US3750529A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multishot portable launching apparatus
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1971-11-02
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Granted: 1973-08-07
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Expires: 1991-11-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method to launch a projectile containing a viscoelastic solution of high molecular weight polyisobutylene in triethylaluminum to a target site to inflict casualties and/or produce a conflagration; the apparatus being a multiple shot and portable means.
Inventors
- 👤 S Friedrich
- 👤 J Klein
- 👤 H Schmidt
- 👤 S Ryan
- 👤 W Waring
- 👤 S Maruko
- 👤 G Garner
- 👤 J Reed
- 👤 Delden R Van
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:51
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B15/00; F41; F41F; F41F3/00; F41F3/04; F41F3/045; F41F3/0455
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the payload composition is selected from the group consisting of explosive composition, chemical composition, and incendiary composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the incendiary composition is a viscoelastic solution of high molecular weight polyisobutylene in triethylaluminum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the guide tube assembly means has a spline configuration formed in the inside wall adapted to mate with key structures formed on the outside wall of the extension shaft assembly means, the extension shaft assembly means has a pair of key structures formed on the outside wall of the extension shaft assembly means 180* apart to mate with the spline configuration, and a longitudinal groove structure is provided in the extension shaft assembly to receive a ratchet component drive pin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
250 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the firing mechanism comprises a housing means, a plurality of spring loaded firing pin means movably mounted within the housing means to detonate a plurality of primer means fixedly mounted within a primer manifold means, a cam means rotatably mounted within the housing means adapted to cooperate with a cam bearing means to cock the firing pin means and to release the firing pin means under spring tension after cocking to detonate the primer means, a cam bearing means rotatably mounted adjacent to the forward end of each memeber of the plurality of firing pin means to sequentially travel over the surface of the cam means to cock the firing means and to release the firing pin means under spring tension after cocking to detonate the primer means, a plurality of primer means fixedly mounted within the primer manifold means adapted to be detonated by the firing pin means to activate a projectile, and a manifold tube means integral with and centrally located in the primer manifold means and extending in an aft direction, a slot means formed in a manifold tube extension means to receive a clip retainer means therein, and a clip retainer means adapted to be removably mounted within the slot means to engage a clip assembly to the firing mechanism after loading the plurality of tubes within the launcher means to permit extension of the extension shaft assembly means to remove restrictions on the trigger means and the firing mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
188 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ratchet and drum assembly means has a ratchet component connected to a drum component; the ratchet component comprising a ratchet means, a mounting plate means to mount the ratchet and drum assembly within the launcher means and having a hollow and annular structure in the center thereof to receive a ratchet shaft means which surrounds the extension shaft assembly means, a torsion return spring means surrounding the ratchet shaft means and having the forward end fixedly connected to a pawl means and the aft end fixedly connected to a support pin means press fit into the mounting plate, a drive pin means being press fit into the ratchet shaft means and protruding into the bore of the ratchet shaft means to fix the ratchet means in position on the extension shaft means and to ride in a grove in the extension shaft assembly means to permit rotation through approximately 90* of a cam means within the firing mechanism means with each squeeze of the trigger means, and a support pin means to fixedly anchor the torsion return spring at one end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a drum component is rotatably mounted on the ratchet shaft means to cooperate with the ratchet component; the drum component comprising an annular groove therein to receive the cable means therein, a recess formed integral with the annular groove to fixedly anchor one end of the cable means therein, means to hold the cable means within the annular groove, and a pawl means fixedly mounted on the drum component and adapted to engage the ratchet means to rotate the cam means within the firing mechanism means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a safety means is integral with the trigger means to permit storing the apparatus in a safe position.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of sequentially delivering plural projectiles to a target area comprising the steps of: providing a rear loading launcher having plural primer actuated propellable projectile guide tubes with an extendable centrally located spaced plural pin firing mechanism therebetween wherein the pins are actuatable in sequence by a trigger when the said firing mechanism is in the extended and locked position; providing for assembly into the guide tubes a complementary number of and compatibly shaped projectile containing rockets in a clip having an interconnecting portion with plural spaced primers alignable with respective pins of said firing mechanism wherein the said interconnecting portion is attachable to the said firing mechanism; assembling the clip and its projectile containing rockets into the respective said guide tubes from the rear of the launcher with the projectiles foremost and attaching the clip said interconnecting portion to the firing mechanism thereby associating the respective pins of the firing mechanism into alignment and engageable relation with the respective rocket primers; moving the clip, associated rockets, and attached firing mechanism relative to the launcher tubes to the extended position and locking the assembly, to thereby secure the rockets to the launcher and enable trigger actuation; and aiming the launcher at the target and sequentially firing the rockets by repetitively actuating the trigger which sequentially actuates the pins of the firing mechanism causing each to respectively detonate a primer which in turn fires its associated rocket to propell its projectile to the target.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-06 | 1977-02-05 | 1977-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-06 | 1981-02-05 | 1981-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-06 | 1985-02-05 | 1985-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |