US2519905A

US2519905A - Driver rocket

Info

Publication number: US2519905A
Application number: US594241A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clarence N Hickman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-05-17
Filing date: 1945-05-17
Publication date: 1950-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1967-08-22

Description

Aug. 22, 1950 c. AN. HlcKMAN DRIVER ROCKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 17. 1945 .Fig-5., 7; //0 /Z q Q wwf, W

M MSW W 5W M Patentecl ug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT O-FFECE DRIVER ROCKET Clarence N. Hickman, Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of War Application May 1'?, 1945, Serial No. 594,241

14 Claims. 1

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government, for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates, generally, to rocket apparatus, and more specically to driver rockets for muzzle-loaded ordnance.

In muzzle-loaded ordnance, such as the 4.2" chemical mortar (pages 372 through 378, Chemicals in War, by Prentiss, 1937, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc.) the force of gravity is used to move the loaded projectile or shell from the muzzle down the mortar tube or barrel into the firing position. A fixed firing pin at the tube cap end or base of the mortar, res the propellant as soon as the projectile slides back into the firing position against the firing pin. This method of loading and firing is satisfactory forhigh-angle nre of the chemical mortar, but is impossible for low-angle re at point blank l ranges, because of insufficient gravitational force to move the projectile into lthe ring position. That is, the mortar barrel .must be elevated to at least a certain minimum angle in order for it to be operated.

The present invention covers the means which I have provided to permit a mortar to be effectively red not only at low angles of elevation, but even with the mortar barrel depressed below the horizontal. Briefly stated, my present invention resides in providing driver rockets or mortars which can be attached to the nose end of a mortar shell and which will develop suiiicient driving force to drive the shell backward through the barrel into the firing position. Although the driver rockets of this invention are found to be particularly useful in connection with loading and ring the chemical mortar at all angles of lire, it will be apparent that. there are numerous other applications to which such devices may be put.

Although the present invention has been particularly made for use with the 4.2" chemical mortar, and will be described hereinafter in connection therewith, it will be apparent that it has general application to all types of muzzle loaded weapons.

The object of this invention, generally stated, is the provision of means whereby a muzzle loaded mortar may be fired at low angles of elevation,

and even at angles of depression below the horizontal.

More particularly, an important object of this invention is to provide a driver rocket or motor adapted to be attached to the nose end or nose fuse of a mortar shell for driving the shell rearwardly into a ring position against the ring pin.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a driver rocket that will be automatically detached from the shell or projectile to which it has applied a desired thrust in response to launching of the projectile.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a driver rocket or motor having a firing mechanism and suitable safety device to prevent premature firing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional View of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a left end, elevational View of the driver rocket shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of another form of driver rocket embodying my invention;

Figure 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, of still another form of driver rocket and the nose end or a shell to which the driver rocket may be attached;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional View of another driver rocket Iorming another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a vertical, sectional view of modied means for fastening the driver rocket of Figure 5 to the nose of a projectile;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of another form of rocket motor forming an embodiment of this invention;

Figure 8 is likewise a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view or' still another driver rocket embodying the present invention;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of still another form of driver rocket forming another embodiment of this invention, the motor housing being shown separated from the ignition head; and

Figure l0 is an enlarged perspective view of the nozzle member of Figure 1.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a driver rocket is shown generally at 9 comprising a motor housing or casing l] provided with a nozzle ll threaded thereinto, and further provided with a iront plug or head I2 threaded into the motor housing I0 and having a projecting flange I3. The plug or head I2 is apertured so as to receive a blank cartridge or primer i4 therein, as shown` The motor housing Ill contains a cylindrical powder grain I of a rocket-type propellant.

