US3112703A

US3112703A - Universal hand grenades and projectiles

Info

Publication number: US3112703A
Application number: US70473A
Authority: US
Inventors: Urdapilleta Jose Luis Amilibin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-12-13
Filing date: 1960-11-21
Publication date: 1963-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-03

Description

'Dec. 3, 1963 J. A. URDAPILLETA 3,112,703

UNIVERSAL HAND GRENADES AND PROJECTILES Filed Nov. 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Jose [we 444/0544 dean/M44574 BY j w ATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1963 J. A. URDAPILLETA 3,112,703

' UNIVERSAL HAND GRENADES AND PROJECTILES Filed Nov. 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 #5 INVENTOR Jase Zu/s 4114/05/11 deon xusm ATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1963 J. L. A. URDAPILLETA 3,

UNIVERSAL HAND GRENADES AND PROJECTILES Filed Nov. 21, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Jose Zu/s Ana/e44 (lea/4. 144574 ATTORNEY 1963 J. L. A. URDAPILLETA 3,11

UNIVERSAL HAND GRENADES AND PROJECTILES Filed Nov. 21. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 'INVENTOR Jase 10/5 444/; mm flea-#445714 ATTORNEY Dec. 3, 1963 J. 1.. A. URDAPILLETA 3,112,703

UNIVERSAL HAND GRENADES AND PROJECTILES Filed Nov; 21. 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Jose- Zu/s 4M/4/a/4 deonp/ue'm fiw ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,112,763 UNIVERSAL HAND GRENADES AND FRGJECTILES Jose Luis Amiiibia Urdapilleta, Calla Miramar 4, San Sebastian, Spain Filed Nov. 21, 196i Ser. No. 70,473 Claims priority, application Spain Dec. 13, 1954 12,Claims. (Cl. Mil-65.4)

This invention relates to a universal hand grenade nad more particularly to a hand grenade which may be used defensively or offensively.

vIt is the object of the present invention to provide a hand grenade of simple and rugged construction, composed of a minimal number of parts which are capable of easy assembly without need for extreme watchfulness for errors in assembly, and with provision for easy detection of possible sabotage.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a grenade construction which may be stored and transported safely with no possible deterioration of the component parts and which may be conveniently armed immediately before utilization.

, It is another object of the invention to provide a grenade construction which is effective upon contact or percussion, failing which it is exploded by a time-fuse, or the grenade may be set conveniently to operate upon a time-fuse delay only, by blocking its possibility of operation by percussion. To insure maximum safety in the first instance, the percussion firing mechanism of the grenade is inactivated permanently following an initial contact or percussion without explosion, so that should it fail to explode by the following time-fuse operation, the same may be picked up and handled by personnel with no danger of explosion at a later time. It is another object of the invention to provide a grenade which may be jacketed conveniently by a metallic body in order to convert the same from an offensive to a defensive grenade, with no other changes of parts. The provision of a spiral wire jacket around the body of the grenade produces an effect of shrapnel or fragmentation which is uniform in size, form and distribution in all directions.

It is another object of the invention to provide a grenade which lends itself to use as an anti-personnel mine or demolition charge.

The grenades according to the invention may be launched by a rifle as well as by hand.

The invention proceeds upon the principle of providing a grenade construction which may be adjusted to different uses in dependence upon special needs. This grenade may be used as a combined percussion and timefuse grenade, or as a time-fuse grenade only, in order to attain the advantages of both of these types, Without their disadvantages.

Two general types of hand grenades are known and used, namely, percussion or contact grenades and time fuse grenades. The first-mentioned type must have an extraordinary sensitivity, as many times the percussion has to take place on grounds or objects which are not solid, and due to the fact that the fall is damped, the percussion is nullified. Under such conditions, the grenade may fail to operate and, furthermore, should its percussion fuse not be provided with a'supersensitive safety device, it will remain on the ground ready to explode by any jar, constituting a constant danger.

The time-fuse or delayed action grenade has its advantages in that striking a solid obstruction is not necessary to effect its explosion, but it also has many serious disadvantages. For examples, the duration of the combustion of the fuse is constant, and in some cases allows enough time for the enemy to return the grenade to the 3,112,703 Patented Dec. 3., 1963 thrower before the total combustion of the fuse, or else it allows a certain length of timefor the enemy to protect himself from the effects of the grenade. It also has the objection of revealing the location of the thrower at night. The effect of a time-fuse grenade in water is substantially nil, and if the grenade is launched by a rifle, the action is effiecient only when the explosion takes place over the heads of the enemy.

By means of the herein disclosed improved device, if the grenade does not operate by the percussion fuse because of its being damped during the fall, it will then be fired after a predetermined lapse of time, for example, three or four seconds, by the time-fuse, thus causing positive functioning in all cases.

While the grenade in accordance with the'invention may be cast from metal such as iron, zinc or any suitable alloy, the same is preferably cast from Bakelite or a similar plastic composition. The pressure casting of the grenade parts from plastic compositions results in long life of the dies, and weapons of comparatively low cost. The grenade is formed of three principal parts, namely, the grenade case or body, the fuse case, which may be assembled therewith and which may be combined with grenade bodies of different sizes, and a safety cap overlying the fuse case which hermetically seals the fuse case and body to assure safety in storage and transportation, without possibility of tampering with the parts of the fuse case. The grenade may be armed quickly and conveniently by the insertion of the detonator' into a central opening in the end of the grenade body opposite the fuse case, immediately prior to its utilization ,so that no danger of explosion of the grenade prior thereto is pos- 51 e.

