US3276374A

US3276374A - Training ammunition for mortars

Info

Publication number: US3276374A
Application number: US408710A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stadler Hans; Gawlick Heinz; Stahlmann Rudolf
Original assignee: Dynamit Nobel AG
Current assignee: Dynamit Nobel AG
Priority date: 1963-08-13
Filing date: 1964-08-12
Publication date: 1966-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 1983-10-04
Also published as: DE1216156B; BE651700A; NL6406766A; CH424544A

Description

Oct. 4, 1966 -R ETAL TRAINING AMMUNITION FOR MORTARS Filed Aug. 12, 1964 IIII N MQ 5 N E R A a Y mR W R WH 0 3 mm w n WMAS 4. \.S 1 E Z mmm ACLU HHRQ United States Patent 3,276,374 TRAINING AMIVIUNITION FOR MORTARS Hans Stadler, Nurnberg, and Heinz Gawlick and Rudolf Stahlmann, Furth, Germany, assignors to Dynamlt Nobel Aktiengesellschaft, Troisdorf, Germany Filed Aug. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 408,710 Claims priority, application Germany, Aug. 13, 1963, 1) 42,232 Claims. (Cl. 102-41) The present invention relates to a practice or training ammunition for mortars. Such practice or training ammunition is already known per se. An inset barrel is built into a dummy shell which corresponds in its dimensions to the live ammunition; a small-caliber practice grenade can be loaded into and fired from the inset barrel. The dummy shell thereby represents the carrier or support of the inset barrel Which has to be pulled out of the barrel after each firing of the small-caliber training grenade and has to be reloaded for further use. This is possible Without difficulties with breech loaders since the dummy shell together with inset barrel can be readily pulled out of the barrel toward the rear.

However, if muzzle loaders are involved as are currently in use for mortars, then pulling out the dummy shell together with the inset barrel becomes dilficult as it has to take place from in front of the barrel mouth. It has already been proposed to secure a pull cord at the mortar dummy shell and to pull out the fired dummy with the aid of this pull cord. That this type of unloading of the mortar is complicated and unfavorable for the firing speed required also during training or practice firing is obvious.

Accordingly, :a practice ammunition has been develo ed for mortars of the type now designated by Morser, which also permits rapid firing. This practice ammunition comprises a dummy shell in the form of a live mortar shell which contains an axial inset barrel for a smallcaliber practice shell in the form of a reduced mortar shell. A propellant charge for the small-caliber shell is located rearwardly in the inset barrel, and an ejector charge is seated in the tail piece of the dummy shell.

During loading of the mortar by letting the dummy shell fall into the mortar barrel, both the ejector charge which burns with delay as Well as also the propellant charge for small-caliber training grenade in the inset barrel are ignited upon impact of the practice ammunition with the barrel bottom. The propellant charge for the small-caliber practice ammunition burns without delay and propels the training grenade forwardly through the inset barrel, then through the mortar barrel to the target. In the meantime, the ejector charge burns with delay and ejects the dummy shell together with the inset barrel out of the mortar barrel in the forward direction. The ejector charge is so dimensioned that the gases thereof set the dummy shell into motion only when the practice shell already is in free flight.

The present invention aims at a simplification of this known training ammunition and at a safe ignition thereof.

