US1878491A

US1878491A - Explosive device

Info

Publication number: US1878491A
Application number: US577100A
Authority: US
Inventors: Byron C Goss
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-11-24
Filing date: 1931-11-24
Publication date: 1932-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 1949-09-20

Description

Sept. 20, 1932. B. c. GOSS V 1,878,491

EXPLOSIVE DEVICE Filed Nov. 24. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet vl Invenzor: @row 0. 60.98,

Sept. 20, 1932. 5, 3, 055 1,878,491

I EXPLOSIVE DEVICE Filed Nov. 24. 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 20, 1932. B. c. GOSS EXPLOSIVE DEVICE Filed Nov. 24. '1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Imam qjh 0-6068,

Patented Sept. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BYRON G. GOSS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO EXPLOSIVE DEVICE This invention relates to explosive devices, of the type which are exploded by high explosives contained therein, for example, hand grenades, shells, projectiles, Stokes mortar .5 bombs, projector bombs, etc., and which distribute disabling and asphyxiating gases, such as tear gas, irritating gases, nauseating gases, mustard gas, and other vesicants, also other poisonous gases such for example, as are used in warfare, and similar gases, etc., also such gases as are used to disperse mobs, papture criminals, etc., the said gases being liberated and dispersed by the force of the explosion when the explosive device is firedr.

M An object of the invention is to provide an explosive device in which the disabling gas generating chemicals contained therein are maintained under a greatly increased initial pressure, said pressure bein produced 'by an agent or agents introduced mto the device during its assembly; the pressure producing agent comprising initially inserted solid carbon dioxide, or a suitable quantity of a cooled and liquefied substance which is a gas at normal temperatures and pressures but which may be liquefied by low temperature and high pressure, for example, ethyl chloride, methyl chloride, or similar substances, or the initialpressure may be pro- 80 duced by a charge of highly compressed air, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or other compressed gases, which may also be of a disabling character, but which do not detrimentally react chemically with the charge of disabling gas 85 generating chemicals.

' A further object is to provide an explosive device which when fired will explode, and

distribute and disperse disabling and asphyxiating gases, or poisonous gases, over a con- 40 siderable expanse of area, in ,order that the disabling gas will. be eifective over a very large area and that an increased number of people whom it'is desired te'evercome will be affected thereby.

,A further object is to provide an explosive device of the type above described in which the chargeo-f gasgenerating chemicals is saturated with a dissolved gas under high pressure, the said gas expanding and having the effect ofvastly increasing the dispersing with hermetically sealed openings, and a dearid atomizing of said 'chemicals when the device is exploded and the chemical charge is blown about by the force of the explosion.

scribed hereafter, in suitable shells, rojectiles, Stokes mortar bombs, projector ombs, for use in warfare. Such shells, projectiles, etc., are enormously more effective in distributing the poison gases over a greatly extended area than the type of poison gas shells in use heretofore.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 illustrates, in section, one type of device, specifically a grenade, which is exploded when fired, and gasifies and distributes the contents thereof over a very large area.

Fig. 2 is a modification, in section, in which the device, specifically a grenade, is provided structible seal on the bottom of the central tube, the said seals being destroyed by the force of the explosion, and the charge then issuing through all of the openings in the form of high pressure streams which squirt to a considerable distance.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one type of shell adapted for use in warfare, containing high explosives, and also a charge of mustard gas, or other vesicant, or mixturesof such poison gas generating materials, together with a charge of a pressure generating agent, such as carbon dioxide, etc. Fig. 4 is alongitudinal section of a different type of shell in which the mustard gas, etc., or other vesicant, or mixture thereof, and the pressure generating agent, is placed within an inner container.

Figs. 5 and 6 are longitudinal sectional 100 the grenade is thrown, the handle becoming.

detached from the bouchon head 8 in the act of throwing. The grenade body 1 is provided with a neck 14, welded at 15, and passing through the neck is a thimblev 13, to the lower part of the thimble is secured the closed 7 tube 17, which is welded to the thimble'at 16. The closed tube 17 may be sealed at the bottom by a lead button 20, or otherwise, and at the lower end of tube 17, there may be placed a suitable wad or cushion 28.

as the grenade is thrown and the handle 2 detached, the striker 5, which is pivoted at 3, and which is actuated. by spring 6, flies over and strikes the-primer 9, which latter is covered by a suitable foil 10, the primer igniting the match head 11 on the end of the fuse 12, and the fuse iii turn igniting the explosive charge 19, which latter may consist of fulminate of mercury, tetryl, or other vio lent explosive. vided with a depending tube 25, and to the latter is suitably secured an easily destructible tube 18, by a pinched joint 26 or other means, the fuse 12 being located in thcztube '25, and the fulminate of mercury explosive 19 being placed in the tube 18.

