US1182488A - Detonator. - Google Patents

Description

R. IANNEY.

DETONATOR.

Avvucmon msu 1uN 9.1915.

Patented May 9, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Invenar E. JANNEY DETONATOR.

Hammam man suNi 9, i915 1,182,488., Patented May 9, 1916.

ffyywf UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REYNOLD JANNEY, OF NEW YORK, N. v

DETONATOR.

Application filed June 9, 1915.

To all Niom it muy concern Be it known that I. Revisore JANNEY, a citizen of the United States. residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York` have inveited certain new and useful Improvements in Detonators. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to detonators.

'hile it is conceivable that a detonator involving my invention can possibly be employed in various connections, it has been designed primarily for incorporation in or as art of a projectile.

zmong the objects of the invention are the provision of an article of the character set forth which can be readily and easily manufactured. which is effective and which can be handled with comparative safety but which can be properly exploded under the necessary conditions.

The device possesses other features of nogvelty and advantage. which with ,the foregoing .will be stated at length in the following description wherein I will set forth 1n detail that one of the several forms of embodiment of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawing-s accompanying and forming part of the present specification. As will be inferred I do not restrict myself to such disclosure; I may depart therefrom in several respects within the scope of the invention defined by thel claims following Said description.

Referring to said dra\vings:'I `igure 1 is an elevation of an explosive shell provided with a detonator embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of said detonator. Fig. 3 is an elevation. and Fig. 4 a bottom plan view of the pawl carrier shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an elevation of one of the pawis illustrated in said Fig. 2.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several figures. Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive being on a very much larger scale than Fig. 1.

It will be clear from what I have noted that my detonator can be employed with or as part of projectiles or shells of various kinds. In Fig. 1 I have shown a projectile or shell 2 of familiar kind. the chamber 3 of which is adapted to contain some suitable high explosive. The detonator is denoted in a general way by 4 and may be associated with the body of the shell or projectile 2 in any desirable manner. for example there may be tl readed into the outer Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1916.

serial No. 32,995.

end of said body the familiar adapter 5 which may be utilized to receive the detonator, the inner portion of the body of which projects into the chamber 3.

As represented the detonator comprises in its make-up a body as 6 which may be formed from steel. The forward end of the body is enlarged to present the striking nose 7 fiattened as at 8 at its front. The body 6 back of the nose 7 'is externally threaded as at 9 to fit the internal threads formed in the wall of the central opening of the adapter 5. The detonator body 6 has a longitudinally extending bore or chamber 1() open at its inner end and closed at its outer end, the closed outer end being as represented a short distance back of the nose 7. To close this open end of the hollow detonator body G suitable means will be provided, the plug 11 generally made of steel answering satisfactorily in this connection. It will be noted that the chamber or bore 10 is of three diameters which produces upon the wall of the chamber 10 the annular' shoulders 12 and 13, the shoulder 12 being at the junction of the portion of greatest and intermediate diameters', and the shoulder 13 being at the junction of the port-ion of intermediate and least diameters. The threaded plug 11 when in place aibuts substantially against the shoulder or stop 12, and at such time may receive solder 11:I poured in the circular channel or ralbet cut in the outer side of its threaded circumference.

