US1770577A - Explosive missile - Google Patents

Description

y 15, 1930- s. LEBENSART 1,770,577

BXPLOS IVE IISS ILB Filed Oct. so. 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 91; Fi v Z9 Vin 0ft .fJl/am an, [e ienJirf 3 w lrfornz i 1930- s. LEBENSART 1,770,577

EXPLOSIVB MISSILE Filed Oct. 30, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 12m on, Zeienszrf y 15, 1930- s; LEBENSART 1,770,577

BXPLOS IVE IIS 5 I148 Filed Oct. 30, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 .fiijimtn/ Zeilnfiff fi'r/ W July 15, 1930. s. LEBENSART 1,770,577

EXPLOS IVE II SSILE Filed Oct. 30, 1923 6 Shoots-Sheet 4 b' 1930. s. LEBENSART 1,770,577

BXPLOSIVB IISSILE Filed Oct. 30, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 15, 1930. s. LEBENSART EXPLOSIVE IISSILI Filed Oct. 30, 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 fizdmdn lezensarf' Patented July 15, 1930 PATENT' OFFICE SALAMON LEBENSART, O1 VIENNA, AUSTRIA EXPLOSIVE IISSILE Application filed October 80, 1923, Serial No. 871,726, and in Austria November 8, 1922.

This invention relates to explosive projectiles, and more particularly to the type of projectiles generally known as hand-grenadesor, simply, as grenades; its object being to improve the construction of such projectiles and especially in connection with the safety devices usually provided for insuring protection both during manufacture and subsequent handling, transportation and throwing.

The invention also aims to provide an im proved percussion fuse which will be brought into action automatically on striking the ground, re ardless of the character of the latter or whether it be covered by water or snow; and to construct a grenade in which a water-tight joint is provided between the removable cover and the body or casing, so as to prevent the access of water to the fuse or to the explosive charge during transportation or storage. Other and further objects and improvements are comprised in the invention and will be explained in the course of the following detailed description.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and therein:

Figures 1" and 1 jointly represent a longitudinal sectional view of the grenade, the first-mentioned figure showing the parts of the fuse in elevation, and the other figure in section;

Figs. 2 and 2 conjointly represent the fuse in longitudinal'section, Fig. 2 showing the positions of the parts after the safety device for transportation has been released, but before the grenade is thrown, and Fig. 2 showing the positions of said parts during the action of throwing;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section, of the grenade, likewise without the previously-mentioned safety device, the right-hand or sectional half of the figure showing the positions of the fuse parts during the latter portion of the flight of the grenade and at the moment of its impact with the ground;

Figs. 4 and 4 jointly constitute a sectional view of the fuse and represent, respectively, the positions of the parts at the moment when the tiring-pin impacts against the percussion cap, and at the moment when ignition has been completed;

Fi 5 is a view showing certain diagrams relating to Fi and 4";

Figs. 6' an 6 respectively show the fuse in transverse section on line 6-6, Fig. 3, and padrtly in plan view, with certain parts omitte Fig. 7 is a plan devices;

Figs. 8 and 8 respectively show said safety device in side elevation and vertical section;

Figs. 9 and 9 respectively show the parts of the safety device in the positions which they assume during the action of throwing and during flight;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the other safety device; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are, respectively, a side elevation and a plan view of the complete grenade.

Referrin more particularly to the drawings, U designates the casing of the grenade, which may vary in form and construction in practice to meet different requirements, and which is here shown as egg-shaped. The said casing is made of sheet metal and is provided with circumferential transverse bosses or ribs U1, U and U and with longitudinal bosses U which serve not only to stiffen and strengthen it but also to increase the frictional resistance when the missile strikes the ground, thereby checking its tendency to slide or roll on hard ground or to sink too easily into soft ground. The central boss U,, moreover, may act as a guide in case the grenade is fired from a trench mortar or the view of one of the safety like.

portion of the fuse casing terminate in a. neck R of reduced diameter which yes .m a holder for the detonator cap X; the latter being retained in place therein by a cap '1 which is slit to form a series of sprint the free ends T of which are designed to snap into engagement with depressions or pockets R provided in the wall of neck B th iuwardly-extending portions of these oi ac..- serving as stops to limit the inward movement of cap X.

