US3718093A

US3718093A - Firing pin assembly

Info

Publication number: US3718093A
Application number: US00136424A
Authority: US
Inventors: F Milanowski; A Bowman
Original assignee: US Department of Army
Current assignee: US Department of Army
Priority date: 1971-04-22
Filing date: 1971-04-22
Publication date: 1973-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-02-27

Abstract

A firing pin assembly, adapted to provide an operable firing mechanism which will function when a practice bomb or similar device is delivered to a target from a plane at any approach angle.

Description

[ 1 Feb. 27, 1973 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FIRING PIN ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors: Floyd J. Milanowski, Pocomoke City, Md; Arthur J. Bowman, Jr., Succasunna, NJ. [73] Assignee: The United States of America as 2,513,536 7/1950 wellington........................ 1,321,455 11/1919 Kennedy 3,021,787 2/1962 Michaels.... represented the secretary of the 3,379,131 Army April 22, 1971 Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle [22] Filed:

Attorney-Harry M. Saragovitz, Edward J. Kelly and Herbert Berl [21] Appl. No.: 136,424

[57] ABSTRACT A firing pin assembly, adapted to provide an operable firing mechanism which will function when a practice bomb or similar device is delivered to a target from a plane at any approach angle.

[52] US. Cl........................102/73 A, 102/7.6, 102/8 [51] Int. 1/06 102/70, 73 R, 73 A, 78

[58] Field of Search 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDrsszmra SHEET 1 OF 2 rnltllllifllllflllllll INVENTUR J. MILANOWSKI J. BOWMAN. JR.

FLOYD ARTHUR 1m mi an z q M 44/ A TTOR/VE V PATENTED 3, 718,093

SHEET 2 or 2 FIGA INVENTORS FLOYD J. MILANOWSK! ARTHUR J. BOWMAN. JR.

ATTORNE FIRING PIN ASSEMBLY The invention described herein may be manufac tured, used and licensed by or for the Government for Governmental purposes without payment to us of any royalties thereon.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates generally to firing mechanism, and more specifically relates to a firing pin assembly which provides a unitary construction in which the firing pin assembly is mounted for firing a practice bomb or other similar device on impact of the bomb from any approach angle.

Pursuant to the invention, the firing pin assembly will operate conveniently and efficiently in practice target drops onto any type of terrain and in water, from any approach angle.

In accordance with the foregoing it may be regarded as among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel firing pin assembly for use in detonation of a practice bomb on impact with a target, to achieve a high level of efficiency in training.

Now in accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects and others as will become apparent in the course of the ensuing specification are achieved through use of a firing pin assembly operable as will be described below so that the practice bomb can be delivered at any target approach angle to a land or water target.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the appended drawings wherein similar reference characters indicate like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational, fragmentary partly-sectional view of a practice bomb with the firing pin assembly of the invention positioned therein;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational fragmentary partly-sectional view of a first embodiment of the firing pin assembly pursuant to the invention, shown in a safe condition;

FIG. 3 is a similar view thereof, shown in a fired condition;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational, fragmentary partly-sectional view of a second embodiment of the firing pin assembly pursuant to the invention, shown in a safe con dition;

FIG. 5 is a similar view thereof, shown in an armed condition; and

FIG. 6 is a similar view thereof, shown in a fired condition.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with the preferred mode of practicing the invention, the firing pin assembly 11 (FIG. 1) is shown in position in a practice bomb 12.

In a first embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 2 and 3) the firing pin assembly 11a comprises, for example, an outer housing with a forward cavity portion 21, rear cavity portion 22, end portion 23 and recessed opening 24 therein an inner housing 25, with cavity 26, firing pin spring guide 37, and apertures 27, 27' therein, an inner housing spring 28, spring retainer ring 29, and actuator member 30 between said outer housing 20 and inner housing 25, a firing pin 31 with rear cavity 32, outer wall channel 33, and firing pin spring 34 between said firing pin rear cavity 32 and said inner housing 25,

hearing members

35, 35 and pin retainer 36.

