US1273301A - Grenade and like throwing apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

A. WOOD.

GRENADE AND LIKE THROWING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FiLEn MAR. i911.

l'yw Amm@ .my 23, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

A. WOOD. GRENADE AND LIKE THHQWING APPARATUS.

APPLICATloN FILED MAR. a. 19|?.

L27@ ,301 Patented July 23, M8.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

me Non ms r11-'rens co, Pnmurnm vu sumo mm o, c.

A. WOOD.

GRENADE AND LIKE THROWING APPARATUS.

APPLICATxoN FILED MAR.8.19|1.

LW 33m Patented .my 23, 1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3..

m: Nomzs sums ca. womuma. wasmuonm, o. cv

A.A Woon.

GRENADE AND LIKETHROWING APPARATUS. AFPLICATION FILED MAB. 8| IQI.

Lmmw Patented my 23,1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ma Hamers pnzres co., Puma-uma.. wAsmNcroN. n4 c.

A. WOOD.

GRENADE AND LIKE HEowlNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FlLED MAR. 8.19M- L QV/9 Patented July 23,1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

mr Nok-ms persas co.. Ham-umn.. vmsnmcmw. c4 c.

. WOOD.

GRENADE AND LIKE THBOWING APPARATUS.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. 8. i917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

` L WW Patentd July 23,y M8.

' invasor..

ABRAHAM WOOll, F RAMSJBOTTOM, ENGLAND..

GRENADE AND LIKE 'JEHROWNG- APPARATUS.

Application lcd March 8, 1917.

To all wharf?. it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM llVooD, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and resident of Ramsbottom, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grenade and like Throwing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to and consists of a new or improved construction of portable, pneumatic (compressed air) throwing apparatus, 'chiefly for use in throwing grenades and the like, as used in warfare.

One of the features of the improved apparatus is an air-holding chamber or accumulator, within which air may be comu pressed, and also within which is a movable member or members adapted, on being made free and with the air compressed to be operated by the air. Another feature is a throwing arm and grenade or like holder adapted to be operated by the said movable member or members. A further feature of the improved apparatus is an arrangement of devices whereby, on the desired momentum having been given to the grenade, the motion of the throwing arm is suddenly arrested, while the grenade is free to continue its flight. Another feature of the apparatus, in one form, is that the air serves both to produce the movement of the arm for throwing, and to arrest such movement when the grenade is due to leave the holder.

The apparatus preferably takes the form. of three light metal tubes arranged in an upright position or nearly so) upon a suitable stand. Within certain of the tubes are plungers, each provided with a cup-leather or like packing. The tubes communicate with each other, and in conjunction with the plungers, collectively form a storage chamber or accumulator for air, a non-return airinlet valve being provided to allow of air being pumped into the tubes until a considerable pressure is obtained. AXially sup ported in brackets secured to the top ends of two of the tubes is a light wood staff or throwing arm, such. arm and the plungers being arranged, or connected with each other, in such manner that, upon the plungers moving up within the tubes, the throwing arm and holder are rapidly moved through a curved path. rlihe throwing arm may normally overlie the top ends of the tubes and have a. movement of about na quarter ef a revelation about its am, but it Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented duly 23, litt Serial No. 15353754.

will preferably normally lie alongside thev tubes and have a movement of about half a revolution. In the first named arrangement the plungers will operate directly upon the throwing arm, while in the second named arrangement the plungers will operate the throwing arm through a chain and quadrant or the like. ln addition to comprising means for throwing a grenade, theV apparatus may also comprise means for automatically iiring the grenade.

Upon Sheets l and 2 of the accompanying drawings, Figures l to 9 illustrate the apparatus in the formV in which the throwing arm normally lies alongside the tubes, and moves through about half a revolution in throwing the grenade, this being the preferred construction.

Upon Sheet 3, Fig. 10 illustrates the apparatus in the form in which the throwing arm normally overlies the top ends of the `tubes and moves through about a quarter of a revolution in throwing the grenade.

The several figures of the drawings may be described as follows: Fig. l is afront view, Fig. 2 a side view, and Fig. 3 a plan of the throwing apparatus, the working parts being shown in the ready-for-throw ing position.

Fig. 4- is a further side view but showing the working parts in the after-throwing position.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the apparatus when packed up ready for transit.

