US2390552A - Explosive bullet - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 11, 1945. NELSON 2,390,552

EXPLOS IVE BULLET Filed Aug. 18, 1941 Elmo/whom Richard N Nelscm M j m ww Patented Dec. 11, 1945 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE EXPLOSIVE BULLET Richard N. Nelson, Black River Falls, Wis.

Application August 18, 1941, Serial No. 407,297

1 Claim.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to explosive or incendiary bullets and more particularly to percussion igniting means for such bullets.

It is an object of this invention to produce igniting means which although simple in operation and having a minimum number of parts will be safe in storage and in handling.

It is a further object of this invention to produce igniting means which can be readily assembled for use in small arms ammunition.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a of a bullet embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing a modified form of firing pm.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the accompanying drawing I represents a jacket of gilding metal or the like enclosing a body or core 2 preferably of steel. The core 2 is formed with a chamber in its rear section adapted to hold an explosive or incendiary charge 3 such as tetryl. A bore from the front of the core forms a primer chamber and has a restricted portion 4 communicating with the charge chamber and forming a fiash passage for igniting the main charge.

Seated against the shoulder 5 formed by the restriction of the bore is a firing pin 6 preferably of steel which may fit loosely in the bore as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 or may be longitudinally fluted as shown in Fig. 3 to provide for the passage of the igniting flame. For safety in storage and handling the firing pin is secured to its seat by a seal 1 of metal such as a thin sleeve of Woods metal adapted to be softened or fused by the heat incident to the firing and passage of the projectile through the bore of the gun.

portion The forward end of the bore is closed by an anvil 8 which may be of steel secured against setback in the bore by having an enlarged head 9 engaging the front face In of the core 2. It is also contemplated that the anvil may be secured to the core by screw threads or the equivalent. Between the anvil and the firing pin a primer charge H such as fulminate of mercury or heavy metal azide in interposed. The firing pin extends into the primer charge and is adapted to crush the charge and ignite it upon impact of the bullet.

Upon firing of the projectile the force of setback will hold the firing pin to its seat at the rear of the bore. The high degree of heat developed by the explosion of the propellent charge and by friction as a result of the passage of the projectile through the barrel and the air will soften the seal which holds the firing pin to its seat. Upon impact of the projectile the firing pin will tend to continue forward as the projectile is retarded and will crush the priming compound against the anvil. The resulting explosion will pass to the rear around the firing pin and into the main charge to initiate the same.

I claim:

A bullet comprising a hollow core, a main charge in said core, a jacket enveloping said core and terminating at its forward end in a solid nose separated from the end of the core, said core having an axial bore in its forward end forming a priming chamber, a priming charge in said chamber, said chamber having a restricted passage communicating directly with the main charge. the restricted passage having a shoulder adjacent its forward end, a firing pin normally seated on. said shoulder and extending into the priming.' charge, fusible means holding the firing pin seat-- ed until after firing, said means adapted to be sufficiently melted by the firing of the bullet to release said firing pin to arm the bullet, an anvil filling the space between the front end of the core and the nose of the jacket and having a portion extending into the priming chamber against which the firing pin crushes the priming charge upon impact of the bullet to ignite the priming change.

RICHARD N. NELSON

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