AU747154B2

AU747154B2 - Grenade means

Info

Publication number: AU747154B2
Application number: AU84194/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: William James Sharplin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-09-11
Filing date: 1998-09-11
Publication date: 2002-05-09
Anticipated expiration: 2018-09-11
Also published as: AU8419498A

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

p 9.

Name of Applicant: WILLIAM JAMES SHARPLIN Actual Inventor: WILLIAM JAMES SHARPLIN Address for Service: COLLISON CO., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: GRENADE MEANS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: This invention relates to grenade means.

In the context of military or police training it is known to fire practice grenades so that a grenadier will be sufficiently competent when it is necessary to fire a live combat grenade. A problem with many types of known practice grenades charged with dye is that they often fail to release the dye when impact is against a relatively soft surface, such as sand or tussock. It is accordingly an object of at least one form of the present invention to go at least some way towards addressing this problem.

10 According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a practice grenade, comprising a nose part and a dye containment part wherein the dye containment part may or may not form part of the nose part, the nose part having a plurality of at least approximately radial lines of weakness, the practice grenade being formed such that *oe*°o when it is in use with dye in the containment part the nose part can be propelled to strike a target so that when it strikes the target the lines of weakness cause the nose part to at least partially destruct to release the dye.

.:..:Preferably the lines of weakness comprise fracture lines.

Preferably the nose part is substantially conical, and the lines of weakness run outwards from an apex portion of the nose part, or from an area of the nose part adjacent the apex portion.

Desirably the nose part houses the dye.

Optionally the nose part can be snap fitted to a medial part of the practice grenade.

Expediently the medial part can be snap fitted to a tail part of the practice grenade.

Advantageously the practice grenade has a weight adjacent the dye containment part, the weight being positioned to substantially encourage the practice grenade to land on the nose part when the practise grenade is propelled skywards nose part first.

Conveniently the weight is fitted to the rest of the practise grenade between the nose part and the medial part.

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Preferably the practice grenade has at least one peripheral projection or raised groove arranged to engage rifling of a grenade rifle when the practice grenade is propelled S. .by the rifle.

15 According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a practice grenade, comprising a nose part, a medial part, and a tail part, the nose part housing a quantity of dye and is or can be snap fitted to the medial part, the practice grenade being formed so that when it is in use the nose part can be propelled to strike a target so that when it strikes the target the nose part at least substantially destructs to release the dye.

Desirably the tail part comprises a charge for use in propelling the practice grenade.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a practice grenade, comprising a nose part, a medial part, and a tail part, the nose and medial parts being substantially formed from a plastic substance or substances.

Preferably the medial part and the nose part are or can be fitted together when the practice grenade is assembled.

Desirably the medial part and the nose part are or can be snap fitted together when the practice grenade is assembled.

Some aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a practice grenade which can be propelled to a target by way ofa grenade rifle, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a nose cone which forms part of the grenade, Figure 3 shows detail of a part of the nose cone, Figure 4 is a plan view of the nose cone, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a sabot which forms part of the grenade, and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of a case which forms part of the grenade.

With reference to figure 1, the practice grenade comprises a nose cone 1, a medial sabot 2 and a tail part in the form of a case 3. The nose cone 1 houses a quantity of marking dye 4, and is snap fitted to the sabot 2. The sabot 2 has a cavity immediately behind the dye 4, and this cavity houses a weight 6. More particularly, the weight 6 is positioned to encourage the grenade to land on the nose cone 1 when the grenade is propelled so that it strikes a target. The case 3 is snap fitted to the sabot 2, and holds a charge (not shown) to enable the grenade to be propelled by a grenade rifle.

10 With reference to figures 2 and 3, the nose cone 1 has an inward protrusion 7 to enable the nose cone to be snap fitted to the sabot 2. As shown in figure 4, the nose cone 1 has a plurality of radial fracture lines 8 running' longitudinally of the nose cone from a position at or adjacent an apex of the nose cone. Preferably the fracture lines 8 are substantially- equally spaced with respect to one another. The fracture 15 lines 8 define lines of weakness in the nose cone 1. The nose cone 1 is preferably formed from a plastic substance which will readily break when the nose cone is caused to strike the target.