The fuse case carries a fixed priming or percussion cap at the end thereof adjacent to the grenade body, which cap is adapted to be activated by a firing pin to produce a flame or jet which passes through aligned openings in the base of the fuse case and in the top of the grenade body for firing the detonator to explode the charge in the grenade body. The percussion firing pin is operable alternatively by a percussion hammer or sleeve which is moved by inertia upon contact of the grenade with a solid body; this movement may be blocked by a main safety pin. The percussion pin may also be operated by the explosion of a firing cap in a time fuse housing disposed above the percussion pin sleeve, which is efiective to blast a bushing retaining the percussion pin into firing penetration of the fixed priming or percussion cap. The explosion of the firing cap takes place after a lapse of a predetermined time period following the triggering of the time-fuse by energizing an igniter cap which in turn activates the time fuse and which in turn explodes the firing cap.

A secondary or auxilimy safety pin is provided for the triggering mechanism for the time-fuse to assure that this alternative mode of actuating the percussion pin remains ineffective until after the grenade is launched.

Several safety features are incorporated in the grenade assembly to assure maximum safety in the course of launching the grenade. A safety device is associated with the above-mentioned safety pins for assuring explosive discharge of the grenade only at a safe distance from the thrower. This safety device consists of a length of tape which is wound around a part of the fuse case and which terminates in a flexible weighted jacket on the exterior of the grenade body. The tape and jacket must unwind in flight before the safety pins may be released from the fuse case in preparation for the firing of the grenade by concussion or by the time-fuse.

A secondary safety device is incorporated in the percussion pin housing in order to inactivate or block the percussion pin after it is operated upon striking an object without igniting the priming cap in consequence or so no transitory fault.

This retrievernent safety device includes a coiled spring, fitted to the outside of the percussion pin, which is biased to exert its force to separate the sleeve carrying the percussion firing pin from the priming cap v rile simultaneously applying a torsional force to effect a rotation of the sleeve. For this purpose, one end of the spring is bent inwards and inserted into a corresponding hole in the percussion sleeve, whereas the other end is bent outwards and placed inside the lower portion of a groove on the lateral wall of the percussion firing pin housing. This groove leads from the upper portion of the housing, first following the direction of its generatrix and there after extending downwards to form a triangular window, whose lower vertex constitutes a seat for one end or" the spring, while the other end of the triangle is slotted laterally. A stud, which is integral with the percussion sleeve, moves along this groove, and will run along the straight portion of said window, until it reaches the end of the triangle, and after its advance will turn, due to the torsional force of the spring and will recede due to the force of the coiled spring, thus being obliged to rotate in such a manner that the stud will strike against the lateral extreme of the prolongation of the window, whereby the percussion sleeve and firing pin carried thereby are immobilized. Thereafter, the grenade may be retrieved, without any risk whatsoever, in case it had not exploded.

When the grenade is thrown for retarded operation, the unwinding of the tape introduces an element of time delay before the igniter cap is energized. if the tape is stripped ofi before casting the grenade, the igniter cap may start its firing action immediately. Of course, no danger to the thrower arises, since several seconds elapse before the time fuse and firing cap are operated to act upon the bushing carrying the percussion pin to blast the bushing from the percussion sleeve and to force the firing pin into engagement with the fixed percussion cap.

In addition to the distance safety device retrievement safety device generally described above, the grenade cap or hood overlying the grenade case and enclosing the fuse case in tight sealing engagement with a gasket therebetween affords additional security against mishaps in the course of storage and transportation of the grenade assembly. Additional protection against sabotage may be obtained by providing a seal adjacent to the open end of the cap.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying i rawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the grenade assembly with certain parts in elevation;

FIGS. 2 and 2a are exploded views of the parts of the grenade body, fuse case and grenade cap;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the spiral wire iacket adapted to encase the grenade body for converting the grenade from an offensive to a defensive weapon;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the grenade with certain parts in elevation, showing the parts in position following the throwing of the grenade in space when it is set for instantaneous impact percussion as well as time-delay percussion;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the grenade with certain parts in elevation, showing the parts in position following the throwing of the grenade in space when it is set for delayed operation only, with the main safety-pin in position to block percussion by impact;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the grenade, set as shown in FIG. 4-, at the instant of firing by impact percussion;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the grenade as well as the fuse, set as shown in FIG. 4, to show the position of the parts when fired by the time fuse following fail if!) of the main firing pin to ignite the firing cap by impact per cussion, as shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the grenade as well as the fuse, set as shown in FIG. 5, at the instant of firing, following the lapse of time required to explode the time fuse.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 1, 2 and 2a of the drawings, the grenade in accordance with the invention may be formed of several parts which preferably are die cast from a plastic such as Bakelite. The grenade is composed of a cylindrical grenade case D having an open end at with internal threads 6d at the end of the internal Wall. The opposite closed end 62 is molded with a central receptacle 63 having an opening 643 at the center. The lateral wall of the receptacle 63' is provided with internal threads 65 for receiving the external threads 71 at the base of the fuse case l. The grenade case D encloses an explosive charge C which may be pres ed or molded as an integral cake of trilite conforming to the interior cavity of the grenade body. The detonator B may be in the form of a metallic cylinder, such as copper, closed at its lower end and open at its upper end and containing an explosive charge such as tetralite and fulminate of mercury for ignition by the percussion or priming cap 6 in the fuse housing thereabove. The bottom of the detonator B is provided with an annular rim or stop as to limit the extent of protrusion of the detonator into the grenade body from the base end of the latter. The base E of the grenade body threadedly engages the end of the internal lateral wall of the grenade case and a supplemental base plug F is disposed centrally of the base to enable the insertion of the detonator B into the interior of the grenade body Without disturbing the rest of the assembly, including a detonator sleeve G extending between the upper and lower ends of the grenade body. A gasket K is disposed at the base of the threaded post of the base plug F in order to effect a tight assembly, between the internal threads d7 in the central projection 68 of the base E and the external threads 69 of the plug F.