For this purpose, with the new and improved training ammunition for mortars in accordance with the present invention in which an inset barrel for a small-caliber training grenade is seated within a shell dummy and in which an ejector charge is located in the tail piece of the dummy within a cartridge case that is ignited during loading of the mortar, whereby the firing of the practice grenade or shell takes place during the movement of the dummy shell in the mortar barrel, according to the present invention there is securely arranged on the case accommodating the ejector charge an ignition pin while the practice cartridge is slidably supported within the inset barrel so as to be slidable in the rearward direction and 3,276,374 Patented Oct. 4, 1966 is seated against a bell-shaped inertia sleeve, springloaded in the forward direction by a retaining spring, whose return stroke during the firing jolt is so dimensioned and matched to the dummy shell that the ignition pin penetrates during the firing through the bell-shaped inertia sleeve and pierces the primer or percussion cap of the propellant charge in the training shell cartridge.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a training ammunition, particularly for mortars, which obviates the drawbacks and inconveniences encountered with the prior art constructions 'by simple, com: pact and operationally reliable means.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a training ammunition, particularly for mortars, which not only facilitates loading but to an even greater extent unloading of the mortars without impairing rapid firing.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a training ammunition, especially for mortars, which achieves the aforementioned advantages in conjunction with a safe and reliable ignition.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, for purposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein the single figure is a center longitudinal cross sectional view through the tail piece of the dummy shell of the training ammunition in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the single figure of the drawing, reference numeral 10 designates therein the tail piece of a mortar shell dummy which is provided with an axial longitudinal bore as inset barrel for the small-caliber grenade or shell 13. The small-oaliber grenade or shell 13 is seated in the cartridge case 12 which includes the usual primer or percussion cap 14 for igniting the propellant charge disposed in the cartridge case 12. The cartridge chamber of the inset barrel 11 is so dimensioned that the

cartridge

12, 13 of the practice grenade or shell is able to slide in the backward direction within the same.

The training shell or

practice grenade cartridge

12, 13, is seated with the bottom 15 thereof against the forward portion of a bell-shaped inertia sleeve 16 which is slidably disposed within a breech casing 17. The breech casing 17 is provided in the forward portion thereof with locking cams which are threaded into an interrupted thread-as with interrupted-screw-type breech locks-that are provided in the rear portion of the tail piece 10 of the dummy shell. After unscrewing the breech casing 17 the inset barrel 11 may be loaded with the

training cartridge

12, 13. The bell-shaped inertia sleeve 16 thus forms a type of movable impact bottom.

To the rear a bottom cap 18 is threadably inserted into the breech casing 17 into which is inserted from the rear the ejector charge cartridge 19 which, in turn, is secured by means of a screw cap 21. The ejector charge cartridge 19 carries in the bottom thereof a primer or percussion cap 20. To the rear of the primer 20, the screw cap 21 is provided with a bottom aperture for the ignition pin securely seated on the mortar barrel bottom as is known with mortars. Gas discharge apertures are accommodated within the walls of the bottom cap 18 for the escape of the ejector gases causing the ejection of the dummy.

A fixed ignition pin 22 is seated coaxially on the front end of the bottom cap 18 which ignition pin 22 is surrounded by a retainer spring 23 that keeps the bell-shaped inertia sleeve 16 pressed against the bottom of the

training grenade cartridge

12, 13.

OPERATION The described practice ammunition operates as follows: After unscrewing the breech casing 17 out of the end of the tail piece of the dummy shell the

training cartridge

12, 13 is loaded into the inset barrel 11 whereupon the inset barrel 11 is closed again by threadably reassembling the breech casing 17. The

cartridge

12, 13 is then held securely in place by the spring loaded fell-shaped inertia sleeve 16. Subsequently, the ejector charge cartridge 19 is inserted into the bottom cap 18 and is secured therein by means of the screw cap 21. The shell dummy is then loaded or armed.

For purposes of firing, the thus loaded shell dummy is inserted into the mortar barrel from in front thereof. It impinges against the bottom of the mortar barrel whose fixed ignition pin punctures through the aperture in the screw cap 21 to strike the primer or percussion cap 20 that in turn ignites the ejector charge 19. The propellant gases developed by the ejector charge 19 escape through the wall apertures of the bottom cap 18 into the mortar barrel to the rear of the dummy shell and commence the forward movement thereof. As a result of the firing jolt or shock occurring thereby the bell-shaped inertia sleeve 16 and together therewith the

training grenade cartridge

12, 13 slide backwardly within the inset barrel 11. The primer or percussion cap 14 in the bottom of the

training grenade cartridge

13, 12 is thereby pierced by the fixed ignition pin 22 and thereby ignites the propellant charge for the practice grenade in the cartridge 12 of the grenade cartridge. Since the propellant charge burns faster than the ejector charge, the small-caliber practice grenade is propelled forwardly through the inset barrel 11 into and through the mortar barrel. The more slowly burning ejector charge then develops so much propellant gas that the dummy shell is ejected forwardly out of the mortar barrel.