Fig. G is a front sectional elevation of the tubes alone, to a larger scale, while Fig. 7 is a sectional plan of the tubes on line m-x.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged front exterior elevation, and

Fig. 9 an enlarged side sectional elevation of the upper part of the machine.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the modified machine.

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan of the post and tubes shown in Fig. l0.

Fig. 1l is an enlarged vertical section of the lower end of one of the plungers.

Fig. l2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one example of the grenade holder, when used for throwing only.

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section of the grenade holder and a side elevation of the throwing arm when used for both firing and throwing a grenade.v

Fia le longitudinal #gestion et a fue llt@ ther example of holder for both tiring and throwing a grenade.

Fio. 15 is a longitudinal section of a b n 1 D s holder fitted with grenade holding and automatic releasing means.

Eig.` 16,v is a cross sectional elevation of a 'trench with the grenade-throwing machine shown in Figs. 1 to 9- in position.

In the preferred construction of apparatus-,shown in Figs. l toI 9, all, a2, a3 are three light tubes, preferably of solid drawn steel.y The; three tubes are of equal diameter and the two outertubes al, a3 are of equal length, whilethe central` tube is shorter than the outer tubes.V The three tubes are united at their lower ends by, and open into a hollow header or cap b, while they are braced or held together at the upper end of the central tube a2 by a bracing or yoke-piece b2, the upper end of the tube a heilig also closed by such yoke-piece, see Figs. 6 and 9.

In one with, or securedfto the cap b1, is a spindle b3, see F ig. 6, the projecting ends of which form trunnions by which the tubes are axially supported in bearings formed in the raisedand bifurcated forward part ofv the elongated wood base c, a bearing'cap or bar 61,' on each side, serving to hold the trunnions in the bearings. As shown in Figs. 1- and 3, the base c is comparatively narrow and long, the length, however, beingfpreferably such as not to exceed the width of' a trench, see Fig. i6, although, Where the machine yis not required for use in a trench, the base may be longer.

At their top ends the tubes al, 0f" are litted with the curved brackets d, Z which eX- tend rearwardly and upwardly from the tu-bes. By means of stays e, e pivotally secured at one end to the brackets cl, Z and detachably connected at the other end by say wingA screws or bolts and nuts, tothe base c, the tubes are held rigidly in relation to the base. At any suitable point in the tube 0,2. or in the cap b1, is fitted a non-return air inlet valve, provided with a stem 01 to which an ordinary hand air pump may be connected.

To the tube c2 is litted a pressure gage o, preferably removable, so as to be used for quickly exhausting the tubes when required. Within the' tubes 0,1, o, are plungers f, f each almost equal in length to the tubes.

At their upper ends the plungers are connected toa woodcross-bar l, the connection being made as rigid as possible so as to prevent any sidewise or endwise movements of the two plungers relatively to each other, andalso so as to cause the plungers to move as one. At, or near their lower ends, the plungers are each fitted with one or more cup leathers er similarpacking f2, see Figs. Gand ll. Wfhenitwo leathers are provided, the leathers are spaced apart by a spacing block f3, see 47g. Il, The said brackets (l, d, near their free extremities, carry between them a spindle d1. Upon such spindle is loosely mounted the throwing arm and also a quadrant 7L.

The throwing arm is preferably nuule of wood, such as hickory or lance-wtuul, and where it tits the spindle it is provided with a metal-bush, The quadrant is composed of two curved sheet-nieta] plates. between which lies a curved (wood) rare blot-h.` nee Fig. 9, the plates and block being liruily secured together by screws. or 'bolts and nuts. rll`he arm and quadrant may. it deY sired, be mounted in uall bearings. 'l`he throwing' arm lies between two further and smallerplates 71,", itl, which are secured to the arm byv nuts and bolts i, i, while in each of such plates is a slot i? through whit-ln and holes in the side plates of the pladrant.r a further bolt passes, this latter, on its nut being slackened, allowing the throwing arm to be adjusted to different; angular positions relatively to the qutulrant. .X''ter tightening the nut olf the bolt 1, a wood wedge may be pushed in between the bolt 2 and the throwing arm, the wedge thereby helping to prevent the parts accidentally alteringA their relative positions. The said brackets d, l also carry between them a further fixedspindle Z2 and upon such spindle and preferably in ball or roller hearings, is mounted a sprocket wheel j.

Connected at one end, and centrally, to the cross-bar f1 of the plungers by say a pin f is a chain which, after passing below the sprocket wheel j, is secured at its other end to a loop h2 on the quadrant t.

