U.S. patent application number 13/357973 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-25 for diversionary grenade having watertight seal.
This patent application is currently assigned to Combined Systems, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Jacob Kravel. Invention is credited to Jacob Kravel.
Application Number | 20130186295 13/357973 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48796160 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130186295 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kravel; Jacob |
July 25, 2013 |
DIVERSIONARY GRENADE HAVING WATERTIGHT SEAL
Abstract
A grenade is defined by a body made from a rubberized material,
the body including a hollow interior and a stem section. A cap is
releasably secured to the stem section, the cap retaining a fuze
assembly which is threadingly engaged therewith. The grenade is
equipped with an ejection charge that causes said cap and said fuze
assembly to be separated from said body prior to detonation of the
grenade. A hydrophobic sealing layer applied to the exterior of the
stem section and cap provides a watertight seal relative to the
interior of the grenade, but without substantially interfering with
the ejection of said cap and fuze assembly.
Inventors: |
Kravel; Jacob; (Great Neck,
NY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Kravel; Jacob |
Great Neck |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Combined Systems, Inc.
Jamestown
PA
|
Family ID: |
48796160 |
Appl. No.: |
13/357973 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/487 ;
156/303.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 12/56 20130101;
F42B 27/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/487 ;
156/303.1 |
International
Class: |
F42B 27/00 20060101
F42B027/00; F42B 33/04 20060101 F42B033/04 |
Claims
1. A grenade comprising: a body made from a rubberized material,
said body including a hollow interior and a stem section; a cap
attached releasably to the stem section of said grenade body; a
fuze assembly threadingly attached to said cap; an ejection charge
that causes said cap and said fuze assembly to be separated from
said body prior to detonation of said grenade; and a hydrophobic
sealing layer applied to the exterior of said stem section and said
cap, said sealing layer providing a watertight seal relative to the
interior of said grenade without substantially interfering with the
ejection of said cap and fuze assembly.
2. A grenade as recited in claim 1, wherein said cap is made from
plastic.
3. A grenade as recited in claim 1, wherein said waterproofing
sealing layer includes a synthetic rubber.
4. A grenade as recited in claim 1, wherein said grenade is
non-lethal.
5. A grenade as recited in claim 3, wherein said sealing layer is
applied over a minimum thickness of about 0.001 and about 0.100
inches.
6. A method of fabricating a waterproof grenade, said method
comprising the steps of: providing a grenade body made from a
rubberized material, said grenade having a hollow interior and a
stem section extending therefrom; attaching a cap to said stem
section, said cap including a center opening sized for receiving a
fuze assembly, said cap being releasably attached to said stem
section; applying a sealing layer to the exterior of said cap and
said stem section, including an attachment boundary therebetween,
said sealing layer comprising a hydrophobic material; and attaching
said fuze assembly to said cap.
7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said fuze assembly
includes an ejection charge for jettisoning said cap from said
grenade body prior to detonation of said grenade, said sealing
layer being applied so as not to substantially affect the ability
of said ejection charge to jettison said cap and fuze assembly from
said grenade.
8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said fuze assembly is
threadingly attached to said cap.
9. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said cap is made from a
plastic material.
10. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said grenade is
non-lethal.
11. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said sealing layer is
applied by brush.
12. A method as recited in claim 8, further including the step of
applying an epoxy to the threaded connection between said fuze
assembly and said cap.
13. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said sealing layer
includes a liquified synthetic rubber.
14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said sealing layer is
applied at room temperature.
15. A method as recited in claim 6, including the additional step
of roughening the surfaces of said cap and said stem section prior
to said applying step.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The application relates generally to the field of non-lethal
weapons and/or diversionary devices and more specifically to a
non-lethal grenade having a seal that enables use in water
environments.
BACKGROUND AND RELATED ART
[0002] There are numerous versions of grenades that are presently
available for purposes of law enforcement, military and other
related applications. Included among these devices are what are
referred to as so called "non lethal" or distraction devices. These
devices include, among others, "flash-bang" grenades and "stun"
grenades, each of which are commonly designed to temporarily
incapacitate a person or persons that are within a prescribed area
or to cause persons to leave a prescribed area due to the
detonation of a grenade therein. In the case of "flash hang"
grenades, a combination of a released charges of intense flash
illumination and auditory (loud sound) discharge are emitted by the
grenade while in the case of "stun" grenades, a plurality of
hardened rubberized pellets are caused to be released at high speed
when the grenade is detonated. Other non-lethal versions can
include those containing at least one of or combinations of
chemical (e.g., tear gas) and other deterrent filler materials that
are intended to cause considerable discomfort.
