Abstract: A detonator arrangement (10) comprising a detonator (1) having an initiation charge (2) and a base charge (3), which initiation charge (2) is arranged to initiate a detonation of said base charge (3), characterized in that the said detonator arrangement (10) comprises a securement device (5, 72, 64) movable in relation to the detonator (1), which securement device (5, 72, 64) can be disposed in a first position arranged to prevent a transfer of the detonation of the initiation charge (2) to the base charge (3), whereby the detonation of the base charge is avoided, and in a second position arranged to allow the transfer of the detonation of the initiation charge (2) to the base charge (3), whereby the detonation of the base charge is obtained.

Abstract: A micro-machined or micro-engraved safety and arming device for a projectile pyrotechnic train, said device comprising a substrate onto which a shutter is positioned to ensure the blocking of a channel, said shutter being mobile in translation on said substrate, said shutter being held immobile in the safety position by at least one acceleration lock that is released further to the application of the axial acceleration imparted to said projectile during firing, wherein said acceleration lock is constituted by at least one breakable tongue linking said shutter to said substrate, said tongue being oriented and dimensioned such that the axial inertial stresses developed during firing and exerted on said shutter cause said tongue to break.

Abstract: An ultra-miniature, electro-mechanical, MEMS type safe and arming (S&A) device for medium- or large-artillery rounds, including, three sequenced S&A interlocks: a setback slider which provides a 1st interlock with respect to an arming slider which moves due to the round's spin; a stop and release mechanism that holds the arming slider until a release command signal is initiated by the fuze circuit, triggering a spot charge which generates an expanding gas wave that flexes the latch arm from contact with the safety catch, unlocking the 2nd interlock, thereby freeing the arming slider to continue its motion into an arming position, unlocking the 3rd interlock, and aligning the parts of the firetrain within the device, such that upon signal from the fuze circuit to an output charge, the device will ignite the acceptor charge within the round.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a submunition is contemplated having a submunition body, an explosive payload housed within said submunition body and an elongated delay member housed within the submunition body, the elongated delay member coated with at least one reactive material that provides a controlled time delay between submunition impact and detonation of the explosive payload. The submunition may also comprise an elongated pendulum having a hollow core sized to receive said elongated delay member, the elongated pendulum adapted to be movable between a locked position that mitigates likelihood of inadvertent detonation of the explosive payload and an unlocked position that enables detonation of the explosive payload.

Abstract: A small arms projectile for a small arms weapon is provided within a cartridge cover (1). A release element (15) is provided for preventing movement of the projectile's initiator (11) into an armed position. A channel (5) is formed between the initiator (11) and the projectile's explosive charge (8) and a slidable shield (6) is provided therein. An insert element (10) is also located in the channel for preventing movement of the shield (6) into its armed position. The insert element (10) is held in place by the cartridge cover (1). When the projectile exits the cartridge cover (1) following firing, the insert element (10) is configured to move out of the channel (5) to allow the shield (6) to move into its armed position.

Abstract: A spin sensor includes a fuze housing, a sense weight and a rotating induction device. The rotating induction device comprises a first rotatable element affixed to the fuze housing and a second rotatable element affixed to the sense weight. The second rotatable element is mechanically coupled to the first rotatable element such that it may rotate relative to the first rotatable element. In addition, the second rotatable element is inductively coupled to the first rotatable element such that the relative rotation between the first rotatable element and the second rotatable element generates a spin signal on an electrical connection to the rotating induction device. The spin signal may be compared to a suitable spin profile to determine if a valid spin environment is present.

Abstract: A projectile comprises a payload portion and an airburst fuze mounted on a rear of the projectile and explosively connected to the payload portion. The airburst fuze comprises an arming and firing electrical circuit including a setback generator; a slider that is movable from a safe position to an armed position, the slider including a detonator attached thereto; a setback lock and a spin lock that lock the slider in the safe position and, in response to a setback acceleration and a spin rate, respectively, unlock the slider; and an actuator that moves the slider to the armed position in response to a first input from the arming and firing electrical circuit; wherein a second input from the arming and firing circuit activates the detonator when the slider is in the armed position.

