US1243817A - Explosive device. - Google Patents

Description

R. C. CRAWFORD.

EXPLOSIVE DEVICE.

APPLICATION man 0m13.191s.

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' II. c. CRAWFORD.

EXPLOSIVE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. Ia IsIs.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

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UFUS C. CRAWFORD, OF MCKEESPORT, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T JOHN 'I'. MOYER, OF OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXPLOSIVE DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten oct. 23, 1917.

^ Application tiled October 13, 1915. Serial No. 55,612.

To a# Itlf/wm 'it may concern ot' Mcleesport, in the county ot' Allegheny and Stateotl Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usetul Improvement 1n ltxplosive Devices; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention pertains to explosive devices for use in warfare, and relates par ticularly to torpedoes.' It is an objectot my invention to produce a torpedo in which much of the complicated machinery nowordinarily employed will be done away with. It is another object ot my invention to produce a torpedo which will be relatively cheap to produce, and which will be capable ot traveling at a high speed in a straight line. lt is another object ot' my invention to provide a torpedo with a simple and sate means for ln'eventing the possibility of e plosion of .its high explosive charge. except after the torpedo has been launched. 1t is another object ot* my invention to provide a torpedo with means tor causing its ex` plosion at the end of its travel, regardless of whether it does-or does not hit the object aimed at. And other and further ob- `iects of my invention will appear troni the following specification taken in connection with the appended claims.

I have described, by way of example, in the followingl specification, and shown in the accompanying' drawings, *one form of explosive device (':onstructed in accordance with my invention. It is to be understood,

y however, that my invention may be embodied in other forms, and that changes may be made in the constructional'features of the device described and shown. without exl ceeding the scope ot the invention. as de fined in the appended claims.

ln the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken through atorpedo constructed in accordance with my invention. the section being taken as on the line 1-1 o't' Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the. same on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail showing the manner ot mounting the directing vanes;

Fig el is an enlarged section taken on the, line lh-e1v of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows,` the arming ring being shwn.

in full lines in its unarmed position, and in dotted linesI in its armed position;

Fig. 5 is a section takcnon the line 5 5 o'lf F ig. Ll,` looking in the direction ot' the arrowf;

Fig. (3 is an outside view of part of the head portion ot t-hc torpedo, showing the inspection opening and the means for setting the. armingl ring;

Fig. 7 is a section taken 'on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and.

Fig. S is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Like reference characters refer to like parts thrmlghout the following specification and the sevt 1al figures ofthe accompanying drawings.

Referring now Imrticularly to Figs. 1-3, the construction of the torpedo shown in the drawings includesl a head 10 which is screwed onto a central threaded boss 11 of a cylinder 12. the exterior surface of the 'latter forming a continuation ot' the head 10. The cylinder 1Q is open at its rear end, 80 to receive the front part of a second cylinder 1?. the latter having a front wall 14 which separates the cylinders from cach other. Loiatcd centrally in the rear part of the cylinder 13, is a tube 15, which terminates at its troiitend in a [lange 16 which closely within the cylinder 13. thereby forming` a chamber 17. at the front part of the cylinder 13. The rear end ot' the cylinder l?) is closed by an end plate 1S. which has an opening therein for receiving the open end ot the tube 15.

The torpedo described herein is primarily intended to'be tired from a mortar through the air into the water, completing its travel in the latter. To this end. the chamber 17 '-fand the tube 15 are filled with combustible material. such as a relatively slow burning explosive tor instance, gunpowder. The firing of the mortar will ignite the powder in the tube 15. The burning of the powder in the tube 15 and chamber 17 will result in a strong stream of the gases of combustion issuing from the rear end of the tube 15, such stream continuing to issue until the powder in the chamber 17 is exhausted. The stream ot gas issuing from the tube 15 will propel the torpedo rapidly through the air and water. In order to aid in maintain ing the torpedo in a straight line, and thereand tend vto press the vanes 19-outward.

lThe cylinderv 13 is provided with slots for receiving the vanes 19, the vanes being Ya width such that they may be pushed in,

against the action of the springs 22, until their outer edges are flush with the cylinder 13 (Fig. 1, full lines). When the torpedo is to be launched, the vanes 19 are all pushed in; and the torpedo, in that condition, is inserted into the mortar, the vanes being thereby held in place. As soon as the torpedo leaves the mortar the vanes 19 spring outV into thg operative position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.v

Referring now to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the head 1() is provided with a central cylindrical chamber 23,in which is slidably mounted a cylindrical block 24 having a central firing pin 25.

