US3348484A - Flame cartridge - Google Patents

Flame cartridge Download PDF

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Publication number
US3348484A
US3348484A US516171A US51617165A US3348484A US 3348484 A US3348484 A US 3348484A US 516171 A US516171 A US 516171A US 51617165 A US51617165 A US 51617165A US 3348484 A US3348484 A US 3348484A
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United States
Prior art keywords
pocket
cartridge
flame
body portion
adjacent
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Expired - Lifetime
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US516171A
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Andrew J Grandy
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B12/00—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material
    • F42B12/02—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect
    • F42B12/36—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information
    • F42B12/44—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information of incendiary type
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B5/00—Cartridge ammunition, e.g. separately-loaded propellant charges
    • F42B5/02—Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile
    • F42B5/18—Caseless ammunition; Cartridges having combustible cases
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S102/00—Ammunition and explosives
    • Y10S102/703—Flechette

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a flame cartridge and more particularly to a flame cartridge consisting of a combustible bullet body which is propelled from a gun tube as a solid mass.
  • Present day flame throwers consist primarily of a fuel cannister, a pressure storing tank and a hose containing a nozzle and igniter for the fuel. These components are awkward to handle and require field support activities such as re-pressurizing the pressure tank, re-supplying the jelled fuel and cleaning and general maintenance procedures.
  • jelled mixture In operation, standard flame throwers use a jelled mixture of gasoline and thickener, i.e. aluminum soaps.
  • the jelled mixture is prepared in the field since it breaks down quite rapidly after mixing and must be used immediately.
  • the mixture is loaded into the fuel cannister and the pressure storing tank is pressurized either by compressor or by larger gas bottles to approximately 350 p.s.i.
  • the fuel When used, the fuel is forced under pressure through a nozzle system which also contains ignition means for the fuel.
  • the deployment time cycle for one full load does not exceed ten seconds.
  • the present invention deals with the elimination of the undesirable features of the flame Weapons in existence today and at the same time improving the salient military characteristics inherent in such weapons.
  • an object of the present invention is the provision of a flame car-tridge having highly accurate fire direction.
  • Another object is to provide a flame cartridge having no field mixing or pressurization problems.
  • a further object of the invention is the provision of a flame cartridge having increased range capabilities.
  • 'A still further object is to provide a flame cartridge having point target capability.
  • Still another object is to provide a flame cartridge having area fire capability.
  • An additional object is the provision of a flame cartridge having unlimited fuel shelf life.
  • FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal view of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 shows a launcher for firing the invention.
  • a flame cartridge 10 having a combustible bullet body 12, of the polyethylene or other similar thermoplasticgsuch as ethyl cellulose, cellulose nitrate or the like.
  • Said cartridge 10 has a base portion 14 consisting of a primer pocket 16, a propellant pocket 18 and obturator 20. Extending the length of the cartridge 10 is a fuze cord 22.
  • a front incendiary pocket 24 and abutting the obturator 20' is a rear incendiary pocket 26.
  • the cartridge 10 consisting of the combustible bullet body 12, is propelled from a barrel 28 (see FIG. 3) as a solid mass.
  • barrel travel which results from propellant gas actuation, the incendiary composition in the pocket 26 at the rear is ignited and by the action of the cord 22 the front incendiary composition in the pocket 24 is also ignited.
  • the action of both incendiary compositions on the thermoplastic material is such that the material begins to soften and burn.
  • the incendiary composition could be either encapsulated gasoline, sulfur or the like.
  • the material in the bullet body will become viscoelastic and behave similarly to the jelled fuels used in present-day flame throwers. It can be seen that there would be no field handling problems with such a system. Obviously, the bullets can be made in any size with only pressure level of the launching system and recoil mo mentums as criteria.
  • the cartridge 10' as shown in FIG. 2, is similar to FIG. 1 except for the caseless base construction.
  • the base 14' is combustible thereby completely burning upon firing.
  • the primer pocket 16' is also combustible.
  • the launcher 30, as seen in FIG. 3, consists of a barrel or gun tube 28, a stock 32, a firing mechanism 34 and a magazine 36.
  • a rear sight 38 is located on the stock 32 and a front sight 40 is located at the front edge of the barrel 38.
  • the magazine 36 is shown containing five caseless cartridges 10.
  • a spring 42 is provided at the lower end of said magazine 36 to provide force to push each cartridge 10' into position in the chamber of the barrel 28 after the cartridge already in the chamber has been fired.
  • Variable burning characteristics can be achieved by merely selecting bullet body material and incendiaries.
  • a flame cartridge comprising a combustible bullet body having:
  • a base portion including therewithin a first pocket
  • a primer composition located in said first pocket, a second pocket adjacent said first pocket, at propellant located in said second pocket, an obturator located adjacent said second pocket,
  • a third pocket located at a rearward portion of said body portion adjacent said obturator, a fourth pocket located at a forward portion of said body portion, an incendiary composition located in said fourth pocket,
  • said incendiary composition is encapsulated gasoline.