The chamber 10 presents a' satisfactory means for receiving a suitable cartridge which comprises in its organization some suitable high explosive such as tetryl. f This cartridge as shown consists of an inner shell 14 and an outer shell 15 both made from some suitable material such as brass or German silver. The outer shell 15 has an inturned ange 16 over which is bent the flange 17 of the inner shell, both shells as will be understood being of tubular construction. These two flanges are united together in any desirable manner, and When they are connected there is formed an annular double-wall tubular case. As represented the two Hanges are at the upper or outer end of the tetryl cartridge. This cartridge fits comparatively closely or snugly in the bore 10. In the space between the two shells is placed the explosive 18 which in the present case is tetryl. Closing the opening at the inner or lower end of the cartridge are washers 19 which are pressed between the two shells. These washersy may be made from any suitable material, for example, the upper or outer washer may be of lead and the lower of asbestos or the reverse might be the case. They act to retain the tetryl in its case made up as represented of the two shells 14 and l5 respectively. Between the lower of the two washers and the body plug 1111's interposed a third washer 20 which may; be of some convenient material such as lead or asbestos. This washer 20 acts to cushion the cartridge. Inside the body 6 is a striker tube as 21 which can be conveniently made of brass and which is closed at its ends by the plugs 22 and 23 of suitable material such as steel. The upper plug 23 normally bears against the closed end of the chamber 10. The lower plug has bearing against it one end of the coiled push spring 24 which is preferably under constant compression. The lower end of said spring 24 bears against a suitable cushion such as the disk 25 fitting in the approximately central depression 2G in the inner face of the body plug 1l. This cushion 25 may be made of any suitable material such as asbestos and its function is to deaden the blow of the striker tube 21 when the projectile 2 is discharged from a gun. The lower portion of the striker tube 21 as shown extends into the inner tube 14 of the tetryl shell, said striker tube 2l having between its ends diametrically opposite slots 27 to receive the points or teeth of pawls hereinafter described. 'lhe striker tube 21 presents a suitable receptacle for the striker 28 which may consist of a brass rod freely tted in the striker tube 21 and capable of motion in a longitudinal direction with respect thereto. The striker 28 has at its lower end the cavity 29, the annular flange 30 left by the formation of the cavity or pocket having holes to receive the pin 32. these holes or perforations being opposite and also in registration with holes or perforations in the lower portion of the striker tube 21. the ends of the striker hanger pin 32 extending comparatively freely into the perforations of the striker tube. This pin 32 presents a convenient hanger for the striker 28, or as it might be otherwise stated. it acts as a convenient device to prevent normally accin dental movement of the striker 28 with respect to its inclosing tube 21. The upper or outer end of the striker has a comparatively deep socket or cavity 33 which as shown receives an inverted cpp 34, the cup fitting the cavity or depression 33 in a comparatively close manner and containing some high detonating explosive such as fulminate of mercury. This cup with its contained explosive presents a convenient cap. The upper plug 23 of the striker tube 21 is shown provided with a pendant needle 35 surrounded in part by the striker spring 36. The upper end of this spring bears against the inner surface of the needle plug 23, while the lower end bears against the Closed side of the cup 34. This spring 36 yieldingly presses the striker 28 against the plug 22. It assists the striker hanger pin as in rase said striker pin should be broken or sheared ofi' by accident the spring 36 will prevent the cup 34 from coming in Contact f r.

with the needle unless of course the shock be sufficiently great to overcome the tension of said spring. yI might note that the springs and 36 ran be made of what is known as piano wire and that while the plug 23 is of steel the needle 35 will referahly be hardened. I should also cal attention to the fact that the parts of the striker mechanism present a self-contained group or unit, the unit being insertible into and removable from the detonator 4 as such, which is a feature of importance.

The striker mechanism comprising the tube and the parts inclosed thereby is prevented normally from abnormal movement in some suitable manner as by the fapposite pawls 37 which are of similar construction and which will be hereinafter described im,

detail, the points or teeth of these pawls` projecting through the slots or open-ings 27 to which I have already referred and entering notches as 38 in register respectively with the slots or openings 27. The slots or notches are, it will be noted, elongated slightly longtudinally of the detonator so as to permit a slight amount of movement of the striker unit.

Means of a suitable nature such as the carrier 39, is provided for supporting the two diametrically opposite pawls. As represented the carrier 39 is in the form of a tube closely fitting the upper or outer end of the chamber 10 and abutting against the upper or outer closed end of-said chamber. 'vhile the chamber and the pawl carrier 39 as well as the tetryl cartridge to which I have already alluded may be externally cross sectionally of any suitable form, they are generally cylindrical. The pawl carrier 39 is shown as having diametrically opposite slots 40 open at their lower ends and closed at their upper. ends. These slots receive the respective pawls 37. and they can be convenientlv formed by milling. As a matter of fact both slots can be formed simultaneously by a milling cutter. The slots 40 are intersected respectively by grooves 41, each groove as will be understood extending outwardly from its cooperating slot. These grooves can also be formed by a milling operation` so that it becomes a simple mattei' to produce the pawl carrier. Each pawl comprises two side sections 42 of duplicate construction connected near their ends bv the pins 43 and 44, the upper pin 44 extend- 'ing outward from the sections 42 and being adapted to be seated in the respective notches 41. The upper pins 44 constitute. therefore, the pivotsv of the pawls. It is a very easy matter, as will be obvious to assemble these pawls, being simply necessary to introduce the same into their proper slots 40 and to insert the terminal portions of the pins 44 into the pivot receiving grooves or notches 41. Extending upwardly from the top walls or closed ends of the slots 4() are holes 45 into which are driven the butts of springs 46, the springs being situated between the sections or cheeks of the respecltive pawls and their free ends bearing against the pins 43. The springs 44, therefore, tend constantly to yieldin'gly force the points or operative ends of the pawls 37 toward their working positions.

