US3179048A - Device to provoke underwater explosions - Google Patents

Description

JosE MENA Y vlEYRA DE ABREU 3,179,048

DEVICE TO PROVOKE UNDERWATER EXPLOSIONS Filed March l2, 1962 April 2o, 196s 3 Sheets-Sheet FIG. 7

Inventor 30S?. MENA y VIEYRA DE ABREU By W and uw? Attorneys April 20, 1965 JOSE MENA Y vn-:YRA DE ABREU 3,179,048

DEVICE TO PROVOKE UNDERWATER EXPLOSIONS Filed March l2, 1962 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor :os MENA y vlayRA be ABREU By maud@ Attorneys April 20, 1965 JOSE MENA Y vlEYRA DE ABRI-:U 3,179,048

DEVICE T0 PROVOKE UNDERWATER EXPLOSIONS Filed March l2, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ma@ 20mm mndA v A M HR I w United States Patent Ofice 'l'lh@ Patented Apr. 20, 1965 DEVECE T PRGVUKE UNDERWATER EXPLSlONS .lose Mena y Vieyra de Abreu, lisas-c Peral S, Madrid, Spain Filed Mar. l2, i962, Ser. No. 179,l25 Claims priority, application Spain, Mar. 25, 196]., 266,966 Claims. (ci. rc2-7) The object of the presen-t invention relates to a device to provoke underwater explosions, as described hereinafter in a broad and unlimited sense.

The most outstanding general features are the simplicity of the divers mechanisms or constitutive elements, the great precision of performance and the permanent guarantee of proper safety.

Another important feature consists in that the charge or mines fitted with this new device, do not explode upon impact with the liquid mass, whether launched by special means, by hand or from aircraft, in no matter which manner of construction, as it can only act under water and precisely in virtue of the hydrostatic pressure applied thereto.

Furthermore, the sinking speed of the projectile will not delay or advance the moment of explosion, as such is produced by the actual hydrostatic pressure in cooperation with a coil spring that is described hereinafter.

The fuzes that are fitted with this new device can be mounted for an indefinite period of time to their charges or mines, destitute of any risks or danger whatsoever, as the detonator can be kept separately and coupled thereto at the precise moment of launching the projectile; an operation that only requires a very short space of time, i.e., a few seconds of attention.

Moreover, the mines or charges can be provided with variable amounts of explosive in compliance with the desired effects.

For a better comprehension of the object referred to herein, the present specihcation ls accompanied by three sheets of drawings, exclusively by way of an example, illustrating therein the divers parts that constitute same and their mutual cooperation.

Said drawings represent:

First @rara-This figure is a longitudinal section of the device constituting the `object of the present invention, showing therein the following elements: l--The lid or cover that hermetically seals the device and which is held to the head portion thereof by means of a screw thread to ensure a perfect seal. Said cover efficiently protects all functional organs, in particular the safety and firing elements. Z--The water inlet valve that is threaded to the central and upper portion of said head portion. 3 The orifice applied to the upper portion of the valve 2 to facilitate inspection of the position of the inertia safety element. Ll-Several peripheral orifices that are applied to the valve 2 for the `'admission of water to the internal portion of the device in order to eifect a thrust of the firing piston, by means of hydrostatic pressure. S-The thread required for mounting the valve 2 to the head of the device. ti-The same peripheral orifices as cited in 4 and which permit the insertion of the corresponding transport safety element through two of the referred to perforations that are placed in pairs in an opposed diametral sense. 7--The transport safety device constituted by a rigid element provided at one of its ends with a conveniently curved portion to limit penetration of this transport safety element to the orifices cited in d. This corresponds to the mounting of a knuckle apt to rotate in both directions so that, when placed in the longitudinal position, it will facilitate the insertion and extraction of said transport safety element through the orifices d, 6 and i3, whereas when placed in the transversal position, it will prevent the extraction or dropping out of said safety element. 9-The angular curved portion of the transport safety element, This safety device 7 when properly applied is completely accommodated inside the cover il. li-The head of the device, of a sensibly circular shape that extends forming a cylindrical appendage to encircle a second central appendage that accommodates the firing elements. li- The thread applied to the head portion it) and into which the cover l is screwed. i12-The firing piston constituted by a cylindrical body mounted by means of a diametral difference to the internal portion of the likewise cylindrical body i9, constituting the central appendage of the missile. Although said piston l2 has to slide along the appendage i9, the adjustment thereof is such that no water can penetrate to the space between both elements. 11i-The bore applied to the inertia safety element, for insertion of `the transport safety device 7 when said orice is at the height of the perforations 4;, 6, thus guaranteeing a permanent retention of the inertia safety element, while the transport safety device has not been withdrawn. ld-The balls that operate in combination with the inertia safety element. A variable number of Said balls are lodged in the bores applied to the firing piston l2 susceptible to being displaced laterally both toward the inside as also the outside of the piston l2, not dropping out or leaving their seating due to the periphery of the referred to bores being properly flanged.

