DE2426121A1 - FAIL-SAFE IGNITION DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

DIPL.-ING. LEO FLEUCHAUS DR.-ING. HANS LEYH

DIPL.-ING. ERNST RATHMÄNN

Munich 71, May 28, 1974 - Melchioretr. 42 '

Our reference: M0141P-1156

Motorola, Inc. 5725 East River Road Chicago , Illinois V.St.A.

Fail-safe igniter device

The invention relates to a fail-safe igniter device for free-falling weapons or missiles, taking from the stream Airflow Arming energy is diverted by using the device with a passing airflow driven turbine is provided, which via coupling elements a torsion spring during a first time interval tense.

The weapons currently in use both in In the form of projectiles, bombs or missiles', stored energy is usually required to protect the weapon from the To be able to arm clearance. It is known that this is a Provide turbine, which actuates a mechanism by the air flowing past, either by itself or in cooperation with further mechanisms ensures that the weapon

Fs / wi. . . = · ■ armed '

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is armed. In this context, timers are also used to set a time period within softer the weapon must be armed.

All of these devices depend on stored energy, with torsion springs or other energy stores being used Wind-up mechanical apparatus are used, which must be set before the weapon is released. When a Malfunction occurs in the assigned timer, an immediate or shortened arming time can be triggered, which creates an immediate, highly dangerous situation. The known systems are relatively complicated constructed and therefore correspondingly expensive to manufacture. From the simple arming facilities are many are not fail-safe or offer no possibility of disarming a weapon that has already been armed.

The invention is therefore based on the object .An ignition device to provide the disadvantages mentioned above overcomes and requires the correct interaction of two mutually different mechanisms in order to to be able to arm a weapon, and which also ensures that that if one of the mechanisms fails, the weapon will not be armed. After all, the mechanism should For arming, no energy storage is required before the weapon is used or attached to the means of transport make the storage of a certain energy necessary, but separate this energy in use with the free plug itself from the passing airflow. A special time allocation is intended to ensure that the Arming of the weapon at the correct point in time takes place. Care should also be taken to ensure that, by means of display devices it can be seen whether the weapon is armed or not, and that the weapon is already armed in a simple manner Way can safely be defused again.

- 2 - This

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This object is achieved according to the invention in that a ' Timer is available, which the energy stored in the tensioned torsion spring after a second time interval, comprising at least the first time interval for arming of the weapon releases by coupling devices that separate the turbine from the torsion spring and, at the same time, the Couple the torsion spring to an arming device before the torsion spring is released from the relaxation timer is released.

Further features and refinements of the invention are the subject matter of further claims.

In an ignition device designed according to the features of the invention no energy storage is required before firing or releasing the weapon. The one for that Arming the weapon necessary energy is obtained from the air stream flowing past the weapon either in the ballistic Flight or freefall derived. For this purpose, a turbine is provided which has a torsion spring designed as a helical spring during a first time interval after firing the gun cocks. The tensioned spring is kept tensioned by a second mechanism, the Timer is provided and set or adjusted by a lanyard or the like before the weapon is released or fired. can be operated. This timer allows the torsion spring to relax at a point in time that occurs on the first Time interval follows. So must two of each other? independent mechanisms take effect in the right sequence, to arm the weapon. An early arming due to a malfunction of the timer is safely prevented. In order to switch off the turbine at the right time from the torsion spring and this to the primer To turn on the supporting rotor mechanism, there are two clutches that are only alternately engaged

- 3 - can

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can. When the torsion spring is coupled to the rotor mechanism it relaxes and rotates the rotor mechanism to a position in which the weapon is armed is.

The device for arming is further provided with a security and display device, which consists of a display rod consists of the current state of the weapon, i.e. the armed or the secured state can be recognized. • ^ erner with this indicator rod is advantageously the Disarm the weapon if it is desirable to do so. For this purpose, the indicator rod is simply actuated and released again, being in the meantime by a spring preload the rotor mechanism is rotated so far that the primer is no longer aligned with the firing pin and occupies a backup position.

