EP2342531B1 - Fuze for a projectile - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a detonator for a projectile with a detonating chain and a breaker for breaking the ignition chain.

Projectiles, such as artillery shells, mortar shells or direct projectiles, usually comprise an igniter with a detonating chain, which in its focus comprises two or more ignition charges arranged one behind the other. The last of these squibs, the firing amplifier, directs its ignition energy to a main charge located in the projectile body of the projectile to transfer ignition energy to ignite the main charge.

To break the ignition chain, it is out of US 4,691,634 It is known to provide a breaker which removes one of the ignition charges in the secured state from the direct series arrangement, so that it can not be pierced and in addition can no longer transmit any ignition energy. To ignite the igniter, this ignition charge is moved through the breaker in the direct series arrangement, so that the priming charges can ignite one behind the other.

From the DE 31 07 110 A1 a safety device for an igniter is known in which a bolt system is arranged in a rotor next to a detonator, which serves to lock the rotor in its security. As a result of firing acceleration, the bolt system performs an axial movement and releases the rotor. As a result of the centrifugal force, the rotor can then pivot into its in-focus position. This happens due to a delay with delay. The laterally arranged next to the rotor escapement stands for this purpose via a toothing in engagement with a arranged on the circumference of the rotor toothed segment.

It is an object of the invention to provide a reliable igniter for a projectile, which can be made very compact.

The object is achieved by an igniter according to the features of patent claim 1.

The invention is based on a detonator for a projectile with a detonating chain, a breaker for breaking the ignition chain, which is designed to snap at a release of a security in an armed position, and a locking means for locking the breaker in a safe and Unlocking of the breaker by an unlocking movement.

It is proposed that the unlocking movement of the locking means is an axial movement. An axial movement is a movement with a component in the axial direction, wherein the axial direction is the direction of flight of the projectile. By exploiting the axial direction for the Entriegelbewegung the igniter can be made very compact in the radial direction and is thus suitable for bullets of small caliber. In particular, the axial movement with respect to the breaker is directed only in the axial direction.

By the invention, a particularly efficient unlocking sequence of the breaker can be performed. For this purpose, the locking means is held by an inhibitor in its locking position, suitably of a segment. The escapement can thus release the locking means during its operation so that the rotor is unlocked.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

The interrupter advantageously carries a priming charge, which is so far away from a subsequent primer when the ignition chain is interrupted, that is to say in certainty, that over-ignition is impossible. Snapping the breaker into its focus position achieves a digital transition of the breaker from its capture to its focus, avoiding transients due to the very fast movement of the breaker. By this digital behavior of the breaker and its position therewith either in the securing or in the armed position, but not in an intermediate position, a high degree of security can be achieved. In addition, the detonator can be used without special settings for both fast and slow projectiles. The snap can be an unrestrained movement, which is only limited by friction losses to a small extent.

Conveniently, the locking means engages in securing a closed recess in the breaker, such as a hole through the breaker, and is not in particular in the radial direction on the breaker out. The locking means can therefore be regarded as stored in the interrupter. Particularly suitable is a bolt which engages in a recess of the breaker. Advantageously, the breaker is a rotor. The movement of the rotor from securing to the in-focus position is a rotational movement about an axis of rotation.

Advantageously, the detonator is designed so that it requires, prior to carrying out the Entriegelbewegung initially a firing controlled unlocking the interrupter before the Entriegelbewegung can be performed. Therefor Advantageously, the detonator comprises a means for the release-controlled unlocking of the interrupter in addition to the locking means for further unlocking. Particularly suitable for launch-controlled unlocking is a double-bolt system. In the launch-controlled unlocking of the breaker and in particular also the locking means advantageously remains in a relation to an igniter housing axially unchanged position. In this way, a gap between squibs can be kept small, which facilitates the use of insensitive explosive.

To reliably achieve a Vorrohrsicherheit an inhibitor is advantageous for delaying the Entriegelbewegung the locking means after the launch controlled unlocking. The escapement may be constructed in the manner of a clockwork with an anchor and having an element that can be moved from a locking position to a release position in which the interrupter is released or can be released by one or more further Entsicherungsmaßnahmen. Conveniently, this element is a segment, in particular a toothed segment. A radial space can be kept small if the segment is arranged in the axial direction at least partially on or below the breaker. Up and down is seen in the sense of top and bottom, with the top of the bullet is above.

