US2530317A

US2530317A - Toy explosive

Info

Publication number: US2530317A
Application number: US537231A
Authority: US
Inventors: Storey Everett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-05-25
Filing date: 1944-05-25
Publication date: 1950-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1967-11-14

Description

Nov. 14, 1950 E. STOREY I 2,530,317

TOY EXPLOSIVE Filed May 25, 1944 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY EXPLOSIVE Everett Storey, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 25, 1944, Serial No. 537,231

1 Claim. (01. 102-37) This invention relates to a toy explosive which realistically simulates various implements of warfare, such as a ship, a bomb, etc,

An object of the invention is to provide a toy explosive which is caused to explode at the desired time by the chemical action of water within the device. Another object is to provide a device having a brittle shell and containing metallic sodium, the shell being designed to explode and shatter when water is permittedto enter and react with the sodiuin.

A more specific object is to provide a toy explosive in the form of a boat and which when inverted or immersed in a body of water will explode through chemical reaction caused by the water on the interior of the boat. Another specific object is to provide such a toy explosive simulating a depth bomb which will sink in a body of water and whichwhen it reaches a predetermined depth will explode. A further object isto provide such a toy depth bomb which can be adjusted to explode at various depths. Another object is to provide a toy aerial bomb which can be dropped against an object which when it strikes will explode, the explosion being set ofi throughchemical reaction on the interior of the bomb.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a sectional view in elevation showing the explosive in the form of a boat; Fig. 2 is a view partly in section showing the explosive in the form of a depth bomb; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, the section being taken at line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view partly in section showing the explosive in the form of an aerial bomb; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the form shown in Fig. 4 showing the device in condition for explosion.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the toy explosive in the form of a ship comprises a casing including a lower portion or shell I ll simulating the hull of a ship. A top or deck portion II completes the closure and is provided with various appurtenances simulating the different visible equipment of a ship, the mast l2, the Smokestack I 3, etc.

The casing may be made of any suitable material, but preferably should be formed of an easily broken material, such as a resinous plastic, so that when the explosion takes place the structure will break easily. The lower portion or shell II] should be imperforate and the interior hollow so that when the toy boat is placed on a body of water it will float, supported by this shell portion. However, the material from which the casing is formed should preferably be heavier than water, so that when the boat is filled with water it will sink.

.On the interior of the boat and resting on the bottom is a piece of metallic sodium I4. The piece of sodium may take any form or shape, and may be coated with a film of oil I5 or other coating material to protect the metal from deterioration by contact with the air.

In the top II of the boat are a number of openings, one opening I6 in the fore part of the boat, and the openings I1 and I8 aft. It will be seen that the casing forms a complete closure except for these openings. While there are here shown three such openings, it is understood that there may be any number of openings or perforations. The function of the openings is to admit water to the interior of the boat when the boat is upturned or immersed.

In use, the boat may be placed on a body of water, such as in a tub, basin, pond or stream, and when in a game, or make-believe warfare, the boat is struck or in any way is caused to take water through either of the openings I6, l1 and I8, a series of events are started which result in the boats being exploded.

When the water comes into contact with the metallic sodium I 4 on the boats interior, the water reacts violently with the sodium to produce hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas makes with the oxygen of the air inside the boat an explosive mixture. This reaction between the water and sodium produces a heat which is sufiicient to ignite the sodium and serves to set off the explosion of the hydrogen-oxygen mixture. As a result of the explosion, the casing is ruptured, and the boat sinks.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the invention takes the form of a depth bomb. The casing is formed in two pieces and is preferably made of a resinous plastic'material which is quite brittle so that upon explosion it will burst into fragments. The nose portion 20 is provided at its top with a circular band 2| having a number of spaced apertures 22. Below the band 2| is a circular groove 23, and four grooves 24 equally spaced about the circumference of groove 23 lead from this circular groove to the top edge of the band. As will later appear more clearly, the function of

grooves

23 and 24 are to cooperate with lugs on the other part of the casing to secure the two parts together.

