Delay Or Impact Patents (Class 102/271)
  • Patent number: 9146088
    Abstract: A high shock survivable fuze, system, and method are presented. At least one shock-survivable fuze that survives a high shock environment comprises a timer, a detonator, and a protective housing. The timer sends a fire signal after a programmed delay in response to an arming command. The detonator initiates an explosion in an explosive in response to the fire signal, and the protective housing protects the timer and the detonator from the high shock environment. An arming module communicates with the at least one shock-survivable fuze and sends the arming command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Fred Gunther Filsinger
  • Patent number: 8689692
    Abstract: A method for operating a guided munition with a switchable fuze arrangement includes launching the guided munition towards a target. During flight of the guided munition, images are provided to a remote operator, who supplies a switching input. Responsive to said switching input, the fuze arrangement is switched to either of at least two of the following states: a delayed detonation state in which detonation of the explosive charge is delayed by a time delay after impact of the guided munition, an impact detonation state in which detonation of the explosive charge occurs on impact of the guided munition, a proximity detonation state in which detonation of the explosive charge is triggered by a proximity sensing arrangement, and a disabled state in which the guided munition functions as a guided kinetic shell without detonation of the explosive charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Yariv Brill, Ohad Hanan Nuriel
  • Patent number: 8381651
    Abstract: A rotational variable pyrotechnic delay selector for munitions which permits the selection of various ignition delays. Advantageously, the variable delay selector is configurable for a variety of field conditions and targets and is adaptable to a number of munitions systems and pyrotechnic ignition mixtures and delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Presutti, Jr., Nicholas Liggett Grossman
  • Patent number: 7814834
    Abstract: A fuze mounting assembly for a penetrating weapon configured as a projectable device, the fuze mounting assembly having fasteners, a fuze well and a fuze. The fuze includes an integral bolt flange for securing to the fuze well with the fasteners, wherein an amplification of acceleration of less than 3.0 is satisfied when the penetrating weapon is subjected to impact and penetration shock. Additionally, a projectable device having the fuze is provided. Also, a fuze mounting and a method for mounting a fuze are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley N. Schwantes, Bradley M. Biggs, Michael A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7802518
    Abstract: A fuze mounting assembly for a penetrating, the fuze mounting assembly includes a fuze well and a fuze. The fuze includes an integral flange for securing to the fuze well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley N. Schwantes, Bradley M. Biggs, Michael A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7552682
    Abstract: A fuze for a weapon configured as a projectable device is provided to reduce the mechanical amplification of impact and penetration shock to a fuze-mounted accelerometer when a projectable device including the fuze encounters a target. The fuze includes a fuze housing having an outer surface, a flange extending radially from the outer surface of the fuze housing, and an acceleration sensor connected to the flange. The flange may include one or more axial holes to enable attachment of the fuze to a projectable device. A penetrating weapon projectable device and a method for installing a fuze for a projectable device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Alliant TechSystems Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley N. Schwantes, Bradley M. Biggs, Michael A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7549374
    Abstract: A fuze mounting assembly for a penetrating weapon configured as a projectable device, the fuze mounting assembly having fasteners, a fuze well and a fuze. The fuze includes an integral bolt flange for securing to the fuze well with the fasteners, wherein an amplification of acceleration of less than 3.0 is satisfied when the penetrating weapon is subjected to impact and penetration shock. Additionally, a projectable device having the fuze is provided. Also, a fuze mounting and a method for mounting a fuze are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley N. Schwantes, Bradley M. Biggs, Michael A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6295932
    Abstract: An electronic safe arm & fire (ESAF) device has a common module and a pair of programmable devices that are readily configurable to different missile types. The ESAF device has a first static arming switch that is controlled by the first programmable device and a second static arming switch that is controlled by the second programmable device. The ESAF device has a firing module that has an exploding foil initiator. The common module and the firing module can be configured as a standalone module in close proximity to a warhead or can be integrated into a warhead. The common module has some inputs that are used by all the missiles in a group for the same signals; some inputs that are used by all the missiles, but for different signals; and, some inputs that are used by some of the missile, but not by all of the missiles. The common module has an input port for a separation signal, a communications port for a fuze data signal, and an input port for a signal that can be used to determine safe separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: James P. Kane, III
  • Patent number: 6135028
    Abstract: A penetrating, dual-mode warhead having soft target, surface burst mode and a hard target, penetrating mode is provided. The warhead has a cylindri outer fragmenting shell which contains an explosive surround. A long-rod penetrator with an explosive payload is located within the outer fragmenting shell. By arming selection prior to launch, the warhead can be configured for the surface burst mode which uses proximity sensor to initiate the outer shell explosive. The outer shell initiates the penetrator payload thereby detonating both explosives and fragmenting both the shell and penetrator casing. In the penetrating mode, the outer shell is stripped away on impact but is initiated just as the penetrator exits the shell. By this method the penetrator remains undamaged, but the outer shell nevertheless detonates to engage any surface targets. The penetrator continues into the hardened target, detonating on either a void sensor or on timing, whichever occurs first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Lucia D. Kuhns, Leonard T. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5635667
    Abstract: A fuse plug pyrotechnic firing device includes a body, a pyrotechnic train, firing pin and a driving device. The body has an axis and a bore disposed along the axis. The pyrotechnic train is disposed along the axis and includes an upper part and a lower part. The firing pin has a firing pin axis and is disposed within the bore between the upper part and the lower part. The firing pin is also disposed to ignite the lower part. The driving device is coupled to the firing pin and to the upper part. The driving device drives the firing pin to move along the firing pin axis and to ignite the lower part, the firing pin rotating about the firing pin axis under pressure of gases generated by the ignition of the lower part. As a result, safe and effective operation of the fuse plug pyrotechnic firing device is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignees: Etat Francais, Represente par le Delegegue General pour L'Armament, Jason Engineering S.A.
    Inventors: Jean L. Boyer, Andre J. N. Gilson
  • Patent number: 5063847
    Abstract: A fuse for a projectile comprises a first igniter. A rotor is rotatable to bring a second igniter and a detonator into a live position in alignment with the first igniter. The second igniter and detonator are spaced apart to define a recess therebetween. A retardation charge is mounted in that recess which can be selectively brought into alignment with the first and second igniters and the detonator if delayed ignition is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Gebruder Junghans GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Halssig, Wolfgang Schillinger, Hans Breithaupt
  • Patent number: 5025728
    Abstract: A projectile fuze device selectively adjustable to allow either point dettion (PD) or delayed detonation of the explosive charge of a projectile upon impact with the target. In the PD option the selector assembly permits the centrifugal movement of the alignment assembly during projectile flight to align the PD detonator in the fuze explosive train. In the delayed detonation option the delay detonator in the alignment assembly is aligned in the fuze explosive train prior to firing with subsequent centrifugal movement prevented by the selector assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Richard Marion
  • Patent number: 4741270
    Abstract: A fuse comprises a firing pin provided with a tip eccentric with respect to the longitudinal axis of the firing pin. By turning the firing pin by means of a cap in which it is mounted, the tip can be placed to face one or the other of two firing caps having different firing characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Golay
  • Patent number: 4739706
    Abstract: A fuse comprises a cap carrying a rotor mounted in a rotatable fashion on a body with the help of a shaft and rotatable from an inactive position to an active position. A timer with an escapement permits the braking of the rotation of the rotor and has a multiplying gear carried by two frames and cooperating with a timing balance. The rotor is an integral part of a toothed sector meshing with the timer. The frames are mounted in a pivoting fashion on bearings of a shaft, which permits the angular displacement of the timer around this shaft to allow for the adjustment of the angular distance of meshing of the toothed sector with the timer and, therefore, the duration of passage from the safety position of the rotor to the armed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Golay
  • Patent number: 4606271
    Abstract: The projectile fuse comprises a piezoelectric generator located forward of a piercing part (2) and formed by a striker (5), a hammer (6) and a crystal (8). The firing device comprises a watch movement (11) providing a muzzle safety and making possible the positioning of a rotary support (15) for at least one primer (24). A part (2) of material with high mechanical resistance acts as the piercing head for the projectile after the dislodging of the electric generator at the moment of impact and effectively protects the watch movement (11) and the rotary support (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: Mefina S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Golay, Denis Jaunin
  • Patent number: 4594944
    Abstract: A system for manually setting a timing value of an electronic fuze for an artillery projectile prior to firing without tools or electric power, and for displaying the set timing value in standard decimal format. Two adjacent setting rings, disposed about the outside of the fuze housing, are interconnected together with the housing so that one ring rotates with the other ring when the other ring is manually rotated in one direction about the housing axis, but is prevented from rotating when the other ring is rotated in an opposite direction about the housing axis. Each ring carries a plurality of numbers disposed about its outer periphery such that one of the numbers is axially aligned with an indication mark on the fuze housing at each setting of the ring. The two series of numbers are oriented laterally so that the two numbers aligned with the indication mark constitute the desired timing value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Leo P. Rongus, David L. Overman, Robert N. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4567830
    Abstract: The impact fuze is as light as possible and protects a time-delay device against preliminary destruction at impact of the projectile in or at the target in order that the projectile can penetrate as deeply as possible into or through a hard target, for instance a concrete wall, before the projectile is detonated. A steel housing is introduced into the interior of a light metal housing of the impact fuze in order to fulfill both of these requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventor: Robert Apotheloz
  • Patent number: 4515081
    Abstract: Arrangement in a fuse for projectiles with explosive charge for changing over between direct and delayed ignition of the explosive charge. The arrangement includes a movable contact member which in an initial position short-circuits an electrical igniter which is designed for direct ignition of the explosive charge. A locking member in the form of a pin in an initial orientation of the projectile takes up a position in which the contact member can move under the influence of the accelerational forces effective on the projectile to a second position where the contact member is held by a detent device. With a second orientation of the projectile the pin, as a result of its own weight, drops down to a position where it prevents the contact member moving from the said initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: Forenade Fabriksverken
    Inventor: Kenneth Sundvall
  • Patent number: 4230042
    Abstract: This is a new point-detonating fuze for spin-stabilized munitions. The fuze has three modules housed in a two-piece body, designed to optimize the penetration capability and to adjust the weight of the fuze. The upper body carries the point-detonating module which has a double-initiation feature, designed to function on impact against the target but preventing detonation on impact against rain droplets and against the foliage of wooded areas. The explosion, initiated at the top of the point-detonating module, is propagated by a mild-detonating fuze, first axially inside the shaft of the point-detonating module, then axially through the time-delay module, to reach the detonator in the safing-and-arming module. The point-detonating module acts as a selector designed to provide either a super-quick function or a time-delay function with several time-delay options. The desired choice is made by rotating the moving portion of the time-delay module to one of several pre-indexed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1980
    Inventor: Dragolyoub Popovitch