US1357927A - Explosive projectile - Google Patents

Description

L.S.CLARKE EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE.

APPL I 1 57,927 Patented Nov. 2, .1920.

T 2 1 IWMMM Louis 5 Clarke,

m ybndi 75 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS S. CLARKE, OF HAVERFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2,1920.

Application fil ed January 25, 1919. Serial No. 273,001.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LoUIs S. CLARKE, of

Haverford, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Explosive Projectiles, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. The invention relates to explosive projectiles and is more particularly directed to devices of this character employed in aerial warfare at sea, in attacking vessels, mine fields, etc.

The invention is primarily directed to a projectile intended to be dropped from an aerial craft automatically detonated upon striking the surface of the water.

My invention is also directed in part to improved self-contained interchangeable detonating mechanism for explosive ,projectiles operative upon the principle above stated.

' My invention further comprehends an explosive projectile which may be advanta geously employed for practice purposes and which, upon detonation, emits a visual signal whereby the aviator may readily gage the accuracy of his aim.

Other characteristic structural details are also included within the scope of my invention, and these will be readily understood from the following description.

- Referring to the drawings, Figure I, is a view of a bomb partly in elevation and partly in section, conveniently illustrating my invention.

Fig. II, is a view of the rear end .of the device.

Fig. III, is a view of the front end of the same and Fig. IV, illustrates a modified form of the detonator.

As herein shown, the body of the bomb consists of tapered metallic casing 1, having a weighted rounded forward end 2. The

of junction are integrally united along the line 7, by welding or soldering. The union between the fins and the casing is preferably effected by spot welding as at 8, and detachment positively prevented by slightly offsetting the metal of the fins, as at 9, behind lugs 10-10, integrally formed with the easing at its rear end. This offsetting may be conveniently accomplished by employing a center punch or Similar tool, and the joint thus afforded adds materially to the strength of the union.

The bomb which I have illustrated is especially adapted for practice purposes and to this end the casing is centrally bored as indicated at 11, to permit .the insertion of a cartridge 12, the flange 13, of which is seated against a shoulder 14, formed in the bore. At the front end of the casing, the bore is of a slightly larger diameter, to receive a ends of the ring retaining clip 17 are bent up as at 19-19, in Fig. III, so as to be readily accessible in facilitating the removal thereof.

Centrally guided in an aperture 2.0, in the bottom of the housing shell 15, of the detonator, is a plunger 21, whose inner end is reduced to form a firing pin 22. Said plunger, is operated by a disk piston 23, which is fixedthereto and adapted to slide within the housing shell. An interposed coiled spring 25, serves to normally thrust the piston outward to the position shown under the limitation imposed by the engagement of an integral flange 26, of the plunger with the back of the housing shell.

In order to prevent accidental discharging of the bomb of the form shown in Fig. I, I have purposely recessed the detonator well within the mouth of the center bore of the casing so as to be amply protected against forcible contact from the exterior.

In practice, as the bomb is dropped from the air craft, the action of gravity upon the lower weighted end, together with the assistance of the guide fins, will cause the bomb to right itself and be projected in the] vertical position illustrated. It will be readily apparent, from the construction described, that the detonator is immune against operation by air contact. When the bomb, however, encounters water, the piston 23, will be instantaneously actuated, the induced force causing the firing pin 22, to discharge the cartridge. The smoke resulting from the detonation will escape readily from the rear open end of the casing and bypass through. open center 6, of the tail. The volume offlame or flash from the explosion is visible (especially at night) in its entire mass in the open center of the tail, instead of a mere quarter thereof, as would be the case with a tail without open center. By the visual signal thus produced, the

aviator may readily ascertain the accuracy of his aim.

By a slight modification which is illustrated in Fig. IV, the bomb is rendered capable of detonation by direct impact in encountering any solid object in addition to the characteristic features of my invention may be incorporated in other explosive projectile structures without departing from its spirit.

It is also to be noted that the detonating device, which I have invented, is in the form of a self contained unit capable of interchangeability and readily detachable from This insures posithe projectile with, which it may be incorporated.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

1. An explosive projectile comprising a tapered casing weighted at the forward,

end; in combination with a guide tail'consisting of a series of fins anchored in radial' slots cut 1n the rear end of said casing and 3. An explosive projectile comprising a casing centrally bored to receive a cartridge; a detonating mechanism closing the forward end of the casing bore; and a guide tail having an open center in continuation of the open end of the casing bore so that the products of the explosion may readily escape to produce a visual'signal whose flash is visible in its entire mass.

4. An explosive projectile comprising a casing bored from end to end and freely open at its rear end; a detonating mechanism in the bore exposed for actuation at the forward end of said casing; an explosive charge in the bore of said casing; and a guide tail for said projectile over the rear end of said bore permitting free escape of the products of explosion to afford a visual signal. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this twenty-first day of January, 1919.

LOUIS S. CLARKE. Witnesses JAMEs H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON.

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