US3173364A - Ammuntion safety device - Google Patents
Ammuntion safety device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3173364A US3173364A US197420A US19742062A US3173364A US 3173364 A US3173364 A US 3173364A US 197420 A US197420 A US 197420A US 19742062 A US19742062 A US 19742062A US 3173364 A US3173364 A US 3173364A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- charge
- shell
- detonation
- explosive
- main charge
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000005474 detonation Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000013022 venting Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 7
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007799 cork Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009970 fire resistant effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011343 solid material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
- F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
- F42C19/00—Details of fuzes
- F42C19/04—Protective caps
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
- F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
- F42B3/00—Blasting cartridges, i.e. case and explosive
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
- F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
- F42B39/00—Packaging or storage of ammunition or explosive charges; Safety features thereof; Cartridge belts or bags
- F42B39/20—Packages or ammunition having valves for pressure-equalising; Packages or ammunition having plugs for pressure release, e.g. meltable ; Blow-out panels; Venting arrangements
Definitions
- a body charged with an explosive such as a projectile the explosive of which is completely enclosed in a fireresistant strong shell, is heated by fire or in any other way to a critical temperature the charge will detonate more or less completely.
- An explosive such as T.N.T., having a melting point of about 80 C., will, in melting, expand about 10%. If the explosive is completely enclosed in a cover that will not burst or open itself in another way, a more or less complete detonation will occur. It has been observed that molten T.N.T. will be forced out through screw holes and be ignited. This will usually occur some minutes before the detonation.
- the pressure is here estimated to be about 1,000 kilograms per square centimeter.
- the shell is provided with a sufliciently large venting opening the charge may wholly or partly burn or melt out of the shell without detonating.
- a venting opening may be provided by removing the closure (detonating fuze, detonator closing cover or the like) or by providing a burnable or meltable closure.
- said measure may be less desirable, or the venting opening thus provided may be too small.
- the main object of the present invention is to be applied in such latter cases.
- a protective explosive charge which can be ignited under the influence of heat is arranged close to the shell or to a closed opening thereof in such a way that said protective charge at the igniting temperature is caused to burst or to blast up part of said shell or open said closure respectively without causing the main charge to detonate or in any case to detonate incompletely only and thus with a sufficiently reduced effect.
- the shell 1 of the projectile contains a main charge 2 with detonator 2a arranged adjacent the top of the projectile said top being closed by a closure 3 which may be provided with a handle, and is made of a material having a good thermal conductivity or being provided with an igniting channel.
- a detonating charge 4 arranged in the closure is provided with a temperature sensitive igniter and with an explosive having a higher melting point than said main charge.
- a protective or top charge 5 is inserted close to the detonating charge 4, and preferably the explosive of the top charge may have a higher melting point than the main charge.
- a protective body 6 of a suitable material such as wood, plastic, cork, metal or the like is provided to prevent or obstruct the detonation wave from the top charge 5 from being transmitted to the detonator 2a and the main charge 2.
- the detonating charge 4 When the projectile is exposed to heat, for instance through fire the detonating charge 4 will be ignited causing the top charge 5 to detonate thereby opening the top of the projectile or causing the shell 1 to burst before the main charge 2 is detonated.
- the release time is usually one to four minutes from the beginning of a heavy fire, but may be as much as eight minutes in one practical embodiment tested. This provides an adequate safety margin because unpacked shells normally detonate spontaneously after ten to fifteen minutes and shells having wooden packing in about twenty to twenty-five minutes.
- the parts 3 to 6 according to the invention may form a unit which easily may be inserted into the top opening 7 of the projectile. Said parts may for instance be housed in a sleeve 8.
- the detonating charge 4 may be provided with an igniting channel 9 having a melting seal 10 which melts at the critical temperature and leaves the channel open thereby causing the detonating charge to be directly exposed to the high outer temperature or to a flame from a fire or the like.
- the detonating charge 4 may comprise a low explosive, the melting point of which does not need to be higher than that of the main charge.
- a safety device for preventing unintended, heat induced detonation of the explosive main charge comprising:
- (b) means responsive to the heating of said shell and operable at a temperature below the detonation temperature of the main charge for detonating the protective charge and thereby creating said venting opening in said shell.