Clamped to the tubes al, a2, 0J near their lower ends (Fig. is a bar or lug a, to which is hingedly connected a double-ended or forked hook (i, the hook being so formed on its hinge side as to normally assume the position shown in Fig. Upon the throwing arm g is xed a U-shaped plate g1, while passing through the arm and the plate is aI long pin g2, the ends of which project on each side of the arm. The ends ol the pin, when the arm is moved down and toward the tubes al, a2, an, are auton'latically engaged by the hook a", the nose or face of the hook riding over the ends of the pin and the hook falling behind the ends of the pin as the arm. completes ,its movement, see Fig. Z. In one with, or secured to the hook Uf is a handle a," which preferably inclines away from the tubes, so that its weight may help to hold the hook in engagement with the pin (/2 when the arm is lowered.

Upon the throwing arm, and near its free end, is mounted the device for holding the Y grenade, or other object requiring to be thrown. Such devices may take various forms, but in the example shown it rontprises a plain cylindrical sheet-metal cup lo, provided on its underside with a bifurllt) inraeoi cated sheet-nietal flange lol, the forks oli which are adapted to embrace the throwing arm g. A bolt 7a2, passing through the forks of the cup flange and through a hole in the throwing arm, serves to pivotally connect the cup to the arm and thereby enable the cup `lo take up various angular positions relatively to the arm. ln each of the forks of the cup flange 711 is a segmental slot 7c3, through which, and a hole in the arm, a bolt 1:4 passes. Such bolt is provided with a head at one end and a wing-nut at the other end, so that, after setting the cup to the desired angular position, the nut and bolt enable the forked flange and the cup to be iirmly clamped `to the arm. lWithin the cup 7u are two or more strips of thin spring metal 7165, see l? ig. 12, the strips being either integral, or separate and lying at right angles to and crossing` each other, and being secured centrally to the cup by a screw ,766 while their extremities extend slightly beyond the top edge of the cup. This arrangement of grenade h older has been found particularly suitable for what are known as cricket ball7 grenades. W hen a grenade is placed in the cup Vthe arms produced by the spring strips held it in the cup with a gentle yielding pressure.

The working oi' the machine may now be described. The base c of the machine having been placed with its sides parallel with the intended line or direction of throw, air pumped into the tubes cil, a2, a3 by means say olf an ordinary hand pump Via the nonreturn Valve, the pumping being continued until a considerable pressure is obtained in the tubes, according to the distance the grenade requires to be thrown. rillhe throwing arm r/ during the pumping may either be lowered and latched as in Fig. 2 or left raised as in Fig. 4l. ln this last named case, the pumping need not be carried on for so long as when the arm is lowered in view olthe factthat, upon afterward lowering the arni, the pressure is increased by the forcing down of the plungers f, f within the tubes.

llither before or after the armv is loweied the grenade or other object to be thrown, is pla-ced in the cup 7c, the spring strips 705 preventing its falling out of the cup when the cup is in the position shown in Fig. 2.

fill being rei dy :tor throwing, the hook 0,5 is tripped (raised) by means of the handle a, thereby releasing the throwing arin, which, under the force o'l'the pull exercised upon it by the chain due to the pressure of the air in the tubes, is rapidly flung upward, about its axis, until it reaches the po sitiou shown in Fig. t, when it is suddenly pulled up or stopped, and thereby caused to discharge the grenade out of the cup 7c in the i required direction, and. under the energy developed by the arm, for the required distance. rlhe sudden pulling `up or stopping maand bags may be placed.

of the arm is brought about by the quadrant t reaching a position where it begins to exert, through the chain f5, a downward pull on the cross-bar f1 against the up-l ward pressure of the air in the tubes. ln this way the air used both tor operating the throwing ariu and lfor arresting its movement, and, in the latter (,:onnection it also acts as a shoc t absorber.

For throwing the next grenade, the throw ing arni is again lowered and again relatched by the hook of', whereupon the air in the tubes is automaticall y restored to its original pressure. l/Vith a grenade then placed in the cup, thc hook a is again tripped, when. the arm is again flung` upward by the pressure ol the air, until the point olli delivery reached (Fig. l), when the grenade lcayes the cup as previously de scribed.

ily repeatedly lowering the throwing arm, placing` each time a :Fresh grei'iade in the cup, and releasing` the hook 0,5, a succession ol: grenades may be rapidly discharged.

