US3538852A

US3538852A - Projected line charge

Info

Publication number: US3538852A
Application number: US385899A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred G Hoyl
Original assignee: ALFRED G HOYL
Current assignee: ALFRED G HOYL
Priority date: 1953-10-13
Filing date: 1953-10-13
Publication date: 1970-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 1987-11-10

Description

I llmted States Patent [111 3,513, 52

[72] Inventor Alfred G. Hoyl, Jr., by change of name 794,371 7/1905 Matthew [OZ/37.7 from Alfred G. Hoel, Jr., 1,242,838 10/1917 Morden 102/22 507 Boston Bldg., Denver, Colorado 80207 1,900,624 3/1933 Voortmann 102/22 [21] Appl. No. 385,899 2,433,875 1/1948 Walker 102/22 [22] Filed Oct. 13,1953 2,675,882 4/1954 Bazzoni 102/22 [45] Patented Nov. 10, 1970 2,771,841 11/1956 DeFino 102/22 OTHER REFERENCES PROJECTED LINE CHARGE Popular Science, Feb. 1944, pp.1 l9, Pulleys Place Giant 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs. Bangalores' Primary Examiner-Samuel Feinberg [52] U.S. CI "1.62/22 lag/8997, Attorney w E Thibodeam T J Lynch, Harry M.

Saragovitz, Edward .1. Kelly and Herbert Berl [51] Int. Cl ..F42b 13/56,

F42b 15/06 [50] Field ofSearch 102/89, 20. ABSTRACT: A flexime linear explosive charge comprising a 2L 37-7; sg/HM) length of flexible rope, a plurality of separate high explosive units encircling said rope and molded thereto in equally [56] References Cited spaced end-to-end relationship to each other longitudinally of UNITED STATES PATENTS said rope, a flexible tubular cover enclosing said plurality of 224,024 2/1330 M88011 l02/20 ex losive units, means bindin said cover to said r0 e inter- P g P 395,881 1/1889 Cunningham 102/89 mediate said explosive units, and means to propel said rope.

Patented Nov. 10, 1 970 INVENTOR. Alfred E. HnY 1 'yaulnlfrllulll. IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 3 ATTOENE Y5 PROJECTED LINE CHARGE.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to line charges for detonating hidden mines or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a device which can be projected through the air by a rocket attached to and towing the forward end, thereof, and dropped on a field which is sown with concealed mines and then detonated to explode the mines.

A further object is to provide a line charge which can be projected by rocket over jungle or dense underbrush, to clear a path therethrough.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which can be propelled by a torpedo through shallow water and detonated where the presence of underwater mines is suspected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device wherein the separate units of a linear charge will not be separated by slipping on the rope when they come in contact with the ground surface.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for protecting the leading end of the line charge from the blast of the towing rocket during flight thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a detonator for the line charge which can be initiated after the charge has come to rest on the target or along the path to be cleared of mines or jungle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device with a minimum of metallic parts so as to reduce the hazard to friendly troops from flying fragments of the device.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a linear explosive charge, with some parts shown in section for better illustration.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of two of the explosive units and their protective coverings.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of one type ol'detonator which can be used.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of one method of attaching the forward end of the wire rope to a rocket, and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the method of attaching the rearward end of the wire rope to the flash deflector.

It has been found by tests that a linear charge of high or detonating explosives constructed according to the present disclosure is effective in clearing mine fields on land and under shallow water, it is also effective in clearing paths through jungle growths and in stripping cover from concealed defensive positions.

