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 mechanical acceleration sensor includes a housing and a weight which is rotatably supported by the housing. An actuating member for triggering an output device is mounted on an actuating arm which is rotatable in the same direction as the weight and abuts against the weight from one direction. The actuating arm is usually biased by a toggle spring in a direction for abutting against the weight, whereby the weight is held in its inoperative or initial position by the toggle spring. When the weight is rotated against the force of the toggle spring due to an inertial force, the biasing direction of the toggle spring is inverted to rotate the actuating arm away from the weight. The weight may be implemented as a pair of interconnected and spaced weight parts.
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.
Abstract: A fuze for missile having a linear axis passing rearwardly through a forward penetrator, an explosive charge with the penetrator, a fuze rearward the explosive charge, a propulsion rocket rearward of the fuze, and a canister rearward of the rocket and containing a deployable parachute, the fuze containing timers for deploying the parachute from the canister a predetermined interval after release of the missile from confinement, and for igniting the rocket a predetermined interval after deployment of the parachute, a further timer for causing discharge of the explosive charge a predetermined interval after axial impact of the penetrator with a target, and a safe-arm arrangement for preventing discharge of the explosive charge prior to the impact of said penetrator.
Abstract: The device, in a first embodiment, has utility for operation on a dual pulse missile including a booster segment for launching and includes several main components, as follows: an inertial mass, a shaft with a zig zag channel, a gearless electric motor, a switch deck and blocking rotor, another blocking rotor, and a spring which provides a restoring force which acts against the inertia of the inertial mass. In a second embodiment, the device has utility for operation on a triple pulse missile including a booster segment for launching and includes several main components, as follows: two inertial masses, a shaft with a unique zig zag channel, two gearless electric motors, two switch decks with blocking rotors, two springs which provide restorative forces which act against the inertia of the inertia masses.
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
Abstract: An explosive system for use in projectiles such as guided missiles and rocket projectiles, includes an explosive charge and an ignition booster for igniting the explosive charge. A detonator is provided for igniting the booster. An ignition transfer device is disposed between the detonator and the booster for being ignited by the detonator and igniting the booster. A portion of the ignition transfer device is embedded axially within an end face of the booster.
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.
Abstract: A fuze apparatus arms itself in flight and is especially adapted for use in training shells. The fuze has a casing with ignitable or explosive material located therein and an igniter mounted to ignite the ignitable material upon a sufficient impact against the igniter. The fuze is armed in flight by a movable cup moving against the spring bias which moves relative to the fuze casing by inertial force during acceleration, which allows an arming member to slide or roll between the sliding cup and the igniter where it is held until sufficient impact generated by inertial force from a larger mass is directed against the cup, driving the arming member against the igniter.
Abstract: A safe and arming device used with electrically operated fuses of a missile nd including a housing with an acceleration responsive device rotatably mounted therein between safe and arming positions and biased into the safe position by a spring and actuatable to the arming position when accelerated at a predetermined rate, latching means which latches the acceleration device in the armed position and reset means which releases the latching means to allow the device to be reset into the safe position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 25, 1978
Date of Patent:
May 13, 1980
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
Abstract: There is disclosed an initiator assembly for a ballistic missile system to ffect fluid flow of a gas from a source thereof to user equipment disposed in a housing therefor including gas inlet and outlet conduits and comprised of a rotor member journalled for rotation in the housing and formed with a mass of an eccentric weight distribution with respect to the axis of rotation and wherein the rotor is provided with an explosive assembly ignited by a striker assembly activated by launch acceleration of the missile and wherein a drive piston of the explosive assembly fractures a closure element disposed in one of said gas conduits.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 10, 1986
Date of Patent:
September 2, 1986
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
Inventors:
Anthony P. Antonuzzi, William E. Hagel, Donald M. Lawson, Richard S. Herman