US3183835A

US3183835A - Mine clearing snake

Info

Publication number: US3183835A
Application number: US299060A
Authority: US
Inventors: James L Bisch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-07-15
Filing date: 1952-07-15
Publication date: 1965-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-18

Description

May 18, 1965 J. L. BlscH MINE CLEARING SNKE 9 Sheets-Sheet l James L Filed July l5 May 18, 1965 J. L. alscH MINE CLEARINGv SNAKE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July l5, 1952 `IN V EN TOR.

i* cames L. wcih ATTDRN EYS May 18, 1965 J. l.. BiscH MINE CLEARING SNAKE 9 Sheets-Sheetf 3 Filed July l5, 1952 A WVENTOR. .lm/esl. zsoh May 18, 1965 .J. L. BlscH MINE CLEARING SNAKE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July l5, 1952 JNVENTOR. Jm es L. Bwoz ATTORNEYS May 18,1965

J. L. BxscH 3,183,835

MINE CLEARING SNAKE Filed July l5, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 y, INVENToR. s, JamesLBzsch www May 18, 1965 J. L. BlscH 3,1835835 MINE CLEARING SNAKE med July 15, 1952 9 sheets-sheet e Wfl/ffm :zy l INVENTOR.

Q v B zmeSL.iSCh

ATTE RN EY5 May 18, 1965 .1.L. BlscH 3,183,835

MINE CLEARING SNAKE Filed July l5, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 PLA TE'S mld/L Mld? 1 6 ROCKET M01/N T l N H 52g N N INVE'NTOR. James L. Ewch May 18, 1965 Filed July l5, 1952 J. L, BISCH MINE CLEARING SNAKE 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENToR. James Z2 .Bz/.S072

ATTDRN EYS May 18, 1965 J. L. BlscH MINE CLEARING SNAKE 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed July l5, 1952 INVENTOR.

Jmes I.. Bch BY /Z/ j?? United States Patent O 3,183,835 CLEARING SNAKE James L. Bisch, Valencia, Pa., assigner to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army Filed July 15, 1952, Ser. No. 299,060 Claims. (Cl. 102-19) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates generally to a self-pro pelled, primarily military, explosive device, which is intended for the clearance of otherwise inaccessible, or diiculty accessible, obstacles; and, more particularly, the invention provides certain improvements in a so-called snake demolition torpedo comprising an elongated container for receiving and mounting explosive cartridges adapted to be self-propelled into mine fields or other obstacles, and there detonated to clear a path for advancing troops.

It is frequently necessary to the prosecution of military operations to advance troops through enemy mine fields and barbed wire entanglements. To accomplish this maneuver, many devices have been proposed and used, and with the use of each new device the enemy has countered with new anti-demolition means until at present the most effective mine lield is one which is covered from a distance by a platoon of riflemen whose duty it is to prevent an opponent from sending a forward echelon to clear the mine eld in order that the main body of troops may pass safely through.

In the past, to clear a mine field effectively the actual presence of troops had been required; and, as shown in United States Patent No. 2,509,205, protection was given to such personnel by the utilization of tanks to tow a snake demolition torpedo to the mine field; and from there it was pushed forward into the dangerous area, and the device tired. The disadvantages of this means of clearing a mine lield are obvious and were obvious at the time of the tiling of the above-mentioned patent, but no actually effective means for overcoming all the disadvantages had been proposed at that time.

The present invention provides certain improvements in this type of military explosive device wherein existent disadvantages are eliminated by the present invention.

One object of this invention is to provide a self-propelled, elongated charge, specially adapted for mine clearing or the clearance of inaccessible objects.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described, which may be readily transported to a position in proximity to the lield to be cleared, where it is quickly assembled and self-propelled to the desired position in the iield and detonated without danger to the operating personnel.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mine clearing device which is economical in construction, simple in operation and composed of parts which may easily be transported in knocked-down or disassembled condition to an operational base, and there quickly assembled for tiring.

