US1333900A - Land-mine and the system of exploding the same - Google Patents

Description

J. D. CLARK.

LAND MINE AND THE SYSTEM OF EXPLODING THE SAME.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT- 5,1918.

Pawnted Mar. 16, 1920.

ii eras; arnnr t me.

JESSE n. CLARK, or NEW ALBANY, MISSISSIPPI.

1,3ss,eee.

' To all whom it may concern:

, explosive charge.

Be it known that T, Jnssn D. CLARK, acitizen of the United States, residing at New Albany, in the county of Union and State of 'Mis'sissippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Land- Mines and the Systems of Exploding the Same, oiwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to explosive mines to be used in warfare, and particularly to mines for use inland defense, having for its primary object to provide a device of Sill!- ple and inexpensive construction which may be laid or set easily and quickly and which will prove highly efiici nt in holding up the advance of the enemy.

A further ObJGGi of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated capable of being exploded from a point con siderably in the rear of the fighting front or scene of activity, and which is constructed and laid in such manner that dairger of the device being rendered inoperative or inactive by the explosion of shells or material in the neighborhood thereof is reduced to a minimum. 7

Still further objects reside inLproviding an explosive device of the character stated which is capable of containing noxious or deadly fumes as well as shrapnel.

-lVith these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination, and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

'In the drawings 1 Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner in which the improved mines are laid and exploded,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one of the mines, and Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through the improved mine.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the mine is indicated generally at L The mine preferably consists of a cylindrical casing formed of suitable metal and of any desired size, having a central longitudinally disposed tubing 5 therein to receive the One. end of this tubing protrudes from an end of the mine casing, and this open end of the tubing is closed by the cap 6. The tubing has arranged therein LAND-WINE AND THE SY$TELM 0F EXPLQDING THE SAldE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patanted Mar. 16, 192i lipplication filed September 5, 1918. Serial No. 252,759.

an explosive cap 7 designed to be energized ignited by electricity supplied by the wires or conductors S. r i

The mine casing is divided longitudinally by a wall 9, and one of the compartments thus provided in the casing is to be filled with shrapnel or slugs indicated at 10 while the other compartment is to be filled with absorbent cotton or wadding 11 to be sat- V lira-ted with poisonous gas-producing chemicals. The'shrapnel compartment may be filled through an opening in one end of the tubing closed by-a cap 12, while the compartment containing the chemicals may be filled through the opening closed by the cap 18.

These mines are buried in the ground the desired depth and in the desired places with the shrapnel compartment uppermost. This disposes the compartment containing the gas-producing chemicals downwardly. The wires 8 through which the electric current passes to ignite the charges in the mine are connected with the latter and are also buried. The mine actuating system may be supplied with electric energy by the battery indicated at 14, and a switch 15 may be arranged in the circuit for controlling the flow of current therethrough.

The improved mine system is adapted espeeially for use in holding up advances of enemy troops and for annihilating the lat ter, and is to assist in covering or protecting the retreat of friendly troops. The mines will be laid close together immediately in the rear of the front line positions held by the friendly troops, and the wires for operating the line of mines will extend beneath the ground and in the rear of the first line positions. The operator of the mine system will be so positioned as to have a view of the battle line so that he will be enabled to determine the proper moment for exploding the mines. The friendly troops will be permitted to retreat past the line of mines, but immediately upon the arrival of the enemy'troops over the mines, the switch 15 will be closed, whereupon the explosive caps 7 in the various mines will be energized, causing the high explosives in the mines to become ignited. The explosion of the mines causes the shrapnel to be forced violently upward and enemy troops in close proximity thereto will be blown up or wounded. This explosion causes the wadding 11 to be forced downwardly into the ground. and

the chemicals contained by the wadding when liberated will produce a deadly gas to overcome or asphyxiate living troops 1n the vicinity. It is prefered that the chemicals from which the gas is produced be of such posed therein of a"diameter considerably less than the diameter'of the casing, one end of the said tubing being projected beyond one end of the said casing, and provided with a closure cap, an explosive cap disposed within the tubing approximately intermediate the ends thereof, and electrical conductors projected through the said cap and centrally through the said tubing and connected with the said explosive cap within the tubing, the Said tubing having integrally formed laterally projecting portions extending across the interior of the said casing at opposite sides of the said tubing to provide separate Walls forming independent compartments, a gas producing substance in one of the said compartments, shrapnel in the other compartment, the said compartments being provided with openings at opposite ends of the casing and equipped with removable closure caps.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of tWo witnesses.

JESSE D. CLARK.

Witnesses PERCY DYER, M RK 'L. MOALLISTER.

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