DEVICE FOR MORTARS

Abstract: The apparatus is intended for mortars for simulating loading and firing with live ammunition when using a dummy shell, which is muzzle loaded into the barrel of the mortar. For the purpose a spacer piece (1) is inserted removably into the barrel, with one end resting against, or in the vicinity of, the barrel bottom, the other end (2) of the piece engaging the rear end of the dummy when it is dropped into the barrel. The spacer piece (1) has a length defined such that the top/projectile tube of the dummy projects a distance past the muzzle of the mortar barrel, then end (2) of the piece engaging the dummy having a firing pin mechanism (5, 10, 16, 13, 14, 15) which, on striking, causes detonation of a propelling charge in the dummy.

Description: The present invention relates to apparatus for mortars inten¬ ded to simulate loading and firing with live ammunition by using a dummy inserted in the barrel of the mortar via its muzzle. A mortar is a smooth bore muzzle loading weapon, where a shell is dropped into the bore. When the shell has come to the bot- torn of the bore, firing takes place either by the impact of the shell against a fixed firing pin or by the aid of a special firing mechanism. The object of the present invention is now to cheapen mortar shelling training. Personnel will thus simulate loading and firing while using a dummy of the same appearance and weight as a genuine shell. Firing drill shall exactly correspond to the actual routine used with live ammunition in field scale shelling. The object of the invention is achieved by the apparatus having been given the distinguishing features disclosed in the accompanying claims. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing figures, variations of the embodiment also being apparent therefrom. Fig. 1 illustrates in principle a longitudinal section through an inventive apparatus, while Fig. 2 is a section along the line II-II in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a plan as seen from above. A conventionl mortar includes a barrel A, which can be of 8 or 12 cm caliber. The mortar itself is not illustrated in the figures, since it is assumed that the reader has cognizance of the weapon from the description given here. A dummy of the same appearance and weight as a genuine shell is used in con¬ junction with the inventive apparatus. Neither is the dummy illustrated in the figures. The dummy is provided with a so-called practice projectile, which can leave it, in this way simulating a genuine projec¬ tile. With the aid of the invention the dummy can be placed in the barrel so that its tip projects a distance past the barrel muzzle. This means that when the practice projectile has been fired the dummy may be removed from the barrel, i.e. the dummy is not discharged but only the practice projectile. A spacer piece 1 in the form of a tube is provided to achieve raised height of the dummy in the barrel. The lower end of the piece 1 rests on the supporting surface provided in the barrel for genuine shell inserted in it. The length of the piece is defi¬ ned such that when the dummy is used its tip projects a dis¬ tance from the muzzle of the barrel. At its lower end, i.e. the end first inserted in the barrel, the dummy has an igni- tion cap, which must be struck to fire the shell. A firing pin mechanism is required for this purpose, and in this case is disposed in the upper end of the spacer piece. It will be seen from Fig. 1 that the mechanism is arranged between upper 2 and lower 3 plates, which are united by struts 4. The configura- tion of struts and plates is disposed in the tube 1 such that the upper 2 is flush with the upper edge of the tube. The mechanism itself includes a firing pin 5, which can move reciprocatingly in the plate 2. Upward movement of the pin is taken to be sufficiently violent that a cap struck by the pin is detonated. The firing pin is set as the dummy moves down the barrel after insertion at its muzzle, and two push rods are provided for this purpose. They are mounted in guides 7 in the plates 2 and 3 such as to extend through them, and are urged to move downwards by the weight of the dummy against the bias of their individual springs 8. These springs bear against the upper side of plate 3 and the underside of a yoke 9 exten¬ ding between the push rods 6 and rigidly connected to them. The rods 6 will thus be urged downwards by the weight of the dummy, and will move through the plates 2 and 3 until the un¬ derside of the dummy engages the upper side of plate 2. The firing pin 5 accompanies this movement of the yoke 9, but can move freely through a guide in it. However, a washer 10, through which the pin passes, is disposed on the underside o the yoke, and is biased by a spring 12 to move to the left i the fig. The firing pin 5 is provided with a recess (unillustrated) into which an edge of the hole in the washer is urged by the spring 12. The possible movement of the wash is depicted by the double arrows 11. Accordingly, when the yoke 9 is urged downwards by the push rods 6 taking the weig of the dummy, the washer 10, due to its mating wich the pin will cause the pin to move downwards against the bias of a spring 13 disposed in the upper plate 2. At its upper end th spring 13 bears against a stop 14 on the pin, while its lowe end bears against fixed annular stop on