US2416877A - Aerial mine - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1947; M. P. LAUGHLIN AERIAL MINE Filed June 10, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l M t 1947- M. P. LAUGHLIN 2,416,877

AERIAL MINE Filed June 10, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 4, 1947. M. P. LAUGHLIN 2,416,877

AERIAL MINE Filed June 10, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4, 1947. M. P. LAUGHLIN 2,416,877

v AERIAL MINE Filed June 10, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 4, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT Price 8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to aerial mines and to a method of laying and disposing the same.

Aerial mines of kite, balloon, and parachute type heretofore employed have involved moorings and the like to assure their being in position at a given time in a given spot, and hence have of necessity been made so large that they were not only expensive to prepare and maintain but were easily visible and avoided by the enemy with little trouble. Another difiiculty with such devices has been that so large a proportion of their buoyancy was needed to support the mooring lines that but little remained to support any explosive elements. Further, the erratic gyrations of a balloon on a mooring in a breeze of any force often placed it far from its intended position when most needed to intercept enemy aircraft and the like.

It is the purpose of this present invention to provide a mine or grenade of such small size and cost that it may be made and used in large quantities, of a type and constructed of parts adapted to quantity production by peacetime production machinery so that it will be available in any quantity required, to provide means for so laying such minesthat their position at a given time can be accurately known, and to provide means for automatically disposing of such mines after their period of elfective use so that the danger from drifting and escaped mines may be eliminated.

The ultimate object of this invention is to provide means for accurately launching and controlling free-fioating mines in such a fashion that the course of the free mines and of invading vessels will intercept and the point of such interception be accurately known.

The following description and the attached drawings will serve to disclose certain mechanism providing one embodiment of my invention and a preferred method of using the invention.

Fig. 1 is a view in partial cross-section of a preferred form of mine.

Figs. 2 and 3, also in partial cross-section, show parts of the firing mechanism of the mine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the trigger release mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the balloon inflating and deflating mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an elevation in partial section of the laying and setting mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows from line 'I'| of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view taken in the direction of the 2 arrows from line 8-8 of Fig. 6, and is in partial section.

Fig. 9 serves to show the mine storage and feeding rack used as a part of my invention.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the aerial mines in operation.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred form of container for the mines and mine racks before use.

Fig. 12 is an elevation of part of the mechanism of Fig. 6.

Fig. 13 is a second view of the mechanism of Fig. 6 for the parts in a second position,

Fig. 14 is an end View of the mine rack of Figs. 11, 12, and 13.

A type of aerial mine suited to the practice of my invention and forming a part thereof is illustrated in cross-section in Fig. 1, wherein Ills is the balloon shell of expansible type material such as rubber, rubberized cloth, or the like, provided with a neck or appendix H, which forms the means of inflating the balloon, of supporting the explosive charge, detonator and firing mechanism, and of transporting all of this to the place of release. The method of manufacture of shell lfls, forms no part of this invention, and it may be made after any of the well known methods of manufacture, such as molding in a single piece or assembling in segments, and is preferably of spherical or pear-shaped form.

Within the appendix l I is arranged a detonator mechanism 20, comprising a body 2|, over which fits a shell 48. Body 2| is provided with an internal bore having an enlarged portion 22, opening into a reduced portion 23, which in turn opens into a bore 2 having an opening 25 in the side thereof, and openin in turn into a reduced bore 26, extending to the end of body 2| at the nipple 21, adjacent to which is provided a flange 28, whose purposes will be described.

The bore portion 22 serves to permit the introduetion of a cap or cartridge 33 for which the bore portion 23 forms a chamber. Cap 30 is of a form well known to the art, and is exploded by the trigger and firing pin mechanism shown most clearly in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 3 it will be noted the shell is provided with a thread 4 l, which in operation threads over thread lla on the exterior of body 2|.

Shell 40 is provided with a plug or bushin 42 in which slides firing pin 43, which terminates at its upper end in a loop 44, pivotin in hole 45 in the firing pin. Secured to firing pin 43 is a flange 46, against which bears springs 41, whose upper end attains a purchase on the closed end 3 of shell 40, which is bored to a sliding lit for firing pin 03, as may be seen in Fig. 3.

