US2315800A - Apparatus for handling explosives - Google Patents

Description

April 6, 1943. T. w. ROCHESTER ETAL. ,3

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EXPLOSIVES Filed June 9, 1942 5: Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1.943- T. w. ROCHESTER ETVAL 2,315,800

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EXPLOSIVES Filed June 9, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 THaMAe m Baa/557x 23 bYMA/V 14 aw/Pym, JOHN 7-. ans/14x 2,

A 1943; T. w. ROCHESTER EIAL 2,315,300

APPARKTUS FOR HANDLING EXPLOSIVES Filed Jun 9, 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 THOMAS M FOCA/-S TE 1 YM/I/V m BARRON April 6, 1943.

12 w. ROCHESTER ETAL 2,315,800 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EXPLOSIVES Filed June 9, 1942 5 Shets-Sheet s Patented Apr. 6, 1943 artisan APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EHLOSIVES Thomas W. Rochester, Tuckahoe, Hyman W. Barron, Laureltcn, and John T. Gibala', Little Neck, N. Y.

Application June 9,1942, Serial No. 446,394

' 17 Claims. (01. 109-1) door of the containers to about the middle of theinterior of the inner container. More specifically, the inner container of the present invention is in the form of a cylinder supported inside and spaced from the walls of the outer container, the described movable carriage moving in a general direction lengthwise of this inner cylinder.

Both containers, as in the earlier application, are made of interlaced or intermeshed metallic cables forming gas permeable walls which allow the gases of the explosion to escape, but which retain fragments resulting from the explosion, thereby preventing damage to persons or property in the vicinity.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly, in'section, showing the framework of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is an end view looking from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 8-45 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on line 88 of Fig. 7. I

Referring now to these drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts, the apparatus consists of a wheeled chassis comprising longitudinal supporting beams 2 which in J are the main longitudinal supporting beams 6,

Since the gases from an explosion expand in all directions, it is important that the explosive be placed at about the middle of the inner container and to this end the inner chamber or container is provided with a guideway, preferably inclined, from a door at one end of the chamber to about the center thereof, the bomb being placed on a carriage which travels from the door, where the bomb is placed on the carriage, to about the center of the inner chamber. This carriageis controlled by a cable or chain which can be manipulated from the outside,

Means of entrance, such as a double door, may be provided at one end of both the outer and inner chambers, whereby the bomb may be placed on the carriage and the door'promptly closed. This door is also gas permeable and is composed essentially of interwoven metallic cables.

In the present invention, plate-like ribs of the these beams 6 having upper and lower horizontal flanges. End frame members 8 in the form of an inverted U, and made of heavy iron pipe, have their lower ends secured to the beams 6. A ridge plate i0, set in a vertical plane, is secured at its ends to the upper central part of the end frame members 8. The frame for the ends comprises a plurality of heavy vertical plate-like ribs I2, having their inner edges i3 chamfered, and are secured at their upper ends to the pipe 8 and at their lower ends to L-shaped transverse supporting beams M, the ends of the beams M being welded or otherwise secured to the longitudinal beams 6. I

Transverse bars l6 have one end of each welded to a vertical rib l2, while their other ends are coiled around the pipes 8, as at i8. I

Diagonal struts 20 may be positioned, as shown, between the ridge plate l0 and the pipe 8, while other diagonal struts 22, 24 may be provided between the pipes 8, vertical ribs l2 and the upper flange of beam 6.

Plate-like ribs 26 are set edgewise, and at different angles, as shown particularly in Fig. 4, with respect to gases travelling radially from the center of the apparatus. The inner-edges 21 of these ribs are chamfered, the better to "cut through the radially expanding gases. The upper ends of these ribs 26 are welded or otherwise secured to the ridge plate l0, while their lower endsare welded or otherwise secured to the top flange of the beam 6. The ribs 26 are further braced and held in position by horizontal rods 28, which pass through suitable apertures in the ribs and which are welded thereto atv such apertures. The rods 28 are secured to the end pipes 8 bywelding or by coiling around the pipes, or both, as shown at 29.

Supported on the framework described is an :vention, will now be described.

outer canopy 3t composed of interwoven or inter-- plate 36, the plates 34 and being held in gripping position by the screw bolts 38'.

The enclosure is completed by covering the. ends with closures 30a and 30b formed of interwoven metallic cables, whereby they are'gas permeable. These are secured to frame members 8 in any suitable way, as by cables whipped around frame members 8.

As shown in Fig. 5, a doorway is provided at one end of the described enclosure. Bositioned between two of the central vertical ribs I2, is a horizontal plate 40, having its inner edge 4! chamfered, serving as the upper jamb for the door, and a lower plate" having its inneredge 43 chamfered, serving as the lower jamb for the door. The door itself is a simple, rectangular, box-like frame composed of vertical plates, and cross plates 46, provided with a grillwork of iron rods for supporting a plurality of layers of intermeshed or interlaced metallic cables 41 so that the door-is gas permeable. The door is provided with apertured lugs 48, the apertures of which register with the apertures in similar apertured lugs 50 carried by vertical ribs I2, cross. bars 52 passing through said apertures serving to hold the door in closed position. Either rod 52 may serve as a hinge and preferably the upper rod 52 serves that purpose. In order to raise the door, there is provided a pulley block 55, supported on a bracket 55, and an operating cable 56, as shown in Fig. l. The inner cylindrical gas permeable chamber,-

clamps such lower edge against the vertical flange of transverse beam l4.

