US2402335A - Aerial bomb - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1946. F. D. MAYES AERIAL BOMB Filed Dec. 30,1941 v Patented June 18, 1946 AERIAL BOMB Frank D. Mayes, Atlanta, Ga.

Application December 30, 1941, Serial-N0. 424,989

2 Claims.

Generically this invention relates to bombs or other velocity driven missiles but it is more particularly directed to the type adapted to be carried by and dropped from airplanes, or other aerial craft.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of an aerial bomb designed to burst at a predetermined height with respect to the ground or other -contacting surface for maximum eii'ect on property, life, and/or troops in the open, and to prevent its being buried before exploding.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a bomb of this character adapted to be easily carried and discharged from an airplane, having means to eiiect its explosion at a predetermined height with respect to its landl ing surface and eliminating the necessity for time fuses or other time setting detonating mechanisms.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of a bomb of this character having a, hinged plunger adapted to be normally carried at right angles to the bomb portion and mea-ns for automatically locking said plunger in alignment with the bomb portion upon simultaneous release of the bomb and plunger holding means.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of a bomb of this character with a longitudinally extending circuit closing trigger plunger mechanism and/or interchangeable means carried by the free end of the plunger adapted upon contact with the surface of the.

ground or body of water to cause said plunger to close a circuit and eiect explosion of the bomb at a predetermined height with respect to its landing surface.

With these and other objects in View, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an airplane showing my improved bomb carried in parallelism with said plane and means shown in vdotted loutline for releasing said bomb.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View of Fig. 1 showing a slightly modified form of bomb supported in vertical position and the plunger portion at right angles to said bomb and means for simultaneously releasing the Abomb and plunger portions.

Fig. 3 is a vertical elevational view of the bomb arranged as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view of the plunger and electrically controlled mechanism with certain parts in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a View taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. G is a detail View of the bomb supporting and releasing bar mechanism and portion of the fuselage in section.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatical View of the wiring diagram with the contact plates in disassembled relation.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary View of the lower or free end of the plunger showing one formrof the ground or other surface contacting element.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown an airplane A and a bomb B adapted to be carried by said airplane and dropped therefrom. The bomb B comprises a body portion I, in the present instance terminating at its upper and lower ends in substantially conical shaped ends 2 and 3, respectively, the lower end of section 3 being formed with or suitably attached thereto a cylindrical sectionl d, having at its free end a contact plate 5I of a greater diameter than section 4.

suitably formed or Secured to the outer surface of body I are two or, if desired, four equi-spaced substantially triangular blade or vane elements 5, the arcuate upper curved ends 'I of which, in the present instance, extend outwardly to points slightly above the upper end of portion 2 and which elements cause the bomb to vertically descend in a straight line when released from the airplane, as will be fully described as the description proceeds. An attaching ring 8 is suitably secured to the upper end of conical portion 2.

A plunger trigger mechanism C comprises'a tubular casing 9 formed at its upper end with a complemental contact plate lil of a diameter corresponding to that of plate 5, to which it is attached at one edge by hinge structure Il, Riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the under surface of plate lo opposite to hinge I I `is a clamp spring member I2 formed with an inclined or cam end I3 and a clamping edge I4 adapted to engage over plate 5 when the plates are brought together, so as to automatically and firmly lock the plunger structure C to and in fixed alignment with respect to section i of said bomb l.'

Telescopically mounted within tubular section 9 is a plunger I5, said plunger extending to a point spaced from plate I0 and beyond the lower end of casing 9 a predetermined distance, terminating in a rounded end element I5 threadedly or otherwise secured to its free end. Said element I6 is adapted to contact the ground or other object on which the bomb may land to operate the plunger, as will be directly more fully described. While different types of end elements I5 may be used, I have preferably shown said element I6 as interchangeable With the vacuum cuplike member I6a preferably used when the bomb is dropped on the surface of a body of water.

Mounted on section S spaced from its upper end and suitably secured thereto is a plate I'I, preferably formed of insulating material though, if desired, it may be constructed of other material suitably insulated. Mounted in said plate at opposite edges are the contacts I 8, to the binding posts I3' of which are connected the ends of electric wires I9 constituting the insulated cable 20 which extends through aperture 2| in the lower end of section 3, with the other ends of wires I9 suitably connected to battery 22 in circuit with a detonating mechanism 23 in firing contact with the bomb charge 24.

Mounted below said plate I'I on sleeve 25 is a complemental plate of insulated material 26 similar to plate I'I. Said sleeve 25 is provided with a pair of oppositely positioned contacts 21 connected by an electrical conductor 23, said contacts 21 adapted to engage contacts I8 to complete the electrical circuit from battery 22, through conductor 30, contacts I8, 2l, conductor 28, contacts 21 and I8 and conductor 3I back to battery 22 to effect firing of the charge 24, when said contacts I8 and 21 are brought into engagement by the upward movement of plunger I5, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Sleeve 25 is movable on section 9 and is formed with opposite openings 32 corresponding to the dimensions of bar 33 adapted to extend therethrough and also through slots 34 in member 9. The ends of said bar 33 project beyond the opposite sides of sleeve 25 and are formed with openings 35, in which are suitably secured one end of springs 36, the other end of said springs being secured to eyelet screws 3'! threadedly or otherwise secured to opposite sides of member 9 adjacent its lower end. Said springs tend to retract sleeve 25 and maintain plate 26 in separated relation with respect to plate I1.

When the bomb is released it will, as above described, descend vertically, and when member I 6 or Ita comes in contact with a landing surface the plunger will be impelled upwardly against the action of springs 35, moving plate 26 into meeting relation with plate I 'I and contacts 2T into engagement with contacts I8, thereby completing the circuit to effect setting off of the charge, as hereinbefore explained.

In order to carry bomb B when the plunger element is rigidly locked in longitudinal alignment with the bomb portion, as shown in Fig. l, a release bar 38 is journaled in bearings 39 suitably mounted in the fuselage D, one end of said bar extending beyond bearing 39 and having rigidly secured thereto operating release handle 40 and adjacent each end of said bar suitably keyed or otherwise firmly secured thereto are the depending hook members 4I adapted to project through openings 42 in bottom 43 of said fuselage D. One of said hooks is adapted to engage in ring 8 and the other under plunger section I5, to secure the bomb in plane carrying position. Movement of the handle 4I] to the position shown 4 in dotted outline in Fig. 6 simultaneously releases both ends of said bomb and the blades 6, causes said bomb to immediately assume and maintain a vertical position throughout its descent, as will be clear without further discussion.

In connection with Fig. 2, when the body portion I is suitably held in vertical position within the fuselage and the hinged plates 5 and I0 are open, permitting plunger mechanism C to be held by one of the hooks 4I in horizontal position at right angles to the first mentioned hook and is engaged in opening 44 in ear 45 formed at the edge of blade 6, thereby maintaining the device in position. Movement of handle 4B will effect simultaneous release of the bomb body I and plunger structure C, at the same time said plunger will drop to perpendicular position effecting the automatic engagement of spring I2 over plate 5, thereby firmly locking the plates 5 and I0. The bomb when landing through the action of plunger I5 closes the circuit to the detonating mechanism by the movement of contacts 2l into engagement with contacts I8, thereby effecting instant bursting of the bomb at a predetermined distance above the landing surface, as heretofore described.

From the above it will be apparent that I have designed what may be termed an aerial bomb adapted to be expeditiously carried and released from an airplane, simple in construction, positive in operation, manufacturable at a reasonable cost, and eiicient for the purposes intended.

While I have described one form of my invention, it is to be understood that body I may be varied according to the size and weight of bomb desired for different specific uses. It is also apparent that instead of ear 45 the opening 44 may be formed directly in the vane if desired.

It is apparent that I have designed a unique extended nose piece or plunger mechanism C, including telescoping sections adapted for relative movement to close the ring circuit, and by varying the length of the ground or other surface contacting member I5 the distance above the ground the explosion takes place may be varied as desired. Likewise, while I have shown a simple means for carrying and releasing a bomb from an airplane or other aerial craft, it is to be understood that any well known type of means for carrying and releasing a bomb or bombs may be employed in accordance with the particular requirements.

Although in practice it has been found that the form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most ecient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent With the adoption of the invention will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts, maybe resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacricing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described myY invention, what I desire protected by Letters Patent is as set forth in the following claims;

1. An airplane bomb of the character described containing a firing charge, a source of electrical energy, and a detonating mechanism in circuit therewith, and including an exterior rigid nose piece structure extending from said bomb comprising a tubular section formed intermediate its length with aligned slots and having mounted thereon spaced from its upper end a fixed contact member, a sleeve telescopically mounted on the tubular section formed at its upper end with a complemental movable contact member, said contact members being mounted in said detonating circuit, an impact plunger element telescopically extending within said tubular section and having attached to its free end an impact surface contacting cap member, anchor means extending through said slots and plunger resiliently connected to said tubular section normally maintaining said contact members separated, whereby contact of the plunger with an impact surface effects movement of said movable contact member into engagement with said fixed contact member closing the detonating circuit and causing explosion of the bomb a predetermined distance above said impact surface.

2. An airplane bomb of the character described containing a firing charge, a source of electrical energy, and a detonating mechanism in circuit therewith, and including an exterior rigid nose 20 piece structure extending from said bombcomprising a tubular section formed intermediate its length with aligned slots and having mounted thereon spaced from its upper end a xed contact member, a sleeve telescopically mounted on the tubular section formed at its upper end with a complemental movable contact member, said contact members being mounted in said detonating circuit, an impact plunger element telescopically extending within said tubular section, anchor means extending through said slots and plunger resiliently connected to said tubular section normally maintaining said contact members separated, whereby contact of the plunger with an impact surface effects movement of said movable contact member into engagement with said xed contact member closing the detonating circuit and causing explosion of the bomb a. predetermined distance above said impact surface.

FRANK D. MAYES.

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