US2069759A

US2069759A - Practice bomb

Info

Publication number: US2069759A
Application number: US754091A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence F Hofstetter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-11-21
Filing date: 1934-11-21
Publication date: 1937-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1954-02-09

Description

Feb. 9, 1937. c. F. HOFSTETTER PRAC'I ICE BOMB Filed Nov. 21, 1934 Inventor Clarence FLI-Iufstettr Atturna Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRACTICE BOIWB Clarence F. Hofstetter, United States Army, Missoula, Mont.

Application November 21, 1934, Serial No. 754,091

2 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The subject of this invention is a practice bomb.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a practice bomb with means for indicating or signalling the position of its landing, which may be readily and inexpensively associated with the bomb and positively held in a safe position when carried by aircraft.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims forming a part of this specification.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, where- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view of a bomb constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference there is shown a portion of the body 5 of a conventional practice bomb which is adapted to be filled with an inexpensive material such as water. A conical tail-piece B is secured to the rear of the body and carries a conventional fin assembly 1 which includes a central box-like frame 8.

According to the present invention the conical tail piece is modified by having a reduced rear portion which is preferably a cylinder 9, the purpose being to obtain a reduced diameter at a point some distance forwardly of the rear extremity of the tail piece.

A cup-shaped adapter l0 fits in the rear part of the cylinder 9 and is preferably held in place by split pins lI--|I so that it may be readily applied and removed. A tube l2 extending through the cup and secured thereto as by welding, projects into the tail-piece 6 and into the frame 8. The inner end of the tube is closed by a plate l3 which carries a fixed firing pin or striker l4- and the outer end is provided with slots IS.

A signal cartridge I6 having the usual primer I1 and a charge which is adapted to provide a signal, is inserted in the tube l2 through the outer open end and. is held therein by bending inwardly some of the tabs l8 which are formed between the slots IS.

The base of the cartridge is normally maintained in spaced relation with respect to the striker 14 by means of a spring l9 and also by means of a pin 20 which passes through the cylinder 9 and tube 12, and projects on both sides of the cylinder. A spring 2| embraces one end of the pin and is confined between the cylinder and a head 22 on the pin. The pin is held in place against the tendency of the spring to withdraw it by means of a wire 23 passing through an aperture 24 in its opposite end. This wire is associated with the launching apparatus of aircraft, as is well understood in the art, and is withdrawn from the pin when the bomb is dropped.

The parts are in the safe position when arranged as in Fig. 1, the pin 20 positively preventing the cartridge from being fired. Ordinarily the pin 20 will be removed upon launching the bomb but it is possible to launch the bomb without causing removal of the pin by merely dissociating the wire 23 from the aircraft. When the bomb is armed, the cartridge moves forwardly on impact and is fired, the signalling element of the cartridge indicating the position of the bomb.

I claim:

1. A practice bomb including a body having a reduced cylindrical rear portion, an adapter removably carried by the rear portion, a tube carried by the adapter and extending into the rear portion of the body, the outer end of the tube provided with tabs, a fixed striker in the inner end of the tube, a signal cartridge in the tube and carrying a signalling element adapted to be projected therefrom, said cartridge having its outer end confined by the tabs, an arming pin passing through the rear portion of the body and through the tube and holding the cartridge away from the striker, and a spring between the arming pin and striker.

2. A practice bomb including a body having a reduced rear portion, an adapter carried by the rear portion, a tube carried by the adapter and extending into the rear portion of the body, a fixed striker in the inner end of the tube, a signal cartridge in the tube and carrying a signalling element adapted to be projected therefrom, means at the outer end of the tube for retaining the cartridge, an arming pin passing through the rear portion of the body and through the tube and holding the cartridge away from the striker, and a spring between the arming pin and striker.

CLARENCE F. HOFSTETTER.