Abstract: A severing apparatus is used for severing a conduit. The apparatus includes a main body section having an upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate portion. A combustible charge is located in the intermediate portion, and an ignition mechanism is coupled to the upper portion for igniting the combustible charge. A nozzle head is located in the lower portion and includes an internal cavity and a nozzle portion having apertures at spaced apart positions for providing passages from the internal cavity to outside of the nozzle head. The ignition mechanism is configured to ignite the combustible charge to create a flame and combustion products and pressure in the internal cavity for moving the nozzle head relative to the lower portion so that the nozzle portion protrudes out of the lower portion for passage of the flame and hot combustion products out of the apertures to sever the conduit.

Abstract: An ignition system for a thermal battery where the ignition system includes: a base plate for connection to the thermal battery; and two or more inertial igniters formed on the base plate, each of the two or more inertial igniters having a striker mass which ignites one or more pyrotechnic materials upon a predetermined acceleration profile, the base plate having an opening corresponding to each of the two or more inertial igniters for allowing a generated spark to pass into the thermal battery.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for fitting a normally non-explosive containing projectile with a spotting charge. A spotting charge capsule is inserted into an opening in the front of a projectile. The opening may be made by removing part of the nose of the projectile and making a shaped opening for inserting the spotting charge capsule. The spotting charge capsule includes an opening at its front and a bore behind the opening leading to a cavity for holding an explosive mixture, usually one or more pressed incendiary pellets. The opening and bore together form a venturi, or venturi-like, tube. The tube ends short of the cavity leaving only a thin wall between the bore and the explosive. On impact on soft media, such as dirt, sand or mud, the soft media will enter the tube and shear the thin wall, creating a high speed flier plate that ignites the explosive mixture.

Abstract: An invention in which a projectile device is deployed from a compressed air firing system that, upon impact of the projectile device into a target, the projectile device embeds itself in the intended target's outer surface or material. In one application, a GPS receiver and transmitter provided within the projectile device relays position data to a receiving apparatus that is monitored by a stationary or mobile conveyance. In another application, the projectile device, may include remotely operable explosives which are preferably triggered once the target is an area where the explosives can be detonated with minimal collateral damage.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a dart that contains an HE payload, two time-delay fuses, one providing a relatively longer delay and the other providing a relatively shorter delay and two triggering mechanisms for triggering the fuses. The first triggering mechanism, which triggers on contact with a mine lid, triggers the relatively shorter time-delay fuse. The second mechanism, which triggers on overburdening exposure to water, sand, or soil, triggers the relatively longer time-delay fuse.

Abstract: A projectile having a reactive material disposed therein is provided. The projectile includes a housing which defines a cavity, the cavity being open at one end of thereof. A reactive material is disposed within the cavity. A tip is coupled with the housing and substantially encloses the opening of the cavity. The housing, the reactive material and the tip are cooperatively positioned and configured so as to define a void space between a surface of the tip and a surface of the reactive material. Upon impact with a target, the tip of the projectile is designed to become displaced within the cavity until it contacts the reactive material and transfers kinetic energy thereto, thereby causing ignition of the reactive material. The void space may be defined to provide a desired amount of time between initial impact of the projectile with a target and the subsequent ignition of the reactive material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bulkhead shield particularly of a projectile with a pyrotechnic charge, situated between the pyrotechnic portion and the command and control portion. The bulkhead shield comprises at least: one wall pierced by a duct; an end-cap consisting of a support portion and a portion engaged in the duct leaving a space between itself and the wall of the duct, the two portions being connected by a mechanical weakness zone; the support portion pressing on the wall, at the front, so that the engaged portion separates from the support portion under the effect of an external pressure to come into contact with the inner wall of the duct and close the space. The invention applies in particular to shells whose detonation is programmed a given delay after impact on the target.

Abstract: A programmable gas generator which has a plurality of different elements can be individually activated, and wherein the activation causes inflation of a device.

Abstract: Apparatus mountable in a projectile for utilization with a rotor-type safing and arming mechanism for post-launch self-neutralization of a projectile having a fused warhead and a stab detonator, including a launch-activated battery, an electric detonator positioned sufficiently close to the stab detonator to initiate the stab detonator upon initiation of the electric detonator, and a time delay switch circuit operatively interconnecting the battery and the electric detonator after a predetermined delay time for delivering power sufficient to initiate the electric detonator. The time delay switch circuit includes an R-C delay circuit having a delay capacitor, and an SCR connected in series between the electric power source and the electric detonator, with the SCR gate operatively connected to the delay capacitor. The apparatus also includes a pre-launch shorting circuit electrically connected in parallel with the electric detonator, and a current amplifier interconnected with the SCR and a storage capacitor.

Abstract: Apparatus mountable in a projectile for utilization with a rotor-type safing and arming mechanism for post-launch self-neutralization of a spinning projectile having a fused warhead and a stab detonator, including a launch-activated battery, an electric detonator positioned sufficiently close to the stab detonator to initiate the stab detonator upon initiation of the electric detonator, and a spin decay switch circuit operatively interconnecting a charged storage capacitor and the electric detonator upon substantial cessation of projectile spin, for delivering power sufficient to initiate the electric detonator. The apparatus includes a storage capacitor charging circuit activated by launch-induced forces. The apparatus further includes a pre-launch shorting circuit electrically connected in parallel with the electric detonator and deactivated by launch forces, and a "bleed" circuit connected in parallel with the battery activated by launch-induced forces.

Abstract: A shock sensing dual mode warhead is provided for use against both soft and ard targets and is capable of sensing which type of target has been struck. The warhead comprises a casing made of a ductile material containing an explosive charge and a fuze assembly. The ductile warhead casing will mushroom upon striking a hard target while still confining the explosive. Proper ductility and confinement are necessary for fuze shock sensing. The fuze assembly contains a pair of parallel firing trains, one initiated only by dynamic pressure caused high impact deceleration and one initiated by low impact deceleration. The firing train actuated by high impact deceleration senses dynamic pressure transmitted, during deformation of the warhead, through the explosive filler which is employed as a fuzing signature. The firing train actuated by low impact deceleration contains a pyrotechnic delay to allow penetration of soft targets.

Abstract: A projectile includes an explosive charge, a corresponding initiating device, a penetrator that only deforms upon impact with a target having a predetermined mechanical resistance, an internal impact contactor arranged between the penetrator and the charge, and a device to ensure initiation of the charge following crushing of the internal impact contactor and after the explosive charge has begun to be deformed following impact on the target. The projectile is particularly effective against hard targets such as stone, brick or cement structures.

Abstract: The invention provides a projectile adapted to be fired from a smooth bore weapon, such as a shotgun, by means of a cartridge containing a propellant charge. The projectile comprises a generally cylindrical casing and a warhead assembly, the warhead being hollow to accommodate an explosive charge and an initiator, the casing being formed with a firing pin spring biased to a safety position and locked in the safety position by a spring biased safety pin. The spring biased safety pin is adapted to release the firing pin in a predetermined period of time after the projectile exits from the weapon. The casing includes a plurality of fins foldable within the cartridge, but which deploy radially on leaving the weapon.

Abstract: A projectile 10 with a shaped charge warhead 27 and a nose mounted contact fuze 30. A precursor shaped charge 56 and liner 48 are mounted in the base 38 of fuze 30. When a target 64 is impacted by the projectile 10, a precursor shaped charge jet is produced by charge 56 and liner 48 which forms a passage 66 through fuze 30 substantially free of debris from the fuze 30 through which the warhead shaped charge jet 62 passes.

Abstract: An initiating device which employs discardable arming members is disclosed. The design qualifies as a low cost, responsive, impact initiating system for a practice projectile. The method is embodied in a sub-caliber flight projectile as part of a mortar training device.

Abstract: A projectile with a tandem charge consisting of a borehole charge and a secondary firing charge, in which exact piercing guidance between the borehole charge and the secondary firing charge is obtained by the counterdirectional motion of the housing part with the secondary firing charge relative to a tubular guiding part of the housing.