The advantages and features of the invention also emerge from the following description of an exemplary embodiment in FIG Connection with the claims and the drawing. Show it:

Pig. 1 shows a basic representation of an ignition device according to the invention in a first operating state;

Pig. Figure 2 is a section along the line A-A of Figure 1;

3 shows the ignition device according to FIG. 1 in a second operating state;

4-a to 4d different functional positions of a safety device Display device which cooperates with the igniter device.

The detonator device 10 shown in the drawings is mainly used for arming explosive missiles and

- 4 - others

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other free-falling explosives, but it can also be used in conjunction with other weapons. As essential characteristic property, the fuze device does not require any energy storage within the weapon before this is released, rather the energy necessary to trigger arming is provided by someone passing a missile Air flow, e.g. during free fall, is diverted.

A paddle wheel or turbine 12 is provided for this purpose, which is set in rotation by the air flow during free fall. The speed of rotation of the turbine 12 is kept at a substantially constant value, with a centrifugal regulator 14 for setting a constant speed Is used. The constant speed at which the output shaft of the centrifugal governor rotates acts on Reduction gear IG, which in turn drives a cam wheel 18. The reduction gear is constructed in such a way that the cam wheel 18 one revolution during a given time interval ti executes. The cam wheel 18 is connected to the part of a coupling 19 on one side. This coupling part is provided with coupling teeth 19a, which engage in corresponding coupling teeth 19b, which on the other Part of the coupling are arranged, which in turn is connected to a ratchet wheel 22. The ratchet wheel 22 is on one End of a torsion spring 24 attached. When the clutch 19 is engaged, the rotation of the cam wheel 18 'rotates the ratchet wheel 22 accordingly Turn ratchet wheel 22 in one direction only. This is due to the fact that one acting in one direction There is a lock 22a which engages in corresponding teeth of the ratchet wheel 22. These teeth 'go out of the illustration according to FIG. 2 in side view.

- 5 - " One

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A rotation of the ratchet wheel 22 tensions the torsion spring 24-, because the other end of these is clamped in a ratchet wheel 26 which corresponds to the ratchet wheel 22. The ratchet wheel 26 is also fixed in a fixed position by a lock 28a Rotation position held. The lock 28a is part of a timer 28. This structure shows that the torsion spring 24 by the rotating turbine 12 via the. Gear 16 and the cam wheel 18 and the clutch 19 during of the first time interval ti can be wound up by a full turn.

When the cam wheel 18 and the ratchet wheel 22 have reached about 3/4 of a revolution, a cam surface 18b takes the Cam wheel 18 a position in which the cam surface against the inner surface of a leg of a U-shaped Coupling slide 30 applies. This clutch slide 30 is initially in a position shifted completely to the right in the illustration by the action of a toggle spring 32 held. In the bracket of the U-shaped coupling slide two slots 30a are made, through which pins 34-grip, which determine the respective end position for the lateral displacement of the coupling slide.

As soon as the cam wheel 18 has almost reached a full revolution, the cam surface 18b acts on the leg of the clutch slide valve 30 and move it to the left. The toggle spring 32 jumps around and provides the full displacement of the Coupling slide to the left safely. In this position the clutch 19 is disengaged, i.e. the cam wheel 18 is separated from the ratchet wheel 32. At the same time a clutch 27 comes into engagement, which engages with a ratchet wheel 26 on one side Side and is connected to a gear 40 on the other side. This gear 40 acts on a rotor mechanism 42, the puncture of which is explained in more detail below. The mechanical structure shows that the

- 6 - Coupling slide

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Coupling slide 30 causes the front clutch 19 and the rear clutch 27 can never be engaged at the same time. The front clutch 19 must be disengaged come so that the rear clutch 27 can be engaged. In addition, this switchover is only achieved if the cam wheel 18 one full revolution within the predetermined time interval ti after the turbine has been started up 12 carried out by the air stream sweeping past. The one-way lock 22a on the ratchet wheel 22 prevents the Torsion spring 24 rotates ratchet wheel 22 backward for the period of time during which clutch 19 is not engaged.

