US1782291A

US1782291A - Projectile for signaling or illuminating purposes

Info

Publication number: US1782291A
Application number: US406679A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Louis L Driggs; Henry B Faber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1929-11-12
Filing date: 1929-11-12
Publication date: 1930-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 1947-11-18

Description

Nov. 18, 1930. DRIGGS, JR., ET AL 1,782,291

PROJECTILE FOR SIGNALING 0R ILLUMINATING PURPOSES Filed Nov. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3nnentpns rzg gs, Jr. a5er attornegs.

Nov. 18, 1930.

L. L. DRIGGS. JR., ET AL 1,732,291

PROJECTILE FOR SIGNALING OR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES Filed Nov. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 attorney Patented Nov. 18, 1930 aUNI IED- STATES PATENT OFFICE,

LO UIS L. DBIGGS, JR., OF TIPPECANOE CITY, OHIO, AND HENRY B. FABER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PRO-TECTILE FOR SIGNALING 0R ILLUMINATING BURROSES Application filed November 12, 1929. Serial No. 406,679.

Our present invention relates to projectiles for use in signaling or illuminating, and it is intended to cover an improvement on the projectile shown in our Patent No. 1,712,383, granted May 7, 1929, and entitled Fixed ammunition for firearm., In that patent, the projectile was intended to cover a short range only as a unit before a secondary explosion caused the signaling parts, such as the flare and parachute, to be ejected from the container forming the outer shell of the projectile; the idea in that case being mainly to have the projectile thrown a suificient height up in the air for the purposes desired, or to have it propelled sufficiently clear of the aircraft, from which it might be launched before the secondary explosion referred to took place. I

In the case referred to, the projectile and its container might be and preferably were of light construction only sufliciently rigid and strong to stand the limited strains involved, but according to our present invention, the projectile is intended to traverse a considerable range before the secondary explosion occgrs, resulting in the disintegration of the projectile and the operation of the slgnaling devices.

Our invention will be more fully understood after reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are indicated by similar reference symbols throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 shows a central longitudinal section through the projectile, ready for loading into the gun.

Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 show sections along the lines 2-2, 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5 preferably of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a diagram, illustrating the flight of a projectile after leaving the piece, from which it is fired. 4

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the parts of the projectile after the secondary explosio'n has taken place.

Figure 8 shows the parts ejected from the main body of the projectile before the parachute has become distended, and

Figure 9 shows the parachute distended and supporting the flare as it descends gently.

A, shown only in Figure 6, indicates any suitable gun, preferably a smooth bore, mounted on any suitable support, such as A, The details of the gun and its mount, not being a part of our present invention, will not be further described. B represents the outer shell of the projectile, having its closed end B ogival in form and of heavy weight, as shown in Figure 1. This end of the shell is provided with a chamber B for the ejecting charge of powder C. In front of this chamber, the wall of the shell is reduced in thickness, as at B, so as to provide an enlarged loading chamber, in which the flare and parachute are mounted, as will be hereinafter described.

The shell B should be preferably as thick only as is compatible with the necessary strength and rigidity required of the projectile when expelled from the gun. The shell B may be integral with or secured to thebase B, as found most convenient; but we have shown the two as an integral structure, which may be made either of cast iron, or steel, or other suitable metal. The ogival B is perforated, as at 6, to receive the time fuse D. This fuse contains a time train 0!, which is ignited when the projectile is fired from the gun; and after the time interval has followed, the flame from this train will pass through the-holes (1 in the end of the fuse stock, and will ignite. the expelling charge Q, thus ejecting the contents of the loading chamber, as will be hereinafter described.

Mounted in the rear end of the loading chamber is the flare casin E containing the illuminating composition% and the priming powder F. The front end of the flare casing may be reinforced in an convenient way, as at e, to engage the cor G connecting the flare casing with the parachute H..

The parachute is folded in the forward portion 0 the loading chamber between the wads I and J, and surrounds the spacing rod Kfwhich Rid may be made of wood or hollow metal tubin ,as desired, but the purpose of the rod or tu is to prevent the crushing from the gun.

. and

in of the parachute when the projectile is It is impossible Within the confines of the fired from the gun. space provided by ordinary one-pounder The forward end of the shell B is closed type of shells to produce a parachute signal by a suitable cap M, which should be sufior flare projectile. ciently firmly secured in placed as by flang- It is necessary therefore to go to a proing over, as at m, so as to stand the pressure jectile of greater length, and this at once of the air when the projectile is discharged eliminates thc possibility of usin rifling to stabilize the-projectile in its High The projectile is loaded into the gun with reason that the shells get so long that very the 0 val head projecting into the powder erratic results would be obtained. cham er in the gun, and when the gun is Furthermore, by having the flare and fired, the projectile will fly as a unit outparachute ejected in a rearward direction wards, with the lighter end forwards; the after the second explosion, the forward vegressure of the air acting on this lighter end locity of the two will be checked, and the ill cause the projectile to tumble or swing strain on the parachute will be minimized. about its center of gravity, until the weighted This invention is especially intended for head will assume the forward position indiuse for navigating purposes, where it is decated at the right of Figure 6, and the lighter sired to illuminate for some distance ahead rear portion of the shell 'will tend to keep it the path of a moving ship, for instance, in