The grenade body is preferably molded with longitudinal ribs 72 on its exterior in order to facilitate gripping thereof by the hand of the thrower as well as to receive and guide a spiral armor S (FIG. 3) on the exterior thereof when the grenade is converted from an offensive to a defensive weapon.

The fuse case 1 containing a. main percussion firing pin as well as an auxiliary time fuse firing pin may be assembled with the grenade case by threading the apertured base of the former into the receptacle 63 in the latter to dispose the percussion cap 6 in opposite position with respect to the open end of the detonator B. A cap H threadedly engages an externally threaded upper part 8% 0f the fuse case in order to cover the fuse case and to integrate the entire assembly by contacting the lower edge of the fuse cap H with the skirted annular gasket 1 which is seated at the top of the grenade case between the main body thereof and the fuse case. A seal M may be threaded through the base of the grenade cap in engagement with a part of the grenade assembly to assure of no tampering with the parts following the assembly of the grenade and fuse cases at a central depot.

The fuse case 1 is formed with an internal conical or tapered seat 1b at its base relative to the central longitudinal axis thereof, and is covered by a cap 3 provided with a seat 32 likewise formed of a tapered, rounded or conical surface to assure an edective firing of the fuse by inertia or percussion no matter what may be the direction of striking of the fuse case upon a solid body. The base of the percussion cap housing '7 is of semispherical configuration as is the external surface of the time-fuse housing 8, so that the striking of the fuse case 1 upon an object, whether it be vertically, horizontally or at an intermediate angle, causes a movement of the elements '7 and 3 towards each other to effect the penetration of the firing pin 51 into the percussion cap 6 which overlies the opening 7a in the base and which is in alignment with the opening at and open end of detonator B in the detonator sleeve G. The base 7 may be in the form of an apertured plastic nut having a central recess overlying the aperture for receiving the priming cap 6 in an upright direction only and is provided with internal threads for engaging external threads at the base of the percussion firing pin housing 4, which may be formed of brass.

The firing pin 51 is fastened in a shouldered bushing 51a which in turn is seated within the base of sleeve 52 which is slidable within the percussion firing pin housing 4. Sleeve 52 is also provided with a lateral pin or stud 53 cooperating with a V-shaped slot it in housing 4. The slot is notched with a seat 41 at the upper end thereof for the stud 53, a vertical passage ending in seat 42 below seat 41 and a laterally displaced seat 4-3 at the approximate level of seat 41.

As described generally above, a coiled spiral spring 9 is torsioned to exert a force both axially and peripherally by seating it Within the upper chamber of the firing pin housing with the outwardly bent lower end of the spring 9 engaging terminal 42 of the slot 4t) and its upper inwardly bent end engaging in an aperture in the exposed lateral wall of plug 51a, which may be of nylon or other plastic composition, to normally maintain the sleeve 52 spaced from the base of the housing 4 while tending to torsionally rotate the sleeve relative to the housing when pin 53 is disengaged from its notched seat 41. Thus, when movement of the sleeve 52 by contact of the fuse case with a solid object results in a movement of the percussion pin 51 into piercing engagement with the percussion cap 6 and a freeing of the pin 53 from the seat 41, the spring serves to return the sleeve 52 to its upper position while bringing the pin 53 into the lateral seat 43, which blocks any further downward movement of the percussion pin 5-1 and a possible firing of the percussion cap if the same failed to fire at its initial piercing. This structure results in a reliable retrievement safety feature.

The upper end of the sleeve 52 is formed with a conical seat 52b in order to seat the correspondingly-shaped base of the time-fuse housing 8, which assures freedom of movement of the component parts without binding in order to secure the travel of the percussion pin 51 into firing engagement with the fixed percussion cap 6. The time fuse housing, following its seating on conical seat 52b is retained in position by the cap 3 of the time fuse housing which in turn is fastened by externally threaded retaining ring 2 engaging the internal threads 31 at the top of the fuse case. A reversal of time-fuse housing 8 from its proper position is impossible since the annular skirt 8a surrounding the lower end of the time-fuse housing 8 is of larger diameter than the lower bowl-shaped end of the cap 3 with its rounded roof 32. The time-fuse housing in its correct upright position is provided with a central bore 8-1) which may be lined with a brass bushing and which is adapted to be filled with a firing cap at its bottom end and the time-fuse thereabove which requires combustion for a predetermined number of seconds before activating the firing cap. The time-fuse is adapted to be activated by combustion of the movable primer cap at the upper end of the time-fuse assemblv.

