US1875985A - Projectile - Google Patents

Description

E. W. BRANDT PROJEGTILE Sept. 6, 1932.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1930 7 mm a E. W'. BRANDT Sept. 6, 1932.

PROJECTILE Filed June 17. 1950 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. W. BRANDT Sept. 6, 1932.

PROJECTILE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 17, 1930 WMWM;

, Patented Sept. 6, 1932 ATENT. OFFICE Eran; wmma 31mm, or minis, airmen PIBlOJEGT-EE Application filed June 11, 1930. Serial no. 461 393, and in- France June 20, 1929.

The present invention relates to a projectile with numerous applications, and more particularly to a hollow body applicable to explosive and non-explosive projectiles, dummy projectiles for practice or instruction,

smoke shells, incendiary shells, gas shells, &c. It has hitherto been the custom to employ for these various applications, projectile bodies exhibting the various constructional characteristics appropriate to the purpose in view. This lack of uniformity in the various projectiles intended to be discharged from the same ordnance of a given calibre complicated the manufacturing operations and fire control. In fact,th'e projectiles being often of different weights and external forms, ac-

cording to their application, it was necessary P to employ special propulsive charges and firing tables for each.

Moreover, despite all precautions, accidents occurred in firing with practice projectiles which ought to have been harmless.

These reasons made it desirable to provide a standard projectile which 1. When used as a practice projectile, it breaks instantly on impact, without producing appreciable splinters, and under conditions which'render its operation free from a risk to the users.

2. When used as an explosive projectile, it bursts in exactly the same manner as an ordinary projectile, with maximumeflicacy.

3. When provided with a suitable charge, it can be used in practice as a signalling, smoke-producing, incendiary message-carrying, &c. projectile, and breaks in a suitable manner under minimum pressure, sothat the' charge employed for that purpose will not dilsorganize the special charge of the projecti e.

The standard projectile according to the present invention fulfils these requirements completely, and also enables numerous advantages tobe obtained from the fact that,

within a suitable range, it presents a zone of less resistance and mass.

Moreover, in constitutin according to the invention-1this zone less resistance by one or more removable members, a projectile is obtained which, when employed for example as a practice projectile, may be recovered after firing and be repeatedly employed immediately.

On the other hand, the fuse member is constructed in such a way that th. detonator may be placed, for preference, acing said zone, in order to eflect solely the rupture of the zoneof less resistance, more easily and instantaneously, for example in the case of w an instruction projectile with a charge of owder. I a

Notwithstanding the presence of this zone of less resistance, the instantaneous character and force of the deflagration cause the proj ectile according to the invention to break up completely into fragments, when employed as an explosive projectile, without the useful effect of the explosive being impaired by the zone of less resistance. e

Other advantages and special features of the invention are set out in the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, diagrammatically and by way of example, various embodiments of the invention as applied to a harmless practice projectile.

In said drawings: Fig. 1 is an axial section of the front portion of a projectile body according to the invention. Figs. 2 to 8 are similar partial views of modified embodiments.

1 denotes the wall of the body of the projectile (Fig. 1) which, in theexample shown, is of ogivo-cylindrical sha forward end, this body exhibits a zone of reduced resistance, owing to the provision of a recess 2, of any suitable form, in'the thickness of said wall.

Towards the 35 The lower end of the fuse 3 carries the W detonator 4, which faces the recess 2 and is intended to ignite the charge (black powder, or other material) serving to indicate the spot where the projectile falls.

In the case of a projectile for real firing,

' such charge will, of course, be omitted, and

the projectile be filled with a suitable explosive.

It will be clearly evident that the projectile according to the invention can easily be given the same weight and also the same balance as prior projectiles of the same type and calibre, by suitably distributing the material corresponding to the recess 2 over the walls and interior of the latter. V

In the case of a practice projectile, this bursts immediately on impact with the ground, but only in the region of the recess 2, under the action of the detonator 4 and of the charge (black powder) ignited by the latter.

