US1506785A

US1506785A - Gravity bomb

Info

Publication number: US1506785A
Application number: US475640A
Authority: US
Inventors: Elmer A Sperry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1921-06-07
Filing date: 1921-06-07
Publication date: 1924-09-02
Anticipated expiration: 1941-09-02

Description

Se t. 2 1924. 1,506,785

' E. A. SPERRY GRAVITY BOMB Filed June 7. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 55% JLMk/YW mews.

Sept 2, 1924.

E. A. SPERRY GRAVITY BOMB Filed June 7, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 2 1924, 1,506,785

E. A. SPERRY GRAVITY BOMB Filed June 7. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 m-van (2m Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UlTED STATES ELMEB A. SPERRY, O'F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

GRAVITY BOMB.

Application filed June 7, 1921. Serial No. 475,640.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ELMER A. SPERRY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 1505 Albemarle Road, Brooklyn, New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gravity Bombs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the dropping of bombs and particularly to bombs provided with means for changing their path of descent, such as disclosed in the patent to Elmer A. Sperry and Thomas H. Phillips, Jr, To. 1,384,868, granted July 19, 1921, for dirigible gravity bomb. The patent referred to discloses a gravity bomb provided with a parachute or drag rudder for retarding the descent of the bomb and aiding in the accurate dropping of the latter, means under the control of a distant operator being provided for tilting the drag rudder to cause the bomb to move in a desired direction.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide means for releasing at least the explosive portion of the bomb from the retarding action of the drag rudder when the bomb arrives at a desired distance above the target, so that the velocity of drop, and hence the penetrative power of the bomb, may be considerably increased as it approaches the target, and for other reasons.

Still another object is the provision of means carried by the bomb for illuminating the target whenever the bomb arrives at a desired distance therefrom. Such means is advantageous not only in enabling the aviator to see the target clearly but also in shielding even a very low aircraft from observers on the ground, since the glare of a powerful light source carried by the bomb will prevent observers within the zone of light from seeing beyond said zone.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description of the invention is hereinafter developed.

Referring to the drawings where I have shown what I now consider to be the preferred form of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the upper portion of the bomb showing the drag rudder or parachute element.

Fig. 2 is a view on a smaller scale of the bomb after launching and showing the drag rudder in open position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the drag rudder tilted to change the path of descent of the bomb.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bomb as it appears when descending.

Fig. 5 is an elevation, partly in section of a bomb provided with means for releasing the explosive portion of the bomb from the parachute or drag rudder, and also with a flare for illuminating the target.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on lines 6'6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view, partly in section, of a detail of the bomb-releasing means.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of an element for sending impulses to control the bomb.

Fig. 9 is an elevation partly in section of a selector which may be employed.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation partly in section showing a modified arrangement of flare applied to the lower portion of the bomb.

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram of the apparatus on the bomb.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the upper portion of the bomb, showing one form of means which may be employed to destroy said upper portion after the remainder of the bomb has been released from the parachute.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is shown the type of bomb disclosed in the patent above referred to. The bomb is shown at 1 and the drag rudder or parachute element at 2. The latter is non-rotatably secured to the bomb by means of a rod or stem 3. The element 2 is termed a drag rudder for the reason that it serves both to retard the descent of the bomb and to steer the latter. By tilting the drag rudder the path of descent of the bomb may be changed at will. Thus if said rudder, which is shown in neutral position in Fig. 2, is deflected to a position as illustrated in Fig. 3, the bomb will drift to the right. In short, if the axis of element 2 is deflected in a clockwise direction, the bomb will drift to the right, and if it is deflected in a counter-clockwise direction the bomb will drift to the left. It should be noted that the central stem or post 3 aids in maintaining the parachute 2 and bomb 1 rigidly aligned and thus gives a better rudder action. I

The construction of the drag rudder 2 and connections between it and the bomb are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. The stem 3 terminates in a frame 1 which clears the windwheel 5 (see. Fig. 5). and is riveted or otherwise secured to the upper portion of the bomb. The windwheel aforementioned performs certain functions which have been fully described in the aforesaid patent and may also be utilized for certain other purposes as will more fully appear hereinafter. A hollow cylindrical guard 6 surrounds said wheel to protect the latter and to prevent snarling of the

operating cables

7, 7. The cable 7. T are connected to a ring 8 which engages the upper side of said drag rudder, so that by tilting said ring the drag rudder will be tilted and the path of descent of the bomb may be changed. Said cables pass through suitable openings in the ribs 10 of the drag rudder. as shown, and also through suitable openings in the bomb. Cable 7 is wound around a drum 11 within the bomb and is connected to ring 8 at diametrically opposite points on the latter. Similarly the cable 7 is wound around a drum 12 within the bomb and is connected to the drag rudder at two opposed points each 90 from the connections of cable '7, as is shown in Fig. -l*- The means whereby the drums 11 and 12 may be actuated at the will of a distant operator to tilt ring 8 and thus control the path of descent of the bomb is fully disclosed in said patent and will hence not be described here.

