US2845002A - Ejection device - Google Patents

Description

J. l. ACKERMAN, JR., ETAL EJECTION DEVICE Filed July 29, 1957 July 29, v195s- Iliff! lvifrrlrlnnfr I l, ,As 247'/ ew. S Y e m n mbv, wmf-w .A SDA MEW. wam a. wmf 2. NCW AH..D M RWM mm WMS V. CM B J Joseph Ichermam'Jr., Arlington, Mass., lPhillip B. Ed-

r closure lseal of a body is" ruptured in4 response to theV pressurey generated by the combustion of a small propellant charge within the body without physical damage to 'otherY United Se@ Patent' 0 vThis invention relates to adevice for ejecting a missile ,ormaterialfrom a bodyunder control of a smallexplosive v chargeand more particularly toa 4device elmployedkfor signalling'purposes in thejeld of military pyrotechnics in which a body is released for ejection when a strong components carried interiorly by the body.'

In certain types of militaryfclevices and particularly thoseemployed .for signalling purposes ithas been found e device of ithe instant invention according to a preferred 'force' within the device, the device comprising a casing preferably cylindrical in configuration andrthreaded lnteriorly at the ends thereof. A plug 11having abore 121 v sliding movementk wlthin plug 11. An OA-rmgvl? ils d1sl f polsedlwithin a complementary circular groove formed on n necessary'to forcibly remove .a cover such, for example, v

as aprojectile nose or ay torpedo nosev while under water or any vother type of` missile nose by explosive means without damage to shock or'heat sensitive inner com-l ponentsy of the type relating to radio, radar, explosives.

.y or pyrotechnics or any sensitive devices or materials carried interiorly 'byy the militaryv devices or missile. It

` has also been found to be highly desirableto provide a relatively large opening establishing communicationl be` tween the interior andthe exterior of the missile or casingl whenthe cover has been removed through which an inner.

. component may bel subsequently ejected or through which response'to a small explosive force from within the casingy a' pyrotechnic smoke or are may burn.v Themanner apparent as therdes'cription proceeds.`

One of the objects of the present invention is to prof vide anrejection d evice for a military application in which the release of thedevice is triggered .in response to a small explosive force within the device. i

which this result is achieved will` be more` clearly Another object is the 'provision of explosively controlled'vv means `forremoving a cover from a casing thereby to vent the casing, for subsequent operation of heat sensitive materials fdisposed within the casing without damage 3to such materials.' j v vAfurth'er object is the provision of new and improved means for unsealing Athe casing of a signalling device in without' injury or' damage to highly sensitive signalling components disposed within the casing.

, A stillr further object is tok provide a new and improved "55 explosively controlled ejecting mechanism for a signalling` device in which there is no possibility of premature actuation of the signal as' the result of the force ofthe explosion and in' which means'are provided,l forpreventing frag nientizration,` of the device in the event that. the ejectable component 'thereof Should explode or detonate before being lcompletely ejected. l f.

A still furtherobjectis to provide a new and improved ejection device fora militaryj component which is economical to manufacture and possesses the desirable l "qualities `of ruggedness, 'simplicity and reliabilityl in operation. f v Still .other objects, advantages and improvements will be' apparent'from the following description takenin con` nection with the accompanying drawing of which:

.Fig. vvlisa longitudinal view in section of the ejection embodiment thereof; d ,Y .e r Fig. 2 is a View taken along the line 2-2fofF1g. 1;, and AFig. 3 is a fragmentary View in Ysection of the' arming mechanism with the arming memberin an armed position.

`Referring now to the drawing on which like lnumerals of v'reference are employed to designate like parts throughout the `several views andmore particularly torFig 1 `thereof there is shown` thereon a device foriejecting a.

component therefrom in response to a small ,explosive formed axially therein and a pair of boresr13v andif14l formed coaxially `therewith 'is threaded .into one end of.

the casing 10 as at 15. One end of a rod 16'is'wslideab1y disposed within the bore v12 and notched as shownto be releasably engaged by acomplementary notch` formed in` p'ull rod 17.. Rod 17 is provided with an enlargedfcylill-y d rical portion 18 disposed'withiri bore 14 and adapted for portion 18 of the rod to effect a water tight sliding seal between the rod and plug 11. gasketor `sealj21is preferably provided to provide ajseat forlimiting they inwardvmovemrent of the pull rod 17. The ,rodf17 is normally locked in the positionrshown'on Fig/l by a cotterv pin 22 or the like'having a kpull;ring 23 secured thereto. VA second pull ring 24 is secured tojvlthe pull rod'at the'I portion projecting outwardly beyondplug 11,

, abore 25preferably' being provided for'this purpose.

