US3245347A - Explosive destructor pistol - Google Patents

Description

April 12, 1966 J. HOMZA E EXPLOSIVE DESTRUCTOR PISTOL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 50, 1963 INVENTOR.

John Homza By Charles A. Lew/s W ATTORNEY.

April 12, 1966 J, HOMZA ET AL 3,245,347

EXPLOSIVE DESTRUGTOR PISTOL Filed Sept. 30, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 55 INVENTOR lo/m Homza FIG 6 BY Char/es A. Lew/s ATTORNEY. mfmesm.

EXPLOSIVE DESTRUCTOR PISTOL Aprifi 12, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 30, 1963 FIG, 4

. 5a 57, 2v J 66 52 59 5 65 k z l f /j I I/A-l/VENTOR, .10 n omza F I 5 By Charles A. Lewis M ATTORNEY.

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United States Patent Ofifice 3,245,347 Patented Apr. 12, 1966 3,245,347 EXPLGSIVE DESTRUCTOR PISTOL John Homza, Lanham, and Charles A. Lewis, Silver Spring, Md, assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Sept. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 312,786 Claims. (Cl. 102-16) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates generally to a fuzing device for arming and firing an exposive charge and more particularly to a new and improved mechanism capable of being operable by the application of hydrostatic pressure for moving a delay type detonator into operative relation with an exposive charge associated therewith for detonating the exposive charge a predetermined period of time after it is released in prescribed water depths.

Heretofore, in providing for delayed arming in destructor or depth changes for use in mine clearance, it has been the practice to incorporate Within the charge case itself both mechanical timing units, such as spring wound clock mechanisms, and independent electrical power supply means for firing the detonator. Although such devices have served the purpose, the components required to perform the fuzing functions therein have been relatively complex and expensive, and in order to sterilize the charge it has been necessary to positively remove and/ or short out the independent electrical power supply.

The general purpose of this invention is to provide an exposive charge pistol which embraces all the advantages of similarly employed explosive charge pistols and possesses none of the aforedescribed disadvantages. T0 attain this, the present invention contemplates the use of a new and improved explosive :destructor piston having comparatively few components, none of which are complex in nature, so incorporated as to be actuated by hydrostatic pressure to align the elements of an explosive train.

The piston of the present invention is installed in the charge case which is towed underwater from a surface vehicle Via an electrical tow line and release mechanism. When the charge is over the target, the release mechanism is actuated. At this point the arming mechanism is unlocked and the delay detonators are simultaneously initiated. The charge descends in the water and is detonated a predetermined period of time later. The arming mechanism includes a piston, shutter and pin and is normally locked by a unique assembly of locking rods. When the mechanism is unlocked, hydrostatic pressure drives the piston axially in the pistol. A helical groove in the shutter and the pin protruding radially from the piston convert this axial mot-ion to rotational motion of the shutter, .to which is attached a barrier containing twin explosive leads. On arming, these leads explosively align the train. The detonators initiate these leads which in turn initiate the booster and the main charge. It can be seen, therefore, that the presently disclosed device provides a means for arming and firing while being used to detonate an explosive charge used to destroy or render inoperable sea bottom mines with an adequate level of safety.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a fuzing device for detonating an explosive charge which is relatively simple in construction and economical to produce, which has a positive arming action and which does not depend on stored energy for firing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved hydrostatically-operated means for arming and firing an explosive charge in time delayed relation.

A further object is to provide a new and improved hydrostatically-operated safety device comprising a rotatable shutter containing explosive leads that are initially misaligned with a detonator and booster when in the unarmed position to prevent accidental or premature firing, and means responsive to the application of a predetermined amount of hydrostatic pressure for rotating the shutter to the armed position.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred form of the explosive destructor pistol in its loaded state, but in a disarmed position;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of FIG. 1 showing the locking rods in their closed positions;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view of the release mechanism used with the explosive destructor pistol;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional cut-away showing the plunger of the release mechanism out of position.

Referring now to the drawings for a more complete understanding of the invention and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown thereon a housing 10 containing the explosive destructor pistol of the present invention, generally indicated by the numeral 11. The pistol is furnished with an arming mechanism generally indicated by the numeral 12 comprising a hollow piston-like member 13 reciprocably mounted within the housing, a shutter 14 and a pin 15. The piston 13 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 16 on the inner peripheral surface thereof, adapted to receive a pin 17 projecting outwardly from a cylindrical member 18 upon which the piston is mounted. The cylindrical member 18, which contains a striker assembly and a pair of delay detonators 22, is mounted in radially spaced relation within the housing 10 and is fixed thereto by means of screws 19 threaded into a flanged portion 21) of member 18. The mating pin 17 and slot 16 prevent relative rotation between piston 13 and cylinder 18, while permitting reciprocal movement of the piston during the arming operation. O-rings 21 and 21a provide a watertight seal between the piston and the housing.

