Bullet trap and bullet deflector in rifle grenade

In a rifle grenade assembly a bullet trap and bullet deflector are incorporated to enable the launching of the grenade with ball ammo. The trap is designed to trap the bullet of a fired cartridge and use the forward forces produced by the trapping to advance a fore-located deflector which in turn actuates a fuse. A non-trapped bullet enters a deflecting cavity in the deflector, thus deflecting the bullet away from the fuse and the explosives.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention is generally directed to improvements in the assembly 
for launching explosives by means of a rifle and, more particularly, to 
improvements of the assembly of a rifle grenade in which ball ammunition 
is to be used. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
All known prior art rifle grenade assemblies hereafter simply referred to 
as the grenade, include a fuse which is intended to be activated by gas 
pressure from a fired blank cartridge in the rifle. As is known, the gas 
pressure causes the fuse's aft diaphragm to become deformed in a forward 
direction toward the explosive matter of the grenade. It in turn pushes 
fore an arming pin which enables the fuse to be armed and then initiate 
the explosion of the explosives upon hitting a target. A danger has 
existed in the prior art in that if instead of loading a blank cartridge 
into the rifle, ball ammunition or ammo is used. Such ammo has a bullet or 
core. Thus, upon firing the rifle there is a great danger that the bullet 
may, and often does, deform the diaphragm thus arming the fuse prematurely 
very near the soldier, which could lead to an explosion near the soldier 
and thus endanger him and those around him. It is also possible for the 
bullet to pass through the entire fuse and penetrate and ignite the 
explosives, which is clearly most dangerous. 
The only solution attempted in the prior art to reduce such dangers, which 
are created by the unintentional use of ball ammo, is to provide a bullet 
deflector between the rifle and the fuse. The function of the deflector is 
to deflect the bullet from continuing its travel along the grenade's 
direction toward the fuse, by deflecting it to travel at a safe angle away 
from the axial direction and out of the assembly. It is believed that a 
rifle grenade which is to be launched with ball ammo rather than with 
blank cartridges could be made very safe if properly designed. With such a 
grenade, a soldier would not have to carry special blank cartridges but 
would be able to use the conventional ball ammo for grenade launching. It 
is to provide an arrangement in the grenade to provide it with its proper 
safety that the present invention is directed, as follows: 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention there is provided in a rifle 
grenade assembly of the type including from a fore end to an aft end, 
explosives in a grenade body, a fuse responsive to pressure forces applied 
thereto at its aft end for controlling the initiation of the detonation of 
said explosives, a rifle adapted to be loaded by ball ammunition including 
a bullet adapted to be propelled fore as a result of the pressure of gases 
produced in the case of said ammunition upon the triggering of the 
detonator of said cartridge, the improvement comprising: 
bullet travel control means including at least bullet trap means aligned 
along the longitudinal axis of said assembly between the aft end of said 
fuse and ahead of said rifle, said bullet trap means including: 
matter in the path of said bullet for absorbing at least part of the 
forward energy of the bullet travelling in the fore direction so as to 
decelerate said bullet; and 
a bullet decelerating body in the path of the bullet and defining an axial 
multi-shaped inwardly directed cavity for decelerating said bullet and 
align its travel to substantially coincide with the assembly's 
longitudinal axis as the bullet is being substantially trapped by said 
bullet decelerating body, substantially along the assembly's longitudinal 
axis. 
In another embodiment of the invention a bullet deflector is associated 
with the bullet trap. Its function is to deflect any bullet which may not 
have been trapped by the bullet trap from reaching the fuse or even 
passing it, and penetrating the explosives. The bullet deflector has a 
bore extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the assembly. The 
bullet trap includes a body which not only attempts to deform and trap the 
bullet but is also used to maintain it along the longitudinal axis or 
axially. Thus, a bullet with excessive acceleration which may not have 
been trapped by the bullet trap would exit the latter axially and in all 
probability enter the angular bore of the bullet deflector, to be 
deflected thereby out of the assembly's housing, without reaching the fuse 
and/or the explosives. The latter are typically ahead or fore of the fuse. 
However, the invention is intended to include any arrangement in which the 
fuse is either aft or fore of the explosives. 
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the 
appended claims. The invention will best be understood from the following 
description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In order to fully appreciate the advantages realized with the present 
invention, it is believed important to briefly summarize the prior art. 
