Patent GB-191515807-A (GB)
Title: Land Torpedo.
Inventor: BURDICK CHARLES LAURENCE
IPC: F42B23/00
Filed: 1915-11-09
Abstract: 15,807. Burdick, C. L. Nov. 9. Flame-producing and gas-discharging weapons; machines for cutting wire entanglements and like obstructions; machines with mechanically-actuated bayonets and swords.- Consists in a machine for use in land warfare, designed to carry, either separately or in combination, explosives, knives, wire-cutters, &c., and apparatus for projecting flame, poison gas, and projectiles, the machine being self propelled and entirely automatic and adapted to explode and blow to pieces at the end of its travel. In one construction, Fig. 1, a wheel 1 is mounted in a framework 2 provided with an extension 3 forming a reservoir for compressed gas or other propelling-medium and carrying a trailing wheel 11. One or two oscillating driving-motors 4 are employed, the piston-rods 5 being coupled, as shown in Fig. 5, to a crank 9, so as to actuate the wheel 1. A flexible pipe 12 conducts compressed air from the reservoir to a point from which branch pipes 12<b> lead to the cylinders of the motors. The inlet valve 21, Figs. 6, 7, and 8, and the exhaust valve 22 are spring-controlled and are mounted on the cylinder head. As the cylinder rocks, the valves are automatically operated by lugs 23, 24 on the framework 2. The outer end of the inlet valve stem 21<a> is connected to one end of a lever 27, the other end of the lever having a projection 27<a> adapted to engage a pivoted pawl 23 carried by a fixed lug 23<a> on the framework to move the inlet valve against the action of its spring. The pawl 23 moves freely in one direction to allow the stem 21<a> to pass as the cylinder rocks during the working stroke of the piston. The exhaust valve stem engages the lug 24 direct. The reservoir 3 may be formed in two compartments separated by a partition, one compartment containing compressed air and the other containing poison gas. The air is used to start the engine; after a time, the pressure of the poison gas breaks down the partition, due to the air pressure decreasing, and the motors are then propelled by and discharge as exhaust, the poison gas. For wire-cutting, teeth 13 project from the wheel rim and pass between teeth 14 formed on front extensions on the framework, rollers 15 being provided to engage with the side surfaces of the wheel rim. Guard-pieces 16 prevent wire from entering the framework. Nests of firing-tubes 17, Fig. 10, are inserted in the rear of the framework, each tube containing central charges 17b and shrapnel balls 17<a> so that the balls are discharged in opposite directions when a fuse strip 17<c> is fired by a fuse strip 17d coiled, as shown in Fig. 11, to fire the tubes in turn. Flame-projecting apparatus of any usual type is carried on the framework, and comprises an oil tank 30, Fig. 13, communicating with the compressed-air reservoir by a pipe 35 and, by a pipe 31, with two nozzles 32 which are normally closed by hinged covers 33, the covers being secured by screws 34. Explosive charges 38 fired by means of time-fuses 37 break the screws 34, thus liberating the covers 33 and igniting the oil discharged from the nozzles. Additional charges 39 ignited by the time-fuses 37 may be provided to ignite the oil on discharge. Knives may be provided projecting laterally from the framework. The explosives for finally destroying the machine are arrangel in cases 19, Fig. 1, and are located on the side of the frame opposite to the motors to balance the machine. Time-fuses set before the machine commences its run are provided to fire the explosive charges. The machine is launched by supporting the wheel and frame in a raised position upon a standard until the wheel has attained a velocity sufficient to maintain it vertical when it is dropped upon the ground. A guide-rail may be used to maintain the wheel vertical, and a launching-board may be provided upon which the wheel drops when released from its support. A rudder or fin may also be provided for steering. The single wheel may be replaced by two or more wheels arranged co-axially.