A''member 26is Aslideably arranged withinbore 27 offplug 11 and urged against rod -16 by spring I28 and plug 29,A whereby'bore 12 is closedlbytheme'mber 26 vw'lienr'oc`-16 has been expelled therefromljThefi-od 16'is yieldablynrged to the left as viewed onthedraw-y i ing `byfspringSl having one end thereof disposed within bore`-13 and the other end secured to rod 16 arsby al cotter pin 32 and'washer 33 illustrated.

. ,Threaded rwithin the other end of the casing l10 asiat 3.4 isa support block 35 having a boreV 36concentrically formed therein and a bore 37 of greater diameter forming ajshoulder 38' therebetween. A-A tiibular member 39 an'ged-.at 141 vforengagement with shoulder 38 is disposed,

within bore" 36. The opposite end of the tubular member isrilangedqinwardly at 42 for engagement withthe Iendy offspring 43 disposedwithin the tubular member;

An opening E44 ofl substantially the same diameter as "the inside,l diameter :of spring 43 is thus formed in tubular member` 39;"t "A circular main support yblock indicatedJ generallyby the numeral 45- comprises a lcircular ange 46' slideably disposed withinvbore 37"`and a shoulder 47v rfor engagement lwith the other end of vspring 43 when the support block is in the position shown on` the drawing..

'Acircularl cam element 48 encircling the block 45 in engagement with flange 46 is employed to'retain the block in the lposition shown against -the tension of spring 4 32until balls .49 are unlocked and moved 'outwardly withinradial bores. 51 formed within the support block 35. 5 Disposed within a recess 52yformed transversely. within block ,62 is an arming member 53 having a .closed bore 54.formed therein adapted to receive the rodl 16 at an endportion 55 thereof of reduced diameter. Ther I rod '16 Vis disposed for sliding movement within a bearf ing 15.6 formed within the support block 45v`substantiallyv asshow'n. An annular tapered cam member 57 is threaded on the rodY 16 adjacent end portionV 55 thereon for coaction with a protruding portion 58`of lever`59 pivoted at 61 to member 62 carried within the bore 63 of member 45 f and provided withan aperture 64 within which end .portion 55 of rod 16 is slidablyvdisposed Y IThe/otherv end'l of 'lever 59 is formed as at 65 fotelbA gagement with a complementary surface on arming member -"53 whereby the arming niinemberis moved to an armed position as viewed on the drawing with bore 66 thereof in alignment with the ringpin carried by the end portion 55 of rod 16. A percussion'cap 67 is carried by the bore 66 for ring by the tiring pin when the arming-member is in the armed position. A circular member 68 hereinafter referred to as the expelling charge block is threaded within the support block 45 substantially as shown and provided with three axial bores 69, 71 and 72 of progressively increasing diameter in the order named. An explosive train 73 is formed within bore 69 and bore 71 is iilled with an explosive 74, preferably of the propellant type and retained therein by a thin sheet 75 composed of material suitable for the purpose, such`for example, as cloth and retained by ring 76 fitted within bore 72.

The end of the support block 35 is normally closed by a plate-77 releasably secured thereto by a plurality of push pins 78 pressed into bores 79 formed within the support block 35, a suitable gasket 81 preferably being disposed therebetween. The plate 77 is provided with a small aperture 82 in communication with a larger aperture 83 formed within the gasket 81. Pins 78, it will be noted, are disposed within the path of movement of balls 49 in such manner that the balls are retained in contact with the conical surface of cam element 48 until the pins are withdrawn.

A circular sleeve member 84 is disposed within casing in abutting engagement with an end surface 85 formed on support block 35, the other end of sleeve 84 being engaged by washer 86 made of a material somewhat compressible. Washer 86 is arranged in face adjacency with a metallic washer 87 on the other side of which is preferably'another washer 88 of material somewhat compressible. `Disposed within the casing 10 is a quantity of pyrotechnic material 89 such, for example, as smoke composition material having a bore therein within which the rod 16 is adapted to move. The composition 89 is thus enclosed within a chamber 91 formed within the casing 10 by compressible washers 88 and 92 backed by washer 93 against an end surface of plug 11. The pyrotechnic material 89 may be ignited by any suitable means, not shown, after the body has been expelled from casing 10 by spring 43, the particular composition of material 89 forming no part of the instant invention.