The detonating charge in cap X is ignited by the explosion of a percussion cap it which is itself detonated by a tiring-pin B in the manner subsequently explained. The percussion cap E is mounted in a holder D which constitutes the lower portion or stem of a funnel-shaped, sheet metal member I); the said holder being supported by a collar or fastener F and being prevented from moving inward by means of stops D that project inward from the lower end of the funnel wall. The cap E is inserted into its holder D from the outside, as will be understood; and since the collar F is preferably threaded on said holder, the tightening of the collar also serves the purpose of testing the safety of the fuse, as the latter is certain to be ignited by the pressure set up by such operation if it is not properly locked. Thus, after the percussion cap has been titted, the armed shell is automatically tested as to its absolute safety.

The previously-mentioned funnel or cone D is provided with a set of upstanding arms D to the upper ends of which a dished or concavo-convex shell C is fastened. An y suitable connection may be utilized for this purpose, but I prefer to employ an interlock analogous to a bayonet-joint, as indicated at C in Fig. 1*, wherein, a shown, the free ends of said arms are bent over and designed to engage under lugs or projections on the upturned edge or rim of the shell (I. Four arms have been illustrated in the present instance, but such number may, of course, be varied; and these arms, together with the tap E and its holder D the cone or funnel I) and the shell C conjointly form a single unit which is movable bodily to and fro axially of the easing R wherein it is contained.

As stated above, the percussion cap E is ignited by the tiring-pin B which is prcl'erably drawn from a second dished shell B of the opposite convexity from shell C. This shell B is provided with upstanding arms B which carry at their upper ends a locking ring K: said ring beingpreferably connected to the arm ends by a joint or interlock K (Fig. 6") similar to the joint C, above described, though it may be formed integral with arms B if desired. The arms B, and D overlap, as shown in Figs. 1, 1*. i3 and ti"; and in order to reduce friction as far as possible during their movements these parts, as Well as the associated shells B and C and the nt: ii. have their marginal edges turned o. mward throughout their entire extent. thereby decreasing the contacting surfaces. Moreover. the two shells B and C are -wwtc in th fuse raising it in such a way as to enable their relative axial sliding n1ovement but not their rotation, with the result that the edges of the arms B and D are prevented from contacting with one another and producing frictional resistance or sticking. To eltect this, the fuse casin is formed with longitudinal grooves R, (Figs. 1 and t5), and on the parts B and D, as well as on the parts attached to them, projections D and K are provided which are adapted to slide therein.

Between the shells B and C there is interposed a weight A which acts. at the moment of impact, to ignite the percussion cap I) by means of the tiring-pin B This weight is here shown as spherical. but it may have any other shape. desired. A special spring (Jr is employed to return tho weight to its normal central position (represented in Figs. 1' and l") in the event that it move out of such position while the grenade is in tlight, due to its inertia: said spring also serving to return to their normal positions the shell B and (through the shell (I) the cone 1). should they have been l'orced out of such position from any cause.

In order to prevent the'liriug-pin B from igniting the percussion cap E during the act of throwing the grenade. a safety-lock is provided which is adapted to be inserted as a unit in the fuse casing it. .\s shown in Figs. T. 8" and 8'. this device comprises a ring L enclosing a series of small balls M which rest on an inner supporting ring U. The outer ring ll. hereinafter termed the safety ring. has its upper portion inadc smaller than its lower portion, thus producing an intermediate annular stop shoulder L the upper edge of the ring being bent inward at intervals to l'orm lips L against which the halls M are held by the action of a spring P (Fig. 8) which presses against the underside of ring 0.

