US1077989A - Bomb for use in connection with aeroplanes or flying-machines. - Google Patents

Description

H. s. MAXIM. BOMB FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AEROPLANES 0R FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

m o o o w m T: 5 {will} Ill L -l sass. M

Wime 2 a H.-S. MAXIM.

BOMB FOR. USE IN CONNECTION .WITH AEROPLANES 0R FLYING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26, 1912.

1,077,989, Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC,

HIBAM STEVENS MAXIM, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, .ASSIGNOR U VICKE RS LIMITED, 0]?

- WESTMINSTER, ENGLAND.

BOMB FOR USE IN'GONNEGTION WITH AEBQPLANES OB FLYING-MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Ryecotes, Dulwich Common, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Bombs for Use in Connection with Aeroplanes or Flying- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bombs for use in connection with aeroplanes or flying machines and particularly to bombs of the character in which a detonating charge is retained in a position remote from the main charge until the bomb is discharged or released.

For the effective and safe use of bombs for the purpose of attacking positions from aeroplanes or flying machines it is necessary that the bombs shall be capable of carrying a large charge of some very high explosive. and it is further necessary that the bomb is capable of being disposed or arranged so as to be immune from accidental or premature ignition or explosion except when it is discharged or dropped from the machine at the instance of the aviator. It is further necessary that the bomb be of such a character as to ofi'er the least resistance to the passage through the atmosphere while enabling the same to preserve a correct attitude for eflioient use when liberated from the flying machine.

According to this invention the bomb is secured with its axis in the direction of motion of the aeroplane or flying machine and the main body of the bomb containing the explosive charge is provided with a hollow extension containing a detonating charge which is retained in a position remote from the main charge until the bomb is liberated{ when a retaining stop or pin which depends from the machine is automatically with-' drawn. When this takes place the detonat-v ing charge is free to gravitate toward thev main charge and is ready for firing the. charge when the firing pin or the like is operated.

The invention further comprises improved dropping and securing gear and means for sighting or directing the bomb to the object or target.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed March 25, 1912.

Patented Nov. 11, 1913.

Serial No. 686,001.

effect I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which':

Figure l is an elevation showing the improved bomb attached to the aeroplane or flying machine. Fig. 2 is a section taken along the axial line of the bomb. Fig. 3.

j lindrical o-r'other convenient form within which is placed a charge of some high explosi-ve such as pic-ric acid either pure or in a a modified form. At a convenient distance from the cylindrical structure a and adapted to enter the same by means of a hollow or tubular connection a," is a small auxiliary or detonating charge a which may be composed partly of picric acid or other high explosive; a suitable primer a may be arranged in proximityto the firing pin a as shown, or be carried by the said charge a itself. The hollow or tubular connection a may be a continuation of a hollow core or tube 6 which traverses the receptacle or cylinder a, and within which the firing in a, is arranged in suitable relationship to t e main charge so that u on the detonating charge a enterin the ollow or tubular core Z situated within the cylinder a the firing of such detonatin charge by the firing pin or, will have the e ect of firing the main charge contained in the aforesaid receptacle or cylinder. The firing pin a is normally retalned in an inoperative posltion by means of small pin a which is adapted to be sheared from the machine by means of suitably formed hooks b or equivalent devices adapted to engage projections or clips 6 provided on the cylinder a; said hooks b being pivoted to the framework 1) of the machine and connected together by a rod or link 0 so that they may be simultaneously operated through the handle orlever 0. Arms or rods 0 and I) are attached to the machine and adapted to pass, the one, 0 into a gap or aperture a formed in the tubular connection a, the other I) engaging the firing pin a, or an extension thereof as hereinbefore described. The hooks b or equivalent devices may be readily actuated by means of the lever c, and, instead of the connecting rod 0, a crank or other suitable or equivalent contrivance may be provided for bringing about their simultaneous operation.