Objects and advantages other than those above set forth will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings; and the features of novelty will be pointed out in particularity in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which like parts are indicated by like reference characters:

FIGS. l and la, taken together, form a side elevation of the improved self-propelled explosive device of the 3,l83,35 Patented May 18, 1965 ICC present invention, FIG. 1 being a side elevation of the rear portion, and FIG. la being a side elevation of the front portion thereof;

FIGS. 2 and 2a, taken together, form a plan view of the improved torpedo shown in FIGS. l and la, FIG. 2 being a plan view of FIG. l and FIG. 2a being a plan view of FIG. la;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the arrangement of the top and bottomplates of the body of the torpedo;

FIG. 4 is a sectionalized elevation of a portion of the body of the torpedo, the section being taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partially sectionali'zed view, the section being taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectionalized elevation of the forward portion of the body of the torpedo, the section being taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 7 is a sectionalized view of the forward portion of the body of the torpedo, the section being taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 8 is a sectionalized elevation of a portion of the rear if the torpedo, the section being taken along line S-8 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a sectionalized plan view of the rear portion of the torpedo;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the torpedo with part of the protective hood cut away for clarity;

FIG. 1l is a perspective view of the detonating cord shown in FIG. 10, showing its attachment to the cartridges;

FIG. 12 is .a transverse vertical section taken along line i12-12 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 13 is a partially sectionalized view showing details of the firing mechanism of FIG. l2;

FIG. 14 is a partially sectionalized View showing in detail the blasting cap mechanism of FIG. 13;

FIG. l5 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the body of the torpedo, a portion of the upper plate being lttlit away to disclose the position of the cartridge securing ook;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the torpedo taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 8;

fFIG. 17 is a cross-sectional View of the torpedo taken along line 17-17 of FIG. la;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the torpedo along line 18-18 of FIG. la;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing one method of connecting the overlapping plates, as shown diagrammatically by FIG. 3;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the forward portion of another form of the torpedo;

FIG. 211 shows the arrangement of the tiring mechanism as shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a perspective View of the rear end of the modi-lied torpedo shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a plan view partly in horizontal section of the detonating assembly as shown in lFIG. 22;

FIG. y24 is a detailed section taken along line 24x-24 of FIG. 23

FIG. 25 is a ydetailed section taken along line 25-25 of FIG. 22;

FIG. 216 is a perspective View showing a manner of packing the improved snake torpedo in knocked-down or disassembled condition for transportation thereof to an operational locale;

FIG. 27 is a top plan View of the assembly of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 isa fragmentary section showing certain details of the means for fastening the cartridge container for the improved `snake torpedo in the transporting box as completely shown in FIGS. 26 and `27;

FIG. 29 is a longitudinal section of the cartridge container portion of the assembly of FIGS. 27 and 28, showing details;

FIG. 30 is a fragmentary, transverse, vertical view of the cartridge container in place taken along line 30-30 in FIG. 27;

FIG. 31 is an end elevation of the packaging case of FIGS. 26 and 27;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the cartridge bag shown in FIG. 33 with the cover thereof in open position;

FIG. 33 is a perspective View `of the cartridge bag in carrying position and removed from the assembly of FIGS. l26 and 27;

FIG. 34 is a sectionalized elevation of a portion of the 4detonating assembly Idisclosing the method of packing same for incorporation in the assembly of FIGS. 26 and 27; y FIG. 35 is a sectionalized eleva-tion of the base portion of the detonating assembly shown in FIG. 34 disclosing the method of packing same .in the assembly of FIGS. 26 and 27, the view being readable in conjunction with FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a bottom plan View of the packing block shown in FIG. 34;

FIG. 37 is a side eleva-tion of the packing block as shown in FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is an end view of the block looking in the direction of the -arrow a of FIG. 37; land FIG. 39 is an end view of the packing block looking in the direction of the arrow b of IF-IG. 37.

