US2346843A - Explosive projectile - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1944 B. A. HoPPER ExPLosIvE PROJECTILE Filed March 15, 1941 Mn/4 m/ 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Patented Apr. 18, 1944 t UNITED STATES *rE-.NT @OFFICE 2,346,843* j nxrLosIvE PROJECTILE Bert v'Alford'lloppen Flint, Mich. Application March 15, 1941, Serial No. 383,623

(c1. 1oz-5e) This invention relates generally to the class of ammunition and explosive devices and pertains more particularly to improvements in projectiles. v

The primary object of the present invention is `to provide an improved projectile of the type designed to explode on impact, wherein a novel means is provided for effecting the explosion of the charge carried thereby in the event that the shell strikes its objective a glancing blow rather than making a direct hit thereon.

w Another object of the invention is to provide an. improved explosive charge-carrying projectile in which the nose thereof is constructed to have shiftable portions which are normally held in one position and which are shifted rearwardly when .the projectile strikes an object to effect the ring of a percussion cap for setting off the charge, such shiftable portions of the nose of the projectile being arranged so that the percussion cap will be fired if the projectile strikes an object head on or only strikes the object with a glancing blow.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in an explosive charge carrying projectile, a shiftable ring tip or nose with novel'means for maintaining such shiftable tip or nose portion ina set or advanced position from which it is driven, for the purpose of exploding the charge, when the projectile strikes an object.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it being understood, however, thatv the invention is not to be considered as limited by the specific illustration or description but that such illustration and description constitutes a preferred embodimentof the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View in longitudinal section of a projectile constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing the shiftable tip or nose portions in normal or set position.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. j A

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the'line Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of one of the shift- -able portions of the nose of the projectile.

.in section ofthe nose end ofthe projectile, show- .ingv the manner .in which the Yshiftable portions are maintained in position while the jacket is being applied.

Referring now 4more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates the body portion of the projectile :in which is formed an explosive charge receiving chamber 2, containing a charge of powder or other suitable explosive 3. The nose end of the projectile is indicated generally by the numeral 4 and this includes the integral frame-like extension 5 of the upper or forward end of the body I.' This frame-like extension 5 has the longitudinally extending opening 6 therein in the floor 6 of which is formed an axial bore I in which is'seta percussion cap 8.1 The bore or passagel I extends through the top end wall 9 of the chamber 2 and into this chamber, asshown in Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 1, the diameter of the projectile is reduced slightly throughout approximatelyv half. the length thereof starting substantially midway of the ends of the body portion I and continuing to the nose or around the tip portion, this reduction being indicated at I0, whereby there is formed a shoulder I I around the central part of the body,

The frame-like extension 5 ofthe forward end of the body has two opposite flat parallel faces .l2 which extend slightly beyond the oor 6 toward the rear end of thev projectile forming the radial shoulders I3.

The numerals Ill and I5 designate shiftable tip or nose portions, each of which is set against a fiat face I2 of the frame-like forward end portion 5 of the projectile. 4The shiftable portion I4 has upon its longitudinal center upon the inner or nat side thereof, the lug I6 which terminates at its forward and rear ends short of the adjacent `ends of the shiftable element I4 of which it forms a part andA which is of an overall length slightly less than that of the opening E in which it posi. tions. Upon the side of this lug I6 opposite from vthe shiftable portion or element I4, there is a tongue I'I, the forward end of which lies at approximately the transverse center of the lug while the rear end extends beyond the rear end of the lug and terminates in a plane substantially paralleling the rear edge or rear face of the portion I 4. The distance between the rear face of the lug I6 and the plane of the rear face of the portion I4 is substantially equal to the distance between the floor `6' and the shoulder I3 with which the rear face of the shiftable portion Ill is opposed.' As previously stated, the lug I6 is de- 'signed-.to 'position in the opening 6 and when in this position, the finger I'I lies upon the opposite side of the frame from the portion I4 and engages the rear end of the face I2 Opposite from the portion I4 and thus acts to lock the shiftable portion I4 in position.

