US2318994A - Bomb - Google Patents

Description

BOMB

Filed July 7, 1941 Patented May. 1 1, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENTIoFFlcl-z Y Bom v August F. W. Helmbold, Newport, Ky. Application July 7, 1941, serial No. 401,359

(ci. 1oz- 6) 2 Claims. y My invention relates to improvements in bombs, the principal object in view being to proe vide a combination incendiary and demolition bomb adapted to function so that it is condi tioned through impact with'a target for incendiary operation, and for subsequent explosion to both increase its eectiveness as an incendiary instrument and to cause it to function as shrapnel.

Other' and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvement, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specication.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a View in rear elevation, and

Figure 3 is a view in longitudinal section drawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, my improved bomb comprises a substantially bulletshaped shell i of magnesium metal, or iron, or other suitable metal, having a conical butt end 2, a substantially central transverse partition also of metal, the wall of the casing intermediate the partition 3 and the end l?. being grooved lon gitudinally and circumferentially, as at Il, to provide a frangible portion designed when the shell bursts to function as shrapnel.

Adjacent the nose of the shell l is a second transverse partition E of suitable metal forming together with the nose portion a chamber t adapted to contain a detonating cap 'l and behind the cap a ruse composition t. As will be seen the partition t divides the shell between the iront end d and the partition t into a rear chamber. it and an intermediate chamber il.

The chamber it is lled with a high explosive such as Trinitrotoluene, or the like, represented at l2. 'Ihe chamber il is packed with Ther-mit, represented at i3, and other substance adapted to readily give up oxygen when ignited.

Extending from. the partition t into the cham ber il, for a short distance, in laterally `oifset position relative to the axis of the shell l is a short nipple lt establishing communication between said chamber and the iront end of the chamber il. A tubular core it extends from the partition 5 axially of the shell l through the chamber il and partition 3 into the front portion of the rear chamber it and establishes communication between the chambers 6 and lll. A suitable time fuse i6 extends through said core i5.

A plurality of rectangular, flat, fins I6 extend from the marginal edge of the end 2 of said shell l rearwardly and which are grouped in a circle in equidistantly spaced relation, the function, as will be understood, of the ns being to maintain the bomb in upright position during flight of the same downwardly as when dropped from an airplane.

In operation, when the described bomb strikes a target, the cap 'l is exploded thereby ignitng the fuse material 8 which, in turn, through .the nipple M, ignites the Thermit after a short interval suillcient for the bomb to come to rest, and also the time fuse lli. The latter is designed for delayed burning for a period oi time sumcient to permit the Thermit to attain a high temperature such that it will set fire to, or explode, any inflammable, or explosive, target. As soon as the time fuse i6 burns to the explosive it, the bomb bursts spreading the burning 'lhermit over a Wide area and projecting the fragments oi the bomb particularly of the frangible portion to act as shrapnel.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sumce to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modication without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

i. In a device of the class described, a shell of metal and substantially bullet-shaped, and having a leading nose end, a transverse partition in the shell adjacent the nose and forming in the latter a chamber, a second transverse partition in said shell intermediate the rst mentioned partition and the other end of the shell and forming in said shell an intermediate chamber and rear chamber, respectively, a detonating cap and fuse material in the rst mentioned chamber, a high explosive in the rear chamber, an inflammable material in the intermediate chamber, a short nipple extending through the iirst mentioned partition into the intermediate chamber through which the fuse material is adapted to ignite the inflammable material, a delayed action fuse extending from the rst mentioned chamber into the end chamber and isolating means surrounding the delayed action fuse to isolate said delayed action fuse from the indemmable material whereby the fuse material is adapted tc ignite the delayed action fuse and the latter to cause explosion of. the explosive material.

2. In a device of the class described, a shell of metal and substantially bullet-shaped, and

having a leading nose end, a transverse partition in the shell adjacent the nose and forming in ythe latter a chamber, a second transverse partition in said shell intermediate the rst mentioned partition and the other end of the shell i and forming in said shell an intermediate chamber and rear chamber. respectively. a detonating cap and fuse material in the iirst mentioned chamber, a high explosive in-the rear chamber. an iniiammable material in the intermediate rst mentioned partition into the intermediate Cil chamber, a short nipple extending through the chamber through which the fuse material is adapted to ignite the inflammable material, a

' delayed action fuse extending from the iirst men- AUGUST F. W. Harmon).

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