Patents by Inventor Wolfgang Zehnder

Wolfgang Zehnder has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7614346
    Abstract: A projectile fuze (12) having fuze electronics in which the time of flight (T) can be programmed, having a timer/counter which counts up to the programmed time of flight (T)—minus a defined time value (?t)—and then charges an electrical firing circuit, and having a mechanical safety and arming unit (16) which switches a firing chain to the armed position after a specific time interval. The firing chain has an electrical detonator (24), a fuze needle (20), a piercing detonator (22) and a booster charge (26). The projectile fuze (12) has a pyrotechnic force element (14), which is interconnected with the fuze electronics and mechanically blocks the safety and arming unit (16) until the time of flight (T) minus the predetermined time value (?t) is reached, after which the electrical firing circuit is charged and the safety and arming unit (16) is unlocked to the armed position by initiation of the force element (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Junghans Microtech GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Kienzler, Wolfgang Schillinger, Wolfgang Zehnder, Reiner Hennig, Esther Laufer, Siegfried Paulini
  • Publication number: 20080173202
    Abstract: A tail fuze (10) is described having an electrical detonator (12), a fuze needle (14) which is associated with the electrical detonator, a piercing fuze (16) which can be moved into line with the fuze needle (14) and is intended for a fuze booster (28), wherein the fuze needle (14) has a mass body (32) on which a restraint spring (34) is provided. If the electrical firing fails, then the piercing fuze (16) is fired on striking the ground by the fuze needle (14) as a result of the inertia of the mass body (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: Junghans Microtec GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Kienzler, Wolfgang Zehnder, Gerd Giesler
  • Publication number: 20080078299
    Abstract: A projectile fuze (12) having fuze electronics in which the time of flight (T) can be programmed, having a timer/counter which counts up to the programmed time of flight (T)—minus a defined time value (?t)—and then charges an electrical firing circuit, and having a mechanical safety and arming unit (16) which switches a firing chain to the armed position after a specific time interval. The firing chain has an electrical detonator (24), a fuze needle (20), a piercing detonator (22) and a booster charge (26). The projectile fuze (12) has a pyrotechnic force element (14), which is interconnected with the fuze electronics and mechanically blocks the safety and arming unit (16) until the time of flight (T) minus the predetermined time value (?t) is reached, after which the electrical firing circuit is charged and the safety and arming unit (16) is unlocked to the armed position by initiation of the force element (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: JUNGHANS MICROTEC GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Kienzler, Wolfgang Schillinger, Wolfgang Zehnder, Reiner Hennig, Esther Laufer, Siegfried Paulini
  • Patent number: 6883434
    Abstract: A mortar includes a fuse device having a detonator, and a firing booster arranged to be ignited in response to detonation of the detonator. The detonator is detonated by a firing pin. Advancement of the firing pin toward the detonator is effected by an electrically ignitable pyrotechnic charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Junghans Feinwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Kienzler, Wolfgang Schillinger, Wolfgang Zehnder
  • Publication number: 20040144278
    Abstract: A mortar includes a fuse device having a detonator, and a firing booster arranged to be ignited in response to detonation of the detonator. The detonator is detonated by a firing pin. Advancement of the firing pin toward the detonator is effected by an electrically ignitable pyrotechnic charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: JUNGHANS Feinwerktechnik GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Frank Kienzler, Wolfgang Schillinger, Wolfgang Zehnder
  • Patent number: 6481354
    Abstract: A mortar fuse includes a fan wheel rotated in response to motion of the mortar fuse after the mortar has been launched. The fan wheel rotates a helix on which an activation wheel is mounted. The activation wheel moves in a path along the axis of the helix in response to rotation of the helix and eventually impacts against, and pierces, an acid container. Battery acid flows from the container and into battery cells, to energize the battery. The activation wheel includes a magnetic material. A coil is disposed along the path of travel of the activation wheel so that electric energy is generated in the coil as the magnetic activation wheel moves therepast. The electric energy operates a counter which controls a time function of the mortar fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Junghan Feinwektechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Heck, Reiner Hennig, Frank Kienzler, Detlef Pabst, Jürgen Voigt, Wolfgang Zehnder
  • Patent number: 6463855
    Abstract: A fuse device for a mortar shell includes an impact weight carrying a detonation charge and arranged to impact against a firing pin when the mortar shell strikes a target. A safety arm locks the impact weight against movement toward the firing pin in a safety position. The safety arm is movable out of locking relationship with the impact arm to establish an armed condition of the fuse device. Energy for moving the safety arm is stored in a spring. That energy is stored after the mortar shell has been launched, because an impeller is rotated by an air flow generated by the moving mortar shell, and that impeller rotation is transmitted to the spring to store energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Junghans Feinwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Zehnder, Günter Westphal, Wolfgang Schillinger, Frank Kienzler, Herbert Höni, Horst Moosmann
  • Publication number: 20020033110
    Abstract: A mortar includes a fuse device having a detonator, and a firing booster arranged to be ignited in response to detonation of the detonator. The detonator is detonated by a firing pin which comprises part of a sliding component in an electric solenoid mechanism. Upon receipt of an electric firing signal, the solenoid produces an electromagnetic force that thrusts the firing pin against the detonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: Frank Kienzler, Wolfgang Schillinger, Wolfgang Zehnder
  • Publication number: 20010017090
    Abstract: A fuse device for a mortar shell includes an impact weight carrying a detonation charge and arranged to impact against a firing pin when the mortar shell strikes a target. A safety arm locks the impact weight against movement toward the firing pin in a safety position. The safety arm is movable out of locking relationship with the impact arm to establish an armed condition of the fuse device. Energy for moving the safety arm is stored in a spring. That energy is stored after the mortar shell has been launched, because an impeller is rotated by an air flow generated by the moving mortar shell, and that impeller rotation is transmitted to the spring to store energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventors: Wolfgang Zehnder, Gunter Westphal, Wolfgang Schillinger, Frank Kienzler, Herbert Honi, Horst Moosmann
  • Patent number: 6261678
    Abstract: This invention provides air impermeable liquid-water resistant water-vapor-permeable composites that are highly oleophobic and some of which have enhanced water-vapor-permeable properties. In its broadest aspect, the composites comprise: a layer of a microporous polymer that is water-vapor permeable and which is oleophobic, and which is liquid water-resistant. This layer is in contact with an air-impermeable, liquid water resistant, polymer layer that is permeable to water-vapor molecules. The oleophobic microporous polymer layer confers enhanced oleophobicity. In another aspect, a third layer of a microporous, water vapor permeable polymer can also be present on the other side of the air-impermeable polymer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Inventors: Rainer von Fragstein, Wolfgang Buerger, Rudolf Steffl, Wolfgang Zehnder
  • Patent number: 6235662
    Abstract: This invention provides air impermeable liquid-water resistant water vapor-permeable composites with enhanced water-vapor-permeable properties comprising: (a) a layer of a microporous polymer that is water-vapor permeable and which is liquid water-resistant in contact with (b) an air-impermeable, liquid water resistant, polymer layer that is permeable to water-vapor molecules, and (c) a third layer of a microporous, water vapor permeable, hydrophilic polymer present on the side of the air impermeable polymer layer opposite the microporous polymer (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Inventor: Wolfgang Zehnder
  • Patent number: 6074738
    Abstract: This invention provides air impermeable liquid-water resistant water-vapor-permeable composites that are highly oleophobic and some of which have enhanced water-vapor-permeable properties.In its broadest aspect, the composites comprise: a layer of a microporous polymer that is water-vapor permeable and which is oleophobic, and which is liquid water-resistant. This layer is in contact with an air-impermeable, liquid water resistant, polymer layer that is permeable to water-vapor molecules. The oleophobic microporous polymer layer confers enhanced oleophobicity. In another aspect, a third layer of a microporous, water vapor permeable polymer can also be present on the other side of the air-impermeable polymer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventors: Rainer von Fragstein, Wolfgang Buerger, Rudolf Steffl, Wolfgang Zehnder
  • Patent number: 5714709
    Abstract: Objects are detonated by placing charges adjacent respective ones of the objects and connecting the charges to a time fuse by means of respective explosive cords for detonating all of the charges simultaneously when the time fuse fires. The time fuse can be set by fitting a clock to the time fuse. The clock has separate timer mechanisms which can be wound-up simultaneously and which prevent the clock from being fitted to the time fuse if the timer mechanisms have run down asynchronously. An adapter can be attached to the time fuse for releasing a safety of the time fuse upon receiving a remote signal such as an encoded radio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Gebruder Junghans GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schillinger, Wolfgang Zehnder, Bernd Less, Werner Rudenauer
  • Patent number: 4876960
    Abstract: A fuse for low-spin or non-spin projectiles comprises a detonator-carrying rotor movable to a live position. The rotor is released for movement in response to firing recoil. Movement of the rotor is effected by a spring which is relaxed prior to recoil firing and is energized in response to firing recoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Gebruder Junghans GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schillinger, Andreas Halssig, Wolfgang Zehnder