The grenade body 1 is suitably charged with chemicals 22 which generate disabling and asphyxiating gases of the type above referred to, said chemicals consisting of, for example, chloracetophenone, ethyl broinacetate, chlorpicrin, crotonaldehyde, and the like, the chloracetophenone or similar gas generating chemical being dissolved in or diffused through, or associated with the ethyl bromacetate, or chlorpicrin, or crotonaldehyde, or other solvent, said solvents also possessing, or may possess, thepropert-y of generating disabling gases. Or the grenade I may be charged with poison gas chemicals, for example, mustard gas, or other vesicants, such as are used in warfare, and also the pressure generating agent described hereafter. The said chemicals or mixtures thereof are charged into the grenade to about the level indicated at 31, and the remaining space charged with pressure producing agents 21, such as solid carbon dioxide, liquefied ethyl chloride, liquefied methyl chloride, highly compressed carbon dioxide gas, highly compressed air, highly compressed nitrogen, highly compressed disabling gases, etc., and then the thimble 13, with its associated tube 17, immediately attached, the thimble and the tube 17 constituting an internal tubular As soon The bouchon head 8 is proclosure for the grenade, and the charged grenade stored and shipped in this condition.

Before use the assembled bouchon head 8 with the tube 18 and associated elements are attached. On standing, the solid and liquid.

pressure generating agents 21 above referred to, become gases, and produce an enormous pressure, and all of the gaseous agents (118' solve to a considerable extent under the pressure in the liquid contents of-the grenade,

the entire contents of the grenade being preferably under from 7 5 to 100 pounds pressure.

When the'grenade is exploded the temperature due to the explosion enormously increases the initial pressure within the grenade, and ,the final pressure due to the combined initial pressure of the contents of a grenade and the force of the "explosion bursts the grenade and gasifies the gas. gen-" creased, and one grenade of this type will have its gases so widely distributed that as many people in a mob will be affected thereby as would have been disabled by the use of four or live grenades of the type heretofore used. A similar enormously increased distribution of the poison gases described under Figs. 3 and 4 is also obtained by charging the shells 35 and 45, described hereafter, with the high pressure generating agents.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 2, resembles in general that shown in Fig. 1, but with the tube 17 sealed at the lower end with a fusible metal cover 30, and is providedwith a charge of black powder or other explosive 27, which is ignited by a match head ,or similar ignitor 19 at the end of the fuse 12. a piece of thin lead foil 29 is placed upon the black powder charge 27, and upon firing, the black powder is exploded and blows oif the cover 30; the grenade body 1 is not destroyed by the explosion, but is provided with openings 23 which are sealed with a fusible metal cover 24, the latter being readily melted or blown ofi by the high temperature and force of the explosion, and the contents of the grenade blown violently through the uncovered openings 23, and also through the tube 25, and out of, the top through the head 8 as long high pressure liquid or gaseous streams, the pressure being so great that said streams are projected to a considerable distance, and serve to distribute the disabling gases over a large expanse of area as described under Fig. 1. The streams of disabling gas generating chemicals are saturated with the dissolved pressure generating gases, and in their passing through the air the dissolved gases expand and vaporize the liquid stream, and serve to greatly increase the dis ersion of the disabling gases.

In Fig. 3, a shell body is provided with a removable bottom 36, and a removable firing head 37 shown on an enlarged scale in Figs. 5 and 6. A destructible metal tube 38 is filled with a violently high explosive 39 which may consist of fulminate of mercury, tetryl, etc., and is covered with lead foil, felt wads, etc, 40. The top of head 37 may be covered with a moisture proof cap 41. The shell 35 is charged with a suitable vesicant, such as mustard gas, or agents which evolve gases of the mustard gas class, etc., 42, to about the level 43, and also a pressure generating agent such as carbon dioxide, etc., in the space 44, as described above under Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4, the firing head 37 is shown detached; the loaded projectiles, shells, etc., may be shipped in this manner for safety. In this figure, a shell body is provided with a removable bottom 46, and contains a glass, porcelain, or other holder 47, which is charged with a suitable'vesicant 48 such as mustard gas, or agents which evolve gasesof the-mustard gas class, etc., to about the level 54, and a pressure generating agent such as carbon dioxide, etc. in the space 70, as described above under Fig. 1. The holder 47 is surrounded with a packing 49, and covered with lead foil 50; a charge of T. N. T. 51, or

other explosive, is provided, and a cement filling 52 is placed around a holder contaming a high explosive 53. The holder 65 is secured to the bushing 54 which is screwed into the top of the shell.