The propellant l5 may be o Russian powder, about M3 in external diameter and about 11/8 in length. The diameter of the throat of the nozzle II should be about 0.02 square inch. The inner end of the nozzle I I may be provided with several radially arranged ridges Iii which serve as a powder trap supporting the grain I5 while the gaseous products of combustion pass to the nozzle between the ridges. The forward or left end of the powder grain I5 is provided with a coating of black powder II, or the like, to assist in the ignition of the grain. Other powder such as H-4 (T-Z) may be used by` making vsuitable adjustment of dimensions. l y

A supporting sleeve I8 has a reduced section surrounding a portion of the motor housing IU and an enlarged section also surrounding the left end of the housing I0 and extending theren from'. A shoulder 2e' is provided between the two sections of theV sleeve IS and serves to retain a compression spring I 9 in place in cooperation with the flange I3 of the plug I2. AnA internally threaded coupling 21 is slidably tted in the left end of the sleeve It; and is secured` thereto by means of a shear .Wire or pin 22` passing through :both of these parts, a-s 'shown in Figure 2. Within the sleeve I3l and between the coupling 2l: and the plug I3", is provided a slida-ble plunger or piston 23 carrying a firing pin 2LH rhe skirt portion of the plunger 23 is provided with a pair ofdiametric'ally opposed slots- 25 through which the shear pinA 22 extends. In order toprovide for the safe ringof theY driver rocket il, apull bar 2S isl provided which` extends throughsuiftable slots inthe sleeve lil positioned so that the bar 25 separates the plunger 23 from the blank` cartridge I4. The slots in the sleeve 88- aceoinrrloe dating the pullbar 2e are made longer thanA the width of the pull bar 26 so that it may shittin position axially of the driver unit il.. The pull bar 26 may be provided with a ring 2l at one end to which apull cord may be secured.

The driver rocket 9, having been describedin detail, its mode of operation is as follows:v

The coupling ZI is screwed on to the frontor nose of a projectile. As it is screwed on, the end or the projecting stud or thread on the projectile nose engages and pushes the member 23 furtherl into the sleei-fe le thereby pushing against the pull bar 2t which in turn moves the head plug l2 to compress the spring I9. En Fig. 1, the driver unit parts are illustrated inthe com pressed or loaded position, although the nose Aof the projectile which supports the unit is not shown. The projectile with the driver 4unit screwed thereon is then loaded into the muzzle of a gun or mortar and the unit is ready for firing and to exert athrust to push the projectile from the muzzle back into the firing position. T he driver rocket is operated by withdrawing the pull bar 29 by hand. As the pullbar Zal is withdrawn, the spring I9 forces the motor housing I0, nozzle El and the plug E3 toward the projectile until the iiring pin 2li engages therhead of the cartridge I@ thereby ring the cartridge. The ring of the cartridge I4 ignites the blacrlg powder il on the end of the propellant grain I5 and thus ignites the propellant. As the grain I5 burns, the combustion gases escape from the motor housing lo through the nozzle I l' exerting' a thrust through the housing lo and the plug t2 on the' meint-cr ze which being in' contact with the end of the projectile applies the thrust to the projectile to push it rearwardly through the gun barrel into the tiring position. When used in connection with the chemical Warfare service mortar the movement of the projectile to the ring position is such as to fire the propellant charge by percussion as it seats in the ring position against the breech firing pin of the mortar. The charge I5 of thev driver' rocket burns in about 0.2 second to eert' a driving thrust of about 40 pounds. When the projectile propellant is ignited, the forward acceleration of the project'ile is suflicient to shear the pin or wire 22 which releases the sleeve IB from coupling member ZI. VBy' providing a shear pin 22 that will shear at about al 20GV pound thrust, the pin is not sheared by the 40 pound thrust of the driver rocket, but is" sheared by the 600 pound thrust of the accelerating projectile as it leaves the gun. After the pin i222 shears, and the accelerating motion of the projectile has ystopped, the compression of ther- 'spring le will eject the`V driver rocket unit from the path er' the projectile, leave lng the coupling' member 2l on the nose of the projectile. Y

