US2393275A - Method of making fragmentation bombs - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 22, 1946. J. c. WHITESELL, JR

METHOD OF MAKING FRAGMENTATION BOMBS Original Filed Sept. 4,. 1945 muuunnuflfllll illnll INVENTOR JOHN C.- WHI'IESELL, JR.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 22, 1946 METHOD OF MAKING FRAGMENTATION BOMBS John C. Whitesell, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa., assignor' to Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application September 4, 1943, Serial No.

501,202. Divided and this application September 27, 1944, Serial No. 556,068

1 Claim. (Cl. 29-l.21)

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 501,202, filed September 4, 1943.

This invention relates to that class of munitions known as fragmentation bombs, and particularly to improvements in the construction thereof and in the method of manufacturing the same.

One form of conventional fragmentation bomb embodies a cylindrical tube surrounded by a spirally wound wire fragmentation element and having at its nose and tail ends cup-shaped castings threaded thereto. The function of these castings is, in addition to supporting the stabilizing element and the detonators, to provide a means for holding the spiral fragmentation element in place. Such castings, however, do not contribute to the bombs fragmentation, but, as a matter of fact, since they overlap the ends of the cylindrical tube, tend to reduce the amount of possible maximum fragmentation.

The present invention has for its objects a new method of providing features of construction in a fragmentation bomb which will increase fragmentation to a veritable maximum, and an improved and economical method of construction and assembly by means of which fragmentation bombs can be rapidly and easily produced in quantity production.

With the above and other objects in view which will be apparent from the following detailed drawing, to those skilled in the art, the present invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, and then claimed.

In the drawing which illustrates a suitable embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a view of the fragmentation bomb, partially in section to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 1, but showing the bomb in the process of assembly.

Referring to the drawing in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the views, the fragmentation bomb constructed in accordance with the present invention embodies a tubular metal member ID whose interior wall forms the explosive chamber, a nose end element II for supporting a detonating device (not shown), a tail end element I2 for supporting a finned stabilizing element (not shown), the spirally wound wire fragmentation element I3, and a stream-lining cup I4 for the leading end of the bomb casing.

It is to be noted that the spring or fragmentation element I3, the individual coils of which may be of square or other suitable shape in crosssection, extends for the full length of the tubular metal member I0. By so extending the fragmentation element I3 for the full tube length, the amount of fragmentation is increased to a maximum since it is coextensive with the explosive charge to be contained within the tube III.

The various elements described as constituting the bomb casing are so constructed as to facilitate production in large quantities by simple operations.

The metal tubular member after being cut to length is swaged down on both ends to a diameter to snugly receive the nose and tail and elements or adaptors II and I2, respectively. The nose end adaptor II is in the form of an internally threaded sleeve and the tail end adaptor I2 is in the form of an externally threaded shouldered plug. These elements are such that they can be produced as screw machine products. The elements II and I2 snugly fit within the swageddown ends of the tube It) and are secured in place by arc welding, as indicated by the weld metal at I5 and I6, respectively, the welding being such as to provide an integral gas-tight connection between elements I I and I2 and the tube.

The spring or fragmentation element I3, the individual turns thereof firmly abutting each other, is formed on suitable coiling equipment in two sections I3a. and I3b, each tapering in diameter at one end according to the contour of the adjacent tube end. The coil sections I 3a and I 3b, as shown in Figure 3, are slipped on the tubular member I0 from its opposite ends into abutting relation. In this position the endmost turns of the coil abut the walls of the adjacent ends of the tube, the endmost turn of the section I3a closely surrounding the nose end adaptor II. The two coil sections are then are Welded together at the adjacent wire ends as indicated at H in Figures 1 and 2, the excess weld material being ground or filed 01f to present a smooth surface continuous with the coil surface. During the assembly of the coil sections I3a and I St, the free ends may be tacked by arc welding to the tube II] to prevent unwinding or pulling away from the ends of the tube. In the case of the trailing section I3b, the end turn may be welded directly to the tube ID as indicated at I8 in Figure 1, and the endmost turn of the leading sec- In order to better the aerodynamic effect at V the nose end of the bomb casing, the streamlining cup 14 is fitted over the' leadingendotcoil section 13a and may be tack welded in place as indicated by the weld metal .20, oriotherwise secured in place, as desired.

Suitable handling loops 2.I ;may2be.-se.cured =.to the fragmentation element l3 as desired.

The principal advantage of .the fragmentation bomb of the present invention isthathyiincreasing the length of spring wire which constitutes the fragmentation element, a more efiective bomb is produced with the same tube length-and explosive charge as .is employed in a conventional structure.

A 'further advantage resides in the Iactlthat by reducing the. machine work, through the limination of the conventional end cas'tings,;the unit cost of production isreduce'd.

It is to be understood that various changes may be made in the detailed procedure described without departing from the spirit and substance of the .present invention, .the scope of .which is deflnedibyithe appendedmla'im.

What is claimed is:

.In the manufacture of a fragmentation bomb, the steps of gradually decreasing the diameter of :theen'dsof --a tubular member to predetermined surface contour and length, spirally winding a pair .of .wire :elements to an internal diameter o'fsUbStantiaHy-Lthat of the diameter of the casing with the ;turns 'of each in engagement with each other andawith the turns at one end of each decreasing in diameter to the same degree as an end oftthe'tubular-member, telescoping the spirally wound relements over the tubular member from the opposite ends thereof to axially engage the ends thereof with the decreased-diameter ends of the tubular member and to register the end of the .wire of one wire element with thecorresponding end of the other wire element, and then rigidly securing said registeredends of the wire elements together. i

JOHN C. 'WHI IESELL, JR.

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