[0003] In the common course of use, each of the above-noted
grenades is provided with a fuze assembly, which permits detonation
of the device after a timed delay (i.e., a few seconds) following
the release of an arming pin and safety lever by a user or
launching apparatus. Commonly the time assembly is securably
attached to a cap, the latter of which is secured by means of an
interference fit with the remainder of the grenade body while the
fuze assembly is threadingly engaged with the cap. An ejection
charge is used prior to detonation of the grenade and following
release of the safety lever to safely eject the fuze assembly and
cap in order to permit the filler material within the grenade to be
dispersed upon detonation. Failure to release the cap properly will
yield unsatisfactory results and potentially dangerous safety
issues due to the confinement of forces within the grenade body.
Therefore, it is essential that the cap be properly jettisoned from
the remainder of the grenade.
[0004] The use of these devices is increasing and as such are the
number of possible applications, including those in environments
for example in which grenades could be inventoried on boats, ships
and naval vessels. It is therefore a somewhat competing interest to
provide a grenade having increased versatility in terms of the
environment in which it is used, but without sacrificing either
functionality or manufacturability.
SUMMARY
[0005] Therefore and according to a first aspect there is provided
a grenade, said grenade comprising a body made from a rubberized
material, said body including a hollow interior and a stem
section;
[0006] a cap attached releasably to the stern section of said
grenade body;
[0007] a fuze assembly threadingly attached to said cap;
[0008] an ejection charge that causes said cap and said fuze
assembly to be separated from said body prior to detonation of said
grenade; and
[0009] a hydrophobic sealing layer applied to the exterior of said
stem section and said cap, said sealing layer providing a
watertight seal relative to the interior of said grenade without
substantially interfering with the ejection of said cap and fuze
assembly.
[0010] According to one version, the hydrophobic sealing layer
comprises a liquified synthetic rubber. Preferably, this material
can be applied at room temperature, such as by brush. Desirably, a
minimum layer thickness in the range of about 0.001 to about 0.100
inches is preferred.
[0011] The grenade is preferably non-lethal wherein the cap is made
from plastic or other suitable material that permits securement to
the rubberized stern section while also pe miffing bonding relative
to the applied sealing layer. The surfaces to be bonded can be
abraded or roughened sufficiently prior to applying the sealing
layer to better guarantee adhesion.
[0012] According to another aspect, there is provided a method for
fabricating a grenade, said method comprising the steps of
providing a grenade body made from a rubberized material, the
grenade having a hollow interior and a stern section extending
therefrom, attaching a cap to said stem section, said cap including
a center opening sized for receiving a fuze assembly, said cap
being releasably attached to said stem section, applying a sealing
layer to the exterior of said cap and said stem section, including
an attachment boundary therebetween wherein said sealing layer
comprises a hydrophobic material, and attaching said fuze assembly
to said cap.
[0013] The fuze assembly of the grenade includes an ejection charge
for jettisoning said cap from said grenade body prior to detonation
of said grenade, said sealing layer being applied so as not to
substantially affect the ability of said ejection charge to
jettison said cap and fuze assembly from said grenade. According to
one described version, the fuze assembly is threadingly attached to
the cap.
[0014] The cap can be made, for example, from a durable plastic
material that enables release from the rubberized stem section
while also permitting bonding thereupon by the sealing layer. The
grenade according to a preferred version, as described herein, is
non-lethal.
[0015] The sealing layer can be suitably applied. According to one
described version, the layer is applied by brush. This sealing
layer can be, for example, a liquified synthetic rubber.
Preferably, the sealing layer can be applied at room temperature.
The surfaces to be bonded can be abraded or roughened sufficiently
prior to applying the sealing layer to better guarantee
adhesion.
[0016] Additionally and according to one version, the method can
further include the step of applying an epoxy to the threaded
connection between the fuze assembly and the cap to further isolate
and seal moisture from the interior of the grenade.
[0017] One realized advantage is increased versatility in the use
of non-lethal devices in terms of naval, law enforcement and other
applications in water environments.
[0018] Another advantage provided is that the waterproofing seal
provided by the herein sealing layer does not interfere with the
functionality of the grenade or its overall reliability.
