US2923236A - Scatter mine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1960 A, DELS 2,923,236

SCATTER MINE Filed May 18, 1956 FIG. 1

G 2 INVENTOR. F ALBERT DIELS m w. KW

SCATTER MINE Albert Diels, Brussels-Uccle, Belgium, assignor to Pondreries Reunies de Belgique S.A., Brussels, Belgium, a corporation of Belgium Application May 18, 1956, Serial No. 585,845

Claims priority, application Germany May 18, 1955 1 Claim. (Cl. 102-8) The present invention relates to mines which may be scattered by retreating troops to defend their rear against an advancing enemy, and more particularly to completely nonmagnetic disc-shaped mines which may be scattered by hand.

In my copending applications Serial No. 482,593, filed January 18, 1955, and entitled, Fuze," now abandoned, and Serial No. 585,846, filed on even date and entitled Percussion Fuse for Land Mines, now Patent No. 2,848,959, dated August 26, 1958, there are disclosed land mine fuses with two horizontally moving, springloaded strikers or firing pins held in cocked position and out of contact with a primer charge by means of a spring retaining means releasable by downward pressure upon the mine whereby the spring-loaded strikers are propelled against the primer charge and ignite the detonator of the mine.

According to the present invention, there is provided a land mine comprising a casing with a resilient cover, the casing containing the main explosive charge, a detonator charge, a primer charge arranged in the same horizontal plane with the detonator, and a spring-loaded striker means held in cocked position and'out of contact with the primer charge by means of a spring retaining means attached to the resiliently mounted cover and releasable by downward pressure upon the cover whereby the spring-loaded strikers are propelled against the primer charge and ignite the detonator. The resilient cover is secured against downward movement by a pin which is removed to place the mine in firing condition.

If used by troops as an anti-personnel mine to be scattered at random, the mine casing preferably has the shape of a disc with a diameter of about 80 mm. or so.

A preferred embodiment of the land mine of this invention will be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 2 is a top view and partial section along line IIII of Fig. 1.

The land mine comprises a pan-shaped casing 1 of non-magnetic material, preferably plastic, containing explosive 13 to form the main explosive charge. The casing is closed by resilient cover 2 which is upwardly arched to allow its downward depression. Centrally positioned plug 2a is integrally connected with the cover and forms a part thereof. The resilient cover is secured against flexing by a rigid protective cover 3 placed over the cover 2 with plug 2a protruding through a central aperture in cover 3. The plug is provided with a diametric bore receiving pin 11 which engages the rigid cover and holds the resilient cover in position against flexing.

The ignition means for the mine comprises the following parts: an arcuate retaining member 4 having a pair of apertures 4a, is fixedly attached to plug 2a. A pair of 2,923,236 Patented Feb. 2, 1960 tension springs 6, 6' is mounted on platform 5, their ends forming strikers to ignite primer 8 which is mounted in a recess in support element 14. As shown, platform 5 and support element 14 are integral with the bottom of the casing. Apertures 4a are positioned above the primer 8 in the normal or upper position of resilient cover 2, when pin 11 is removed by attached loop 12 and vertically downward pressure is exerted on plug 2a, retaining member 4 will also be depressed until apertures 4a are in the same plane with primer 8, at which time, the tension springs will propel the strikers through the apertures against the primer to ignite the same. Detonator 7 is radially positioned adjacent primer 8. Detonator 7 may be introduced into the casing by a lateral opening 15 in the side wall of the casing. Sealing plug 10 and cover 16 seal the detonator from the outside.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Before scattering the mine, pin 11 is removed by pulling on loop 12. The mine is now in operating condi tion. When downward pressure is applied to plug 2a by stepping thereon or other pressure, retaining member 4 will move downwardly and permit strikers 6, 6 to be propelled against the primer through apertures 4a, thus setting off the mine.

All parts of the mine are made of non-magnetic material, preferably plastic.

While a preferred embodiment has been described and illustrated, many variations and modifications of the invention may occur to the skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

A non-magnetic scatter mine wherein all parts are of non-magnetic material, comprising a shallow casing, a disc-shaped main explosive charge in the casing, a primer and a detonator co-planar therewith, the primer and detonator being arranged within the main charge, a springcontrolled striker means mounted in the casing for horizontal movement adjacent the primer, a retaining member for holding the spring-controlled striker means in cocked position out of contact with the primer in a normal, upper position of the retaining member, the retaining member having a vertical wall portion separating the striker means from the primer, a resilient cover for said casing, the retaining member being rigidly and fixedly mounted on the resilient cover and projecting inwardly therefrom toward said striker means, and said wall portion having aperture means positioned above the primer in said upper position and permitting propulsion of the striker means therethrough into contact with the primer in a depressed position of the resilient cover, a rigid protective cover placed over the resilient cover and a removable pin engaging the two covers to secure the resilient cover in said upper position, the resilient cover being downwardly flexible upon removal of the pin and pressure thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 24, 1937

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