The sleeve 52 is provided with openings 52s at diametrically opposed points in its lateral wall for the passag-e therethrough of the percussion safety pin ill which is faced flatly at one end 11b, and is tapered at the opposite end 11c. A portion 11a of reduced diameter is spaced slightly from the end lib thereof. The safety pin 11 is also adapted to traverse circular openings la at diametrically opposed points of the fuse case 1, as shown in FIG. 1. An apertured fiber washer 11d embraces the safety pin 11 at its portion of reduced diameter.

A selector plate retaining ring 15 surrounds the base of the fuse case 1 above the threads in engagement with the grenade case and confines an arcuate selector plate (FIG. 21:) between the fuse case 1 and its retaining ring by means of an integrally formed upstanding lateral wall 'w extending slightly beyond the angular limits of selector plate 10. This selector plate is provided with a selector pin itib which is movable within a recess 15a in wall 15w of retaining ring between two limiting positions designated R and I (FIG. 2). A recess is provided at another portion of the plate it} displaced from the pin 10!) having an enlanged portion liic con-responding to the opening la in the fuse case, and an opening liid of more restricted extent which is slightly larger than the diameter of the reduced portion 11a of the percussion safety pin. Therefore, a positioning of the pin iii-b adjacent to the designation R carries the restricted portion 10d of the recess into alignment with the reduced portion 11a of the percussion safety pin to restrict the longitudinal movement of the latter in view of the portions of larger diameter 11 and 11b adjacent thereto. This blocks a movement of the sleeve 52 for firing by percussion and sets the grenade for retarded fining as a result of the firing by the time-fuse which is activated by the primer cap in the time fuse, the combustion of the time-fuse change, and the explosive cap which drives the firing pin 51 into action with the percussion cap, as shown in 'FIG. 8.

On the other hand, by shifting pin 1% to the right and into alignment with designation 1 on the retaining ring 15, the enlarged portion ltic of the opening is brought into alignment with the percussion safety pin to enable its projection from the fuse housing and thereby to permit the free travel of the pin 51 to ignite the percussion cap 6 upon the grenade striking a solid object, and causing a movement of the percussion sleeve '52 by inertia or percussion, as indicated in FIG. 6.

In assembling the grenade, the main percussion safety pin it is threaded through the openings 52c of the percussion sleeve 52 and openings in in the fuse case 1, and preferably is locked in place by positioning the restricted opening 18d of the selector plate it? in the reduced portion 11a of the safety pin. Thereafter, the time-fuse housing 3 and igniter assembly is mounted on the fuse case in preparation for the winding therearound of the ribbon constituting part of the distance safety feature.

The igniter assembly for the time-fuse is composed of a comparatively small number of component parts. It consists of igniter housing 3 (FIGS. 1, 2a), having a downwardly extending annular skirt 3a with an internal diameter sufliciently great to receive the rounded end 817 of the time-fuse, but which is incapable of erroneously accommodating the opposite end 8a of the time-fuse (FIG. 1). trally disposed chamber 30 in the upper portion thereof and a partition disc 18, of nylon or other similar plastic material, is fixed within the housing 3 at the lower end of the chamber 30. The lower face of the disc 18 is rounded concavely to accommodate the corresponding curvature of the upper end of the time-fuse 8.

A firing pin 12; is embedded in disc 18 with the pointed end thereof facing internally of the chamber 30. A passage or aperture 81p is for-med in the disc 18 to afford communication between the interior of chamber 30 and the exterior thereof which is in alignment with the bore Sb of the time-fuse 8.

The igniter housing 3 is seated against a flange 82 on the interior of the fuse case by the externally threaded ring 2, which is provided with socket apertures 2a to screw the ring into place in conjunction with internal threads 81 at the upper end of the fuse casing.

The cylindrical body 3b of the igniter housing extends upwardly through the central bore of the clamping ring 2. A stepped circular recess 3d is bored into the lateral wall of shaft 3b with an opening of small diameter, opening into the chamber 30 and one of larger diameter on the exterior wall of the body 3b (FIG. 1).

An auxiliary safety pin .15, surrounded by a coiled spring 17, is adapted to be inserted through the opening 30'. The pin is provided with an enlarged head 16h having an annular recess 16a adjacent the shaft of the The igniter housing is provided with a cenauxiliary safety pin 26 to seat one end of the spiral spring 17 therein. The other end of the spiral spring against the base of the opening of enlarged diarne as shown in FIG. 1, when the safety pin is pressed inwardly to bring the free end the eof into the chamber 3c.

The cylindrical body 3b is of reduced diameter at its upper end 3 and is provided with a longitudinal ridge 3g along the height of the end 3f. The ridge 3g is displaced angularly 96 with respect to the axis of opening 3d. This outer edge of the ridge coincides substantially with the lateral wall of the body The ridge 3g serves as a guide for receiving bushing 29, which is cast with special contours to fit around the central body 3b and above the clamping ring 2. The groove Ztizz is slid over the ridge 3g. The bushing is provided with a portion of reduced diameter 2%!) at the upper end thereof leaving a shelf 26c adjacent the top for the purpose of seating a plastic ring 120 onto the shelf. The bushing is formed with special seating slots adjacent the upper end thereof for the purpose of accommodating the ring 1211 with a chordal opening 22b defined by bar 12g and the periphery of the ring 1212, for the purpose of pivotally mounting the curved end :Zc of a restraining arm 12 thereon.

