US2911913A - Firing pin mechanism for hand grenades - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 10, 1959 K. suN 2,911,913

FIRING PIN MECHANISM FOR HAND GRENADES Filed Nov. 28, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 10, 1959 K. H. SUNDEN FIRING PIN MECHANISM FOR HAND GRENADES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 28, 1956 Nov. 10, 1959 K. H. SUNDEN 2,911,913

FIRING PIN MECHANISM FOR HAND GRENADES Filed Nov. 28, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet s United States aten 2,911,913 FIRING PIN MECHANISM FOR HAND GRENADES :Karl Henrik Sunden, Lindesberg, Sweden Application November 28, 1956, Serial No. 624,893 I 1 Claim. (Cl. 102-64) The present invention relates to a firing pin mechanism for hand grenades and similar weapons, in which the firing pin, which is arranged to strike the primer of a detonator or the like, is disposed on a hammer pivotally mounted in the frame of the mechanism, said hammer being retained in a cocked position by a handle or the like serving as a safety means for the thrower, which handle is moved aside, when the grenade is thrown, through the action of the pivoting motion of the hammer, so that the firing pin can strike the primer. The essentially characteristic feature of the mechanism is that the hammer is provided with one or more extensions which are arranged to engage with the handle both when the grenade is secured and when it is thrown, so as to prevent the firing pin from engaging the handle, and thus ensure that the firing pin is not deformed when it strikes the primer.

For a better understanding of the invention two preferred embodiments thereof as applied to a firing pin mechanism for hand grenades will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the mechanism according to one embodiment, disposed on a hand grenade, hammer 6 adjacent pin 3 being partly broken away to show the engagement of spring end 10 therewith;

Fig. 2 is a lateral view, partly in section, of the mechanism according to the other embodiment, also disposed on a hand grenade; and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are respectively lateral, top and front views of the hammer with the firing pin.

Reference numeral 1 designates the hand grenade proper which is provided with the firing pin mechanism 2 whose firing pin 3 is arranged to strike the primer 5 of the detonator 4 when the grenade is thrown, so that said primer is ignited in order to make the grenade 1 explode.

The firing pin 3 preferably is an integral part of a hammer 6 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 8 included in the frame 7 of the mechanism. A firing pin spring 9 cooperates with the hammer 6. That spring consists, in the embodiment shown, of a helical spring mounted on the shaft 8 and having one of its ends 10 engaging with the hammer 6, while its other end 11 engages with the frame 7.

The hammer 6 is retained in its secured position by the handle 12 or a similar securing means, the end 13 of which is of hook shape and engages with a projection 14 or the like in the frame 7. During transport the handle 12 is retained in position by a safety needle 15. The safety needle passes with one of its two legs 15 through holes 16 both in the handle 12 and in the frame 7, its other leg 15" overlying handle 12. The frame 7 is also provided with holes 17 which are covered by the side portions 18 of the handle 12 in the illustrated position, wherein the grenade is secured by the handle 12. When the handle 12 is swung to the position in which the holes 17 are uncovered, a steel wire can be introduced into the holes 17 to lock the cock 6, whereupon the handle 12 can be removed without the mechanism being released, which is of importance in order that the grenade may be armed or assembled, and inspected.

As appears from Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the hammer 6 and the firing pin mounted adjacent it preferably are made of a single piece of sheet metal. That piece consists of a plane portion 20, which is parallel to the shaft 8, and a pair of legs or extensions 21 bent at right angles to the plane portion 20. Between the legs 21 the firing pin 3 projects from the plane portion 20, the legs 21 extending outside the point of the firing pin 3, so that said point is protected during its movement towards the primer 5. In order that the legs 21 may not prevent the firing pin 3 from striking the rimer 5, the legs are spaced a distance from each other which is greater than the width of the detonator 4 at the primer 5. The legs 21 preferably are spaced such a distance from each other as to be guided by the parallel upstanding sides of the frame 7.

The legs 21 have portions 22 which are provided with oppositely located holes 23 for rotatably mounting the hammer 6 on the shaft 8. The portions 22 are shaped as cams 24 outside the holes 23. The outer edges of these cams extend above the upper edges 25 of the frame 7 when the firing pin is in the released or fired position, so that the handle 12 cannot be secured to the mechanism in that position. On one side of the earns 24 the portions 22 are further shaped to form notches 26 with which a steel wire, when placed through the holes 17, is adapted to engage when the grenade is to be armed or inspected, as described above.

The plane portion 20 of the piece of sheet metal is pro- "vided on each side of the firing pin 3 with a groove 27. One of the grooves 27 forms a support for one end 10 of the screw spring 9, while the other groove 27 forms a space for the other end 11 of the spring 9, which end engages with the frame 7. The grooves 27 are formed by bending or pressing of the plane portion 20, whereby bulges 28 are formed in the side of the plane portion 20 which is remote from the grooves 27. These bulges 28 are arranged to come down against the top of the detonator 4 when the firing pin 3 strikes the primer 5. This ensures that the plane portion 20 cannot prevent the gases from flowing out from the detonator after the time fuse 29 therein has been ignited.

The embodiment according to Fig. 2 differs from the one shown in Fig. 1 only in that it is provided with an additional safety means. This consists of a member 30 formed of a metal sheet or the like which is pivotally mounted at its upper right hand corner (as seen in Fig. 2) upon the handle 12. When the grenade is secured by the said additional safety means, notches 31 in the member 30 engage with projections 32 on the frame 7 so that the handle 12 cannot swing around its end 13 and so cannot be removed from the hand grenade 1. In this position a leaf spring 33 on the member 30, which is provided with a thumb grip 34, engages with the end 13 of the handle 12. The additional safety means is released by the member 30 being swung around its upper right corner pivot by means of thumb pressure applied at 34 against the action of the leaf spring 33, so that the notch 31 no longer engages with the projections 32. The said additional safety means may consequently be secured or released quite easily by means of the throwing hand.

In the secured or cocked position the parts occupy the position shown in Fig. 1. After the safety needle 15, including leg 15', has been removed and the additional safety means has been released, the hammer 6 tends to move the handle 12 aside through the action of the firing pin spring pressing the legs or extensions 21 of cock 6 against the inner side of handle 12, so that the hammer by the throwing hand against the hand grenade 1. When: the grenade 1 is released from the hand, the handle 12 is turned by the hammer 6 about the projection14, then handle 12 swings clear, and hammer 61 swings firing pin 3' so as to strike the primer. When the handle 12' turns, the legs or extensions 21 engage therewith all the time, for which reason the firing pin 3 cannot touch handle 12 and therefore is not deformed when it strikes the primer 5'.

As appears from the drawings, the legs 21 extend a substantial distance from the shaft 8, which ensures that the legs 21 throw the handle 12 from the hand grenade when the grenade is thrown.

.The invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings but may be varied in numerous ways within the scope of the appended claim. 7

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: A firing mechanism for a grenade, said grenade comprising a detonator having an outer end portion with a primer therein, comprising a frame on said grenade, pivot means on said frame, a hammer rotatably mounted on said pivot means, a firing spring mounted between said frame and said hammer and urging said hammer to rotate around said pivot means toward said outer end portion of said detonator, a safety handle having a safety position engaging said hammer to hold it in a cocked position away from said detonator, said hammer having a fired position disengaged from said handle and engaging said outer end portion of said detonator, a firing pin on said hammer engaging said primer in said fireduposition, said hammer comprising a pair of spaced parallel legs joined by a crosspiece spaced from said pivot means, said firing pin; 136mg? on said crosspiece, said legs having hammer, extensions which extend beyond said firing pin on the" side thereof opposite said pivot'means, said handle having a hook portion detachably engaging said frame in said safety position, said hammer. extensions engaging said safety handle in this position to apply an outward force to said handle for swinging the latter around its hook portion without said handle contacting said firing pin.

ReferencesCited in: the file ofi this patent r FOREIGN-PATENTS Great Britain Sept: 1,1954

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