GB1215150A - Process and apparatus for the controlled firing of explosive charges and ammunition using said apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,215,150. Firing explosive charges. POUDRERIES REUNIES DE BELGIQUE SOC. ANON. 14 Dec., 1967 [1 Feb., 1967], No. 56886/67. Heading F3A A method of establishing a pyrotechnic chain under the effect of a number of pulses comprises advancing a first member or group of members from a rest position in which the pyrotechnic chain is not established to a final work position where the chain is established, each step being executed in response to one of said pulses, and by means of a second member or group of members bringing said first member or group of members back to its rest position when the time interval between one of the pulses and an immediately succeeding pulse is greater than a predetermined time interval or allowing it to advance further to the final work position when the time interval between a pulse and an immediately succeeding pulse is less than the predetermined time interval. The advancing movement may be angular, rectilinear or mixed movement. A preferred apparatus for carrying out the method comprises an anti-tank mine fuze comprising a striker 33 held against the bias of a spring 37 by a pin 34 lying across slots 5 and 6 in a disc 1 provided with teeth 2 and 3 and a ratchet wheel 7; a second disc 8 having a tooth 9, a ratchet wheel 13, an extension 32 for simultaneously rotating a primer carrier 28, a hub 10 co-operating with an escapement mechanism 12; a stop 21 biased by a spring 23 about an axis 22; and a push rod 18 connected mechanically, electrically, magnetically, hydraulically &c. to a drive sensitive to pulses, e.g. the head of a mine. In operation, at each pulse, the push simultaneously shifts the ratchet wheels and their associated discs clockwise whereby the extension 32 brings the primer 27 into line with the striker pin, and the slots 5 and 6 in the disc 1 are moved step by step into line with the pin 34 to free the striker, provided the time interval between one of the pulses and the immediately succeeding pulse is less than the time interval set by the device 12 for the return of the disc 8to its initial position under the action of spring 15. During the arming movement of the disc 1, the disc is prevented from reverse movement to its initial position, under the action of spring 14, by engagement of the stop 21 with the teeth 2 or 3, until disc 8 returns to its initial position and lifts the stop clear of the teeth. The firing pin and primer can be replaced by an electric contact, a piezoelectric system or a magnet and moving core device. In another embodiment (Figs. 6-13, not shown) various elements in the fuze are replaced by mechanically equivalent elements.