Patent ID: 12203732

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The inventive grenade is referred to herein as a “GUDID” grenade, which means “General Universal Detonating Integrated Device.” As used herein, the terms “top,” “higher,” “upper,” or “upward” refer to a direction toward the head section. The corresponding terms “bottom” or “lower” refer to a direction towards the base.

In an embodiment, this invention provides a grenade having a head section33defining a top of the grenade, where the head section has a removable locking pin23and a triggering mechanism comprising a lever30and trigger spring40. The GUDID grenade further has a modular segmented hollow core shaft5comprising two or more interlocking segments marked5a,5b, and5c, wherein each core shaft segment comprises a hollow tube with a rod35positioned within the interior of each shaft. In an embodiment as shown, core5is linked to head section33through head connector section32that forms the lower part of the head section. In an embodiment, each core segment5a,5b, and5cis in mechanical communication with the core shaft segments on either end of the core segment and the highest section is connected to the head (or head connector section), and the last segment is in communication with a base section1.

As illustrated in the figures, three core shaft segments (5a,5b, and5c) are shown. Rod segments35a,35b, and35care connected to rod extension35d, which extends into the head section33and is in contact with lever body31. Rod segments35a-35dtogether form rod35. Rod segments35a-35care supported within the hollow core shaft by supports37. In an embodiment, one such support37is shown in each of segments5a-5c.

Varying the core size means the overall size of the grenade can vary. For example, with one or two core segments, the overall size will be smaller than shown, which may be useful for lower powered main charges. Alternatively, with 4 or more core segments, the carpels may be larger, for larger main charges. Regardless of the number of core segments, at least one segment must correspond to segment5bin the Figures, which has the strike pin mechanism.

In an embodiment, at least one rod bias spring45positioned with the interior of at least one of the hollow tube segments exerts an upward bias on the rod35. In the safe (locked) state the rod35is thus stationary between the at least one bias spring45and the lever body31. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, each core shaft segment has a spring45.

The phrase herein “in communication” means two more mechanical components are mechanically linked so that a movement in one component in communication causes a corresponding movement in another component. Mechanically linked components may be connected, for example, with a flexible joint, with threads, or by any form of direct or indirect physical contact in which motion in one component causes a corresponding motion in another component.

In an embodiment, each shaft segment is connected to adjacent shaft segments or the head or base section by a threaded connector having external (male) threads7and internal (female) threads6(FIG.12). Likewise, the rod segments35a-dare connected by threaded connections having internal (female) threads63and external (male) threads64(FIG.11).

In an embodiment, the top of a first core segment (5aas illustrated) is in mechanical communication with the head section33, and a bottom of the last segment comprises a base section1defining a base of the grenade.

In an embodiment, the GUDID grenade further comprises two or more carpel segments51surrounding the core5(FIGS.3-5), wherein each carpel spans from the head section33to the base section1, and wherein each carpel51comprises a charge50detonatable by a fuse61, a propellent59, and primer62, such that each carpel is independently detonated, and wherein each carpel is in attached to the core shaft though an upper attachment nipple15and a lower attachment nipple16. In the illustrated embodiment, upper and lower nipples15and16have different shapes so that the carpels are aligned correctly, with the top end adjacent to the head section and a lower end adjacent to the base segment1. Attachment nipple15nests in nipple slot54and nipple slot guide55within the carpel. Attachment nipple16nests in a lower nipple slot54in the carpel (FIG.5).

The term “carpel” as used herein is analogous to the segments of a citrus fruit. This effect is illustrated inFIGS.1-5.FIG.1is an elevation view of the GUDID grenade, showing the carpel segments spanning from the head section33to base1.FIG.2is a top view showing an embodiment with four carpels and carpel boundaries51a.FIG.3is a cross section looking down through a latitudinal slice at the midpoint of the grenade between the head and tail sections. Four carpels51are illustrated. Also shown are carpel shells51b, that may be a supporting membrane that encloses and supports carpel charge50, or (for example) a more functional shell intended to fragment on detonation. Also shown inFIG.3is core5and rod35and nipples15.

