US3842740A - Hand grenade detonator - Google Patents

Hand grenade detonator Download PDF

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Publication number
US3842740A
US3842740A US00360077A US36007773A US3842740A US 3842740 A US3842740 A US 3842740A US 00360077 A US00360077 A US 00360077A US 36007773 A US36007773 A US 36007773A US 3842740 A US3842740 A US 3842740A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
detent
striker
spring
inertia block
acceleration
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00360077A
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English (en)
Inventor
A Mirlesse
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Interep Ass Sa ch
INTEREP ASSOCIES SA
Original Assignee
INTEREP ASSOCIES SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by INTEREP ASSOCIES SA filed Critical INTEREP ASSOCIES SA
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3842740A publication Critical patent/US3842740A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C15/00—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges
    • F42C15/24—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges wherein the safety or arming action is effected by inertia means
    • 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
    • F42C14/02—Mechanical fuzes characterised by the ammunition class or type for hand grenades

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A hand grenade detonator includes a spring-urged inertia block and a spring-urged striker which are movable relative to a detent but are releasably locked by a system of balls and cooperating grooves.
  • a known type of hand grenade detonator includes spring-controlled means for actuating a striker, safety means for maintaining the striker actuating means in a pre-armed position and, in the absence of an acceleration resulting from a throwing movement, for automatically returning the striker actuating means into a safety position, and when this acceleration occurs, for moving the striker actuating means into an armed position.
  • the presentinvention aims to provide a detonator of the above-specified type which is particularly suitable for hand-thrown projectiles, is of reliable operation and is relatively simple to manufacture.
  • the detonator according to the present invention is characterized by a spring-urged detent, a spring-urged inertia block reacting to the acceleration of throwing, means for automatically returning the detent to a safety position in the absence of an acceleration which moves the inertia block, and means for freeing the inertia block after production of the acceleration so as to move it from the pre-armed position to the armed position in a manner such that said striker actuating means moves the striker into a detonation position.
  • a hand grenade detonator comprises a case, a manually operable detent movable relative to said case from a first positon to a second positon against the action of a first spring, an inertia block movable relative to said detent from a safe position to an arming position against the action of a second spring, a striker movable relative to said detent from a safe position to a detonation position under the action of a third spring, means for locking said inertia block and said striker in their respective safe positions when said detent is in its first position and during movement of the detent from its first to its second position, means for locking said striker in its safe position when said detent is in its second position, means for freeing said inertia block for movement from its safe to its arming positon against the action of said second spring by inertia when the detonator is subjected to a throwing acceleration while said detent is in its second position
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of detonator in a first position
  • FIGS. 2 to 6 are similar views of the detonator during successive phases of operation thereof.
  • the detonator shown in FIG. 1 in an initial, safe position comprises a tubular case 1, a tubular detent 2, a striker 3, an inertia block 4, inertia block balls 5, striker balls 6, detent balls 7, an inertia block spring 8, a striker spring 9 and a detent spring 10.
  • the detent 2 is slidably received in case 1 and is closed by a cap 11 at its upper end which is adapted to.
  • a stop-forming ring 12 is fixed inwardly protruding from the upper end of case I, and cooperates with a shoulder of detent 2 to limit the upward movement of detent 2.
  • Two opposed facing longitudinal grooves l are provided in the inner surface of case 1, and the detent 2 is provided with two opposed outwardly-flared openings 2' receiving balls 5 and two opposed outwardly-flared openings 2" receiving balls 7, the balls 5 and 7 being of greater diameter than the thickness of the wall of detent 2 in the vicinity of these openings.
  • the inner surface of detent 2 is also provided with'two opposed facing recesses 2".
  • the inertia block 4 includes an upper portion closely slidably received within the detent 2, this upper portion having two recesses 4' in opposite parts of its outer surface, and a lower portion of reduced width closely slidably received within a bore of the striker 3 in which are provided two opposed outwardly-flared openings 3' receiving balls 6 which are of greater diameter than the thickness of the wall of the bored part of striker 3. Below the openings 3, the striker also includes two grooves 3" in opposite parts of its outer surface.
