US2093353A - Projectile - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 14, 1937.

1'. G EITMANN PHOJECTILE Filed Nov. 1a, 193e g .50km-v6 @4R65 ,u ///f/// /////L .Zamw/V6 @wmf .Tr/venian' @/w, mw, c?? ,M7 ifm-m Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATET GFFICE signor to Westfalisch-Anhaltische Sprengstoff- Acten-Gesellschaft Chemische Fabriken, Berlin, Germany, a Deutsche Waffen- German company, and und Munitionsfabriken,

A. G., Berlin-Charlottenburg, Germany, a German company Application November 18, 1936, Serial No. 111,474 In Germany December 30, 1935 8 Claims.

Tracer shells are already known wherein the bursting charge is. caused to ignite by a tracer charge. In some cases, in these projectiles of known kind, a direct communication by means of passages or the like is provided between the tracer charge and the bursting charge to allow the flame of the tracer charge to pass directly to the bursting charge.

In other known projectiles a metallic heatconducting member is inserted between the tracer charge and the charge of the shell in such a manner that flame cannot pass directly from the one charge to the other. The transmission of the heat of combustion of the tracer charge to a highexplosive, shock-sensitive priming charge inserted adjacent the metallic heat-transmitting member effects the ignition of the bursting charge.

The first-mentioned kind has the disadvantage that if the combustion of the tracer charge does not proceed regularly or, owing to other causes, ignition of the bursting charge may take place prematurely i. e. in some cases even in the gun-barrel, resulting in very serious disadvantages.

The second group presents the disadvantage that the transmitting or intermediate charges known heretofore for this purpose have been fulminating compositions i. e. priming compositions that are sensitive to friction and shock. Such substances, however, are additional sources of danger during the making of the shells, during the handling thereof and sometimes also when they are being red. 4

The object of the invention is to obviate lthe disadvantages of the known construction and this is attained, in the case of a shell with ignition of the bursting charge by the burning tracer charge, the heat of combustion whereof is transmitted to the charge of the shell, by means of a. metallic heat-conducting member, the heat-conducting member giving olf its heat to a priming agent which, contrary tothe known transmitting means, is insensitive to friction and shock. Such substances are for example nitrocellulose powder, nitroglycerine powder, black powder or other mixtures of oxygen carriers with combustible materials.

- This priming substance which is placed next to the metallic heat-conducting member, may be of such nature and quantity as also to bring about the disintegration of the actual charge of the shell and thus cause the desired disruption of the projectile. It may, however, be so selected as regards natureand quantity as to produce by itself alone an effect which is suflicient feefthe-desrred disruption of the projectile. VAOf course, all combinations or processes situate between th" two extremes are possible.

It is within the scope of the invention, if particularly insensitive priming agents are employed, which are also ignitible only with the greatest possible difilculty, to provide means for increasing the amount of heat transmitted by the metal member. According to the invention, this may be eiected by additionally intensifying the heating effect of the burning tracer charge, for example by forming the layer of tracer charge, situated next to the heat-transmitting metal member, of a mixture that burns with a particularly powerful heating effect. Another method of causing the priming charge to ignite easily is to make the metallic conducting member, between the tracer charge and the substances to be ignited, very thin. The two means mentioned for ensuring the ignition of the priming agent may also be combined.

Constructional embodiments of the invention are shown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through a projectile embodying the principles of my invention; and

Figure 2 is a similar view showing another embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 1, a indicates the body of the shell and b a cavity in the base of the shell in which the tracer charge c is accommodated. Screwed in the intermediate base d is a screw-threaded cap e, which is made of a material which is a good conducto-r of heat, preferably metal. The csp e contains a charge f which can be ignited by the heat transmitted from the burningtracer charge through a wall of the cap e, but which consists of a substance that is practically insensitive to shock and friction. As stated above, it may, therefore, consist of nitrocellulose powder, nitroglycerine powder, or black powder.

In the constructional example according to Figure 2, a. again indicates the body of the shell into the open base of which there is screwed a tracer-charge casing g. This casing again contains the tracer charge c, which in this case, in its part c' lying next to the heat-transrnitting member h, consists of a material that burns with a particularly considerable evolution of heat. Said casing g is screwed into a central hole in "e shell body and carries a heat-transmitting member h. As may be seen from the drawing,

the member h is tapered rearwardly, for instance conically. In the interior, the transmitting member h has a suitable cavity, which in the constructional example shown likewise tapers rearwardly. Accommodated within the cavity is the priming charge z', which may be made of the same substance as the priming charge ,f employed in the constructional example according to Figure 1. l0 It is an obvious requirement that the metallic heat-transmitting member shall have sufcient strength to withstand the pressure of the explosion of the propelling charge of the cartridge and the stresses otherwise occurring, such as for example, the pressure generated on forcing in the tracer charge. On the other hand, a particularly good and rapid transmission of heat must be effected. This requirement is satisfied according to the invention by making the wall of the metallic transmitting member not of uniform thickness but so as to taper towards the tracer charge or by weakening it locally at one place.

In the manner known per se, an auxiliary charge k may adjoin the priming charge i and may further improve the igniting action, but said auxiliary charge should likewise be practically insensitive to shock or friction.

The new projectile according to the invention satises all conditions required of a projectile which can be constructed without danger, is safe to handle, and is absolutely reliable and safe in action.

I claim:

1. A shell comprising a bursting charge :md a tracer charge initiating the ignition of the bursting charge, an intermediate member separating in a gas-tight manner the bursting charge from the tracer charge, and a priming charge, for the bursting charge, which receives heat from the said intermediate member and which comprises a substance which is practically insensitive to shock, pressure and friction.

2. A shell comprising a bursting charge and a aoeases tracer charge initiating the ignition of the bursting charge, and an intermediate member separating in a gas-tight manner the bursting charge from the tracer charge, said bursting charge, which receives heat from the said intermediate 5 member comprising a substance which is practically insensitive to shock, pressure and friction.

3. A shell comprising a bursting charge and a tracer charge initiating the ignition of the bursting charge, a metal intermediate member, sepam rating in a gas-tight manner the bursting charge from the tracer charge, and a priming charge, for the bursting charge, which receives heat from the said metal intermediate member and the active mass of which consists of a substance which 15 is practically insensitive to shock, pressure and friction.

4. A shell comprising a bursting charge and a tracer charge initiating the ignition of the bursting charge, and a metal intermediate member 20 separating in a gas-tight manner the bursting charge from the tracer charge, said bursting charge, which receives heat from the said metal intermediate member, having as its active mass a substance which is practically insensitive to 25 shock, pressure and friction.

5. A shell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the part of the tracer charge situated next to the heat-transmitting member consists of material which burns with a considerable evolution of heat. $0

6. A shell as claimed in claim 2, wherein the part of the tracer charge situated next to the heat-transmitting member consists of material which burns with a considerable evolution of heat.

7. A shell as claimed in claim 1, wherein the g5 heat-transmitting member is made particularly thin between the tracer charge andthe priming charge, for example by being locally weakened.

. 8. A shell as claimed in claim 2, wherein the heat-transmitting member is made particularly 40 thin between the tracer charge and the bursting charge, for example by being locally weakened.

THEODOR GEI'I'MANN.

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