The trigger mechanism for firing pin 43 is provided in trigger 50, having a slot 5| engaging in a cutout 03 in the shell 40, so that the bearing portion 51a is interposed in the path of flange 06 and retains firing pin 33 in the raised position shown in Fig. 3, when trigger 50 is vertical as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Trigger 50 is provided in its upper end with an opening 53 in which a second ring or loop 52 pivots. Fig. 4 will serve to show the relationship of this firing mechanism when in a cooked position... Engaging the loop 40 and holding the relationship between the two loops and the cooked position of the trigger mechanism is a cord 60, having at its lower end a clip 62, as shown in Fig. 4.

Cord 60 may be a spring or the elastic cord illustrated which engages through a. link 03, with a, ring 65 secured by a suitable patch 68 to the wall of the balloon I0, opposite the appendix II.

The mechanism thus far described will show that when the balloon shell Is is inflated, cord 00 will place a tension upon the trigger mechanism and hold it cooked, and a slight consideration of the structure will show that any deflection of shell I0s beyond a predetermined amount will release the tension of cord 00 and permit the pressure of spring 41 to force flange 4'6 against the portion Ia of the trigger 50, and that trigger, pivoting about slot 5|, will through ring 52 pull loop 44 down far enough so that the trigger 50 will be thrown out of the path of flange 46, and firing pin 43 will be driven down by spring 41 against cap 30, exploding the same, and discharging its flame and hot gas through the bore 24, and the opening 25, to detonate an explosive charge arranged thereabout, as in Fig. 1.

Loop 44 and ring 52 are preferably secured together with fine wire 65 or the like when originally set and it will be understood that placing a strain upon cord 60 pulling up clip 62 breaks this wire. 7

The bore extension 26 of body 2i extends into and communicates with nipple 21 and serves to support the inflation valve mechanism shown in detail in Fig. 5. The inflation mechanism, Fig. 5, comprises a bushing 80, which journals a stem BI, having a valve disc 83 secured thereto, and normally seated on the upper end of bushing 80 by a spring 84.

The mechanism just described follows closely well known inflation mechanisms for rubber tires, and the like. and machinery for quantity production is in daily operation.

To provide an optional time element in the deflation of the balloon shell, a cap 85 for nipple 21 m y be provided, cap 85 having escape vents 85, extending through its closed end and provided with an internal projection 81, which will en age the lower end of stem 8| to an extent, and with a pressure determine on the amount that can 05 is screwed upon nipple 21. The purposes of ms deflater mechanism will be described in more detail in connection with the operation of this device.

The following description will show that my invention contemplates a complete departure from the former haphazard methods of releasing aerial mines and contemplates an absolute accuracy and duplication in the mines themselves in their manufacture, in their individual operation, in their rate of travel, in the time of their release,

d and in the time intervals between the release of individual units.

In the accomplishment of all of these objects, it is necessary that the firing mechanism or detonator, the explosive charge, and the balloon shell-in other words, all of the parts of the mine itself, be capable of accurate duplication, and this is provided by the quantity manufacturing methods already available to the parts involved.

It will be noted that all of the mechanical parts involved are such as to be readily produced by automatic machinery and that most of the parts so involved follow closely in form to those already employed in industry. It will be understood that inflation of balloon shell 20 cannot be entrusted to the former methods of manual operation if advantage is to be taken of the accurate duplication of parts already described.

Fig. 6 serves to show in partial cross-section'a mechanism adapted to continue the absolute duplication and control essential to the best operation of my invention. In Fig. 6 the chuck I00 is of any of the forms and types well known to the tire inflation art wherein a valve mechanism is actuated by the insertion of a valve stem, and in this case by the insertion of nipple 21.

To avoid complication, drawings of the internal mechanism of chuck I00 have been dispensed with, but it will beunderstood that it is provided with a gas connection IiiI to which is connected a suitable hose I02, communicating with the regulating valve I03, controlling the gas flow from such source as the gas cylinder I05,

Chuck I00 is preferably mounted on the body II2, sliding in the support'IIE and pressed upward by spring H0, whose lower end bears upon a seat I14 and whose tension may be controlled by the adjusting screw I I5a.

Body I15 is secured to cross-member 302 of a suitable supporting frame 31H as shown in Fig. 6. Cross-member 302 also serves to support the weighing and release mechanism which comprises a lever I50, having its end forked as indicated at I521 in Fig. 8.

Lever I50 journals upon the outer end of a suitable shaft I5I has upon its upper side a projection I50, and has therein a slot I55.

Secured to shaft I5I is a secondary lever I60, bearing upon its outer end a pin I62, which engages in slot I55 of lever I50.