- said shell has a normally sealed opening at one end thereof;
- said safety device includes a closure for said opening, means forming a protective charge ignition channel in said opening, and a seal in said channel of a normally solid material having a melting point lower than the detonation temperature of the main charge in said shell.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)
Description
INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 1965 c. o. J. NORDZELL AMMUNITION SAFETY DEVICE Filed May 24, 1962 1 H llnrfwfwlqldfh v VII/ CARL OLOF JULIUS NORDZELL United States Patent Office 3,173,364 Patented Mar. 16, 1965 3,173,364 AMMUNITION SAFETY DEVICE Carl Olof Julius Nordzell, Lidingo, Sweden, assignor to Military Training Device Company, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Mar. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 197,420 4 Claims. (Cl. 102-1) If a body charged with an explosive, such as a projectile the explosive of which is completely enclosed in a fireresistant strong shell, is heated by fire or in any other way to a critical temperature the charge will detonate more or less completely. An explosive such as T.N.T., having a melting point of about 80 C., will, in melting, expand about 10%. If the explosive is completely enclosed in a cover that will not burst or open itself in another way, a more or less complete detonation will occur. It has been observed that molten T.N.T. will be forced out through screw holes and be ignited. This will usually occur some minutes before the detonation. The pressure is here estimated to be about 1,000 kilograms per square centimeter.
If on the other hand the shell is provided with a sufliciently large venting opening the charge may wholly or partly burn or melt out of the shell without detonating. Such a venting opening may be provided by removing the closure (detonating fuze, detonator closing cover or the like) or by providing a burnable or meltable closure. For storage purposes or in military emergencies, said measure may be less desirable, or the venting opening thus provided may be too small.
The main object of the present invention is to be applied in such latter cases. According to the invention a protective explosive charge which can be ignited under the influence of heat is arranged close to the shell or to a closed opening thereof in such a way that said protective charge at the igniting temperature is caused to burst or to blast up part of said shell or open said closure respectively without causing the main charge to detonate or in any case to detonate incompletely only and thus with a sufficiently reduced effect.
One embodiment of the invention as illustrated in connection with a projectile is shown diagrammatically in a longitudinal section in the accompanying drawing.
The shell 1 of the projectile contains a main charge 2 with detonator 2a arranged adjacent the top of the projectile said top being closed by a closure 3 which may be provided with a handle, and is made of a material having a good thermal conductivity or being provided with an igniting channel. A detonating charge 4 arranged in the closure is provided with a temperature sensitive igniter and with an explosive having a higher melting point than said main charge. A protective or top charge 5 is inserted close to the detonating charge 4, and preferably the explosive of the top charge may have a higher melting point than the main charge. Further, a protective body 6 of a suitable material such as wood, plastic, cork, metal or the like is provided to prevent or obstruct the detonation wave from the top charge 5 from being transmitted to the detonator 2a and the main charge 2.
When the projectile is exposed to heat, for instance through fire the detonating charge 4 will be ignited causing the top charge 5 to detonate thereby opening the top of the projectile or causing the shell 1 to burst before the main charge 2 is detonated. The release time is usually one to four minutes from the beginning of a heavy fire, but may be as much as eight minutes in one practical embodiment tested. This provides an adequate safety margin because unpacked shells normally detonate spontaneously after ten to fifteen minutes and shells having wooden packing in about twenty to twenty-five minutes. By detonation of top charge 5, a sufi'iciently large opening will be formed to allow the main charge during continued heating to burn Wholly or partly or to melt without detonating. Preferably, the parts 3 to 6 according to the invention may form a unit which easily may be inserted into the top opening 7 of the projectile. Said parts may for instance be housed in a sleeve 8.
Instead of heating the detonating charge 4 by means of thermal conductivity of the closure 3 the latter may be provided with an igniting channel 9 having a melting seal 10 which melts at the critical temperature and leaves the channel open thereby causing the detonating charge to be directly exposed to the high outer temperature or to a flame from a fire or the like. In this case the detonating charge 4 may comprise a low explosive, the melting point of which does not need to be higher than that of the main charge.
The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come Within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:
1. In combination with a shell filled with a high explosive main charge, a safety device for preventing unintended, heat induced detonation of the explosive main charge, comprising:
(a) a protective explosive charge in said shell, said charge being large enough that its detonation will create a venting opening in said shell of sufficient size to allow the main charge to burn or flow out of the shell without high order detonation; and
(b) means responsive to the heating of said shell and operable at a temperature below the detonation temperature of the main charge for detonating the protective charge and thereby creating said venting opening in said shell.
2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein:
(a) said shell has a normally sealed opening at one end thereof; and
(b) the protective explosive charge is located adjacent said Opening.
3. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said protective charge detonating means is in thermal contact with said shell.