Description

Oct 1957 I A. J. GRANDY 3,
FLAME CARTRIDGE Filed Dec. 23, 1965 I IO' 28 34 /L I n .Jrae
III/11111111111117 INVENTOR= ANDREW J. GRAN DY ammo, W ATTORNEYS United States Patent v 3,348,484 FLAME, CARTRIDGE Andrew J. Grantly, North Hills, Pa., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed Dec. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 516,171 8 Claims. (Cl. 102-32) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE 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.
The present invention relates to a flame cartridge and more particularly to a flame cartridge consisting of a combustible bullet body which is propelled from a gun tube as a solid mass.
Present day flame throwers consist primarily of a fuel cannister, a pressure storing tank and a hose containing a nozzle and igniter for the fuel. These components are awkward to handle and require field support activities such as re-pressurizing the pressure tank, re-supplying the jelled fuel and cleaning and general maintenance procedures.
In operation, standard flame throwers use a jelled mixture of gasoline and thickener, i.e. aluminum soaps. The jelled mixture is prepared in the field since it breaks down quite rapidly after mixing and must be used immediately. The mixture is loaded into the fuel cannister and the pressure storing tank is pressurized either by compressor or by larger gas bottles to approximately 350 p.s.i. When used, the fuel is forced under pressure through a nozzle system which also contains ignition means for the fuel. Generally, the deployment time cycle for one full load does not exceed ten seconds.
The present invention deals with the elimination of the undesirable features of the flame Weapons in existence today and at the same time improving the salient military characteristics inherent in such weapons.
Threefore, an object of the present invention is the provision of a flame car-tridge having highly accurate fire direction.
Another object is to provide a flame cartridge having no field mixing or pressurization problems.
A further object of the invention is the provision of a flame cartridge having increased range capabilities.
'A still further object is to provide a flame cartridge having point target capability.
Still another object is to provide a flame cartridge having area fire capability.
An additional object is the provision of a flame cartridge having unlimited fuel shelf life.
The above objects as well as others together with the benefits and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reference to the detailed dscription set forth below, particularly when taken in conjunction with the drawings annexed hereto in which:
FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal view of the invention.
FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 shows a launcher for firing the invention.
Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a flame cartridge 10, having a combustible bullet body 12, of the polyethylene or other similar thermoplasticgsuch as ethyl cellulose, cellulose nitrate or the like. Said cartridge 10 has a base portion 14 consisting of a primer pocket 16, a propellant pocket 18 and obturator 20. Extending the length of the cartridge 10 is a fuze cord 22. Located in the tip of the cartridge is a front incendiary pocket 24 and abutting the obturator 20' is a rear incendiary pocket 26.
The cartridge 10, consisting of the combustible bullet body 12, is propelled from a barrel 28 (see FIG. 3) as a solid mass. During barrel travel, which results from propellant gas actuation, the incendiary composition in the pocket 26 at the rear is ignited and by the action of the cord 22 the front incendiary composition in the pocket 24 is also ignited. Upon barrel exit the action of both incendiary compositions on the thermoplastic material is such that the material begins to soften and burn. The incendiary composition could be either encapsulated gasoline, sulfur or the like.
Essentially, the material in the bullet body will become viscoelastic and behave similarly to the jelled fuels used in present-day flame throwers. It can be seen that there would be no field handling problems with such a system. Obviously, the bullets can be made in any size with only pressure level of the launching system and recoil mo mentums as criteria.
The cartridge 10', as shown in FIG. 2, is similar to FIG. 1 except for the caseless base construction. The base 14' is combustible thereby completely burning upon firing. The primer pocket 16' is also combustible.
The launcher 30, as seen in FIG. 3, consists of a barrel or gun tube 28, a stock 32, a firing mechanism 34 and a magazine 36. A rear sight 38 is located on the stock 32 and a front sight 40 is located at the front edge of the barrel 38. The magazine 36 is shown containing five caseless cartridges 10. A spring 42 is provided at the lower end of said magazine 36 to provide force to push each cartridge 10' into position in the chamber of the barrel 28 after the cartridge already in the chamber has been fired.
Some of the advantages of this type of flame weapon are as follows:
(1) Highly accurate fire direction, each shot will act as at spotting projectile.
(2) No field mixing or pressurization problems.
(3) Range increase from present 40 meters to approximately 300 to 500 meters dependent on caliber and pressure.
(4) Point target capability.
(5) Area fire capability.
(6) Less bulky.
(7) Light-weight.
(8) Unlimited shelf life of fuel (ammunition).
(9) Reliable, shot-to-shot ballistics performance.
(10) Variable burning characteristics can be achieved by merely selecting bullet body material and incendiaries.
11) High degree of psychological impact on adversarres.
(12) Limitless range capabilities when visualized for APC, tank or other vehicle application.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above techniques. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
I claim:
1. A flame cartridge comprising a combustible bullet body having:
a base portion including therewithin a first pocket,
a primer composition located in said first pocket, a second pocket adjacent said first pocket, at propellant located in said second pocket, an obturator located adjacent said second pocket,
and a body portion connected to said base portion including therewithin,
a third pocket located at a rearward portion of said body portion adjacent said obturator, a fourth pocket located at a forward portion of said body portion, an incendiary composition located in said fourth pocket,
and a fuze cord extending from said second pocket, through said third pocket to said fourth pocket. 2. A cartridge of the type described in claim 1 wherein said base portion and said body portion are combustible. 3. A cartridge of the type described in claim 1 wherein said incendiary composition is encapsulated gasoline.
4. A cartridge of the type described in claim 1 wherein said incendiary composition is sulfur.
5. A cartridge of the type described in claim 1 wherein said body portion is a thermoplastic.
6. A cartridge of the type described in claim 5 wherein said body portion is made of polyethylene.
7. A cartridge of the type described in claim 5 wherein said body portion is ethyl cellulose.
8. A cartridge of the type described in claim 5 wherein said body portion is cellulose nitrate.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 197,339 11/1877 COstOn 102-32 784,977 3/1905 BOWly 10232 1,306,407 6/ 1919 Davidson 102-32 3,212,440 10/1965 Quinlan et al. 102-38 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,722 1894 Great Britain.
BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.
ROBERT F. STAHL, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A FLAME CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A COMBUSTIBLE BULLET BODY HAVING: A BASE PORTION INCLUDING THEREWITHIN A FIRST POCKET, A PRIMER COMPOSITION LOCATED IN SAID FIRST POCKET, A SECOND POCKET ADJACENT SAID FIRST POCKET, A PROPELLANT LOCATED IN SAID SECOND POCKET, AN OBTURATOR LOCATED ADJACENT SAID SECOND POCKET, AND A BODY PORTION CONNECTED TO SAID BASE PORTION INCLUDING THEREWITHIN, A THIRD POCKET LOCATED AT A REARWARD PORTION OF SAID BODY PORTION ADJACENT SAID OBTURATOR, A FOURTH POCKET LOCATED AT A FORWARD PORTION OF SAID BODY PORTION, AND INCENDIARY COMPOSITION LOCATED IN SAID FOURTH POCKET, AND A FUZE CORD EXTENDING FROM SAID SECOND POCKET, THROUGH SAID THIRD POCKET TO SAID FOURTH POCKET.
US516171A 1965-12-23 1965-12-23 Flame cartridge Expired - Lifetime US3348484A (en)

