US1571617A - Aerial flare bomb - Google Patents

Description

Febo 2 P. R. BASSETT AERIAL FLARE BOMB Filed Sept. 22, 1917 3 Sheetssheet l ATTO/M/Ey 1=eb..2 2 ma. 1,571,617

P. R. BAssET-r- AERIAL FLARE BOMB y Filed sept. 22',- 1917 5 sheets-sheet 2 CQURSE 0F REROPLANE H955 TUN REALI-5mt Feb.. 2 ,1926. v 15ml? P. R. BASSETT AERIAL FLARE BOMB nFiled Sept. 22, 1917 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Fea- 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATIENT 1,571,617 carica.

PRESTON B. IOBASSETT, VOF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO' ELMER A. SPERBY,

. OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

EBIALJLABE BOMB.

Application med september 22,' 1911-. serial No. 192,776.

To all whom, z't may concer/n: Be it known that PRESTON- R. BAssm'r, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at 1716 Newkirk Avenue, Brookl n, in the county of Kings and State `off Lew York, has invented Certain new and useful Improvements in Aerial Flare Bombs, 'of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flaming bombs or star shells adapted to be dropped from aeroplanes for illuminating `large areas. Bombs of this nature are especially useful in i1- luminating the object of attack at night. The advantages of being able to observe the effects upon the target of gun firekor of being able to see where to drop explosive bombs are obvious. With existing methods, it is often impossible to make such observations. Searchlights are commonly used, but

Y always be employed advantageously under for various reasons searchlights cannot many conditions. Even when searchlights .are playing successfully upon a target, they do not show where the shells are falling with respect tothe target.

Also when an aeroplane is reconno1ter1ng over enemyterritory at night, the advantages of being able to illuminate the ground below in-searching for important polnts or objects, or in observing the activities of the enemy,1are very great.

The object 'of this invention is to produce a bomb which may be carried by an aeroplane and dropped from a position above the earth or target, and which wall fall rapidly toward the earth or target until within a predetermined height thereabove, then emit abrilliant light, illuminating the region and objects below as it slowly descends.

Referring to the drawings wherein I have shown what I now consider t o be the pref` erred form of my invention:

Fig. 1a is a sectional elevation of the lower half of the bomb.

Fig. 1b is a sectional lelevation of the upper 'half of the bomb.

Fig. 2 is an illustration of several of the successive stages assumed by the bomb after being dropped from an aeroplane.

. Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Fig.A 1a, showing a `clock works timing device.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-v-4, Fig. l l, of a releasmgdevlce.

Figa 5 is a detail of means for setting the clock works in motion.

v Fig. 6 is an elevation detail of means for norlilnally holding the. parts of the bomb toget er.

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan detail of the same.

Fig. 8 is a view looking up from under the bomb, which ispartly cut away, showing a time setting knob.

Fig. 9 is an elevation partly in section of a modified form of bomb.

In Figs. 1a and 1b the outer casing of the bomb 1 is shown as comprising three seci tions; the bottom section 2, the middle section 3 and the top section 4. Confined within the middle and top sections is a parachute 5 -to which is attached by means of a cord 6 and the parachute strings 7,- a cap 8 which embraces the upper end of ab1ock 19,- as

lindicated bythe dotted lines 20. -The block is made up of an illuminating substance, which may be pressed into a solid or semisolid `form, around which may be wrapped a piece of paper, zinc or other suitable` material if desired, to prevent the illuminant from crumbling and which will be rapidly consumed when the illuminant is fired. The

block is designed upon being ignited to emit a light of great brillfancy.

