US1181278A

US1181278A - Incendiary dart.

Info

Publication number: US1181278A
Application number: US4300315A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel Wiley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1915-07-31
Filing date: 1915-07-31
Publication date: 1916-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 1933-05-02

Description

S. WILEY.

INCENDIARY DART.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31.1915.

Paented May 2, 1916.

1 fig, 2

'1 steel, and a INCENDIABY DART.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, i llfi.

Application filed July 31, 1915. Serial No. 43,003.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL WILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dongan Hill's, Staten Island, in the county of ll-ichmond and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in incendiary Darts, of which the following is a. specification.

My present invention pertains to ammunition, and contemplates the provision of an incendiary dart, designed to be dropped from an aeroplane or other airship, and concompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of my novel dart. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail vertical section of a portion of the dart, illustrating the interior appurtenances thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken in a plane indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings. I

The present and preferred embodiment of my invention is so constructed that the dart is susceptible of being'expeditiously manufactured and readily charged with a highly inflammable substance and the contact means for firing said substance. Said embodiment comprises a tubular body 1, preferably of steel, a conical head 2, also by preference of tail 3 that is preferably, though of aluminum, this for the The tubular body 1 is interior-1y threaded at its rear end to receive the correspondingly threaded plug portion l of the tail 3, which plug portion l serves to effectually close the rear end of the body 1 after the highly inflammable or combustible substance 5 is placed in said body. Manifestly the said highly inflammable or combustible substance may be of any character not necessarily, sake of lightness.

compatible with the'purpose of my invenas to assure die build,-

ti on such, for instance, as a compound of nitrate or baryta and luminum, without involving departure .from the scope of the same as claimed.

I Atits lower or forward end the body 1 is interiorly threaded to receive the threaded and reduced portion 6 of the head 2, and at a slight distance above its last-mentioned thread the tubular body is provided with one or a plurality, preferably four, vent apertures T for theemission of flames or streams of burning material, while in about the same plane as said apertures the tubular body is provided with interior spaced lugs 8. These lugs 8 serve to support the foraminous diaphragm 9 which is of a metal, zinc or lead for instance, or othersuitable material that is readily fusible or adapted to melt. The said diaphragm 9 is placed in the tubular body 1 precedent to the charging of thebody with the inflammable substance 5, and the making of said diaphragm of a material that is adapted to readily melt is highly advanta eous for the reason that after the disinb tegration of the diaphragm one or more copious streams of fire or burning material are emitted through the tures of the body.

vent aperture or aper- Manifestly the tail 3 which is designed to promote the direct de scent of the dart may be provided with four (more or less) vanes in the discretion of the manufacturer.

The head 2 is chambered as indicated by 10, and is provided at the lower end of the chamber with a firing pin 11. Arranged in the head chamber 10 and superimposed on a cushioning spring 11 is a plunger 12 which carries a percussion cap 13 atits lower end and has a vertical passage 14, designed to be filledwith gun powder 15. At its upper end said passage 14 terminates in a seat 16 in which is arranged a wad or disk 17 of metal, paper or other suitable material. When deemed expedient the head 2 may be provided with a transverse aperture 18 for the reception of a safety wire or pin 19 designed'to keep the plunger away from the firing pin during transportation or handling of the dart; the said wire or pin being, of course removed before the dart is dropped for action. As clearly illustrated the exterior diameter of the tubular body 1 is smaller than the largest diameter of the head 2 for an important purpose hereinafter set forth.

It will be gathered from the. foregoing menace when the dart constructed and charged as described is dropped on a building, the contact will tire the percussion cap and train of powder, and the blast from the latter 'Wlll displace the Wad and ignite the inflammable or combustible substance. in body 11. Then the dart penetrates the building the ignite substan: e 5 will melt the diaphragm 9 and hence passage of the dart will be attended bythe emission of copious streams of burning substance or. homes from the apertures T.

It will here be noted that because of the head being; larger in diameter than the body 1, an annular space Will be left around the body 1 by the head. Said annular space will permit he pzissage of flames and will promote the firing of the building, both during the passage of the dart and attcrthc (hurt comes to rest in the building.

At the time of contact when the plunger 12 is impelled downward against the action oi the spring to carry the percussion cap into engagement with the firing pin, it will be observed that the apertures T and the air space between the head and the for-ominous diag ihrugm will assure the supply of an ample quantity or" ai to support coi'nbustion.

Any suitable ncome may be employed to lire the charge of combustiblematerial in the dart, and I therefore do not desire to he understood as confining myself to the specific firing means herein shown and described.

Havil claim and cut, is: y

l. A device for the purpose described, comprising a tubular body having an aperture and interior supporting means, a. foruminous diaphragm of fusible material er-v dcscribed my invention what I desire to ranged in the body above the aperture and. on said supporting" means and adapted to support lniizumnn-ble material, vane-carrying hence secure by LettersPat- A means closing the rear end of the body, 2L

interior in a foraminous din ihramn, oil

fusible material, arranged in the body and on said lugs and above the refit aperture and adapted to support inflammable or com bustible substance, vanes integral with u threaded plug portion that closes the upper end of the body, a pointed head larger in diameter than the body and having :1. threaded portion that closes the lower end of the body, and means in said head for firing the inllanm'nibic or combustible material on con tact with an object.

3. An incendiar dart, comprising a.v body adapted to contain inflammable or combustible substance and having a vent aperture, and a pointed head at the forward endv of said body; the rear portion of said head being larger transversely than the body and being arranged in front of said aperture.

4:. An, incendisry dart, comprising a heeded body adapted to contain influun'nzv his or combustible substance and having a vent aperture and also having; on interior foraminous dinphrzignn of readily fusible material, adopted to support the inlinmnmble or combustible substance.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 'my hand in presence of two suliiscribing witmesses,

SAll/lUEL Nli-LEY. li itnesses JOSEPH G. MURRAY, JOHN 'lnunru, Jr.