The upper part 30 of the casing has a narrowed rear end portion 3| to which are attached the laterally-extending vanes 32. These vanes serve to guide and direct the bomb as it is dropped through the air or water. On the lower edge of the part 30 is a circular lip 33 having four equallyspaced inwardly-extending lugs 34. This lip is provided with a number of spaced apertures 35, the size and spacing of which correspond with the size and spacing of the apertures 22 in the band 2|. In assembling the parts and 30, the lip 33 of the part is placed downwardly over the band 2| of the other part,with the lugs 34 passing through the vertical grooves 24. Then with the lugs 34 in register with the circular groove 23, the parts may be turned relative to each other to lock the structure in assembled form. When the parts are in the relative angular position illustrated in Fig. 3, the openings or

apertures

35 and 22 are in complete register so that maximum size passages are provided. If the parts are turned slightly, the passages leading to the interior of the bomb are slightly decreased, and if the parts are turned further the passages to the interior m'ay be completely closed. A set screw 36 is provided to secure the parts .in any" desired angular. position with respect to' each ther.

metallic sodium an explosive gaseous mixture will" be generated and exploded, as explained in connection with the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1.

The depth to which the bomb will descend in the water before-sufii'cient water enters to explode the bomb can be regulated by'turning the parts as heretofore explained to permit a'slower orfaster entrance of water into-:thecasing; By thus increasing the size of the passages into the bomb, the bomb willbe caused to explode at a more shall'owzde'pth, and by decreasing "the size of thesepackages, the bomb can be made to explodeiata greater depth.

The embodimentof theinvention illustrated in Figsi'and 5, is intended'tosimulate an aerial bomb; Theoutercasinglll may be ofthe same general'formandsh'ape as the bomb of Figs. 2 and 3, except that it may be formed in one .piece if desired;

On the interior of casing 40 is a second casing 'which'contains the piece 5| of metallic sodium, andt'al'so contains air or other oxygen containing gas. This second casing may be supported within the-first casing by the arms 52 extending between the casings.

In the space between casings and 50 is containediahydrogen-oxygen liquid, such as water or: hydrogen peroxide or the higheriperoxides;

Extending through the outer casing 40 at the nose thereof is a pin 4| having a point 42 extending toward the inner casing. This pin may be sealed with the outer casing with cement 43 or other material suitable for making a liquid-tight seal between the pin and the casing.

In use, the bomb device of Figs. 4 and 5 may be dropped through the air at any objective, and as it passes through the air the vanes 44 keep the bomb pointed straight. As the bombstrikes, the pin 4| will be pushed in, as illustrated'particularly in Fig. 5, to puncture or break the inner shell 50. This permits the water or peroxide about the shell 5|! to enter and come into contact with the metallic sodium. Upon contact of the 'water with the sodium, a chemical reaction occurs, asheretofore explained, and an explosion results which shatters both of

casings

40 and 50,

I throwing liquid in all directions.

Instead of metallic sodium, any metal of the class consisting of'thev alkali metals andsthealkaline earth-metalsmay be used in the device" of the invention,.for example, potassiumJithium;

magnesium, barium or strontium. Sodium, however, isto be preferred 'since it is readily available commercially; and reacts sufficiently violent- 1y with water while at the same time reacts sufficiently slowly in air that with a protective film of oil or the like as'described, it may bepreserved even in air.

Although the invention has been'described in' connection with particular embodiments,- it will be apparent that changes and modifications-may be readily made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention;

I claim:

Atoy explosive comprising'a'casing containing on its interior airand alkali metal, saidcasing;

and its contents being heavier than' an equal vol-:

ume of water so that the casing will sink in a body of water, said ceasing having overlapping'wall portions, each of which is provided with an opening, said portions being movable with re-' spect to each other tobring the openings of'said: portions into different degrees of registry 'with'- each other, said openings permitting'the entry" of water into contact with said metal to provide:

with said air .an explosive mixture:

I EVERETT STOREY.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain AD. 1892