The axial space of the igniter can be kept compact when the locking means is mounted in the breaker and engages in particular in the securing in a recess of a housing-fixed component and moved out of focus in the focus position. The housing-fixed component may be a cover or a cover plate and is expediently mounted immovably to a housing of the igniter. Advantageously, the locking means is mounted both in the backup and in the armed position in the interrupter, whereby a space requirement for the locking means can be kept low. Conveniently, the locking means carries out the snap movement.

The snap action may be spring-driven. With a particularly high degree of safety, the snap action can be carried out when it is driven by centrifugal force. The necessary centrifugal force can be caused by a spin of the projectile during the flight.

Advantageously, the locking means is introduced in the unlocked state in a recess of an inhibitor, in particular in a recess of a segment of the inhibitor. If the recess has a ramp, then the locking means can slide from its locking position into its release position. Conveniently, the locking means slides into the recess. By the ramp, the locking means can be led out of the recess, so that a high freedom of movement of the locking means and the breaker can be achieved.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, an element, in particular a segment, of an inhibitor is designed to follow at least part of the snap-action in the armed position with the breaker. In this way, a high mass of the snap action performing elements can be achieved, which is useful for high reliability in the execution of the snap movement, especially if it is a centrifugal driven snap action. It can be provided that the common snap movement of the breaker is coupled to the segment by the locking means. Conveniently, the common movement includes the beginning of the snap movement, so that the segment can free the possibly by a long storage slightly jammed breaker from a slightly blocked position. If the closing part of the snap action is performed by the breaker alone and without the segment, the breaker can perform a long movement, without the segment must be moved, so that a compact movement is achievable.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the detonator comprises a double-bolt system for unlocking the projectile. A launch acceleration can be used as the arming force without the breaker making an axial movement. Axial installation spaces can be so very small and the primer firing charges can be brought very close to each other, so the use of insensitive explosives is significantly facilitated.

Furthermore, the igniter expediently comprises a counter-rotating spring for pulling the breaker in the direction of its securing. This counteracts unintentional movement of the breaker from its securing in its focus, for example, in a defective locking means. Conveniently, the breaker is locked by the counter-rotating spring in its in focus. The danger of a blind passage of the projectile can thereby be reduced. Due to the double function of the counter-rotating spring, a further element can be saved and space can be reduced.

In particular, for a rotor is particularly suitable a coil spring as a counter-rotating spring. This can be integrated compactly in the detonator. Conveniently, the counter-torsion spring is wound around an axis of rotation of the breaker, whereby a simple construction of the igniter can be achieved. For locking, the torsion spring advantageously engages in a housing-fixed element. The compactness, it is also beneficial if the counter-rotating spring is mounted completely to within the interrupter except for an engaging element for arresting intervention.

Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawing. In the drawing, an embodiment of the invention is shown. The drawing and the description contain numerous features in combination, which the skilled person expediently consider individually and will summarize meaningful further combinations.

Fig. 1

einen Ausschnitt eines Zünders eines Geschosses in der Sicherstellung in einer teilweise geschnittenen, perspektivischen Darstellung,

Fig. 2

eine weitere teilgeschnittene perspektivische Ansicht auf den Ausschnitt des Zünders mit einem aufgesetzten Deckel,

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf den Zünder in einer Zwischenstellung,

Fig. 4

einen Schnitt durch den Zünder entsprechend der Schnittlinie IV-IV aus Figur 3 und

Fig. 5

eine Draufsicht auf den Zünder in seiner Scharfstellung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a detail of a fuse of a projectile in the assurance in a partially cut, perspective view,

Fig. 2

a further partially cutaway perspective view of the cutout of the igniter with an attached lid,

Fig. 3

a top view of the igniter in an intermediate position,

Fig. 4

a section through the igniter according to the section line IV-IV FIG. 3 and

Fig. 5

a top view of the detonator in its focus.

FIG. 1 shows a partially cutaway perspective view of a portion of a fuze 2 with a housing 4, which is provided in its lower portion 6 for attachment to a fuselage of a projectile. A in the direction of flight 8 of the projectile front or from the perspective of the figures upper part of the igniter 2 is to better illustrate the elements shown in FIG FIG. 1 omitted and includes an upper one Part of the housing 4, a Aufschlagzündmechanismus with a firing pin for piercing a detonator 10 and other elements.

The detonator 2 is provided with a double pin system 12 and with a built-up as a clockwork escapement 14 with a toothed segment 16 and arranged on the segment 16 breaker 18 in which the detonator 10 is mounted. The breaker 18 and the segment 16 are in FIG. 1 shown partially cut. The detonator 10 is a part of a detonating chain with at least two ignition charges, namely the detonator 10 and an ignition amplifier, not shown, which is arranged below the segment 16 in the central axis of the projectile or of the fuze 2.

In FIG. 1 the fuse 2 is shown in its security. In this, the detonator 10 is so far away and arranged separately from the booster, that in an unintentional detonation of the detonator 10 over-ignition is reliably avoided on the downstream booster. An opening over the firing amplifier is covered by the segment 16 and blocks a direct connection between the detonator 10 and the firing amplifier. In addition, the segment 16 blocks a movement of the breaker 18 in its focus immediately, as an element of the breaker 18, namely a formation 20 for accommodating the detonator 10, upon movement of the breaker 18 in its focus against an edge 22 (see FIG. 5 ) of the segment 16 would be encountered and a further movement of the breaker 18 would be blocked to the center.

FIG. 2 shows the fuze 2 in another partially cut detail view with an attached, fixed housing cover plate 24 also in the security. The breaker 18 is shown cut so that the view becomes free on a counter-torsion spring 26 and a locking means 28 within the breaker 18. The counter-torsion spring 26 is a torsion spring in the form of a leg spring, one leg in a gap of an axis 30 to that of the breaker 18 is rotatably mounted, is held fixed to the housing. The other leg is in an in FIG. 1 shown slot 32 held as a rotor breaker 18 and biased to torsion, so that this leg the breaker 18 with a force counterclockwise and counter to a direction of release 34 charged. The rotor or breaker 18 is pulled by the counter-rotating spring 26 in the direction of its securing and pressed against a stop 36, which provides the assurance.

In addition, the breaker 18 is held by the double pin system 12 and the bolt-shaped locking means 28 in its security. The locking means 28 engages in a conical recess 38 of the housing-fixed cover plate 24 and is held all around by the breaker 18 and thus stored in this, so that the locking means 28 is fixed in the radial direction and tangential direction in the breaker 18. In the axial direction, ie parallel to the direction of flight 8 but down, the locking means 28 is blocked by the segment 16 of the escapement 14, so that a Entriegelbewegung is blocked down. By this blocking and the intervention in the housing-fixed recess 38, as well as the storage in the breaker 18, the locking means 28 locks the breaker 18 in its security.

Before a launch of the projectile, the components of the igniter 2 are as in the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown. In addition to the locking means 28 and the counter-rotating spring 26, the breaker 18 is locked by a stop 40 of a bolt 42 of the double pin system 12, against which one side 44 of the breaker 18, in its security. Another stop 46 of the bolt 42 locks the segment 16 in an analogous manner in its locking position.

When launching the projectile strong acceleration forces act in the direction of flight direction 8 on all components of the igniter 2. Due to their inertia, all components are pressed relative to the housing 4 down and against the direction of flight 8. Thus, the two bolts 42, 48, the double pin system 12, wherein the bolt 42 by a ball 50 which engages in a recess 52 of the bolt 42 and in the axial direction, ie parallel to a in FIG. 3 shown central axis 62 of the igniter 2 and the projectile, is fixed to the housing. However, the pin 48 is free in its axial movement and, driven by its inertia, compresses a coil spring 54 on its way down, which holds it up in the securing state of the igniter 2 in the unsecured state.