As used in this specification the term "rifle grenade" or simply "grenade" 
denotes a grenade such as an anti-personnel, a smoke or an anti-tank 
grenade adapted to be projected by a rifle, carbine or smaller firearm. It 
comprises a grenade body to which is fitted a tubular, fin stabilized 
tail. The tail is adapted to be fitted to a rifle muzzle directly or via a 
suitable adaptor. The grenade body includes explosives and a fuse which is 
typically aft of the explosives. 
Prior art grenades are designed to be propelled to a target by firing a 
special launching cartridge which, upon detonation, generates propulsion 
gases. They serve to project the grenade towards its target, with the 
grenade exploding upon, or immediately prior to, impact as a result of the 
arming of the fuse. 
The rifle or the like which is employed is normally used to fire live 
bullets. It is only when it is desired to project a grenade that the 
latter is fitted over the rifle muzzle. A distinct danger therefore arises 
that, as a result of an oversight, instead of using the required launching 
cartridge, a live cartridge, i.e. one containing a bullet, will be fired 
so as to project the grenade. The firing of such a live cartridge with the 
grenade mounted on the muzzle of the rifle carries with it extreme danger 
for the firer and for those in his immediate surroundings. 
In the prior art, in order to reduce the dangers involved in the accidental 
firing of a live cartridge rather than the special launching cartridge, it 
has been proposed to provide such rifle grenades with so-called "bullet 
deflectors". 
These deflectors, located ahead or fore of the muzzle and aft of the 
grenade body, were designed to deflect any bullet from reaching the 
grenade body in case a live bullet was used, while enabling the gases, 
produced by firing the live cartridge, to reach the grenade body, 
typically the aft end of the fuse to propel the entire grenade to the 
target while at the same time arming the fuse. It has been found that the 
need to carry special cartridges for rifle grenade launching by a rifle 
designed for live cartridges, known as ball ammunition, complicates 
matters. In the heat of battle the likelihood is high that ball ammo may 
be used instead of the special cartridges, thus subjecting the soldier and 
those around him to nearby premature life-endangering explosives. 
These and other disadvantages are overcome by the present invention. In 
accordance thereto the rifle grenade is designed to be fired intentionally 
by ball ammo, thus eliminating the need for special cartridges. In 
accordance with the invention bullet trapping means, hereafter also 
referred to as a bullet trap, is included aft of the fuse. The trap, as 
will be explained hereafter, is designed to trap the bullet of the ball 
ammo. Elements of the trap are deformed by the trapped bullet to directly 
or indirectly initiate the arming of the fuse but without the bullet 
reaching the former. As to propelling the entire rifle grenade, it is 
propelled by the energy which is released upon firing the ball ammo in the 
rifle. 
Another aspect of the invention relates to the inclusion of a bullet trap 
between the bullet deflector and the aft end of the fuse. The function of 
the deflector is twofold. Under normal conditions the bullet trapped in 
the trap causes deformation of the parts of the bullet trap which in turn 
causes advancing of the deflector. Such movement initiates fuse arming. If 
the bullet manages to exit the trap, the trap and the deflector are 
designed to maximize the likelihood that an untrapped bullet gets 
deflected by the deflector thus preventing damage to the fuse and possible 
explosion in the event the bullet were to penetrate the explosives ahead 
of the fuse. 
In order to put the invention in proper context, attention is directed to 
FIG. 1, wherein a rifle grenade 10 in accordance with the invention is 
shown. As in the prior art it includes a forward or fore section 12 with a 
head 13, containing the explosives, and a fuse 14 aft of it. It also 
includes a tail section 16 with an.internal bore 17 to enable the rifle 
grenade to be mounted to a rifle muzzle directly or through an adaptor. At 
the aft end, stabilizing fins 18 are formed. The rifle grenade of the 
present invention, unlike the prior art, is designed to be used with live 
cartridges, known as ball ammunition (ammo). When the rifle is fired with 
a loaded live cartridge the bullet is propelled fore and the forces of 
gases propel the entire rifle grenade 10 to the target. 