In an embodiment, the head section33contains a lever30, a lever body31, a pivot41, a cantilever spring40anchored around the pivot, and a safety pin or locking pin23, such that the safety pin23locks the lever into a safe position, and when the safety pin is removed, the lever30and lever body31can swing upward around the pivot41. Spring40is biased against lever30, tending to force lever30upward into the triggered position. The movement of lever30is locked by safety pin23. When the pin23is removed, a person holding the grenade must engage the lever30with their hand using manual pressure to prevent the lever from rotating about the pivot thereby triggering the grenade. When the person holding the grenade throws the grenade, the lever30is free to swing upward from the force of spring40. The swinging and/or subsequent triggering of the GUDID is a then a function of the upward bias of rod35countered by spring40. A typical delay in detonation is 4 seconds. When the lever and lever body swing upward around the pivot axis the rod35moves upward triggering subsequent detonation steps, termed herein the detonation sequence.

In an alternative embodiment, the lever rotation may be triggered by the impact of the grenade on a hard surface when thrown. In an embodiment in this alternative, spring40will not permit the lever body to rotate around the axis until it is jolted by the impact of the grenade thrown or shot onto a hard surface. The remaining steps of the triggering sequence are the same.

In an embodiment, the GUDID grenade of this invention can be launched from a rifle or rocket (rifle-propelled grenade or rocket-propelled grenade), rather than thrown by a person. In such an embodiment, the configuration of the lever30may vary. Lever30may be omitted entirely, but the detonation sequence would only initiate when the grenade impacted a surface after the trajectory from being fired from a rifle or rocket. Prior to firing, the safety pin would be removed, but the spring40would prevent detonation from commencing until the grenade impacted a surface.

In an embodiment, full-length rod35extends into the head section33and is in mechanical communication with the lever body31, such that when the lever swings around the pivot, the rod35moves upward under the bias force of the one or more bias springs45. The movement of the rod is illustrated inFIGS.9and10, showing rod bias spring45inFIG.9, expanding to46shown inFIG.10when the rod35moves upward. The motion of rod35indicated by arrow39.

In an embodiment, the detonation sequence starts with the upward movement of rod35, which triggers a primer charge on each core segment that ejects the carpel segment in mechanical communication with that core segment, and simultaneously ignites a fuse in each carpel segment causing a carpel charge to detonate.

In an embodiment as illustrated, rod35shifts upward in the triggering sequence. This shift is towards head section33after lever body31swings around the pivot. This is illustrated in the transition ofFIGS.6to8andFIGS.9to10. Push plate14(FIGS.9-10) is integral with rod35and shifts upward when rod35shifts in the triggering sequence. Push plate14shifts to the position shown inFIG.10when the triggering occurs. InFIG.10, push plate14causes strike pins13to push outward, away from the core. The strike pins are within strike nipple11. In an embodiment, the strike pins are driven forcefully outward (away from the core) by strike springs12that provide tension that is released when push plate14triggers the strike pins.

In an embodiment, the strike pins13impact primer62within a carpel (FIG.5). Primer62has a small charge that detonates under pressure, analogous to the primer in a center-fire bullet cartridge. This primer ignites propellent59within the body of the carpel that has sufficient force to cause the carpel to detach from the core. At the same time, propellent59ignites fuse61that causes the main charge50in the carpel to detonate. In an embodiment, fuse61may have a delay, ranging from 0.1 to about 4 seconds, before the fuse detonates the main charge50.

By varying a delay in each fuse61in a carpel segment, the detonation time of each charge50can be varied from about 0.1 seconds to 10 seconds.

Legend for DrawingsNumberDescription1Base (tail section)5Core shaft (hollow)5aupper detachable cylindrical tubing5bmiddle detachable cylindrical tubing5clower detachable cylindrical tubing6Internal (female) threads on core shaft segments7External (male) threads on core shaft segments11strike nipples12Strike pin springs13strike pins14push plate15Upper support nipples16Lower support nipple23lock pin30grip lever31Lever body32Head connector section33Head section34pull ring35rod35aRod segments35bRod segments35cRod segments35dRod extension37Rod supports in core tubes39Rod movement arrow40Trigger spring41pivot45Rod bias springs46Rod bias spring expanded50Carpel charge51Carpel segment51aJoint between carpel segments54nipple slot55Nipple guide59propellent61fuse62primer63Internal (female) threads on rod segments 3564External (male) threads on rod segments 35