In addition to the parts just described, the safety device comprises a sleeve X which is enciri-led bv the lull-supporting ring and is provided at its lower end with an outwardly and upwardly bent flange, against which the expansihle coil spring I also acts. This sleeve rests upon a support or plate Q. provided at its edge with a set of upstanding spring hooks Q, whose free ends Q are bent so as to normally engage over the upper edge of ring L (Figs. 1 and 8 thus connecting the parts L. and N together to form a coinpre sible unit and preventing upward movement of ring L. The imposition of pressure in an upward direction against plate Q. however, will disengage the hook ends from ring L, and he latter and the balls M will then be soon as such force ceases to act.

free to rise under the action of spring P, as will be understood from Figs. 9 and t). The plate Q is dished and conforms to the curvature of shell C and between the latter and the said plate, there is preferably interposed a cover I having a central concavo-convex portion of the same curvature and a flanged outer portion against which the spring G directly bears, so that the pressure of said spring is thus transmitted to the safety-lock or device, the cover assisting in closing the fuse casing when the grenade is in flight (Fig. 3

A second safety-device is also provided for the purpose of securing the parts during transportation, and comprises a locking member H and an associated spring J said member taking the form of a disk and being provided with a central depending collar H (Fig. 1"), the lower end of which terminates adjacent the shell C. The spring J encircles this collar and bears at one end against the adjacent part of disk H and at the other end, through plate Q and cover I, against shell C, so that the percussion cap E. which is carried by said shell, is prevented from being ignited by the firing-pin B even though the first safety device is omitted. Hence, the two safety devices constitute separate means for protecting the tiring-pin and percussion cap directly and independently of each other.

The locking ring K and disk H may be connected together in any desired manner, but preferably by means of interlocks or joints which are likewise analogous to bayonet joints and each of which, as shown in Fig. 10, may comprise an imvardly-projecting rib K formed upon the inner face of the wall of the ring, and an outwardly-projecting lug H formed on the down-turned edge of the disk and engageable with the edge of said rib, the latter having a central notch or indentation K, which normally receives said lug and, hence, serves to position the locking disk H. The spring J is designed to exert an upward pressure against disk H and thus maintains the parts H and K, in engagement, so that if the disk is displaced slightly by some accidental force from its normal position, it will be restored to that position by said spring as p The lock thus formed may be released by turning the disk H in either direction, in the manner subsequently explained, so that the release is consequent] y simplified.

As will be understood from Fig. 1", the collar H does not extend so far inward of the fuse casing as to completely lock the weight A against movement but, on the contrary, a small space or gap is left between the collar end and the shell C, so that weight A, the firing-pin and the cap E are thus permitted to have a slight play which, of course, is sufficiently less than the distance between the firing-pin and cap Eto prevent ignition of the latter by the former. Furthermore, it will likewise be apparent that the various parts within the fuse, even with the safety devices applied, are resiliently supported or cushioned, so that the shocks and vibrations which are inevitable during transportation will be transmitted to and taken up by the spring J, whereby the dangers heretofore present from such source are avoided.

In order to unlock the second or transportation safety device, a releasing means is'provided which comprises a set of parts assembled in such a way as to form-a water-tight cover for the grenade; the main element thereof being a thin, flexible sheet metal diaphragm or closure member V. This member V fits over the top of the fuse casing and is provided with a curved edge V adapted to engage the inclined or tapered flange portion R of said casing, adjacent which edge it is formed with a pair of projecting lugs V cons stituting handles for effecting its rotation. At its center, the member V is provided with an opening through which passes an externally-threaded sleeve or plug W that screws into the collar H on the locking disk H, so that by turning said plug in the proper direction, the edge V can be caused to press against the portion R with suflicient force to form a water-tight joint.