[0019] Yet another advantage is that this waterproofing feature can
be realized without having to substantially modify the design of
the overall device and in which the sealing agent can be readily
applied so as not to increase complexity in manufacturability or
cost.
[0020] These and other features and advantages will be readily
apparent from the following Detailed Description, which should be
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, shown in section, of a
prior art grenade.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, shown partially in
section, of a prior art fuze assembly;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of prior art grenade,
shown during release of the safety lever and prior to
detonation;
[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates a partial partially exploded view of a
prior art grenade, the grenade being similar to those depicted in
FIGS. 1 and 3;
[0025] FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a portion of the prior
art grenade of FIG. 4;
[0026] FIG. 6 is a partially disassembled view of the prior art
grenade, illustrating the ejected portion of the cap of the grenade
of FIGS. 4 and 5 in a condition similar to that occurring just
prior to detonation;
[0027] FIG. 7 is a partial side perspective view of a grenade in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the cap and grenade
body of the grenade of FIG. 7; and
[0029] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the sealed area of the grenade
of FIGS. 7 and 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The following embodiments described herein relate to a
grenade having a sealing feature enabling the grenade to be
effectively water-tight and therefore more versatile than previous
known versions. Throughout the course of discussion, various terms
are used to aid in providing a suitable frame of reference with
regard to the accompanying drawings. To that end, terms such as
"above", "below", "top". "bottom", "upward", downward", "proximal",
"distal" and the like are used throughout. These terms, however,
are not intended to be overlimiting of the present invention as
claimed. In passing, it should further be noted that the drawings
in this application should not be necessarily relied upon in ten
135 of their depicted scale.
[0031] Moreover, the embodiments described herein relate
specifically to a specific version of a so-called "non-lethal"
weapon/device or grenade. It will be readily apparent that the
concepts that are described herein, however, are also applicable to
other fauns of weaponry used in conjunction with at least one fuze
or fuze assembly to effect detonation thereof.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 1 a grenade 20 made in accordance with the
prior art is shown, the grenade being defined by a body or housing
24 having a suitable shape and including at least one interior
chamber 28. In the present example, the housing 24 is defined by a
substantially spherical configuration with the exception of a
substantially cylindrical neck or stern portion 32 having an open
end. The entirety of the housing 24 and the stem section 32 is
hollow, thereby permitting the inclusion of various components
through the open end of the stem section. According to this
version, the housing 24 and the stem section 32 are each fabricated
by known means from a hardened rubber material each with fairly
thickened walls to provide suitable structure but also maintaining
a requisite level of elasticity.
[0033] As previously noted, the grenade 20 described herein is a
so-called non-lethal grenade. A plurality of hardened (e.g.,
Durometer 70) rubberized pellets 36 are added according to this
specific version as filler material within the hollow interior of
the grenade housing 24, although other materials could be utilized.
These rubberized pellets 36 are dispersed at a high speed over a
predetermined radius upon detonation of the grenade 20 and are
intended to stun or incapacitate persons within that radius. A cap
40 is engaged with the stern portion 32, the cap being made,
according to this embodiment, from a moldable rubber and/or plastic
material and having a downwardly extending portion 44 that is sized
to create an interference fit with the interior walls of the
cylindrical stem section 32 and an upper ledge 48 shaped to
configure substantially to that of the stem section when the cap is
fitted thereto. In addition, the mating surfaces of the cap 40 and
stem portion 32 should be initially roughened in order to improve
the fit therebetween. When mated the cap 40 is tightly, though
releasably, attached to the grenade housing 24.
[0034] The cap 40 includes a center through opening or bore 52, the
opening according to this embodiment including a set of screw
threads (not shown) for receiving a portion of a fuze assembly 60,
which is attached thereto. A portion of a known fuze assembly that
is useful for the presently depicted grenade is shown in FIG. 3 for
purposes of background.
[0035] The fuze assembly 60 is mounted to the cap 40. According to
this version, the fuze assembly 60 includes an fuze body 64 that is
disposed above the cap 40 and a lower extending portion 66 that
extends downwardly into the central bore 52 of the cap 40. The fuze
body 64 is made from a hardened metal such as steel or brass or
constructed from other suitable material, the body retaining
therein a striker 70 that is attached to one end of a striker
spring 74 as well as a primer that is disposed within the lower
extending portion 66, wherein the lower extending portion is a
hollow member that retains at least one charge and is connected to
at least one additional charge, in this instance, a flash charge
29, FIG. 1, disposed in the interior chamber 28 of the grenade body
24. A set of screw threads 67 are provided in an upper axial
section, and at least one charge (not shown) so as to effect
detonation of the grenade 20. The type of fuze used in the herein
described embodiments is an M 201, pyrotechnic delay fuze. It
should be noted in passing, however, that the specifics of the
particular fuze assembly are not necessarily critical to the
workings of the present invention, as described herein.