Heretofore linear charges have suffered great damage when projected onto rough terrain. In landing on any ground surface there is always a tendency for the charge to slide a distance on the surface. This results in torn coverings and displaced explosive units, sometimes to a distance sufficient to prevent detonation of the forward parts of the charge.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown one form of the invention, the reference character 5 generally designates a line charge. Extending the full length and centrally thereof is a rope 6 which may be made of nylon or any other suitable flexible material having great tensile strength. At equally spaced positionsalong the rope 6 any desired number of explosive units 7 are molded or otherwise formed or secured about the rope 6, centrally of said units. It has been found that a series of explosive units 300 feet long can be successfully launched by a rocket projectile and subsequently detonated. Enclosing the said units from end to end is a fabric sleeve 8, preferably of woven nylon fabric material tied securely to the rope 6 between each explosive unit by a nylon cord 8a as illustrated. or other suitable means. Any

preferred high explosive 9 can be enclosed in a waterproof jacket 10, such as cellophane, to keep the said explosive 9 dry and also to prevent the explosive from exuding through the fabric sleeve 8 when kept in storage for any length of time. If the present device is used to clear underwater mines the sleeve 8 is also waterproofed. The final product is a flexible coilable line charge resembling a huge length of link sausage. A suitable and preferred dimension for the links is a length of about 6 inches and a diameter of about 3 inches, affording about 4 pounds of explosive per linear foot.

The forward end of the rope 6 is looped about a pin 11 and secured to itself by braiding or other suitable means. The pin 11 is received in openings 12 in the bifurcated ends 13 of a clevis 14. The clevis is formed with a frustoconical body 15 terminating in a reduced forward screw-threaded end 16 for receiving a similarly threaded nut 17, as best shown in FIG. 6. The frustoconical body 15 fits in a similarly shaped seat 18 in the forward end 19 of a hollow blast deflector 20. The nut 17 abuts a washer on the reduced screw-threaded end 16 and when drawn up tightly, snugly holds the rope socket 14 in its seat 18. A bore 21 is formed in the rope socket in its forward part and terminates in a flared portion 22 rearwardly thereof to receive the spread ends 23 of a twisted wire towing cable 24. Molten solder is poured around said spread cable ends to secure them in the rope socket. A rocket 25, schematically shown in FIG. I, has a bar 26 secured thereto and is bored at 27 to receive the rearwardly extending reduced end 28 of a cable connector 29. The reduced end of the connector is bored at 30 to receive the forward end of wire cable 24. The bore 30 terminates in a forwardly and outwardly flared passageway 31 similar to the flared passageway 22 in the body portion 15 of rope socket l4, and receives the spread ends 32 of the forward end of cable 24 which ends are soldered in the manner as previously described. The reduced end 28 of the cable connector 29 is exteriorly screw-threaded to receive a nut 33. A circumferential shoulder 34 on the connector abuts the bar 26 to resist drag of the cable when the line charge is launched and the nut 33 retains the connector 29 in position.

The rear end of the hollow blast deflector 20 flares outwardly in a frustoconical form to deflect the hot propellent gasses of the rocket away from the line charge 5. Surrounding the front end, and extending rearwardly a substantial distance is a woven glass sleeve 35 which additionally protects the line charge from the hot gasses, and both blast deflector 20 and sleeve 35 protect the front of said charge from impact damage when the charge contacts and snakes along the ground surface in landing.

A detonator 36, having an explosive charge 37 therein is positioned on the rope 6 and constitutes the final section of the line charge. Interiorly of the detonator which may be of light metal and generally tubular in form,

electrical insulator sleeves

38 and 39 each receive a squib or blasting cap 40 each of which has its forward end embedded in the explosive. The rear end of each squib is connected to a source of voltage (not shown) by the encased wires 41 and 42 of

cables

50 and 51. Provision is made for two squibs if it is deemed desirable to prevent a misfire, but one may be used and the unused port can be plugged.