The locking disk H is preferably formed with a plurality of depressions or pockets H (Figs. 1 and 6 to receive studsor projections V on the closure member V, so that the two parts H and V will thus rotate in unison when the latter is turned by means of its handles V the rotation of the part H disengaging its lugs H from the notched ribs K on the locking ring K and thus releasing the transportation safety device. 'The pressure imposed upon the diaphragm or member V by the plug \V has the elfect of forcing the central portion of said member downward, so that the retention of the projections VQin the pockets H is thus assured. The said pockets are preferably so positioned as to engage the hooked ends of the springs Q thereby pre venting accidental disengagement 0 said ends from the safety ring L during transportation or handling of the grenade.

The diaphragm member V is protected by means of an outer cover Z which may be attached thereto by providing the two parts with interengaging threaded rims Z and V though any other desired connection may be substituted if preferred. A separate cover S may also be provided for the fuse casing R which may be suitably secured to the casing flange R the upper edge of said cover S having an oblique formation in order to cause the grenade to overturn if it should strike the ground at such edge, this for the purpose of preventing small pointed objects on the ground from penetrating into the fuse casing and disturbing the firing-action. The

member V may finally be equipped with a device for preventing its accidental rotation; such device consisting of a lead seal VR (Figs. 1 and l"), the wires of which are engaged with projecting bosses V and It formed, respectively, on said member V and on the fuse casing R.

It will be apparent from the foregoing and particularly from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 1, that the fuse may be entirely assembled and fitted with both safety devices and even with the lead seal VR before arming it that is to say, without inserting the percussion and detonating caps E and X. These two caps may be inserted after all other parts of the fuse have been assembled, so that there is no danger whatever in handling the fuse during manufacture. Moreover, the grenade and fuse may be stored in entirely unarmed conditioni. e., without the caps E and X and the bursting charge Y, but otherwise completely assembled and even equipped with the lead seal.

The grenades are distributed in quantity for use, preferably without the lead seals VR which may previously be detached. Before throwing, the outer safety device (which is the one used in transportation) is removed by rotating the closure member V in either direction to an extent of about 6O90 by means of its handles V thus unlocking the joints H K between the locking disk H and ring K, due to the engagement of the projections V and pockets H The spring J will then eject the members H and V, together with the outer cover Z, and will itself be removed from the fuse casing, and the spring G will thereupon lift the cover I, and with it the entire inner safety device comprising the parts Q, 0, N, M and L. bodily away from shell C and into the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the safety ring L abuts against the locking ring K.

The grenade, then being ready for use, is hurled in any desired manner, during which operation the weight or ball A will move out of its norinalcentral position owingto its own inertia and to the impetus given to the grenade itself. This movement of the weight.

has the effect of increasing the distance between the two shells B and'C and, consequently, of shortening that between shell Cand ring K, as represented in Fig. 2 the shortening of the latter distance, however, being limited by the contact of the ball-supporting ring 0 of the safety device with the bent edge of sleeve N. \Vhen this contact occurs, the movement of the weight due to its inertia ceases. but in the meantime, the disengagement of the spring hooks Q from the safety ring L has taken place, due to the axial shortening or compression of the safety device. The said ring, however, is pressed backward or downward by the action of the weight A during the throwing operation, which action is transmitted to the ring by means of the shell B and its arms B and the locking ring K; but as soon as the actual throwing operation is completed, and the forces created by the momentum of the weight cease to act, then the safety ring is moved upward or outward, together with the parts K, B and B by the spring P, whereupon weight A resumes its normal central position. On the other hand, the small locking balls M are freed by the upward movement of ring L (Fig. 9*) so that they may be ejected automatically by the action of spring 1, whereas the supporting ring 0, the sleeve N and the plate Q are automatically removed by the action of spring G Which forces the cover I upward into contact with ring L, thereby closing the fuse casing (Fig. 3). Consequently, although the operation of releasing the safety device commences during the throwing operation, the actual release and the removal of the parts do not take place until the grenade has left the throwers hand and has traveled some distance.

