Patentamt 0171534 JEuropaischesEuropean Patent Office Publication number: B1 Office europeen des brevets

EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

F42B 11/42 @ Date of publication of patent specification: 17.05.89 (bD Intel.4:

(§) Application number: 85106963.3 (22) Date of filing: 05.06.85

Bullet trap and bullet deflector in .

Priority: 11.06.84 US 619342 Proprietor: THE STATE OF ISRAEL MINISTRY OF DEFENCE ISRAEL MILITARY INDUSTRIES 64 Sderoth Bialik P.O.Box 1044 Date of publication of application: Ramat Hasharon 47 100 (IL) 19.02.86 Bulletin 86/08 Inventor: Gordon, Tsvi Joseph Publication of the grant of the patent: 31 Tchernihovsky Street 17.05.89 Bulletin 89/20 Jerusalem 92 587 (IL) Inventor: Moseinco, David 15/5 Beit Hakerem Street Designated Contracting States: Jerusalem 96 343 (IL) BEDEFRGBITNLSE (74) Representative: Altenburg, Udo, Dipl.-Phys. References cited: etal AT-B-341378 Patent- und Rechtsanwalte Bardehle- DE-A-2428 624 Pagenberg-Dost-Altenburg & Partner Postfach FR-A-2461921 86 06 20 FR-A-2 515 808 D-8000 Munchen 86 (DE) CD FR-A-2 517 820 US-A-3 425 349

