GB2109513A

GB2109513A - Rifle grenade

Info

Publication number: GB2109513A
Application number: GB08228807A
Authority: GB
Inventors: De Velde Alphonse Van
Original assignee: Mecar SA
Current assignee: Mecar SA
Priority date: 1981-11-17
Filing date: 1982-10-08
Publication date: 1983-06-02
Also published as: PT75841A; GB2109513B; KR870002026B1; PH20718A; EP0079877B1; MY8600604A; ATE20974T1; ES8400821A1; KR840002520A; ES517404A0; EP0079877A1; DE3272188D1; PT75841B; ZA828381B

Abstract

A rifle grenade, the tubular shank (1) of which is provided with a bullet trap (5) comprising three solid adjacent elements, the first element (6) being used to stop a normal bullet, the second element (11) being used to retain the steel core with which the bullet may be provided, and the third element (14) acting as a shock absorber and as a member for activating a hammer (19) controlling a warhead (4) supported by the free end (3) of the shank (1). <IMAGE>

Description

1

SPECIFICATION Rifle grenade

This invention relates to a rifle grenade comprising, in a known manner, a metallic tubular shank, one end of which is to be attached to the free end of the barrel of a rifle, a bullet trap mounted in said shank and a warhead which is attached, possibly in a removable manner, to the other end of the tubular shank which is possibly provided with a tail unit.

It is known to launch rifle grenades (such as hollow charge grenades, anti-personnel grenades, delayed fragmentation grenades, smoke grenades or increased propulsion grenades), by means of cartridges having normal bullets, notably lead-based cartridges. Due to the nature and to the high speed of these cartridges at the outlet of the barrel of a rifle, bullet traps have to be provided in the rifle grenade, i.e., elements which are capable of ensuring a rapid and pronounced deceleration of normal bullets, so that they are retained in the traps without reaches the grenades, while ensuring the launching thereof.

Known bullet traps of rifle grenades comprise pieces mounted in the tubular shank of the grenade in the vicinity of the end of this shank opposite the end into which the free end of the rifle barrel is to be threaded.

Known bullet traps are satisfactory for launching rifle grenades when these grenades are 95 launched by means of normal bullets.

However, at present, bullets having a steel core are used more and more frequently, which present a certain danger when they are used for launching rifle grenades, due to the fact that the bullet traps, 100 with which these grenades are equipped, are often incapable of retaining bullets which have a steel core.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rifle grenade provided with a universal bullet trap, i.e. a trap which is as capable of retaining normal bullets as it is of retaining steel core bullets of any calibre.

According to the present invention, the bullet trap mounted in the shank of the rifle grenade essentially comprises, in the vicinity of said other end of the shank, a first element which is capable of absorbing the dilation of a bullet of any type and calibre, a second element adjacent to the first element which is hard enough to stop the steel core of a steel core bullet and a third element adjacent to the second element, acting as a shock absorber, the three elements mentioned above being mounted in the above-mentioned shank downstream from upstream of the shank.

The first element advantageously comprises a solid cylindrical body, made, for example of aluminium, and attached in the shank by simple crimping, the volume of this first element being such that a bullet fired by the rifle, to which the grenade is attached, may become embedded therein, and creates a crater therein.

To prevent a bullet which is received in the first element of the bullet trap for damaging the GB 2 109 513 A 1 internal wall of the shank surrounding this first element, the latter is advantageously provided at least over its lateral surface with a lining or envelope made of a hard material, for example steel, forming an armour plating. The use of such an armouring envelope has been found to be appropriate when a bullet penetrates the first element of the bullet trap in a direction which is not coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the shank and of the first element concerned.

The second element of the bullet trap which is adjacent to the first element and is positioned downstream of the first element advantageously comprises a solid cylindrical body made of a material which is harder than that of the first element, for example hard steel or ceramic material. This second element is to stop the steel core of a steel core bullet, when such a bullet is used for launching the grenade.

The first and second elements of the bullet trap provided in the rifle grenade according to the present invention are solid cylindrical bodies, the diameter of which substantially corresponds to the internal diameter of the shank.