In a second embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 4-6) the firing pin assembly 11b, for example, cpmprises outer housing with forward cavity portion 41 and rear cavity portion 42, a firing pin 43, with slots 44, 44' shown (44" not shown, three slots in this embodiment), rear rim portion 45 and rear shaft portion 46, flat springs 47, 47' shown. (47" not shown, three springs in this embodiment) sliding sleeve 48, firing pin spring 49, spacer spring 50, an inner housing 51 with forward projecting sleeve 52, retainer ring 53, actuator 54 and pin retainer 55.

In operation of a first embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 2 and 3), for example, the firing pin assembly 11a comprised a suspended internal mechanism. To prepare the firing pin assembly 11a in a safe position (FIG. 2), the operator will place the firing pin spring 34 into the rear cavity 32 of the firing pin 31. The firing pin subassembly is then placed in cavity 26 of inner housing 25 until firing pin spring 34 is aligned on firing pin spring guide 37. The

bearing members

35 and 35 are then placed in the apertures 27 and 27 This inner housing subassembly is then inserted into the forward cavity portion 21 of the outer housing 20 through the rear cavity portion 22. The firing pin 31 is then depressed in cavity 26 of the inner housing 25 until the outer wall channel 33 aligns with apertures 27 and 27'. This will be evidenced by the permission of further movement of the inner housing subassembly into the forward cavity 21 thereby allowing bearing members 35 and 35' to contact forward cavity wall 21 between recess opening 24 and rear cavity portion 22. With the inner housing subassembly held in position, the actuator member 30 may then be placed behind the inner housing subassembly and the end portion 23 of the outer housing 20 is rolled over the actuator member 30 thereby securing the inner housing subassembly and the actuator to the outer housing. The inner housing spring 28 may then be placed into the forward cavity portion 21 of the outer housing 20 and locked therein by retainer ring 29. In operation, (FIG. 3) when the assembled practice bomb is dropped in a horizontal position with no forward movement the rear portion of the actuator member 30 will move to the fired position shown because of the gravitational force at impact. This movement of the actuator member 30 will force the inner housing sub-assembly to move forward to a position where the bearing

members

35, 35 will move into the recessed opening 24 of the outer housing 20 to thereby release the firing pin 31 so that it can move forward and strike the shot gun shell 38. When the practice bomb is dropped from a fast moving plane at very low altitudes and strikes the ground or water, the inner housing 25 will move forward by itself due to the full force of the impact allowing the bearing members 35, 35' to move into the recessed opening 24 of the outer housing 20 to release the firing pin to strike the shot gun shell.

In operation of a second embodiment of the invention, (FIGS. 46), for example, the firing pin assembly 11b comprises a flat spring action mechanism. To prepare the firing pin assembly 11b in a safe condition (FIG. 4) ready for firing, the operator will place the firing pin 43 into the forward cavity portion 41 of outer housing 40. The fiat springs 47 (three in the embodiment shown) may then be assembled in the slots 44 (three in the embodiment shown) of the firing pin 43. The spacer spring 50 is then placed into cavity 42 over the flat springs 47. The flat spring 47 and the sliding sleeve 48 are then placed in the position shown in FIG. 4. The helical firing pin spring 49 is then assembled on the rear shaft portion 46 of the firing pin 43, and then the inner housing 51 and actuator 54 are placed in the position shown in FIG. 4. The complete assembly is then retained by retainer ring 53. In operation (FIGS. 4-6) when the assembled practice bomb is dropped in a horizontal position with no forward movement, the rear portion of the actuator member 54 will move to the firing position shown (FIG. 6) because of the gravitational force at impact. This movement of the actuator member 54 will force the inner housing 51 together with the sliding sleeve 48 to a position where the inner radius of the sliding sleeve 48 will slip off the rear flat surfaces of the flat springs 47 and allow the angular surfaces of the flat springs to ride over the adjacent angular surfaces of the rear rim portion 45 of the firing pin 43 thus releasing the firing pin 43 so that the conical firing pin spring 49 will force the firing pin forward to strike the shot gun shell. When the practice bomb is dropped from a fast moving plane at very low altitudes and strikes the ground or water, the force of impact will move the inner housing 51 and the sliding sleeve 48 forward far enough to release the flat springs 47 that hold the firing pin 43 so that is can move forward to strike the shot gun shell.