The operation of the device will be clear from the foregoing description. A length of line change, up to 300 feet or more is coiled so that it will pay out without kinking or knotting. A towing rocket is attached to the forward end as shown and the rear end of rope 6 is secured or anchored to any fixed object which may be a scow or stone boat" on which the line charge is moved into position. The rocket is held elevated by a suitable open-type launcher and is aimed in the general direction of the path to be cleared. The rocket propellant is ignited to launch the rocket and propel it with its attached line charge, upwardly over the path to be cleared. The rocket propellant is substantially exhausted by the time the line charge is fully extended so that the charge falls over and along the path to be cleared. Thereafter, the circuit to one of the squibs 40 is closed to cause successive detonation of the charges 9 thus clearing a path, or detonating any mines lying in or above ground along the path. If desired, prima cord, 6a shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, may be secured to and along rope 6 to assure continuity of explosion of the successive links. In such a modified construction it is proposed to use two lengths of prima cord bound together every 6 inches of length. Each length is cut in 10 foot sections and placed contiguous the other length so that the abutting ends of one cut length are intermediate the abutting ends of the other cut length. In the assembled modified structure, the prima cord will extend along and in contact with rope 6 and may be secured thereto solely by the bindings 8a between links 7. Additional bindings may be used if desired.

While I have disclosed a form of the invention presently preferred by me, various changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art after a study of the present disclosure. Hence the disclosure is to be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense; and it is my desire and intention to reserve all modifications falling within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Iclaim:

1. A flexible linear explosive charge comprising a length of flexible rope, a plurality of separate high explosive units encircling said rope and molded thereto in equally spaced end-toend relationship to each other longitudinally of said rope, a flexible tubular cover enclosing said plurality of explosive units, means binding said cover to said rope intermediate said explosive units, and means to propel said rope.

2. A flexible linear explosive charge comprising a plurality of high explosive units, a length of flexible high strength rope having said units molded thereon centrally of said units, a waterproofed jacket encasing each of said units, a flexible tubular waterproofed fabric cover enclosing all of said plurality of explosive units, means binding said cover to said rope intermediate said explosive units, means for detonating a terminal one of said explosive units, and means to project said rope and units over a path to be cleared.

3. A flexible lincur explosive charge comprising a length of flexible high strength rope, a plurality of separate high explosive units encircling said rope and molded thereto in equally spaced end-to-end relationship longitudinally of said rope, a-

flexible tubular fabric cover fitting about all said plurality of explosive units, binder means for binding said cover to said rope intermediate said explosive units, a detonator element positioned on said rope in coincidental axial alignment with said rope and adjacent a terminal one of said explosive units, and explosive charge in said detonator element, means for initiating said detonator charge, and means to project said explosive carrying rope over a path to be cleared.

4. A flexible linear explosive charge comprising a length of flexible rope; a plurality of separate high explosive units strung on and along said rope in equally spaced end-to-end relationship longitudinally of said rope; a continuously extending flexible tubular fabric cover enclosing said plurality of explosive units; binder means for constricting said cover intermediately of said units to prevent displacement of said cover and units on and along said rope; a detonator element on the rear end of said rope adjacent the rear explosive unit; a rocket for propelling said linear charge; and a flash deflector secured to the forward end of said rope, said flash deflector comprising a hollow body portion of greater diameter than said explosive units to deflect the blast from said rocket away from said explosive units; and means for connecting said flash cover and said rocket.

5. A flexible linear explosive charge comprising a length of flexible rope, a plurality of separate high explosive units molded centrally thereof to said rope in equally spaced rela tionship to each other longitudinally of said rope, a continuously extending flexible tubular fabric cover enclosing said explosive units and rope, binder means for constricting said cover tightly to said rope intermediately of said units, a detonator element on the rear end of said rope adjacent the terminal one of said explosive units, a rocketconnected with the forward end of said rope for propelling said linear charge,

and means for protecting the forward end of said linear charge from the blast of said rocket and impact damage, said means comprising a hollow flared deflector body and a length of woven glass fabric enclosing the forward end of said charge and extending rearwardly a substantial distance.

6. A flexible linear explosive charge as claimed in claim 5 including, a plurality of prima cord lengths extending between and connecting each two explosive units. each said prima cord length lying parallel to and radially displaced from said flexible rope, and having its ends thereof terminating adjacent a corresponding end of one of said explosive units.

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