The third element of the bullet trap preferably comprises cylindrical body made of deformable material which is capable of absorbing the shock caused by a bullet penetrating the first element and possibly the second element. This third element which may be, for example a solid body of aluminium or an aluminium alloy or any other material capable of acting as a shock absorber preferably has a diameter smaller than that of the first element and of the second element, in order to absorb, while deforming in the shank of the grenade, the shock caused by the impact of a bullet penetrating the first element and possibly the second element of the trap.

The third element acting as a shock absorber may also act on a hammer which may be lodged in a closing member of the shank at the downstream end thereof.

In the present description, the terms -upstream- and "downstream" respectively designate the end of the shank which is to be threaded onto the barrel of a rifle and the opposite end of the shank, on which a warhead is attached, possibly in a removable manner.

Other characteristics and details of the present invention will be revealed from the following description of the accompanying drawings which schematically and by way of example only, illustrate one embodiment of a rifle grenade according to the present invention.

Figure 1 illustrates, in cross section, a rifle grenade according to the present invention, and Figures 2 to 4 illustrate in elevation respectively, the first element, the second element and the third element of the bullet trap of the rifle grenade illustrated in Figure 1.

As shown by the drawings, the rifle grenade comprises a tubular shank 1 made of metal, fqr example steel, one end of which, that is, the upstream end 2 is to be threaded onto the free end of the barrel of a rifle (not shown), and the 2 GB 2 109 513 A 2 opposite end of which, that is, the downstream end 3 supports a warhead 4 which may be attached thereto in a removable manner, as described later on. A tail unit 23 is provided at the upstream end of the shank 1.

A bullet trap which is designated, in its entirety, by reference numeral 5 is mounted in the downstream end 3 of the shank 1. This trap comprises three adjacent elements centred in the shank 1.

The first element, illustrated separately in Figure 2, comprises a solid cylindrical body 6, for example of aluminium, copper or an alloy of these metals, which is advantageously provided with a peripheral armouring envelope 7 and is attached in the shank 1, for example by crimping. The armouring envelope 7 is used to prevent a bullet which is penetrating the first element 6 with its upstream end in a direction slightly inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank 1, from damaging the internal wall of this shank. To allow an attachment by crimping, this first element 6 may be provided with grooves 8 which are crushed during the positioning of this first element 6 by being sunk, under pressure, in the armouring envelope 7, this element 6 being inserted into the internal wall of the shank. Thus, the first element 6 is maintained wedged in the shank 1, its diameter, moreover, being substantial iy equal, to, if not very, slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the armouring envelope 7.

The second element of the bullet trap 5 also comprises a solid cylindrical body 11 made of a harder material than that of the first element 1. This second element 11 which may be shorter than the first element 6 is used to retain the core of a steel core bullet. Steel core bullets which are currently being used more and more frequently comprise a lead body surrounded by a copper shell and containing a core of hard steel which increases the penetration force of the bullet into a target.

Due to the use of the first element 6 made of a relatively deformable material and to the use of the second element 11 made of a hard material, the bullet trap 5 may be considered as a universal bullet trap suitable for use whatever the type of bullet which is used in the rifle for launching the grenade. Thus, the rifleman does not have to worry about the type of bullet to be used for launching a grenade.

The second element 11 of the bullet trap 5, the diameter of which substantially corresponds to the internal diameter of the shank 1 has two opposite axial cavities 12 and 13, the cavity 13 being used to receive the projection 16 of a third element 14 of the trap.

The cavity 12 of the second element 11 is used to maintain the trajectory of the projectile during its impact in the centre of the element 11.

The third element 14 which is adjacent to the downstream end of the second element 11 is simultaneously used for absorbing the shock caused by the impact of a bullet stopped in the first element 6 and possibly in the second element 11, and for activating a hammer (which will be described later on).

The third element 14 comprises, in the embodiment illustrated, a deformable solid body, made, for example of copper, aluminium or an alloy of these metals, this body also being cylindrical in shape, the diameter of which is, however, smaller than the internal diameter of the shank 1. When a bullet penetrates the first element 6 and when, in the case of a steel core bullet, the latter impacts the second element 11, the shock caused by this bullet is absorbed by the third element 14 which is deformed by being crushed, this deformation being possible due to the free annular space 15 surrounding this third element 14 inside the tubular shank 1. This third element 14 is provided with a centering projection 16 which is inserted into the cavity 13 of the second element 11 during the assembly of the bullet trap in the tubular shank 1.