The operation of the device will now be described. Let it be assumed, by way of example, that the signalling device is to be used on the deck of a submarine and that the device is in the condition shown on Fig. l. Pin 22 is withdrawn by ring 23 thereby freeing rod 17 for movement; Ring 24 is now withdrawn to a position such that an end portion of rod 16 is brought into bore 14. When this occurs rod 16 is quickly disengaged from pull rod 17 and the propellant charge 74 is ignited in the following manner. As rod 16 is withdrawn from an initial position of rest by ring 24, lever 59 is rocked about its bearing'61 by cammember 57 suiciently to move arming member' 53 to the armed position, Fig. 3. The length of the portion-55 of rod` 16 is such that this portion of the rod is withdrawn from bore 54 within the arming member just prior to actuation of lever 59. An arrangement is thus provided in which the arming member is moved by positive action in response to outward movement of rod 16 as ring 24 is pulled outwardly. Disengagement of'rods 16 and 17 causes the ring pin to impinge on percussion cap 67 with a force suicient to tire thecap and cause combustion of the propellant within bore 71.-` When this occurs the pressure Within bore 71 is suicient to dislodge'plate 77 from the initial position -thereof suiciently to withdraw pins 78 from their bores and .thereby releaseballs 49. Balls 49 now move outwardly through their bores in response to pressure of cam element 48 ther'eagainst. Whenthe balls have movedfoutwardlysuicient ,to unlockV the support 'A'. block 45, the block is quickly ejected from casing 10 by'spring 43 carrying with it'the expelling charge block, rod 16 and gasket 81. The casing 10 is now unsealed whereby an opening of generous size is provided for the emmission of smoke or other pyrotechnic disposed within chamber 91.

One desirable feature `of support block 45 is the internal air space which acts as a safety chamber by holding back the hot gases resulting from the ring of primer 67 and thus'protecting the heat sensitive component or composition 91.

For the same reason a preferred improvement is to use for the ignition train composition 73 a readily ignitable gasless plug forming composition, which composition being essentially of the type, which While burning and hot forms a structurally cohesive mass capable of withstanding immediate gas pressure. Such compositions are known to those skilled in the art. In this manner it has been possible to prevent also any of the hot gases resulting from the functioning of the expelling charge 74 from reaching the heat sensitive component 91.

Whereas the device has been described with particularity with reference to an ejectable component comprising an expelling charge block, it is not so limited as it may be used with advantage to expel a rocket, if desired, and thereafter cause a large volume of smoke to be issued from the aperture within the casing which is made effective for such purpose when the rocket has been ejected. Furthermore in the case of such a signal during ejection, the combined burning of the expelling charge and the material comprising the rocket motor propellant results in a considerable back pressure with much heat and flame and this heat and pressure is prevented from igniting the smoke mixture until the rocket has been ejected and a suciently large -orice has been effected to allow proper venting of the smoke thereby to avoid the detonation and resultant shrapnel effect which would be most harmful to personnel within the vicinity of the device. If in lieu of the smoke composition it is desired to cause a flame to be emitted from the casing, such structure is within the purview of the instant invention. By employing the structure disclosed herein, a great ejection or rupture force may occur on one side of the device without harming highly sensitive components disposed on the other side. The term sensitive components as employed herein may be defined as any assembly or materials which cannot be subjected to much heat, pressure, shock or strain without damage or possible premature detonation.

Whereas the invention has been described with particularity with reference. to a specic example which gives satisfactory results, it is not so limited as it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is our intention, therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modiiications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A signalling device of the character disclosed comprising a tubular casing having a quantity of smoke signalling material disposed therein, a main support block threaded within one end of said casing and having a bore concentrically formed therein, a circular plate enclosing the outer end of said support block and detachably secured thereto, an expelling `block assembly releasably locked within said support block and having an explosive lled chamber formed in one end thereof in communication with an inside surface of said plate, means including a plurality of balls controlled by said plate for locking the expelling block assembly Within said bore until the plate has been detached, means including a resilient spring for expelling the expelling -block assembly from said bore as the block assembly is unlocked, and manipulative means for tiring said explosive thereby to suddently detach the plate from said main `support blocky and Vcause the expelling block to be ejected from said main support block and thus provide an egress for said smoke signalling material.

