'sleeve thereafter compressing said trapped gas tov thereby check further forward movement of said sleeve and thereby launch said projectile.

7. Aprojectile launcher as in claim 1, Vsaid re- -ciprocably mounted member having a removable closure element in its forward end to allow passage of a bullet from said barrel through said launcher, when said closure is removed.

BROOKS WALKER.

REFERENCES CTED The followingreferences are of record in the 'lle of this patent: Y

UNITED STATES PATENTS Y

Images