Briefly stated, the snake demolition torpedo of the present invention comprises an elongated container composed of interconnected segments formed of either longitudinally bent strips of steel or long steel tubes which serve as retaining housings for demolition cartridges, the torpedo being transported snugly packed in a suitable receptacle to an .assembly station approximating an intended location of use, propelled from the assembly station by self-propelling mechanism mounted on the torpedo container, for example a rocket motor, into operative position on the mine field to be detonated, and the demolition cartridges detonated.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, (FIGS. l to 4, inclusive) the body of the snake torpedo embodying the present improvement is composed of a plurality of interconnected segments, each segment being formed of interconnected upper and |lower steel `strips 10 and 10', corrugated longitudinally so that a cross-section taken anywhere through its length has the form of the letter W. The body of the snake torpedo is constructed by bolting the strips and 10 together centrally so as to provide parallel channels on either side of the central web of the -corrugations The

strips

10 and 10 are united separably by bolts 12 which are spaced substantially equidistantly along the body of the sua-ke, but sufliciently close together to secure the strips in tightly assembled relation. The parallel channels or courses are indicated at 14, the

lstrips

10 and 10 being -assembled in both end and side overlapping relation, as indicated at 11, the resulting elongated snake body being composed of a ser-ies of successive segments lin which the parallel channels or courses 14 are in Vcontinuous registration for receiving explosive cartridges 16 and cartridge securing blocks l18, 18', one of which blocks is loca-ted adjacent to the rear end of the snake torpedo, the other of which is located adjacent to the for- Yward end of the body of the snake torpedo. By joining together a requisite number of the

strips

10 and 10 in proper relationship, the body of the snake can be built upV into whatever length may be suitable for the desired purpose. Y

The body of the snake :is sho-wn as beingprovided at its `forward end with a nose assembly 20, (FIGS. la, 2a, 6 and'7) which comprises a channel-shaped yoke 22 which bridges the top plates 10 and is bolted thereto along the intermediate web, between the channels 14, 14', as is indicated at 24. Another channel 26 is secured lto the channel yoke 22 `and projects forwardly of the body of the snake, this vforwardly extending channel being secured to an upturned end porti-on 28 of a bottom skid plate 30, which is held by certain of the bolts 24. The channel yoke 22 serves as the mounting for the propulsion unit (rocket motor) 32 mounted in the channel yoke 22 adjacent to a stop plate 34 .and held by clamps 36. All parts of the structure may be disassembled readily for transportation to the location of use.

4The detonating mechani-sm is mounted on the rear portion of the snake body, (FIGS. l, 2 and 3) it being enclosed in a hood 40, secured to the plates 10 by certain of the bolts 12 which pass through a base plate 42 that carries the hood `40. The detonating mechanism includes a ilexible cable 44 of a suitable length Wound into a supply coil enclosed in -a dispensing chamber 44,'the rear end of the cable 44 being looped over a pin or stake 45 driven into the ground, so that this end of the cable will be restrained against movement as the snake is projected to its target, the cable being of a length corresponding to the distance of travel of the snake. The forward end of the cable 44 is attached to a tiring wire 46 which extends through one end of a tiring pin 48 mountedwithin the housing 50 vand `into a guide sleeve 49 Within the main hood 40. The housing 5t) (FIGS. 8, 9 and l0) with associated parts hereinafter mentioned in greater detail, provides mounting means for a `tiring pin 48, which extends through the bottom end of the housing Sit. A coil spring 52 is inserted around the tiring pin 48 between and abutting the head thereof and the lower end of the housing 50, So as -to support the tiring pin 48 in elevatedposition against an arming pin 53. The upper end of the housing 50 is closed by a screw plug 54. The plug 54 contains a fuse lighter 56 at one end.- Connected to the plug 54 adjacent to the fuse lighter is ,a blasting cap 58, to which are secured by friction tape 6b, two strands of detonating cords 62, which are secured to the explosive cartridges by means of friction tape.

In FIGS. 26 and 22, there is shown a somewhat moditied form of the present improved torpedo, in which the nose portion is a modified hull form adapted to travel over land or water. In this embodiment, two

similar rocket motors

70 and 70 are secured by clam-ping means 72. The rockets are adapted to be fired by a ring device, which is secured to the jet ends 74 and 74 of the rockets, at a point remote therefrom, by a lanyard 76 with the double friction type firing wires 78'and 7 8 shown in FIG. 2l, which are inserted Within the firing pins 80 and 8G to

lighter fuses

84 and 84 and blasting caps 86 and 86 which extend to a point adjacent to the rocket propellent fuel.