. against movement by a latch, tobe hereinafter described; but, when it is not so held, it Will travel forward in the chamber 23' as soon as the torpedo is suddenly checked by striking an object.' When the block thus travels forward, it strikes a detonating cap vor the like 26. The cap 2,.when fired, lignites a charge' contained in a pair, of restricted passages 27 which terminate in bores 28 formed in the head 10 and extending to- Ward the" rear of the sane. which is filled with a high explosive, such as guncotton or thelikc, isv provided with two tubes 29, which are disposed so as to form continuations of the bores 28. In the bores 428 there are provided miniature projectiles A30, Whichvare in the form of cartridge*j filled `vvith fulminate or the like and having priming caps 30a at their front ends. 'When Ithe cap 26 ignites the "charge in the passages`27 apd bores 28, 'the miniature projectiles 30 are shotforward iito vthedtubes 29, Where their priming caps30fimp,act against pins 31., thereby' causing thenexplosion of the fulminate. This explosion of' the projectiles shatters the tubes 29, and effects the explosion of the vhigh *explo-sive charge in the cylinder 129 In order vto prevent the charge in the cylinder 12 from being exploded accidentally, an arming ring 32 is provided (Figsa 1, 4 and 5). The ring 32'is rotatably mounted inan annular groove formed in the rear face oitn the head 10, fand is provided Withholes 33 "of the corresponding size to the bores 28. It

' will be seen that the miniatureprojectiles 30 can only be fired intothe' tubes'29 when the ring'32 is in such'position that lthese holes l33 are placed opposite. the ends of the bores' TheA block 24 is normally held The cylinder 12,`

A 28. flhe ring28 is normally heldh out of this position, that is, is held in a position in which the holes 33 are not placed opposite theV bores 28, by' aA rod 34 which extends lengthwise of the torpedo and enters a small- 7;', hole in the ring. I' I Mounted on a pin 3.5, carried by the 'headf 10, is a rod 36, on which is mounted acoilspying 37 such rod and spring beingv located ina recess 38, -formed in the ring32jvvith 75 the spring 37 engaging against one-ndyvvall of the slot. The ring 32 is provided with an inclined slot 39, which receives thebentver. end 40 of a latch pin 41 vvhich. is'rad'i'ally e movable in the head 10,' and the end ofso which engages in anl annular groove 42 formed in the firing block 24. It Will be seen that when the rod 34 is Withdrawn from its holein the ring 32, the spring 37A will cause the ring 32 to rotate into the position 85 indicated inf; dotted Llines in Fig. 4. In this position, the holes 3,3 are in alinementdvith the bores 28. Also, by the rotation of the ring, the pin 41 will be withdrawn' from the slot 42, thereby releasing the firing block.

In 'order to' effect the Withdrawal of they. rodj34 to release the ring 32, such rod is mounted in a tube 43 (Figs. 7 4and 8) which terminates in a chamber 44 formed in the end-plate 18.A This chamber contains an explosive charge, and communicates, by a restricted passage 45, with the rear end of the tube 15. At the rear end. of the chamber 44, the rod 34 is provided with a head i 1.6. It will be seen that, as soon as the powder in the tube 15 isfired upon the torpedo being launched, the charge in the ass'age 45 and the chamber. 44 will be ignlted, causing the head`46 to be driven out from the chamber 44,' and .'the4 rod 34 conse- 105 out, it Will fire the charge inthe tube 48 and passages 47 and 27, thereby causing 'the explosion of the contents of the cylinder 12. 120

Normally, the ring 32 forms a barrier between the tube 48 and the passage 47 5 but,

when the ring 32 is in its armed positlolr, a hole 49 thereinkbrings the tube and the pssages into communication.