Fig. 5 illustrates on an enlarged scale a longitudinal sectional view of one. type of firing head 37, provided with a firing pin 58, a safety pin 59, primer 60, upper detonator 61, centrifugal plunger or interrupter 62, and lower detonator 63. The firing heads 37 are I generally not inserted inthe shells until it is desired to use them, for example, as shown separately in Figs. 4 and 7.

F ig. 6 illustrates on an enlarged scale a longitudinal sectional view of an explosive charge holder 65 attached to a bushing 54, to be inserted in the shells 35 and 45, the holder 65 containing a violent explosive such as mercury fulminate, tetryl, or other highexplosive 53.

I claim 1. The method of dispersing the discharged gases generated by the gas generating chemicals contained in an explosive device when said device is fired which com prises intimately associating said gas gen-- crating-chemicals with an agent which is being normally under high pressure in said device, and firing said device and delivering the contents thereof as a combined discharge of chemical gas and agent, said agent then expanding and dispersing said discharged gas chemicals over anenormous area.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, in which the chemicals comprise disabling and incapacitating gas generating materials.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 in which the chemicals comprise chloracetophenone and a solvent therefore.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1, in which the chemicals comprise chlorace tophenone and ethylbromacetate.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, in which the chemicals comprise materials which evolve gases of the mustard gas class.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, in which said agent comprises carbon dioxide.

7. The method of increasing the efiectiveness of explosive devices for dispersing gases, which comprises charging said device with gas generating chemicals, adding a further charge of a normally gaseous pressure producing agent, said chemicals dissolving a portion of said agent, and said agent being present .in suflicient excess to produce and maintain a high pressure in said device.

8. The method of increasing the eifectiveness of explosive devices for dispersing gases which comprises charging said device with disabling gas generating chemicals and carbon dioxide, said carbon dioxide being present in suflicient excess to produce and maintain a normally high initial pressure in said device.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8 in which the chemicals comprise chloraceto-' phenone and a solvent therefore.

10. The method in accordance with claim 8 in which the chemicals comprise materials which evolve gases of the mustard gas class.

11. An explosive device comprising a body containing an explosive charge, means to fire the same, said body containing gas generating chemi'cals and also an agent normally gaseous atordinary temperatures and pressures, the contents of said device being normally under high compression and said agent being soluble in and diffused through the claim 11', in which the gas generating chemicals comprise chloracetophenone and a solvent therefore.

13. An explosive device in accordance with claim 11, inwhich the agent comprises carbon dioxide.

g 14. An explosive device in accordance with claim '1l, in which the gas generating chemicals comprise chloracetophenonefassociated with ethylbromacetate,.and the agent is carbon dioxide.

15. An explosive device in accordance with claim 11 in which the chemicals comprise materials which evolve gases of the'mustard gas class.

16. An explosive device comprising a container, a charge therein comprising disabling gas generating chemicals, saidchemicals containing a dissolved vaporizing and dispersing agent, said agent being present in m excess, the contents of said device being normally under high pressure, an internal tubular closure for said device maintaining the contents thereofunder high pressure.

17. vAn explosive device in accordance with 15 claim 16 in which said chemicals comprise chloracetophenone and a solvent therefore.

18. An explosive device in accordance with claim 16, in which the chemicals comprise chloracetophenone and ethylbromacetate.

g0 19. An explosive device in accordance with claim 16, in which said agent comprises carbon dioxide.

20. An explosive device in accordance with claim 16, in which the gas generating chem- 5 icals comprise chloracetophenone associated with ethylbromacetate, and the agent is carbon dioxide.

21. An explosive device in accordance with claim 16 in which the chemicals comprise materials which evolve gases of the mustard gas class.

22. A. charge for explosive devices comprising disabling gas generating chemicals andan excess of a normally gaseous agent associated therewith, said chemicals and gaseous agent being normally under high pressure in said grenade.

23. A charge for explosive devices in accordance with claim. 22, in which the gas generating chemicals" comprise chloracetophenone.

24. A charge for explosive devices in accordance with claim 22, in whichthe gaseous agent comprises carbon dioxide. a

25. A charge for explosive devices in accordance with claim 22, in which the chemicals comprise chloracetophenone and ethylbromacetate, and the gaseous agent is carbon dioxide.

6% 26. A charge for explosive devices in aclcordance with claim 22 in which the chemicals comprise materials whichevolve gases" of the mustard gas class.

27 A charge for explosive devices in accordance with claim 22 in which the chemicals comprise materials which evolve gases of the mustard gas class, and the gas pressure generating agent is carbon dioxide.

In testimony whereof I hereby afli'x my signature.

BON c; eossj