The gases escaping from the broken section produce a cloud of smoke, whilst the front cone. of the projectile penetrates into the ground, under the effect of theacquired velocity. The rear portion, or body, of the projectile remains intact and also enters the soil, after the cone, or remains in the immediate vicinity of the point of impact. Owing to its relatively large mass, it possesses sufficient vis viva to overcome the action of the powder gases tending to force it backward.

The smoke cloud produced enables the point of impact to be observed from a distance, under conditions of visibility approximately analogous to those of real firing:

The device according to the invention also offers the advantage of minimizing the risk of accidents where, through some fortuitous cause or inexpert handling, an obstacle unexpectedly situated near the piece and in the trajectory of the projectile, causes the fuse to act. In such case, the projectile will not burst, the rear walls offering sufficient resistance to the action of the charge, and it will simply break in the zone of less resistance, the' small fragments producedwhich are harmless by reason of their minute massbeing projected forward, in a cone of relative small base area, without risk of injuring th'eattendants by the gun. I

When the projectile according to the invention is employed with a charge of explo-' sive, the velocity of propagation and the violence of explosion are such that the projectile bursts, not only in the zone of less resistance, but simultaneously and normally throughout its length.

Notwithstanding the reduced thickness at the recess 2, its ogival shape,combined with the intrinsic properties of the metal employed, enable itas experience has shown to offer effective resistance to Violent shocks,

' or falls from a height of several metres, such .as could occur only in exceptional instanc s during handling or transport. Thus the projectile retains its solidity. I

The modifications in Figs. 2-6 present, in particular, the advantage of enabling the projectile to be used again after being fired.

.In the example according to Fig. 2, the zone of less resistance in the practice pro jectile is obtained by providing, in the forward portion of the body, a certain number of perforations, such as 5, 6, closed by plugs, such as 7, 8, of suitable material and disposed in such a way as to be ejected, on impact, by the action of the charge.

The perforations, such as 5, 6, may also be closed (Fig. 3) by removable thin, and therefore light, plates 9, of metal or other material, suitably enchased, riveted or otherwise secured on the body 1, and playing the same part as the plugs, 7, 8.

The projectile according to Fig. 4, comprises a body 11 provided with a zone of reduced resistance, constituted by perforations 12 closed by an inlaid piece 13 which fits against the adjacent portions of the body in such a way that the external contour of the projectile is the same as thatof an ordinary projectile. The upper part 14 of the piece 13 is gripped between the body 11 and the neck 15. Its lower edgetightens a joint 16 consisting, for example, ofa copper Wire or a thread saturated with varnish, which renders the projectile perfectly staunch.

On impact, the piece 13 is torn off by the progressive thrust produced by the combustion of the charge (black powder), which then escapes through the perforations 12 and enables the point of impact to be gauged. The body 11, or steel or other strong material, remains intact and can be recovered for future use with a replacement of 13 and a new fuse.

This construction offers, in particular, the advantage of simple and inexpensive manufacture.

Inthe embodiment according to Fig. 5, the zone of reduced resistance is obtained by means of a casting 17, which is screwed on to the body 18 at 19, and on to which is screwed the neck 15.

The modification in Fig. 6 shows that still in accordance with the invention'the closure member 20 is extended in such a Way that it carries, at 21, the band of the projectile. In this manner, the projectile, when used over again with a new piece 20, is always provided with a band the tightening components, 22, of which are always perfectly intact.