Referring' new tcy the ccrlstmctlcnY shown ln Figure'S of the drawings, a' drivel" rocket is' ii'ld'ii' cated generally at 2&3' whichvl is ii genera-lA similar to the driver rocket of Figuresl and 2; The rocket motor -i comprises 'a motor lflousii'lgv 3i), a nozzle 3l, a plug or head 32, a propellant gr'a 'l Staand a rlr'ing' cartridge The plug' is`- c lindrical in shape and its rig/ht'v end is" threaded into the motor housing 30; The blank" cartridge is seated in a central holev provided therefor in the plug 32', arid is held this Seated posi: t'lon by a transverse wire ety extending through the plug 32; A firing' pin 3l, surrounded a compression spring' SS; is carriedvv'itl'ii'nI the' extended portion of the plug I coupling member 3Q is attac-hed to the plug' 322 by al shea-r wir-c er ein all, and the rlrlg sin ai is' Secured to the coupling member 39 by a' pullpin or hat el. 'rile coupling efe is provided with' 'a threaded extension' or stem 32 adapted tobe screwed into' the nose of a projectile so as to attach the drive'r rocket 29' thereto; A plurality ofV slidabl pins als extend in parallel through the coup .ng itember Se', and have headset adapted to enga-ge a washer i5 abutting the left end of the spring Sli.

when the diri-ver uil-lt ls attached toA the 'nece of a projectile, such as a 12 mortar shell, by screwing the stud d'2 into the nose' tube, the nose' pushesA the pins" e3' throu-g'flik the coupling inem# ber 39" so that theV ends'- 44 bear against the washer i5 and compress the Sp'ring'ril. When is desired' to fire tilevl dr'lverrockcte'-, the pall pin `l I is withdrawn permitting the spring 38 to drive the pin 31 against the bl'a r`4lfkY cartridge or priilfer se so' as tov set itch?, The primer sa eresV tue charge 35 withintifc motor housing Se which burns to deliver the desired drive or thrust to" the projectile. A 'I ll' rrode oi' operation is thus similar to' that of the'coh'striice tion shown n Figures l and 2'. As the projectile accelerates ln forward'mcvementf on being ered from the mortar the' shear wire' fail" is* sl'iealed thereby releasing the main portion of the driver rocket 19'k from' the coupling member S" so that the former' may' be pushed by the sprl-rig 3S from theV path Aof the'- projectile.

Ihe modi-fled construction indicated generally at 49 in Figure 4, is in Ageneral like the con`stri-L tio-nsv previously described excepii'that the driver rocket body mem-ber es is prei/ille@ with radially extending finsV or varies Mp This construction Serves to automatically detach the driver rocket 49 from the nose of a projectile 52 due to the rotation of the projectile as it is fired from a rifled barrel or tube. The vanes are of such area as to tend to prevent the driver rocket 49 from rotating as fast as the projectile, thereby serving to unscrew the driver rocket 49 from the threaded extension 53 or projectile nose. The driver rocket 49 includes a firing pin 54, a pull bar 55 and a firing pin spring 56. A retainer or plunger 51 is provided which slidably nts over a stem extension of the firing pin 54, as shown, and serves to compress the spring 56 when the driver rocket 49 is sc-rewed on to the threaded end 53. Upon pulling the bar 55 the firing pin 541s released and serves to set off/the propellant in the motor section (not shown) of the driver rocket 49.

In Figure 5 of the drawings, a modied construction is shown including means for detachably. securing a driver rocket 59 to the tapered nose 69 of a projectile. The driver rocket 59 includes a motor 62 provided with a nozzle 63 and a powder trap 64. The forward or left end of the motor housing 62 is closed by a plug 65 apertured to accommodate a blank cartridge 66. A sleeve 61 is threadedly secured to the left end of the motor housing 62 and is provided with a ring 68, as shown. The ring 68 incloses a centrally threaded ring 69 having the same diameter as the sleeve 61, the ring 69 being screwed on to the threaded ring member 6|. Radially extending shear pins 19 serve to initially secure the sleeve 61 to the ring 68 and to secure the ring 68 to the ring member 69.

