US3498219A - Trip line sensor and release mechanism for munition - Google Patents

Trip line sensor and release mechanism for munition Download PDF

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Publication number
US3498219A
US3498219A US740818A US3498219DA US3498219A US 3498219 A US3498219 A US 3498219A US 740818 A US740818 A US 740818A US 3498219D A US3498219D A US 3498219DA US 3498219 A US3498219 A US 3498219A
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munition
trip
well
trip line
cover
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US740818A
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Thomas A Axelson
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US Air Force
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US Air Force
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C7/00—Fuzes actuated by application of a predetermined mechanical force, e.g. tension, torsion, pressure
    • F42C7/02—Contact fuzes, i.e. fuzes actuated by mechanical contact between a stationary ammunition, e.g. a land mine, and a moving target, e.g. a person
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C14/00—Mechanical fuzes characterised by the ammunition class or type
    • F42C14/08—Mechanical fuzes characterised by the ammunition class or type for land mines

Definitions

  • Each well contains a trip line wound on a reel with one end attached to an arming mechanism and the other end attached to a cover held in place by a spring. Upon release of the spring an ejection means projects the cover thereby unwinding the trip line and arming the munition.
  • the present invention pertains to explosive devices, such as mines and grenades, and more particularly to the deployment of trip line sensors from a randomly oriented spherical munition.
  • Munitions of this type are planted by dropping them from aircraft or hand placing them into the paths of advancing troops or infiltrators.
  • Trip lines are ejected from the muntion with the inner ends secured to arming means for detonating the munition. When a person or object comes into contact with the trip line the resulting tenson in the line triggers the arming means and the munition is exploded.
  • trip wells are recessed on the surface of a spherical munition with each well located at one of the vertices of a regular hexahedron inscribed within the sphere.
  • the trip lines are stored within the wells on either a stationary reel or a reel attached to the well cover.
  • a compression spring is used to eject the well cover to which the trip line is attached, the well cover acting as an anchor for the deployed trip line.
  • Two formed four-fingered springs mounted on separate stems are compressed to cover each trip line assembly. Upon release of the stems by an internal fuze mechanism, the springs return to a free position with a snap action and the well covers with the trip lines are ejected by the compression springs in all directions.
  • the objects of this invention are to provide a munition where at least four trip lines will be ejected in opposite directions regardless of munition orientation and to provide a munition having a novel spring release trip wire mechanism.
  • FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a munition constructed according to the invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 but with only one of the trip well mechanisms shown in detail.
  • a spherical munition 1 has eight trip line wells 2 recessed in the surface With each well 2 located at one of the vertices of a regular hexahedron inscribed within the sphere.
  • each trip line well 2 contains a stationary reel 3 of hollow cylindrical configuration having an open end 4. Wound around the reel 3 is a trip line 5 having its one end secured to an arming means (not shown) and the other end attached to Well cover 6.
  • Well cover 6 comprises a circular base 7 with a cylindrical portion 8 projecting therefrom.
  • a means for ejecting the well cover 6 away from the munition 1 lies in well 2 and may be a simple compression ejection spring 9 disposed around the cylindrical portion 8 of well cover 6 and lying within the stationary reel 3.
  • the well covers 6 are held in place by a releasably holding means, which may be a spring 11 having four fingers 12 projecting from a stem 13 as shown in FIGURE 1.
  • each spring 11 controlling four of the eight trip line assemblies.
  • the outer ends of fingers 12 are urged away from stem 13 and hold well covers 6 in the well.
  • Stems 13 are locked by a fuze mechanism (not shown) within the munition.
  • the springs 11 On release of the stem 13 by the internal fuze mechanism, the springs 11 return to a free position with a snap action. This movement provides a simultaneous and unobstructed release of the well covers 6.
  • the well covers 6 are then ejected outwardly by the ejection springs 9. As the well covers 6 propel outwardly they unwind the trip lines 5 from reel 3; and the trip lines 5, upon being fully extended, arm the munition.
  • Arming means are known in the art and may be of a type as shown in US. Patent 2,826,990 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. After the munition is armed the well covers 6 act as an anchor for trip lines 5. Upon a person or object coming in contact with one of the trip lines 5 the arming means detonates the munition.
  • the stationary reel 3 may be replaced by a reel pivotally supported on the well cover as shown in Patent 2,826,990.
  • a munition comprising: a body having a plurality of wells recessed in the surface, a cover for closing each of said wells at the surface of said body, a spring means for ejecting said cover from said munition and a trip line located in said wells, said trip line secured at one end to an arming means and at the other end to said cover, means for releasably holding said covers over said wells, said munition being operatively in any orientation and said wells being spaced around said body so upon release of said holding means at least one trip line will be ejected to its fullest extent without regard to munition orientation.
  • a munition according to claim 1 wherein a hollow stationary reel is secured in each of said wells, said trip line is wound around said reel, said cover has a base portion and a cylindrical portion projecting from the base portion, said spring means for ejecting said cover is disposed around said cylindrical portion of said cover, and said cylindrical portion and said spring fitting within the hollow reel.
  • each of 3 4 said wells are located at the vertices of a regular hexa- References Cited hedron inscribed within said body thereby comprising UNITED STATES PATENTS eight wells
  • said means for releasably holding said covers 70 44 4 /1929 Wiley 1Q2 .356 includes a spring having four fingers projecting from a 2,826,990 3/1958 Gross 1028 stem, said stem being locked within said body and each finger holding one cover on its respective well whereby SAMUEL ENGLE Pnmary Exammer upon release of said stem said well covers are projected U S CL X R from said body. 1029, 63, 89