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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been IU paid. (Art. 99(1 ) European patent convention). Courier Press, Leamington Spa, England. EP 0 171 534 B1 Description angular bore of the bullet deflector, to be deflected thereby out of the assembly's housing, BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION without reaching the fuse and/or the . 1. Field of the Invention The invention will best be understood from the The present invention is generally directed to 5 following description when read in conjunction improvements in an assembly for launching with the accompanying drawings. by means of a rifle and, more particu- larly, to improvements in rifle to be BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS launched with live ammunition is to be used. Fig. 1 is a simplified side view of a rifle grenade 10 which includes the invention; and 2. Description of the Prior Art Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a bullet trap All known prior art rifle grenade assemblies and bullet deflector arrangement in accordance hereafter simply referred to as grenade, include a with the invention. fuse which is intended to be activated by gas pressure from a fired blank in the rifle. 15 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED As is known, the gas pressure causes the fuse's EMBODIMENTS aft diaphragm to become deformed in a forward In order to fully appreciate the advantages direction toward the explosive matter of the realized with the present invention, it is believed grenade. It in turn pushes fore an armi.ig pin important to briefly summarize the prior art. which enables the fuse to be armed to enable the 20 As used in this specification the term "rifle explosion of the explosives upon hitting a target. grenade" or simply "grenade" denotes a grenade A danger has existed in the prior art in that if such as an anti-personnel, a smoke or an anti-tank instead of loading a blank cartridge into the rifle, grenade adapted to be projected by a rifle, car- live ammunition is used, the live bullet may, and bine or smaller firearm. It comprises a grenade often does, deform the diaphragm thus arming 25 body to which is fitted a tubular, fin stabilized tail. the fuse prematurely very near the soldier. This in The tail is adapted to be fitted to a rifle muzzle turn could lead to an explosion near the soldier directly or via a suitable adapter. The grenade and thus endanger him and those around him. It body includes explosives located within a head is also possible for the bullet to pass through the portion and a fuse which is typically aft of the entire fuse and penetrate and ignite the 30 explosives. explosives, which is clearly most dangerous. Prior art grenades are designed to be propelled FR-A-2 461 921 discloses a rifle grenade with to a target by firing a special launching cartridge bullet trapping means in combination with bullet which, upon detonation, generates propulsion deflector means. In cases in which the bullet gases. They serve to project the grenade towards continues its travel beyond said trapping means it 35 its target, with the grenade exploding upon, or is deflected from the axial direction by the deflec- immediately prior to, impact as a result of the tor means. However in cases the bullet continues arming of the fuse. beyond the deflector it may still reach the head The rifle or the like which is employed is position and bring about the explosion of the normally used to fire live bullets. It is only when it explosive material therein. 40 is desired to project a grenade that the latter is Rifle grenades with bullet trapping means are fitted over the rifle muzzle. A distinct danger also known from AT-B-341 378 and DE-A-2 428 therefore arises that, as a result of an oversight, 378. instead of using the required launching cartridge, It is believed that a rifle grenade which is to be a live cartridge, i.e. one containing a bullet, will be launched with live ammunition rather than with 45 fired for launching the grenade. The firing of such blank cartridges could be made very safe if a live cartridge with the grenade mounted on the properly designed. With such a grenade, a soldier muzzle of the rifle carries with it extreme danger would not have to carry special blank cartridges for the firer and for those in his immediate but would be able to use the conventional ball surroundings. ammo for grenade launching. so In the prior art, in order to reduce the dangers In accordance with the invention there is pro- involved in the accidental firing of a live cartridge vided a rifle grenade of the kind specified in the rather than the special launching cartridge, it has preamble of claim 1, characterized in that said been proposed to provide such rifle grenades bullet deflector means comprise a block of matter with so-called "bullet deflectors". with a bore whose axis forms an acute angle with 55 These deflectors, located ahead or fore of the the longitudinal axis of the grenade, extending muzzle and aft of the grenade body, were from a central location on an aft side of the block designed to deflect any bullet from reaching the toward a side wall thereof. grenade body in case a live bullet was used, while The function of the bullet deflector is to deflect enabling the gases, produced by firing the live any bullet which may not have been trapped by eo cartridge, to reach the grenade body, typically the the bullet trap from reaching the fuse or even aft end of the