Within the sleeve 61 and attached to the plug 65 by machine screws (not shown) is a plate 1|. The plate 1| holds the cartridge 66 in place and carries a firing wedge 12 on a spring arm 13 in a position to be driven through an opening in the plate 1| so as to fire cartridge 66. The plate 1| also supports a stem 14. Opposing washers or plungers 15 and 16, separated by a collar 11, are slidably mounted on the stem 14 and retain a compression spring 18 therebetween. A pull pin `19 extends through the sleeve 61 from side to side to prevent the washer 16 from contacting the firing wedge 12 until it is desired to fire cartridge 66. A cylindrical grain of rocket type propellant (not shown) is carried in the rocket motor housing 62 as in the driver rocket 9 of Figure l.

The method of operation of the driver rocket 59 of Figure 5 will now be described. The ring member 6| is secured to the nose 69 of a projectile by cement or the like. The driver rocket carrying rings 68 and 69 is secured to the ring member 6| by screwing thereon. As the ring 69 is secured to the ring member 6|, the end of the projectile nose 69 engages and urges the washer 15 to the right along the stud 14 compressing the spring 18. The pull pin 19 abuts against the Washer 16 preventing the latter from engaging the firing wedge 12. When it is desired to fire the driver rocket, the pull pin 19 is manually withdrawn permitting the spring 18 to push the washer 16 into engagement with the ring wedge 12 which latter then strikes the cartridge 66 to fire the same.` When the cartridge 66 is red, it ignites the rocket-type propellant in the motor chamber 62. The products of combustion from chamber 62 exhaust through nozzle 63 creating a driving thrust to the left to drive the projectile 69 into its firing position as explained hereinbefore. The drive thrust of the driver rocket is not sufficient to shear the pins 19. When the projectile itself lires and moves to the right, its accelerating force is suicient to shear the pins 19. The driver rocket 59 is then free to fall away from the projectile nose 69, and drops out of the path of flight of the projectile.

In Figure 6 of the drawings a modified construction is shown whereby the driver rocket 59 of Figure 5 may be attached to the nose 69. This modiiied construction involves three rings 89, 8| and 82 connected by shear pins 83, as shown. The accelerating force is sufficient to shear the pins 93.

In an effort to simplify and lighten the driver rocket constructions described above in connec- Y tion with Figures 1 through 6, the modified design indicated generally at 99 in Figure 1 of the drawings was developed. The driver rocket 99 represents approximately fifty percent reduction in weight and also eliminates the hazard of nying rings which exist in connection with driver rocket 59 of Figures 5 and 6. The driver rocket 99 comprises a rocket motor 9| having a nozzle 92 screwed into the rear or right end thereof. The inner face of the nozzle 92 is provided with radial ridges 93 which constitute a powder trap for the powder grain (not shown) retained in the chamber of the motor 9|. The forward or left end of the motor 9| is a thickened section 94 and has an L-shaped opening 95 formed therein. The short leg of the opening 95 opens into the powder chamber while the long leg is tapped at its outer end so as to receive a firing pin holder 96. A blank cartridge 91 is held in place by the plug 96.

In order to attach the driver rocket to the nose end or fuse of a mortar shell, an internally threaded ring ||9 is provided which is adapted to be screwed on to the nose end or fuse. The ring |,|9 is secured to the motor 9| by means of two sets of pins III, ||2 which meet in an intermediate ring ||3 therebetween. Registering holes are provided in the opposing ends of the thickened section 94 and the ring ||9 so as to receive the ends of the pins and ||2. The recesses or holes for the pins ||2 in the thickened end 94 are of such a depth that the pins ||2 can extend thereinto to about one-half the length thereof, while the receiving holes in the ring 9 for the pins are of such a depth that they can accommodate the full length of the pins However, in the initial assembly of the driver rocket 99 the pins abut against the ends of the -pins I2 and extend only about halfway into the holes provided therefor in the ring ||9, as shown in the drawings.