The several sections are designed to be normally held together` 'and when dropped from an aeroplane, to fall to within a predetermined distance from the earth and then fall apart. One method of accomplishing this is as follows: The middle Section 3 which may be a flat piece of material or two semi-cylindrical pieces 9 and 10 hinged together on one side as at 11 Fig. 7, may b( wrapped :around the bottom section 2 as at 12 Fig. 1=l and around the top section 4 as at 13 Fig. l". One or more springs -14 are shown attached to the inside of section 3 by any suitable means, such as by rivets or screws 15. The ends of these springs may be bent to form eyelets 16 into which may be inserted a hook 17 to hold the ends of the springs together and thus hold the middle section 3 of the bomb folded firmly over the bottom and top sections 2 and 4. One or more pins 18 protruding from section 2 into holes in section 3 or. any other suitable means may be provided to prevent section 2 from slipping out from section 3. Similar notches 32.

provision may be made to 4prevent premature disengagement between sectlons 3 and 4. 1

Springs 14 are designed with a tendency `to straighten out` so that if hooks 17'v are removed, section 3 will be thrown open and the several .sections fall apart. In orderto accomplish this, I have shown a rod 20 extending downwardly through the bomb. .Hooks 17 are shown attached to rod 20 b y passing through it, so that if the rod 1s raised, the hooks will be removed. A spring 21 pressing at one end against a projection 22 on section 2, and at the other end against'V a pin'23 in rod 20, tends to raise the rod, but is prevented from so doing by a disk 24 which engages'rod 20 ina notch 25` in the rod. Disk 24 is pinned to a shaft 25 and through a lug` lixed on the disk, engages a cog wheel 31 in any of a plurality of ,Cog wheel 3l is pinned to a shaft 33, and is designed to be rotated by a spring 26. It will be seen that the rotation of cog wheel 31 will be imparted through lug 30 to disk 24. A system of gears or clock work 27 having a pawl and ratchet escapement 28 may be -provided to retard the rotation of the disk.

A notch 29 is cut inthe periphery of the disk.y to allow rod20 to slip through when` the disk has turned around so that the notch wheel 3l .'(Fig. a).

reaches the rod. Obviously the greater the distance through which notch 29 has to turn before reaching rod 20, the longer.v it will take to release said rod. Shaft 25 may be allowed to protrude through the bottom of.

the bomb, and has attached to its end a knob 34 on which is provided a graduated scale 35 Fig. 8 or'reading in connection with a line 36 on the casing of the bomb. By pulling down on knob 34, lug 30 disengages cog Knob 34 may then be turned until the proper reading of the scale 35 in conjunction with line 36 is effected.

TheA knob is then released, whereupon, rod 20 which will have been drawn down against the pressure of spring 21, will raise disk 24 again, and cause lug 30 to ire-enter one of notches 32. Notch 29 in disk 24 will now have been placed the desired distance from rod 20, so that the said rod will become released after the clock -work is set in'motion.

. tance through which shaft 25.

may be released by raising the detent. 'Io

accomplish this, I have shown a pawl emamoved down far enough to allow pawl 42.

to slip under detent 37 when knob 34 is pulled down, Ihave shown a Ipin 45 in shaft 25, which is designed to limit the disdisk 24 and arm 20 maybe drawn.

In order to prevent accidental releasing of the timing mechanism` I have shown a stop 46 on disk 24. The disk may be turned in the direction of arrow 47 (Fig. 4) until stop 4(3.com'es under rod 20. Stop 46 will then prevent the downward movement of the .said rod. Disk 24 with the stop 46 may be kept normally in this position. A lug` 4,8 onthedisk may by striking `a pin 49 in the casing of the-bomb, serveto indicate when-stop 46 is in the proper position. The.

said lug and pin may also serve to prevent the turning of disk 24 far enough in the wrong direction to allow rod 2O to slip through notch 29. either when positioning Stop '46 below rod 20 or when shifting lug 30 in notches 32.

Embedded in the bottom of the illuminant block 19, I have shown 'a Ismall quantity of igniting substance 50. A pin 51 attached by means of a cord 52 to the lowerv part of the bomb at 53 is 'shown embedded in the substance 50. The said pin may be made rough, and is designed upon beingr withdrawn, to ignite substance 50 which will in turn ignite the lluminant 19.L Shaft 33 of thevtiming mechanism may be made` long enough to engage pin 5l to prevent its withdraWal-undernormal conditions.

