US2657630A

US2657630A - Projectile

Info

Publication number: US2657630A
Application number: US252866A
Authority: US
Inventors: Blacker Latham Valenti Stewart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-10-24
Filing date: 1951-10-24
Publication date: 1953-11-03
Anticipated expiration: 1970-11-03

Description

Nov. 3, l953 v. s. BLACKER 2,657,630

PROJECTILE Filed Oct. 24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l A Homey Nov. 3, 1953 L. v. s. BLACKER PROJECTILE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, 1951 Attorney Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE PROJECTILE Latham Valentine Stewart Blacker, Coldhayes, Liss, England 7 Claims.

This invention relates to that kind of projectile which is discharged from a barrelled Weapon by an explosive charge and which has a tail joined to the head by a tube. To ensure accuracy when such a projectile is red it is important that the gases produced by the explosive charge should be closely confined behind the projectile Within the barrel, and therefore a gas check may advantageously be provided behind the tail to make a gas seal with the barrel.

When there is a gas check the force of the explosion is transmitted from the tail to the head. A substantial load is therefore applied to the tube connecting the head and tail, and to take this load the tube must be heavy. This in turn shifts the centre of gravity further aft than is desirable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a projectile of this kind with a gas check and means for transmitting thrust from the gas check to the head independently of the tube connecting the head and tail.

It is another object to provide a projectile of this kind with a combined gas check and thrust transmitting assembly which is jettisoned in flight.

It is a further object to provide an explosive charge for propelling a gas check forcibly rear- Wards and so assisting the flight of the projectile.

It is yet another object so to construct a gas check assembly that when pressure is applied to the gas check the assembly moves forwards relatively to the projectile and imparts a forward blow to its head.

Essentially a projectile embodying the inven tion has a gas check behindV the tail, a device constituting a strut Within the tube for transmitting thrust from the gas check to the head, and an explosive charge Within the tube for jettisoning the gas check and strut device from the projectile in flight. The strut relieves the tube of the thrust during discharge, and the jettisoning of the gas check and strut ensures that in flight the projectile will have low drag and a centre of gravity in a satisfactory position. The reaction of the explosion of the jettisoning charge assists the projectile in flight. The invention will be most clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which show three projectiles embodying the invention. In these drawings- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the rear part of a mortar bomb and cartridge;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a bomb and cartridge for breech-loading into a gun; and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a further mortar bomb and cartridge.

The head 2 of the bomb shown in Figure 1 is of streamline form and contains an explosive charge. It is steadied in flight by a drum tail 8 connected to the head by a light tube I0.

Before firing, the bomb is fitted with a cartridge and gas check assembly. This includes a primary charge I2 which fires the bomb from a mortar and which is contained in a body HlY together with a primer I6. The gas check is constituted by a thin cup ZE! Which is expanded radially into Contact with the barrel when the bomb is red by the charge I2 and which bear against a thick flange I8 on the body.

The front of the body I4 is formed as a spigot which makes a tight push nt in the end of the tail tube ID and rests against a cover 22 onthe end of a thick Walled tubular strut 24. This strut constitutes a thrust transmitting device,

and it houses a secondary charge 25 for jettisoning the entire cartridge and gas check assembly and bears Iagainst the base of the head 2.

Initially the extreme diameter of the cup 20 is, like that of the head, slightly less than the internal diameter of the barrel of the mortar from Which it is fired. Thus the bomb with the cartridge and gas check assembly Will pass freely down the barrel. When the primary charge I2 is red upon engagement of the primer I6 withv a fixed ring pin, the cup 29 expands slightly and its trailing lip makes a seal with the barrel.

The thrust produced by the explosion of the primary charge is transmitted to the bomb through the ange I8, the body Ill, the cover 22 and the strut 24. Thus no thrust is applied to the tail tube Iii, which can be made just strong enough to carry the tail.