An apron 12d, integral with the ring 12a and extending downwardly from a limited portion thereof, is adapted to be seated in a slot 2812 in the peripheral wail of the bushing it; which is displaced 90 from the internal groove 2-9:: in the bushing. Likewise, the bushing is provided with an arched cut-out 26- (FIG. 4) in the lateral wall thereof opposite to the slot 21?!) to accommodate therein the enlarged end of the auxiliary safety pin 1611. The opening 23 is likewise displaced 90 from the internal groove 2% so that, in effect, the slot 2% and the cut-out 25); are in alignment with each other and the dovetail fitting of skirt portion 12d within slot 243/1 seats the ring 12a above the bushing 2%; to bring the arm 12, which is constrained in its movement in an annular direction, in overlying relation with respect to the shouldered end of the auxiliary safety pin ldlz. Thereby, when the arm 12 is in assemble-d position, as shown in 1, the auxiliary safety pin is constrained against movement in opposition to the force of the spring 17, but as soon as the arm is permitted to swing upwardly from its vertical position (PEG. 4), the auxiliary safety pin is free to move outwardly through the enlarged opening Ztlf in the lateral wall of the bushing 20.

The igniter housing is provided with internal threads 3k (FIG. 2a), adjacent the upper end thereof for the reception of a cap 21 which is externally threaded for cooperation with the threads 3k. Within the cap 21 is provided a central chamber 21a for receiving a spiral spring 19 which surrounds the shank 22a of primer cap 22. The spring normally tends to force the primer cap downwardly, but this movement is constrained by the auxiliary safety pin 1611. However, when the auxiliary safety pin is moved from the path of the primer cap 22, the same is free to move downwardly towards the igniter pin 18' to fire the primer cap, the combustion of which passes through the passage dip in the disc 18 to initiate the combustion of the combustible charge til in the upper portion of the bore 8b of the time-fuse 8.

The arm or restraining lever 12 is maintained in the assembled position shown in FIG. 1 by the safety ribbon 14 which is wound around the lower end of the fuse case on the approximate level of the main percussion safety pin ll. As shown in EEG. 2a, one end of the safety ribbon 14 is threaded through a metallic retaining element 14c and is riveted thereat with a hollow grommet 14b. The opposite end of the safety ribbon 14, which may extend for a length of 20" or longer, is riveted to a flexible jacket of plastic material 14m by means of grommets Me, between which grommets is threaded a weight element 14w. The jacket ldm is provided with a flexible reenforcement 3.411 at the upper edge thereof, terminating in a bead 14k which is adapted to surround the upper shoulder of the grenade body and which is retained in place by the bottom edge of the grenade cap H.

The metal retaining element is flanged at its end to engage the edge of the selector plate retainer 15w, and the grommet 141) may fit over the end 11b of the main safety pin 11 as an anchor for the winding of the safety ribbon 14 for several turns around the body of the fuse case with the restraining lever 12 in its vertical position. The safety ribbon terminates in the jacket 14m which embraces more than one-half of the lateral wall of the grenade body, and is retained in place until the cap H is removed from the grenade body and the grenade is cast away. Therefore, the weight on the mantle 14m induces the unwinding of the safety ribbon 14 until the end Me is released from the end of the main safety pin ll, permitting its ejection, while the auxiliary safety pin 16 is released for ejection after the last turn of the safety ribbon releases the restraining arm 12 for pivotal movement as a result of the force of spring 17 acting against the head 1611 of the auxiliary safety pin which is pressed inwardly by arm 12.

The length of the ribbon is such that before it may unwind its several turns from the fuse body, the grenade may be 10 meters distant from the thrower, at which time it becomes set for contact or time-fuse operation.

FIG. 1 shows the grenade in assembled position with both

safety pins

11 and 15 in place, affording safety against the firing of either the percussion cap 6 or the time-fuse in the housing 8 by

percussion pins

51 and 1%, respectively. With the selector pin llllb in position for instantaneous firing by percussion, position I, the casting of the grenade causes an unwinding of the distance ribbon 14 from the fuse case to release the lower end of the retaining arm 12. Upon this release the spring 17 acts on the enlarged shoulder reh of the time fuse safety pin to swing the retaining arm 12 around its pivotal support 120 on segment 12b of ring 12a. This leaves the primer cap 22 free to move into igniting position against fixed firing pin 13, by virtue of the force of spring 19. The burning of the primer cap 22 at the base of chamber 30 is transmitted through passage 31p to the combustible composition of one or two portions 81', 32' above the explosive cap 83 at the base of the bore 8b in the timefuse 8. The ultimate explosion of the explosive cap 83 at the lower end of the housing results in the blasting of the cap 51a from the base of sleeve 52, as shown in FIG. 7.