In operation, the driver rocket 99 is screwed on to the nose end or fuse of a mortar shell, and the shell is then positioned in the muzzle end construction, th driver ro'cietihdihatd genera-1: 1y at H5 Figr' S' of the drawings was pro*- vided. The driver rkt H5' onipriss a boy H5 having a otd s'tih H? andl a somewhat ehlaigedl adaptor sotioh H8. A Ynozzle |36 is screwed into the7 rear @nu of the 'rhotbr section H1 and a pw'cl'er grain mi semi-red thrih between a powder' trap' |22- form'ed' r' the inri'er face' 0f the I'OZZS" |23 aid 'VJSHr |31?. Th iihg pin arrangemeht for theA drive'i1 rocketv H5 is Similar to that oi the driver rock-'et Se ih Fi'ga 7; That is, a' firingiin |'2 is carri'c i a piti |25 which aise' srves' to' retain blank cartridge |26 in its sated plstih.' Hfmier I2?- ('Zai'tfdA by a leaf spring |23' is v"""ovidd" to Strike -rihgpin IZ; The hammer l`2'Y is ribra'ily separated from the" rih'gl pin IZS by 'means 'of 'cup-'shaped stamping ,|29 c'rd on tifi bili |39. The pin extends through a taii'sverse 11G-1e' provided therefor iii the' adaptor se'ctio'n Si.

The' thickened the matar shells. th

tothe rear end of a motar tube or barrel to ignite thel same. A number of driver rockets embodying "this invention have been made and successively `tested with the 4.2 chemical mortar. Of course, `the same principles would apply to any type of muzzle-loaded mortar.

Since certain further changes may be made in the foregoing constructions and diiierent erni bodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter described heretofore or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In combination, a mortar shell adapted to be red from a muzzle-loading mortar, and a driver rocket secured to the nose end of said mortar shell, said driver rocket comprising a casing having a forwardly-opening nozzle, a charge of propellant in said casing in communication with said nozzle, and means to ignite said propellant to thereby drive'said shell rearwardly.

2. A driver rocket device comprising in coi-u bination, a motor housing for containing a pro pellant charge, a nozzle secured to one end of said housing, a head secured to the opposite end of said housing, said head having an aperture therein to receive a blank cartridge, a firing pin carried within said head, a spring in engagement with said pin, and a coupling element for'seuring said head to an object to be driven, said spring being compressed in response to operation of said coupling element to secure said head to the object to be driven.

3. A driver rocket device for use in driving a muzzle loaded ordnance projectile from the muzzle to the iiring position in a gun, comprising a motor housing for containing a propellant charge, a nozzle at one end of said housing, a head at the opposite end of said housing, ignition means carried by said head for igniting said charge, coupling means detachably connected to said head and operable to fasten said device to the nose of said projectile, and means responsive to operation of said fastening means to arm said ignition means.

4. A driver rocket device comprising, in combination, a motor housing, a discharge nozzle secured at one end of said motor housing, means f for closing the opposite end of said motor housing, an L-shaped opening provided in said closed end with a leg opening into the motor housing, and the other leg opening to the side of said motor housing, a primer secured in said side leg of the opening, a ring pin, ring pin holding means also in said side leg of the opening serving to retain said primer in place and to hold said firing pin in a position to strike the cartridge, a hammer for striking said ring pin, spring means for urging said hammer to strike said iring pin, and ring means adapted to normally separate said hammer from said firing pin and manually withdrawable to simultaneously bias said spring means and then release said hammer to detonate said primer.

5. The combination with a motar shell adapted to be red by translation rearwardly from muzzle to breech within the barrel of a mortar, said shell having a nose, of a driver rocket comprising, a

cation with said nozzle, and means within, said casing to ignite said charge to thereby propel said rocket and shell rearwandly within the mortar barrel.

