U.S. patent application number 11/266963 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-21 for rocker-arm igniter.
Invention is credited to Kai Luebbers, Thorsten Luebbers.
Application Number | 20060283346 11/266963 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35220281 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060283346 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Luebbers; Thorsten ; et
al. |
December 21, 2006 |
Rocker-arm igniter
Abstract
A rocker-arm igniter for irritation grenades, hand grenades,
smoke or fog grenades, or similar, includes a rocker arm that may
be pivoted by a tensioned spring about a pivot axis from a initial
position into a second position, and that is firmly attached to a
striker that, when the rocker arm is pivoted into its second
position, strikes a igniter element of the rocker-arm igniter. A
first mechanical securing device with a first securing device
element is provided that holds the rocker arm in its initial
position. Additionally, a second mechanical securing device with a
second securing device element is provided that also holds the
rocker arm in its initial position. The rocker arm is released to
pivot into its second position only after removal of both securing
device elements.
Inventors: |
Luebbers; Thorsten;
(Luetjensee, DE) ; Luebbers; Kai; (Trittau,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MILDE & HOFFBERG, LLP
10 BANK STREET
SUITE 460
WHITE PLAINS
NY
10606
US
|
Family ID: |
35220281 |
Appl. No.: |
11/266963 |
Filed: |
November 4, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/487 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42C 14/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/487 |
International
Class: |
F42B 27/00 20060101
F42B027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 20, 2005 |
DE |
20 2005 009 628.8 |
Claims
1. A rocker-arm igniter for a grenade having a housing with a
rocker arm that may be pivoted by a tensioned spring about a pivot
axis from a initial position into a second position, and that is
firmly attached to a striker which, when the rocker arm is swiveled
into its second position, strikes a igniter element of the
rocker-arm igniter, said rocker-arm igniter comprising a first
mechanical securing device with a first securing device element
that holds the rocker arm in its initial position, and a second
mechanical securing device with a second securing device element
that holds the rocker arm in its initial position, wherein the
rocker arm is released to pivot into its second position only after
removal of both securing device elements.
2. The rocker-arm igniter as in claim 1, wherein the second
mechanical securing device is independent of the first mechanical
securing device.
3. The rocker-arm igniter as in claim 1, wherein the second
mechanical securing device is radially opposite the rocker arm.
4. The rocker-arm igniter as in claim 1, wherein the first
mechanical securing device is removed by removing the first
securing device element in a first direction and the second
mechanical securing device is removed by removing the second
securing device element in a second direction.
5. The rocker-arm igniter as in claim 1, wherein the second
mechanical securing device element comprises a clamp on the housing
of the rocker-arm igniter.
6. The rocker-arm igniter as in claim 5, wherein the clamp is in
the form of a fork with two tines that may be placed onto a wing of
the housing of the rocker-arm igniter.
7. The rocker-arm igniter as in claim 6, wherein the second
mechanical securing device is provided with an engaging projection
that engages in an engaging hole in the wing.
8. The rocker-arm igniter as in claim 1, wherein the second
mechanical securing device is provided with a pull ring to release
the securing device.
9. The rocker-arm igniter as in claim 5, wherein the clamp is a
plastic component.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a rocker-arm igniter as is used for
irritation grenades, hand grenades, smoke, or fog grenades.
[0002] The rocker-arm igniter includes a housing in which a rocker
arm may pivot about an axis with the help of a strong,
pre-tensioned spring. The rocker arm is connected with a striker
that strikes an ignition cap positioned in an igniter head when the
spring pivots the rocker arm.
[0003] The function of the rocker arm will be explained in
connection with an irritation grenade.
[0004] Such munitions include a housing that receives at least one,
and often several, pyrotechnic loads, e.g., irritation loads that
create a loud report and/or a flash of light upon ignition. A
rocker-arm igniter is preferably threaded into the top part of the
irritation grenade housing. For this, the rocker arm rests
approximately against the housing of the irritation grenade, and is
held in this initial position by a mechanical securing device,
usually a pin with an extraction ring.