The disengagement of the end Mb of the safety ribbon 14 from the end ill; of the percussion safety pin 11 frees the latter for movement together with the fiber washer lid through the end of the fuse cap, as indicated in FIG. 4, so that the grenade is set for firing by contact or percussion, if this occurs before the lapse of three to five seconds required for the operation of the time fuse. As indicated in PEG. 6, the grenade has encountered contact with a solid body in order to force the percussion sleeve and percussion pin 51 into firing contact with the percussion cap 6, drawing away the time fuse housing 8 from the rounded seat 32, although this does not affect the operation of the time fuse which has already been initiated. If for any reason the percussion sleeve is blocked, the time fuse operates to its full extent to blast the bushing 51a from the lower end of the sleeve 5,, into engagement with the percussion cap 6, as indicated in FIG. 7.

In the case of a transitory fault which may have failed to detonate the grenade as a result of the movement of the percussion sleeve, as indicated in FIG. 6, the safety stud 53 assumes a position in the peripherally displaced seat 43 of the firing pin housing in order to block the percussion pin against repeated firing upon jar or vibration in order to render safe the rctrievement of the grenade without possibility of explosion.

Upon setting of the selector plate 19 to the position which blocks the ejection of the percussion safety pin 11, namely, position R, for retarded firing, the same is retained in place despite the unwinding of the safety ribbon 14, as indicated in FIG. 5. This operation excludes instantaneous operation by contact or percussion and enforces a retarded firing of the grenade by the operation of the time-fuse, since only the safety pin 16 is ejected from the fuse case upon the casting of the grenade, and the grenade is ultimately exploded by the time-fuse as illustrated in FIG. 8.

Another way of enforcing retarded operation may be realized by stripping the safety ribbon before the casting of the grenade, as indicated in FIG. 8, which causes the immediate ejection of the time-fuse safety pin 16 and the initiation of the operation of the time-fuse. In this case, the retarded operation is attained without benefit of the safety feature afforded by the unwinding of the distance ribbon 14.

The grenade in accordance with the invention may be trmsformed to a defensive grenade by simply encompassing the grenade case with a spiral jacket S, as shown in FIG. 3. This results in a grenade having shrapnel and fragmentation characteristics useful in defensive warfare. The converted grenade may be operated as a combined contact or percussion grenade and time-fuse grenade, or

as a time-fuse grenade alone, in the same manner as explained above in the case of a simple grenade case having no jacketcombined therewith. Preferably, the spring metal jacket is slipped onto the grenade case D over the base end thereof and below the flexible mantle 14m.

The universal grenade may be operated as follows: The same may be ejected with the spiral jecket S applied thereto if the same is to be used as a defensive grenade, or may be used without such a jacket, as shown in the drawings. Immediately prior to its use, the same may be armed by the insertion of the detonator B through the opening at the base of the grenade which is closed by the plug F. Thereafter, the cap H is removed by breaking of the seal M, if such has been applied, so that the grenade is in readiness for casting or firing.

The grenade may be operated as a combined percussion and time-fuse grenade by setting the arcuate selector plate to the position I which brings the enlarged opening lilo therein within the field of movement of the main safety pin 11, so that the latter may be discharged freely from the grenade. Following this setting, the grenade is cast so that the weighted mantle 14m of the safety ribbon 14 is disengaged and the latter is unwound from the body of the fuse case in the first part of its travel through space, to free the retaining arm 12 therefrom after the grenade has travelled a predetermined distance. This mode of operation is illustrated in FIG. 4. The operation of the time fuse is initiated immediately upon the release of the auxiliary safety pin 16 by the swinging of retaining arm 12, as shown, and thereafter the main safety pin 11 is ejected in order to permit the grenade to be fired by percussion, as indicated in FIG. 6, if the same strikes a solid object. If the grenade fails to fire by percussion, the travel of the lateral pin 53 into the locking seat 43 of the housing 4 blocks a repeated operation of the locking sleeve so that the same may be retrieved safely in the event that the same is not ultimately fired by the operation of the time fuse and the blasting of the firing pin 51 from the base of the sleeve 52.

If it is desired to prevent the operation of the grenade by percussion, but to operate the grenade as a time fuse grenade coupled with the safety afforded by the delay enforced in the unwinding of the safety ribbon, the arcuate selector plate 10 is set to the position R (FIG. 2) in order to block the ejection of the main safety pin 11. Thus, the casting of the grenade initiates the unwinding of the safety ribbon 14 and the ejection of the auxiliary safety pin 16 when the arm 12 is swung from restraining 10 position. This initiates the ignition of the time fuse, as indicated in FIG. 5. The main safety pin 11 is locked in place by means of the selector plate 18 so that the main firing pin 51 may pierce the percussion cap 6 only by the blasting of the shouldered bushing 51a from the base of sleeve 52, as indicated in FIG. 8.

If it is desired that the grenade operate as a time-fuse only, the selector plate 10 is set to position R and the safety ribbon is removed before throwing the grenade. Thereby lever 12 swings immediately from its vertical to horizontal position as shown in FIG. 8. This results in the immediate ejection of the auxiliary safety pin 16 through the opening 20 of the bushing 20 by the action of spring 17. The ejection of the auxiliary safety pin 16 permits the primer cap 22 to be fired by its striking pin 18' to initiate the firing of the combustibles in the time-fuse housing 8 so that after a lapse of a predetermined time the explosive cap 83 blasts the firing pin 51 into piercing engagement with the percussion cap 6 to effect the firing of the detonator B and the consequent explosion of the grenade.