The hull is rigidly attached to the body of the snake. The ytiring mechanism is assembled within the body of the snake adjacent to the rear end of the last cartridges. The iin'ng mechanism comprises a double fir-ing assembly, the individual tiring devices being similar to the single firing device as disclosed above, and are held in an operative position by means of a base plate secured to the bottom plates 10 by the bolt assembly 184. The base plate 180 holds the lining pins in alignment, =whereby a single firing wire 186 may be utilized `in conjunction with a coil of wire 188 contained in a dispenser 190 to actuate the firing assembly. The dispenser is contained `within the Y body of the snake by clamp 192 bolted to the base plate 10 by the bolt 194.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the snake torpedo of the present construction comprises an elongated sectionalV container formed of either longitudinally corrugated strips of steel or long steel tubes which serve as retaining housings for demolition cartridges, and which may be carried by a combat team to an intended locality of operation, in an unassembled form, where the torpedo is quickly assembled and thenself-propelled into the area of operation, and the charges exploded by suitable me-Y chanical means after the snake has traveled a predetermined distance on a selected course. In order to stabilize the snake during its course of travel, stabilizing fins 193 may be mounted `on the rear of the body or on the housing of the rocket motor, and instead of the tiring mechanism above-described, or as supplements thereto, the explosive charges may be fired by contact or time fuses adapted to detonate the charges upon contact with the target area or after expii-ation of a predetermined time.

The disassembled snake torpedo is packed in a packaging box as shown in FIG. 26. The

sides

90 and 90 of the packaging box are substantially longer than the ends 92 and 92', the length thereof being controlled by the length lof the channel yoke 22 centrally located and secured to the bottom of the box. A partition 1112 divides the box longitudinally, and to this partition is attached the skid nose adjacent tothe rocket channel yoke. The space defined by the side 90 and the partition 102 receives the top and bottom plates 10 and 19', which form the elongated body of the snake torpedo. Adjacent to the said plates is the skid nose strut' 26. These elements are secured in place by guides 193 and crossbar 105 to which the skid nose strut 26 is securely attached by bolt 126. Abutting the end of the skid nose strut are the detonator mechanism plate and hood 49 which are secured to the bottom of the packaging box. Attached to t-he side 90' by clips 122 is a tube 106 containing towing lines. ln the space defined by the

partitions

104, 108, 90 and 92 is a moisture-proof metal container 110 which contains the explosive bags 1112 as shown in FIGS. 26, 27, 32 and 33 containing the cartridges 16. This container is securely fastened to the partition 104, as shown in FIG. 28, by screws 124. Abutting partition 10S is a space defined by the

partitions

114, 108 and 116 Which space is lled with a container .118 which hold-s the nuts and bolts used in assembling the snake torpedo.

The sides, bottom and top of the moisture-proof container 11tlare formed of a continuous sheet of metal. rlhe ends 130 vand 130 of the container v116 are sealed Within the .sides and the bottom of the container by means of a plastic sealing compound applied to the flanges 132 of the said ends which in tur-n are inserted within a lretaining ri-ng V1134 rigidly secured and sealed with the plastic sealing compound to the sides and bottom as shown in FIG. 29. The side 136 at the upper end is bent forwardly to provide a flange 1.38 which, when in place, will overlap the partition 164. When the explosive cartridges contained in the cartridge bags have been placed within the container, the top 144) is sealed by placing a gasket 142 between the ange 133 and top 140 Vand tightly securing the same together lby rivets 144 as shown in FIG. 30.

The detonating mechanism is packed within the housing therefor as shown in FIG. 34. The block 150 is secured within the top of the hood by means of a bolt 152 extending through the hood, the block 156 being provided with a hole 160 for receiving the bolt 152, and a flange 154 serving as a retaining abutment for this block and also for nut 155 on the bolt 152. The block is provided at one end .with passages designed to receive the fuse lighter at 156 for the rocket motor 32 and the firing device adapter and cap as indicated at 158 in FIGS. 36 and 38, and at the other end the block is provided with passages designed to receive the tipped ends of the detonating cords 62. The cords are clamped to the block 154) by means of the clamping block 161 by a bolt 162. At the bottom of the block there is positioned ina well 164 provided therefor, a roll of tape 166 being held in place by a clamp plate 168 secured to the block 15) by the bolt 170.