fuse, to propel the entire grenade to passing it and penetrating the explosives. Thus, a the target while at the same time arming the fuse. bullet with excessive acceleration which may not It has been found that the need to carry special have been trapped by the bullet trap will exit the cartridges for rifle grenade launching by a rifle latter axialiy and in all probability enter the 65 designed for live cartridges, known as ball EP 0 171 534 B1 4 functions. One ammunition, complicates matters. In the heat of The steel element 40 serves two and it from battle the likelihood is high that ball ammo may is to trap the bullet 60 prevent The other function be used instead of the special cartridges, thus advancing into the fuse 14. follows. As result of bullet subjecting the soldier and those around him to may be explained as a volume of element 40 increases and nearby premature life-endangering explosives. 5 trapping the elements ahead of it, thereby In order to put the invention in proper context, thus deforms the is directed to Fig. 1, wherein a rifle providing a forward force. In an arrangement attention fore of the 10 in accordance with the invention is wherein a bullet deflector is included grenade deform elements As in the art it includes a forward or trap, this forward force serves to shown. prior the 12 with head 13, containing the 10 of the deflector which in turn press against fore section a forward and a fuse 14 aft of it. It also includes a fuse diaphragm 14d. It in turn pushes a explosives, the fuse arming tail section 16 with an internal bore 17 to enable fuse arming piston 14p to start the rifle grenade to be mounted to a rifle muzzle process. invention, the steel element 40 directly or through an adapter. At the aft end, In the present bullet into the free stabilizing fins 18 are formed. The rifle grenade of 15 upon trapping a expands space 42 it is symmetrical the invention, unlike the prior art, is 47 around it. As to the cavity present thus retain the bullet designed to be used with live cartridges, known about axis 45 and helps ball ammunition (ammo). When the rifle is along axis 45. Cavity 42 is preferably cone shaped as section. In the cone fired with a loaded live cartridge the bullet is followed by a cylindrical is gradually dissi- propelled fore and the forces of gases propel the 20 shaped section slug energy is in the entire rifle grenade 10 to the target. pated and finally the slug trapped while the volume oi In accordance with the invention the rifle gre- cylindrical part of the cavity, 47. Elements 51- nade includes a mid-section 20 with a bullet trap element 40 increases into space added margin of 22 and preferably a bullet deflector 23. One 53 are added to provide an the had embodiment of each of the trap 22 and deflector 25 protection to trap the bullet in event one to through the entire 23 are shown in cross-sectional view in Fig. 2. enough energy pass both shown located in a cup-shaped element 40 and exists through its fore face. They are deflec- 25 which fits snugly in the fore end of To provide further protection the bullet housing aluminium element bore 17. The is shown with an outwardly tor 23 is added. It includes an cup face 23f. The mesa is flange or rim 25t which when pressed 30 64 with a mesa shaped fore extending also includes between the fore end of tail section 16 and the juxtaposed fuse diaphragm 14d. It hole 65 whose longitudinal fuse base secures the in the bore 17. an inclined bore or cup with axis 45. The bullet 22 is shown including a plurality axis 65x forms an acute angle « trap 22 is to of absorbing elements at the aft end of the In normal operation the trap designed energy of fired by extending from the bottom of cup 25 for- 35 trap the types of bullets capable being trap 40. Fuse actuation is ward. They include a rubber disc 31, an the rifle in the steel element deformation of the aluminium 32 with an opening 34, and a steel achieved as a result of forward cup block 64 of the 35. disc 35 is the main bullet face element of the trap and disc Supported on if element 40. It is shown with a fore deflector 23 if the latter is employed. However, trapping that it directed cavity 42 which decreases in diameter in 40 the forward energy of the bullet is so high it is deflected the forward direction. It is typically of steel and is pierces and passes through the trap of the rifle Also, no symmetrical about the longitudinal axis 45. Pre- into hole 65 and out grenade. forming element 40 ferably a steel ring 46 is included with element 40 fuse actuation takes place. By both disc 35 and ring 46. As clearly with axially symmetrical cavity 42 as well as by resting on and 52 the from 2 the outer diameter of element 40 45 adding ring shaped elements 46 path seen Fig. ' be is less than the inner diameter of the cup 25. Thus, of travel of any bullet is maintained to along the free 47 is provided around the steel axis 45. Thus, if a bullet were to pass through space it will be deflected element 40. entire trap the likelihood that since the latter extends The bullet trap further includes a plurality of into hole 65 is maximized, elements fore of the steel element 40. They so from the axis 45 outwardly at the angle oc. in cup-shaped include a steel disc 51, an aluminium ring 52 and After all the elements are placed 70 is formed at its more steel discs 53. housing 25 an indentation one or in it. In operation, when ball ammo is used in the upper end to secure all the parts embodiments of the inven- rifle the slug or bullet, designated