US2176362A - Detonable explosive - Google Patents

Description

Gd. 1'7, 1%39. L, A, SHERMAN 2,176,362

DETONABLE EXPLOS IVE Filed March 6, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENT OR. J0me A. Sher/72am ATTORNEY. l

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L. A. SHERMAN DETONABLE EXPLOS IVE Filed March 6, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Lam? 57267772411,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES DETONABLE EXPLOSIVE Louie A. Sherman, Florissant, Mo., assignor to Safetee Torpedo Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application March 6,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in detonable explosives, such, for instance, as railway track torpedoes and the like, and to the method of making the same.

My invention has for its primary object the provision, as a new article of manufacture, of a detonable explosive, such as a track torpedo or the like, which is compact, which may be safely handled and transported, which is simple and economical in structure, which is conveniently usable, and which is exceedingly efiicient in the performance of its intended functions.

My invention also has for an object the provision of a simple, unique, efficient, speedy, and economical method, avoiding any appreciable waste of either time or materials, of constructing and manufacturing detonable explosives of the type stated.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the explosive and in the method of manufacturing the same, all as presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings (2 sheets) Figure 1 is a perspective view of a detonating explosive in the form of a track torpedo constructed in accordance with and embodying my present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the torpedo, taken approximately along the line 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the torpedo, taken approximately along the line 3-3, Figure 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective plan and inverted plan views of the explosive filler of the torpedo; and

Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, and are perspective views illustrating the successive steps or intermediate stages in the production and manufacture of the torpedo to its final or commercial form shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my present invention, A designates the body of the torpedo, which includes a detonative member or filler I in the form of a cake or tablet preferably having the contour of an axial segment of a cylinder, the filler I having a flat bottom face or base a, an arcuate upper or top face 1) meeting the base a in well-defined rather sharp side edges or margins c, c, and opposite upstanding flat end walls d; and it may be here stated that, while the solid filler or cake 1937, Serial No. 129,292

I may be compounded or constructed in accordance with any standard chemical formula, it is preferably compounded or constructed in a manner more particularly disclosed in, and forming the subject-matter of, Letters Patent No. 2,061,- F

854, issued to me on November 24, 1936.

In the production of the torpedo, the filler or cake I is first suitably formed'or molded in preferably the cylindro-segr'nental shape mentioned and, as so formed or molded, is provided centrally of its flat bottom face I) with an axially extending recess or channel 2.

The channeled filler I is then placed or disposed centrally and fiatwise upon a wrapper-section or piece of suitable paper, fabric, or the like 3 with its end-walls d presented toward the opposite wrapper-side-margin 3 The covering or wrapper 3 is then folded longitudinally, as it may be said, snugly and tightly about the filler I in the manner shown in Figure 6, the covering 3 upon its inner face 9 being coated with a film of adhesive moistened preferably with an aqueous solution of Formalin. In such folding or wrapping operation, the wrapper-side-margins 3 are folded down and inwardly at-the corners of the filler I, as at 3*, substantially as shown'in Figure'l, and the tab-ends h, thus formed, are turned under, as best seen in Figure 8, so as to form a complete enclosure or casing precisely conforming to the surface contour of the filler I, the formalindampened film of glue, in drying, forming a waterproof bond between the covering 3 and the filler l and also securely retaining the covering 3 in place.

A suitably elongated flexible metallic mounting strap B formed preferably of a soft malleable low melting point material, such as lead, is then, for purposes presently appearing, inserted to extend intermediate its ends longitudinally within and through the axial recess or channel 2, and a second covering 4 of also suitable flexible material, preferably similar to that of the covering 3, is tightly wrapped oppositely or transversely, as it may be said, about the entire structure in the manner shown in Figures 9 and 10 and secured by means of a film of glue or other suitable adhesive likewise moistened with an aqueous solution of Formalin, for the purposes and in the manner described previously in connection with the initial covering 3. I

The second covering sheet or layer 4 is preferably slightly wider than the axial length of the filler I and its opposite side margins intermediate its ends are crlmped around the margins of the arcuate top face 21 of the filler I to fiangewise extend downwardly, as at 4', upon the filler endwalls d, while the overlapping opposite side margins of its end-portions 4 4 extend outwardly beyond the end margins of the bottom flat face a of the filler I in the formation of outwardly projecting marginal flanges f, f, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2, the second covering 4 functioning also in securely retaining the mounting strap B in united operative relation to the wrapped filler I.