The shiftable element or portion I5 which engages against that face I2 opposite from the face engaged by the shiftable portion I4, is shown in elevation in Fig. 4, and is provided with the lengthwise extending notch or recess I8 which opens through its rear edge, to receive the finger I'I. In other words, the shiftable portion I5 straddles and rests upon the nger Il and cooperates with the shiftable portion I4 to complete the circular cross-sectional form or design of the forward end of the projectile. It will, of course, be understood that while the faces of the portions I4 and I5 which are positioned against the faces I2 of the frame 5 are iiat, the opposite or lateral faces of the portions I4 and I5 are circular in form and coact with the circular form of the narrow sides of the frame 5 to complete the complete circle of the projectile.

Each of the faces I2 of the framedike forward portion of the projectile has a laterally extending lip I9 against which the forward end of .the adjacent shiftable portion engages when such shiftable portion is in its normal forwardlyextended position.

The forward end of the frame portion 5 is cut square across on the line 2li and is provided with the axial passage 2I which leads into the forward end of the opening 8. In the completed projectile, this forward axial passage 2| has tted therein a tip pin 22 which carries the pointed tip 23 whi-ch rests against the at ,forward end surface 2G and completes the bullet-like nose formation of the projectile.

In the forward end of the lug It there is .an axial threaded passage 24 in which is engaged an assembling pin 25, shown in Fig. 6. This pin is employed only in the assembling of the parts of the projectile and has a head 21 which bears against the surface 2B in the Amanner hereinafter stated.

At the inner end or rear end of the lug I6 there is fixed a firing pin 28 which extends axially of the projectile beyond the'inner end or inner face of the lug so that when the lug is forcibly driven rearwardly, this pin will strike the percussion cap 8 to set oif or fire the charge 3.

Inthe completed projectile there is the jacket 29 which is of a thickness corresponding with the depth ofthe reduced portion Ill of the pro- ,jectile body and this jacket is slipped on from the forward end of the projectile until its inner end comes to rest against the shoulder II, and when in this position, the forward or outer end of the jacket will extend slightly over the curved or rounded nose of the projectile, the jacket be'- ing `tapered off to conform to the nose curvature. This jacket ,is sweated onto the body of the projectile so asto be permanently and tightly joined thereto and it functions to maintain the shift-able firing elements I4 in ltheir forward positions. These elements when in their forward positions, will have their rearends spaced `from the shoutders I3, as shown in Fig. l, while their forward ends will be Aabutted against the adjacent lips I9.

In assembling the parts of the projectile, the lug and finger It and `II respectively of theshiftable firing element vor portion I4 are extended through the-opening Ii., so as to bring the finner face 0f the portion -I.4 .against one p f ,the faces I2 of the frame 5. The other shiftable portion I5 is then placed in position over the finger I'I. The assembling screw 26 is then extended through the passage 2| and threaded into the bore 24 and is drawn up tight so as to pull the two portions I4 and I5 forwardly and tightly against the lips I9. The jacket 29 is then placed over the forward end of the projectile and moved into its final position, it being sweated on or otherwise suitably constricted or tightened so that it will firmly grip the portions I4 and I5 and maintain them against accidental longitudinal movement. The assembling screw may then be removed and the impact tip or point 23 placed in position with its pin-like inner portion firmly fixed in the passage or opening 2 I. As previously stated, the ring pin 28 is held in spaced relation with the percussion cap until the projectile strikes nose on against an object or strikes an object with a glancing blow so as to hit either of theshiftable portions and cause them to be driven back with sufficient force to cause the ring pin 2,8 to discharge thev ring cap. This will, of course, set off the main charge 3 and cause the explosion of the shell.

The rear end of the powder chamber 2 is closed `by the threaded plug 29 or other suitable mea-ns.