Cords 13 each connected at one end to the outer end of acorresponding one of ribs 10 are adapted to extend through openings 14 in the bomb when the. drag rudder is folded as to be wound on a. drum or reel for the purpose of spinning up a gyroscope within the bomb when the drag rudder opens. as is fully described in the aforesaid patent. An antenna 16 for receiving wireless impulses may be suitably connected at one end to some part of the bomb for movement therewith and at the other end to a small parachute 17 for sustaining the antenna. The top of the drag rudder has an arrow 100 depicted thereon, said arrow being in line with the points of connection between cable 7 and ring 8. By tilting the drag rudder in the proper direction through cables 7. T the bomb may be caused to drift forwardly, rearwardly, to the right, or to the left with respect to said arrow. For night bombing a small Searchlight 101 is carried by the bomb to throw a slightly divergent beam as indicated in Fig. 4, the center line of the beam thus indicating the position of the bomb in azimuth.

I have devised means whereby at least the explosive portion of the boiiib may be released from the retarding action of the drag rudder when the bomb arrives at a desired distance above the target. The velocity of drop and the penetrative power of the bomb may thus be increased. One form which said means may assume is shown in Figs. 5, 6 and T and may be constructed and arranged substantially as follows:

The portion 18 of the bomb. the lower part of which contains the explosive may be secured releasably to the upper portion 19 by means of suitable hooks 20 on the interior of the bomb. Said hooks are shown pivoted to the upper part of section 18 and are adapted to engage eyes 21 on the lower part of section 19. For moving said hooks out of engagement with said eyes a. spider 22 having a plurality of forked arms 23. one for each hook, loosely surrounds shaft 21 of windwheel 5 and is adapted to be clutched thereto by a friction clutch disk 25 slidably mounted on-said shaft for rotation therewith. Each hook20 rests within the forked end of a corresponding arm 23 and may be resiliently held in engagement with its corresponding eye 21 by means of a spring 26. A stop 27 may be provided for limiting the throw of the book by said spring. Each hook may further be provided with a handle 20' extending through a slot 28 in the wall of the bomb so that said hooks may be moved to permit the proper assembling and locking of the

bomb sections

18 and 19. A flange 29 may be provided on the bomb portion 19, said flange overlapping the section 18. It will readily be seen that when arms 23 are'moved counter-clockwise in Fig. 6. or to the left in Fig. 7, the books 20 will be disengaged from their corresponding eyes 21. Movement of said arms in said direction occurs whenever the slidable friction clutch member 25 is moved into engagement with spider 22. For so moving said clutch member a solenoid 80 may be provided which, when energized, pulls upwardly a core 31 attached to one end of a lever 32. Said lever is connected to said clutch member at its other end and is pivoted intermediate its ends to the bomb section 19. From this construction it will readily be seen that whenever solenoid is energized the bomb section 18 will be released from section 19, and since the upper section 19 is retarded by the drag rudder the portion 18 will separate from the upper section and will drop unimpeded by said drag rudder. The energization of the solenoid 30 may be caused at the will of a distant operator or by any other suitable automatic means as will presently appear. The shaft 24 of the windwheel 5 is formed in sections suitably keyed together as shown, so that the lower section carried by bomb portion 18 may readily separate from the section of said shaft carried by bomb portion 19. Preferably, rotation of the

bomb sections

18 and 19 with respect to each other when said sections are assembled is prevented by some suitable means such as a shoulder 33 on section 18 fitting into a corresponding recess on section 19.

The particular portion of the bomb that is released from the action of the drag rudder is of course immaterial, so long as the explosive portion of the bomb is so released. While I am aware that means might be provided for placing the drag rudder out of action instead of releasing one section of the bomb from another, the fact that the drag rudder is connected through ring 8 an cords or wires 7 7 with drums 11 and 12 on the interior of bomb section 19 renders the means which I have disclosed preferable.