Abstract: A safety and arming device (10) for a spinning projectile fuze, which has a fuze housing (12), which is in the form of a pot, and a bearing body (14) with a booster charge (16). A spherical rotor (42) with a detonator (44) is mounted between the fuze housing (12) and the bearing body (14). A radial groove (22) is formed in the fuze housing (12), and an annular groove (46) is formed in the rotor (42). A holding ring (28) is forced against the annular groove (46), which is axially offset with respect to the radial groove (22), when the safety and arming device (10) is in the safe position. The holding ring (28) is designed with a separating slot (30) and a further, shorter slot (32). The separating slot (30) and the further slot (32) extend at the same distance apart in the circumferential direction of the holding ring (28) and define annular segment jaws (40). The spring device (48) has a pair of cup springs (58), which jointly form a horizontal V-shaped spring profile.

Abstract: A small arms projectile for a small arms weapon, which projectile comprises a warhead having an explosive charge, an initiator, and a firing pin. The initiator has safe and armed conditions and is capable of detonating the explosive charge of the warhead when the initiator is in the armed condition and impacted with sufficient force by the firing pin. The projectile further comprises a shielding device positioned between the initiator and the explosive charge of the warhead, which shielding device is slidable from a safety position in which the shielding device shields the explosive charge of the warhead from the initiator, to an armed position in which the initiator is capable of detonating the explosive charge of the warhead. The shielding device is slidable from the safe to the armed position in response to the initiator moving from the safe to the armed condition.

Abstract: A safing and arming device is provided for a warhead or round which is to be launched by a rifled gun and which includes submunitions. A slider is disposed in a housing between a detonator and lead cup and is movable between a first, safe position wherein the slider acts as an interrupter and a second, armed position wherein an opening in the slider is in alignment with the detonator and lead cup. A setback sensor initially locks the slider in the safe position and then, responsive to a setback force produced at gun launch, unlocks the slider. An ejection sensor also initially locks the slider in the safe position and continues to lock the slider against movement to the armed position during a period between gun launch and exiting of the warhead from the gun. Responsive to the ejection force produced at exiting of the warhead from the gun, the ejection sensor unlocks the slider to enable movement thereof to the armed position.

Abstract: A MEMS type safe and arm apparatus for a fuze includes a setback slider responsive to a first setback acceleration, the setback slider moving linearly in response to the first setback acceleration; a setforward slider responsive to a first setforward acceleration, the setback slider unlocking the setforward slider, the setforward slider moving linearly in response to the first setforward acceleration; a first rotor responsive to a second setback acceleration, the setforward slider unlocking the first rotor, the first rotor rotating in response to the second setback acceleration; a second rotor responsive to a second setforward acceleration, the first rotor unlocking the second rotor, the second rotor rotating in response to the second setforward acceleration; and an arming slider that moves linearly in response to the rotation of the second rotor to thereby arm the fuze.

Abstract: A fuze for a munition adapted to prevent unintended arming thereof. The fuze incorporates an arming screw having a keyed portion and a centrifugal locking mechanism for preventing rotation of the arming screw unless the fuze mechanism is in a rapidly spinning condition such as that experienced when the fuze and its associated munition are deployed from an airborne rocket or artillery shell, and thus spinning at a rate of at least several thousand rpm. The centrifugal locking mechanism includes a pair of locking members which are biased by biasing elements into engagement with the keyed portion of the arming screw. This prevents the arming screw from being accidentally unscrewed from an inertia weight within the fuze, thus placing the fuze in an unintended armed condition.