  • the schematically indicated spring 8 is compressed in a housing defined between the cap 11 of detent 2 and the upper face of inertia block 4, and the'schematically indicated springs 9 and 10 are compressed in tubular recesses defined respectively between cooperating shoulders of detent 2 and striker 3, and of case 1 and detent 2.
  • a known delay mechanism is located inside the striker 3 and engages with the inertia block 4.
  • the spring 10 opposes depression of the detent 2.
  • the inertia block 4 is locked by the balls 5 which bear against the inner surface of case 1 and engage in recesses 4.
  • the striker 3 is also locked by the balls 6 which bear against the outer suruface of the lower portion of inertia block 4 and engage in recesses 2", thereby preventing movement of striker 3 relative to detent 2 under the 'action of spring 9.
  • the balls 7 exert no locking effect, since their openings 2" are aligned with both grooves l and recesses 3".
  • FIG. 2 shows a pre-armed position of the detonator, with the detent 2 depressed, i.e. with the grenade held in a users hand in a manner such that, during a throwing movement, the detent 2 remains in a pushed in position under the effect of a pressure exerted by the index finger.
  • recesses 4' come to face an end part of grooves l' to free the balls 5 and thereby unlock the inertia block 4 which, under the action of the pressure exerted by the spring 8, remains in a pre-armed position, i.e. with its lower portion engaging in the bore of striker 3.
  • the balls 7 bear against the inner face of case 1 and engage in recesses 3" to complement the action of balls 6 tending to lock the striker 3 relative to detent 2.
  • the inertia block 4 In the position shown in FIG. 3, while the detent 2 is still depressed, the inertia block 4 has moved, during an acceleration provided by imparting a throwing movement to the grenade, into an arming position under the effect of inertia. In so doing, the delay mechanism (which has not been described in further detail) was actuated and the spring 8 compressed. The lower portion of the inertia block 4 is withdrawn from the bore of striker 3 to free the balls 6, the balls 7 however continuing to maintain the striker 3 locked.
  • FIG. 4 represents the detonator during a first phase at the beginning of free flight, i.e. when the grenade is released.
  • the detent 2 returns to its initial position under the action of spring 10.
  • the balls 5 come to contact the inner surface of case 1 and lock the inertia block 4 in its end-of-path position, by engagement with a bevelled end of the upper portion of the inertia block 4.
  • Balls 6 remain in a non-locking position and balls 7 return to their original non-locking position in which the openings 2" face grooves 1. In this position the striker 3 is therefore free to move downwardly under the action of spring 9.
  • FIG. 5 shows second phase during free flight.
  • the striker 3 has moved downwardly relatively slowly over a part of its path under the action of the spring 9, and under the control of the delay mechanism (not shown) which is unlocked.
  • FIG. 6 shows the third phase of the free flight in which the striker 3 has been moved by the spring 9 into its end-of-path position in which the striker causes detonation of the priming cap (not shown).
  • the described detonator has the following main ad vantages:
  • a hand grenade detonator including springcontrolled means for actuating a striker, safety means for maintaining the striker actuating means in a prearmed position and, in the absence of an acceleration resulting from a throwing movement, for automatically returning the striker actuating means to a safety position, and when this acceleration occurs, for moving the striker actuating means into an armed position, characterized by a spring-urged detent, a spring-urged inertia block reacting to the acceleration of throwing, means for automatically returning the detent to a safety position in the absence of an acceleration which moves the inertia block, and means for freeing the inertia block after production of the acceleration so as to move it from the pre-armed position to the armed position in a manner such that said striker actuating means moves the striker into a detonation position.
  • a detonator according to claim 1, in which said means for automatically returning the detent to the safety position include balls and corresponding hollows as well as a spring.
  • a hand grenade detonator comprising a case, a manually operable detent movable relative to said case from a first position to a second position against the action of a spring, an inertia block movable relative to said detent from a safe position to an arming position against the action of a second spring, a striker movable relative to said detent from a safe position to a detonation position under the action of a third spring, means for locking said inertia block and said striker in their respective safe positions when said detent is in its first position and during movement of the detent from its first to its second position, means for locking said striker in its safe position when said detent is in its second position, means for freeing said inertia block for movement from its safe to its arming position against the action of said spring by inertia when the detonator is subjected to a throwing acceleration while said detent is in its second position, means for locking said inertia block in its arming position when said