[0005] When the irritation grenade is used, it is held by a person
so that the rocker arm may be held against the housing in its
initial position. After releasing the mechanical securing device
and subsequent tossing of the irritation grenade, the rocker arm is
pivoted into its second position by the action of the strong spring
so that the striker strikes the ignition cap to ignite the
irritation load or loads.
[0006] An example of an irritation grenade with a rocker-arm
igniter is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,139.
[0007] As a securing device element, for example, a securing pin is
used that holds the rocker arm in its initial position. Extraction
force of about 40 N to 80 N is required to extract the securing
pins. For improved handling, the securing pin is equipped with an
extraction ring by means of which the user extracts the pin from
the housing.
[0008] In unforeseen situations, it may occur that the extraction
ring catches on an object, for example, and the securing pin is
extracted inadvertently. If the user is not holding the irritation
grenade securely and is not securing the rocker arm with his hand,
the irritation grenade loads are ignited. The pressure wave thus
arising may lead to severe injury to the user.
[0009] There may also be situations in which the user inadvertently
does not correctly hold the irritation grenade and does not hold
the rocker arm securely. If the user then extracts the securing
devices, the irritation grenade loads are ignited, again leading to
serious injury.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is a principal object of the present invention to
increase the safety of a rocker-arm igniter and to provide a design
in which inadvertent arming of the rocker-arm igniter is
practically impossible.
[0011] This object, as well as other objects which will become
apparent from the discussion that follows, are achieved, in
accordance to the present invention, by providing an additional,
second mechanical securing device with a second securing device
element that also holds the rocker arm in its initial position,
whereby the rocker arm is released to pivot into its second
position only after removal of both securing device elements.
[0012] The second mechanical securing device increases safety
against undesired or inadvertent triggering of the rocker-arm
igniter since the user is forced to employ a controlled procedure
to arm the rocker-arm igniter. If the user inadvertently removes
the first securing device, or if it is otherwise removed without
the irritation grenade being held securely, triggering of the
rocker-arm igniter is prevented by the second securing device. The
user, after noticing the removal of the first securing device, must
hold the irritation grenade securely in the hand before removing
the second securing device.
[0013] After the irritation grenade is tossed, the rocker arm
pivots into its second position by the force of the pre-tensioned
spring in which the striker strikes the ignition cap, igniting the
cap. As necessary, the igniter cap may detonate a delay charge that
then ignites the irritation grenade load, or detonates loads of the
irritation grenade sequentially.
[0014] The second mechanical securing device is preferably
independent of the first mechanical securing device so that the
sequence to remove both securing devices is arbitrary. Designs are
naturally conceivable in which the mechanical design of the two
mechanical securing devices is so configured that the sequence of
securing device removal is pre-determined.
[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second
mechanical securing device is positioned radially opposite the
rocker arm resting against the housing so that there is good
spatial separation between the two securing devices.
[0016] The two securing device elements are preferably so
configured that they must be removed in different directions. This
also requires more attention by the user to achieve a controlled
arming of the rocker-arm igniter, and prevents inadvertent arming
of the rocker-arm igniter.
[0017] The second securing device is a clamp, for example, attached
to the housing of the rocker-arm igniter that holds the rocker arm
in its initial position. The connection to the housing may be of
any type. The clamp is preferably shaped as a two-pronged fork that
is mounted on a wing within the housing of the rocker-arm igniter.
The wing may be, for example, threaded into the igniter head of the
rocker-arm igniter that bears the igniter cap.
[0018] One leg of the clamp is preferably provided with an engaging
projection such as a small knob that engages with a corresponding
engagement recess of the wing. This prevents the clamp from being
removed from its rest position inadvertently when, for example, the
irritation grenade is loaded. On the other side, the knob is so
shaped that the fork may be extracted from the engagement recess
with a strong pull.