Description

March 3, 1970 T. A. AXELSON 3,493,219
TRIP LINE SENSOR AND RELEASE MECHANISM FOR MUNITION Filed Jun 19, 1968 INVENTOR. THOMAS A. AXELSON BY #2 4 WW ATTGRNEY United States Patent 3,498,219 TRIP LINE SENSOR AND RELEASE MECHANISM FOR MUNITION Thomas A. Axelson, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed June 19, 1968, Ser. No. 740,818 Int. Cl. F42b 23/00 US. Cl. 102-8 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A spherical munition has wells regularly spaced around its surface. Each well contains a trip line wound on a reel with one end attached to an arming mechanism and the other end attached to a cover held in place by a spring. Upon release of the spring an ejection means projects the cover thereby unwinding the trip line and arming the munition.
The present invention pertains to explosive devices, such as mines and grenades, and more particularly to the deployment of trip line sensors from a randomly oriented spherical munition. Munitions of this type are planted by dropping them from aircraft or hand placing them into the paths of advancing troops or infiltrators. Trip lines are ejected from the muntion with the inner ends secured to arming means for detonating the munition. When a person or object comes into contact with the trip line the resulting tenson in the line triggers the arming means and the munition is exploded.
In the prior art it was necessary that the munition be planted with a certain orientation, otherwise it would be possible that the well carrying the trip line would be oriented so that the trip lines would not be ejected to their fullest extent possible or not ejected at all.
In the present invention eight trip wells are recessed on the surface of a spherical munition with each well located at one of the vertices of a regular hexahedron inscribed within the sphere. The trip lines are stored within the wells on either a stationary reel or a reel attached to the well cover. A compression spring is used to eject the well cover to which the trip line is attached, the well cover acting as an anchor for the deployed trip line. Two formed four-fingered springs mounted on separate stems are compressed to cover each trip line assembly. Upon release of the stems by an internal fuze mechanism, the springs return to a free position with a snap action and the well covers with the trip lines are ejected by the compression springs in all directions.
Accordingly, the objects of this invention are to provide a munition where at least four trip lines will be ejected in opposite directions regardless of munition orientation and to provide a munition having a novel spring release trip wire mechanism.
Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawing of the preferred embodiment in which:
FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a munition constructed according to the invention; and
FIGURE 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 but with only one of the trip well mechanisms shown in detail.
Referring now to FIGURE 1 a spherical munition 1 has eight trip line wells 2 recessed in the surface With each well 2 located at one of the vertices of a regular hexahedron inscribed within the sphere.
As shown in FIGURE .2 each trip line well 2 contains a stationary reel 3 of hollow cylindrical configuration having an open end 4. Wound around the reel 3 is a trip line 5 having its one end secured to an arming means (not shown) and the other end attached to Well cover 6. Well cover 6 comprises a circular base 7 with a cylindrical portion 8 projecting therefrom. A means for ejecting the well cover 6 away from the munition 1 lies in well 2 and may be a simple compression ejection spring 9 disposed around the cylindrical portion 8 of well cover 6 and lying within the stationary reel 3. The well covers 6 are held in place by a releasably holding means, which may be a spring 11 having four fingers 12 projecting from a stem 13 as shown in FIGURE 1. In the embodiment shown there are two springs 11 with each spring 11 controlling four of the eight trip line assemblies. In the locked position the outer ends of fingers 12 are urged away from stem 13 and hold well covers 6 in the well. Stems 13 are locked by a fuze mechanism (not shown) within the munition. On release of the stem 13 by the internal fuze mechanism, the springs 11 return to a free position with a snap action. This movement provides a simultaneous and unobstructed release of the well covers 6. The well covers 6 are then ejected outwardly by the ejection springs 9. As the well covers 6 propel outwardly they unwind the trip lines 5 from reel 3; and the trip lines 5, upon being fully extended, arm the munition. Arming means are known in the art and may be of a type as shown in US. Patent 2,826,990 assigned to the assignee of the present invention. After the munition is armed the well covers 6 act as an anchor for trip lines 5. Upon a person or object coming in contact with one of the trip lines 5 the arming means detonates the munition.
In a modification of the above embodiment the stationary reel 3 may be replaced by a reel pivotally supported on the well cover as shown in Patent 2,826,990.
While various modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art after a study of the present disclosure I intend to be limited only by a broad interpretation of the attached claims.
I claim:
1. A munition comprising: a body having a plurality of wells recessed in the surface, a cover for closing each of said wells at the surface of said body, a spring means for ejecting said cover from said munition and a trip line located in said wells, said trip line secured at one end to an arming means and at the other end to said cover, means for releasably holding said covers over said wells, said munition being operatively in any orientation and said wells being spaced around said body so upon release of said holding means at least one trip line will be ejected to its fullest extent without regard to munition orientation.
2. A munition according to claim 1 wherein a hollow stationary reel is secured in each of said wells, said trip line is wound around said reel, said cover has a base portion and a cylindrical portion projecting from the base portion, said spring means for ejecting said cover is disposed around said cylindrical portion of said cover, and said cylindrical portion and said spring fitting within the hollow reel.
3. A munition according to claim 1 wherein each of 3 4 said wells are located at the vertices of a regular hexa- References Cited hedron inscribed within said body thereby comprising UNITED STATES PATENTS eight wells, said means for releasably holding said covers 70 44 4 /1929 Wiley 1Q2 .356 includes a spring having four fingers projecting from a 2,826,990 3/1958 Gross 1028 stem, said stem being locked within said body and each finger holding one cover on its respective well whereby SAMUEL ENGLE Pnmary Exammer upon release of said stem said well covers are projected U S CL X R from said body. 1029, 63, 89
US740818A 1968-06-19 1968-06-19 Trip line sensor and release mechanism for munition Expired - Lifetime US3498219A (en)