The operation of the bomb is as follows:

The operator in an aeroplane, being above a position or object which he wishes to i1- luminate, knowing the altitude at which he y is flying, sets themechanism by kmeans 4ofq knob 34. to uncouplethe several sections 2, 3 and 4 of the bomb a. predetermined length of time after the clock Work is set in motion. He then presses down on the top of rod 20 which protrudes through the bomb near its top at 54. The bomb is then dropped at which time rod 20 is released, and the timing mechanism begins to move. The bomb falls wholly intact as in position A, Fig. 2` vane 55 serving to keep it upright as it falls. A predetermined length of time after the bomb is released', at-which time it is designed to have fallen to within an advantageous distance above the ground or the target, rod 2 0 will be released, permitting spring 21 to move it upward, withdrawin` hooks 1T and allowing section 3 of the casing to spring open. position B, Fig. 2. The top section 4 will then fall off.. as the parachute lags and retards the falling of the illumincnt 19. while section 2 continuing to fall rapidly. withdraws pin 51, igniting the illuminant. While the parachute opens up and suspends the flaringr illuminant in the air. Fig. 2. position C.

In order to prevent injuryv to the parachute by a sudden jerk b v the. illuminant, a shock absorbing member 6 may be placed in the cord 6. Member 6 ma)7 comprise a spring. or a soft. wire coil which will ab- Sorb the shock vb v opening` out Islowly and remaining open.

As the illuminant block 19 is designed to burn away. the cap will of course be made with sufficient weight to support the parachute against collapsing before the illuminant has been entirely consumed.

B v keeping the bomb wholl)Y intact through the greater part of its tall` position A. Fig. 2.' a4 minimum amount of resisting surface is offered to the wind. thereby minimizing the drift of the bomb.

In Fig. 9. I have shown a modification of the method of effecting the opening of the shell. In this form` the middle section 3 is shown in two parts 9 and 10 wrapped around the bottom section 2 as in the ther form, and held normally in this position by straps 56 and 57 attached to the said parts but top.

and passing through openings in section 1 and locked together by a pin 17 inserted 1n holes in said straps. Pin 17 is lattached to rod Q0. so that when the. rod is raised the pin will be lifted out of holes 60, thereby releasing the straps.

The top section 4 is shown as placed over the top of the middle sectiony 3 thus holding the parts 9 and thereof together at the A small ridge 61 extending part vway around the inside of section 4 onopposite sides. may engage depressions 62 in section Il. to prevent section 4 from slipping off. A spring 63 pressing out on parts 9' and 10 may be provided to spread parts 9 and 10 when straps 56 and 57 are released.

-The opening of these parts while the bomb is falling will cause a sudden retardation .of the upper parts of the shell, thus throwing them off. and allowing the parachute (not shown in this figure) to open, while the ignition of the illuminant may be effected in the same manner as shown in` the other form.

In accordance with the provisions of the `ether with the appara-tus, which I now consider to' represent the best embodiment thereof, but. I desire scribed, some of these may be altered and others omitted without interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extends to such use. For instance it is obvious that the illuminant need not be placed within the covering or casing 3 of the bomb. as the bomb casing mav be made in numerous other forms, wherein the illuminant may be attached in any suitable manner to the outside.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an illuminating bomb, a'shell, an illuminant and a suspending means therefor within said shell, adjustable time releasing means for releasing said illuminant and said suspending means, means for normally holding said releasing means inoperative. means for rendering' said releasing means operative, and means for preventing the acci- `ments in the 'combination and relations dedentalhoperation of said time releasing of said time releasing means.`

3. An illuminating device adapted to be dropped from an aeroplane comprising a parachute, an illuminant, means for connecting said illuminant and said parachute, means for holding said parachute closed for a predetermined length of time after said dropping, shock absorbin means in said connecting means, means or releasing said parachute," and means for igniting said illuminant.

4. An illuminating device adapted to be dropped from an aeroplane, com ri a parachute, an illuminant attache thereto, means for holding saidY parachute inoperative, means for rendering erative a predetermined length of time after said dropping, illuminant from said parachute, illuminant.