4. The combination as defined in claim 1:
(a) wherein said shell has an opening at one end thereof; and
(b) said safety device includes a closure for said opening, means forming a protective charge ignition channel in said opening, and a seal in said channel of a normally solid material having a melting point lower than the detonation temperature of the main charge in said shell.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS
Claims (1)
1. IN COMBINTION WITH A SHELL FILLED WITH A HIGH EXPLOSIVE MAIN CHARGE, A SAFETY DEVICE FOR PREVENTING UNINTENDED, HEAT INDUCED DETONATION OF THE EXPLOSIVE MAIN CHARGE, COMPRISING: (A) A PROTECTIVE EXPOSIVE CHARGE IN SAID SHELL, SAID CHARGE B EING LARGE ENOUGH THAT ITS DETONATION WILL CREATE A VENTING OPENING IN SAID SHELL OF SUFFICIENT SIZE TO ALLOW THE MAIN CHARGE TO BURN OR FLOW OUT OF THE SHELL WITHOUT HIGH ORDER DETONATION; AND (B) MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE HEATING OF SAID SHELL AND OPERABLE AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW THE DETONATION TEMPERATURE OF THE MAIN CHARGE FOR DETONATING THE PROTECTIVE CHARGE AND THEREBY CREATING SAID VENTING OPENING IN SAID SHELL.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US197420A US3173364A (en) | 1962-03-24 | 1962-03-24 | Ammuntion safety device |
DEN21562A DE1215565B (en) | 1962-03-24 | 1962-05-09 | Safety device against thermally triggered detonations for military explosive devices |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US197420A US3173364A (en) | 1962-03-24 | 1962-03-24 | Ammuntion safety device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3173364A true US3173364A (en) | 1965-03-16 |
Family
ID=22729352
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US197420A Expired - Lifetime US3173364A (en) | 1962-03-24 | 1962-03-24 | Ammuntion safety device |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3173364A (en) |
Cited By (21)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3972289A (en) * | 1975-04-04 | 1976-08-03 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Temperature-sensitive disarming element |
US3982487A (en) * | 1973-06-14 | 1976-09-28 | S.A. Prb. Societe Anonyme | Micro-delayed detonator for ballistic rockets and rockets thus equipped |
US4004516A (en) * | 1975-10-24 | 1977-01-25 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Fuze |
US4022130A (en) * | 1976-02-06 | 1977-05-10 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Ejectable fuze |
US4084512A (en) * | 1976-10-18 | 1978-04-18 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Pressure relief construction for controlled combustion of ordnance items |
US4205608A (en) * | 1978-07-24 | 1980-06-03 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Fuze well stress attenuator for projectiles |
US4557198A (en) * | 1982-03-04 | 1985-12-10 | The Secretary Of State For Defence In Her Britannic Majesty's Government Of The United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern Ireland | Safety devices for carrier shells |
US4709637A (en) * | 1984-05-25 | 1987-12-01 | Matra | Temperature sensitive pyrotechnical train interruption device |
US4714020A (en) * | 1987-01-30 | 1987-12-22 | Honeywell Inc. | Enabling device for a gas generator of a forced dispersion munitions dispenser |
EP0256199A2 (en) * | 1986-05-15 | 1988-02-24 | Rheinmetall GmbH | Load carrying missile for ejectable sub-ammunition |
FR2608265A1 (en) * | 1986-12-12 | 1988-06-17 | Pont Sur Sambre Ateliers Mecan | Device unconfining a munition body in case of fire |
US4838166A (en) * | 1985-12-19 | 1989-06-13 | Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Gmbh | Casing for the protection of explosive charges |
FR2627272A1 (en) * | 1988-02-11 | 1989-08-18 | France Etat Armement | Metal casing for explosive device - has multiple orifices formed in casing walls and sealed by plugs of low melting point metal alloy |
US5035180A (en) * | 1984-03-28 | 1991-07-30 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Shearing type ordnance venting device |
US5786544A (en) * | 1994-03-02 | 1998-07-28 | State of Israel--Ministry of Defence, Armament Development Authority, Rafael | Warhead protection device during slow cook-off test |
US6038979A (en) * | 1996-06-30 | 2000-03-21 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Insensitive warhead casings |
US6363855B1 (en) | 2000-10-27 | 2002-04-02 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Solid propellant rocket motor thermally initiated venting device |