Simultaneously with the release of the weapon or the missile ^ · If the timer 28 is actuated, conventional means such as lanyards or the like can be used for this purpose. Such lanyards are already used to perform a control function when releasing the weapon or missile from the transport vehicle. A detailed description is therefore not necessary for this.

In any event, the timer 28 expires after its actuation for a certain period of time t2 before the lock -28 is released will. The timer 28 is set to this time t2 during or after loading the transport vehicle with the weapon. This time period t2 must comprise at least the time period ti. With this it is possible that the necessary energy for tensioning the torsion spring 24 is applied in order to actuate the rotor mechanism 42 via the gear 40 and this from its initial position, in which the weapon is secured, rotated 90 ° in order to arm the weapon. the The safety position is shown in Fig. 4a, while Fig. 4b shows the position after arming the weapon.

If on the one hand the duration t2 does not affect the duration ti follows and on the other hand, if the action of the

- 7 - , pouring

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flowing air stops before the period ti has expired int, the torsion spring 24 does not reach the fully opened state, so that the coupling slide 30 does not move away either its right position according to FIG. 1 in the left position according to FIG. 3 shifts to the tensioned torsion spring on the rotor mechanism 42 to be coupled. As a result, if the timer 28 is released at time t2, it will not there is enough energy to turn the rotor mechanism 42 into the required position to arm the weapon to be able to.

The system is thus fail-secure, "since the energy for arming the gun for a sufficiently long time from the _air-t current applied must, on the one hand to tension the torsion spring 24 and on the other hand to move the Kupjiungsschieber 30 in a position in which the stored energy The safety system thus protects against immediate arming, for example due to a malfunction of the timer 28. If the timer 28 fails, ie the time period t2 is less than the time period ti, the torsion spring 24 is released before the clutch slide 30 connects the torsion spring to the gear 40. This allows the torsion spring 24 to relax, so that no energy is available to set the rotor mechanism 42 in rotation in order to arm the weapon at the appropriate time.

In this context, it should be noted that in the event that electrical energy is used for a control function or any other purpose is needed in the weapon itself, a generator conveniently connected to the igniter device can be, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3 by the dashed block 44. This generator 44 can be in a simple manner Veise to the reduction gear 16 via another Gear to be connected.

- 8 - How

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As already mentioned, the igniter device according to the invention is provided with a visible display for the operating state of the weapon or the missile in order to be able to recognize whether the weapon or the missile is in the secured or armed state. This facility; furthermore possible in a simple manner, the Save "already voji armed weapons or missiles, before they are released. This backup and display device is shown in Figs. 4a to 4-Cl. The securing device comprises an indicator rod 46 ₁ of the zunammenwirkt with the rotor mechanism 42 , and a firing pin 48. It can be seen from the illustration that the rotor mechanism 42 is provided with a curved slot 42a which extends around a quarter circle or a 90 ° arc approximately in the vicinity of the circumference equipped with a primer 50 and a bore 42b at positions as shown in the illustration, These positions are approximately opposite the end points of the slot 42a.

In the secured state as shown in the illustration 4a the rotor mechanism 42 assumes a position in which the indicator rod 46 with its left end into the slot 42a engages »In this position the firing pin 48 cannot come into contact with the firing capsule 50. Simultaneously takes the indicator rod 46a has a position with its other end, in which it is essentially with its front end ± i the plane of the fuse housing 10 comes to rest. In this position it is indicated that the weapon is not armed, i.e. oneself is in the secured state.