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3603258A (en) * 1968-10-25 1971-09-07 Us Air Force Mechanical fuzing system
JPS5141299A (en) * 1974-10-03 1976-04-07 Ishikawa Seisakusho Kk JIRAI
JPS5141300A (en) * 1974-10-03 1976-04-07 Ishikawa Seisakusho Kk JIRAIYOWANASENJIDOTENCHOSOCHI
FR2478809A1 (en) * 1980-03-20 1981-09-25 Europ Propulsion ANTICHAR MINE WITH A HIGH SURFACE OF ACTION
AT382016B (en) * 1982-04-15 1986-12-29 Hirtenberger Patronen TANK PRINT MINE
FR2599135A1 (en) * 1986-05-22 1987-11-27 Lacroix E Tous Artifices Launchable munition with automatic positioning, especially a rebounding anti-personnel dispersible mine
US5345874A (en) * 1991-06-11 1994-09-13 Giat Industries Automatic ejection system for trip-wire type mines
AT348U1 (en) * 1994-05-09 1995-08-25 Dynamit Nobel Graz Gmbh Trip wire

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1709644A (en) * 1927-11-16 1929-04-16 Jr Samuel Wiley Light for aircraft
US2826990A (en) * 1953-04-23 1958-03-18 William P Gross Aerial sown grenade

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1709644A (en) * 1927-11-16 1929-04-16 Jr Samuel Wiley Light for aircraft
US2826990A (en) * 1953-04-23 1958-03-18 William P Gross Aerial sown grenade

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3603258A (en) * 1968-10-25 1971-09-07 Us Air Force Mechanical fuzing system
JPS5141299A (en) * 1974-10-03 1976-04-07 Ishikawa Seisakusho Kk JIRAI
JPS5141300A (en) * 1974-10-03 1976-04-07 Ishikawa Seisakusho Kk JIRAIYOWANASENJIDOTENCHOSOCHI
JPS5521279B2 (en) * 1974-10-03 1980-06-09
FR2478809A1 (en) * 1980-03-20 1981-09-25 Europ Propulsion ANTICHAR MINE WITH A HIGH SURFACE OF ACTION
US4402271A (en) * 1980-03-20 1983-09-06 Societe Europeenne De Propulsion Anti-tank mine with wide surface of action
AT382016B (en) * 1982-04-15 1986-12-29 Hirtenberger Patronen TANK PRINT MINE
FR2599135A1 (en) * 1986-05-22 1987-11-27 Lacroix E Tous Artifices Launchable munition with automatic positioning, especially a rebounding anti-personnel dispersible mine
US5345874A (en) * 1991-06-11 1994-09-13 Giat Industries Automatic ejection system for trip-wire type mines
AT348U1 (en) * 1994-05-09 1995-08-25 Dynamit Nobel Graz Gmbh Trip wire

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