In operation, the snake is carried within the snake packing box to a position in close proximity to the iield of operation or to a good assembly point. The primary characteristic of a good assembly point is one which has good concealment from the enemy, and especially one presenting a deladc from enemy small arms iire. It

should be as close as possible to the mine field and in such a location that the snake can be towed from the assembly point to within range lof the mine field without making sharp turns, going through heavy bush, or over very rough ground. Approximately feet of level ground is required for quick assembly. For the assemblage of the snake, all component parts are removed from `the snake packing box and laid out near the middle of the assembly area. A suitable number, for instance, twentyiive, of corrugated sheets 1li for the bottom of the snake are counted out and stacked separately from the top sheets 10. Working from the tail to the front of the snake, the sheets are laid with a one-bolt hole underlap. A bolt 12 and a washer 13 are inserted up through the underlap bolt holes 15 and a washer placed on the bolt, together with a wing nut 17 which is screwed on the bolt with only one or two turns. The washers must be placed to fit the corrugations at this time. The cartridge-securing block 18 is then placed at the tail end of the snake so that the hole 19 in the block is above the last bolt hole 15 in the snake. Starting at the cartridge-securing block 18 and working toward the nose plate, the explosive cartridges 16 are placed in both corrugations 14 of the sheets, the cartridges abutting each other end to end. A second cartridge-securing block 18' is placed in a position whereby a hole 19 in the block is above the foremost bolt hole in the foremost bottom sheet 10. The wood block 15d is then unbolted from the hood 40 and the two blasting caps 2de crimped on 18-inch lengths of detonating cord 62, the roll of friction tape 166, the firing device plug 54 with blasting cap 58 crimped on the tip, and the rocket motor Waterproof fuse lighter 2G() are removed therefrom.

The rear top sheet 10 is placed on the end of the snake so that a sight opening 196 (FIG. l2) is adjacent the tail end of the body of the snake to afford access to the two cartridges 16 as clearly shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. These two cartridges are removed and holes are punched in the side of each wit-h the cap crimpers to receive the blasting caps. A cap is inserted in each hole and held in place by taping, as indicated at 198, about two inches of the detonating cords 62 being secured to the cartridges. The two cartridges then are replaced in the snake, with the detonating cords 62 passing through the hole 196 in the rear top sheet. The detonating mechanism base 42 then is placed on the rear sheet 10 so that the rear bolt hole 25@ lines up with the rearmost snake bolt hole 15. A protective plug 55 as shown in FIG. 35 then is removed from the modified fuse lighter located on the detonating mechanism base, and the ring device base 54 with cap 53 crimped on tip is screwed thereon. The ends of the two strands of detonating cord are taped to the cap 5S on the fuse lighter. The hood 46 is placed over the base and bolted to the snake. The waterand weatherproof fuse lighter 29) for igniting the rocket motor, which is also packed in the block is retained in the possession of the operator for future use. The cover sheets then are placed on the snake, starting at the tail, with three bolthole overlap. The bolts previously fastened to the bottom sheets are removed and reinserted through 4the snake. With this arrangement, forty-eight corrugated sheets are needed for the cover, in addition to those required for the rear top sheet. The rocket motor is removed from its mount and the nose strut is placed within the mount and bolted together at the foremost motor mount bolt hole. The motor mount and skid are bolted to the snake. The forward end of the nose strut is bolted to the forward end of the skid nose and the rocket motor clamped on the rocket motor mount with the front of the motor abutting against the stop plate.

When the assembled snake is ready for use, towing lines are fastened under the Wing nuts near the nose of thc snake. As an alternate method, the snake may be towed by a length of rope passed between the nose strut and skid nose. The snake is then towed within range of the mine ansa-m35 field, the tow lines removed from the snake, and the weatherproof fuse lighter attached to the time fuse .projecting from the nozzle of the rocket motor. The rear end of the firing cable is secured to the ground behind the tail end of the snake and the arming pin removed from the housingSt) contained in hood 4t). The fuse lighter is actuated and the rocket motor is fired within a predetermined time thereafter, propelling the snake into the mine field. When the wire is fully dispensed from the dispenser 44', the firing wire is pulled from the firing pin 48 thereby detonating the snake.