When the inertia safety element is placed sensibly in the position shown in FIGS. l and 2, the balls are thereby thrust outwardly and thus the piston l2 cannot descend although the transport safety device 7 is removed, in Virtue of the balls lll overtopping the external diameter of the piston l2 and cannot descend more than beyond the step 15 and thereby block the descent of the piston. lS-The heretofore mentioned step, located in the top portion of the head. ld-The inertia safety element constituted by a cylindrical body placed in a slideable manner inside the firing piston l2, while furthermore ensuring, between said piston and the inertia lsafety element, the required watertightness, same as between the firing piston and the appendage i9, so as to prevent water penetrating to the inside. l-The helicoidal spring that is mounted inside the firing piston yand in the hollow portion of the inertia safety element, whose constant thrust prevents the descent of said inertia safety element after the transport safety device has been removed.

The thrust coeicient of this spring is calculated scientifically so that at the predetermined depth, the hydrostatic pressure will provoke the displacement of the inertia safety element, thereby overcoming the resistance exerted by the said spring i7. lS-The cylinder or central chamber through which the firing piston 12 slides. 9-The appendage that encircles the aforementioned chamber 1S. Mii-The detonator mounted inside a fuze cap holder constituted by mounting same to this effect, by means of a thread to the lower central portion of the piston l2. 2li-The detonator shutter located between the fulminating cap and the striker pin.

This shutter is constituted by two superposed washers compressing between same a tinfoil disk, or the like, so as to insulate an eventual explosion of the cap Zt while ensuring a hermetic seal of the explosive. ,Z2-The striker pin located in a position facing the fuhninant of the detonator 2li. ZS-The base of the firing pin constituted by a circular element holding said pin 22 in the center thereof. 24E-*The multiplier explosive provided with a two diameter axil bore, of which the top bore is the larger to enable a passage for the detonator, so that detonation is produced in the precise center of the multiplier explosive.

The lower portion, that of a smaller diameter, enables the passage of the striker pin, adjusted to the walls thereof in order to avoid decentration and to ensure a permanent location of same in front of the detonator cap. ZS-The air expansion chamber. z-The thread for holding the upper and lower bodies. E27-The cover or lower appendage containing the multiplier explosive. ZS-The thread applied to facilitate holding the new device containing the charge or mine. 29The bore applied as air inlet.

Second figura- This ligure represents a detail in a longitudinal section of the device, identifying therein the possibility of placing one or several supplementary elements in the internal chamber of the firing piston 12, for the purpose of ensuring a greater tension of the helicoidal spring 1.7, said supplementary elements acting as regulators, in virtue of which the explosion will be produced at a greater depth due to an increase of the hydrostatic pressure that is required to subdue the greater tension of said spring. Sil- Illustrates the referred to supplementary elements constituted by a determined number of disks made of an appropriate material and thickness to be able to comply with their mission. The thickness of each of these supplementary disks is scientifically calculated and experimentally tested, so that when placed underneath the helicoidal spring 17 they will increase the resistance that said spring exerts upon the advance movement of the inertia safety element 16 when submitted to hydrostatic pressure. This increase of resistance, apt to be graduated, progressively, in accordance to whether one, two, three or several disks are utilized, provokes firing, progressively, at a greater depth as will be described hereinafter.