It may be desired when dropping bombs at night to illuminate the target. Such illumination not only aids the operator controlling the dropping of the bomb in seeing the target but furthermore shields said operator from observers within the zone of illumination, since the glare from the source of illumination prevents observers from within said zone from discerning objects beyond said zone. The aircraft from which the bomb is dropped may thus descend to within a very low distance of the target. In Fig. 5 is shown a block 34 of illuminating material, such as is commonly employed in aerial flare bombs, which block is suitably secured below the bottom of the bomb. Said block may be secured to a reflector 35 attached to the bottom of the bomb for the purpose of concentrating the light on objects below. The flare material may be ignited by an incandescent coil 36 embedded therein and connected by a cable 37 with a suitable source of electricity within the bomb. The coil 36 may be energized at the will of the distant operator or by some automatic means as will appear more fully hereinafter.

An alternative arrangement of the flare, which offers a minimum resistance to the descent of the bomb is shown in Fi 10. In this figure the flare is housed within the lower portion of the bomb. The portion of the bomb that contains the explosive 38 terminates at the partition 39. The reflector 35 to which the block 34' of flare material is secured is supported within the lower portion of the bomb by the walls thereof and below the partition 39. Openings 40 may be provided in the transparent bottom of the bomb and a series of apertures 41 around the lower edge of the reflector whereby air may be drawn through the space surrounding the illuminant out through apertures 41, to remove fumes from said space. Apertures 42 for the passage of air may also be provided in the portion of the walls of the bomb between partition 39 and reflector 34'. The block 35 of flare material may, of course, be ignited in the same manner as the block 34.

For enabling the operator in control of the descent of the bomb to control at will the energization of solenoid 30 and coil 36 means such as shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10 may be provided. In the application aforesaid there has been fully disclosed means whereby the pointing of a control element of the sending instrument 9 in a given direction will automatically cause the descending bomb to move in that direction. The aforesaid control element is shown at 45 in Fig.

8 and is rotatable with respect to a dial 46' provided with arrows or other suitable reference marks 46 for cooperation with said control element. Said control element is rotatable in one direction only, clockwise, for example. In the patent referred to four arrows, apart, were provided, means being also provided for automatically closing a circuit through a wireless transmission system whenever said control element was positioned adjacent any one of said arrows. Thus during one revolution of said control element the circuit of the means for sending impulses of radiant energy was closed four times. Although various types of means for enabling the operator to control the energization of solenoid 30 and coil 36 by wireless impulses may be arranged, an especially advantageous system for accomplishing this result is that shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, wherein the energization of said coil and solenoid may be controlled by the same element 45 as is utilized to control the path of descent of the bomb. For this purpose I may employ a transmitting instrument 9 similar in all respects to that shown in said patent, except that the wireless transmission circuit is closed a greater number of times during one revolution of the control element 45. Although the exact number of times per revolution of said element that said circuit is closed may be widely varied in accordance with the type of selective switch employed on the bomb, in the example which I have shown said c1rcuit should be closed whenever said control element moves through of a revolu' tion. This, of course, may be accomplished in the transmitting instrument in Figs. l-4 of said patent by merely varying the

gearing

14, 18 so that cam 20 closes contacts 2122 whenever the control element moves through revolution. Also eight notches in the disk 7 in Fig. 2 of saidpatent should be provided in place of four, so that the con trol element may be automatically releasably held in any one of eight positions during one revolution thereof. Eight arrows 46 are shown in Fig. 8 four of which, spaced 90 from each other, correspond to the four arrows shown in connection with the control element in said patent. By placing the control element upon any of said four arrows the bomb Wlll be caused to travel in the direction of the arrow. Also, by pointing said control element on either of the diametrically opposed arrows marked X one or the other of

coils

30, 36 may be energized,

and by pointing said element on either of the diametrically opposed arrows Z the other of said coils may be energized. The indications X and Z or other suitable designations may be ainted on the dial 46 opposite the arrows a oresaid to indicate to the operator the positions to which the control element 45 should be moved to ignite the flare and to release the explosive portion of the bomb from the drag rudder. As explained fully in the aforesaid patent the transmittin instrument 9 is stabilized in azimuth an also the bomb is stabilized in azimuth by meansincluding control surfaces 105. The wireless receiving means on the bomb may take the form shown in Figs. 9- and 10 and may be constructed and arranged substantially as follows:

A selective switch 47 is positioned on the bomb, as part of the receiving apparatus and as shown, comprises a solenoid 48 having a slidable core 49 which, when the solenoid is energized, pushes a lever 50 to the left in Fig. 8. A pawl 51 is pivoted to one end of said lever and engages at its forward end a ratchet wheel 52. A spring 53 connected at one end to lever50 and bearing at its other on pawl 51 aids in maintaining said pawl in engagement with said Y ratchet. Rotatable with the ratchet 52 is a switch arm 54, in the path of rotation of which are 8 equidistantly spaced contacts 80. Between a pair of rigidly mounted contact members 55, 56 is a spring contact member 57 normally biased by its inherent resiliency into engagement with contact 56. A pin or projection 58 from lever 50 engages said contact member 57 and, when the solenoid 48 is energized, moves said member out of engagement with contact 56 and 1nto engagement with contact 55. The selective switch structure just described is similar to that shown in said patent except that the ratchet 52 is provided with eight teeth instead of twelve, and the switch has but one arm 54 and eight contacts 80.

The operatlon of the wireless control means will be readily understood from Fig. 11. When an impulse of radiant energy is received by antenna 16 a relay coil 59 is energized through a conventional wireless receiving circuit 61, as in said prior application, and attracts a relay armature 60 thereby closing a circuit from source of E. M. F. 62 through solenoid 48. Ratchet wheel 52 is thereby pushed through revolution, bringing swltch arm 54 into engagement with the next adjacent contact 80 and at the

same time contacts

57 and 55 are engaged. If said switch arm engages any one of contacts F, B, R, L, the corresponding one of

coils

63 F, 63 B, 63 R, 63 L, will drag rudder to be returned to its neutral position, through one or the other of

contact arms

64, 64. in cooperation with the corresponding one of

contact segments

65, 66. 65, 66. V This has been fully described in said patent and further description here is unnecessary. In fact, the operation of the means for deflecting the drag rudder is the same in this application as in the aforesaid prior case. except for the arrangement of contacts F, B. R- and L, with respect to switch arm 54. Whenever said switch arm is engaged with one of said contacts the. operation of the drag-rudder deflecting means is identical with that shown in said prior application. as will readily be apparent. Except for the modified arrange ment of contacts and switch arm 54, and the addition of means for energizing

coils

30 and 36, the entire wiring diagram of Fig. 8 is the same as that shown in Fig. 26 of said patent and its operation except in so far as it concerns the energization of coils 1310 and 36 need not be further discussed ere.

Contacts X, X of the set of contacts 80 are shown connected to a relay coil 68, and contacts Z, Z to a relay coil 67. The latter coils are in turn connected in circuit with battery 62 so that whenever switch arm 54 engages one of said contacts and

contacts

55 and 57 are engaged, a circuit through the corresponding relay will be closed. The relay 67, when energized, at tracts an armature 69 to close a circuit through a battery or other source of E. M. F. 70 and solenoid 30, while the relay 68 when energize-d attracts an armature 71 to close a circuit through said battery and coil 36. Although switch arm 54 will pass over contacts X, X, Z, Z frequently during the controlling of the path of descent of the bomb, the energization of solenoid 30 and coil 36 should not occur until the operator so desires and hence relays 67, 68 should be of the retarded relay type, so that their momentary 'energization by the passage of switch arm 54 over the corresponding contacts will not be sufficient to attract their respective armatures 69, 71; or if desired dash pots may be connected to said armatures or other suitable time lag devices may be employed to retard the attraction of said armatures. Consequently, the momentary engagement of switch arm 54 with any one of contacts X, X, Z, Z,

to control the flight of the bomb.

As a specific example of the operation of the bomb, assume that arm 54 is 1n the position shown and that it'is desired to cause the bomb to move to the left. The control 1 element 45, which is initially set to point in the same direction as the arrow 100 or light beam 101 is now pointed to the left with respect to said arrow or beam. This results in the sending of one short and one long impulse and causes switch arm 54 to move in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 11, to pass over contact X, and to come into engagement with contact L. The momentary engagement of said switch arm with said contact X does not, however, affect the energization of coil 36, as above explained. With the control element pointed to the left with respect to arrow 100, at which time said control element is on' one of the arrows 46, an impulse is sent as long as said element is held on said arrow, and solenoid 48 may thus be maintained energized to hold contacts and 57 in engagement a suflicient length of time to cause the bomb to travel the desired distance to the left. When it is desired to stop said bomb from traveling in said direction said control element is moved a slight distance clockwise to a reference mark 102, for example. By the time said control element reaches said reference mark, the wireless transmission circuit is broken and the drag rudder is thereupon centralized. Indicating or reference marks 102 may be positioned adjacent the respective arrows 46, as