Abstract: A munition incorporating a fuze mechanism adapted to prevent momentary disarming of the mechanism once same is placed in an armed state. The fuze mechanism incorporates a fuze housing having a slide member movable slidably longitudinally between an unarmed position and an armed position. In an unarmed position, a firing pin tip of an arming screw engages a lock post disposed within an opening in the slide member to hold the slide member in the unarmed position. When the arming screw is unscrewed during airborne deployment of the munition, the firing pin tip is withdrawn from the lock post. This enables a spring to urge the slide member into a laterally extended position. As the slide member moves into its laterally extended position, the lock post drops partially out of the slide member into abutting engagement with a bottom cover of the fuze mechanism, thus preventing the slide member from moving back towards its unarmed position.

Abstract: A self destructing impact fuse including a cylindrical firing pin having a hollow centrifugal chamber for holding a number of spheres and a number of radial openings on its surface for exposing portions of the spheres when the chamber is spun. At one end of the chamber is a spring for exerting compression force along the longitudinal axis of the chamber and at the other end is a self-destructing (SD) firing pin for striking the detonator. A centrifugal lock having a pivot offset from the longitudinal axis holds the chamber in place by mating with a groove on the surface of the centrifugal chamber. The cylindrical firing pin is seated concentrically within a frame and disposed over an escapement assembly featuring the detonator. The detonator is rotated into alignment with the SD firing pin after the projectile, incorporating the fuse, travels the minimum tactical distance. The frame is further coupled with a base, which features a point detonation (PD) firing pin for striking the detonator.

Abstract: A fuze device for use with a detonator on munitions. A cup and ogive assembly includes an ogive post for aft axial movement upon impact of the device and activation of a spitback lead on the cup. An ogive post activates a first firing pin when the ogive is crushed. A first safe and arm (S&A) device is aligned with the centerplate assembly to provide a first detonator in both the safe and the armed condition by movement of a rotor. A second firing pin is positioned below the first S&A device. It has a blowthrough hole for alignment of the first detonator with the spitback lead. A second S&A device is below the first S&A device, and has a second detonator and rotor that rotates during spin to an armed position to expose the second detonator to the second firing pin. The second rotor is sized and shaped to always permit alignment of the first detonator with the spitback lead.

Abstract: A follow-through grenade is provided which utilizes a primary fuze to trir both the main warhead and a delayed secondary fuze system. The main warhead explosion is used to breach barriers behind which enemy personnel are located. When the primary explosion occurs, the primary fuze simultaneously activates a delay timer and slide detonator. The slide detonator provides a means to keep the secondary explosive in a safe mode until the explosion of the primary warhead. The delay timer triggers the follow-through explosion after the primary explosion has breached the barrier. This behavior allows the follow-through device to penetrate the barrier and explode on the far side of the barrier for maximum effectiveness against personnel located behind the barrier. The present invention uses a standard dual mode fuze as its activator and is based on the McDonnell Douglas Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW).

Abstract: A shock tolerant fuze includes a detector for determining when fuze timing should be initiated, a movable safe and arm assembly containing a time delay circuit and a firing aperture. The firing train detonator is preferably also mounted on the movable armature. When the fuze is armed, the time delay circuit is coupled to the detector and to the detonator, and the aperture provides a pathway between the output of the detonator and the remainder of explosive firing train of the weapon. Electrical energy storage is provided on the armature for powering the time delay circuit and the detonator in the event that primary power thereto is interrupted by impact. By including the time delay circuit and energy storage on the movable armature, a very shock tolerant fuze is obtained.

Abstract: An intelligent projectile that can be detonated at a predetermined range via a wide angle infrared laser. The projectile is fitted with a detector that is sensitive to the frequency of a wide angle laser beam that is attached to the weapon. Using the range obtained by the range finder, the wide angle laser beam is fired when the projectile is in proper position relative to the target. To prevent the projectile from exploding prior to its being fired, a series of batteries is held in a track via compressions springs. The springs must be compressed via centrifugal force due to the projectile spinning as a resulting of rifling in the weapon. Once, sufficient centrifugal force is reached, the batteries will slide into a "contact" position so that the projectile can be detonated. The apparatus fits within standard 40 mm shell casings and can be fired by conventional grenade launching weapons.