With reference to figure 5, the sabot 2 has drilled holes 9 opposite the cavity 5 to facilitate uniform shrinkage when the sabot is manufactured. As also shown in figure the sabot 2 has raised grooves or peripheral projections 10 designed to pick up on barrel rifling of the grenade rifle used to fire the grenade. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the projections 10 cause the grenade to spin when fired.

Desirably the sabot 2 is moulded from a suitable synthetic polymer, such as a suitable plastics material, with low friction characteristics.

With reference to figure 6, the case 3 has an inward protrusion 11 which enables it to be snap fitted to a corresponding groove on the sabot 2. When the case is snap fitted to the sabot a water tight connection is formed of substantially constant release pressure.

10 1 1 When the grenade is in use it is fired from the grenade rifle to strike a target. When the grenade is fired the nose cone 1 and the sabot 2 are propelled to the target so that the nose cone strikes the target. On striking the target the nose cone's fracture lines 8 open up to cause destruction of the nose cone 1 and release of the dye 4. The dye 4 marks the target so that a grenadier can see whether or not he or she has fired the grenade with accuracy.

In at least some forms of the invention the grenade is substantially self lubricating.

The raised grooves or peripheral projections 10 of the sabot 2 serve to clean the bore of a grenade rifle used to fire the grenade. The grenade may be formed for use with M79 and M203PI grenade rifles as used by a number of military and law enforcement bodies.

While some aspects of the invention have been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that modifications and improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A practice grenade, comprising a nose part and a dye containment part wherein the dye containment part may or may not form part of the nose part, the nose part having a plurality of at least approximately radial lines of weakness, the practice grenade being formed such that when it is in use with dye in the containment part the nose part can be propelled to strike a target so that when it strikes the target the lines of weakness cause the nose part to at least partially destruct to release the dye. S

2. A practice grenade according to claim 1, wherein the lines of weakness comprise fracture lines. 0 0*

3. A practice grenade according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nose part is 15 substantially conical, and the lines of weakness run outwards from an apex portion of the nose part, or from an area of the nose part adjacent the apex portion. 0 a

4. A practice grenade according to claim 1, 2 or 3, comprising the dye wherein the nose part houses the dye.

A practice grenade according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the nose part can be snap fitted to a medial part of the practice grenade.

6. A practice grenade according, to claim 5, wherein the medial part can be snap fitted to a tail part of the practice grenade.

7. A practice grenade according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a weight adjacent the dye containment part, the weight being positioned to substantially encourage the practice grenade to land on the nose part when the practice grenade is propelled skywards nose part first.

8. A practice grenade according to claim 7, wherein the weight is fitted to the rest of the practise grenade between the nose part and the medial part.

9. A practice grenade according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising 10 at least one peripheral projection or raised groove arranged to engage rifling of a grenade rifle when the practice grenade is propelled by the rifle.

10. A practice grenade, comprising a nose part, a medial part, and a tail part, the nose part housing a quantity of dye and is or can be snap fitted to the medial part, the 15 practice grenade being formed so that when it is in use the nose part can be propelled to strike a target so that when it strikes the target the nose part at least substantially destructs to release the dye.

11. A practice grenade according to claim 10, wherein the tail part comprises a charge for use in propelling the practice grenade.

12. A practice grenade, comprising a nose part, a medial part, and a tail part, the medial part being substantially formed from a plastic substance or substances.

13. A practice grenade according to claim 12, wherein the medial part and the nose part are or can be fitted together when the practice grenade is assembled.

14. A practice grenade according to claim 12, wherein the medial part and the nose part are or can be snap fitted together when the practice grenade is assembled.

15. A practice grenade according to any one of the preceding claims, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 11th day of September 1998 WILLIAM JAMES SHARPLIN 10 By His Patent Attorneys COLL1SON CO.