If the thrower accidentally dropsthe grenade or strikes it against an object after he has unlocked by hand the transportation safety device which is then automatically ejected by spring J the grenade cannot explode in his hand or in his immediate neighbourhood, because the only thing which can take place in the case assumed is, that by reason of the shock caused through carelessness or inadvertence, the self-releasing safet device will release automatically. Althoug the grenade then becomes entirely unlocked, still it can be handled and thrown without any danger if such operations are performed with caution.

When the grenade strikes the ground and distance, which means that the firing-pin B and the percussion cap E move toward each other. This increase of the distance between the shells B and 0 and, conseque ly, the igniting of the percussion cap E will take place independently of the angle at which the grenade strikes the ground. If it hits the ground in the direction of its axis, with the firing-pin B ahead, the latter will be thrown by the ball or weight A directly against the cap E. In the opposite case, if it hits the ground in the direction of its axis with the cover plate I ahead (Fig. 3), the weight A will move the cap E against the firing-pin. If it strikes perpendicularly to its axis, the weight A is bound to continueits movement in the radial direction between the two shells B and C, thereby forcing both the firing-pin and the cap E to approach each other.

The space or gap between the point of the firing-pin and the percussion cap has here-' toforenot exceeded a length of 2.5 mm. and in most cases amounted to about 1 mm N ow, according to my invention, this space is made as great as possible, and in practice it always has a length in excess of 3.5 mm. which may be increased to about 10 mm. and more. The increase of the space results in the production of kinetic energy in the weight at the moment of impact, exceeding many times the kinetic energy attainable with the usual comparatively small gaps or spaces, such result being due to the increase of the velocity at the moment of impact between the point of firing-pin B and percussion cap E, the kinetic energy of the weight at that moment increasing in proportion with the square of the velocity. Accordingly, the increase in the length of the space or gap affords a means of increasing the kinetic energy of the weight at the moment of impact much more effectively than by increasing the size of the weight itself. Owing to the conditions being as stated above,'I provide for the weight a space or path of movement as great as possible and considerably exceeding the length of the paths hitherto provided, but I do not increase the diameter of the ball or weight in order to increase its kinetic energy at the moment of impact. This feature is of great practical importance, because the use of a large ball or weight involves the necessity of strengthening all other parts of the fuse in order to render them capable of resisting the great forces exerted by the heavy ball, and consequently, increases the weight of the whole fuse and its cost of manufacture. Aside from this, an explosive missile or grenade provided with a small weight having a comparatively long path of travel may be safely handled even in its entirelyunlocked condition if some precaution is observed, whereas an explosive missile equipped with a large weight having a path of travel of the usual short length is so sensitive to shocks that it practically cannot be handled in its entirely unlocked condition without exploding in the hand of the operator. Experience has also proven that while fuses with large weights are very sensitive on hard ground, they are the cause of blind shells in case snowy, and watery ground or swamps. In order to insure ignition on soft ground, I make the inactive movement of the weight long enough to permit the latter to attain a high velocity and to accumulate such a large amount of kinetic energy as to overcome the resistance even in case of impact against soft ground and, consequently, with small forces of impact. Considering all the above mentioned facts and having made some calculations based upon the same, I prefer, in practice, to provide for the ball or weight an abnormally-long path of impact with soft,

having a length equal to about to of the diameter of the ball employed.

It may be seen from the drawings that the pathway of the ball in the direction of the axis of the fuse equals the gap or space between the point of the firing-pin and the surface of the percussion cap. In an other direction, however, the distance the all has to travel differs from such space or gap. I have shown in Fig. 4 the firing-pin B in the position it occupies at the moment of impact, and the surface of revolution corresponding to line a, a, b is the locus of all imaginable positions of the center of the ball at the moment of impact. The locus of the corresponding initial positions of the ball is represented by the line m m following the direction of the axis of the fuse. The vectors connecting the points of the line m m, with the points on the surface of revolution mentioned above, show the lengths and directions of the pathways of the ball. If all vectors corresponding to the possible pathway in every direction are drawn, starting from the original middle-position of the ball, the sur' face of revolution corresponding to line 0', a a 6 wil. be obtained, as shown in Fig. 5. It may be seen from Figs. 4 and 5, that the pathway of the ball generally varies in length in accordance with the direction in which such pathway extends. But it is possible to shape the surface-line in such manner that the pathway of the ball in any given direction will assume a certain length desired. In the case of fuses for explosive missiles which may strike the ground at any angle and direction, I prefer to form the shells in such manner that the ball paths become of the same length in any direction whatever. In the direction of the axis ofthe fuse, the pathway is determined by the space between the point of the firing-pin and the percussion cap; and by means of the length of the pathway which I desire toallow in any other direction, I determine the shape of the shells B and C and the diameter of the fuse casing.

