GB588352A - Improvements in or relating to land mines for military purposes - Google Patents

Abstract

588,352. Land mines. DELALANDE, P. J. M. R. Feb. 13, 1945, No. 3597. [Classes 9 (ii) and 92 (ii)] A land mine comprises a casing 1 containing an explosive projectile 11, an external flash tube 9 adjacent and substantially parallel to the casing, a combustible charge 10 which when ignited generates gas to eject the projectile from the casing, a detonator 17 in the flash tube and means at the upper or outer end of the flash tube for exploding the detonator. In the construction shown, the casing has a cover 3 which is held in place by a a wire catch 5, a water-tight gasket 4 being disposed between the cover and container. The casing has a strong base 2 having a flange which is engaged by a plate 7, and upon this plate is mounted a boss 8 which engages by a screw-thread the nose of a projectile after its fuze has been removed. The boss 8 supports booster-burning powder 21 and a detonator 20. The means for exploding detonator 17 comprises a firing pin 16 which is normally held retracted against spring pressure by a draw bolt 14 passing through a head 13 and also by a safety latch 15 similarly -mounted. The head 13 is mounted to swivel about a vertical axis, and to the draw bolt is secured a number of wires 19 whose other ends are anchored, such as at 24In use, the mine is pressed into the ground by means of a plate 23 and latch 15 is removed. A pull on any of wires 19 will then first rotate the head 13 and subsequently withdraw the bolt 14, thus freeing the pin 16 to explode the detonator 17. This in turn will ignite the charge 10, the gases from which will eject the projectile from the casing, the detonator 20 and booster 21. serving to explode the main charge of the projectile when it is a few feet from the ground. In a modification, Fig. 3 (not shown), the firing pin is adapted to be actuated when vertical pressure is applied to,a device projecting above the ground in place of the head 13.