Abstract: A self-powered fuze apparatus for a projectile containing an explosive charge which comprises a first housing containing a mechanical safety device for releasably preventing undesired movement of a detonator cup holder containing a detonator from an unarmed to an armed position wherein the detonator cup is shielded from the charge to be exploded in the unarmed position and the detonator cup communicates with the charge only in the armed position and the second housing adjacent the first housing containing an electronic safety means for sensing target impact and projectile launch and selectively passing a piezoelectrically generated firing current to the detonator cup only upon sensing a predetermined magnitude target impact only within a predetermined time after sensing the launch acceleration and only when the electronic means is electrically and mechanically connected to the detonator cup in the armed position.

Abstract: A safe and arm device for aligning elements of an energy transfer mechanism of an ammunition fuze includes an inertial mass, an energy transfer mechanism interrupt barrier component and an energy-loadable spring, all movably mounted in a bore of a housing of the device. The inertial mass is movable for producing an arming force in response to application of a predetermined acceleration force to the housing. The bi-stable barrier component is movable from a pre-armed stable safe position to a post-armed stable sterilized position in response to the applying of the arming force to the component upon being released from its stable safe position. In moving to its stable sterilized position, the barrier component moves through an armed position in which the elements of the energy transfer mechanism are aligned in firing relation with one another during a momentary period of time.

Abstract: A solenoid-operated device, and especially a weapon-arming device, subject to inertial forces is provided in which the solenoid armature is operatively coupled to a counterbalancing mass operatively constrained to move in synchronism with but oppositely to the armature, inertial forces on the armature acting equally and oppositely on the counterbalancing mass. The counterbalancing mass surrounds the solenoid coaxially and has an annular extension provided internally with rack teeth that mesh with sprockets free to rotate on fixed pins, these sprockets also being in mesh with rack teeth on an extension of the armature. An armature retraction spring bears on a shoulder on the counterbalancing mass.

Abstract: A fuse assembly embodying a detonator movable by centrifugal force into alignment with a firing pin held retracted by a drogue and drag line and movable forwardly into engagement with the detonator by impact, the fuse assembly being attached to a grenade which, in turn, is attached to a projectile, for firing the grenade upon impact of the projectile with a target.

Abstract: On impact the primer (37) is struck by the point (33) and transmits the ignition to an explosive column (14) located in the hollow nose (4). The splinters from a metal closing piece (17) are then thrown violently into an empty duct (19) located along the center line of the high-explosive filling (23, 24) made of stabilized secondary explosive material. When the projectile has been fired it is driven in rotation in order to stabilize it and the bolt (27) subjected to centrifugal force frees the way along the duct (19). The splinters from piece (17) can therefore travel through the duct (19) and strike the ignition booster (22) which is also made of stabilized secondary explosive material. The hollow charge is formed by the conical piece (11).A highly effective projectile is produced having great operational safety.

Abstract: A feature of this invention is the provision of a forward, armor piercing, high explosive charge and an aft anti-personnel high explosive charge in a shrapnel providing casing, both charges being functioned by a single, deceleration sensitive, detonator assembly.

Abstract: Impact with a resistant media at adequate forward velocity and rate of rotation causes a pivoted sector weight to shear a retaining shear pin and rotate quickly, bringing a firing pin on the sector weight into violent contact with a percussion primer and thereby igniting a fuze train or high explosive booster.

Abstract: 44A fuze is provided for projectiles of the nonspinning and slow spinning types which possess a rotor that carries a detonator, and a first safety device preventing the rotor from bringing the detonator to an active position. The first safety device is responsive to acceleration force when the projectile is fired, to release the rotor for at least limited rotation. A second safety device permits only limited rotation of the rotor unless released. Release of the second safety device occurs in response to retardation of the fired projectile after the latter leaves the barrel and encounters air resistance. Release of the second safety device is possible only after a predetermined amount of rotation of the rotor when a locking bolt of the second safety device becomes aligned with an orifice in a stationary frame that mounts the rotor.