As only the expansion ol? the air in the tubes is used for operating the plungers, there is no necessity to pump more air into the tubes alfter each operation ol. the throwing arm, but, on the contrary, a practically constant or standing head of pressure is always available.

By varying the angular. position of the cup )t relatively to the throwing arm, the trajectory ot the grenade may bc varied. That is to say, the lfarther the cup is moved in one direction about its pivot 7112 the greater the elevation ci the trajectory, while the lartheir the cup is moved in the opposite direction about its pivot the flatter the trajectory. Very slight angular adjustments oi the cup have been found to give a considerable variation iii the trajectory.

By moving either end oi the base c sidewise, the direction ol throw may be readily Varied, and with the whole n'iachine lightly constructed, this is an easy operation. Zlo guard against the accidental disturbance of the machine while throwing a grenade, the base c may have battons c1, c1 Fig. 3, lying below the base and projecting beyond the sides of the base, and upon these battons `When the ma chine is not in use, the battons may be swireled below the hase, and thus lie out olZ the way, as well as allow oi the machine being neatly packed, see Fig.

providing the base with the raised biiurcated part and hinging the tubes thereto.I the machine can be Jfolded up, 5, without requiring to detach the throwing arm. Further. he cup and its parts are protected from injury while in transit.

Referring now to Figs. l0 and l0, a. tubular metal (or solid wood) post Z is used which is, by preference, detachably secured to the lll) ` is comparatively lightl and portable.

base 0. To such post is braced the three tubes al, a2, a3 collectively forming the air chamber. Within the tubes @1,053 are plungers f, f and at their upper end the plungers are joined by a cross-pin carrying an anti-friction roller m. At the top of the post Z, and extending forwardly therefrom, is a forked bracket Z1, and fulcrumed upon a fixed axis carried by the bracket is the throwing arm g. This throwing arm overlies the roller m carried by the plunger cross-pin. To the free end of the arm g is applied the grenade holder 1. Connected at one end to the arm g and at the other end to the base c is a stout cord 0.

In using this eonstructi on of the throwing machine, air is first pumped into the tubes al, e2, a to the required pressure, the arm g being preferably held down during the pumping operation by the double hook p.

engaging a pin p1 on each side of the arm.

A grenade being then placed in the holderand all being ready to throw the grenade, the hook p is tripped, and the arm g made free, whereupon the arm, under the pressure of the air in the tubes acting upon the plungers, is flung upward about its axis until it reaches the position shown by the dotted lines, when it is suddenly stopped by the cord 0, which is then fully distended. With such sudden arresting of the movement of the arm the grenade is discharged from the cup at a high speed in the desired direction and for the desired distance.

To help to maintain a uniform angular acceleration of the throwing arm during the rise of the plunger, the throwing arm is formed or provided with a shaped part g* for the plungers to act against.

Owing to the limited are of movement of the throwing arm in this form of the machine a high pressure of air is required to obtain the desired velocity of the arm for throwing, and as it appears to be the fact, that, the greater the arc ofmovement, the greater the momentum of the throwing arm, it is preferred to employ the construction of machine shown in Figs. 1 to 9.

As will be seen from the foregoing description the machine shown either in Figs. l to 9, or Fig. 10 of the drawings is comparatively simple in construction, and, owing to the base and throwing arm being of wood, and the metal parts being tubular or of thin section, the machine as a whole And either when in use (Fig. 2), or when folded up (Fig. 5), it can be readily carried about by one person. Further, when folded up it lies in small compass, and may, if desired, form part of the bombers kit. A pair of straps c* serves to hold the parts compactly together when folded.

Referring new to 13 and to the means the bottom of the cup 7c is provided with a boss or bush Q through which slidably projects a piercer g1. Engaging this piercer at its rear end is one arm of a small bell-crank lever 7, fulcrumed say to the cup as shown. To the other arm of such lever is connected one end of a Bowden wire r1, the outer case or sheath of which lies alongside and is secured to the throwing arm. The other end of the. Bowden wire is adjust/ably connected to a lever arm 1'2 pivoted to the quadrant lt. Under the weight of the free end of the lever, a slight pull is exerted on the wire, which serves to hold the piercer q1 normally retracted and with its point within the said bush g. Upon one of the brackets (l is a stop pin s, which, as shown, lies in the path of the free end of the lever arm r2.