substantially ointed in the right direction, ice fields or near icebergs, or other places the whole pro ectile travelling like an arrow where the navigation is difficult. It will be through the air. seen that by firing the projectile through the When the time fuse has burned the prededesired range and adjusting the time fuse so termined interval, it will explode the ejecting that the secondary explosion will take place charge C, and the secondary explosion will at the proper time, the proposed path of a tend to accelerate the forward movement of ship may be clearly illuminated for an apthe shell B and head B, as shown in Figure preciable time; and by firing a number of 7 but, at the same time, a rearward movethese shells, one after the other, such illumiment will be imparted to the flare casing E nation may and the parachute H. The secondary exbe desired. plosion will ignite the flare. It willbe obvious that various changes As soon as the parts assume the position might be made in the construction, combinashown in Figure 7 the weight of the flare will tion and arrangement of parts, which could t, for the tend to cause it to fall more rapidly than the be used without departing from the spirit I lighter parachute, and the wads I and J and of our invention, and we do not mean to rod or tube K and cap M will separate from limit the invention to such details except as the parachute, and these parts will then as particularly pointed out in the claims.

sume the position shown in Figure 8.- Having thus described our invention,.what

The range of the projectile would, of we claim and desire to secure by Letters course, depend upon the velocity from which Patent of the United States is it was ejected from the gun; and the strength 1. A rojectile, comprising a hollow subof the parts must necessarily be such as to stantial y cylindrical shell having its rear withstand the shock of discharge from the 6end closed by a heavy base, and its forward un. 7 end closed by a separate cap, said base be- After the secondary explosion takes place, ing provided with a chamber for the ejectit is immaterial whether or not theobody ing charge and an ejecting charge mounted portion or the shell of the projectile remains in said chamber, and with a time fuse for igintact or not;. but it is desirable to use an niting said charge, after 'a predetermined ejecting charge which will be sufficient to time interval, with a flare casing mounted materially lessen the velocity of the flare in said shell in front of said chamber," and parachute when ejected, so that there a parachute in front of said flare casing may e no excessive strain on the parachute and connected thereto, whereby the center of when the flare begins to fall. With the congravity of said shell is brought near said,

- struction shown, it is planned to use a small base, causing said shell to turn end for end takes the place of the rotation caused by fuse for i projectile fired from a gun of 40 m. m. or at. the beginning of its flight and continue approm'mately one and one-half inches, and thereafter substantially base foremost.

to throw the projectile a mile or more; but 2. A projectile comprising'a'hollow 'subobviously, heavier projectiles of greater inistantially cylindrical shell having its rear tial velocities and having longer ranges might end closed by a heavy ogival shaped base, housed, iftiesired. and its forward end closed. by a separate cap,

It will be seen that the projectile having a said base beingprovided with achamber for heavy base and a light outer casing, is in the ejecting charge and an ejecting charge eflect somewhat similar to an arrow, andthis mounted in said chamber, and with a time iting said charge, after-a prerifling in a rifled gun. determine time interval, witha flare casing mounted in said shell in front of said chamber, and a parachute in front of said flare casing and connected thereto, whereby the center of gravity of said shell is brought near said base, causing said shell to turn end for end at the start of its flight and to continue thereafter substantially base foremost.

3. An elongated projectile comprising a hollow substantially cylindrical shell having its rear end closed by a heavy ogival shaped base, and its forward end closed by a separate hollow cup shaped cap, said base bemg provided with a chamber for the ejecting charge and an ejecting charge mounted in said chamber, and with a time fuse for igniting said charge, after a predetermined time interval, with a flare casing mounted in said shell in front of said chamber, and a parachute in front of said flare casing and connected thereto, whereby the center of gravity of said shell is brought near said base, causing said shell to turn end for end at the start of its flight and continue thereafter substantially base foremost.

4. An elongated projectile comprising a hollow substantially cylindrical shell having its rear, end closed by a heavy tapered base, and its forward end closed by a separate cap, said base being provided with a chamber for the ejecting charge and an ejectin charge mounted in said chamber, and wit a time fuse for igniting said charge, after a predetermined time interval, with a flare casing mounted in said shell in front of said chamber, and a parachute in front of said flare casing and connected thereto, whereby the center of gravity of said shell is brought near said base, with wads separating said parachute from said flare casing and from said cap, respectively, with a stiffening rod or tube extending between said wads.

5. An elongated projectile comprising a hollow substantially cylindrical shell having its rear end closed by a heavy o ival shape base, and its forward end close by a separate cap, said base being provided with a chamber for the ejecting charge and an ejecting charge mounted in saidcham'ber, with means for igniting said charge, after a predetermined time interval, with a flare casing mounted in said shell in front of said chamber, and a parachute in front of said flare casin and connected thereto.

6. elongated projectile comprising a hollow substantially cylindrical shell having its rear end closed by a heavy tapered base, and its forward end closed by a separate cap, said base being provided with a chamber for the ejecting charge, and an ejecting charge mounted in said chamber, with means for igniting said charge, after a predetermined time interval, with a flare casing mounted in said shell in front of said chamber, and a parachute in front of said flare casing and connected thereto, with wads separating said parachute from said flare casin and from said cap, respectively, with a stiffening rod.