US2880672A - Electric fuze - Google Patents

Electric fuze Download PDF

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Publication number
US2880672A
US2880672A US439832A US43983254A US2880672A US 2880672 A US2880672 A US 2880672A US 439832 A US439832 A US 439832A US 43983254 A US43983254 A US 43983254A US 2880672 A US2880672 A US 2880672A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
projectile
fuze
switch
condenser
electric
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US439832A
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English (en)
Inventor
Menke Joseph Ferdinand
Doerpinghaus Ernst Hans
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BRINRO Ltd SOC
SOCIETY BRINRO Ltd
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BRINRO Ltd SOC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C11/00—Electric fuzes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C13/00—Proximity fuzes; Fuzes for remote detonation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C15/00—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges
    • F42C15/28—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges operated by flow of fluent material, e.g. shot, fluids
    • F42C15/31—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges operated by flow of fluent material, e.g. shot, fluids generated by the combustion of a pyrotechnic or explosive charge within the fuze
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C15/00—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges
    • F42C15/40—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges wherein the safety or arming action is effected electrically
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C19/00—Details of fuzes
    • F42C19/06—Electric contact parts specially adapted for use with electric fuzes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C19/00—Details of fuzes
    • F42C19/08—Primers; Detonators
    • F42C19/12—Primers; Detonators electric

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to projectiles, and in particular self-propelling projectiles such as rockets, and it is more especially but not exclusively concerned with such projectiles fitted with an electric fuze, that is to say a fuze the detonator of which is fired by an electric igniting device.
  • the iirst mentioned device is arranged to be rendered inoperative by an electric impulse which is automatically produced by contacts the operation of which (in particular the closing of which) is produced by a short initial movement of the projectile, when the projectile has not yet left its launching apparatus.
  • said voltage accumulating means is charged from a source carried by the launching apparatus and through the circuit connection and contact means which serve 'to transmit the electrical impulse which is to render inoperative the first mentioned device.
  • said circuit connection may be providedrbetween a source of direct current which serves to charge the voltage accumulating means and a source of alternating current serving to produce the above mentioned electrical impulse which renders the first device inoperative.
  • the iirst device consists of an element capable ofl being sheared and constituted for instance by a wire, a small bar or a rod, this element being sheared by the explosion of a small primer.
  • Fig. l diagrammatically shows the front part of a projectilefitted with an electrical fuze and arranged according to the present invention.
  • II-iig. 2 shows the lay-out of the electrical fuze itself.
  • Fig. 3 is an axial section on the line IIl-III of Fig. 7, showing the switch means ofthe electric system of a pro jectileV according to the invention, the movable portion of' said switch means being in the first position.
  • Figs. 4 and 5 are part axial views with the movable element of the switch means respectively in the locked position and after it has been iirst released.
  • Fig. 6 is an axial section of the same switch means, on the line VI-VI of Fig. 7, the movable element of the switch means being in the position corresponding to the arming of the fuze.
  • Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of the above mentioned switch means.
  • Fig6. 8 is a sectional view on the line VIII-VIII of Fig.
  • Our invention will now be more particularly described as applied to a self-propelling missile, such as a rocket, iitted with an electric fuze, that is to say a fuze the detonator of which is red by an electric igniting device.
  • the projectile 1 itself is of any suitable construction whatever, with the exception of its fuze and of the means for charging' and arming this fuze.
  • the fuze includes voltage accu# mulating means constituted for instance by a condenser 2.
  • a contact 3 insulated from the envelope of the projectile and which may be connected to a source of direct current 4.
  • the charging circuit is closed through the conducting envelope of the projectile cooperating with a contact 5.
  • condenser 2 When the projectile is fired off, condenser 2 must be cut oi from contact 3, by means of a switch U which will be hereinafter described in detail, this condenser being then connected to several circuits of the fuze system which are to be fed from said condenser.
  • This switch U includes, as diagrammatically shown by Fig. 1, a movable arm 7 pivoted about axis 6 and cooperating with a contact 8. This switch U cuts ofi, before the projectile is launched, any connection between condenser 2 and the circuits of the electric fuze which are to be fed from said condenser.
  • Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows this position, where arm 7 is not in contact with stud 8 which is connected to said circuits.
  • Arm 7 has an inertia such that it prevents rotation thereof toward contact 8 as long as the acceleration of theprojectile has not reached a value suihcient to overcome the inertia of the mass of said arm. Furthermore, before the projectile is launched, the movable arm 7 of the switch is kept, by a first holding device, in the position shown by Fig. 1. According to a particular feature of our invention, said holding device consists of a fusible wire 9 extending between arm 7 add a fixed point 10. This wire 9 is inserted in series between contact 3 and condenser 2.
  • a current impulse of sutiicient intensity is sent through the connection between condenser 2 and source 4.
  • this impulse is an alternating current impulse, whereas the condenser is charged, as already known, by means of direct current.
  • the alternating current impulse passes through contacts which are closed by the initial displacement of the pro jectile when it is being ired off.
  • contact 3 may be cut olf from the direct current source 4 by this initial displacement and it may be arranged to pass, for a short time, along another contact (not shown on the drawings) connected with a source of alternating current or with a condenser charged at a relatively high voltage.
  • This last mentioned circuit includes a switch 14 which is normally open and which is to be closed in For push-rod 15, connected with the movable .arm of switch 14,is arranged to bear against a portion of the envelope of projectile 1 which is so shaped thatv ⁇ must be limited to a value such that the fusible wire v9 inserted in the charging Circuit .does not rneltrThiS een. be obtained by yinserting a resistance. not shown by 'the drawing, in one of the connections extending from source 4 tocondenser l2.
  • Such a current limiting resist- .ance may be eonstituted. in the construction of Fig- 1, by the secondary 1 1 of the tranSfOrrner. It may also be constituted by the internal resistance of the direct Ycurrent source.
  • switch 1 does ynot close and condenser 2 then remains connected with the charging contacts 3 and 5.
  • I t can then be discharged by means of switch 16 (Fig. l) through resistance 1 7.
  • Fig. 2 shows the circuits to be fed from condenser 2 when switch arm 7, after having overcome its inertia vowing to the acceleration of the projectile,V shifts from ⁇ the position shown by this ligure to a position where it is applied on contact 8.
  • Fig. 2 indicates by a dotted lines connection that arm 7 is coupled With a second switch arm 7a arranged to be applied on a contact 8a when arm 7 is applied against contact 8.
  • the cathode of a gas tube 18 of the so-called thyratron kind is heated,y the heating current being supplied from a battery element 19.
  • condenser 20 Among the circuits to be fed from condenser 2 after switch 7, 8 has been closed, there is the charging circuit of a condenser 20 called the ignition condenser.
  • This condenser 20 is inserted in a circuit including also thyra- .tron 18 and a device for firing the detonator, said device being for instance constituted by an electrically ignited primer 21.
  • Condenser 2 must also supply a negative bias voltage to the grid 22 of thyratron 18, whereby said thyratron vcuts off the passage of current through its circuit until the detonator is firedd. Explosion of primer 2 1 is p roduced by the movement of a member 23 or by an auto destruction device which causes the. voltage of grid 242 to pass from a negative value to a positive value.
  • Member 23 is for instance inertia operated.
  • Still another circuit fed from condenser 2 is the charge circuit of a condenser 24 which serves to achieve autodestruetion of the projectile.
  • Resistances R1 and R2 belong to the charge circuit of ianitins ,Condenser .2.0 and serve lfor instance to sive the e. Constant. the. .entraine of Condenser 29 veine o bout .25 second (thisindication having no limitative ehnrneterl- Resistance R2. also acts, together- With another resistnnee. R3, as. a. voltage dvider. This resistance. R3, when 4 it is-not lshoi-t-circuited by member 23, supplies a negative bias to grid 22, as above mentioned.
  • the feed circuit of condenser 24 includes the charge resistance R4, which is calculated so that the time constant corresponding to the charge of condenser 24 is for instance of about 5-6 seconds (this indication having no limitative character).
  • ignition condenser 20 starts being charged and it is practically charged after 0.25 second approximately, so that after this delay, whichserves to prevent any possibility of explosion in the gun or the launching apparatus, the fuze is armed. Then, when member 23 is operated and the negative bias of grid 22 is eliminated, the ignition current can pass from condenser 20 to primer 21 and ignite it. If, on the contrary, the, projectile does not meet any target and therefore.