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Lighters Containing Fuel (AREA)
US00360077A 1972-05-18 1973-05-14 Hand grenade detonator Expired - Lifetime US3842740A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
LU65387A LU65387A1 (de) 1972-05-18 1972-05-18 Zuendvorrichtung fuer handgranate

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3842740A true US3842740A (en) 1974-10-22

Family

ID=19727055

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00360077A Expired - Lifetime US3842740A (en) 1972-05-18 1973-05-14 Hand grenade detonator

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3842740A (de)
JP (1) JPS4956500A (de)
BE (1) BE799725A (de)
DE (1) DE2325339A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2184958B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1426942A (de)
IL (1) IL42239A0 (de)
IT (1) IT985079B (de)
LU (1) LU65387A1 (de)
NL (1) NL7306909A (de)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4037537A (en) * 1974-10-04 1977-07-26 Linden-Alimak Ab Method and a device for blasting
US6536347B1 (en) * 2001-06-20 2003-03-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Time delay latch device
US20080041262A1 (en) * 2006-08-02 2008-02-21 Rastegar Jahangir S Mechanical delay mechanisms for inertial igniters for thermal batteries and the like
US20080041263A1 (en) * 2006-08-02 2008-02-21 Rastegar Jahangir S Multi-stage mechanical delay mechanisms for inertial igniters for thermal batteries and the like
US20080110365A1 (en) * 2006-11-15 2008-05-15 Rastegar Jahangir S Axially compact mechanical igniter for thermal batteries and the like
US20090151585A1 (en) * 2007-12-15 2009-06-18 Junghans Microtec Gmbh Safety and Arming Unit for a Fuze of a Projectile
US20100071577A1 (en) * 2008-09-21 2010-03-25 Omnitek Partners Llc Axially compact and low-volume mechanical igniter for thermal batteries and the like
US20170138714A1 (en) * 2015-07-24 2017-05-18 Nexter Munitions Safety and arming device for an instant impact point fuse and fuse including such a device
US20180135954A1 (en) * 2015-06-16 2018-05-17 Amtec Less Lethal Systems, Inc. Firing Mechanism for a Grenade, a Grenade and a Method of Operating a Grenade
US20230140161A1 (en) * 2021-11-02 2023-05-04 Omnitek Partners Llc Compact inertial igniters and impulse switches with accidental activation prevention for munitions and the like

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2266135B (en) * 1992-04-14 1995-03-22 Richard John Macgregor Mosse Hand-thrown munition fuze

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4037537A (en) * 1974-10-04 1977-07-26 Linden-Alimak Ab Method and a device for blasting
US6536347B1 (en) * 2001-06-20 2003-03-25 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Time delay latch device
US7587980B2 (en) * 2006-08-02 2009-09-15 Omnitek Partners Llc Mechanical delay mechanisms for inertial igniters for thermal batteries and the like
US20080041262A1 (en) * 2006-08-02 2008-02-21 Rastegar Jahangir S Mechanical delay mechanisms for inertial igniters for thermal batteries and the like
US20080041263A1 (en) * 2006-08-02 2008-02-21 Rastegar Jahangir S Multi-stage mechanical delay mechanisms for inertial igniters for thermal batteries and the like
US7587979B2 (en) * 2006-08-02 2009-09-15 Omnitek Partners Llc Multi-stage mechanical delay mechanisms for inertial igniters for thermal batteries and the like
US20080110365A1 (en) * 2006-11-15 2008-05-15 Rastegar Jahangir S Axially compact mechanical igniter for thermal batteries and the like
US7437995B2 (en) * 2006-11-15 2008-10-21 Omnitek Partners Llc Axially compact mechanical igniter for thermal batteries and the like
US20090151585A1 (en) * 2007-12-15 2009-06-18 Junghans Microtec Gmbh Safety and Arming Unit for a Fuze of a Projectile
US7980179B2 (en) * 2007-12-15 2011-07-19 Junghans Microtec Gmbh Safety and arming unit for a fuze of a projectile
US20100071577A1 (en) * 2008-09-21 2010-03-25 Omnitek Partners Llc Axially compact and low-volume mechanical igniter for thermal batteries and the like
US7832335B2 (en) * 2008-09-21 2010-11-16 Omnitek Partners Llc Axially compact and low-volume mechanical igniter for thermal batteries and the like
US20180135954A1 (en) * 2015-06-16 2018-05-17 Amtec Less Lethal Systems, Inc. Firing Mechanism for a Grenade, a Grenade and a Method of Operating a Grenade
US11054234B2 (en) * 2015-06-16 2021-07-06 Als, Inc. Firing mechanism for a grenade, a grenade and a method of operating a grenade
US20170138714A1 (en) * 2015-07-24 2017-05-18 Nexter Munitions Safety and arming device for an instant impact point fuse and fuse including such a device
US10041775B2 (en) * 2015-07-24 2018-08-07 Nexter Munitions Safety and arming device for an instant impact point fuse and fuse including such a device
US20230140161A1 (en) * 2021-11-02 2023-05-04 Omnitek Partners Llc Compact inertial igniters and impulse switches with accidental activation prevention for munitions and the like
US12007217B2 (en) * 2021-11-02 2024-06-11 Omnitek Partners Llc Compact inertial igniters and impulse switches with accidental activation prevention for munitions and the like

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL7306909A (nl) 1973-11-20
FR2184958A1 (fr) 1973-12-28
IL42239A0 (en) 1973-10-25
BE799725A (fr) 1973-09-17
DE2325339A1 (de) 1973-12-06
LU65387A1 (de) 1972-08-24
IT985079B (it) 1974-11-30
FR2184958B1 (fr) 1977-09-09
GB1426942A (en) 1976-03-03
JPS4956500A (de) 1974-05-31

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