the underside of the upper plate 2. The spring 13 is thus compressed as the pin i moved downwards, and the pin is kept in its downward positio as long as th washer 10 engages with it. As will be seen, one end of the spring 12 coacts with the washer 10, while its other end engages a bell crank-like member 16, pivotably mounted about a centre 23 on one side o the yoke 9. When the member is swung anticlockwise its depen dent portion 18 will urge the washer 10 to the right, thereb releasing the edge of the hole in the washer from its engage ment with the unillustrated recess in the pin 5. The pin is now free to move forcefully upwards under the bias of the spring 13, to strike against an illustrated firing cap on th unillustrated dummy resting on top of the plate 2. The cap ignites such as an impelling charge, for driving a so-called drill projectile placed in the dummy. The latter remains in the barrel A, resting against the plate 2. The firing pin is set by lifting up the dummy so that the yoke 9 is raised by the springs 8, allowing the edge of the hole in the washer 1 once again to snap into the unillustrated recess in the pin 5 as the spring 12 urges the washer to the left, this movement being indicated by the left arrow of the double arrows 11. T member 16 is configurated such that it is always kept pivote clockwise as far as possible, as long as the right hand end the member is not urged upwards. An electromagnetically driven knocker pin 17 utilised for actuating the member 16. The pin is arranged in an electroma netic coil situated in a sleeve 24. When the magnetising cir cuit is activated by supplying current to the connections 19 and 20 the knocker pin is thrust upwards. Thus, when the yok 9 has been urged downwards by the push rods 6, the right han end of the member 16 at its striking plate portion 21 will b situated just above the knocker pin 17. On activation of the electromagnet in the sleeve 18, the knocker pin is thrust up wards to strike against the portion 21 and move it upwards, thus causing the member 16 to pivot anticlockwise. As previously mentioned, the washer is then caused to move to t right, which releases the latching of the washer to the firi pin 5, and this in turn is thrust rapidly upwards to activat the firing cap on the dummy, as already described. When the mortar is used on active service, there is a given delay before the live shell reaches the bottom of the standar barrel A and is fired. This delay must be simulated in the invention, although it will be understood that a shorter time is taken when the dummy is dropped into the barrel, since the spacer piece raises the level of the bottom position of the dummy. The difference in time must therefore be compensated, which is achieved by putting a relay in circuit with the electromagnetic device. Triggering the knocker pin is delayed by the relay for a given period of time, e.g. 1 sec. such as to equalise the times taken for the dummy and the live shell to fall to their respective bottom positions. The function of the electromagnetic device may be such that when the push rod 6 are urged to their bottom positions by the dummy a contacto closes a circuit so that current is supplied to the electro¬ magnetic device 18, which would mean that the knocker pin 17 is immediately thrust upwards when the push rods reach their bottom position. However, the previously mentioned delaying relay is in circuit between the contactor (unillustrated) and the electromagnetic device, thus enabling provision of the desired time delay of the current to the device. In the case where firing is by direct action of the operator the relay is quite simply bypassed, and a switch that can be actuated by the operator is put in circuit. This means that when the dummy is in its lowest position the relay does not pass any current to the electromagnetic device 18, which is then activated by the hand operated switch. Accordingly, the operator activates the dummy by closing the switch at an optionl time, for permitting supply of current to the electr magnetic device 18, which causes the knocker pin 17 to pivot the member 16 anticlockwise for releasing the striking pin 5 It will be noted that two different methods of firing the du my have now been described. An alternative embodiment of the invention is also illustrat in Fig. 1. A dashed line 22 illustrates a replacement for th knocker pin 17 and electromagnetic device 18. This replaceme comprises a rod extending from the imagined upper end of the pin 17 and downwards through the entire spacer piece 1, for being connected to the normal triggering mechanism, or the firing pin mechanism at the bottom of the barrel. The rod 22 actuates or transmits the action of this firing pin mechanis to the member 16. Further embodiments of the invention may be envisaged within the scope of the inventive concept, one such embodiment quit simply comprising a very powerful electromagnetic actuating means that can act directly on the firing pin. Such a means then replaces the device 18, knocking pin 17, member 16, washer 10, spring 13 and associated details 14 and 15. In it most simple form, the firing pin may be fixed at the upper e of the spacer piece, the impact of the dummy against the firing pin when the dummy has moved down the barrel enabling activation of the firing cap on the dummy.