US2833216A - Jet-propelled missile - Google Patents

Description

ay 6, 1958 H. E. ROMMEL JET-.PROPELLED MISSILE Filed Aug. 26, 1952 iii: 35

2.4 36 F [5 5 F E 6 INVE OR.

JET-PROPELLED MISSILE Howard E. Rommel, Bridgeport, Conn.

Application August 26, 1952, Serial No. 306,451

Claims. (Cl. 102-34) This invention relates generally to apparatus for pro ducing relatively large volumes of gas by the combustion of a relatively slow-burning chemical compound. Some of the applications of such apparatus include jet-propelled motors of the type adapted for use with model airplanes, boats, automobiles, and other relatively low power-demanding apparatus, although the principles of the invention are equally applicable for uses other than propulsion as Will appear hereinafter.

In application Serial No. 267,328, filed January 21, 1952, in the name of Howard E. Rommel, now abandoned, a jet-propelled fishing plug is described and claimed which embodies the use of an apparatus to which the principles of the present invention are applicable. In that application, the fuel employed in the jet-propelled missile comprises a relatively slow-burning, large quantity gasproducing compound such as guanidine nitrate. As disclosed in that application, a detonatable cap is provided as a unitary part of the guanidine nitrate charge of fuel which is preferably set off by a hammer mechanism that is inserted through the orifice of the jet-propelled plug. Other prior known means of igniting guanidine nitrate within jet-propelled missiles of the above-described type comprise the employment of a coiled fuse member that is held against the guanidine nitrate within its combustion chamber, extending outwardly through the jet orifice, and to which a flame is applied for igniting the fuse.

While the means above-referred-to for igniting the slow-burning chemical compound proves satisfactory in some instances, there are many applications in which the manner of igniting the fuel requires a much simpler and more positive means.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a chamber adapted to receive a charge of relatively slowburning chemical compound and in combination therewith, an igniting means for the fuel that is rendered effective by a manipulation of the container or a part thereof.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of an'orificed chamber providing a confined space for a chargeof slow-burning chemical compound having integrail therewith an ignitible compound that is adapted to be rendered effective by the manipulation of a part of the container; the provision of such a mechanism in which the chamber is closed by a cap member that is threaded to the one end of the chamber, and in which the tightening of the cap onto the container comprises the manipulation which renders effective the ignitible means integral with the fuel charge; the provision of such an apparatus in' which the chemical compound is in the form of a compressed pellet having a quantity of match compound integrally united to the one end thereof which latter is adapted to be ignited by friction means rendered effective by applying a cap member to the combustion chamber in closing the same; the provision of a jet-propelled engine embodying a combustion chamber in which fuel of the above-referred-to type is adapted to be ignited by a manipulation of a part of the engine without the necessity of employing a flame of any sort; the provision of a jet- 2,833,216 Patented May 6, 1958 2 propelled fishing plug in which the jet orifices are arranged in equi-angular increments about the periphery of the plug and at the head end thereof; and the provision of a jet-propelled fishing plug of the above-referred-to type having a manipulatable chamber-closing means that is adapted to ignite a charge of fuel within the combustion chamber by the act of closing the open end of said chamber.

The above, as well as other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a'sectional view of a jet-propelled fishing plug embodying'the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the fishing plug of Fig. 1 taken substantially along line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a modified showing of the fishing plug of Fig. 1 embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view of a prepared charge of combustion material embodying certain principles of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a modification of the fuel charge shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is still another modification of the combustible fuel charge embodying certain of the principles of the invention.

While the principles of the invention are applicable to various devices requiring the generation of relatively large volumes of gas at relatively slow speeds, such as tear gas missiles, model airplanes, model automobiles, model boats, etc., the principles of the invention will be shown and described as applied to a jet-propelled fishing plug of the general type shown, described and claimed in the above-referred-to application.

Referring to Fig. l, the plug is shown as comprising a body member 10 of generally tubular form having a substantially spherical head portion 11 and fin-like portions 12 through which jet orifices 13 extend from the exterior of the body 10 to the interior thereof in equi-angularly spaced relationship as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Fish hook means 11' is shown as integrally attached to the head portion 11, but such means may be attached at any suitable place on the body member 10. A friction providing means 14 is located internally of housing 10 for a purpose to be described later. Although the means 14 may take any one of many forms which will provide adequate friction, it is shown in the present embodiment as an annular member fixed to said housing 10 and having sharpened pins 15 protruding from the one surface thereof. The tubular member 10 is closed at its trailing end by a cap-like member 16 that is shown screw-threaded to the tubular body 10. The cap member 16 also includes within its head, friction providing means 17 which also may be of any form suitable to provide the desired friction and which, in the present embodiment, is shown as a plurality of sharpened pins integral with the cap member 16. However, any other sort of attaching means may be employed which requires relative rotation of the cap with respect to the body 10 to effect such attachment.

A charge of a relatively slow-burning, large quantity gas-producing compound 19 is adapted to be located within the body 10. Referring to Fig. 5, the charge 19 is shown as comprising two pellets 20 and 21 of generally cylindrical form which are adapted to fit within the housing 10. Although the chemical composition may be of various types, it has been found that guam'dine nitrate can be compressed into pellets which will produce the desired results. The abutting faces of the charges 20 and 21 are adapted to contain friction ignitible material and friction means. the charge 20 is provided with anannular deposit of match composition 22. This match composition is Accordingly, one of the end faces, of j ajssaa f6 '3 formed'as a water'sl'ur'ry which upc'indrying adequately adheres to the guanidine nitfa'te pellet surface. A similar annular shaped ring of friction 1naterial;23-is integrallyettache'd 'to the one face of the'charg'eZl. -While the match composition 22 may be of the strike anywhere type,lit is preferably a'composition of safety,

match materia'l. Accordingly, the-striking material 23 must be the type of 'friction material that will cause ignition 'of the safety match material 22 when relative movenie'ntbetween the two is effected and when they are in contact with each other.