' 2, A'signalling device according to claim lincluding a tiring pin, a rod carrying said pin, means for withdrawing said rod from an initial position to a ring position and suddenly releasing the rod, an arming member disposed within said support block and removable from a safe position to an armed position, means including a circular cam on said rod for moving the arming member to said armed position as the rod is withdrawn, a percussion cap carried by said arming member and movable to a position in alignment with the firing pin when the arming member is moved to said armed position, and means for causing the firing pin to strike the percussion cap with suflicient force to re the cap and thereby ignite said explosive as the rod returns to said initial position.

' 3. A device according to claim 2 including a plug y'threaded in theother end of said casing and having an axial bore therein within which said rod is slidably disposed, and means in said plug for sealing said last-named bore when therod has been withdrawn therefrom thereby to prevent the issuance of said smoke signalling material through the plug after the expelling block assembly has been expelled.

4. A signalling device of the character disclosed for ejecting a component thereof in response to a small explosive force within. the device lcomprising a cylindrical casing, a plug sealing one end of said casing, a circular plate, a plurality of push pins for releasably securing the plate to the other end of said casing, a block member having an explosive lled cavity therein releasably locked within said casing with the cavity oppositethe inner suring therein in which the pull rod `is slidably'arranged, and

means including a plunger slidably disposed within a transverse lbore within said plug for sealing the bearing when said pull rod has been expelled.

7. In a device of the 'character disclosed for removing a cover While under Water, the combination of a cylindrical casinghaving a sensitive component therein, a plug having a bore therein and sealing one end of said casing, a baille member having a central circular aperture therein arranged transversely within said casing, said plug and-baie member forming a chamber within which the sensitive component is arranged, a cylindrical main support block threaded within the other end of said casing, an annular spacingmember in engagement with said block at an inner transverse surface thereof for maintaining said baille member in lixed position withface of said plate, means including a helical spring for forcibly ejecting said block member when the member casing and movable Afrom an initial safe position to an armed position, an igniter carried by said arming member and movable `into an operative position with respect to said exposive when'the .arming member is moved to said armed position, a pivoted lever having one' end thereof in engagement withy said arming member for vmoving the arming member to said armed position as the lever member as the plate is det-ached from the casing in response to the iiringof said explosive whereby the block member and pull rod are suddenly ejected from casing by said spring.

5. 1A signalling device according to claim 4 in which said . said pull rod comprises a releasable portion effective to suddenly release the rod when the rod has been moved to a liring position, said rod being ejected simultaneously l'with 'said block member.

6. A device according to claim 5 including a plug se- `is unlocked, an arming member disposed within vsaid in said casing, a plurality of radial bores arranged circumferentially within said block, a plurality of locking balls slidably carried within vsaid bores respectively, ak

plurality of longitudinal bores within said block intersecting said radial bores, a plate for sealing the outer end of said block, a plurality of push pins carried `by said plate for frictional engagement with said longitudinal bores to hold the plate detachably secured in sealing relation with said block, the pins additionally maintaining the balls in an .inner locking position, an expelling block assembly slidably tted within said main support block and having a circular inclined cam surface for engagement by said balls when the balls are in said inner locking position vthereby to releasably lock theexpelling block assembly within said main support block, a cuplike elongated spring retaining member secured to said rnain support block with respect to which said expelling block assembly is slidable, said cup-like member having an aperture formed in the bottom surface thereof of greater diameter than the aperture in said baille member, p

a helical spring disposed within said spring retaining member for ejecting said expelling block assembly when the balls are unlocked in response to removal of said push pins from said longitudinal bores as said plate is detached from said main support block,.an explosive lled Vchamber formed within said expelling block assembly in substantial abutting relation with an inner surface of said plate, a slidable arming member disposed within said expelling block assembly and carrying an initiator, a pull rod supported for reciprocal sliding movement by said expelling block assembly and `by the bore in said plug,

means including a tapered cam surface on said rod for moving said arming member to the armed position as the rod is withdrawn to a ring position, means for suddenly releasing the pull rod when the pull rod has f been moved to said tiring position, a firing pin formed on the end of said pull rod, and means for yieldably urging said rod in a reverse direction from said tiring positiony to a red position such that the initiator is red by said tiring pin to explode the explosive and quickly 'detach said plate in response to the force of the explosion without damage or injury to said sensitive component.

No references cited'.

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