The modified form of the snake is to be assembled some distance in the rear of the proposed operation site and towed into final position with a tank or armored car. Upon arrival at the final position, the operator estimates the range and adjusts the length of the measuring cable in the dispenser to conform to the desired range. When the cable is adjusted to the desired length, it is securely fastened to a stake in rear of the snake. The lanyard is then attached to the rocket igniter pins. A strong jerk on the lanyard actuates the rocket igniters and launches the snake. The measuring cable pays out of the dispenser .and the snake is detonated at the predetermined distance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An explosive mine clearing snake comprising, in combination, an elongated container for explosive charges, the container being composed of upper and lower longitudinally corrugated segments opposing each other with corresponding channels in oppositely directed registry and each segment including a plurality of corrugated sections united serially in end-to-end relation, the said channels in the united sections defining explosive-retaining channels, explosive charges in the channels, self-propulsion means for the snake mounted on the container forwardly thereof, means for energizing the propulsion means, a firing -assembly mounted on the container rearwardly thereof and including detonating means for the explosive charges, an anchor device, and a pull cable connected to the detonating means for the explosive charges and to the anchoring device for firing the explosive charges when the snake has traveled through t-he predetermined range from the said anchor device, the pull cable having an effective length corresponding to the said predetermined range of travel.

2. An explosive mine clearing snake comprising, 1n combination, an elongated container for explosive charges, the container being composed of complemental upper and lower longitudinally corrugated segments assembled in end-to-end relation with overlapping end portions and in opposition to each other with upper and lower apices'of the said corrugations in registry, each segment including a plurality of corrugated sections detachably united to its adjoining section at the overlapping end portions, and defining explosive-retaining channels extending through the said sections, explosive charges in the said channels, rocket-propulsion means mounted on the container forwardly thereof, means for firing the rocket propulsion means, and a ring assembly for the explosive charges mounted on the container rearwardly thereof and including detonating means for the explosive charges, an anchor, and a pull-out firing cable connected to .the detonating means and to the anchor for firing the explosive charges responsively to the snake reaching the predetermined range.

3. An explosive mine clearing snake comprising, in combination, an elongated container for explosive charges,

Vthe container being composed of complemental opposing means for uniting the sections through the overlapping endY portions, explosive charges mounted in the said troughs of the corrugated sections, rocket propulsion means mounted on the container forwardly thereof, a

fuse for firing the rocket propulsion means, and a firing assembly for the explosive charges mounted on the container rearwardly thereof, including detonating means for the charges including a fuse for the said charges, an anchor, and a pull-out firing cable -connected to the fuse and to the anchor and becoming effective for firing the fuse and explosive charges responsively to the snake reaching the said selected range from the anchor.

4. An explosive mine clearing snake comprising, in combination, an elongated container for explosive charges, the container being composed of complemental, opposing upper and lower longitudinally corrugated segments having -crests and channels of the said corrugations in registry, each segment including a plurality of corrugated sections having overlapping end portions, means for uniting the sections through the overlapping portions, explosive charges mounted in the said channels of the corrugated sections, a rocket motor mounted on the container forwardly thereof, a time fuse for firing the rocket motor, a fuse lighter attached to the time fuse, a firing assembly for the explosive charges mounted on the container rearwardly thereof and including fuse means for the said explosive charges, an anchor, and a pay-out firing cable having a predetermined length connected at one end to the fuse means and having its opposite end attached to the anchor for detonating the fuse means and explosive charges responsively to the snake reaching the selected range, the said firing cable having an effective length corresponding to the distance of the selected range from the anchor.