The advantage of this invention is that it will operate in practice target drops onto any type of terrain and in water from any approach angle because of the versatility of the internal mechanism.

While the present invention has been particularly set forth in terms of specific embodiments thereof, it will be evident in view of the instant disclosure, that numerous variations upon the invention are now enabled to those skilled in the art, which variations in propriety are yet within the true scope of this teaching. Accordingly the invention is to be broadly construed, and limited only by the scope and spirit of the claims now appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A firing pin assembly, for firing a practice bomb or similar device upon delivery thereof to a target, comprising:

a. a biased firing pin member which includes;

an outer wall portion, a projecting forward tip portion and a rear-opening cavity portion and an outer wall circumferential channel positioned at an intermediate point along said outer wall portion;

b. displacement means, for displacing said firing pin member upon impact which includes;

an inner housing member, having an outer wall portion with a constricted forward sleeve portion and a forward bearing surface and a rear enlarged guide portion with a rear bearing surface, a front-opening cavity portion with an inner bearing surface, and apertures spaced circumferentially at an intermediate location in said inner housing member, a hollow retainer ring retained in a forward portion of said outer housing member, an inner housing spring interposed between said inner housing forward bearing surface and said retainer ring, an actuator member having a front plate portion, an intermediate neck portion, and an enlarged rear portion interposed between said inner housing rear bearing surface and said outer housing rear inner wall portion and extending through said rear portion of said outer housing member, a firing pin spring interposed between said firing pin cavity portion and said inner housing inner bearing surface, and bearing members disposed in said circumferentially spaced inner housing apertures interposed between said outer housing inner wall recessed circumferential channel and said firing pin outer wall circumferential channel;

0. a frame member, housing said firing pin member and displacement means therein which includes;

a hollow tubular outer housing member, comprising an outer wall portion, an inner front wall portion and a reduced inner rear wall guide portion and an inner wall recessed circumferential channel positioned at an intermediate point along said inner front wall portion.

2. A firing pin assembly, for firing a practice bomb or similar device upon delivery thereof to a target which comprises:

a cylindrical outer housing having a forward cavity in a first end and a rear cavity of larger diameter communicating with said forward cavity in its other end, said rear cavity having a retainer ring operatively positioned in said other end, said housing having a shoulder intermediate said forward and rear cavities.

a firing pin having a pointed end slidably fitting within said forward cavity, a rear rim portion, a rear shaft integral with said rear rim and axially aligned with said pointed end, a plurality of spring slots intermediate said pointed end and said rear rim;

an inner cylindrical housing slidably fitting within said rear cavity having an open end and a closed end and a forward sleeve projecting from said closed end slidably positioned upon said rear shaft;

a conically-shaped spring operatively positioned intermediate said firing pin rear rim and said inner housing so that said conieally-shaped spring is circumambient said rear shaft and said forward projecting sleeve;

a cylindrical sliding sleeve slidably positioned in said rear cavity having a first end adjacent said inner housing open end and a constricted rim on the other end;

a helical spacer spring biasedly positioned within said outer housing rear cavity circumambient said firing pin spring slots having a first end adjacent said sliding sleeve constricted end and its other end directed toward said outer housing shoulder;

a plurality of flat springs each interposed in one of said firing pin slots at one end bearing against said outer housing shoulder and at an intermediate point on flat surfaces contacting said firing pin spring slots, and at said flat springs other ends tan- 6 gentially contacting said sliding sleeve forward pact forces said inner housing together with said constricted other end; and sliding sleeve to a position where said rear rim slips an actuator member having a front plate interoff said flat springs other ends thereby permitting mediate said inner housing and said retainer ring i fl f pri g o ve outwardly and away from portion, said plate having a rounded edge, an inter- 5 q f PP thereby releasmg said fil'lng P and mediate neck portion passing through said retainer mmatmg 534d bombring and an enlarged rear portion which upon im- 7