Third figura-This ligure is a sectional View of the referred to device when utilized as a fuze for a charge or mine, of a large variety of dimensions and shapes. 3l- Represents the body of the charge or mine that is mounted to the device by means of the thread Z3.

From the exposed idea it is understood that the cited device can be utilized as a separate element (FIG. l), or else coupled to charges or mines (FIG. 3), of a large variety of dimensions and shapes.

in the first instance (individual or separate use), the explosive force will depend upon the volume and kind of explosive Z4. In the second instance, same will depend upon the force of the explosive 24 in combination with the explosive contained in the charge or mine 31.

In consequence thereof, the main applications in the tirst instance are as follows; submarine explosions of a reduced or regular power for prospection and research work, bathymetric exploitations, etc. Explosions destined to scare or destroy sharks or other harmful or dangerous species. Furthermore, it can be used against amphibian, as a defense against frog men, human torpedoes, divers and the like, as also for the transmission of signals by explosions, prior to an established code, to submarines and the like, as also in the destruction of torpedoes or drifting mines, etc.

Coupled as a fuze to charges or mines, it can be used against submarines and for large scale destruction.

The performance of the device is as follows (FIG. 1): After removing the lid or cover 1 and thereafter the transport safety element 7, the projectile is launched into the water. No matter the dropping force upon striking the liquid mass, a blocking of the ring piston will be ensured by the fact that the inertia safety element 16 which cannot descend while it is retained in its position by the spring 17, forces the balls 14 outwardly, so that the piston cannot descend as said balls, together with the piston thus constitute a catch that prevents its descent beyond the step 15.

As the projectile descends under the water, this latter penetrates through the central orice 3 as also the series of lateral orifices 4, 6 thus pushing against the inertia safety element 16 with an ever increasing force in accordance with the increase of depth and, consequently also, of the hydrostatic pressure.

In virtue of this thrust, the inertia safety element 16 is caused to advance slowly and will thus progressively compress the helicoidal spring 17 until the inertia safety element 16, in its advance movement overrides the step 15, at which moment the tiring operation takes place in the following manner: When the upper portion of the inertia safety element 16 overrides the line of said balls, i.e., the step 1S, it will cease to push said balls outwardly and thus as the hydrostatic pressure acts not alone upon the inertia safety element 16, but likewise upon the entire section of the firing piston 12, this piston will consequently violently shoot downward as the balls 14 are no longer retained, whereas said balls during the advance of the piston i2 will be pushed by the step 15 toward the internal portion of said piston, practically without offering any resistance whatsoever. It is therefore that, the piston 12 will advance rapidly in virtue of the thrust exerted by the hydrostatic pressure, thus precipitating the detonator 2? against the tiring pin 22;, after having broken, during its advance, the tinfoil, or the like, disk that is located in the central portion of the shutter 21. By this means the firing pin 22 produces the explosion of the detonator inside the multiplier explosive 24, so that thereby a perfect tiring of said multiplier explosive is ensured.

When the described missile is utilized coupled to charges or mines as a fuze, the performance thereof is identical, while making use of the detonation of said multiplier explosive Zd to provoke a complete explosion of the charge or mine in question, that is coupled thereto in a similar manner to such as is illustrated in FEG. 3.

As has already been described, the tension of the helicoidal spring i7 can be increased as desired by previously rated and calibrated disks 3i) as supplementary elements placed between said spring 17 and the detonator Ztl. By this means divers predetermined depths of explosion can be obtained besides those of the initial tension of the helicoidal spring 17 by a corresponding correction ofthe depth regulating disk or disks.