5. An explosive device of the type described comprising, in combination, an elongated container for explosive charges, the container being composed of complemental opposing upper and lower longitudinally corrugated segments assembled with corresponding crests and channels of the said corrugations in opposing registry, each segment including a plurality of corrugated sections having overlapping end portions, means detachably securing together the said upper and lower segments through the overlapping ends of the sections, means for securing explosive charges in the said channels of the corrugated segments, explosive charges in the said channels, rocket propulsion means mounted on forward portions of the container for propelling the device in a selected direction and for a predetermined distance of range, means for detachably securing the rocket motor to the container, a time fuse for firing the rocket propulsion means, a fuse lighter attached to the time fuse, a firing assembly for the explosive charges mounted on tail portions of the container including detonating means for the explosive charges, an anchor, and a pull-out firing cable of predetermined length connected at one end to the detonating means for the explosive charges and also connected at an opposite end to the anchor for firing the explosive charges when the device travels a predetermined distance of range from the said anchor.

. 6. An explosive device of the type described comprising, in combination, an elongated container for explosive charges having head and tail portions, the container being composed of complemental opposing upper and lower longitudinally corrugated segments having corresponding crests and channels of the corrugations in registery, each segment including a plurality of corrugated sections having overlapping end portions, means detachably securing the said upper and lower sections through the overlapping end portions of the sections, means'for securing explosive charges in the said channels of the corrugated sections, rocket propulsion means mounted on the head portions, of the container for propelling the device forwardly. in a selected direction and for a predetermined distance of range, means for detachably securing the rocketpropulsion means to the container, a timefuse for firing the rocket propulsion means, a fuse lighter attached to the time fuse, and a firing assembly for the ex- PlOSiVe charges mounted on the tail portions of the conaisance tainer including a detonating fuse for the said charges, a tiring wire connected to the fuse for detonating the fuse and explosive charges, an anchor, and a ilexible payout cable connected to the tiring wire and to the anchor for actuating the tiring wire for detonating the fuse and the explosive charges responsively to the device reaching the said predetermined distance of range.

7. An explosive device of the type described comprismg, in combination, an elongated container for explosive charges, the container being composed of complemental opposing upper and lower longitudinally corrugated segments with corresponding crests and channels of the said corrugations in registry, each segment including a plurality of corrugated sections having overlapping end portions, means detachably securing together the said upper and lower sections through the overlapping ends of the sections, means for securing explosive charges in the said channels of the corrugated sections, rocket propulsion means mounted on forward portions of the container for propelling the device forwardly in a selected direction and for a predetermined distance of range, means for detachably securing the rocket motor to the container, a time fuse for firing the rocket propulsion means, a fuse lighter attached to the time fuse, and a firing assembly for the explosive charges mounted on tail portions of the container including a fuse for detonating the charges, a fuse detonating wire, a xed ground stake, and a ilexible pay-out tiring cable connected to the fuse-detonating wire and to the ixed ground stake for detonating the fuse and the explosive charges responsively to the device reaching the selected distance of range beyond the ground stake.

8. An explosive device of the type described comprising, in combination, an elongated container for explosive charges, the container being composed of complemental opposing upper and lower longitudinally corrugated segments having corresponding crests and channels of the said corrugations in registry, each segment including a plurality of corrugated sections having overlapping end portions, means detachably securing together the said upper and lower segments through the said overlapping end portions, means for securing explosive charges in the said channels of the corrugated sections, rocket propulsion means mounted on forward portions of the container for propelling the device in a selected direction and for a predetermined distance of range, means for detachably securing the rocket propulsion means to the container, a time fuse for ring the rocket propulsion means, a fuse lighter attached to the time fuse, a tiring assembly for the explosive charges mounted on tail portions of the container and including a housing, a fuse for detonating the charges, a fuse ignition wire in the housing, a xed ground stake, a pay-out detonating cable mounted in the housing and attached to the fuse ignition wire and to the xed stake and having a length corresponding to the said predetermined distance of range for detonating the fuse and the explosive charges responsively to the device reaching the said distance, and means xedly mounted on the housing of the ring assembly for stabilizing the device during its travel to the said selected distance.