The head 10 1s formed with an opening, 50 which discloses a portion of the edge off` the ring 32, such lopening being closedhva lremovable transparent cover 51.l At this i point, the edge of the ring 32 is formedwith .130

a hole 52 for receiving a pin or the like, by means of which the ring 32 may be rotated. The position of the hole 52, as seen through the transparent cover 51, vill thus always indicate whether the ring 32 is in its armed or in' its unarmed position. Then it is desirable to set the ring 32, this can be done by removing the cover 51, pulling ther ring around to thev position shown in the full lines in Fig. 4, and then inserting the rod 34 irito its hole in the ring 32, the charge havin first been placed behind the head 40 of the rod 34.

yThe operation of Athe form of torpedo shown and described'is as follows:

y Prior to insertion in the mortar, the ring 32 is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, in which condition the firing block 24 is locked against movement, the tubes 29 are cut ofi from Vthe bores 28 and the pas` sage 47 is cut 4oli from the tube 48. The

`torpedo is thu unarmed, and, in that co'n-v` dltion, is inser ed in the mortar, the directing vanes 19 being first pressed in. When the mortar is fired, the torpedo is driven out therefrom, and at thesame time the charge in the tube 15 is ignited, causing a stream of gas to issue from the tube 15 and thereby propel the torpedo, the vanes 19 springing out into their operative position. As soon as the charge in the tube 15 has been fired, the charge in the passage and chamyber 44 `will be exploded, causing the rod 34 to be Withdrawn from the ring 32, and thereby permitting the ring to snap over into position Vshown in dotted lines, in Fig.. 4. In this position the tubes 29 are in communication -With the bores 28, the tiring block 24 is freed, and the tube 48 'is in communication with the passage 47, the torpedo being Vthus completely armed. When the torpedoA strikes the 4.object aimed at, the shock will cause the firing block 24 to snap forward in the chamber 23, whereby its Fin 25 will detonate the cap 26, and causethe miniature projectiles 30 to be fired against the pins 31, thereby exploding the high ex-` plosive charge inthe-cylinder 12. Should the torpedo fail to strike' the object aimed at, the powder in the chamber 17 will,f.when nearly exhausted, ignite the charge in the tube 48 and passage 47, thereby exploding the charge in the cylinder 12 just about when the torpedo has come to the 'end of its travel. It maybe that the torpedo will, at this time, be neafr enough to the object aimed at, to do damage; and in any case, the 'source of danger created by an armed torpedo floating at will on the water islemoved.

It will be seen-that the torpedo described above is relatively simple in construction and cheap of manufacture. The use of complicated propelling machinery is done away with; and there is practically nothing to get out of order, The torpedo is very safe for storage and for handling prior to firing; and an added advantage is that it explodes on the completion of its journey, and thus doesnot become a floating danger to vessels of all kinds.

In describing the form of torpedo shown herein, it has been referred to as being fired from a mortar or the like. ever, be simply droppedfrom a height onto the object aimed at. In this case. there present the additional advantage that the issuinggases cause the torpedo to travel downward much fasterthan it would if merely impelled by gravity, so that aim is rendered more accurate, and the deflecting effect of air currents is considerably lessened. lVhen the torpedo is to be used in this way, and in other ways which would entail the torpedo striking the water with great force, it may be necessary to modify the tiring mechanism in such a way as to prevent its actuation upon the impact of the torpedo with the water, but permit such actuation when the torpedo strikes the object aimed at. This and other changes in the embodiment which I have chosen as illustrating my invention, are within the scope of such invention, what I claim being:

1. An explosive device comprising a body arrying an explosive charge, and having a chamber therein for receiving combustible material, said chamberhaving a rearwardly directed opening for permitting egress of the gases of combusti-on, means for effecting the explosion of said charge, and means for rendering Said exploding means inoperative` said last-named means being releasable by the ignition of said combustible material.

2. An explosive device comprising a body carryingr an explosive charge, and having a chamber therein for receiving combustible material, said chamber having a rearwardly `directed opening for permitting egress oi ing said charge, a movable member for normally maintaining'said exploding means in an inoperative condition. and an explosive charge connecting with said chamber for material is ignited.

3. An explosive device comprising a body carrying an explosive charge, and having a chamber therein'for receiving Combustible material. saillpehamber having a rearwardly directed opening for permitting egress of the `gases of combustion, means for effecting the explosion of said charge, a longitudinally movable member normally preventing the operation of said exploding means. said body being provided with a chamber for receiving a portion oif'said member and connect-ing with said first-named chamber. and an explosive charge in said secoi'ld-named chamber. whereby said member is moved when said second-named charge is ignited.

"moving said member when said combustible the gases of combustion, means for explodc It may, how- 4. 3Anexplosive device comprising` ra body ing with said chamber, means for effecting the explosion of said charge, and a movable member normally preventing the operation otsaid explodingl means, ,said body being formed ivith a charge-containing chamber surrounding a part of said member, said last-named chamber communicating With said tube.

