Deceleration Released Latch Patents (Class 102/246)
  • Patent number: 8082845
    Abstract: The present invention provides a self destruction impact fuse for fail-proof detonating a projectile, preferably a low velocity projectile. The present invention further provides a projectile that can be detonated reliably even at low velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Advanced Meterial Engineering Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Cheng Hok Aw, Juan Kiat Quek, Soo Chew Sie
  • Patent number: 7913623
    Abstract: A MEMS fuze having a moveable slider with a microdetonator at an end for positioning adjacent an initiator. A setback activated lock and a spin activated lock prevent movement of the slider until respective axial and centrifugal acceleration levels have been achieved. Once these acceleration levels are achieved, the slider is moved by a V-beam shaped actuator arrangement to position the microdetonator relative to a secondary lead to start an explosive train in a munitions round.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Lawrence Fan, Michael Beggans, Ezra Chen, Gerald Laib, David Olson, Daniel Jean, John Hendershot
  • Patent number: 5440992
    Abstract: A priming and self-destruct system for a munition having its own rotational movement about a longitudinal axis includes a trigger mounted to pivot about an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the munition under the effect of centrifugal force and against the action of a return spring. The self-destruct system also has a retention device for a secondary firing pin having its own spring in the armed position that is controlled by the trigger when the system is rotating about the axis of the munition. In the event of a malfunction, the secondary firing pin is released by the trigger when the rotation ceases, i.e., when the munition comes to rest on the ground. At that point and without delay, the secondary firing pin pierces the priming system and initiates the munition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: Giat Industries
    Inventors: Patrice Chemiere, Jean-Paul Dupuy
  • Patent number: 5081929
    Abstract: In a fuse arrangement, which can be used in both low velocity and in high velocity gun-launched grenades, which has a rotationally responsive fuse timing mechanism arranged in a fuse casing, The fuse casing being tiltable and axially movable upon impact of the grenade thereby forcing the entire fuse housing toward a fixed firing pin and detonating the grenade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Inventor: William J. Mertens
  • Patent number: 4915028
    Abstract: The dud de-arming device serves to de-arm a fuze of a projectile which has remained lying on the ground or the place where it landed as a dud in order to prevent the discovered dud from still exploding when touched or moved. As to spinning projectiles the dud de-arming device should de-arm the fuze after disappearance of the projectile spin and for spinless projectiles the dud de-arming device should de-arm the fuze after a certain time following the impact deceleration of the spinless projectile. The dud de-arming device comprises a rotor which can be rotated by spring force. This rotor can assume an armed or live position due to the projectile spin or by virtue of the firing acceleration. Upon disappearance of the projectile spin or by virtue of the impact deceleration the rotor should assume a de-armed or safety position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle
    Inventor: Robert Apotheloz
  • Patent number: 4726294
    Abstract: It happens time and again that a fuze does not function and that the projectile remains in the field or the place where it landed as a dud. When such a dud is found the danger exists that it might explode upon the finder's touch or when moved or lifted. To prevent this danger the impact fuze in a dud should be able to de-arm itself in a non-explosive manner. This is achieved by positioning a dud insert or de-arming device between an explosive or firing train and a booster charge. This dud de-arming device contains an escapement device which after a predetermined delay time following impact of the projectile moves a rotor from its armed or live position into its de-armed or inert position. The dud de-arming device contains structure which, by virtue of the impact delay or deceleration, that is a delay in ignition of the booster charge upon the projectile hitting the target or ground, activates the escapement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG
    Inventors: Robert Apotheloz, Georg Leutwyler
  • Patent number: 4510869
    Abstract: The security device of the invention comprises a movable organ in the interior of a cage mounted for rotation with respect to the body of a projectile, the movable organ being temporarily blocked from such rotation around the axis of gyration by at least one pin ejectable under the action of centrifugal force. Said pin is itself retained by an elastic spiral band enrolled upon the cage and which, as a result of a difference introduced into the speeds of respective rotation of the cage and of the body around the axis of gyration upon the exit of the projectile from the muzzle of the weapon, unwinds to liberate the pin. As a result, the movable organ after a trajectory of many tens of meters after the projectile has left the muzzle of the barrel of the weapon completes the pyrotechnic train which fires the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: Manufacture de Machines du Haut-Rhin, "Manurhin"
    Inventors: Jacques Nicolas, Roland Raso
  • Patent number: 4449455
    Abstract: An inertia fuse for use in spinning projectiles includes a firing pin and a spring for pushing the firing pin into a detonator. The spring force is isolated from the firing pin during flight by means of centrifugally-responsive bodies which are interposed between the spring and a sharp locking edge of a housing of the fuse. An inertia sleeve is slidable coaxially relative to the firing pin and has a beveled forward edge disposed behind the bodies and arranged to contact the bodies and wedge same inwardly away from the locking edge in response to impact, in order to release the spring sooner than would otherwise occur. The locking edge imposes minimal frictional forces against unlocking movement of the bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: Gebruder Junghans GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Halssig
  • Patent number: 4262598
    Abstract: An impact delay fuse for a spin launched shell for delaying detonation of e explosive charge of the shell until after impact of the shell with a target. The impact delay fuse includes a hollow housing adapted to be positioned in the shell for rotation therewith in a first direction about a shell spin axis when the shell is launched, a detonation means for detonating the explosive charge of the shell, a rotatable locking member coaxially mounted within the housing for locking the detonation means in a loaded position, and a sensing and firing mechanism for controlling rotation of the locking member to move the locking member to a release position to release the detonation means to detonate the explosive charge of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Raymond H. Burg, Arthur M. Lohmann, William C. George