Shaft I5l journals in a suitable bearing IBI and has secured to its inner end a lever I64, whose upper end is turned inward to engage hand nut I61, threading upon stem I60, whose lower end attaches to tension spring I69, anchored at I10 to the pedestal I12 of bearing I 6I. Pedestal I12 is secured to cross-member 302 already mentioned.

In lever I60 is also mounted a stop pin I02a, which projects from its lower surface and into whose path a timing mechanism I interposes a, stop I82, as will be described.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 9, 11, 12, 13, and 14, it will be seen that the aerial mine of the form described in connection with Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, may be conveniently delivered to the place of operation in a sealed container or box 500, provided with the internal supports 50I, which bear racks 510, having guides or slides 502 and 503 joined and separated by members 504 and 505, as specially shown in Figs. 13 and 14, in such fashion that the flange 28 rides between the guide rods 502 and is held thereby in regular arrangement as shown in the drawings.

Thus, the aerial mine complete may be shipped,

complete with explosives and detonator, but with the balloon shell deflated, as shown, and is ready to be fed unit by unit into the fork I52 of the inflating mechanism, as indicated in Figs. 12 and 13, it being understood that when lever I50 is in position I5ta, as shown in Fig. 6, the end of this fork is in registry with the guide 552, and that only a slight side movement of the mine units is necessary to transfer from the shipping rack to the fork I52. Container 500 may be thus placed adjacent to the balloon discharging mechanism and the racks 55E! picked up, each with its load of mine units, and positioned on frame 30 I, as indicated by the dotted lines 5Icd of Fig. 6. It is understood that such racks are omitted from Fig. 6 to avoid complication, and so that the source of inflation gas, might be shown.

It will also be seen that by this method nine units may be fed as rapidly as desired to the forks I52.

Flange 28 slides below fork I52, and appendix II projects thereabove when the arm I5!) is in position I5ta, as has been described. Arm I59 is supported in its raised position through the engagement of pin I62 to the upper end of slot I55, lever I60 being held in its uppermost position through the tension of spring IE9 operated through lever I64 upon shaft I5I, as indicated in Fig. 12.

It will be noted that hand nut I N and threaded stem I68 provide means for regulating the tension of spring I69 and it will be seen that if the stem I63 be thrown to the right lever I55 will also be thrown to the right, and that the tension of spring I69 will now force lever I50 down, and pin I62 will engage the lower end of slot I55, as shown in Fig. 6, and force lever I58 and the mine unit carried thereby down so that nipple 21 will engage with and open chuck I00.

The tension of spring I69 is preferably greater than that of spring no, supporting chuck Illtl, but it will be understood that both of these springs are of greater tension than that required to open -chuck I00, and that as these two springs force nipple 2'5 and chuck I58 together gas flow from the cylinder H35 will begin and continue at the rate determined by the regulating valve I03, alread described, the gas passing through hose I02 connection HlI to chuck Iflil, thence through nipple 27, the valve mechanism of Fig. 5, through bore 27, and opening 25 to the interior of the balloon shell I35. It will be further understood that a this gas continues to flow the balloon shell Ifis will be inflated and that the buoyancy of the whole will increase until not only the weight of the firing mechanism 2d and explosive Ill is borne, but the balloon commences to have a definite free lift over its total weight.

As this proceeds, cord ell will be stretched, and in stretching will place a tension upon clip 62, breaking safety 56, so that the sole support for ring 52 and loop 46 becomes this same tension of cord 50, thus setting the mine and releasing its safety. The buoyancy of the balloon structure,

as it increases, places an upward tension on arm- I50, and this increases until the downward pressure of spring I69 is overcome and lever I6 3 is forced to the left, allowing arm I50 to rise and nipple 21 releases pressure upon chuck I00 (whose amount of vertical lift is controlled by stop pins H6 in the support H5, as shown in Fig. 8).

After sufficient upward movement to close chuck I00 and stop the gas flow, a further movement of arm I60 will proceed until stop pin IBZa encounters latch I82 of the timing mechanism I80.

The internal mechanism of timing mechanism I will be understood to follow a form of such devices well known to the art, and generally includes clock work or electrical mechanism individually controlled or connected through suitable electrical circuits with other mine mechanisms, after the fashion of those skilled in the art.