[0036] A safety lever 80 is attached to the fuze body 64 in biased
fashion by means of the striker spring 74 wherein the lever is
initially retained in place by means of an aiming pin 90 that is
also attached to the fuze body 64 through a set of axially aligned
lateral openings 37 that are formed in the fuze body 64 and safety
lever 80. The safety lever 80 extends downwardly from the fuze body
64 and is pivotally or hingeably attached thereto in a releasable
manner, the lever substantially conforming to the fuze body 64 and
the grenade body 24, respectively.
[0037] Due to the chance of catastrophic injury that could occur if
the arming pin 90 is prematurely or unintentionally is pulled, a
retaining clip 98 is further provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the
retaining clip 98 is provided as a separate component and is
disposed between the threaded portion of the fuse body 64 and the
cap 40 of the grenade 20. The retaining clip 98 is configured to
retain a proximal ring portion 94 of the arming pin 90, thereby
requiring both a transverse (twisting) motion followed by an axial
(pulling) motion in order to effectuate the release of the arming
pin and thereby effect release of the safety lever 80.
[0038] In operation and as noted. release of the aiming pin 90 from
the retaining clip 98 is realized by a twisting motion of the
proximal ring portion 94 of the pin. The retaining clip 98
according to this version is made from aluminum or similar material
which is defined as a single separate component including an
opening 99 that is sized to permit the clip to mounted onto the
downwardly extending portion 66 of the fuze body 64, the retaining
clip being mounted between the top of the cap 40 and the bottom of
the fuze assembly housing. The clip 98 includes a pair of flanges
that match corresponding opposing side walls of the fuze body 64 in
order to align a clip portion 103 relative to the lateral openings
37 that support the firing pin 90 and subsequently the safety lever
80. The clip portion 103 according to this version is a
substantially C-shaped spring configuration having a spacing that
is sized to retain the proximal ring portion 94 of the firing pin
90 and in which elastic deformation of the spring clip portion is
required in order to secure and release the pin.
[0039] Once the firing pin 90 has been released from the retaining
clip 98, the pin can be axially pulled away from the fuze body 64,
through the lateral openings 37 formed in the fuze body 64 and
safety lever 80, thereby releasing the safety lever from its locked
condition. Typically and upon pulling the arming pin 90, the user
immediately pushes the safety lever 80 toward the grenade body 24
and hurls the grenade 20 toward a target. Alternatively, the
grenade 20 is enabled by apparatus (not shown) prior to launching
of same in a manner that is known. As shown most clearly in FIG. 3,
release of the safety lever 80 causes the lever to pivot under the
action of the preloaded striker spring 74 and further causes the
striker 70 to also pivot and axially engage the primer 78 causing
an ignition spark and thereby engaging the fuze assembly 60. In the
above-depicted apparatus, an ejection charge is ignited, separating
the cap 40 from the grenade body 24 followed by a delay charge
after which the hardened rubberized pellets 36 (not shown in this
view, refer to FIG. 1) and a high intensity illumination (flash)
and/or sonic charge 29, FIG. 1, are dispersed in a radial
(circular) pattern.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 4-6, a similar grenade 20 is herein
depicted in terms of its as assembled components. Similar parts are
herein labeled with the same reference numerals for the sake of
clarity. It should be pointed out that the explosive portions of
the fuze assembly and the filler material of the grenade are not
depicted herein for the sake of clarity. In terms of construction,
the cap 40 is assembled to the top of the stem section 32 wherein
the lower section of the cap is directly fitted within the stem
section, the rubberized stem section expanding and permitting an
interference fit with the upper ledge of the cap covering the stem
section and in contact peripherally therewith.
[0041] The fuze assembly 60 is then assembled to the cap 40 by
means of inserting the lower portion 66 of the fuze body 64 into
the center bore 52 of the cap and threadingly engaging the
components, drawing the fuze body 64 down onto the top of the cap.
In the instance a retaining clip 98, FIG. 1, is utilized, the clip
is first attached in overlaying fashion onto the lower portion 66
of the fuze assembly 60 with the clip portion 103 being aligned in
relation to the lateral openings 37 in order to permit assembly of
the firing pin 90.