The third element 14 which acts as a shock absorber has at its end opposite the end supporting the projection 16, a cavity 17 in which the base 18 of a hammer 19 is embedded, the cylindrical body 20 of which hammer extends through a closing member 21 in the upstream end of the tubular shank 1. This closing member 21 comprises a threaded cylindrical pellet which is also advantageously made of metal and is screwed into the downstream end 3, tapped at 22, of the tubular shank 1.

The warhead 4 may be attached, also by screwing, to the tapped downstream end of the shank 1. In this case, it is possible to use different types of warheads with the same tubular shank provided with the same bullet trap 5.

It is clear that the present invention is not restricted to the details described above and that various modifications may be applied to these details without exceeding the scope of the present invention.

Thus, instead of comprising three elements 6, 11 and 14, the bullet trap 5 may only comprise a single element formed from three portions produced in a single part performing the respective functions of the elements 6, 11 and 14. Moreover, instead of the shock absorber element 14 being made of metal, it may be made of an elastomeric material and it may even have, in this case, a diameter which is only slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the tubular shank 1. In addition thereto, instead of being screwed into the downstream end 3 of the shank 1, the closing member 21 may comprise a cap, possibly tapped, covering the downstream end of the shank which may be threaded.

Claims

1. A rifle grenade comprising a metallic tubular shank, one end of which is to be attached to the free end of a rifle barrel, a warhead which is attached, optionally in a removable manner, to the other end of the tubular shank, which may be provided with a tail unit, and a bullet trap mounted 4 4 0 3 GB 2 109 513 A 3 in said shank, the bullet trap comprising, in the vicinity of said other end of the shank, a first element which is capable of absorbing the dilation of a bullet of any type and calibre, a second element which is adjacent to the first element and is hard enough to stop a steel core of a steel core bullet, and a third element which is adjacent to the second element, acting as a shock absorber, the three above-mentioned elements being mounted in the said shank downstream from upstream of the shank.

2. A rifle grenade according to claim 1, wherein the first element is a solid cylindrical body crimped in the said shank.

3. A rifle grenade according to claim 1, wherein the first element is made of a material selected from aluminium, copper and alloys of these metals.

4. A rifle grenade according to claim 1, wherein 55 the said first element is provided with an armouring envelope, at least on its lateral surface.

5. A rifle grenade according to claim 1, wherein the said second element is a solid body made of hard material. 25

6. A rifle grenade according to claim 5, wherein the second element is made of a material selected from a hard steel and a ceramic material.

7. A rifle grenade according to claim 1, wherein the first and second elements are solid cylindrical bodies, the diameter of which substantially corresponds to the internal diameter of the shank.

8. A rifle grenade according to claim 1, wherein the first element is provided with means allowing it to be anchored in the shank. 35

9. A rifle grenade according to claims 4 and-8, wherein the anchoring means comprise grooves for compressing or wedging this element inside the armouring envelope.

10. A rifle grenade according to claim 1, wherein the third element comprises a cylindrical body made of deformable material and capable of absorbing the shock caused by a bullet penetrating the first element and possibly the second element. 45

11. A rifle grenade according to claim 10, wherein the third element has an external diameter which is smaller than the internal diameter of the shank.

12. A rifle grenade according to claim 1, wherein the shank is provided, at its end opposite the end which is to be threaded into a rifle barrel, with a closing member, on which the third element which acts as a shock absorber rests.

13. A rifle grenade according to claim 12, wherein the closing member supports a hammer for the warhead mounted at the adjacent end of the shank.

14. A rifle grenade according to claim 12, wherein the closing member comprises a threaded piece which is screwed into the adjacent tapped end of the shank.

15. A rifle grenade according to claim 12, wherein the warhead has a threaded end screwed into the adjacent tapped end of the shank. 65

16. A rifle grenade according to claim 1, wherein the first element, the second element and/or the third element of the bullet trap are provided with axial centering means.

17. A rifle grenade substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Cowier Press, Leamington Spa, 1983. Published by the Patent Office 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained.