Joint construction between components of military projectile and releasable by melting of fusible eutectic helical member

摘要

The joint construction is employed between a military rocket motor and a warhead adapted to be propelled by the motor. The motor includes a motor tube with a cylindrical front portion having an internal cylindrical surface therein. The warhead comprises an adapter ring having a cylindrical rear portion with an external cylindrical surface which is telescopically receivable within the internal cylindrical surface. The internal and external cylindrical surfaces are formed with respective confronting aligned internal and external helical screw thread grooves for receiving a fusible substantially helical joint member to form a secure connection between the rocket motor and the warhead. The helical joint member is made of a material having a low melting temperature, preferably a eutectic metal alloy, whereby the heat of a fire or the like will melt the joint member to disconnect the warhead from the rocket motor. The motor tube has a front wall with a vent opening therein, normally closed by a plug member. The adapter ring includes means for retaining the plug member in the vent opening. The melting of the fusible joint member is effective to release the retaining action of the adapter ring, whereby any pressure in the motor tube expels the plug member and the adapter ring from the motor tube.