The ejector charge is so selected that the dummy falls to the ground already in the proximity to the barrel mouth.

While we have shown and described one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A practice ammunition, prising:

a dummy shell including a tail piece and provided with inset barrel means for a small-caliber practice shell,

a casing means for accommodating therein an ejector charge and secured at said tail piece,

ignition pin means securely arranged at the forward end of said casing means,

a practice shell within said inset barrel means having a propellant charge,

and means for supporting said practice shell within said inset barrel means in such a manner as to be slidable in the rearward direction to enable ignition of the propellant charge of the practice shell by said ignition pin means during the shell upon firing of said dummy shell.

2. A practice ammunition, especially for mortars, comprising:

a dummy shell including a tail piece and provided with inset barrel means for a small-caliber practice shell, casing means for accommodating therein an ejector charge and secured at said tail piece,

ignition pin means securely arranged at the forward end of said casing means,

a practice shell within said inset barrel means having a propellant charge and-primer means in the bottom portion thereof for igniting said propellant charge, and supporting means for supporting said practice shell within said inset barrel means to be slidable in the especially for mortars, comrearward stroke of the practice 4 rearward direction for a rearward stroke sufficiently long that the ignition pin pierces the primer means to enable ignition of the propellant charge of the practice shell during the rearward inertia stroke of the practice shell upon firing of said dummy shell.

3. A practice ammunition, especially for mortars, comprising:

ignition pin means securely arranged at the forward end of said casing means, a practice shell within said inset barrel means having a propellant charge,

and means for supporting said practice shell within said inset barrel means in such a manner as to be slidable in the rearward direction to enable ignition of the propellant charge of the practice shell by said ignition pin means during the rearward stroke of the practice shell upon firing of said dummy shell including bell-shaped inertia sleeve means on which said practice shell is seated, spring means normally urging said sleeve means in the forward direction into engagement with the bottom of the practice shell.

4. A practice ammunition, especially for mortars, comprising:

ignition pin means securely arranged at the forward end of said casing means, a practice shell within said inset barrel means having a propellant charge and primer means in the bottom portion thereof for igniting said propellant charge,

and supporting means for supporting said practice shell within said inset barrel means to be slidable in the rearward direction for a rearward stroke sufficiently long that the ignition pin means pierces the primer means to enable ignition of the propellant charge of the practice shell during the rearward inertia stroke of the practice shell upon firing of said dummy shell including bell-shaped inertia sleeve means on which said practice shell is seated, spring means normally urging said sleeve means in the forward direction into engagement with the bottom of the pnactice shell.

5. A practice ammunition, especially for mortar, comprising a dummy shell having an axially extending barrel for a small calibre practice shell; a casing releasably secured to the rearward end of said dummy shell and having an ejector charge at its rearward end; a forwardly pointing ignition pin rigidly attached to the forward end of said casing and axially aligned with said axially extending barrel; a practice shell within said axially extending barrel having a propellant charge and primer means in the rearward portion axially aligned with said ignition pin for igniting said propellant charge; means for supporting said practice shell within said barrel for limited axial movement relative to said barrel in the rearward direction from the forward position for a distance greater than the axial distance between said ignition pin and said primer means; positioning means normally holding said practice shell in the forward position against said rigid stop abutment means and being ineffective to hold said practice shell in the forward position against the inertia forces of said practice shell produced by the firing of said dummy shell ejector charge operable to enable ignition of the primer means and propellant charge of the practice shell 'by said ignition pin means during the rearward axial movement of said practice shell upon firing of said dummy shell.

