US1364008A - Hammer-release for double-chamber-type bombs - Google Patents

Description

S. THOMSON, DEQQ. 8. BOARDMAN, ADMINISTRATOR. HAMMER RELEASE FOR DOUBLE CHAMBER TYPE BOMB.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- Zh 1918.

Patented Dec. 28,1920.

UNITED SITE P STUART THOMSON, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY; HENRY B. BOARDMAN ADMINIS- TRATOR OF SAID STUART THOMSON, DECEASED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Application filed September 21, 1918. Serial No. 255,163.

(FILED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, 22 STAT. L, 625.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, STUART THoMsoN, lieutenant, Ordnance, R. 0., a citizen of the United States, stationed at Washington,

D. 0., have invented Improvements in Hammer Releases for Double Chamber- Type Bombs, of which the following is a specification.

The invention described herein may be used by the Government, or any of its officers or employees in prosecution of work for the Government, or by any other person in the United States, without payment of any ro alty thereon.

his invention relates to devices for releasing the hammer safety of drop bombs, more particularly of bombs dropped from aeroplanes and dirigibles and has for one of its objects to provide a simply constructed attachment whereby the hammer element is held in suspension against the resistance of a spring or other suitable operating device and releasable by the movement of the bomb when detached from the support, for instance the aeroplane frame, to effect the release of the hammer simultaneously with the release of the bomb.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character including a hammer or plunger element, means for looking said element in suspend-ed position, and means for releasing the locking means by the gravity of the bomb.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of a portion of the nose part of a conventional bomb with the improvement applied and showing the safety device in locked position.

Fig. 2 a sectional detail illustrating the position of the parts when the locking portions of the device are released.

Fig. 3 a detached perspective view of one of the locking members.

Fig. 4 a detail view illustrating the firing hammer partially released.

Fig. 5 a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 a section on, the line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 a detached elevation of the stop sleeve, and V Fig. 8 a detached perspective view of tho releasing pin.

The improved apparatus is designed to effect the release of the hammer element of bombs, more particularly bombs dropped from aeroplanes and may be adapted without material structural change to bombs of various forms, and to bombs and like devlces containing various combinations of eX- plosives, gas or fire producing compounds, and the like, and it is not desired to limit the invention to any specific'construction of bomb or like structure.

For the purpose of illustration the improved apparatus is shown associated with the nose portion of a conventional bomb, and includes ahammer device or plunger adapted when released to place the bomb in condition for explosion. The hammer device is normally locked by suitable devices an ranged to be automatically released when the bomb is dropped from the machine.

The projectile or bomb 10 has a centrally disposed casing 9 containing the plunger or ham mer 12 and its actuating spring 14:, and said plunger is mounted to operate in the guide-way 11 of the nose piece 15. A collar 13 is fixed'on the plunger rod 12to seat the inner end of the spring 14 and the outer end of said plunger is slotted as at 16, to receive a base block 011 stop member 18, the latter extending transversely of the guide-way 11 and seating within the slot 17. The member 18 is secured to the nose portion 15 of the bomb by rivets or other fastening devices 19.

The hammer safety and releasing device consists of a pin or bolt 20 movably mounted in the apertured block 21 that is secured to the slotted portion of the plunger 12. (See Figs. 1 and 5). Said bolt passes through the slot 16 of the plunger and engages the toggle blocks 26 and 27 and normally holds the latter in alinement (as in Fig. 1) through the pin 25 and collar 22 under the action of the spring 23 on the bolt 20, and thereby keeps said plunger in its retracted or safe position.

The pair of toggle blocks 26 and 27 have rounded ends to provide suitable fulcrum bearings 28, 29, 30 and 31 engaging complementary elements on the plunger, bolt and block 18 respectively whereby the looking bolt may be readily projected to release the plunger when the securing pin 25 is withdrawn. In this operation the parts assume, at one stage of their function, the positions shown in Fig. 2, and when finally released the securing device is of course completely discarded.

Any suitable means may be employed for supporting the bomb. It the bomb is held horizontally, the aperture for the pin 25 will be arranged transversely of the hammer or plunger 12, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, but if the bomb be supported ver tically, it may be necessary to form the pin aperture in parallel relation to the longitm dinalaxis oi the hammer, for obvious reasons. The pin 25 will be provided with suitable holding means, 0. a wire or lanyard adapted to be attached to the aeroplane or like structure-to insure its withdrawal when the bomb is dropped.

It will therefore be seen that when the aviator releases the bomb and the pin 25 is withdrawn the bolt 2-0 will be projected through the action of the sprin 23, and the plunger or hammer thereby rendered operative to effect the explosion of the bomb when the latter strikes any obstacle or its objective.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a drop bomb having a hammer, of a pair of stop blocks normally interposed in the path of movement of the hammer, and a spring tensioned bolt mounted on the hammer between said stop blocks to hold the hammer inoperative, and operable to release said blocks on the dropping of the bomb, substantially set forth.

2. The combination with a drop bomb having a hammer provided with a recess therein, of a pair of stop blocks disposed endwise in said recess, and a spring tensioned bolt mounted on the hammer between said blocks-and therewith normally holding the hammer inoperative, and'operable to release said blocks on the dropping of the bomb, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a drop bomb having a hammer provided with a slotted portion, of a pair of stop blocks disposed endwise in said slotted portion and seating against the bomb and hammer respectively, a spring tensioned bolt mounted on the harm mer between said blocks and therewith normally holding the hammer inoperative and a device for locking the bolt adapted to re lease the same on the dropping of the bomb, substantiallyv as set forth.

4. The combination with a drop bomb having a. hammer provided with a recess therein, of a pair of stop blocks disposed in said recess and having fulcrum hearings on said hammer and the bomb respectively, a spring tensioned bolt mounted on the ham mer and providing fulcrum bearings tor said blocks and therewith normally holding the hammer inoperative, and a device for locking the bolt adapted to release the same 011 the dropping of the bomb, substan tially as set forth.

5. In a bomb, releasablefiring means. a collapsible toggle device disposed when in operative position in longitudinal alinement with the firing means, and means operable for collapsing the-toggle device and releasing the firing means.-

STUART THOMSON.

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