In order to hold the charges 20 and 21 in proper relative position without permitting inadvertent relative rotation between the two, preferably a piece of tearable combustible material 24 surrounds the charges 20 and 21, overlapping the abutting end faces between which the match composition and striking composition arelocate'd. The material 24 can beof any tearable material provided with an adhesive, and it has been found that Scotch tape provides the desired result. In operation, the charge 19 is located within the tubular housing 10. The cap member 16 is then screwed onto the end of the housing and as it approaches closed position, the pins 17 engage the outer end of the charge 19, forcing it inwardly until the pins engage and penetrate into the portion 20 and the pins 17 penetrate into the portion 21. Further tightening of cap 16 causes the tearable material 24 to rupture, whereupon the portion 21 rotates relatively to the portion 20, thereby igniting the match composition 22 and, consequently, the guanidine nitrate.

Referring to Fig. 3, the principles of the-invention are disclosed in a slightly modified form from that shown in Fig. 1. The device of Fig. 3 comprises a tubular housing 25 and cap member 26 threaded to the one end thereof. The cap member 26 is provided with stabilizing fins 27 located at equi-angular points about the periphery of the cap 26. A jet orifice 28 is provided centrally of the cap 26 for the exhaust of gases generated within the housing 25. Referring to Fig. 7, the charge of combustible material 29 for the housing 25 is solid throughout. It is provided with a conical recess 30 in its trailing end which recess is filled with match composition of the same type that is employed for the charge 19. A striking or scratching member 31 is provided which is of such diameter as to freely pass through the orifice 28 so that the match composition 30 can be ignited, whereupon the fuel 29 burns in the same manner that the fuel 19 burns in the diclosure of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 6, still another modified form of the charge of fuel is shown. It comprises a portion 32 having at its one end an annular deposit of match composition 33. A disc member 34 provided with match striking compound 35 is held in abutting relationship with the match composition 33 by a ring of material 36 similar to the material 24. It is obvious, of course, that the match material 33 may be on the disc 34, and the striking material 35 may be on the fuel compound 32. This species of the invention is adapted to be employed in the same manner as the species disclosed in Fig. 5 and used in conjunction with the disclosure of Fig. 1.

Should the match composition 22 and 33 be of the strike anywhere type, itwould be advisable from a safety 'standpointto provide a compressible element between the portions 20, 21 and 32, 34 within the annular deposits of match and striking compositions in a manner to maintain such compositions slightly separated during handling.

While various features of the improved combustion chamber and fuel therefor have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose several embodiments of the invention, it will be evident that numerous changes may be made in such-details, 'and certain features can be used without others without departing from the principles of the invention.

1. Apparatus comprising in combination, a housing member defining a chamber; means adapted to be rotated relatively to said chamber to effect closing of said chamher; a combustible fuel in said chamber including a plurality of relatively rotatable portions and adapted during her to the atmosphere and adapted to exhaust the gas ing member comprising two solidified pellets of relatively generated by the combustion of said fuel.

2. A jet-propelled missile comprising in combination, a housing member having a closed head portion; a cap member adapted to close the end of said housingmembersopposite said head portion thereby forming a combustion chamber within said housingmember; a plurality of jet passages Within said head portion and spaced at equal angular intervals thereabout; a pellet of relatively slowburning material within said combustion chamber, said pellet including a plurality of portions adapted to be rotated relatively to each other; means connected to said housing member and said cap member and extending into said combustion chamber for providing relative rotation between said portions of said pellet when said cap member is attached to said housing member; and friction ignitible material between two adjacent surfaces of said plurality of portions adapted to be ignited by the relative.

rotation of said adjacent portions when said cap member is attached to said housing member.

3. A charge of relatively slow-burning material in pellet form comprising, two portions; one of said portions having integral therewith a quantity of friction ignitible material; friction material integral with said other portion; said portions being in end to end relation suchthat the friction ignitible material and friction'ma terial abut; and means for holding said portions in fixed position relatively to each other comprising a relatively easily torn material.

4. A charge of combustible material for a gas-producslow-burning chemical composition; one end of one of said pellets having a quantity of friction ignitible material integral therewith; one end of the other of said pellets being provided with a quantity of friction material integral therewith; and tearable means holding said pellets against relative rotation in end to end relation such that the friction ignitible material and the friction material are substantially in contact with each other.

5. A gas-producing apparatus comprising in combination, a housing having its one end closed and its other end open, forming a chamber within its walls and adapted to receive pellet means of non-deflagrating material capable of evolving a relatively large quantity of gas when ignited, said pellet means comprising at least two parts capable of relative movement and provided with friction ignitible material there'oetween; means within'said chamber for preventing movement of one of said parts of said pellet means; a closure for said chamber; a jet orifice in communication with said chamber and opening into the atmosphere; and means connected to said closure member adapted to cooperate with one of the parts ofsaid pellet means to effect relative motion between the two parts, to thereby frictionally ignite said ignitible material when said closure member is applied to said housing 'to effect closing of its. open end.

(References-on following page) V References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hunt Oct. 9, 1866 Howard June 20, 1899 Young June 9, 1931 Mills May 17, 1932 McEwen Nov. 2, 1937 Hickman Apr. 27, 1948 Skinner Apr. 27, 1948 Sweden Aug. 27, 1946

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