The explosion of the primary charge also drives forward a small cup 32 within the bodyy l. This cup vcarries a ring pin 3d which hits a primer in the cover 22 and so res the secondary charge 25. Pressure builds up Within the tail tube I and forces a lip 2l on the cover 22 radially outwards into sealing contact with the tail tube Iii. Shortly after the bomb is clear of the mortar this pressure overcomes the declining propellent thrust resulting from the explosion of the primary charge and blows the cover 22 out of the tail tube, so jettisoning the gas check and also drawing with it the strut 24, which is held to the cover by a ring 23. The proportions of the primary explosive charge by which the projectile is discharged and the secondary charge within the tube are such that immediately after being jettisoned the gas check has a velocity towards the weapon. In this way a considerable momentum is transferred from the gas check to the projectile without any addition to the recoil of the weapon, because the secondary jettisoning charge acts after the pressure and recoil resulting from the explosion of the primary charge have reached their `peak. The'drag of the gas check whenritlis travelling backwards is greater than when it is travelling forwards and so it does not return far along its path of discharge. By reason of this drag it may be propelled rearwardly with substantial energy without endangering the operator of the weapon,:andxfact the rearward velocity of the gas check :may '.be greater than that with which .it leaves the barrel of the weapon. While the gas check "2B remains with the bomb during its rst few feetV of ight, air passing inside the drum tail can escape througha slot 35. Thus thedragat this stageis keptas low as possible.

The bomb shown inFigure 2 diiersffrom that shownin Figure l inlittleexcept the proportions of 'itsparts The primary charge 38 is Ahoused in :a `tube 4e which is surrounded by a cartridge case 42 and which is screwed yonto the bodyA of the gas check. This screwed connection breaks on ring. r'I-he body i4 is elongated as a tubular spigot .46 which Vextends about half way up-the tail tube 48. It thus forms part of the strut, and the remaining tubular part -53 is shorter-than thestrut 24.in Figure 1. A delay 52ris incorporated betweenthe primerf and the secondary charge A56. This allows the bomb to move about a foot `before .pressure begins to build up within the forwardvpartof the tube 4&8.

.In .the ,construction shown in .Figure 2 the thrust is transmitted through the spigot tube 46 to the=casing of the primer 54 and from this casing to .the strut .part 59 and thence to the head-0f the bomb.

In `the bomb Vshown in Figure 3 aspigot 58 extending from va gas check v6E! `is initially located within a tail .tube 62 .by interengagement of shallow. grooves 64 made in both the spigot 518 and the tube 62. :In `this ,position there V4is a space BEbetweenthe front of .the spigot and the casing .66 of a `primer 68. When lthe primary charge 10 vis fired the gas check is -driven forwards relatively vto Ythe projectile and the spigot 58 imparts a blow to the casing 5.8 `which -is-.transmitted to -the head 12 of the projectileby a strut composed of two conical parts 'I4 and .16. At the completion of this forward movement there is still a clearance between the gas .check andthe end ofthe tail tube and .so no blow is imparted to .that tube.

This blow not only accelerates the projectile but also forces the part 14 into they part 16 and the resultant expansion of the latter presses a ange 18 on the casing 66 into contact with the bore of the tube 62. As the gas check is movingk -pon are assisted in fiight by the combustion of .an-additional rocket charge.

`I claim:

fl.. In a1pr'ojectile having a head, a tail and a'itube :connecting said head and tail the combination of Vagas .check behind said tail,'a strut within said tube adapted to transmit thrust from saidiga's check to said head, and means, including an explosive charge, within said tube for jettisoning said gas check and strut-from said projectile.

2. A combination as claimed` in claim l wherein aspigot rigid withsaid gas check enters said tubeand forms a part of saidstrut.

3. rA combination as claimed inc1aim2 wherein means are'provided forinitially locating-said spigot witha space between-the endthereofgand the remainder of saidstrut.

4. In a projectile having a'head,a tail-and a tube connecting said head and tail .the .combination of a gas check behind said taiL-a strut withink said tube adapted .to transrnitthrustfrom saidgas check to said head, and .means within saidtube for jettisoning said gas checkandstrut from said projectile, said .means .including aan explosive charge, a primer, a movable Amember exposed to gas pressure vacting Von-saidfgas check, and a firing ,pin carried by said movablemember and co-operating with said primer.

5. A combination vas .claimed in claim -1 and a primary explosive charge -or discharging Asaid projectile from a barrelled weapon, the .proportion between said primary explosive charge and said explosive charge for jettisoning said lgas check being such that immediately after being jettisoned said gas check Ahas a velocity towards said weapon.

I `6. A combination as claimed in claim 5 .wherein said proportion is such that said velocityof said gas check towards said weapon is .greater than the Velocity of said projectile on leaving said weapon.

'7. A projectile having a head, a tail, a tube connecting said head and tail, a gas check behind sraid tail, strut means within lsaid tube adapted to transmit thrust .from said gas check to said head, and an explosive 'charge within saidltube adapted to jettison said gas checkand strut means from the projectile in flight.

LATI-IAM VALENTINE. STEWART BLACKER.

No references cited.