shown, to indicate positions to which the control element may be moved to break the wireless transmission circuit. If now it should be desired to cause the bomb to travel forwardly, the control element 45 is turned clockwise to place it on the arrow on the dial 46 that points in the same direction as the arrow 100 or light beam 101. This results in the sending of five short impulses and one long impulse. The short impulses place switch arm 54 successively on contacts Z, B, X", R, and Z, but neither of

relays

67, 68, nor the steering apparatus responds to these short impulses. The long impulse laces said arm 54 on contact F and the bomb will drift in a forward direction as long as said long impulse lasts. The 1mpulse ma be terminated by moving element 45 into t e next succeeding line 102 whereupon the drag rudder will again centrahze.

Now if it should be desired to ignite the flare on the bottoni of the bomb the operator need only move control element 45 upon the nearest arrow X and hold it there asufficlent length of time. A long impulse is thereby sent. so that arm 54 moves 1nto engagement with contact X and after the energ zation of solenoid 48 a suflicient time by sa1d impulse the armature 71 is moved sufficiently to close a circuit thru coil 36, thus igniting

flare

34 or 34. If it should now be desired to release the explosive portion of the bomb from the drag rudder, control element 45 is moved upon the nearest arrow Z and is held there for a sufficient time. This movement of said control element results in the sending of one short and one long impulse so that switch arm 54 now moves into engagement with contact Z, and after

contacts

55, 57 have been closed a sufiicient time, relay armature 69 closes a circuit through solenoid 30. Arms 23 are thereupon rotated to release hooks 20 from eyes 21, and the portion 18 of the bomb separates from p0 .ion 19 and the drag rudder, and drops with increased velocity upon the target.

It will thus be seen that the operator, merely by moving control element 45 to the deslred position, may not only control the path of descent of the bomb but furthermore may ignite the flare and cause the release of the explosive portion of the bomb from the drag rudder. If desired automatic means, such as barometric or time controlled means, may be provided for closing a circuit through the solenoid 30 and coil 36 independently of the operator. In Fig. 11 I have shown a conventional barometric device 72 comprising an expansible resilient-walled container 73 from which air is exhausted. To the bottom of this container is attached a contact, which, when a given atmospheric pressure corresponding to a definite altitude is attained, engages an adjustably mounted resilient contact to close a circuit through solenoid 30. By this device a circuit through said solenoid may be closed automatically when the bomb arrives at a desired height above the target. A similar barometric device 74 may be provided for automaticall closing a circuit through coil 36 when a given altitude is reached. These barometric devices may be omitted, of course, if desired, or the wireless control of the solenoid 30 and coil 36 may be omitted and the barometric control relied upon alone. In Fig. 11 I have shown the barometric control and also the wireless control since both may be used together. In this case, if the operator should be shot down or otherwise disabled, the barometric control would automatically control the solenoid 30 and coil 36 after the bomb reached its desired height. The barometric device 7 4 should preferably be set to close a circuit through coil 36 prior to the closing of a circuit by barometric device 72 through solenoid 30.

It will be seen that the portion 18 of the bomb that is released from the drag rudder contains the major portion of the interior mechanism of the bomb, which will be destroyed when the bomb explodes and thus prevented from falling into the hands of the enemy. The upper portion 19, however,

contains the mechanism for tilting the drag I tioned adjacent the wall of the bomb and comprises a container 76 of suitable exploslve substance, with which container communicates a passage 77 containing slow burning powder. A primer 78 enters said passage and is adapted to be exploded by a hammer 79 pivoted at 83 and biased into en agement with said primer by a spring 81. A ever 82 engages at one end a lug or projection 84 on said hammer and at its other end said lever is enga ed by one of the arms 23 of the spider 22. 0 long as solenoid 30 is deenergized the parts referred to occupy the positions shown in Fig. 12, but when energization of said solenoid occurs, arms 23 are rotated, whereupon lever 82 is moved to draw hammer 79 away from the primer until lever 82 is disengaged from lug 84. Thereupon spring 81 causes said hammer to explode primer 78 and ignite the slow burning powder in passage 77. After a predetermlned time the explosive charge in container 76 is ignited and the entire portion 19 of the bomb blown to pieces.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have herein described the principle of o eration of my invention, together with t e apparatus, which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the ap aratus shown is only illustrative and that t e invention can be carried out by other means. Also, while it is designed 110 use the various features and elements in the combination and relations described,

"some of these may be altered and others omitted without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extends to such use.