In accordance with the invention the rifle grenade includes a mid-section 
20 with a novel bullet trap 22 and preferably a bullet deflector 23. One 
embodiment of each of the trap 22 and deflector 23 are shown in 
cross-sectional view in FIG. 2. They are both shown located in a cup 
shaped housing 25 which fits snugly in the fore end of bore 17. The cup is 
shown with an outwardly extending flange or rim 25t which when pressed 
between the fore end of bore 17 and the fuse base secures the cup in the 
bore 17. 
The bullet trap 22 is shown including a plurality of energy absorbing 
elements at the aft end of the trap extending from the bottom of cup 25 
forward. They include a rubber disc 31, an aluminium cup 32 with an 
opening 34, and a steel disc 35. Supported on disc 35 is the main bullet 
trapping element 40. It is shown with a fore directed cavity 42 which 
decreases in diameter in the forward direction. It is typically of steel 
and is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis 45. Preferably a steel ring 
46 is included with element 40 resting on both disc 35 and ring 46. As 
clearly seen from FIG. 2 the outer diameter of element 40 is less than the 
inner diameter of the cup 25. Thus, free space 47 is provided around the 
steel element 40. 
The bullet trap further includes a plurality of elements fore of the steel 
element 40. They include a steel disc 51, an aluminium ring 52 and one or 
more steel discs 53. 
In operation, when ball ammo is used in the rifle the slug or bullet, 
designated in FIG. 2 by 60, is separated from the cartridge casing and is 
propelled forward by the gases. As it travels forward, the bullet first 
encounters the cup bottom which it pierces. It successively pierces and 
passes through elements 31 and 32 and 35, before reaching the steel 
element 40. These elements absorb part of the bullet's forward thrust, 
thus slowing it down, before the bullet reaches the steel element 40. The 
steel ring 46 helps in aligning the bullet to enter element 40 via cavity 
42. 
The steel element 40 serves two functions. One is to trap the bullet 60 and 
prevent it from advancing into the fuse 14. The other function may be 
explained as follows. As a result of bullet trapping the volume of element 
40 increases and thus deforms the elements ahead of it, thereby providing 
a forward force. In an arrangement wherein a bullet deflector is included 
fore of the trap, this forward force serves to deform elements of the 
deflector which in turn press against the fuse diaphragm 14d. It in turn 
pushes forward a fuse arming piston 14p to start the fuse arming process. 
In the present invention, the steel element 40 upon trapping a bullet 
expands into the free space 47 around it. As to the cavity 42 it is 
symmetrical about axis 45 and thus helps retain the bullet along axis 45. 
Cavity 42 is preferably cone shaped followed by a cylindrical section. In 
the cone shaped section slug energy is gradually dissipated and finally 
the slug is trapped in the cylindrical part of the cavity, while the 
volume of element 40 increases into space 47. Elements 51-53 are added to 
provide an added margin of protection to trap the bullet in the event one 
had enough energy to pass through the entire element 40 and exits through 
its fore face. 
To provide further protection the bullet deflector 23 is preferably added. 
It includes an aluminum element 64 with a mesa shaped fore face 23f. The 
mesa is juxtaposed to fuse diaphragm 14d. It also includes an inclined 
bore or hole 65 whose longitudinal axis 65x forms an acute angle .alpha. 
with axis 45. 
In normal operation the trap 22 is designed to trap the types of bullets 
capable of being fired by the rifle in the steel element 40. Fuse 
actuation is achieved as a result of forward deformation of the face 
element of the trap and block 64 of the deflector 23 if the latter is 
employed. However, if the forward energy of the bullet is so high that it 
pierces and passes through the trap it is deflected into hole 24 and out 
of the rifle grenade. Also, no fuse actuation takes place. By forming 
element 40 with axially symmetrical cavity 42 as well as by adding ring 
shaped elements 46 and 52 the path of travel of any bullet is maintained 
to be along axis 45. Thus, if a bullet were to pass through the entire 
trap the likelihood that it will be deflected into hole 64 is maximized, 
since the latter extends from the axis 45 outwardly at the angle .alpha.. 
After all the elements are placed in cup-shaped housing 25 an indentation 
70 is formed at its upper end to secure all the parts in it. 
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and 
illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may 
readily occur to those skilled in the art. 
For example, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to 
include black powder 72 in opening 34 of cup 32. Such powder ignites by 
the penetrating bullet 60 to provide added speed, on the order of 20 
percent or more, without endangering the soldier. Consequently, it is 
intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and 
equivalents.