US20080150003A1 (en) * | 2006-12-20 | 2008-06-26 | Jian Chen | Electron blocking layers for electronic devices |
US20100122640A1 (en) * | 2006-01-17 | 2010-05-20 | Saab Ab | Internal pressure relieving device for anti-armour ammunition |
US10066917B1 (en) * | 2017-06-14 | 2018-09-04 | Sooa Corporation | Lifting plug having improved insensitive performance for high explosive projectile |
US10571234B1 (en) * | 2018-03-14 | 2020-02-25 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Venting lifting plug for munitions |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2943445A (en) * | 1955-06-27 | 1960-07-05 | Douglas Aircraft Co Inc | Missile safety closure |
US3054349A (en) * | 1944-05-31 | 1962-09-18 | Harold J Plumley | Disposal of encased explosives |
-
1962
- 1962-03-24 US US197420A patent/US3173364A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3054349A (en) * | 1944-05-31 | 1962-09-18 | Harold J Plumley | Disposal of encased explosives |
US2943445A (en) * | 1955-06-27 | 1960-07-05 | Douglas Aircraft Co Inc | Missile safety closure |
Cited By (24)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3982487A (en) * | 1973-06-14 | 1976-09-28 | S.A. Prb. Societe Anonyme | Micro-delayed detonator for ballistic rockets and rockets thus equipped |
US3972289A (en) * | 1975-04-04 | 1976-08-03 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Temperature-sensitive disarming element |
US4004516A (en) * | 1975-10-24 | 1977-01-25 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Fuze |
US4022130A (en) * | 1976-02-06 | 1977-05-10 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Ejectable fuze |
US4084512A (en) * | 1976-10-18 | 1978-04-18 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Pressure relief construction for controlled combustion of ordnance items |
US4205608A (en) * | 1978-07-24 | 1980-06-03 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Fuze well stress attenuator for projectiles |
US4557198A (en) * | 1982-03-04 | 1985-12-10 | The Secretary Of State For Defence In Her Britannic Majesty's Government Of The United Kingdom Of Great Britain And Northern Ireland | Safety devices for carrier shells |
US5035180A (en) * | 1984-03-28 | 1991-07-30 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Shearing type ordnance venting device |
US4709637A (en) * | 1984-05-25 | 1987-12-01 | Matra | Temperature sensitive pyrotechnical train interruption device |
US4838166A (en) * | 1985-12-19 | 1989-06-13 | Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm Gmbh | Casing for the protection of explosive charges |
US4727812A (en) * | 1986-05-15 | 1988-03-01 | Rheinmetall Gmbh | Payload projectile for ejectable secondary ammunition |
EP0256199A2 (en) * | 1986-05-15 | 1988-02-24 | Rheinmetall GmbH | Load carrying missile for ejectable sub-ammunition |
EP0256199A3 (en) * | 1986-05-15 | 1989-10-18 | Rheinmetall Gmbh | Load carrying missile for ejectable sub-ammunition |
FR2608265A1 (en) * | 1986-12-12 | 1988-06-17 | Pont Sur Sambre Ateliers Mecan | Device unconfining a munition body in case of fire |
US4714020A (en) * | 1987-01-30 | 1987-12-22 | Honeywell Inc. | Enabling device for a gas generator of a forced dispersion munitions dispenser |
FR2627272A1 (en) * | 1988-02-11 | 1989-08-18 | France Etat Armement | Metal casing for explosive device - has multiple orifices formed in casing walls and sealed by plugs of low melting point metal alloy |
US5786544A (en) * | 1994-03-02 | 1998-07-28 | State of Israel--Ministry of Defence, Armament Development Authority, Rafael | Warhead protection device during slow cook-off test |
US6038979A (en) * | 1996-06-30 | 2000-03-21 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Insensitive warhead casings |
US6363855B1 (en) | 2000-10-27 | 2002-04-02 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Solid propellant rocket motor thermally initiated venting device |
US20100122640A1 (en) * | 2006-01-17 | 2010-05-20 | Saab Ab | Internal pressure relieving device for anti-armour ammunition |
US7739956B2 (en) * | 2006-01-17 | 2010-06-22 | Saab Ab | Internal pressure relieving device for anti-armour ammunition |
US20080150003A1 (en) * | 2006-12-20 | 2008-06-26 | Jian Chen | Electron blocking layers for electronic devices |
US10066917B1 (en) * | 2017-06-14 | 2018-09-04 | Sooa Corporation | Lifting plug having improved insensitive performance for high explosive projectile |
US10571234B1 (en) * | 2018-03-14 | 2020-02-25 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Venting lifting plug for munitions |
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