US2359301A

US2359301A - Projectile

Info

Publication number: US2359301A
Application number: US384697A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph H Church; Wilfred E Thibodeau
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-03-22
Filing date: 1941-03-22
Publication date: 1944-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 1961-10-03

Description

INVENTORS Joseph H. Church Wilfred E. Thi n gnu W W ATTO NEYS J. H. C HURCH ETAL PROJEcTILE Filed March 22, 1941 Patented Oct. 3, 1944 PROJECTILE Application March 22, 1941, Serial No. 384 697 9 Claims. (01. 10256) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April, 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a projectile.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a novel projectile in which controlled timing of the initiation of an explosive charge at its rear end is obtained by a pair of relatively movable members which comprise the body of the projectile.

The invention is further characterized by a novel firing mechanism which is armed during fiight of the projectile.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the improved projectile;

Figs. 2 and 3 are modifications thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1 the body of the projectile comprises an outer tubular member 5 and a slidably related inner tubular member 6 assembled with its rear end normally spaced a short distance from the closed base I of the outer member and from a cushioning disk 8, for example of lead, fitted therein.

The tubular members are maintained in spaced relation in any known manner, for example by a shear pin 9 and/or a centrifugally operable bolt in, the purpose being to prevent relative movement of the members on set-back.

A capsule II containing an explosive charge I2 is placed in the tube 6 and has its front end l3 of any well known configuration spaced from the front end of the tube 6. A casing 14 in rear of the capsule has its marginal portion disposed in rear of the rear end of the inner tube and is seated on the disk 8. The casing contains a charge l5 of nitroglycerin carried by an absorbent such as kieselguhr. The nitroglycerin is adapted to be separated out from the absorbent under the influence of centrifugal force to occupy the marginal portion of the casing l4 underneath the tube 6.

On impact the tube 6 is arrested while the remaining elements continue forwardly. The nitroglycerin is set off by the shock of impact and it is insured by the action of the tube 6. This in turn sets off the main explosive charge I2 when it is in proper relation to the target to secure the best effect.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the inner tube l6 has an ogival nose H with provision for permitting relative forward movement of the capsule IS. The rear end of, the tube is supported by a member l9 which may be carried by either the inner tube l6 or the outer tube 20, but, as shown, it comprises a cage having numerous light, laterally yieldable depending fingers 2!. The fingers serve, in addition, to normally cage a pair of primers 2222. Obviously the force of setback of the inner sleeve portion 16, is sustained by the fingers collectively, but centrifugal force acts upon them individually.

The fingers serve to support the inner tube against set-back and then are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force during fiight. The primers, also under the influence of centrifugal force, are displaced radially and are positioned underneath the tube 1 6.

When the projectile is not subjected to rotation in flight as when fired from a mortar, such as disclosed by the modification in Fig. 3, the primers 2323 are held by set-back pins 24 placed in the path of movement of the inner tube v25. The primers are moved into the path of the inner tube by a spring 26.

We claim:

1. A projectile comprising a cup-shaped body portion and an inner sleeve member slidably mounted in said body portion with its rear end spaced from the bottom thereof, and with its front end .preadjacent the body portion, a charge in said projectile comprising a forward main explosive and a rearward initiator, said charge being supported by the base of said body portion and said initiator being positionable between the sleeve member and the base of the body portion under the action of centrifugal force.

2. A projectile comprising a cup-shaped body portion and an inner sleeve member slidably mounted in said body portion with its rear end spaced from the bottom thereof, and with its front end preadjacent the body portion, a main explosive charge within said sleeve member and an initiating unit rearward thereof, said unit comprising a capsule containing a priming charge and movable into position between the sleeve member and the base of the body portion under the action of centrifugal force.

3. A projectile comprising a cup-shaped body portion and an inner sleeve member slidably mounted in said body portion with its rear end spaced from the bottom thereof, and with its front end preadjacent the body portion, impact shearable means locking said body portion to said sleeve member, a main explosive charge within said sleeve member and an initiating unit rearward thereof, said unit comprising a capsule containing a priming charge, spring means to force said capsule under said sleeve member and means releasable on setback, holding said capsule in its position away from the path of the sleeve member.

4. A projectile having a body comprising a cup-shaped outer portion and an inner initiating charge igniting sleeve portion slidably mounted in said outer portion with its rear end spaced from the bottom thereof and its front end adjacent the outer portion, a main explosive charge within said sleeve portion, and an initiating charge at the rear end thereof and positionable between the sleeve portion and the base of the outer portion under the action of centrifugal force.

front end preadjacent the outer portion, a charge within said sleeve portion, an initiator behind from the bottom thereof and with its front end 5. In a projectile according to claim 4, ben;

V trifugally removable means holding the sleeve preadjacent the outer portion, a container hold-