US3424086A - Missile with firing cartridge - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 28, 1969 4 c. w. LAMBERT MISSILE WITH FIRING CARTRIDGE Filed March 20, 1968 Y f L United States Patent 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rocket propelled missile having a tapered pointed head containing explosive or propellant is disclosed. Spinal vanes are disposed along the body of the missile to impart a rotary motion. A short cartridge case is secured to the missile to ignite the propellant.

The invention relates to solid fuel missiles. The missile has a slim tapered hollow head with a sharp point. The hollow head is connected to a hollow shank to which is secured a firing cartridge which is detonated by the action of a hammer and firing pin.

The shank or shaft of the missile is slightly smaller in exterior diameter than the head and has thin exterior spiral vanes which impart a rotative motion to the missile, in the air or Water, from the forward motion of the missile. Forward motion is derived from the rapid combustion of the column of fuel in the missile shank.

The hollow missile head may be filled with the same propelling fuel as the shank or the head may contain a high explosive. This would be the case in defensive use underwater against sharks and other large marauders.

The beveled rear section of the missile is enlarged to the same diameter as the head and spiral vanes, all of which slides smoothly through a directing missile tube when fired.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a View of the complete missile from the sharp pointed head to the flange of the short cartridge case secured to the rear end.

The missile is placed in the missile holder by sliding it in from the rear. The cartridge fits into the firing chamber of the missile holder. The firing chamber is larger in diameter than the missile guide tube.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are longitudinal cross sections of the rear end and its fitted cartridge and of a large portion of the pointed missile head.

FIG. 4 is a transverse cross section along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross section along 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a cross section along 6-6 of FIG. 3.

In all figures of the drawing, the same parts are numbered alike.

1 is the missile head with a long tapered nose 2 which ends in a sharp point.

3 is the missile shank secured to which are spiral vanes 4.

5 is the short cartridge case with edge 6 crimped tightly around the rear section 16 of the missile.

7 is the interior shoulder of the cartridge case against which the rear end of the missile is tightly held by the crimp 6.

8 is the detonator which is exploded by the gun firing pin.

9 is the sealing ring which is tightly compressed when the missile rear section 16 is forced against the shoulder 7 and held there by crimp 6.

At 10 and 11, the detonator and missile rear end are sealed against moisture 'by sheets of flammable plastic. Both flammable sheets are fired by the detonator blast which is augmented by a small amount of powder 12.

The flare up is hastened and sustained by the air in the space between 10 and 11. The solid fuel 13 in the missile is ignited almost instantly. Since considerable pressure is required to straighten out the crimp 6 and release the missile, it leaves the missile tube at high speed and is effective at short range.

For underwater use, the column of solid fuel is designed to burn down to the explosive head in about three seconds, which is the range of limited visibility.

For air use, a longer missile with longer range 'would probably be more useful.

I claim:

1. A solid fuel missile comprising, a hollow conical sharp pointed head; a hollow shank secured to said head; spiral vanes secured to said shank; a hollow rear section having a frusto-conical forward end secured to said shank; a cartridge case secured by crimping to said rear section; a shoulder within said cartridge case; said rear section contacting said shoulder; a sealing ring within said cartridge case; said ring compressed between said rear section of said missile and the base of said cartridge case; a column of solid fuel extending from the rear of said rear section through said shank into said head; and a detonator within the base of said cartridge.

2. A missile, as claimed in claim 1, and a sheet of flammable plastic covering said detonator; a similar flammable plastic sheet covering the rear end of said rear section; and a small portion of powder in the space between said detonator and said fuel column and surrounded by said sealing ring.

3. A missile, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said head contains a charge of high explosive, and said column of solid fuel is fast burning and is consumed up to the charge of high explosive in a few seconds.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,438,779 12/1922 Olin 102-45 2,436,239 8/1947 Renner 102-38 2,941,469 6/1960 Barnhart 10249.7 3,323,457 6/1967 Biehl et a1. 10248 3,326,128 6/1967 Choate 102-497 VERLIN R. PENDEGRASS, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

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