5. An explosive device comprising a body having a chamber therein for receiving combustiblematerial, said chamber having a rear- Wardly directed opening for permitting egress ofthe gases or' combustion, an explosive charge contained in said body, a second charge adapted when ignited to effect the explosion of said first named charge, impactoperated means for effecting the ignition of said second named charge, and ignition means'betvveen said chamber and said sec'- ond-named charge disposed so as to eiect the ignition of said second-namedv charge substantially when the burning of said com,

i bustible material is completed.

6. An explosive device comprising a body havino a chamber therein 4for receiving combustibile material, said chamber having a rearwardly extending lopening for ermitting egress of the gases of combustion, an lexplosive charge contained in said body, means for effecting the explosion of said charge' substantially when the burning ofv said combustible material is completed, and

automatically releasable means for normally prevent-ing the operation'of said last-named means.

7 In an explosive device,` a body having a chamber' therein lfor receiving an explosive charge, a head, impact-operated means carried by said head for exploding said charge, releasablemeans for normally preventing communication betiveen' said head and said body and automatic mechanism for operating said releasable means, said means being adapted to be released at a predetermined time b`y a supplemental explosive charge in said body portion.

8. In an explosive device, a body having a chamber therein for receiving an explosive charge, a head, impact-operated means carried by said head for exploding said charge, releasable means for normally preventing 'communication between said head and said (body, and a supplemental explosive charge in said body portion for automatically releasing said last-named means when said device is launched.

9. In an explosive device, a body havingtherein-a chamber for receiving an explosive charge, and' having a bore for receivino` a movable explosive member, said member eing adapted to be exploded by a supplemental charge after said device has reached its object, releasable means for preventing communication between -said bore and chamber..

and automatic mechanism for operating said releasable means, said last-named means be ing released by a secondsupplemental explosive charge.

10. An explosive device comprising a body having achamber therein formeceiving an "explosive charge and having/ja bore therecharge for causing movement of said inember, impact-operated means for igniting said last-named charge, and means automatically releasable when the device is launched for normally preventing the operation of said last-named means, said releasable means,

being operated by asupplemental charge adapted to be exploded by said combustiblematerial.

12. An explosive device comprising a body having a chamber therein for receiving an explosive charge, and having a bore for re-` ceiving a movable explosive member, an explosive charge for causing movement of said member, impact-operated means for ignitiiig said last-named charge, releasable means for normally preventing the operation of said last-named means, and explosive means for' releasing said prevention means upon they device being launched.

13. An explosive devi'ce comprising a body having a chamber therein fori'eceiving an explosive charge. and having a' bore for receiving a .movable explosive member, a charge `for causing movement of said member, .impact-operated means `for igniting.

lli

said last-named charge, releasable means for y normally preventing the operation of said last-named charge, means contained in said chamber and disposed in alinement with said bore, for causing the explosion if said member, and releasable means for normally preventing communication between said bore and said chamber, said means being adapted to be operated by a supplemental explosive charge at a predetermined time.

MyAn explosive device compiising` a body having a chamber therein for receiving an explosive charge and having a. bore for receiving a movable explosive member, a

charge for causingmovement of said meniber, impact-operated means for igniting said last-named charge, releasable means for normally preventing the operation of said igniting means, means contained in said chamber and disposed in alinement with said bore, for causing the explosion of said member, releasable means for normally preventing communication between said bore and said Chamber, and a supplemental explosive charge for releasing said first and second-named prevention means upon the launching of the device.

l5. An explosive device comprising a body carrying an explosive charge, and having a chamber therein for receiving com bnstible material, said chamber having a rearwardly directed opening for permitting egress of the gases of combustion, means for effecting the explosion of' said charge, a locking member normally preventingr the operation of said exploding means, said body being provided with a chamber for receiving a portion of said member and connecting with the rst-named chamber, and an explosive charge in said second-named chamber, whereby said member is moved at a predetermined time,

16. An explosive device comprising a body having a chamber therein for receiving combustible material, said chamberhaving a rearwardly-extending opening for permitmember, a charge forransing movement of said member, impact operated means for gniting said last-named charge, releasable means for normally preventing the operation of said igniting means, means contained in said chamber and disposed in alinement with said bore for causing the eX- plosion of said member, releasable means for normally preventing communication between said bore and said chamber, and a supplemental explosive charge for releasing said first and second-named preventing means.

ln testimony whereof I, the said RUFUS C. (nawronn, have hereunto set my hand.

RUFUS C. CRAWFORD. Witnesses A. D. P. MlLLnn, CHARLES G. Corn.

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