US2377207A

US2377207A - Hand grenade

Info

Publication number: US2377207A
Application number: US395517A
Authority: US
Inventors: John B Campbell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-05-28
Filing date: 1941-05-28
Publication date: 1945-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 1962-05-29

Description

3; 29, 1945. J. B. CAMPBELL HAND GRENADE Filed May 28, 1941 2. Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR, Q I E, Campbe/Z 29, 1945. Y J. B. CAMPBELL 2,377,207

Fild May 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i INVENTQRL C p ll that the bridge 4 slips off of the clip 5.

Patented May 29, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND GRENADE I JohnE. Campbell, Detroit, Mich. Application May 28, 1941, Serial No. 395,517-

1 Claim. (01. 102-64) This invention relates to a hand-grenade.

Hand-grenades as heretofore fabricated have not been arranged so that they could be conveniently transported from place to place by a soldier preparatory to using the same. One of the objects of this invention is that of producing a hand-grenade which can be conveniently and easily handled and transported by a soldier preparatory to using the same. This object is achieved by arranging the hand-grenade so that it can be clipped on to a belt. Thus, a plurality of hand-grenades can be clipped on to a single belt and conveniently worn by a soldier.

This invention also contemplates a handgrenade which is safe to handle and which has a firing control mechanism very much more simple than those presently used with hand-grenades. This object is achieved by controlling and efiecting the firing or exploding of the hand-grenade by a firing pin which normally is held out of firing position but preparatory to firing the handgrenade is shifted into firing position. The firing pin is actuated by impact whenever the handgrenade strikes an object after being hurled,

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the hand-grenade showing the firing pin in non-firing position.

Fig. 2 'is a vertical sectional view 90 from the section shown in Fig. 1 with the firing pin shifted to set or firing position.

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

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the handgrenades mounted on a belt.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the body or shell of the hand-grenade is designated l and the explosive mixture, including the shot or pullet, is designated 2.

The body of the hand-grenade is provided with a recess 3 having a bridge member 3 arranged to fit over-a clip 5 riveted or otherwise mounted on a belt 5. The clip 5 is preferably a spring clip. As shown in Fig. 4, the belt 6 is provided with a plurality of clips 5 each carrying a handgrenade l.

The hand-grenade is mounted on the belt by slipping the bridge member 3 over the clip 5. The upper end of the clip 5 is turned inwardly toward the belt 6 so that it interengages the bridge 4 and better retains the hand-grenade on the belt. The grenade can be removed from the belt by simply lifting the grenade upwardly so The belt and grenades can be packed for shipment as a unit. A wide web belt is preferably used as packing material and one or more belts and grenades are packed in a suitable container for shipment.

The firing of the hand-grenade is controlled by one ormore firing pins. Byway of description rather than limitation, two firing pins 7 are shown which are fixed on a head 8. The head 8 is rotatably mounted upon post 9 and retained thereon by a cap screw l0 and compression spring I l. The compression spring H is positioned over the post 9 between nut [2 which is screwed into the head 8 and the head of the screw Ill. The screw 10 has a threaded fit with the post 9. The compression of the spring can be regulated by turning the screw ID in or out. Lock washer I8 is positioned between the head of the screw Ill and the post 9. The head 8 is provided with opposed notches 13 adapted to receive the fingers of the person grasping the head 8.

The body i is provided with a pair of openings l4 and a second pair of openings l5 positioned from the openings l4. Detonating material in the form of a detonating cap in any suitable form, such as the detonating cap i6, is placed in the bottom of each of the openings l5. Openings l5 communicate with the explosive material 2 in the hollow interior of the body I through passageways I1. Openings I4 serve merely as retaining sockets for pins 1 when the grenade is in safety or non-firing condition.

The operation of the grenade is as follows: As shown in Fig. l, the grenade is in non-firing position with pins 1 positioned in openings Hi and retained'therein by the spring ll. Preparatory to firing the hand-grenade, head 8 is elevated against the tension of spring [I and turned 90 and then 'lowered so that pins 1 now fit into openings I5 above caps E6. The compression of spring II is regulated so that but a slight force is exerted on head 8. The primary function of spring II is to retain the head in lowered position with pins 1 in openin s I l when it is not desired to explode the hand-grenade and with the pins 1 in openings l5 when it is desired to use the handgrenade. The spring II serves primarily as a means for holding the head 8 and pin l in either set or ofi position and does not function to fire the hand-grenade. After the pins 1 have been set into openings i5, the hand-grenade is now ready to be hurled and preparatory to exploding the same. As soon as the hand-grenade hits an object, the impact will be such that head 8 acts through firing pin I to explode caps l6 which in turn through firing passages l1 explode the mixture 2. If head 8 strikes the object the impact is directly transferred through head 8 and pin 1 to caps l6. If the body of the shell strikes *the object, then the inertia of head 8 or shock The operation of the head 8 of this modified 'form of grenade would be the same as above described. When hurled with the head 8 in firing position, Fig, 2, the impact would cause the pin 1 to explode the caps I6. This explosion would break or shatter the head 8 and permit the com, pressed tear or other gas in the body! to flow through passageways l1 and openings 15 to atmosphere. In this form of the invention the caps [8 would be used to close passageways l1 and seal the tear gas within the body I. After the caps I 6 were detonated, passageway I! would be opened and the gas would leak by the head 8 to atmosphere in case the head were not shattered. Head 8 and ,pins 1 preferably have a loose fit in the body of the grenade.

I claim: v

A grenade comprising a hollow body member adapted to hold an explosive charge, firing means exploding in response to an impact for exploding said'explosive charge, a shiitable and rotatable head member for said body member; a post upon which said head is mounted for manual movement axially of said post toward and away from said body and for manual rotation about said post, said post being fixed upon said body, a firing pin carried by'said head, and a pair of recesses in said body, one of said recesses adapted to receive the pin when in firing position and the other of said recesses adapted to receive the pin and lock the said head member in non-firing position, and

a spring yieldably urging said head toward said body.

7 JOHN B. CAMPBELL.