In the construction shown, the shells B and C are shaped to follow a line which, in the neighbourhood of the periphery of the shells, is curved or bent gradually more and more, so that said shells will move with gradually increasing velocity when the ball approaches their peripheries. In consequence, the velocity of impact and the Velocity with which the firing-pin penetrates the percussion cap increase rapidly. thereby improving and rendering more efficient the igniting action.

It will be seen from the above that the employment of a pathway of abnormal length results in a series of advantages'of practical importance. Aside from the above-mentioned advantages, it is also due solely to such a pathway that the employment becomes possible of a safety-device for use during transportation; such device holding the inner parts of the fuse in a resilient manner and comprising a self-locking joint which will automatically eliminate the detrimental effects of accidental shocks, because the play which the inner parts are permitted to perform, even in their locked condition, would i nite a fuse having the usual small gap an pathway. On the other hand, it is'also due solely to the aforesaid pathway of abnormal length that it becomes possible to provide the self-releasing safety device described, because the latter safety device locks only a fraction of the firing movement and the travel of the weight or ball, the other part of the firing movement and the travel being free in order to be used for the release of the safety. device. The feature of in construction that a part of the space between the tiring-pin and the percus sion cap is left unguarded by the safety device in question, renders it possible to make use of one and the same weight to effect both the igniting operation as well as the release of the safety device.

I claim as my invention 2- 1. In a grenade. the combination, with ignition devices. of a safety device; a weight operatively associated with the ignition devices to etfect ignition through its inertia on impact, said weight locking the safety device by its movement of inertia. during the act of throwing and releasing it by its return movement: and means to provide for said weight a path of tr.'.vel of abnormal length.

2. In a grenade, the combination, with ignition devices, of a safety device; a universally-movable weight operatively associated with the ignition devices to effect ignition through its inertia on impact, said weightlocking the safety device by its movement of inertia during the act of throwing and releasing it by its return movement; and means to provide for said weight, in every direction of its movement, a path of travel of abnormal length. v

, 3. In a grenade, the combination, with ignition devices, of a safety device; a weight operatively associated with the ignition devices to effect ignition through its inertia on impact, said weight locking the safety device by its movement of inertia during the act of throwing and then releasing it by its return movement; a spring for normally maintaining the weight in a neutral position; and means to provide for said weight a path of travel of abnormal length.

4. In a grenade, the combination, withignition devices including a percussion cap and a firing-pin'thcrefor, of a safety device; and a weightautomatically locking the safety device hy its movement of inertia during the act 2-1- throwmg and then releasing it by its return movement, said weight automatically operating the firing-pin by*its movement of inertia at impact.

5. In a grenade, the combination with ignition devices including a percussion cap and a firing-pin therefor, of a safety device; a weight automatically locking the safety de vice by its movement of inertia during the act of throwing and then releasing it by its return movement, said Weight automatically operating the firing-pin by its movement of inertia at impact; a spring for normally maintaining the weight in a neutral position; and means to provide for said weight a path of travel of abnormal length.

(i. In a grenade, the combination of a pair of coacting shells: an igniting device including a tiring-pin operatively related to one shell: a safety device associated with said shells: a weight enclosed between said shells and locking the safety d vice by its movement of inertia during throwing and then releasing it by its return movement, said weight adapt d inertia on impact to effect ignition; and means to provide for the weight of a path of travel of abnormal length.