In the armed state, the rotor mechanism 42, the gear 40 about twisted about "through 90 ° so that the right side of the slot 42a against the indicator rod 46 abuts. Thus, the squib i 50 aligned directly on the firing pin 48 the same time the indicator rod versohiebt 46 to the left

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according to the illustration in Fig. 4b and protrudes over the surface of the fuse housing IO. This is due to the fact that the depth of the slot 42a becomes progressively smaller when the rotor mechanism 42 changes from the one shown in Figure 4a Position is rotated into the position shown in Fig. 4b. The protruding end 46a of the indicator rod indicates that the weapon is ready.

In order to disarm the weapon again, it is only necessary to foot the anaig rod 46 at the front end 46a and to pull it out of the safety housing 10, as shown in FIG. 4c. Thus, the indicator rod 46 comes from the slit 42a of the rotor mechanism 42 free, so that it can rotate about an additional 90 ° because of the residual stress in the torsion spring 24, the locking position shown in Fig. 4d vat take. The indicator rod 46 can then be released so that it is displaced inwards due to a spring preload (not shown) and engages in the opening 42b. The front end 46a of the indicator rod comes to lie behind the surface of the safety housing 10, which ensures that the weapon is securely locked in the safety position.

Although only a single embodiment of the invention is described above, it is obvious that modifications for the security scheme as well as for the facility 2UB arming are possible for the specialist, which of The basic idea of the present invention can be used and covered by it.

- 10 - Claims

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Claims (10)

MO3A1B-1156 Godparents, claims, he Fail-safe detonator for free-falling weapons or missiles, wherein arming energy is derived from the airflow flowing past by the device is provided with a turbine driven by the air flow passing by, which via coupling elements a torsion spring during a first time interval clamps, characterized in that a Timer is available, which the energy stored in the tensioned torsion spring after a second time interval, which includes at least the first time interval for arming the weapon releases by coupling devices Separate the turbine from the torsion spring and at the same time attach the torsion spring to a device for Arm arming before releasing the torsion spring from the relaxation timer. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that g e k e η η -drawn; that with the coupling devices (19, 27) slide devices (30) cooperate which are displaceable back and forth between two operating states by a toggle spring (32), and that the coupling devices (19) are provided with a cam element (18b), which the switching of the one Operating state causes the other operating state in the first time interval. 409850/0947 . I. M0141P-1156 Xl 3. Device according to claim. 1 or 2, characterized in that the device for arming is provided with an ignition power (48) and has an optionally adjustable rotor mechanism (42) to which a primer (50) is attached, and that after arming the weapon by relaxing the torsion spring of the firing pin is aligned with the primer. 4. Device according to one or more of claims 1 to 3j geke nnz e i c hne t that the turbine (12) is provided via a gear (16) with a cam wheel which can be uncoupled from the torsion spring. 5 · · Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the coupling devices a front clutch (19), which optionally connects the turbine to the cam wheel, that further a rear clutch is available, which optionally arm the torsion spring with the device connects, and that further facilities are available, which prevent simultaneous engagement of the front and rear clutches. 6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that for releasing the in the torsion spring stored energy extractors are available that are operated by a timer mechanism, which includes a retractable lock for release at the second time interval. 7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that display devices for the The operating status of the igniter device is present, 409850/0947 M0141P-1156 the safety devices that can be operated by hand the weapon that has already been armed. 8. Establishment according to claim 7> characterized in that the display device consists of a There is a display rod with which the. Primer wearing Rotor mechanism (4-2) cooperates, and according to its position to the fuse housing (10) indicates the setting status of the igniter device. 9- device.nach claim 8, characterized in that the armed weapon by the indicator stick protruding from the fuse housing is marked. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the indicator rod with a handle it is provided that there are also pretensioning devices which act on the indicator rod in such a way that that this can be moved into the fuse housing in the freely movable state, and that the disarming the weapon that has already been armed by pulling out the indicator rod to release the rotor mechanism "takes place, so that the rotor mechanism by the remaining spring preload of the torsion spring in a Securing position is displaceable. 40 985 0/094 7