5.V In an illuminating bomb, a easing, a parachute and an illuminant attached thereto within said casing, time controlled means for removin said casing from said parachute and said illuminant, an ignitin substance adjacent said illuminant, apted exerting a ,sudden jerk on for preventing the acci- Y said parachute opand means for igniting said i wheil subjected to friction to ignite, for igoperation of said member.

niting said illuminant, and means actuated, by the removal of said casing for subjecting4 said substance to friction.

6. In an illuminating bomb, a casing comprising vseparable sections, an illuminant IWithin said casing, means attached to said illuminant adapted upon being released to support said illuminant in the air, time controlled means for causing separation of said sections to release said supporting means and said illuminant, and means actuated by the separation of said sections for igniting said illuminant.

7. A bomb comprising normally inoperative means for retarding the descent thereof, means including a' manually operable member for rendering said retarding means operative and releasable means for preventing operation of said member.

8. A bomb comprising normally inoperative means for retarding the descent thereof, means for rendering said retarding means operative upon the lapse of a predetermined time, aimanually operable member for starting the operation of said second named means and releasable means for preventing '9. The combination of an illuminant, Vmeans for supporting said illuminant in the air, a casing for containing said illuminant and'said supporting means, means normally tending to release said illuminant and said supporting means from said casing, means for maintaining said releasing means in inoperative condition, clockwork mechanismA for rendering said releasing means'operative after a predetermined interval of time, and

means for igniting said illuminant.

10. The combination of an illuminant,l a device for supportingsaid illuminant in the air, means for holding said device in an inoperative condition, means normally tendin to release said device from said rst named means, means for maintaining said releasing means inoperative, clockwork mechanism for rendering said releasing means operative, and igniting means for said-illuminant.

11.,The combination of an illuminant, a

.normally inoperative device for supporting said i'lluminant'in the air, means normally tending to render said device operative, means for maintaining said -first named means inv inoperative condition, clockwork mechanism for rendering said first named means operative, and igniting means for said illuminant. Y

12. The combination of an illuminant,

' means for supporting said illuminant in the air, a casing for said illuniinant and said supporting means, said casing comprising f a plurality of sections, a member uniting all ofv said sections, means normally tending to operate said member to releasesaid sections, and means for preventing operanaber renders said said member to release 'said sections, means v for preventing operation of said first means until after a predetermined interval of time,

operation of said memand means wherebI ast-named means operative.

14. The combination of an illuminant,.

means for supporting said illuminant inthe air, a casing for said illuminant and said"- supporting means, said casing comprising a plurality of sections, a mem er uniting all of said sections and operable to release said sections, means for operating said memberafter 'a predetermined interval to release saidsections,l and means whereby said releasing operates to ignite said illuminant. y

15. The combinationv of Aanl illuminant, means for supporting said illuminant in the air, a casing for said illuminant andA said supporting means, said casing comprising a plurality of sections, means connecting said sections and operable to release said sections, time-controlled mechanism in one of said sections for operating said connecting means to release said sections, said illuminant being positioned in another o f said sections.

16. The combination of van illuminant,V

means for supporting said illuminant in the air, a casing for said illuminant and said supporting means, said casing comprising a plurality of sections, means connecting said sections and operable to release said sections, time-controlled means in one of said sections for operating said connecting means to release said sections, said illuminant'be-v ing positioned in another of said sections and said supporting means being positioned in a third section.

17 The combination of an illuminant, ineansfor supporting said illuminant in the air, a casing for said illuminant and said supportin means, said lcasing coinprising a plura ity Aof sections, means [connecting. said sections operable to release said sections, time-controlled mechanism in one 'of said sections for operating 'said connecting means to release said sections, said illuminantV being positioned in another ,of

said sections. and a connection between said time mechanism and said illuminant whereby separation of. the respective sections ignites said illuminant.

Y In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

PRESTON R. BASSETT.

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