With the grenade to be thrown provided with a percussion cap, time fuse and detonator, and with the grenade placed in the cup 7c, the percussion cap lies directly opposite the point of the piercer. While the throwing arm is moving upward about its axis, but just before the grenade is due to leave the cup, the piercer g1 is caused to move rapidly forward and pierce the cap. This is brought about by the free end of the lever arm r2 meeting the stop pin s, which, by

offering a resistance to the further bodily movement of the lever, causes the lever, with the further movements of the arm, to move about its own fulcrum and, through the Bowden wire, rapidly operate the piercer. In this way the machine is adapted to both lire and throw the grenade. Upon the throwing arm being again lowered, the piercer is retracted, and remains retracted, while the next grenade is placed in the cup and until the arm again reaches the firing point. In this way there is no danger of the grenades being pierced while placing them into the cup.

In Fig. 14C the apparatus is shown as adapted for firing and throwing a grenade of the kind which is usually tired by means of what is termed a striker Instead, however, of the striker being part of the grenade as heretofore, it is made part of the throwing machine. In the example shown in Fig. 14, t is the striker, the stem of which passes slidably through the bush g in the floor of the cup 7c and is connected, as in the case of the piercer in Fig. 13, with devices, such as the lever r, the Bowden wire r1 and the lever arm r2 whereby, on the throwing arm being moved upward to throw the grenade, the lever r will serve to sharply operate the striker, just prior to the grenade leaving the cup, to force it against the percussion cap of the grenade and thus fire the grenade. Upon the arm being lowered the striker will be moved back, ready for the next firing operation.

The moment or point at which the vpiercer neraeei or striker shall be operated to fire the grenade during the upward movement of the throwing arm may be varied by adjusting the position oi the stop pin S.

ln transferring the piercer or striker from the grenade to themachine, and operating it by the machine, the dangers attending the handling and throwing of grenades are considerably reduced. Moreover, the grenade itsell' is rendered safer to handle prior to throwing.

Means similar to that used for operating the piercer or striker may be employed i'or operating grenade releasing devices upon the cup. An example oi one arrangement is shown in Fig. 15,7117 being a spring blade secured to the cup and bent inwardly toward the grenade, while las is a slide adapted to be pushed forward by hand and to hold the bent end oft' the blade 707 against the grenade, and also adapted to be pulled back and allow the blade to move clear of the grenade. Such pulling back is elected by a wire and lever operating automatica] ly with the movement of the throwing arm, the arrangement ot the wire and lever being identical with that ot the wire and lever shown in Fig. 13.

' TWhile intended chiefly i'or use in throiving grenades, or throwing and tiring grenades, it will be understood that the improved machine may be used for other throwing purposes, and in such connection may be used tor games of skill, or for sport, and, il made on a small scale, it may be used as a toy.

i What l claim is l. lin apparatus for throwing` grenades and the like, and for like throwing purposes, a relatively `fixed air chamber, movable aircompressing means within the chamber, a non-return air inlet valve for allowing air to be stored in said air chamber under pressure, a throwing arm axially supported upon. said chamber, grenade or like holding and controlling means on said throwingl arm, means for holding the arm retracted against the resistance ot the air in the air chamber, `and means for releasing the arm, the movable ail-compressing means, under the pressure of the air within the air chamber, acting1 upon the throwing arm, and, on the arm being released, operating the arm to throw the grenade, or other object, as set iorth.

2. ln apparatus for throwing grenades and the like, and for like throwing` purposes, a relatively fixed and tubular air chamber, plungers within the air chamber, and means itor connecting the plungers to each other at the upper end, means for allowing `air to be stored under pressure in the air chamber and a throwing arm axially supported near to the upper end of the air chamber, a quadrant upon the same axial support as the throwing arm and adjustably connected to the arm, a chain connected to one point in the curved edge ot the quadrant, a chain wheel and axial support therefor onthe air chamber, and said chain, after passing below said wheel, being connected to the plunger-connecting means, means for temporarily holding the throwing arm and plunger-s retracted against the pressure of the air in the air clnnnber, and means `tor releasing the arm for throwing, said chain transmitting the motion of the plungers to the quadrant, and, on the plungers reaching the end of their outward stroke, serving to suddenly arrestthe movements or the throwing arm, as set forth.

