US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

James F Murnane, Iii

William G Kuhnle

A grenade device for use with and for ejection from an artillery shell is ovided. The device includes a stabilizing propeller and a grenade body. The propeller has two opposite blades disposed on opposite sides of a rotation axis. Each blade has an upper tilted portion and a lower substantially flat portion and a connecting return bend tip portion. Each such portion has a leading edge and a trailing edge. Each upper tilted portion has a transverse angle of attack. The upper tilted portions have a common longitudinal upper projected axis. The lower flat portions also have a common longitudinal lower projected axis. The common longitudinal upper projected axis and the common longitudinal lower projected axis form a projected displacement angle therebetween. The propeller is made from a flexible metal or fabric ribbon. The blades are folded in a nested arrangement before descent. During descent, the blades unfold to their overall aerodynamic shape. The propeller has a windmill type of rotation during descent. The grenade body may have an alternator as part of an electronic fuze, which is connected to a shaft, that is connected to the propeller coaxially therewith along the rotation axis for energizing the alternator.

Method of making a flexprop

A flexible wing which is connected to a submunition provides a substantia vertical descent and provides torque which power submunition electronics. The flexible wing is deployed in a low drag configuration to avoid collision with other submunitions. The flexible wing is canted to allow rotation of the wing.

Flexible wing

A grenade device for use with and for ejection from an artillery shell is ovided. The device includes a stabilizing propeller and a grenade body. The propeller has two opposite blades disposed on opposite sides of a rotation axis. Each blade has an upper tilted portion and a lower substantially flat portion and a connecting return bend tip portion. Each such portion has a leading edge and a trailing edge. Each upper tilted portion has a transverse angle of attack. The upper tilted portions bave a common longitudinal upper projected axis. The lower flat portions also have a common longitudinal lower projected axis. The common longitudinal upper projected axis and the common longitudinal lower projected axis form a projected displacement angle therebetween. The propeller is made from a flexible metal or fabric ribbon. The blades are folded in a nested arrangement before descent. During descent, the blades unfold to their overall aerodynamic shape. The propeller has a windmill type of rotation during descent. The grenade body may have an alternator as part of an electronic fuze, which is connected to a shaft, that is connected to the propeller coaxially therewith along the rotation axis for energizing the alternator.

Growing community of inventors

Andover, NJ, United States of America

James F Murnane, Iii