Abstract: The present invention relates to a safety and arming unit for initiation of underwater charges, comprising: a housing; a detonator; an interrupter slidable within the housing from a first position in which a firing chain from the detonator to a charge is interrupted, to a second position, in which the firing chain is complete; a first member configured to cooperate with the housing and the interrupter to form a first interlock, wherein, upon the first member being in a first position, said interlock locks said interrupter in said first position, and upon the first member being in a second position, said interrupter is free to slide relative to said first member; a second member configured to cooperate with the housing and the interrupter to form a second interlock, mechanically independent of said first interlock, wherein, upon the second member being in a first position, the interlock locks said interrupter in said first position, and upon the second member being in a second position, said interrupter is fre

Abstract: A safety switch is provided to detect when a tube launched which exits the tube. The switch is located within the vehicle having a switch plunger extending to the periphery of the vehicle. The plunger is biased to provide outward pressure against a lever on the exterior of the vehicle. The lever rides within the bore of the launch tube such that, when the vehicle is within the launch tube, the lever contacts the interior bore of the tube. The lever contacting the tube bore prevents the plunger from extending to activate the switch. When the vehicle exits the tube, the lever is free to rotate away from the vehicle allowing the plunger to extend and activate the switch which may be a single or multi-pole switch.

Abstract: A blasting system using the global positioning system (GPS) for timing the detonations for a shaped blast. The blasting system includes a master station including a master GPS receiver for determining a GPS-based time and a master transceiver in communication with several charge control stations. Each charge control station includes a charge control transceiver for communicating with the master transceiver, a charge control GPS receiver for tracking the GPS-based time, and a detonator for detonating an explosive charge. In operation, the master transceiver uses the GPS-based time determined at the master station for computing detonation times and transmits these times to the charge control stations. The charge control stations then detonate the respective explosive charges when the GPS-based times determined at the charge control stations match the detonation times.

Abstract: A safety and arming device interconnecting a bomb with a target detector ures safe mine laying deployment thereof through a detonation explosive train that is armed in delayed response to payout of a lanyard under enablement control exercised by a hydrodynamic piston in response to water impact during such deployment.

Abstract: A fuze or igniter provided with an adjustable electronic unit (24), a separate energy supply (40) as well as a mechanical safety device (26). In order for this fuze to be independent of the weapons system and not be bound to a particular type of payload, the adjustable electronic unit (24) and the mechanical safety device (26) are accommodated in the essentially cylindrical, watertight housing (22) of a basic module (20) that has two end faces (28, 30). The energy supply (40) can be mechanically and electrically connected with the basic module (20). In the region of one of its end faces (28), the basic module (20) can be connected with either a programming device (136) in order to program in an ignition time and a sterilization time (desensitization time) or a payload (42) that is independent of the weapons system employed and is not ammunition specific.

Abstract: An arrangement for programming the control of a mine including a pin (16) made of a material having a predeterminable magnetic permeability and inserted into a blind bore-like opening in a mine housing (12). Via a coil disposed in the interior of the mine and surroundng the blind bore-like opening, a resonant output frequency f.sub.R) of an oscillator, which frequency is a function of the permeability of the pin (16), is generated. If the detected resonant output frequency (f.sub.R) corresponds to a frequency (f.sub.i) stored in a frequency/address memory (42), an address (A.sub.i) associated with this frequency (f.sub.i) is read out and fed to a read-only memory (44). This determined address (A.sub.i) causes information (I.sub.i) associated with this address (A.sub.i) in the information memory (44) to be read out so that the action belonging to the respective information (I.sub.i) is initiated within the mine.

Abstract: A naval mine combined fail-safe deployment and activation system which, ar the mine has been dropped from an aircraft, deploys a parachute to slow its descent and thereafter arms a target detection device when the mine has settled into the water to a predetermined depth for exploding the mine when a target is detected.

Abstract: Arming device for sea mines comprising an electric detonator, a transfer charge and an interruptor which can be inserted between the detonator and the transfer charge for separating the detonator and the transfer charge; the detonator is arranged as part of a separate unit which can be inserted into a space in a housing arranged in the arming device; cooperating electric contacts are arranged on the unit and in the space, respectively, for the electric connection of the detonator at the insertion thereof into the space.

Abstract: An underwater demolition device has magnets for holding the device on a ferrous structure and a plunger which, once the device has been planted, is held in a retracted position by the structure on which the device is held. If the device is moved from the structure, the plunger protrudes beyond the magnets. A visual indication is provided immediately upon arming of the device if the plunger is then in its protruding position and a timer is provided to prevent detonation until a predetermined delay has elapsed from arming.

Abstract: The present invention relates to arming methods and devices for firing a submarine weapon.A device according to the present invention comprises a piston connected by a strip to a bistable arming organ. The piston shifts inside a cylindrical body between a first and second chamber. The first chamber accommodates sea water through orifices. The second chamber accommodates sea water through a valve and a cavity which is filled with sodium chloride. The piston is hollow and contains a semi-permeable fitting which is in contact with sea water that is contained inside the first chamber through a bore and ducts, and with the salt saturated solution contained inside the second chamber through channels.

Abstract: An underwater ignition device is provided comprising a rotor, a detonator disposed at the rotor, a locking pin secured in position by a safety pin, a release pin maintained in position by the locking pin, a first water pressure safety device normally engaging the rotor and preventing a rotating motion of the rotor into an ignition position and a second water pressure safety device actuable after the locking pin is removed and after the first water pressure safety device has been actuated and capable of actuating the release pin for rotating the rotor into an ignition position. An ignition circuit employed comprises a digital logic connected to an analog receiver, dual driver stages connected to the digital logic, parallel discharge circuits connected to the dual driver stages and to a detonator and the voltage supply and suitable for selectively igniting the detonator or for short circuiting the voltage supply. The digital logic actuates two discharge circuits in successive time intervals (t.sub.1,t.sub.2,t.