Coil spring 23 is biased between the inner surface 24 of piston 13 and a flange 25 on collar 26. Collar 26 is freely positioned on cylinder 18, but normally is held fast against a circumferential flange 27 on cylinder 18 by the spring 23. Thereby, the coil spring 23 essentially acts between the flange 27 and surface 24 to maintain the piston 13 on cylinder 18 at one end thereof, adjacent the flanged portion 20. However, when the hydrostatic pressure in annular space 28, defined by housing 10, cylinder 18 and closed end 29 of the piston, becomes sufficiently great, piston 13 compresses spring 23 and moves axially within the housing.

The shutter 14 is a tubular element having an outwardly extending flange 30 that is mounted on cylinder 18 in overlapping relation with the open end 31 of piston 13. Pin 15, carried by piston 13 and projecting inwardly barrier taken along thereof, fits into a helical groove 32 in shutter 14, where-,

by axial movement of piston 13 causes pin 15 to slide in helical groove 32 to rotate shutter 14 about bearing sleeve 33 and cylinder 18. Attached to the end of the shutter 14 by means of screws 34 threaded into flange 30 is a barrier 35 containing twin explosive leads 36, shown in FIG. 2, which are not aligned with the detonators 22 in the unarmed position thereby providing a safety device to prevent accidental or premature firing. After the shutter 14 has been rotated the explosive leads 36 align with the detonators 22 to complete the train to the booster charge 37, the container of which threadedly engages housing It) at the end adjacent barrier 35. The dual firing lines insure detonation of the booster and main charge (not shown) in case one firing line fails to ignite.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown therein the unique locking rod assembly which provides an additional safety device for the present invention. The assembly is made up of three rods 38, each being connected to piston 13 by a pivotal link 39 and a connecting arm 41. The arms 41 pass through apertures 42 in housing 10 and are in threaded engagement with the closed end 29 of piston 13. As indicated, the rods 38 are folded flush against surface 43 of housing 10 and held there by the release mechanism presently to be described, further maintaining the arming mechanism 12 in its unarmed position.

The release mechanism for the explosive destructor pistol is shown in FIGS. 4 and and is generally indicated by the numeral 44. The mechanism 44 is releasably attached to the pistol 11 in a manner to be described with tubular end portion 45 inserted into a central bore 46 in housing so that the surface 47 of release 44 rests flush against surface 43 of housing 10, holding locking rods 38 in their closed positions. An electrical tow line (not shown) is appropriately connected to release 44 through an aperture in the end of cap 48.

Plunger 49 in release 44 is normally held in it rearward position by spring 51 acting against internal flange 52 in the release mechanism and a circular groove 53 in plunger 49. Stem 54 of plunger 49 includes a shoulder 55 having slanted surfaces 56 and 57 and flat surface 58 slideably mounted in tubular end portion 45. As shown in FIG. 5, slanted surface 56 of shoulder 55 is in contact with ball detents 59 which are maintained within tube 45 by means of crimped sections 61, freely rotatable in holes 62, prior to insertion of the release 44 into the pistol 11.

When the release is to be connected to the pistol, tubular end portion is inserted into bore 46. An explosive driver is then inserted into release 44 in place of block 63, forcing plunger 49 forward so that flat surface 53 of shoulder 55 pushes balls 59 past crimped sections 61. Balls 59 then extend out of holes 62 in contacting relationship with slanted lateral surface 64 in bore 46 of housing 10, as shown in FIG. 6, locking the release to the pistol.

The release 44 is actuated by applying a signal through the electrical tow line in a known manner to initiate the explosive driver (not shown). This action compresses spring 51 and forces plunger 49 still further forward till spring clip 65 engages shoulder 66 of plunger 49, preventing the return of the plunger under the action of spring 51. The rapid forward movement of plunger 49 causes the reduced end portion 67 thereof to hit striker assembly 40 to ignite the delayed action detonators 22 in cylinder 18. At the same time, balls 59 are permitted to recede entirely within holes 62 in contact with the rear slanted surface 57 of shoulder 55, to detach the release mechanism from the pistol.

The explosive destructor pistol operates in the following manner. The explosive destructor pistol is installed in the main charge case and is towed underwater from a surface vehicle via an electrical tow line and a release mechanism. When the charge is over the target a signal is applied through the tow line initiating an explosive driver that causes a plunger 49 to hit striker 40 to in turn initiate delay detonators 22 and simultaneously detach the release mechanism 44 from the pistol 11, permitting the main charge and the enclosed pistol to descend. As

the release is pulled away from the pistol, hydrostatic pressure forces piston 13 to move axially within housing 10, drawing locking rods 38 through apertures 42. The axial movement of piston 13 is converted into rotary motion of shutter 14 by means of pin 15 and helical groove 32 in the shutter. The explosive leads 36 in barrier 35, which is fixed to shutter 14, are now aligned with the detonators 22 to provide a direct firing path to detonate booster 37, and subsequently the main charge.