3; ln apparatus for throwing grenades and the like, and ior like throwing purposes, an air chamber, a relatively lixed supporting base to which the air chamber at its lower end is hingedly connected, means for staying the upper end ol2 the air chamber to the base, `air compressing means slidably htting the `air chamber, means 'tor enabling air to be stored under pressure in the air chamber, a throwing arm, brackets and. a lixed axis therefor near the upper end of the air chamber, and means between the said air-compressing means and the throwing arm adapted, under the pressure ot the air, to ope 'ate the throwing arm, and also to suddenly arrest the movement oit the arm when it reaches its highest velocity, grenade or like holding' and controlling means on the throwi ng arm, means :for temporarily retaining the arm and air-compressing means retracted against the resistance of the air in the air chamber and means for releasing `the throwing` arm when requiring to throw the grenade or other object, as set forth.

t. ln apparatus for throwing grenades and the like, and for like throwing purposes, a series of tubes arranged side by side, means 'for supporting the same in `a substantially vert-ical position, a plunger in. two of the tubes and a cross-head for connecting such plungers together at the upper end, a nonreturn inlet valve :for allowing air to be .stored in the tubes under pressure, a thro'n1m ing arm, brackets and an axis therefor near the upper end of said tubes, and means whereby the movement of the plungers in one direction may be communicated to the throwing' arm, and vice versa, as set forth.

5. ln apparatus for throwing grenades and the like, and for like throwing purposes, a relatively fixed tubular air chamber, means whereby a standing body of air is main tained under pressure within. the air chamber, a throwing arm axially mounted on the air chamber, and means for transmitting the expansion oi the air in the air chamber to the throwing arm, as set forth.

6. ln apparatus for throwing grenades and the like, and Yfor like throwing purposes, a relatively hired air chamber, air-compress ing-.means within the said chamber, an air inlet valve forY allowing air to be stored in Asaid air chamber under pressure, a throwning "armpaxiallyr mounted on said air chamy"ber, means for transmitting the motion of the said aircompressing means to the throwing arm, a cup-like grenade holder on said arm, andmeans whereby the grenade is teln- ,porarily held in the holder but is free to leave the holder on the throwing arm reaching the limit of its throwing movement, as set forth. n

7. In 'apparatus for throwing grenades land the like, and for like throwing purposes, Va relatively fixed air chamber, vair compressing meansl within the said chamber, 'an inlet valve for allowing air to be stored insaid air'chamler under pressure1 a throwing 1arm axially mounted on said air Achamber,means fortransmitting the motion of lthe said air-compressing means to the throi'vingarm, a cup-'like holderon said arm, means forretaining the object to be thrown in :the holder, and means on the throwing :arm for automatically `releasing vthe said 'object when the 'arm reaches its highest velocity, as Seit forth. y

8, In lapparatus for throwing grenades, a relatively fixed air chamber, air-compressing means within the said chamber, an air" inlet 'valve 'for allowing air to be stored in said air chamber under pressure, a throwing arm axiallymounted on said air chamber, 'and means for transmitting the motion of lthe said air-compressingmeans to the throwing arm, a cup-like grenade holder on said arm, means f'rretaining the grenade in vthe holder, means on the 'throwing arm for automatically firing the grenade in the holder, and means for automatically releasing the grenade when the arm has reached its highest velocity, as set forth.

9. In apparatus for throwing grenades and the like, a tubular air chamber, with non-return air inlet valve, plun'gers within the air chamber, la throwing arm axially supported upon the air chamber and grenade carrying and retaining means on the throwing arm, the plungers being adapted to operate upon the throwing arm under the expansion of air in the reservoir, and said grenade-carrying and retaining means consisting of a cup having springs within it whereby the grenade is held yieldingly in the cup until it requires to leave the cup in the act of being thrown, as set forth.

101111 apparatus for throwing grenades and the like, and for like throwing purposes,

a relatively fixed air chamber, air-com pressing means within the said chamber, an air inlet valve for allowing air to be stored into said air chamber under pressure, a throwing arm axially mounted on said air chamber, and means for triuismittiug the motion of the said air-compressing means to the throwing arm, a cup-like grenade holder angularly adjustable upon said arm, means for holdingsame in various positions relatively to the arm, and means whereby the grenade isv temporarily held iu the holder but is free to leave the holder on the throwing arm reaching the limit of its throwing movement, as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twoivitnesses.

ABRAHAM WOOD.

Witnesses:

HENRY JUNoA, FRED J. MEREDITH.

Copies of this'ipatent may yb'e 'obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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