Figs. 7 and 8 show another construction, in which the zone "of reduced resistance is provided at the rear end of the projectile. This zone may be constituted by providing, in the thickness of this wall, one or more recesses 31 (Fig. 7), internal cavities 32 (Fig.

perforations 34 '(Fig. 8), closed,when re "quired, by'lplugs 35 of suitable materialand, preferably, lesscompact thanthe walls. The device according to Fig. 8 enables the practice projectile to be recovered after use. Q

The perforations 34 may also be covered; bythin plates, disposed inside or'outside the,

walls, or both sides at once; In the example in Fig. 8, .a rear c'oneI36-is employed, which conforms to the shape' of' the .projectileand' is held inposition by a tail piece 37 which is secured to the body by screwing at 38, or'

otherwise. A jointing member or fitting of any. kind, 39, renders the projectile staunch.

gated instantaneously (certain smokedevices,

for example). .In' such case, the projectile" doesnot function directly, it comes into con-j tact with the; surface ,ofthe ground, but only after a certain delay, during which its front portion will have embedded itself in theear-th. I j

On coming into action the contents 'o fthe fclosmg the front of the projectile, the nose portion of the body being apertured to proprojectile escape freely from the rear end'of the projectile," which remains above ground,

so that the cloud of smoke is disengagedfreethus facilitating ly" and in great abundance, the task of-the marker.

Moreover, the zone of reduced resistance.

being situated in the rear, the more or less regular shaping of the external profile of the closing means employed in the case of recoverable projectiles, does not in any way impair'the ballistic properties of the latter. In order to; distinguish these practice,

smoke-shell, and other projectiles from those intended for real firing and having the same external form, all that is necessary is, for example, to mark orpaint them specially.

' It will be evident that-the foregoing embodiments are given solely by way of 'ex-' planation and are not restrictive, 'but that various constructional modifications may be introduced therein without the scope of the invention- I Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: -f .1. A harmless practice projectile comprising a heavy externally cylindrical body portion and an'ogival nose at the front end thereof, a fuse carried by said nose having a detonator of limited charge insufficient to disrupt or bring said body to astandstill, the nose portion of the body being cut away opposite the detonator so that upon the detonation only parts of the ogival nose and fuse. may be detached from said body portion and projected forwardly in a cone of small apex departing from theweakened portion so that by the detonation 'of said limite angle upon removal and said body portion continues forward after'the detonation so that. no'parts of the projectile are thrown backward or laterally in event of a detonation adjacent the projecting weapon.

2. A harmless practice projectile, comprising a hollow heavy body with a cylindrical body portion and an ogival nose at its front end, aifusecarried by said nose and closing the front of the'projectile, the nose portion of the 'body being weakened. interiorly between the fuse and said cylindrical portion, said fuse including a detonator of limited charge insufiicient to disrupt or bring said cylindrical portion to a standstill and supported opposite said weakened portion, whereby upon detonation the rupture of the body is confined to parts-0f said bodyand fuse severed from said cylindrical portion are projected forwardly in a cone of small apex angle upon disruption and said bod continues forward after the detonation so t at no parts of the projectile are thrown backward or laterally in event of a detonation adjacent the projectmg weapon.

'3. c A harmless practice projectile which may be recovered'and re-used, comprising a .hollow heavy body with an ogi'val nose at its front end, a fuse carried by said nose and vide passages through the body wall directed forwardly of planes transverse to the axis of the body, said fuseincluding a detonator of limited charge insuflicient to disrupt or bring said body to a standstill and supported opposite said inner ends of said passages, and

claim 3 in which said closures are of material of low density and light weight so that a small detonator charge is suflicient to project them from closing position.

5. A harmless practice projectile which may be recovered and re-used, comprising a heavy hollow body, a fuse having a detonator of limited charge insuflicient to disrupt or bring said body to a standstill, and a disruptable and renewable mounting ring attached to said body and said fuse for connecting them fixedly together and forming a part of the front of the projectile, said fuse and body providing between them a forwardly and out wardly inclined passage through which the shock of detonation may operate upon the mounting ring to disrupt the latter, said inclination of the passage operating to cause the projection of the fuse and mounting ring forwardly upon disruption from the body within a cone of small apex angle, and whereby said body continues forward upon the det- 5 onation so that no parts of the projectile are thrown backward or laterally in event of a detonation adj acent the projecting weapon.

6. A harmless practice projectile as in claim 5 in which the mountin ring is constructed and arranged to be bro en into fragments by the detonation.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

EDGAR WILLIAM BRANDT.

Images