It can be seen, therefore, that a delayed action arming device has been provided having mechanism actuated by hydrostatic pressure to align the elements of an explosive train and incorporating delay detonators and unique locking rods as safety features.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for initiating a mine destructor comprising an elongated housing,

a booster charge of explosive mounted in and closing one end of said housing for detonating the main charge of said destructor,

a delay detonator means supported in said housing and located near said booster,

a barrier element rotatably mounted in said housing between said delay detonator means and said booster,

explosive leads carried by said barrier element so disposed that said leads are normally out of axial alignment with said delay detonator means and said booster thereby providing a safety means,

a spring-biased piston normally positioned adjacent to the other end of said housing and movable axially therein in response to the application of hydrostatic pressure,

means operable upon movement of said piston for rotating said barrier element for completing an ex plosive train between said delay detonator means and said booster,

means for locking said piston in its normal position with the explosive train interrupted,

impact means slidable within said housing for initiating said delay detonator means,

and electroresponsive means for simultaneously releasing said locking means and actuating said impact means.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the barrier element is carried by a shutter and the means for rotating the barrier element comprises a pin fixed to the piston and slidable in a helical groove in said shutter, whereby the shutter and the barrier element afiixed thereto are rotated as the piston is moved axially by hydrostatic pressure.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said delay detonator means is supported within a cylinder centrally mounted in said housing in radially spaced relation therewith and said piston is an element having a central bore therein for receiving said cylinder,

said piston having an internal annular groove and an external annular grove,

and O-ring sealing means in said grooves for maintaining said piston in a slidable, sealed relationship with said housing and said cylinder.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said other end of said housing has provided therein a plurality of apertures,

and said locking means for said piston comprises a cor responding plurality of arms attached to said piston and extending through said apertures, and rod members pivotally linked to the free ends of said arms adapted to lie flush against the flat outer surface of said other end of said housing.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein said piston 5 6 is a hollow element open at one end and closed at the References Cited by the Examiner other end, said closed end having a bore the-rein for re- UNITED STATES PATENTS celvlflgsalfl cyhnderi 2,877,708 3/1959 Rey 102 27 said cyhnder having a flange on the outer peripheral 6 2994272 8/1961 Saunderson X surface th r 3,048,111 8/1962 Baker et a1. 10216 X and said piston-biasing spring being a coil spring 3,162,127 12/1964 Breslow et a1. 102-27 X compressed between the internal surface of said closed end of said piston and said flange on said BENJAMIN BORCHELT Pnmm'y Exammw' cylinder. V. R. PENDEGRASS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A DEVICE FOR INTITATING A MINE DESTRUCTOR COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOUSING, A BOOSTER CHARGE OF EXPLOSIVE MOUNTED IN AND CLOSING ONE END OF SAID HOUSING FOR DETONATING THE MAIN CHARGE OF SAID DESTRUCTOR, A DELAY DETONATOR MEANS SUPPORTED IN SAID HOUSING AND LOCATED NEAR SAID BOOSTER, A BARRIER ELEMENT ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING BETWEEN SAID DELAY DETONATOR MEANS AND SAID BOOSTER, EXPLOSIVE LEADS CARRIED BY SAID BARRIER ELEMENT SO DISPOSED THAT SAID LEADS ARE NORMALLY OUT OF AXIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID DELAY DETONATORR MEANS AND SAID BOOSTER THEREBY PROVIDING A SAFETY MEANS, A SPRING-BIASED PISTON NORMALLY POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE OTHER END OF SAID HOUSING AND MOVABLE AXIALLY THEREIN IN RESPONSE TO THE APPLICATION OF HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE, MEANS OPERABLE UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON FOR ROTATING SAID BARRIER ELEMENT FOR COMPLETING AN EXPLOSIVE TRAIN BETWEEN SAID DELAY DETONATOR MEANS AND SAID BOOSTER, MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID PISTON IN ITS NORMAL POSITION WITH THE EXPLOSIVE TRAIN INTERRUPTED, IMPACT MEANS SLIDABLE WITHIN SAID HOUSING FOR INITIATING SAID DELAY DETONATOR MEANS, AND ELECTROESPONSIVE MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY RELEASING SAID LOCKING MEANS AND ACTUATING SAID IMPACT MEANS.

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