9. An explosive device of the type described comprising, in combination, an elongated container defining a housing for explosive charges, the container being composed of complemental opposing upper and lower longitudinally corrugated segments assembled ltogether with corresponding crests and troughs of the said corrugations in registry, each segment including a plurality of corrugated sections having overlapping end portions, means detachably securing together the said upper and lower sections through the overlapping ends of the sections, means for securing explosive charges in the said troughs of the corrugated sections, rocket propulsion means mounted on forward portions of the container for propelling the device in a selected direction and for a predetermined distance of range, means for detachably securing the rocket propulsion means to the container, a time fuse for firing the rocket propulsion means, a fuse lighter attached to the time fuse, a tiring assembly for the explosive charges mounted on tail portions of the countainer and including a housing, a detonating fuse for the charges, a fuse detonating wire positioned in the housing and connected to the fuse, a xed ground stake, a pay-out detonating cable mounted in the housing and connected to the detonating wire and to the ground stake for ring the explosive charges responsively to the device reaching the predetermined distance of range from the stake, the cable having a length corresponding to the said predetermined distance of range, and stabilizing lin tixedly mounted on the housing of the firing assembly for stablizing the device in its path of travel to the said range.

10. An explosive device of the type described comprising, in combination, an elongated container for receiving and housing explosive charges, the container being composed of complemental opposing upper and lower longitudinally corrugated segments having corresponding crests and channels of the said corrugations in registry, each segment including a plurality of corrugated sections having overlapping end portions, means detachably securing together the said upper and lower segments through the said overlapping end portions, means for securing explosive charges in the said channels of the corrugated sections, rocket propulsion means mounted on forward portions of the container for propelling the device in a selected direction, means for detachably securing the rocket propulsion means to the container, a time fuse for tiring the rocket propulsion means, a fuse lighter attached to the time fuse, a tiring assembly for the explosive charges mounted on tail portions of the container including a housing, a detonating fuse for the charges, -a fuse detonating wire mounted in the housing and connected to the detonating fuse, a fixed ground stake, a pay-out detonating cable connected to the detonating wire and to the stake for tiring the explosive charges responsively to the device reaching a predetermined distance oi range from the lixed ground stake, a stabilizing lin fixedly mounted on the housing of the tiring assembly for stabilizing the container in its path of travel to the said predetermined distance of range, and a rounded nose-piece connected to the container for guiding the device over obstructions in the pathof travel.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,404,440 7/46 Holm. 2,509,205 5/50 Bisch 102-22 FOREIGN PATENTS 72,420 9/ 16 Austria.

SAMUEL FEINBERG, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL BOYD, JAMES L. BREWRINK, ARTHUR M. HORTON, Examiners.

Claims

1. AN EXPLOSIVE MINE CLEARING SNAKE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED CONTAINER FOR EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, THE CONTAINER BEING COMPOSED OF UPPER AND LOWER LONGITUDINALLY CORRUGATED SEGMENTS OPPOSING EACH OTHER WITH CORRESPONDING CHANNELS IN OPPOSITELY DIRECTED REGISTRY AND EACH SEGMENT INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CORRUGATED SECTIONS UNITED SERIALLY IN END-TO-END RELATION, THE SAID CHANNELS IN THE UNITED SECTIONS DEFINING EXPLOSIVE-RETAINING CHANNELS, EXPLOSIVE CHARGES IN THE CHAMBERS, SELF-PROPULSION MEANS FOR THE SNAKE MOUNTED ON THE CONTAINER FORWARDLY THEREOF, MEANS FOR ENERGIZING THE PROPULSION MEANS, A FIRING ASSEMBLY MOUNTED ON THE CONTAINER REARWARDLY THEREOF AND INCLUDING DETONATING MEANS FOR THE EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, AN ANCHOR DEVICE, AND A PULL CABLE CONNECTED TO THE DETONATING MEANS FOR THE EXPLOSIVE CHARGES AND TO THE ANCHORING DEVICE FOR FIRING THE EXPLOSIVE CHARGES WHEN THE SNAKE HAS TRAVELED THROUGH THE PREDETERMINED RANGE FROM THE SAID ANCHOR DEVICE, THE PULL CABLE HAVING AN EFFECTIVE LENGTH CORRESPONDING TO THE SAID PREDETERMINED RANGE OF TRAVEL.