I provide a Dart in the nature of a safety device which acts normally to separate the lpawl carrier 39 from the high explosive cartridge, and a washer 47 answers satisfactorily in this connection, this washer bearing against the annular shoulder or stop 13 to which I have already referred. This washer' fits closely within the chamber 10 aad the pawl carrier 39 bears against it. Between the safety washer 47 generali) made of steel and the tetryl cartri Ue is disposed a cartridge cushion such as t e washer 48 which fits against the cartridge and the safety washer. The cushioning washer 48 softens the contact between the safety washer and the tetryl cartridge and may be made from any desirable material, foiwexample, asbestos or lead.

When the parts are assembled together as shown in Fig. 2 wherein they are 'represented as occapving their normal positions, it is impossible to explode either the explosive in the cup 34 or that between the shells 14 and 15, without the violence accompanying the discharge of the projectile 2 from a gun and of the stopping of the projectile by striking an obstruction. If the detonator should fall base down, or if it should receive a severe blow on the base. the striker group, including the striker 29 and the 5U`striker inclosing tube 21, might move downward against the spring 24. Unless the shock in the latter event were quite violent. there would not be sufficient force operating on the striker group or unit to cause the Same to completely compress said spring '24 and permit the needle plug end of the tube 21 to move down far enough to pass the points of the pawls Q7. If the striker group should move far enough the plug 22 would practically engage the cushion 25, and the points of the pawls will engage under the head of the needle plug 'hen the striker is in such relation. the detonator is in what is known as set condition. If. however, the shock be not sufficient to cause the striker group or the plug 22 to practically impinge against the cushion Q5, the spring 24 by reaction would force the tube 21 back to its normal position and the points of the pawls would be projected by the springs 4G through the holes 2T and into the notches 3S as represented in Fig. 2. 'hen, however, a projectile provided with the detonator is shot from a gun, the shock is so great that the inertia of the striker group will be sutiicient to force said striker group free from the holding pawls 37 and inward until the plug '22 is practically against the cushion 25 at which time the points of the pawls 3T are snapped under the overhanging portion of the plug 23, by reason of which the striker parts will be securely held in set condition and in readiness to produce an explosion when the projectile is suddenly stopped by hitting an obstruction. It is proper for me to state that when the parts have lnade this preliminary or initial move, the point of the needle 35 stands within the tetryl `cartridge. When the projectile is arrested in the manner just set forth, the moving inertia of the striker '28 is sufiicient to shear the striker hanger pin 32 and to also compress the striker spring 3G. As the two pawls 37 are under the head of the needle plug 23, when the parts are set in the manner alluded to, the needle 35 cannot move forward but the striker 2l) can` so that the fulminate of mercury containing cup 34 will be driven against the point of the needle 35 to e'lect the piercing of the cup and the discharge of the fulminate of mercury. The explosion of the fulminate bursts the cup 34 and the striker tube and also the inside tube 14 of the tetryl cartridge. This explodes the tetryl which bursts the outer shell 15 and also the body G which in turn explodes the high explosive in the chamber 3 naturally bursting the body of the projectile. The explosive in'the chamber 3 does not concern the invention, but I might say that it may be trotyl.

I desire to call attention to the following matters: In thc normal position of the parts as shown in Fig. 2 an accidental or automatic explosion ofthe explosive in the cup 34 would not explode the tetryl or other cartridge, because the cup is too far away from the cartridge, being separated in addition by a safety element such as the washer`34. The fulminate capand theI cartridge are further in fact separated by the striker tube 21 and the striker 28 itself. The striker tube is douq. bly secured in the safety position illustrated. by the tube springr 24 and by the pawls 37. It' as already stated a shock should be administered sufiicient to temporarily drive the striker group free of the pawls 37, the spring 24 would immediately return the striker parts to p1imaryposition, unless the shock were practically as severe as would be received on an actual discharge from a gun. The pawls 3T act as keys preventing the striker group from rotating which would happen on account of the riiing of the gun barrel, were not the pawls or equivalcnt means provided to prevent such motion of the striker group. The pawls, therefore, serre a dual function. The pawls also aid the striker hanger pin 3Q and the striker spring E36 in holding the cup 34 from the point of the needle 35. It Will be clear, therefore, that before an explosion of the projectile can take place, the setting of the striker group must occur. The construction is such as to simplifyy the production of the detonator as a manufacturing proposition. Finally I might state that the parts can be assembled and loaded comparatively free from danger of explosion.

Should the fulminate eXplodeaccidentally or automatically while standing in its normal position the space in which the spring 3 stands and also the slots in which the pawls are placed furnish gas expansion spaces for the products of the accidental explosion without creating undue pressure against the tetryl cartridge. Moreover, this expansion space may be increased by machining away more of the pawl carrier 39;

also free communication may be provided for between the inside of the striker tube and the air space of the pawl carrier by making perforations in the striker tube in the vicinity of the needle 35.

Vihat l claim is:

l. A detonator` for projectiles comprising an explosive cartridge, a striker unit comprising a needle, a striker and a cap, means for releasably holding the striker unit with the cap and the needle spaced from the cartridge, the striker unit being automatically retractive on ,the discharge of a projectile equipped with the detonator from a gun to carry the cap and the needle in line with the cartridge and the striker being automatically releasable when the projectile strikes an object to cause the cap to be enga Ted by the needle.

2. A (,etonator for projectiles comprising a tubular explosive cartridge and a striker unit comprising a striker, a cap and a needle, means for holding the cap and the needle portion of the striker unit spaced from the cartridge, the striker unit being automaticallv retract-ive into the cartridge on the discharge of a projectile equipped with a detonator to carry the cap and the needle in lineI with the cartridge and the striker being automatically releasable when the projcctile strikes an object to cause the ca p to engage the needle within the cartridge.

3. A detonator for projectiles comprisingY a tubular cartridge, a striker unit, the rear portion of which is disposed in the tubulaicartridge, means for rele-f` striker unit in its forwai striker unit comprising a str with a cap vand also comprising .i ward of the cap, the cap and the l ing forward of the cartridge then the striker unit is in its advance pt ition.v

4. A detonator for projectiles comprising a spring backed striker unit, pawl means for holdingthe striker unitrin preliminary position7 said striker unit being automatically retracted on the discharge of a projectile equipped with said detonator, from a gun, the pawl means engaging another part of the striker unit when the latter tracted position to thus hold said striker unit in said retracted or set position.

A detonator for projectiles comprising a spring backed striker unit, diametrically opposite pawls for holding the striker unit in preliminary position, said striker unit being automatically retracted on the discharge of a projectile equippedwith said detonator, from"a gun, said paWls engaging another part of the striker unit when the. latter is in retracted 'position to thus hold said strike unit in said retracted or set po: tion, j

(i. A ,detonator for projectiles cnnprisi" a spring backed striker unit, a surrounding the striker unit, s id rier having diametrically opl pawls set in the slots, springs for il cmg pawls into engagement with the unit to holde the latter in preliminary position, said striker unit being automatically' retracted on the discharge of a projectile equipped withsaid detonator, from a gun, thel pawls engaging another part of the striker 'unit when the latter is in retracted position to thus hold said striker unit in said retracted position.

7. A"`detonator for projectiles comprising a spring backed strikeif, said striker being automatically retracted on the discharge of a projectile equipped with said fl from a gun` and means tor rele( ing the striker' in its two posit-ions,

8. A detonator for profectiles com rising a spring backed striker unit, r surn rounding said unit having divan posite slots, notches interseoting the slots. pawls in the slots, said 'pawls being equipped with pivots fitted in said notches, springs acting against the pawls and the pavils normally holding the striker unit in preliminary condition, said striker unit being automatically retracted on the discharge of a projectik` equipped with said detonator. from a gun. the pawls engaging another part ot the striker unit when the latter is iu retracted position to thi'V` hold said striker unit in said retracted po. tion.

l). A detonator for projectiles comprising a striker unit haring a striker and an inclosiug tube therefor, a spring backing up onator,

said striker unit, pawl means, the tube being slotted and the striker being notched opposite the slotted portion of the tube. the pziwl means being toothed and nornnilly extending through the slotted portion of the tube into the notched portion of the Striker, and the paw] means being :iutoii'iatically moved tt releasing position on the retrzictive movement of' the striker unit and being :idnpted to engage a part ot' the striker unit when the lutter is retracted to maintain the retrzif'ted relation.

1l). A detonat-or for projectiles coinpriein, r u tube`r :i Striker slidzible in the tube, the tube having dizimetricnlly opposite notches`r :i Springr barking up the tube a carrier around the tube having slots open at their inner ends, pawls pivotally mounted in the slots, the tube hui/ing diainetriczilly opposite slots, the pziwls lui ving teeth to project through the Slots of the tube :ind the striker being notched to receive the pnyvls. Said Carrier being fixed :ind the tub(` having :i part engngenble b'v the teeth of the puwls when the tube is retracted to a certain position.

In testimony whereof I affix in v signature in present-e of two witnesses.

RYOLD JANNEY. Witnesses:

E. D. JANNEY, L. M. KEW.

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