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Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3401633A (en) * 1967-07-06 1968-09-17 Ralph H. Allen Fire cartridge
US3929074A (en) * 1974-04-05 1975-12-30 Us Navy Means for the elimination of a cartridge rim
US3995390A (en) * 1973-08-07 1976-12-07 Industrie-Werke Karlsruhe Augsburg Aktiengesellschaft Recharging device for firearms, particularly short hand firearms
US4008665A (en) * 1973-09-06 1977-02-22 Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft Training ammunition
US4195550A (en) * 1977-05-27 1980-04-01 Rheinmetall Gmbh Propellent charge igniter for caseless cartridges of separately loaded ammunition
WO2000005545A3 (en) * 1998-06-17 2000-04-20 Lockheed Corp Hard target incendiary projectile
EP1780494A2 (en) * 2005-10-04 2007-05-02 Alliant Techsystems Inc. Reactive material enhanced projectiles and related methods
US20080229963A1 (en) * 2004-03-15 2008-09-25 Alliant Techsystems Inc. Reactive material enhanced munition compositions and projectiles containing same
US8075715B2 (en) 2004-03-15 2011-12-13 Alliant Techsystems Inc. Reactive compositions including metal
US8834152B1 (en) * 2014-04-24 2014-09-16 FFTC Associates Firearm flame thrower combination
USRE45899E1 (en) 2000-02-23 2016-02-23 Orbital Atk, Inc. Low temperature, extrudable, high density reactive materials