At the other end of the apparatus, and as shown in Figure 4, the enclosure of canopy is completed by a front portion 30b, the lower edge of which is held in place by a similar clamp and lower door Jambs 4B and 42 already described, and are secured to such jambs by welding.

femal machine be placed or carried at substantiaily the center of the inner chamber 60. For

this purpose there is provided a carriage which moves from a point near the door to about the middle of the inner chamber. the apparatus comprises supporting standards I2, resting on angle irons I4 welded in place on the inside of the cylinder. 60. These standards support an inclined guideway comprising upper and lower rails 14 and I6 braced apart by end struts 18. An openwork explosive-carrying platior'miill is suspended by arms 82 from the axles of grooved wheels 84, the grooves of which engage with the guide rails 74 and 18. In order to move the carriage up and down its guideway the axles of the pulleys are connected by rod 88, the forward ends of these rods terminating in eyes 88 to which is connected a chain 9& which passes through suitable holes in the ends of the inner and outer chambers over a pulley wheel 92 and around a winding drum 83.

In the event of an explosion, the carriage 80 and its guideway'woud probably be destroyed,

which is an important feature of the present in- Referring more particularly to Figures 4, {S and 6, this cylindrical inner chamber, indicated generally at 80, is also formed of interlaced or interwoven metallic cables so as to be gas permeable. This cylinder 80 is supported by the ribs 28, being secured to the inner edges of the ribs by strong metallic rods 82 which pass through the mesh of both the outer canopy 30 and the cylinder 60, these rods being placed so as, to pass around a particular rib 2B, and reversely bent over opposite sides of the ribspthereby anchoring both the canopy 30 and cylinder 8 0 to the. ribs 26.

The ends of the inner chamber or cylinder 80 are formed by circular gas permeable mats '4 formed of interlaced printer-woven metallic cables, these end elements being held in place by securing them to vertical ribs i2 and securedto such ribs by flexible rods 88 which pass through the meshof the end memberfil and are reversely bent to pass around the ribs l2. Where the side wall and end wall 154 meet, ,as-at 85, such meeting edges arelaced together by whipping a wire cable around such meeting edges. The

lower portion of the inner chamber. is positioned above the floor mat 32 as shown in Figures 5 and6.

Referring-to Figure 4, one end, for example the right hand end 30a of the canopy 30, formed of even if made of metal, and so these parts may be made of wood, for easier and less expensive replacement.

In operation, the infernal machine, bomb or explosive, indicatedfor example at 9 4, is placed on the carriage as soon as possible after it has been discovered, the door is closed and se-. cured and the chain pulled so that the explosive is moved to and held at about the middle of the inner chamber, as shown at 84', Figure 4.

The entire apparatus is portable, being provided with wheels 96, as'part of a motor truck or as a trailer, so that it may be moved away. to an isolated spot where a possible explosion would result in a minimum of damage to persons and property in the vicinity. A protecting shield 9| may be provided for the driver.

While the invention is not limited to any particular type of cable. wire cables of about in diameter, with a wire rope center, are preferred. These cables are inherently strong and flexible and impart strength,-gas permeability, the ability to catch and retain fragments, and flexibility, to the walls of the outer and inner enclosures. c

There has thus been provided a portable apparatus composed of an outer canopy. an inner cylindrical chamber, and end elements forming outer and inner gas permeable spaced apart en,-

"closures-to which access may be had by a gas interlaced orinterwoven metallic cables so as to be gas permeable, is'suitably secured to thefframe T member 8, the lower edge being secured by a "clamping platefifi which by means of bolts 10 permeable door; the explosive is placed on a movable carriage just inside the door and the explosive moved to and held at about the center of the inner cylindrical enclosure, whereby the explosive is spaced from the walls, bottom and ends, of both enclosures and whereby the gases It is important that the explosive, bomb or in- This portion of aeraeoo from the explosion may expand radially and freely in every direction. As the gases expand radially, the pressure and temperature decrease and the gases escape readily through the gas permeable walls. explosion are retained by the gas permeable walls.

While we have described our invention in some detail, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details shown, but may I be carried out in other ways.

thereof, and a carriage movable on said guideway, N

for carrying the explosive to the middle of the chamber.

Any fragments resulting from the 3. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, and particularly bombs of the fragnentation type, comprising a substantially cylindrical gas permeable chamber, including a doorin one end thereof, the chamber and door "consisting essentially of heavy, interlaced metallic cables, an inclined guideway in the chamber extending from said door to substantially the middle of the chamber, and a carriage movable on said guideway, for carrying the explosive to the middle of the chamber.

4. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, and particularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a gas permeable chamber of heavy interlaced metallic cables.- a

guideway in said chamber, a carriage movable on said guideway, for carrying the explosive to substantially the center of said chamber, and means, exterior of the chamber, for operating said carriage.

5. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, and particularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a substantially cylindrical gas permeable chamber, including a door in one end thereof, the chamber and door consistingessentiallyof heavy, interlaced metallic.

cables, an inclined guideway in the chamber extending from said door to substantially the midfspaced from the walls thereof.

'7. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, and particularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a gas permeable outer canopy, a substantially cylindrical, gas permeable inner chamber mounted within the canopy and spaced from the walls thereof, the walls of said &

canopy and chamber consisting essentially of heavy interlaced metallic cables, a guideway in the inner chamber, and a carriage movable on the guideway, for carrying the explosive to about I the middle of the inner chamber.

8. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, and particularly bombs of the fragmentation type,- comprising a gas permeable outer canopy, a substantially cylindrical, gas permeable inner chamber mounted within th canopy and spaced from the walls thereof, the wallsof said 'canopy and chamber consisting essentially of heavy interlaced metallic cables, door means for giving access to both the canopy and inner chamber, an inclined guideway in the inner chamber, having one end adjacent said door, and a carriage movable on the guideway for carrying the explosive to about the middle of the inner chamber.

9. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, and particularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a framework, including plate ribs, defining an enclosure, said plate ribs being setedgewise with respect to the center of the enclosure, a gas permeable canopy of interlaced metallic cables secured to the outer edges of said plate ribs, a gas permeable mat of interlaced metallic cables secured to the inner,

edges of the plate ribs, in spaced relation with respect'to the canopy, and defining an inner chamber, and means for positioning an explosive in said inner chamber.

10. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, and particularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a. framework, in .cluding plate ribs, defining an enclosurersaid plate ribs being set edgewise at different angles so as to be edgewise with respect to gases travelling radially from the middle of the enclosure. a gas permeable canopy of interwoven metallic cables secured to the outer edges of said plate ribs, a gas permeable mat of interwoven metallic cables secured to the inner edges of said plate ribs, in spaced relation with respect to the canopy and defining an inner chamber, and a gas mrmeable floor mat of interwoven metallic cables.

11. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, and particularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a framework, including plate-ribs, defining an enclosure, said plate ribs being set edgewise with respect to the center of the enclosure, a gas permeable canopy of interlaced metallic cables secured to the outer edges of said plate ribs, 2. gas permeable mat of interlaced metallic cables secured to the inner edges of the plate ribs, in spaced relation with tially cylindrical inner chamber, and means for positioning an explosive in said inner chamber.

12. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, and particularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a framework, including plate ribs, defining an enclosure, said plate ribs being set edgewise at different angles so as to be edgewise with respect to gases travelling radially from the middle of the enclosure, a gas permeable canopy of interwoven metallic cables secured to the outer edges of said plate ribs, a gas permeable mat of interwoven metallic cables secured to the inner edges of said plate ;ribs, in spacedrelation with respect to the canopy and defining a substantially cylindrical inner chamber, and means for positioning an explosive in the inner chamber, spaced from the walls thereof.

13. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, and particularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a framework, including plate ribs, defining an enclosure, said plate ribs being set edgewise at different angles so as to be edgewise with respect to gases travelling radially from the middle of the enclosure, a gas permeable canopy of interwoven metallic cables secured to the outer edges of said plate ribs, a gas permeable mat of interwoven metallic cables secured to the inner edges of said plate ribs, in spaced relation with respect to the canopy and defining a substantially cylindrical inner chamber, a guideway in the inner chamber, and a carriage movable 0n the guideway, for'positioning an explosive at about the middle of the inner chamber.

14. A safety apparatus for handling explosivesg'enerally, and particularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a framework, including plate,ribs, defining an enclosure, said plate ribs being set edgewise with respect to gases travelling radially from the middle of the generallyyand particularly bombs of the frag-- mentation, typ comprising a framework, including plate ribs, defining an enclosure, said plate ribs being set edgewise with respect to gases travelling radially from the middle of the enclosure, an outer gas permeable canopy of aameoo framework, a gas permeable outer canopy com-.

prising side and end walls and a floor, carried by said framework, a substantially cylindrical,

gas permeable inner chamber carried by said framework, within the outer canopy and spaced from'the walls and the floor thereon-the walls of said outer. canopy and inner chamber consisting essentially of heavy interlaced metallic cables, and means for supporting an explosive in said inner chamber.

1'7. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally and particularly bombs oi the fragmentation type, comprising a framework, including ribs, defining an enclosure, a gas permeable canopy of interlaced metallic cables, se-. cured to said ribs, a gas permeable inner cylindricalenclosure of interlaced metallic cables carried by said ribs, and spaced inwardly from the walls of the canopy, the canopy and inner enclosure being formed of heavy intermeshed metallic cables which impart their inherent flexibility to the canopy and to the inner enclosure, and means for positioning an explosive in the inner enclosure.

THOMAS W. ROCHESTER HYMAN W. BARRON.

JOHN T. GmALA.

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