7. In a grenade, the combination, with ignition devices, of a safety device; a spring catch norn'ially engaged with the safety device to hold it in locked position during the throwing operation: and a weight operatively associated with the ignition devices to effect ignition through inertia on impact, said weight operating to automatically disengage said catch by its outward movement from its original position when the grenade is thrown. I

8. In a grenade, the combination, with ignition devices, of a pair of independent safety devices; a spring-catch means associated with each safety dei'ice to normally hold it against action; and a weight operatively associated with the ignition devices to effect ignition through its inertia on impact, said weight adapted to successively release the two spring-catch means.

9. In a grenade, the combination, with ig= nition devices, of a safety device; an outer cap operatively related to the safety device and automatically unlocking itwhen removed, said cap being rotatable in either direction to effect its removal: and a weight operatively associated with the ignition devices to effect ignition through its inertia on impact.

10. A projectile, comprising an outer casing to contain an explosive charge; a fuse casing in the outer casing having an outwardly-extending flange which overlaps the rim of said outer casingand is engaged therewith a fuse in the fuse casing; a flexible closure member overlying the top of the fuse casing and its flange; and means for eflecting a Watertight joint closure member and said flange.

11. A projectile, comprising an outer casing to contain an explosive charge; a fuse casing in the outer casing having an outto operate the shells by itsbetween the edge of the Wardly-extending flange, a portion of Which is tapered, the rim of said flange fitting over the rim of the outer casing and being engaged therewith; a fuse in the fuse casing; a flexible closure member overlying the top of the fuse casing and its flange; and means for effecting a water-tight joint between the edge of the closure member and the tapered portion of the flange.

12. A projectile, according to claim 10, in which the joint-forming means embodies arotatable element engaged with the closure member and with the fuse for imposing pressure upon the former when rotated in one direction.

13. A projectile. comprising ignition devices: a normally-locked safety device; an" a weight normally movable in any direction within the projectile and acting to unlock the safety device by its movement of inertia in the projectile when the latter is thrown, said weight thereafter acting to operate the ignition devices by its kinetic energy on impact.

14. In a grenade, the combination of ignition devices: a weight for operating the same: a self-releasing safety device; and a hand-released safety device independent of the Weight normally and positively locking both the self-releasing safety device and the ignition devices against operation.

15. In a grenade. the combination of ignition devices; operating means therefor; and a hand-released safety lock for said operating means embodying a disk, a locking ring encircling the same, a releasable interlock disk, and a spring acting upon the disk to normally maintain the interlock effective, said disk being rotatable through less than one full revolution to release the interlock.

16. A grenade, according to claim 15, in which the interlock comprises a centrallynotched rib on the locking ring, and a projection on the disk normally engaged in the notch.

17. A grenade,

stored to such engagement by the action of the spring when slightly displaced therefrom.

18. In a grenade, the combination of a fuse including a percussion cap; ignition devices for said cap, and safety devices for locking the ignition devices against action While permittmg a movement thereof of limited extent, said safety devices including a spring for cushioning the percussion cap.

19. A projectile, comprising an outer casing to contain an explosive charge; a fuse casing in the outer casing; a. fuse in the fuse casing; a permanent cover for the outer casing; a flexible closure member overlying said permanent cover and removable therefrom before the projectile is thrown; and means for effecting a Water-tight joint between the edge of the flexible closure member and the permanent cover.

20. A projectile, according to claim 19, in Which the permanent cover constitutes an integral part of the fuse casing and forms the top thereof.

21. A projectile, comprising an outer casing to contain an explosive charge; a fuse casing in the outer casing; a fuse in the fuse casing; a permanent cover for the outer casing and including a tapered portion; ble closure member overlying said permanent In a grenade, the combination of ignition devices; operating means therefor; and a hand-released safety lock for said operatembodying a disk, a locking ring than a full the interlock.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SALAMON LEBENSART.

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