In the position of suspension from the machine, the arms ?2 and a have the effect of preventing the firing pin a being pushed in and of preventing the auxiliary charge a from moving forward into the firing position so that the apparatus is safe from accidental firing, as any shock or the like will have no effect as regards causing the picric acid to explode. The only means of firing or setting off the main charge is the strong detonating charge a which according to this -invention is Widely separated from the picric acid charge in the bomb when the apparatus is in the position referred to. In the event of an accident or a fall it is possible that the detonating or auxiliary charge a might be ignited or set off, but being situated remotely from the main charge the latter would not be affected thereby. The bomb is provided at the rear extremity with a tail piece 0 comprising guiding fins or wings a of any appropriate construction. By means of the tail piece 0 the bomb is enabled to preserve a vertical attitude and its course in the direction of the object or target when the latter has been sighted and.

the bomb discharged. In manipulatin the bomb, assuming the aviator is approac ing a point of attack, his

first care is to examine his barometer to ascertain the height he has attained from the earth and then by means of the device 03, Fig. 3, comprising a sector d, suitably marked to denote feet, yards or other designations of measurement, and a radial pivotally mounted sighting arm d and a pointer d associated therewith, 'he ascertains the position from which'he, can dis- F charge the bomb so as to insure the same 1 reaching the object or target.

This position is ascertained by moving the pointer (i to the graduation or figure onthe sector J denoting the height from the earth and by sighting the object or target alongthe arm d; When the desired position is reached during the travel or movement of the aeroplane mad I I or flying machine the bomb is released from the machine by means of the lever c or other contrivance as hereinbet'ore described. Thus the firing pin a is released from the arm I) and simultaneously a free passage is afforded for the auxiliary charge a to pass along the tubular connection a to the vicinity of the firing pin a". The bomb will then travel along the trajectory e illustrated in Fig. 4 in a more or less curved track. first with the speed of the" machine, but very soon it. will commence to fall rapidly and will ultimately arrive at a point in close proximity to that to which the sighting line 6 is directed. Thus the aviator is enabled to dispose of the bomb with a considerable degree of precision. When the bomb comes into contact with the object the retaining pin (L5 pertaining to the firing pin a is sheared and the firing pin a, is released and moves inward; the auxiliary charge (1 having traveled along the tubular connection a into close proximity to the pin a or the detonator a as the case may be the explosion is effected, the surrounding tube Z ruptured and the main charge exploded.

Assuming the sectord to be graduated in feet it may be marked with numerals indicating one hundred each so that the units 1 to 9 may indicate one hundred to nine hundredand the numeral 10 indicate one thousand feet.

In some cases it may be necessary to pro vide for the ignition or firing of the main charge to be delayed, for instance, for the purpose of enabling the aviator to get clear or beyond the range of the bomb he has deposited. In such a case the detonator a is arranged to fire a small quantity of a slow burning fuse -mixture or composition arranged in the small chamber or passage a, Fig. 2, so that when said fuse mixture has burned for the predetermined periodof timesay a quarter of a minute or sothe large detonating charge a which is in close proximity thereto is set off and ignites the main body of explosive in the cylinder. Thus time is afforded for the aviator to get out of the danger zone before the main charge is fired or exploded. 1 a

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is ze- 1. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or flying machines the combination of a main explosive charge, a detonating charge, 120 means for securing the bomb with its axial .line in the direction of'motion of the macuring the bomb with its axial line in the direction of motion ofthe machine and a tail piece for causing the bomb to assume a vertical attitude after being released and during its descent. I

3. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or flying machines, the combination of a main explosive charge, a detonatin charge adapted to gravitate toward. sai .maln charge, means for normally maintaining the said charges apart, hooksfor securing the bomb with its axial line in the direction of motion of the machine, means for disengaging said hooks from the bomb to release the same and a tail iece for causing the bomb to assume bomb is liberated, hooks for securing the bomb with its axial line in the direction of motion of the machine, means for disenga'g ing said hooks from the bomb to release the same, a firing pin in suitable relationship to the main charge and a tail piece whereby the bomb is caused to assume a vertical attitude after being released and during its descent. 1

5. In a bomb for use with aeroplanes or.

flying machines, the combination of a main body portion, an explosive charge therein, a central longitudinal passage in said, main body portion, a hollow extension on said main body portion, a detonating charge con,- tained in said hollow extension and capableof traversing the same, a pin for retaining said detonating charge in a position remote from the main charge until the bomb, is lib erated, catches for securin the bomb with its axial line in the direction of motion of l the machine, mechanism for disengaging.

said catches from the bomb, a firing pin at the fore end of the bomb, means for retaining said pin in the inoperative position and a tailiece for causing the bomb to assume a'vertical attitude after being released and during its descent.

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature in presence of two witnesses. I.

li-HRAM STEVENS MAXIM.

Witnesses:

HARRY Gr. L ons,

CH. BRASHEARS Barman,

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