6. The combination with a shell having a propelling charge ignited in response to rearward translation of said shell within a gun barrel from the muzzle thereof, of a driver rocket adapted to be attached to the nose of said shell and comprising a casing, a forwardly directed nozzle closing the forward end of said casing, a propelling charge in said casing, percussion means operable to ignite said charge, a spring adapted, when tensioned, to urge said percussion means into chargeeigniting movement, and means responsive to attachment of said rocket to said shell, to tension said spring.

'7. A driver rocket comprising a casing, a nozzle secured to the forward end of said casing and in communication with said casing, a propellant charge in said casing, normally safe percussion firing means carried by said casing and operable to ignite said charge, means operable to attach said casing to the nose of a shell with said nozzle directly forwardly, and means responsive to operation of said attachment means to arm said percussion ring means.

8. In a driver rocket, a motor housing, a nozzle and a head secured to and closing respective ends of said housing, a propellant charge in said housing, a primer carried by said head for igniting said charge, a firing pin slidable in said head to detonate said primer, a spring in said head and operable when stressed, to urge said firing pin into detonating relation with said primer, screw means united with said head for attaching said rocket to an object to be driven, and means responsive to turning of said screw means in attaching said rocket to an object, to stress said spring.

9. A rocket as recited in claim 8, and a safety pin connecting said firing pin and screw means, said safety pin being withdrawable to free said firing pin to the action of said spring.

10. A rocket device as recited in claim 4, safety means normally operative to prevent Withdrawal of said firing means, and means responsive to attachment of said device to a mortar shell for driving the same, to render said safety means inoperative, whereby said ring means may be withdrawn.

11. In combination with a mortar shell adapted to be fired by translation rearwardly in and along a mortar barrel from the muzzle thereof, a driver rocket, a propelling charge in said rocket means operable to connect said rocket to the nose of said shell in position to translate the same rearwardly, normally inoperable firing means for igniting said propelling charge, and means responsive to operation of said connecting means in connecting said rocket to a shell, to render said ring means manually operable.

12. In a driver rocket, a housing having a forwardly-directed nozzle at its forward end, a plug closing the rear end of said housing, a primer mounted in an aperture in said plug in position to ignite a propellant charge in said housing, a sleeve secured to said housing and extending rearwardly therefrom, i'lrst and second washers reciprocably tting said sleeve, a spring interposed between said washers, a firing pin carried by said plug and adapted to detonate said primer on impact by said ilrst Washer, manually-withdrawable safety means normally preventing impingement of said rst washer against said ring pin, and means operable to simultaneously attach said sleeve to the nose of a` shell and to forcesaid second washer toward said Washer to Ithereby stress said spring and urge said first washer ,intodetonatlng impingelnentagainst .said

`firing pin.

13. .A driver roeketasleo-ted .in elam said attaching means comprising a. -rst ring, .a Segond ring fitting over and about Said .irst Vfing and said sleeve, and radial shear pins .oo-nneotng said -frst and second rings and Said Segond ring and sleeve.

14. A driver rocket device comprising, in .come ,bination a motor housing, a propelling .Charge in said housing, .a discharge nozzle @losing one end of said motorV housing, plug means oloeing the opposite end of Said motor housing, a primer mounted said nlug means and adapted to .re said propelling charge, a ring pin mounted in a stellung position relative 4to said primer and .mally biased .away therefrom, an ignter .easing Soeurod to Seid motor housing .at the end one posit@ said nozzle, plunger means disposed Within said .casing and adapted to strike ,s aicl ming pin 12 l to detonate vSaid primer, normally -unstressed Spring means iin Seid easing and ,Stressalole to urge said plunger into ring movement, remgv.-

able safety means normally preventing said plu-nger Ineens from engaging .Seid ring ein,

means for coupling said driver-rooket-to the front,

end of a mortar shell, and means responsive to operation of said coupling means in connecting said device to a shell, to stress said spring means,

CLARENCE N. HICKMAN,

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS