GB1005600A - Missiles - Google Patents

Abstract

1,005,600. Fin-stabilized missiles and fuzes therefor. OERLIKON-BURHLE HOLDING A.G. July 27, 1962 [Aug. 9, 1961], No. 29061/ 62. Heading F3A. A fin-stabilized missile, Fig. 1, provided with an electric fuze F in which contacts are closed on impact to discharge a current through a detonator 16 is provided with means whereby the contacts may be closed other than by direct impact, the means comprising deformable resilient members housed within sensing devices 5 placed along the edges of the fins 4 and along the missile body 1. The devices 5 are made of resilient material, e.g. rubber, Fig. 3, and house a thin steel strip 10 insulated by the housing from a helically coiled wire 11 therein, except in the region of a gap 9 where the wire may be forced against the strip by a blow on the edge of the fin or on the body 1. The strips and wires are electrically connected by conductors 12, 13 to conductors 28, 29 respectively, which are in circuit with a battery 15, the detonator 16 and a switch 18. Due to the resilience of the devices 5, although the wires 11 and strips 10 may be accidentally brought into contact due to pressure in handling and transport, as soon as the pressure is released, the contact is broken and firing of the detonator cannot take place if the switch 18 is closed at launching of the missile. The fuze body 23 is surrounded by a spring 27, which supports a two-part hood 26 of conductive material connected by conductor 29 to the switch 18, the conductor 28 being connected to a conductive sleeve 25 so supported by an insulating sleeve 24 within the body 23 that, if direct impact occurs, the hood 26 and sleeve 25 are forced into contact. The circuit to detonator 16 is then closed, if switch 18 has been closed. If indirect impact occurs pressure on the devices 5 can also bring about firing of the detonator. The devices 5 may be replaced by wires 21, Fig. 9, which extend from the fin tips to end in sleeves 33 mounted in extensions 31a of a hood 31 separated by insulation 30 from the hood 26. If indirect impact occurs and one or more of the cords 21 is tensed by a blow, hood 26 is tilted into contact with sleeve 25 and completes the circuit to the detonator. A cord may connect all the cords 21.