During the downward movement of the bolt 48, the bolt 42 presses down and presses with a slope, not shown, at the end of the recess 52 against the ball 50 and this in the tangential direction against the bolt 48, which blocks a tangential movement of the ball 50. However, as soon as the bolt 48 is depressed so far that a chamfer 56 comes into the region of the ball 50, the ball 50 can yield in the tangential direction and is pressed out of the recess 52 by the chamfer of the bolt 42. Once the ball 50 completely off the recess 52 has exited, the bolt 42 is also driven downward and locks with its side 46, the ball 50 in the region of the chamfer 56, so that the bolt 48 is blocked in its lower arming position and not again by the coil spring 54 upwards can be driven. By the release movement of the bolt 42 of this first releases an arming movement of the breaker 18, which is further blocked by the locking means, and in the further course, a release movement of the segment 16. Once the bolt 42 has been pressed far enough down, jumping a detent spring 58 in a stop 40 forming recess 60 of the bolt 42 and locks it in its lower Entriegelstellung. By unlocking the double pin system 12 thus the segment 16 is unlocked, while the breaker 18 is still locked by the locking means 28.

When the projectile is fired, the projectile is imparted a swirling motion in the form of a rapid rotation about its center axis 62. As a result, a strong centrifugal force is exerted radially outward on all elements of the igniter 2. How out FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 can be seen, both the segment 16 and the breaker 18 is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis 64 within the axis 30. In these figures, it can also be seen that the center of gravity of the segment 16 is not in this axis of rotation 64, but far outside, so that the segment 16 is pressed by the centrifugal force radially outward and thus in a rotational movement in the clockwise direction about the axis of rotation 64. The toothing 66 of the segment 16 exerts a force on gears 68, 70 of the escapement 14, which in turn act on an escape wheel 72 and an armature 74 of the escapement 14. The armature 74 is moved back and forth analogously to a movement and releases a rotational movement of the escape wheel 72 step by step. This rotational movement is transmitted under reduced to the segment 16 which rotates clockwise or in Entsicherungsrichtung 34 about the rotation axis 64.

In FIG. 3 is an intermediate position of the segment 16 between its locking position, as in FIG. 1 shown, and its release position, as in FIG. 5 shown, shown. In FIG. 4 this intermediate position is shown partially cut. Due to the rotational movement of the segment 16, a recess 76 is moved toward the locking means 28 up to a position as in FIG FIG. 4 shown position. The locking means 28 is down, so the segment 16 out rounded, advantageously in the form of a spherical cap, said rounded shape by a further movement of the segment 16 slides on a ramp 78 in the recess 76. The movement the locking means 28 in the axial direction is effected by the centrifugal force of the breaker 18 in conjunction with the inclined surface of the conical recess 38, since the center of mass of the breaker 18 is outside the axis of rotation 64 and this is pressed by the centrifugal force in the direction of release 34. The locking means 28 is pressed against the slope of the conical recess 38 and pressed by this down into the recess 76 into it. By this Entriegelbewegung, which takes place relative to the breaker 18 in the axial direction 80 down and relative to the housing 4 by the lateral emigration within the recess 38 additionally subject to lateral components, the breaker 18 is unlocked as soon as the locking means 28 completely from the recess 38th has leaked.

However, the breaker 18 can not immediately snap alone in an armed position in its unlocked by the locking means, because the breaker 18 and the segment 16 are coupled in their further movement by the locking means 28. The breaker 18 and the segment 16 must move toward each other so that the locking means 28 remains within the recess 76, as it is prevented by the cover plate 24 from moving upwardly and out of the segment 16. As in FIG. 3 can be seen, the toothing 66 ends approximately at the same time as the position in which the locking means 28 has completely leaked out of the recess 38. This also ends the inhibition of the release movement of the segment 16 by the escapement 14 and this can fly-driven essentially free snap into its release position, the in FIG. 5 is shown. This snap action can be completed by the breaker 18, so that segment 16 and breaker 18 synchronously move the first part of the snap movement of the breaker 18. In the event that the breaker 18 is not moved out of its safety by any unwanted circumstance, for example because a critical element has been hard-corroded, a stop surface 82 of the recess 76 abuts against the locking means 28, thus pulling the breaker 18 out of its securing position. The breaker 18 is released from the example seizured position and in turn begins its Entsicherungsbewegung in the direction of focus. It can thereby be achieved a very high level of security against duds.