Hawing described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a bomb, retarding means attached to said bomb, and means under control after launching the bomb for releasin at least the ex losive portion of the born from said retar ing means at any desired point during the travel of said bomb.

2. In combination, a bomb, a parachute attached thereto, and means under control after launching the bomb for releasing at least the explosive portion of said bomb from said parachute when the bomb arrives at an; desired position.

3. n combination, a bomb, a parachute attached thereto for retarding the descent thereof, and wireless means for releasing at least the explosive portion of said bomb from said parachute when the bomb arrives at an desired position.

4:. n combination, a bomb, a parachute attached thereto for retarding the descent thereof, and means under the control of a distant operator for releasing at least the explosive portion of the bomb from said parachute.

5. In combination, a bomb, a parachute attached thereto for retarding the descent thereof, and a switch element controllable at the will of a distant operator to govern the path of descent of the bomb, and means controlled by said switch element when the latter is in a given position for releasing at least the explosive portion of said bomb from said parachute.

6. In combination, a bomb, a parachute attached thereto for retarding the descent thereof, means forgoverning the ath of descent of the bomb, and means un er control after launching the bomb for releasing at least the explosive portion of said bomb from said parachute when the bomb arrives at any desired position.

7. In combination, a bomb, a parachute attached thereto for retarding the descent thereof, and automatic means under control after launching the bomb for releasing at least the explosive portion of said bomb from said parachute when the bomb arrives at any desired position.

8. In combination, a bomb, a parachute attached thereto for retarding the descent thereof, and barometric means for releasing at least the explosive portion of the bomb from said parachute when said bomb arrives at a predetermined altitude.

9.-In combination, a gravity bomb. a parachute attached thereto, illuminating means carried at the lower portion of said bomb for throwing light upon the target. means for releasing at least the explosive portion of the bomb from said parachute. a switch element movable to a plurality of positions, means brought into action in one position of said element for rendering operative said illuminating means, and means brought into action in another position of said element for rendering operative said releasing means.

10. In combination, a gravity bomb, a parachute attached thereto, illuminating means carried at the lower portion of said bomb for throwing light upon the target, means for releasing at least the explosive portion of the bomb from said parachute, a switch element movable to a plurality of positions, means brought into action in one position of said element for rendering operative said illuminating means, means brought into action in another position of said element for rendering operative said releasing means, and means for controlling the position of said element at the will of a distant operator.

11. In combination, a bomb, illuminating means carried thereby, and means controllable at the Will of a distant operator and disconnected from said illuminating means for bringing said illuminating means into action.

12. In combination, a bomb, illuminating means carried at the bottom thereof, .and reflecting means for comentrating the light from said illuminating means upon a target below the bomb.

13. In combination, a bomb, illuminating means carried thereby, and automatic means for bringing said illuminating means into action.

14. In combination, a bomb, means carried thereby for illuminating a target below the bomb, and means for bringing said illuminating means into action when the bomb arrives at a predetermined distance from the target.

15. In combination, a bomb, means carried thereby for illuminating a target below the bomb, and barometric means for bringing said illuminating means into action.

16. In combination, a gravity bomb, retarding means attached thereto, means for releasing one portion of the bomb from said retarding means, and means responsive to the release of said portion for destroying the other portion thereof.

17. In combination, a gravity bomb, a parachute attached thereto, means for releasing a portion of said bomb from said parachute, and meansfor destroying another portion of said bomb after the release of said first-mentioned portion.

18. In combination, a gravity bomb, a parachute attached thereto for retarding the descent thereof, means for releasing a portion of the bomb from said parachute, means for destroying another portion of said bomb, and means controllable at the will of a distant operator for bringing the two first-mentioned means into action.

19. In combination, a gravity bomb, a parachute attached thereto for retarding the descent thereof, means carried by the bomb for illuminating a target below said bomb, means for releasing a portion of the bomb from said parachute, means for destroying another portion of said bomb, and means controllable at the will of a distant operator for bringing the three first-mentioned means into action.

20. In combination, a gravity bomb, a parachute attached thereto for retarding the descent thereof, means for releasing a portion of said bomb from said parachute, means for destroying another portion of said bomb, and automatic means for bringing said two first-mentioned mfeans intol action.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

. ELMER A. SPERRY.