Claims

1. A firing pin assembly, for firing a practice bomb or similar device upon delivery thereof to a target, comprising: a. a biased firing pin member which includes; an outer wall portion, a projecting forward tip portion and a rear-opening cavity portion and an outer wall circumferential channel positioned at an intermediate point along said outer wall portion; b. displacement means, for displacing said firing pin member upon impact which includes; an inner housing member, having an outer wall portion with a constricted forward sleeve portion and a forward bearing surface and a rear enlarged guide portion with a rear bearing surface, a front-opening cavity portion with an inner bearing surface, and apertures spaced circumferentially at an intermediate location in said inner housing member, a hollow retainer ring retained in a forward portion of said outer housing member, an inner housing spring interposed between said inner housing forward bearing surface and said retainer ring, an actuator member having a front plate portion, an intermediate neck portion, and an enlarged rear portion interposed between said inner housing rear bearing surface and said outer housing rear inner wall portion and extending through said rear portion of said outer housing member, a firing pin spring interposed between said firing pin cavity portion and said inner housing inner bearing surface, and bearing members disposed in said circumferentially spaced inner housing apertures interposed between said outer housing inner wall recessed circumferential channel and said firing pin outer wall circumferential channel; c. a frame member, housing said firing pin member and displacement means therein which includes; a hollow tubular outer housing member, comprising an outer wall portion, an inner front wall portion and a reduced inner rear wall guide portion and an inner wall recessed circumferential channel positioned at an intermediate point along said inner front wall portion.

2. A firing pin assembly, for firing a practice bomb or similar device upon delivery thereof to a target which comprises: a cylindrical outer housing having a forward cavity in a first end and a rear cavity of larger diameter communicating with said forward cavity in its other end, said rear cavity having a retainer ring operatively positioned in said other end, said housing having a shoulder intermediate saId forward and rear cavities. a firing pin having a pointed end slidably fitting within said forward cavity, a rear rim portion, a rear shaft integral with said rear rim and axially aligned with said pointed end, a plurality of spring slots intermediate said pointed end and said rear rim; an inner cylindrical housing slidably fitting within said rear cavity having an open end and a closed end and a forward sleeve projecting from said closed end slidably positioned upon said rear shaft; a conically-shaped spring operatively positioned intermediate said firing pin rear rim and said inner housing so that said conically-shaped spring is circumambient said rear shaft and said forward projecting sleeve; a cylindrical sliding sleeve slidably positioned in said rear cavity having a first end adjacent said inner housing open end and a constricted rim on the other end; a helical spacer spring biasedly positioned within said outer housing rear cavity circumambient said firing pin spring slots having a first end adjacent said sliding sleeve constricted end and its other end directed toward said outer housing shoulder; a plurality of flat springs each interposed in one of said firing pin slots at one end bearing against said outer housing shoulder and at an intermediate point on flat surfaces contacting said firing pin spring slots, and at said flat springs other ends tangentially contacting said sliding sleeve forward constricted other end; and an actuator member having a front plate intermediate said inner housing and said retainer ring portion, said plate having a rounded edge, an intermediate neck portion passing through said retainer ring and an enlarged rear portion which upon impact forces said inner housing together with said sliding sleeve to a position where said rear rim slips off said flat springs other ends thereby permitting said flat springs to move outwardly and away from said firing pin thereby releasing said firing pin and initiating said bomb.