The inflation apparatus which has been described will be seen to provide means whereby a definite quantity of inflation gas, such as hydrogen, or the like, will be automatically introduced into each balloon unit as it is fed, and it will be seen that the tension of spring i655 will accurately control the free lift of the inflated balloon. Thus, each unit as it follows the preceding unit will have exactly identical free lift, and hence rate of ascension, when free in the air.

t will now be noted that timing mechanism ltd, through its stop I82, provides means to release the accurately inflated balloon unit at an exactly predetermined time, and that when stop 382 is withdrawn from the path of stop pin I52a the tension of spring I59 will throw lever into position I 5% and launch the balloon unit I0 through the wind protector and guide 360, surmounting the support frame 39!. The instant after the balloon unit is launched the rack 5H3 provides means for instantly inserting a second unit Ill into fork H52 of lever iii-ll, if stem I58 be thrown to the right; a further movement of stem M8 to the right will force lever I58 and the new balloon unit downward so that the stem 2'! of the new unit will contact and open chuck I68, and the new filling operation will immediately begin, it being understood that latch I82 is returned by the timing mechanism into the path of pin 82m after the fashion of usual operation of such mechanisms, and within the second or two necessary for the inflation gas to flow through chuck I69 and nipple 2? into the balloon shell.

Thus, a new balloon unit will have been fully inflated, chuck it will have again closed, and lever I55 will again return to position l5ta, before the completion of the required time interval when. timing mechanism tilt withdraws latch i82 to again release a balloon unit. This operation will, of course, be repeated over the specified total time of balloon release, as required.

Referring to Fig. 10 and to the preceding description of this specification, it will be understood that when a balloon unit for the known free lift is released its rate of ascension will be substantially constant, and that since this is true the altitude of each individual balloon unit at a given moment can be accurately predicted. The horizontal position of each balloon unit will, of course. be determined by the prevailing winds. Under a condition of no wind at any of the levels to which the balloon unit must pass, the ascent would, of course, be practically vertical. However, such conditions seldom, if ever, prevail.

It will be understood that Fig. 10 is for purposes of illustration only, and that in this illustration a uniform prevailing wind from lower left to upper right is assumed. Under actual operat ing conditions, however, different wind velocities and diiferent wind directions will be encountered at various levels. This, however, will not affect the horizontal spacing of the balloon units, since release of a trial balloon observation of its flight by theodolite, after the fashion well known in weather observations, will permit of determination of the line of flight of the following balloon units, and once the horizontal path and rate is so determined it will be understood that the necessary dimensions can be added to that of altitude so that the position of a given balloon unit at a given instant may be accurately predicted. Thus, altitude and horizontal position being both known, the necessary position of the discharging units can be readily calculated, so as to interpose the balloon unit in the path of an attacking squadron of bombers, or the like, whose speed, altitude, and direction can be found by the sighting devices already in use for such purposes.

The method of discharge for individual balloon. units, and the discharger which forms a part of the method, have been described. It is part of the purpose of this invention to duplicate such discharge in the necessary horizontal spacing as indicated in Fig. 10, so that the individual mines ill will be discharged in substantially parallel lines of flight, and that while such lines of flight will hardly follow the ideal condition shown in 10, still, however, such lines of flight may be distorted by the winds at various levels, the mine units will maintain not only a vertical spacing, but also a fairly accurate horizontal spacing. It will be understood that such spacing may not necessarily be so close as to prevent the passage of an airplane between the individual shells Ill, but that if desired entanglement wire such as law may be appended to each balloon unit as it is released, and that whether or no such entanglement wires are attached, the multiplicity of the balloon mines, their relatively small size, and their distribution over a large area, will form a mesh extremely difficult for a plane pilot, who must necessarily cut across and through the air curre its, to avoid; that avoidance of such mines will be further complicated by their low visibility and by the air stream created through the plane propeller. The nightfall would, of course, further complicate the problem of avoiding such a mine field and add a mental strain factor deterrent to bombing raids.

The ability of balloon structures to rise not only through but above the possible altitudes for plane flight enables the mining officer to cover every possible plane altitude from zero to their ceiling. The accuracy of spacing of the mines in the atmosphere permits the mining ofiicer to provide channels or gaps in. the mine spacing so that his own defending planes may fly through the mine field.

The removal of any mine from its active or primed condition is an essential factor if the defenders civilian population and countryside is to be protected. It will be seen that this invention provides means for so removing the primed mines in that the ascension of each balloon unit above a given predetermined altitude, depending upon the inflation ratio of the balloon shell, will cause the balloon shell to explode; such explosion, releasing the tension upon cord 60, will release the detonator and explode the mine.