The so encased or double-wrapped tablet orv filler l is then provided with an exterior allenveloping coating 6 preferably of nitro-cellulose lacquer, waterproof varnish, or the like, and preferably prior to complete drying of the coating 6, sand or other suitable abrasive material is dusted over the under face of the wrapped filler l to provide a non-slip abutment surface e, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2.

In use, the torpedo may be placed, for instance, upon the upper face of the ball of a railway track with its abrasive coated face e presented downwardly for track-surface engagement and extending transversely to the lengthwise extent of the. rails, so that the upwardly presented arcuate face of the torpedo will form a smoothly integrated raised continuation of the traction surface of the rail. The ends of the mounting strap B extending on either side of the body A may then be readily bent downwardly in clipwise fashion around the ball of the rail for holding the torpedo securely in explodable position. When a locomotive or other vehicle passes over the so positioned torpedo, the pressure exerted thereupon will detonate the filler l, producing a loud explosive report, serving as a signal to the train-crew for such purposes as are commonly familiar to railroad trainmen. When the filler is detonated, the explosive discharge will momentarily generate an intense amount of heat, which will immediately melt the portion of the mounting strap B enclosed within the channel 2, thus rupturing the mounting strap B and freeing the entire torpedo structure from the rail, so that the explosive force of the discharge may hurl thefragmentary remnants of the torpedo clear of the track, thereby preventing any damage to the traction surface of the rail, 7

Thus it will be evident that, by the present invention, I have provided a compact detonable explosive, which is securely and rigidly enclosed within a convenient, inexpensive, waterproof casing and is, therefore, unaffected by water, moisture, dampness, or atmospheric conditions, is structurally rugged, will not tend to come apart or be otherwise damaged through handling and storage prior to use, may be readily and conveniently'positioned upon a railway track or other surface for signal-giving detonation, will be positively and quickly hurled free of the track surface by the force of its own explosion upon detonation without damaging the track surface, and is otherwise highly efiicient in the performance of its intended functions.

It will further be evident that, by the present invention, I have also provided a method for the manufacture of detonable explosives, such as railway track torpedoes and the like, which is exceptionally efficient, unusually economical, and simple.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the torpedo may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principles of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. As a new article of manufacture, a tracktorpedo including a body of detonable material inv preformed hard tablet shape having a channel opening upon its under face and extending longitudinally thereacross, an elongated mounting-strap having an intermediate portion adapted for lengthwise non-cohesive disposition in said channel with its under face substantially flush with the under face of said body and restrained from transverse movement relatively to said body by the walls of said channel, and means for retaining said strap-portion in said channel.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a tracktorpedo including a body of detonable material in preformed hard tablet shape having a channel opening upon its under face and extending longitudinally thereacross, an elongated mounting-strap having an intermediate portion adapted for lengthwise non-cohesive disposition in said channel with its under face substantially flush with 'the under face of said body and restrained from transverse movement relatively to said body by the walls of said channel, and a section of sheet material wrapped around said body and said intermediate strap portion for retaining the strap portion in said channel.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a tracktorpedo including a body of detonable material in preformed hard tablet shape having a channel opening upon its under face and extending longitudinally thereacross, a disruptable casing comprising a sheet of flexible material entirely enclosing said body, an elongated mountingstrap having an intermediate portion adapted for lengthwise non-cohesive disposition upon said encased body and in said channel with its under body and intermediate strap portion for retaining the strap portion in said channel.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a tracktorpedo comprising a body of a detonable material preformed as a hard tablet of cylindro segmental shape having a channel opening upon its under face and extending longitudinally thereacross, a first flexible combustible wrapper adhesively disposed snugly about and entirely enclosing said body, an elongated pliable mountingstrap having an intermediate portion adapted for lengthwise non-cohesive disposition upon the encased body and in said channel with its under face substantially flush with the under face of the tablet and restrained from transverse movement relatively to the encased body by the walls of said channel, and a second flexible combustible wrapper secured bandwise about the first wrapper and over said intermediate strap portion for securing the strap portion to the encased body.

LOUIE A. SHERMAN.

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