After the segment 16 has reached its release position and partially received the locking means 28, the segment 26 and the breaker 18 and with it the locking means 28 complete the first part of the snap action of the breaker together until the segment 16 strikes a surface 84 of the housing 4. The end position of the segment 16 is reached, whereas the breaker 18 continues its snap movement. As a result, the locking means 28 is again guided on the ramp 78 and lifted out of the recess 76, wherein the locking means 28 in a recess 86 (see FIG. 2 ) of the cover plate 24 occurs. Through the recess 86, a decoupling of the movement of the breaker 18 from the movement of the segment 16 is made possible. The breaker 18 completes its snap movement substantially unhindered further into the in FIG. 5 illustrated focus.

Upon reaching this focus, the breaker 18 abuts against the stop 36, which thus determines the focus. The stopper 36 is a shape of the cover plate 24 and thus fixed to the housing. In this position, a nose snaps 88 (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of the counter-rotating spring 26 in a recess 90 of the cover plate 24 and thus locks the breaker 18 in its in focus. The detonator 10 is now located in the center axis 62 of the projectile and aligned with the underlying booster, thereby allowing over-firing from the detonator 10 to the booster. The breaker 18 or rotor and thus the igniter 2 is in its focus position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

fuze

4

casing

6

Area

8th

flight direction

10

Detonator

12

Double-bolt system

14

Hemmwerk

16

segment

18

breaker

20

formation

22

edge

24

deck board

26

Against torsion spring

28

locking

30

axis

32

slot

34

unlocking direction

36

attack

38

recess

40

attack

42

bolt

44

page

46

attack

48

bolt

50

Bullet

52

recess

54

spiral spring

56

bevel

58

detent spring

60

recess

62

central axis

64

axis of rotation

66

Perforation

68

gear

70

gear

72

escape wheel

74

anchor

76

recess

78

ramp

80

axially

82

stop surface

84

area

86

recess

88

nose

90

recess

Claims (14)

1. Fuze (2) for a projectile having an ignition chain, a breaker for interrupting the ignition chain, which is embodied in order to snap from a safe position into a live position in case of unlocking, and a locking means (28) for locking the breaker (18) in the safety position and for unlocking the breaker (18) by means of an unlocking movement,
   wherein the unlocking movement of the locking means (28) is an axial movement, characterized in that
   the locking means (28) is retained in its locking position by an escapement (14).
2. Fuze (2) according to claim 1
   characterized in that
   the escapement (14) is a segment (16) having a locking position and a release position, being disposed in axial direction (80) at least partially on or beneath the breaker (18).
3. Fuze (2) according to claims 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   the locking means (28) is supported in the breaker (18) and in the safety position engages into a recess (38) of a component fixed on the housing, and in the live position is moved out of the recess (38).
4. Fuze (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the locking means (28) is supported in the breaker (18) both in the safety position and in the live position.
5. Fuze (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   in the unlocked state the locking means (28) is inserted in a recess (76) of the escapement (14).
6. Fuze (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized
   by a ramp (78), on which the locking means (28) glides from the locked position thereof into a released position thereof.
7. Fuze (2) according to claim 6,
   characterized in that
   the ramp (78) is introduced into the escapement (14).
8. Fuze (2) according to claims 6 or 7,
   characterized in that
   in the live position the locking means (26) is guided out of a recess (76) by the ramp (78).
9. Fuze (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   a segment (16) of the escapement (14) is embodied for following at least part of the snapping movement with the breaker (18) into the live position.
10. Fuze (2) according to claim 9,
    characterized in that
    said part comprises the beginning of the snapping movement
11. Fuze (2) according to claims 9 or 10,
    characterized in that
    the mutual snapping movement of the breaker (18) with the segment (16) is coupled by means of the locking means (28).
12. Fuze (2) according to one of the claims 9 to 11,
    characterized in that
    a terminating part of the snapping movement is executed by the breaker (18) alone with the segment (16).
13. Fuze (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the breaker (18) is locked in the live position thereof by means of a counter-torsion spring (26), the force of which pulls the breaker (18) into the direction of the safety position thereof.
14. Fuze (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized
    by a double bolt system (12) for releasing the safety upon firing a bullet, which locks both the breaker (18) and an element (16) of the escapement (14) in the safety position.

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