[0019] The second mechanical securing device is preferably made of
plastic so that it retains a certain elasticity.
[0020] For a full understanding of the present invention, reference
should now be made to the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a side view of an irritation grenade with a
rocker-arm igniter with two mechanical securing devices according
to the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the irritation grenade as in
FIG. 1, wherein both mechanical securing devices are removed.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional, cutaway view through a
rocker-arm igniter for an irritation grenade per FIG. 1 showing the
second mechanical securing device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now
be described with reference to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings. Identical
elements in the various figures are designated with the same
reference numerals.
[0025] The irritation grenade 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a housing
2 in which several pyrotechnic irritation charges such as report or
flash charges are mounted as may be taken from the State of the Art
described above. The neck 3 of a rocker-arm igniter 11 is threaded
into the center of the upper side of the housing 2, whereby this
neck 3 is a part of the housing 4 of the rocker-arm igniter. An
ignition cap 5 is provided on the upper end of the neck facing away
from the housing 2 that can ignite a delay charge 7 for the
pyrotechnic loads within the housing 2 via a channel 6. The neck 3
with the igniter cap 5 forms an ignition chamber 8. Two wings 9 and
10 connected to each other are threaded onto the igniter chamber 8
that lie opposite each other and possess a straight area facing
upward.
[0026] The rocker-arm igniter 11 includes a rocker arm 12 that may
swivel about a pivot axis 13 with the help of a strong helical
spring, and that is firmly attached with a striker 15. As is
visible in FIG. 1, the rocker-arm igniter is secured in that the
rocker arm 12 is secured by a pin 16 that is inserted through a
hole 17 in the rocker arm and a matching hole 18 in the housing 4
of the rocker-arm igniter 11. The pin 16 is provided with a folding
pull ring 19. The pin 16 with the pull ring 19 is a first known
securing device that must be removed before the irritation grenade
can be used. After removal of the pin 16, the rocker arm is held in
the hand of the user. When the irritation grenade is tossed, the
rocker arm 12 with the striker 15 swivels because of the spring 14
so that the striker 15 strikes the igniter cap.
[0027] As a second mechanical securing device, a clamp 20 in the
form of a two-tined fork is provided whose upper end is also
attached to a folding pull ring 21. The clamp 20 is extended along
the straight area of the wing 10 of the igniter chamber 8, and lies
approximately radially opposite the rocker arm 12. The clamp 20
includes an engaging knob 22 on one tine that engages in an
engaging hole 23 in the wing 10. The clamp 20 rests against the
front edge of the rocker arm 12 surrounding the neck 3, and
prevents swiveling of the rocker arm 12 by the spring even if the
first mechanical securing device consisting of pin 16 and pull ring
19 has already been extracted.
[0028] To use the irritation grenade, a person grasps the housing 2
with the rocker arm 12 and removes sequentially the two mechanical
securing devices, i.e., pulls the pin 16 using the pull ring 19 and
the clamp 20 with the help of the pull ring 21 from their secured
positions. The rocker arm 12 is still held against the housing 2 by
the hand of the user. Only when the irritation grenade is tossed
does the rocker-arm 12 swivel from the force of the spring of the
striker 15 about the axis 13 so that the striker pin 15 strikes the
igniter cap, thus triggering ignition of the individual pyrotechnic
irritation loads.
[0029] Since two mechanical securing devices must be removed before
use, inadvertent release of a single securing device does not lead
to function of the rocker-arm igniter and of the irritation
charge.
[0030] There has thus been shown and described a novel rocker-arm
igniter which fulfills all the objects and advantages sought
therefor. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses
and applications of the subject invention will, however, become
apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this
specification and the accompanying drawings which disclose the
preferred embodiments thereof. All such changes, modifications,
variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from
the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by
the invention, which is to be limited only by the claims which
follow.
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