Having made the preceding description, it should be stressed that the details of realization of the exposed idea are variable without thereby changing the essence of the invention, which is such as is described in the foregoing paragraphs and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An underwater explosive device adapted to fire at preselected fixed depths, comprising a tubular housing closed at the bottom, an explosive in the bottom portion of the housing, said explosive having a well in the upper surface thereof in which a striker pin extends, the upper portion of the housing being partially closed by a head having an inwardly and downwardly disposed cylinder opening both upwardly and downwardly, a tubular piston slidably disposed in said cylinder to move under hydrostatic pressure, a detonator secured at the bottom of the piston and positioned to strike said striker pin upon downward movement of the piston, a second piston slideable in said tubular piston, biasing means positioned between said rst and second pistons urging them apart and including means for varying the compression of said biasing means for selectively controlling the depth of detonation, said tubular piston having at least one orice in its wall, a groove in said cylinder aligned with said orifice and positioned in an upper location, and movable detent means seated in said orifice and groove and retained therein by said second piston to prevent initial downward movement of the tubular piston, said second piston being movable by hydrostatic pressure opposed by said biasing means a sufficient distance to uncover said orifice to permit said movable detent means to drop out of said groove and orifice freeing the tubular piston for rapid downward movement under hydrostatic pressure and pressure of said biasing means to strike said detonator against the tiring pin.

2. An underwater explosive device according to claim l wherein said tubular piston is a cylinder having a closure wall at its bottom, said second piston is a safety cylinder slidable within the bore of said tubular piston and having a closure wall at its top, said biasing means being a compression spring seated on the bottom closure wall of the tubular piston and bearing against the upper closure wall of the safety cylinder.

3. An underwater explosive device according to claim 2 wherein said tubular piston has a wall portion extending above the top of said housing head with at least one opening therein, there being further provided a removable safety bar passing into said opening to prevent downward movement of the tubular piston, an upward projection from said safety cylinder wall having an opening capable of alignment with said opening in the piston wall portion and adapted to receive said safety bar for also locking the safety cylinder .against downward movement, a cap removably secured to said head, a cover removably secured to said head and enclosing said cap and said safety bar, said cap lying within a hollow portion of said cover, said cap having aligned openings for passage of said safety bar and passage of water to the safety cylinder and tubular piston upon removal of the safety bar, and said removable cap having a central aperture for visual inspection and passage of water to the safety cylinder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,314,662 9/19 Huber 102-7 1,314,665 9/19 Huber 10?.-7 1,514,743 11/24 Taylor 102-7 2,340,695 2/44 Rothrock 102-24 2,850,974 9/58 De Abreu 10.2-7 3,031,963 5/62 De Abreu 102-7 X BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL FEINBERG, SAMUEL BOYD, Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. AN UNDERWATER EXPLOSIVE DEVICE ADAPTED TO FIRE AT PRESELECTED FIXED DEPTHS, COMPRISING A TUBULAR HOUSING CLOSED AT THE BOTTOM, AN AXPLOSIVE IN THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE HOUSING, SAID EXPLOSIVE HAVING A WELL IN THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF IN WHICH A STRIKER PIN EXTENDS, THE UPPER PORTION OF THE HOUSING BEING PARTIALLY CLOSED BY A HEAD HAVING AN INWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY DISPOSED CYLINDER OPENING BOTH UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY, A TUBULAR PISTON SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN SAID CYLINDER TO MOVER UNDER HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE, A DETONATOR SECURED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PISTON AND POSITIONED TO STIRKE AND STRIKER PIN UPON DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE PISTON, A SECOND PISTON SLIDEABLE IN SAID TUBULAR PISTON, BIASING MEANS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND PISTONS URGING THEM APART AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR VARYING THE COMPRESSION OF SAID BISING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY CONTROLLING THE DEPTH OF DETONATION, SAID TUBULAR PISTON HAVING AT LEAST ONE ORIFICE IN ITS WALL, A GROOVE IN SAID CYLINDER ALIGNED WITH SAID ORIFICE AND POSITIONED IN AN UPPER LOCATION, AND MOVABLE DETENT MEANS SEATED IN SAID ORIFICE AND GROOVE AND RETAINED THEREIN BY SAID SECOND PISTON TO PREVENT INITIAL DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE TUBULAR PISTON, SAID SECOND PISTION BEING MOVABLE BY HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE OPPOSED BY SAID BIASING MEANS A SUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO UNCOVER ORIFICE TO PERMIT SAID MOVABLE DETENT MEANS TO DROP OUT OF SAID GROOVE AND ORIFICE FREEING THE TUBULAR PISTON FOR RAPID DOWNWARD MOVEMENT UNDER HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE AND PRESSURE OF SAID BIASING MEANS TO STIRKE SAID DETONATOR AGAINST THE FIRING PIN.

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