Therefore, the grenade in accordance with the invention may be operated as a combined percussion and timefuse grenade, a time-fuse grenade with a delay occasioned by the unwinding of a safety ribbon, or as a time-fuse grenade only.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 687,267, filed September 30, 1957, now abandoned, which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 551,871, filed December 8, 1955, now abandoned.

While I have described my invention as embodied in specific forms and as operating in specific manners for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, the

scope of which is set forth in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A grenade fuse assembly for use in combination with a grenade body, said fuse being of generally cylindrical outline and having a cylindrical lateral wall and an apertured base, an internally-facing concavely-shaped seat in said base, an apertured cap having an internallyfacing rounded seat, a time-fuse having a rounded end in contact with said last-mentioned seat and provided with an axial bore in communication with the aperture in said cap, said axial bore containing a combustible composition adjacent to said last-mentioned aperture and a firing cap therebelow, a firing pin assembly between said first-mentioned seat and said time-fuse housing, with the contacting surfaces of said assembly and time-fuse housing having corresponding surface contours, said assembly comprising a hollow cylindrical sleeve with diametrically opposed lateral openings therein disposed in a common horizontal plane, a main safety pin extending through said openings and lateral wall of said fuse and ejectable therefrom, a firing pin and holder therefor tightly seated in the lower end of said cylindrical sleeve, a housing surrounding said firing pin and the lower end of said cylindrical sleeve and having a transverse partition with a central passage of said firing pin, a percussion cap mounted below said partition for penetration by said firing pin, said pin being adapted to be projected through said lastmentioned passage, an apertured nut for retaining said percussion cap having a convexly-shaped curvature cooperating with the concave curvature of said first-mentioned seat, and a coiled spring above said partition and acting against the lower end of said cylindrical sleeve for normally forcing said firing pin from said percussion cap.

2. A grenade-fuse assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said apertured cap is provided With a cylindrical chamber containing a fixed igniter pin therein pointing in the direction opposite to that of the time fuse, a springfacing said ignitcr pin, an auxiliary safety pin en" said lest-mentioned primer cap to prevent energication said igniter pin, means for releasing both said mai 1.61 auxiliary safety pins in consequence of the throwing of the grenade, and means for releasing only said auxiliary safety pin while blocking said main safety pin to prevent instantaneous firing by percussion.

3. A grenade-fuse assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said main saiety pin has a portion of reduced diameter adjacent to one end, and a selector plate having an aperture of different area to selectively restrict or render free said main safety pin at said portion for longitudinal movement.

4. A grenade-fuse assembly as set forth in claim 2 including a retaining arm pivotally mounted at the upper end of said assembly and blocking said auxiliary safety pin against ejection, and means for releasing said arm for swinging movement to release said safety pin.

5. A grenade fuse operable selectively by percussion and by time-delay, compri ing a hollow casing having a central longitudinal axis with tapered camming surfaces at the opposite ends thereof relative to said longitudinal axis, an inertia assembly in said hollow casing having t L16 longitudinal axis thereof coaxial with said central axis of said casing and provided with tapered ends in abutting contact with said camming surfaces of said casing so that any impacts imparted to said casing at any angle transmit at least a component thereof to said inertia assembly along the longitud nal axis thereof, a percussion cap disposed at said longitudinal axis in the base of said assembly, a firing pin normally spaced from said ercussion cap in permanent ove ying relation thereto, a hollow mounting for said firing pin, said mounting being readily movable relative to said percus ion cap and supporting said firing pin at one end thereof for movement against said perc sion cap in response to said component of impact transmitted along the longitudinal axis of the inertia assembly, said assembly including a time-fuse housing, a time-delaying combustible composition terminating in an explosive cap in communication with said hollow mounting for said firing pin for blasting said firing pin from said mounting into said percussion cap at the conclusion of the burning of the combustible composition, and means for igniting said combustible composition.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said lastmentioned means comprises a primer cap above said time-fuse housing, a firing pin for said primer cap, and a communicating passage between said primer cap and combustible composition.

7. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said lastmentioned means comprises a chamber above said timefuse housing, an apcrtured partition at the base of said chamber with the aperture overlying the combustible composition, a primer cap at the upper end of said chamber remote from said time-fuse housing, a firing pin in said partition pointing towards said primer cap, a coiled spring behind said primer cap tending to force said cap into engagement with said fixed firing pin, an auxiliary safety pin for restraining said primer cap against movement, and means for releasing said auxiliary safety pin from blocking action of said primer cap to effect the ignition thereof by said fixed firing pin and the consequent firing of the combustible composition in the time-fuse housing through the aperture in said partition.

8. A detachable fuse for combination with a grenade body, said fuse comprising a hollow casing having a central longitudinal with tapered camming surfaces at the opposite ends thereof relative to said longitudinal axis, an inertia assembly within said hollow casing having the longitdinal axis thereof coaxial with said central axis of said casing and provid d with tapered ends in abutting contact with said camm surfaces of said casing so that any impacts imparted to said casing at any angle transmit at least a component thereof to said inertia assembly along longitudinal ax thereof, a percussion cap t e-sed at said longitudinal a .-s in the base of said assembly, a movable sleeve in said assembly resiliently spaced fr to said percussion cap, said sleeve having its up er end open with a tapered seat threat and a plug seated in the lower end thereof, a firing pin extending from the bottom of said plug in permanent overlying relation to said percussion cap, said sleeve being readily movable relative to said percussion cap for actuating said firing pin against said percussion cap in response to said component of it pact transmitted along the longitudinal axis of the inertia assembly, said assembly including a time-fuse housing having tapered ends, the lower end thereof being seated against said open end of said sleeve and the upper end thereof being in abutting contact with the tapered camming surface at the upper end of said hollow casing, a timedelaying combustible composition extending through said time-fuse housing to the open end of said sleeve for alternatively blasting said firing pin into contact with said percussion cap at the end of a predetermined time-delay, and means for igniting said combustible composition.