Abstract: A projectile fuse has two activating devices acting independent of each other. One of the devices includes a plurality of wafer-like sectors which are retained together as a unitary disk by means of a coil spring having 1.5 to 2 convolutions. The disk is arranged in a bore of the fuse housing and normally covers a vent which is concentrically positioned in the bore. Under the effect of rotationally generated centrifugal forces occurring upon firing, the sectors force open the spring and thereby expose the vent for passage of an ignition flash.

Abstract: The invention deals with an impact igniter (1) for projectiles with a fuse (15) acting as a transport safety and delayed arming device. By partitioning off the fuse (15) and the striker pin (7, 17) located behind it forward in the projectile trajectory direction, and by leading some of the surrounding air which streams past the projectile, against the fuse (15) through channels (24, 31) angled in relation to the trajectory direction, the igniter has been made rain-safe without extending the arming time unacceptably.

Abstract: Exercise projectile substantially of a configuration defined by a pointed head prolonged by a tail-piece, characterized in that the projectile contains at least one explosive charge and an associated device for delayed firing, the duration of the delay substantially corresponding to the statistical flight time of the projectile from its starting time to the end of its intended useful trajectory.

Abstract: The mechanism comprises two toothed rotary bodies (1,2) sensitive to the gyratory centrifugal force of the projectile. The rotary bodies (1,2) mesh with each other. The body (1) simultaneously meshes with a toothed pinion (9) the shaft (10) of which carries, for example, the escapement wheel of a delay device having a balance of the fuze. The rotary bodies (1,2) conjointly develop a substantially constant driving couple which is the resultant of positive driving couple of one of them and of a negative braking couple of the other.

Abstract: In a rifled missile having a primer tube or firing channel, a safety device adapted to coact with a percussion fuse. The safety device is disposed in the missle transversely across the primer tube between the impact-sensitive primer and a booster charge. The primer tube axially extends from the impact-sensitive primer to the booster charge. The safety device includes a blocking disc and a biased tape-reel surrounding the blocking disc and bearing against it. The tape-reel is adapted to unwind when under the influence of a predetermined centrifugal force to thereby release the blocking disc which is then freed to turn oppositely relative to the rotary direction of the missile due to the influence of a predetermined inertial force to thereby unblock the primer tube.

Abstract: An improved safe and arming device for isolating the fuse from the main eosive charge in spin stabilized shells to prevent premature detonation of such shells. The improved safe and arming device comprises a housing adapted to be positioned intermediate of the fuse and the main explosive charge of such shells for rotation therewith about a shell spin axis when the shell is fired, a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about a rotor axis, and a rotatable control member engageable with the rotor and being rotatable about an axis extending in the same direction as the rotor axis for controlling the rate of rotation of the rotor. The rotor is positionable in a desired start position and is adapted to rotate in response to rotation of the shell to an armed position to communicate a detonation signal from the fuse to the explosive charge.

Abstract: A hand grenade is provided with a fuze comprising: a firing means, means luding two centrifugally-operated elements movably carried by the grenade housing for arming the firing means, means including an inertia member rotatable relative to the housing and a torsion spring between the inertia member and the housing for spinning the housing to operate the arming elements, and manually-held safety means for preventing arming until the grenade is thrown. Two disclosed embodiments have different arming and firing means with substantially the same spinning means.

Abstract: A low cost graze sensor fuze arrangement for a point detonating spin stabzed projectile in which firing pin actuation for detonation purposes is accomplished where the projectile may only graze the target and a graze sensor element will cam a firing pin assembly rearwardly toward a rotor armed detonator.

Abstract: A fuze is disclosed for use on projectiles fired generally at high speed. A unique delay arming mechanism is incorporated which utilizes pressure build-up within the fuze to control the period of delay in arming the fuze. The delay mechanism is unique in that fuzes incorporating the invention can be used interchangeably on either fin or spin stabilized projectiles.

Abstract: A plurality of submunitions packed in a projectile deliver an incapacitat gas payload at far range from the projectile launch site only after the projectile has been properly launched and armed. A pyrotechnic fuse detonates each submunition by the detonation of an on-board expelling charge.