Th mine is similarly exploded on contact with the attacking planes or their propellers, and it will be seen that the balloon shell provides a fairly sensitive release mechanism in that in small sizes free balloons may be made of extremely thin fabric since they are called upon to sustain absolutely no mechanical strain beyond that of vertically bearing the load of the explosive and detonator which form the grenade.

It will be further understood that the grenade may be of small size, and the amount of explosive Hi small, since actual contact with any part of the necessarily fragile airplane shell and the explosion of a grenade there-against will effectually remove the plane from effective operation.

It will be further understood that explosive [0 may include any of the several thermite compositions used in incendiary bombs, together with a small explosive charge, and that detonation will spread such incendiary charge over an attacking plane and over its appended bombs, exploding these while still in the air, in a fashion endangering the rest of the attacking squadron more than any object below.

Fig, 10 shows the dischargers as arranged on motor boats, but it will be understood that these may be equally well mounted in stationary positions or upon vehicles of any type, that the weight of such devices is not great, and that a single operator is sufficient for each such discharger.

The preferred modification of my invention which has been described serves to illustrate a method and means of accomplishing the same: It will be understood, however, that known equivalents within the arts involved may be substituted for any of the elements herein described, as an example of which may be cited the use of parachutes adaped to or forming a part of the balloon structure itself, so that the balloon on rising to its fullest height may release the parachute device bearing the grenade mechanism on the downward flight, or bearing simply the entanglement wires, or the like. A further equivalent for the discharging mechanism would, of course, find embodiment in rotary devices and like feeders employing a multiplicity of arms and charging nozzles in simultaneous or consecutive operation.

I claim:

1. A balloon grenade, free lift controlled inflation means therefor and time responsive looking means for said inflation means operatively associated therewith to release said grenade at a predetermined instant.

2. In an apparatus for providing an aerial barrage, a balloon, and inflation means for the balloon including control means for the same operatively associated therewith and responsive to free lift of the balloon.

3. Apparatus for providing an aerial barrage of free balloons, said apparatus including a plurality' of balloons each carrying an explosive charge with means to effect explosion thereof on contact of the balloon with an aeroplane, mechanism controlled by the buoyancy of the balloons being inflated acting automatically to successively inflate the balloons to uniform buoyancy, and means operatively associated with said mechanism for releasing the balloons therefrom in timed sequence.

4. Apparatus for providing an aerial barrage of free balloons, said apparatus including a plurality of balloons each carrying an explosive charge with means to effect explosion thereof on contact of the balloon with an aeroplane, automatic mechanism for successively inflating the balloons to uniform buoyancy including a gas supply, a valve for the supply, a free lift weighing mechanism operatively associated with said valve for governing the actuation of the same, and means operatively associated with said mechanism for releasing the balloons therefrom in timed sequence.

5. Apparatus for providing an aerial barrage of free balloons, said apparatus including a plurality of balloons each carrying an explosive charge with means to effect explosion thereof on contact of the balloon with an aeroplane, automatic mechanism for successively inflating the balloons to uniform buoyancy including a gas supply, a valve for the supply, a free lift weighing mechanism operatively associated With said valve for governing the actuation of the same, and automatic means for releasing the balloons from said free lift weighing mechanism in timed sequence including timing means, a stop latch for the Weighing mechanism, and a control responsive to the timing means and associated With the stop latch to withdraw the same and release the Weighing mechanism.

6. In an aerial mine, in combination, a balloon unit including an envelope and firing mechanism including a firing pin released by destruction of the envelope, a separate explosive unit including a detonator, and assembly means for said units to ensure cooperation of the firing pin on one unit with the detonator on the other.

'7. In an aerial mine, in combination, an explosive container unit having a percussion cap therein, a balloon unit comprising an envelope for buoyant gas and a mechanism section containing a firing pin for said percussion cap and means to release said pin upon a reduction in pressure of said gas in said envelope; and means to connect said units in operative relation whereby the firing pin on one unit may strike the cap on the other.

8. In a balloon inflating and releasing device, the combination with a balloon, of inflation instrumentalities therefor controlled by the buoyancy of the balloon, said instrumentalities including adjusting means for setting such control whereby an accurate preset lift of the balloon is obtained.

MYRON PENN LAUGHLIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Scientific American, June 14, 1913, cover page, also p. 538. (Copy may be obtained in Div. 22, Class 102-33.)

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