9. A device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the lower tapered end of the time-fuse housing conforms to the of said inertia assembly, and means at said lower tapered end of said time-fuse housing for preventing a reverse ing of said time-fuse housing.

. in combination with a grenade body provided with a recessed receptacle at one end thereof, a grenade fuse adapted for detachable mounting in said receptacle, said fuse comprising a hollow casing having a central longitu al axis with tapered cumming surfaces at the opposite on :3 thereof relative to said longitudinal axis, an inertia ibly within said holl w casing having the longitudinal axis thereof coaxial with said central axis of said casing and provided with tapered ends in abutting contact with said cumming surfaces of said casing so that any impacts imparted to said casing at any angle transmit at least a component thereof to said inertia assembly along the longitudinal axis thereof, a percussion cap disposed at said longitudinal axis in the base of said assembly in proximity to the base of said recessed receptacle, a firing pin normally spaced from said percussion cap in pcrmanent overlying relation thereto, a sleeve mounting for said firing pin at one end and open at the opposite end thereof, said mounting and firing pin being readily movable relative to said percussion cap in response to said component of impact transmitted along the longitudinal axis of the inertia assembly, said assembly including a time-fuse housing, a time-delaying combustible composition in said housing and terminating in an explosive cap in communication with said sleeve mounting for said firing pin for blasting said firing pin from said mounting into said percussion cap at the conclusion of the burning of the combustible composition, means for igniting said combustible composition, a main safety pin extending transversely of said longitudinal axes at least partially through said hollow casing and inertia assembly for selectively blocking the movement of said inertia assembly and said firing pin, an auxiliary safety pin normally blocking said last-mentioned igniting means for preventing the ignition of said combustible composition within said time-fuse housing, and a safety ribbon wound around said fuse and confining said safety pins, thereby barring outward movement of said safety pins to prevent their ejection from said fuse until the ribbon has unwound and the grenade has traversed a predetermined distance in space.

11. A device as set forth in claim 10 including setting means cooperating with said main safety pin for selectively blocking said main safety pin against ejection and enforcing actuation of said firing pin by the time-delayed combustible composition.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said References Cited in the file of this patent safety ribbon terminates in a weighted element afiixed UNITED STATES PATENTS to a flexible jacket at least partially surrounding the lateral wall of the grenade body, a reenforcing bead at the 2397781 fisher i upper end of said jacket, and a closure cap surrounding 5 2763 212 Mccashn Sept said fuse having the open-end thereof engaging the gre- FOREIGN PATENTS nade body and clamping said reenforcing bead then:- 789511 France Aug 19, 1935,

between 1,048,876 France Aug. 12, 1953

Claims

5. A GRENADE FUSE OPERABLE SELECTIVELY BY PERCUSSION AND BY TIME-DELAY, COMPRISING A HOLLOW CASING HAVING A CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL AXIS WITH TAPERED CAMMING SURFACES AT THE OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF RELATIVE TO SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS, AN INERTIA ASSEMBLY IN SAID HOLLOW CASING HAVING THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF COAXIAL WITH SAID CENTRAL AXIS OF SAID CASING AND PROVIDED WITH TAPERED ENDS IN ABUTTING CONTACT WITH SAID CAMMING SURFACES OF SAID CASING SO THAT ANY IMPACTS IMPARTED TO SAID CASING AT ANY ANGLE TRANSMIT AT LEAST A COMPONENT THEREOF TO SAID INERTIA ASSEMBLY ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF, A PERCUSSION CAP DISPOSED AT SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS IN THE BASE OF SAID ASSEMBLY, A FIRING PIN NORMALLY SPACED FROM SAID PERCUSSION CAP IN PERMANENT OVERLYING RELATION THERETO, A HOLLOW MOUNTING FOR SAID FIRING PIN, SAID MOUNTING BEING READILY MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID PERCUSSION CAP AND SUPPORTING SAID FIRING PIN AT ONE END THEREOF FOR MOVEMENT AGAINST SAID PERCUSSION CAP IN RESPONSE TO SAID COMPONENT OF IMPACT TRANSMITED ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE INERTIA ASSEMBLY, SAID ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A TIME-FUSE HOUSING, A TIME-DELAYING COMBUSTIBLE COMPOSITION TERMINATING IN AN EXPLOSIVE CAP IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID HOLLOW MOUNTING FOR SAID FIRING PIN FOR BLASTING SAID FIRING PIN FROM SAID MOUNTING INTO SAID PERCUSSION CAP AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE BURNING OF THE COMBUSTIBLE COMPOSITION, AND MEANS FOR IGNITING SAID COMBUSTIBLE COMPOSITION.