It will, of course, be readily understood that the impact pin 22 will have yielding rearward movement in the event that it comes into forcible contact with an lobject so that it will drive the lug I6 rearwardly and re the percussion cap 8 so as to set off the charge 3 in the chamber `of the projectile.

It will also be understood that the extent of movement of the parts I4 and I5 for the firing of the percussion cap 8, has been greatly exaggerated for the purpose of more clearly setting forth structural details but that in the projectile as constructed for use, the limit of movement of the movable elements I4 and I5 and of the firing pin 2,8 will be relatively slight.

What is claimed is: l l. An explosive charge carrying projectile, comprising a body formedto provide an explosive .charge containing chamber and having a tapered substantially solid nose portion, said tapered nose portion including two oppositely positioned elements coupled together across ther width of the nose for longitudinal shifting and lhaving a length greater than the ylength of the tapered portion and a `transverse arcuate dimension of more than one-quarter the circumference of the nose, said elements being designed to maintain `a normal forward position, the forward Vends of the elements when in said nor-mal position being behind the tip of the projectile' nose, means for releasably holding said elements in said normal position, the elements being designed to be forcibly shifted rearwardly upon impact of the nose with anobject, and means for setting off the charge within said chamber by and upon the rearward shifting of said elements.

v2. An explosive charge carrying projectile, comprising a body having an explosive charge containing .chamber 4and a nose portion,said nose portion comprising a `central longitudinally extending xed part of the body `having an opening ktransversely therethrough and two oppositely disposed parts positioned ,against the central part, one o f :said opposite -parts having-a portion extending ltransve,rsely through the central part and `{10111)1661 Wllil :the :other one .of the opposite parts, the said two opposite parts having a limited longitudinal movement with respect to the central part and being normally positioned at the limit of their forward movement, said opposite parts and the fixed part being exteriorly curved to cooperate in forming the nose, means for yieldingly holding said opposite parts in the said normal position therefor, a firing cap for the charge in said chamber, and a firing pin coupled with said opposite parts and arranged to be driven into forcible contact with the firing cap upon movement of the said opposite parts rearwardly from their normal position.

3. An explosive charge carrying projectile, comprising a body having an explosive charge containing chamber and having a nose portion, said nose portion comprising a central longitudinally extending part and two oppositely disposed shiftable parts having contact with opposite faces of the said central part, said central part having a longitudinally extending opening formed transversely therethrough, one of said shiftable parts having a lug disposed in said opening and a tongue arranged upon the opposite side of the central part from the said one part, the other one of said parts being coupled with said tongue, said shiftable parts having a normal forward position with respect to the central part, a firing cap for said explosive containing chamber, a firing pin carried by said lug and spaced from the cap when the said shiftable parts are in their normal forward position, and a jacket encircling the body and maintaining said shiftable parts yieldingly in their normal forward position. said shiftable parts having rounded outer end portions forming a part of the nose of the projectile.

4. An explosive charge carrying projectile, comprising a body having an explosive charge containing chamber and having a nose portion, said nose portion comprising a central longitudinally extending part and two oppositely disposed shiftable parts having contact with opposite faces of the said central part, said central part having a longitudinally extending opening formed transversely therethrough, one of said shiftable parts having a lug disposed in said opening and a tongue arranged upon the opposite side of the central part from the said one part,` the other one of said parts being coupled with said tongue, said shiftable parts having a nornal forward position with respect to the central; part, a ring cap for said explosive containing chamber, a firing pin carried by said lug and. spaced from the cap when the said shiftable parts are in their normal forward position, and a jacket encircling the body and maintaining said'shiftable parts yieldingly in their normal forward position, said shiftable parts having rounded outer end portions forming a part of the ljnose of the projectile, and a -pin yieldngly maintained axially in the forward end of the nose` and engaging at its inner end with the fo-rward end of the lug, and a tip forming a portion of said last pin and constituting the point of the nose.

BERT ALFORD HOPPER.

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