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for mortars, intended to simulate loading and firing with live ammunition when using a dummy shell, which muzzzle loaded into the barrel (A) of a mortar, the apparatu including a spacer piece (1) removably inserted in the barre with one end resting against, or in the vicinity of, the bar rel bottom, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the other end of the piece (1) is situated somewhere down the barrel (A) , there to engage the rear end of the dummy when the latter is dropped into the barrel (A) , said spacer piece having a leng defined such that the top of the dummy projects a distance past the muzzle of the barrel, the engaging end of said piec having a firing pin (5) mechanism which, on triggering, acti vates a driving charge in the dummy. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d in that the firing pin mechanism (5, 13) is put in a position for triggering by the impact of the dummy against t upper end (2) of the spacer piece (1) . 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d in that the firing pin (5) in the firing pin mechanis is set against the bias of a spring (13) and is kept in a latching position by a latching means (10) , which can be pulled from its latching position by an electromagnetic forc (18) generated by a current having given, or no, time lag counted from the time when the firing pin is set for trigge¬ ring. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d in that the firing pin is set by one or more spring biassed rods (6) , which project out from the end (2) of the spacer piece (1) and when they are urged inwards into the spa cer piece by the weight of the dummy cause the firing pin (5) to accompany them such as to bring it to its set position for latching by latching means (10, 16) . 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d in that the normal firing mechanism of the mortar is connected by means of a linkage system in the spacer piece the latch (10) of the firing pin mechanism. 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d in that the spacer piece (1) is in the form of a tub of less diameter than the bore of the mortar barrel. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the firing pin mechanism is connected to the existing safety mechanism of the mortar. 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i - z e d in that the firing pin (5) of the firing mechanism obtains its striking force from an electromagnet. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 1 June 1992 (01.06.92); original claim 1 amended; other claims unchanged (2 pages)] 1. Apparatus for mortars, intended to simulate loading and firing with live ammunition when using a dummy shell, which i muzzzle loaded into the barrel (A) of a mortar and which is equipped with a practice projectile, which is fired from the dummy whereby a spacer piece (1) is removably inserted in the barrel, with one end resting against, or in the vicinity of, the barrel bottom and the other end being situated somewhere down in the barrel (A)and equipped with a firing mechanism (5 and there to engage the rear end of the dummy when the latter is dropped into the barrel (A) , characterized in that said spacer piece is of a length defined such that the top of the dummy projects a distance past the muzzle of the barrel, and that the firing pin mechanism (5) , on triggering, activates a driving charge in the dummy for the practice projectile. 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d in that the firing pin mechanism (5, 13) is put in a position for triggering by the impact of the dummy against th upper end (2) of the spacer piece (1) . 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d in that the firing pin (5) in the firing pin mechanism is set against the bias of a spring (13) and is kept in a latching position by a latching means (10) , which can be pulled from its latching position by an electromagnetic force (18) generated by a current having given, or no, time lag counted from the time when the firing pin is set for trigge- ring. 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d in that the firing pin is set by one or more spring biassed rods (6) , which project out from the end (2) of the spacer piece (1) and when they are urged inwards into the spa¬ cer piece by the weight of the dummy cause the firing pin (5) to accompany them such as to bring it to its set position for latching by latching means (10, 16) . 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i - z e d in that the normal firing mechanism of the mortar is connected by means of a linkage system in the spacer piece to the latch (10) of the firing pin mechanism. 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i - z e d in that the spacer piece (1) is in the form of a tube of less diameter than the bore of the mortar barrel. 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 5, c h a r a c t e ¬ r i z e d in that the firing pin mechanism is connected to the existing safety mechanism of the mortar. 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i ¬ z e d in that the firing pin (5) of the firing mechanism obtains its striking force from an electromagnet.

Inventors: ROHEIM KARL-AXEL, ROHEIM, KARL-AXEL
Applicants: FOOD MARK PROD AB, AB FOOD MARK PRODUCTION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: F41F1
IPC codes: F41A19, F41A33