6. The practice ammunition of claim 5, wherein said positioning means resiliently urges said practice shell in the forward direction.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said casing has a plurality of transversely extending aperture means operable to conduct the combustion gases of said ejector charge outside of said casing without damaging said casing so that said casing may be reused.

8. The device of claim 6, including a screw cap releasably secured to the rearward end of said casing to hold the ejector charge in said casing and having an axially extending bore for the passage of the mortar firing pin for igniting said ejector charge and said casing having wall means for removal and replacement of said ejector charge when said screw cap is removed.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said casing has a plurality of tra nsversely extending aperture means operable to conduct the combustion gases of said ejector charge outside of said casing without damaging said casing so that said casing may be reused.

1b. The device of claim 5, wherein said positioning means includes a rearwardly extending bell-shaped sleeve engaging the rearward end of said practice shell having an axial bore aligned with said ignition pin and said primer means, and spring means resiliently urging said bell-shaped sleeve and said practice shell in the forward direction.

11. The device of claim 10, including a screw cap releasably secured to the rearward end of said casing to hold the ejector charge in said casing and having an axially extending bore for the passage of the mortar firing pin for igniting said ejector charge, and said casing having wall means for removal and replacement of said ejector charge when said screw cap is removed.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said casing has a plurality of transversely extending aperture means operable to conduct the combustion gases of said ejector charge outside of said casing without damaging said casing so that said casing may be reused.

13. The device of claim 10, wherein said casing has a plurality of transversely extending aperture means operable to conduct the combustion gases of said ejector charge outside of said casing without damaging said casing so that said casing may be reused.

14. The device of claim 10, wherein said propellant charge burns substantially faster than said ejector charge.

15. The device of claim 5, including a screw cap releasably secured to the rearward end of said casing to hold the ejector charge in said casing and having an axially extending bore for the passage of the mortar firing pin for igniting said ejector charge, and said casing having wall means for removal and replacement of said ejector charge when said screw cap is removed.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said casing has a plurality of transversely extending aperture means operable to conduct the combustion gases of said ejector charge outside of said casing without damaging said casing so that said casing may be reused.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein said propellant charge burns substantially faster than said ejector charge.

18. The device of claim 5, wherein said casing has a plurality of transversely extending aperture means operable to conduct the combustion gases of said ejector charge outside of said casing without damaging said casing so that said casing may be reused.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said propellant charge burns substantially faster than said ejector charge.

20. The device of claim 5, wherein said propellant charge burns substantially faster than said ejector charge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,821,923 2/1958 Alderson 102-49 3,094,934 6/1963 Anthony 102--41 FOREIGN PATENTS 66,971 1/ 1940 Czechoslovakia.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. R. F. STAHL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A PRACTICE AMMUNITION, ESPECIALLY FOR MORTARS, COMPRISING: A DUMMY SHELL INCLUDING A TAIL PIECE AND PROVIDED WITH INSET BARREL MEANS FOR A SMALL-CALIBER PRACTICE SHELL, A CASING MEANS FOR ACCOMMODATING THEREIN AN EJECTOR CHARGE AND SECURED AT SAID TAIL PIECE, IGNITION PIN MEANS SECURELY ARRANGED AT THE FORWARD END OF SAID CASING MEANS, A PRACTICE SHELL WITHIN SAID INSET BARREL MEANS HAVING A PROPELLANT CHARGE, AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID PRACTICE SHELL WITHIN SAID INSET BARREL MEANS IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO BE SLIDABLE IN THE REARWARD DIRECTION TO ENABLE IGNITION OF THE PROPELLANT CHARGE OF THE PRACTICE SHELL BY SAID IGNITION PIN MEANS DURING THE REARWARD STROKE OF THE PRACTICE SHELL UPON FIRING OF SAID DUMMY SHELL.