[0042] A grenade made in accordance with one version of the
invention is shown in FIGS. 7-9. For purposes of clarity, the
grenade 120 shown is similar to that previously described. To that
end, similar parts are herein labeled with the same reference
numerals. Like the preceding, the grenade 120 includes a rubberized
body 24 including a substantially cylindrically shaped stem section
32 having an open end, each of which are essentially hollow
components. A cap 40 is used to cover the open end of the stem
section 32, the cap including a downwardly extending portion 44,
FIG. 1, and an upper ledge 48, FIG. 1, respectively, and in which
the cap is fabricated, such as by molding from a plastic material
such as polycarbonate, polyimide or other suitable material. As in
the preceding, the cap 40 further includes a center bore or opening
52, FIG. 1, at least a portion of which includes a set of screw
threads adjacent the upper ledge 48 and extending an intermediate
axial distance.
[0043] A fuze assembly 60, in this embodiment an M201 pyrotechnic
fuze, is used to detonate the grenade 120 is mounted to the cap 40,
the fuze assembly including a fuze body 64 (partially shown) having
a lower portion 66, FIG. 1, that is sized to be fitted into the
center bore 52, FIG. 1 of the cap 40. A safety lever 80 is
hingeably attached to the top of the fuze body 64 and is biased
into a first position by means of a striker spring (not shown but
similar to that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) one end of which is
attached to a striker (not shown in this view, but also similar to
that shown in FIGS. 2 and 3), the safety lever being retained in
the biased position by means of a firing pin 90 that is inserted
through a set of lateral openings 37 formed in the fuze body and
safety lever, respectively. A retaining clip 98 may also be used to
retain the firing pin 90 to insure against premature release of the
safety lever 80.
[0044] According to this version, a waterproofing sealing layer 136
is applied to the exterior of the cap 40 and the stem section 32 of
the grenade body 24, including the boundary therebetween. A
waterproofing agent, such as Performix Plasti Dip synthetic rubber
coating solution manufactured by Plasti Dip International, Inc., of
Blaine, Minn. is applied by brush, dipping or other suitable means
prior to the attachment of the fuze assembly 60 to the grenade 120.
A preferred minimum layer thickness of between about 0.001 and
0.100 inches should provide adequate sealing. Each of the exterior
of the stem section 32 and the upper ledge 48 of the cap 40 are
abraded or otherwise roughened prior to application of the sealing
layer 136 to better guarantee adhesion. This specific agent is
insoluble in water, wherein the sealing layer 136 creates a
hydrophobic barrier and prevents moisture or liquid from entering
the interior chamber 124 through the seam between the cap 40 and
the stem section 32 of the grenade 20. In addition, an epoxy such
as RTV or equivalent can be applied to the threads of the
downwardly extending portion 66 of the fuze assembly 60 during
manufacture to the cap 40 to prevent the possible passage or
migration of moisture through the fuze assembly 60 and to the
interior chamber 28 of the grenade 20.
[0045] The sealing layer 136 described herein provides a waterproof
barrier enabling the grenade to be used, for example in various
naval-type environments (e.g., on naval vessels). However, the
operation of the grenade is substantially unaffected in that the
ejection charge is still sufficient to properly eject the cap 40
and fuze assembly 60 away from the remainder of the grenade 120
prior to detonation irrespective of the presence of the coating
layer.
PARTS LIST FOR FIGS. 1-9
[0046] 20 grenade [0047] 24 housing or body [0048] 28 interior
chamber [0049] 29 flash charge [0050] 32 stem section [0051] 36
rubberized pellets [0052] 37 lateral openings [0053] 40 cap [0054]
44 lower portion [0055] 48 upper portion [0056] 52 center opening
or bore [0057] 60 fuze assembly [0058] 64 fuze body [0059] 66
downwardly extending portion [0060] 67 screw threads [0061] 70
striker [0062] 74 striker spring [0063] 78 primer [0064] 80 safety
lever [0065] 90 arming or tiring pin [0066] 94 proximal ring
portion [0067] 98 retaining clip [0068] 103 spring clip portion
[0069] 120 grenade [0070] 124 grenade body [0071] 136 sealing
layer
[0072] It will be readily apparent that other variations and
modifications are possible within the intended ambits of the
inventive concepts described herein, and according to the following
claims:
* * * * *