in Fig. 2 by 60, Although particular and illustrated herein, it is separated from the cartridge casing and is 55 tion have been described modifications and variations propelled forward by the gases. As it travels is recognized that skilled in the art. forward, the bullet first encounters the cupbottom may readily occur to those the of which it pierces. It successively pierces and For example, it is within contemplation invention to include black powder 72 passes through elements 31 and 32 and 35, before the present the steel element 40. These elements 60 in opening 34 of cup 32. Such powder ignites by reaching added absorb of the bullet's forward thrust, thus the penetrating bullet 60 to provide speed, part without slowing it down, before the bullet reaches the on the order of 20 percent or more, steel element 40. The steel ring 46 helps in endangering the soldier. aligning the bullet to enter element 40 via cavity 42. 65 EP 0171 534 B1 Claims tung (23) hinter dem Vorderabschnitt (12) und vor der GeschoBfangeinrichtung hat, zum Ablenken 1. A rifle grenade (10) of the type having a fore eines Geschosses, welches nicht vollstandig von section (1 2) including triggerable explosives, a tail der GeschoBfangeinrichtung aufgefangen ist, section (16), bullet trap means (22) positioned in 5 weg von dem Kopfabschnitt; said rifle grenade fore of said tail section (16) and dadurch gekennzeichnet, daB die GeschoBab- symmetrically aligned with respect to the longi- lenkeinrichtung einen Materialblock (64) mit einer tudinal axis the rifle grenade (10) for trapping any Bohrung (65) aufweist, deren Achse einen spitzen bullet exiting the rifle bore to prevent it from Winkel mit der Langsachse der Granate bildet, penetrating the rifle grenade's head section, said 10 wobei sie sich von einer Mittellage auf der Ruck- bullet trap means (22) including a main bullet seite des Blockes in Richtung einer Seitenwand trapping element (40) with a multi-shaped axial desselben erstreckt. cavity (42) inwardly directed from an aft end, 2. Gewehrgranate nach Anspruch 1, dadurch serving to substantially trap the bullet by gekennzeichnet, daB die GeschoBfangeinrichtung gradually absorbing the energy thereof, while 15 Pulver (72) aufweist, welches durch ein passieren- said element expands in volume, bullet deflector des GeschoB entziindbar ist, um die Geschwin- means (23) aft of said fore section (12) and fore of digkeit desselben zu vergroBem. said bullet trap means (22) for deflecting away from said head section a bullet not fully trapped Revendications by the bullet trap means; 20 characterized in that said bullet deflector means 1. Grenade (10) pour fusil, du type comportant comprises a block of matter (64) with a bore (65) un trongon anterieur (12) contenant des explosifs whose axis forms an acute angle with the longi- qui peuvent etre allumes, un trongon de queue tudinal axis of the grenade, extending from a (16), un piege (22) a balle place dans la grenade central location on the aft side of the block toward 25 en avant du troncon de queue (16) et aligne a side wall thereof. symetriquement par rapport a I'axe longitudinal 2. A rifle grenade according to claim 1, charac- de la grenade (10) afin qu'une balle sortant du terized in that said bullet trapping means includes canon du fusil soit piegee et ne puisse pas powder (72) ignitable by passing bullet for penetrer dans le trongon de tete de la grenade, le increasing the speed thereof. 30 piege (22) a balle comprenant un element princi- pal (40) de piegeage de balle ayant une cavite Patentanspriiche axiale (42) de forme composite, dirigee vers I'interieur depuis une extremite arriere et destinee 1. Gewehrgranate (10) vom Typ einem Vorder- a pieger pratiquement la balle par absorption abschnitt (12), der auslosbare Sprengstoffmittel 35 progressive de son energie, alors que cet element enthalt, einen Heckabschnitt (16), der eine augmente de volume, et un deflecteur (23) de GeschoBfangeinrichtung (22) hat, die in der balle place en arriere du trongon avant (12) et en Gewehrgranate vordem Heckabschnitt (16) ange- avant du piege (22) a balle afin qu'il devie une ordnet ist und beziiglich der Langsachse der balle qui n'a pas ete totalement piegee par le Gewehrgranate (10) symmetrisch ausgerichtet ist, 40 piege a balle de maniere qu'elle n'atteigne pas le und zum Fangen eines beliebigen Geschosses, trongon de tete, welches die Gewehrbohrung verlaBt, um es caracterisee en ce que le deflecteur de balle davon abzuhalten, in den Kopfabschnitt der comporte un bloc (64) d'un materiau ayant un Gewehrgranate einzudringen, wobei die trou (65) dont I'axe fait un angle aigu avec I'axe GeschoBfangeinrichtung (22) ein Haupt-GeschoB- 45 longitudinal de la grenade, partant d'un emplace- einfangelement (40) beinhaltet mit einem vielge- ment central de la face arriere du bloc et dirige staltigen axialen Hohlraum (42), der von einem vers une paroi laterale de celui-ci. Hinterende nach innen gerichtet ist, welches, im 2. Grenade pour fusil selon la revendication 1, wesentlichen zum Fangen des Geschosses dient, caracterisee en ce que le dispositif de piegeage de indem es die Energie von diesem schrittweise so balle contient de la poudre (72) qui peut etre absorbiert, wahrend das Element sich volumen- allumee par le passage de la balle de maniere que maBig ausdehnt, und eine GeschoBablenkeinrich- la vitesse de celle-ci soit accrue.

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EP 0 171 534 B1

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Fig. 2