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US197339A (en) * 1877-11-20 Improvement in signal-cartridges
GB189418722A (en) * 1894-10-03 1895-02-23 Johann Georg Wilhel Berckholtz Improvements in Pyrotechnic Signalling Apparatus.
US784977A (en) * 1904-05-03 1905-03-14 Frank H Bowly Cartridge.
US1306407A (en) * 1919-06-10 Samuel
US3212440A (en) * 1964-02-10 1965-10-19 Joseph B Quinlan Molded caseless small arms ammunition

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US197339A (en) * 1877-11-20 Improvement in signal-cartridges
US1306407A (en) * 1919-06-10 Samuel
GB189418722A (en) * 1894-10-03 1895-02-23 Johann Georg Wilhel Berckholtz Improvements in Pyrotechnic Signalling Apparatus.
US784977A (en) * 1904-05-03 1905-03-14 Frank H Bowly Cartridge.
US3212440A (en) * 1964-02-10 1965-10-19 Joseph B Quinlan Molded caseless small arms ammunition

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3401633A (en) * 1967-07-06 1968-09-17 Ralph H. Allen Fire cartridge
US3457860A (en) * 1967-07-06 1969-07-29 Ralph H Allen Fire cartridge
US3995390A (en) * 1973-08-07 1976-12-07 Industrie-Werke Karlsruhe Augsburg Aktiengesellschaft Recharging device for firearms, particularly short hand firearms
US4008665A (en) * 1973-09-06 1977-02-22 Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft Training ammunition
US3929074A (en) * 1974-04-05 1975-12-30 Us Navy Means for the elimination of a cartridge rim
US4195550A (en) * 1977-05-27 1980-04-01 Rheinmetall Gmbh Propellent charge igniter for caseless cartridges of separately loaded ammunition
WO2000005545A3 (en) * 1998-06-17 2000-04-20 Lockheed Corp Hard target incendiary projectile
US6105505A (en) * 1998-06-17 2000-08-22 Lockheed Martin Corporation Hard target incendiary projectile
US9982981B2 (en) * 2000-02-23 2018-05-29 Orbital Atk, Inc. Articles of ordnance including reactive material enhanced projectiles, and related methods
USRE45899E1 (en) 2000-02-23 2016-02-23 Orbital Atk, Inc. Low temperature, extrudable, high density reactive materials
US20150292846A1 (en) * 2000-02-23 2015-10-15 Orbital Atk, Inc. Articles of ordnance including reactive material enhanced projectiles, and related methods
US9103641B2 (en) 2000-02-23 2015-08-11 Orbital Atk, Inc. Reactive material enhanced projectiles and related methods
US8568541B2 (en) 2004-03-15 2013-10-29 Alliant Techsystems Inc. Reactive material compositions and projectiles containing same
US8361258B2 (en) 2004-03-15 2013-01-29 Alliant Techsystems Inc. Reactive compositions including metal
US8075715B2 (en) 2004-03-15 2011-12-13 Alliant Techsystems Inc. Reactive compositions including metal
US20080229963A1 (en) * 2004-03-15 2008-09-25 Alliant Techsystems Inc. Reactive material enhanced munition compositions and projectiles containing same
US8122833B2 (en) 2005-10-04 2012-02-28 Alliant Techsystems Inc. Reactive material enhanced projectiles and related methods
EP1780494A3 (en) * 2005-10-04 2008-02-27 Alliant Techsystems Inc. Reactive material enhanced projectiles and related methods
US20080035007A1 (en) * 2005-10-04 2008-02-14 Nielson Daniel B Reactive material enhanced projectiles and related methods
EP1780494A2 (en) * 2005-10-04 2007-05-02 Alliant Techsystems Inc. Reactive material enhanced projectiles and related methods
US8834152B1 (en) * 2014-04-24 2014-09-16 FFTC Associates Firearm flame thrower combination

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