US2364643A - Explosive projectile - Google Patents

Description

1944- w. T. MOORE ETAL EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE Filed Feb. '12, 1941 INVENTORfi Wdeq T Maor a aily Will/2:15. Tmbadeau ATTdRNEYE Patented Dec. 12, 1944 EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE Wiley T. Moore, Laverne, Okla, and

Thibodeau, Cleveland, Ohio Wilfred E.

Application February 12, 1941, Serial No. 378,582

1 Claim.

(Granted under the actof March 3, 1883, as amended April 3-0, 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 projectiles in general, and, in particular, to a small or medium arms explosive projectile and firing device therefor. In these types of projectiles, the known types of cumbersome fuses are neither necessary nor desirable and all that is required is a detonating material and simple means for initiating the same provided the firing means is safe in handling and storage. Due to quantity production, the firing parts should be low in cost and easy of manufacture and assembly.

These conditions are fulfilled in they projectile of the invention wherein a ring-shaped striker member of curved section is provided in contact with the detonating material.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a projectile having a curved-surfaced ring-shaped striker member in contact with the detonating material.

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

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation in section of a projectile shown broken.

Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified projectile, and

' Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, showing an elevation in section of the rear end of a projectile.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, there is shown in Figure 1 a jacket I surrounding a main body portion 2 having a central bore 3.

Slidably fitted in the bore 3 and extending very nearly the full length thereof, is a tube 4 having at its forward end an annular inward protuberance 5 of curved section.

Within the tube 4 is packed a main explosive or incendiary charge 6 which may approach or lie partly within the restricted orifice defined by the annular protuberance 5.

Snugly fitted within the ogive is a metallic insert 1 designed to preserve the proper ballistics of the projectile and also serving as an armorpiercing core. For this reason it should be composed of a hard material. This core will pierce both by reason of its momentum and the added with detonating material is.

impetus given by the explosive charge 6. Penetration being effected, the explosive charge and an incendiary charge, if included, will complete destruction inside the armor plate or other target.

The detonating material 8 is placed in the space forward of the annular protuberance 5, and partly or wholly fills the space within the protuberance.

The shell loaded from the rear and closed by a plug 9 held by crimping ID of jacket I, although it will be understood that the plu may be threaded into the shell, or press fit or attached by any other convenient means.

Ears II on tube '4, engaging in slots l2 in body 2 serve to hold the tube 4 against rotation.

The jacket and body are first assembled, the two being keyed by a crimp as at I 3. Detonating material 8 is then introduced into the nose through bore 3, and properly packed. Tube 4 is then inserted into bore 3 to contact detonating material 8 and further detonating material is introduced to occupy the desired amount of space within the annular protuberance 5. The balance of the tube 4 is then filled with the main charge.

If the detonating material i properly packed,

the projectile will be safe in storage and ordinary handling and under setback on firing. On impact, however, the tube 4 will slide forward and the detonating material will be crushed between protuberance 5 and the forward portion of the-shell and thus set off.

Safety is assured in part by the smooth contour of the annular protuberance 5 which requires heavy impact to set off the detonating material.

In Figure 2 is shown a shell wherein the sliding tube has been shortened to comprise only a single inwardly curved ring I 4. This ring rests on a shoulder I5 of the body 2 of the projectile. This ring will be inserted into the body 2 before the jacket is mounted. However, if a split ring is used, it may be inserted from the rear after the jacket is mounted. It may also be keyed to the body 2.

The ring-shaped member or annular protuberance may have any other curved shape in crosssection such as circular, for instance.

In Figure 3 is shown the rear portion of.a bullet having the firing elements in the base. The annular striking ring l6, shown in this instance as semi-circular in cross-section, is placed in a bore I! at the base of the projectile, in contact In the forward portion of the bore is placed a centrally perforated metal disc [9 disposed against a shoulder 20 between bore l1 and a smaller bore 2] housing the main charge 22. The disc l9 which may be of a hard material similar to the core 1 serves as a solid backing for soft material of the body 2, and also serves as a partition between the detonating material and the main charge although a partition is not strictly necessary, and perforation 23 may be as large as bore 2|.

The modification of Figure 3 shows the general applicability of the firing mechanism of the invention to base type ignition. In particular, this modification lends itself readily and appropriately to use in an explosive projectile with con ical recess in the impact region of the explosive charge of the type shown in British Patent No.'

It will be understood-that the base closure plate 24 shown in Figure 3 must be of sufficient strength and thickness to avoid any danger of detonation due to the force of the propelling gases.

We claim: e

A projectile having a central chamber, a main charge and a detonating charge in said chamber, a ring shape striker member surrounding said detonator charge and in contact therewith and resting on the rear face of said chamber, and solid means in the path of movement of said striker member to limit its forward movement upon impact of the projectile.

WILEY T. MOORE.

WILFRED E. THIBODEAU.

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