  • the mechanical safetyvmeans for .normally ,holding ⁇ saidswitch in cut-off position consists of a fusible wire 9 which is melted by a current impulse.
  • said mechanical safety means is constituted by a locking member capable of beingshearecl and which is actually sheared by the explosion of a ⁇ smaller primer produced by an electric current impulse fed to said primer.
  • said primer is mounted similarly vto fusible wire 9, that is to say in the connection serving to charge condenser 2 so that explosion of said primer not .only renders said mechanical locking member inoperatine, but also cuts off condenser 2v from input contact 3.
  • the switch includes .an .outer casing o r chamber 26 made of an electrically insu,- lating material. In the wall of this casing are .disposed three pairs. Of contacts, to wit, ⁇ in one axial plane- (that of Fig. 3.),f two pairs of contacts a, a1 and b, Yb1, located .above one. another, and in another axial Plane (that .of Fia- 6).
  • a safetyv wire 33 which, extends across the wall of casing 26 and through a hole A2.7.1191? pieten .2.7, the .inner end of Said wire nroieetins.; into a .recess 34. provided .at the top part; of .the piston, this wire constituting the. l1Ql/.e. mentioned loplgy inanaeniber@ 'In position Q f. ariston. balls .3 .,31 4and Spring :32, whihextend 'n .tb., upper hole.
  • a small detonator 35 containing a small amount of a material capable of exploding under the effect of a spark, for instance tricinate of lead (trinitroresorcinate of lead).
  • This detonator vis fed with current from a connection 36 which may constitute a portion of the connection serving to charge condenser 2, andin this vcase is in series with contacts a, a1.
  • piston 27 moves rearwardly in its chamber under thev effect of its own inertia and passes from the position of Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 6.
  • a sutiicient value for instance 30 g
  • the balls present in the upper conduit 28 form a connection between contacts b, b1
  • the balls present in the lower conduit 29 form a connection between contacts c and c1.
  • the groups of contacts b, b1 and c, c1 correspond to the elements 6, 8 and 6a, 8a of Fig. 2.
  • the group of contacts a, a1 corresponds to' the contact elements 7, 9 of Fig. l.
  • a recess 38 at least in one of the inner walls of the chamber along the path of movement of contacts b, b1, c, c1, for instance of contact c1, so as to obtain, by cooperation with contact balls 31, a locking of piston 27 in the position shown by Fig. 6.
  • a projectile to be fired off from a launching apparatus an electric fuze fitted on said projectile and including fuze arming means, electric voltage accumulating means carried by said projectile to feed electric current to said fuze arming means, switch means inserted between said fuze arming means and said accumulating means, safety means carried by said projectile 4for holding said switch means in cut olf ,position between said accumulating means and said fuze arming means, an electric circuit in said projectile including in series a contact carried by the external wall of said projectile, said electric voltage accumulating means, said switch means in cut off position, said safety means and a contact, insulated from the tirst mentioned contact, carried by the external wall of said projectile, a iixed circuit carried by said launching apparatus including a source of direct current and having its terminals located on said two contacts respectively when said projectile is in said launching apparatus, whereby direct current is then fed before launching to said accumulating means through both of said circuits connected together,
  • a projectile to be fired off from a launching apparatus an electric fuze tted on said projectile and including fuze arming means, electric voltage accumulating means carried by said projectile to feed electric current to said fuze arming means, switch means inserted between said fuze arming means and said ⁇ accumulating means, safety means carried by said projectile for holding said switch means in cut olf position between said accumulating means and said fuze arming means, an electric circuit in said projectile including in series acontact carried by the external wall of said projectile, said electric voltage accumulating means, said switch ⁇ means in cut off position, said safety means and a contact, insulated from the first mentioned contact, carried by thev external wall of said projectile, a fixed circuit carried by said launching apparatus including a source of direct current and having its terminalslocated on said two contacts respectively when said projectile is in said launch- ⁇ ing apparatus, whereby direct current is then fed before launching to said accumulating means through both of said circuits connected together, an electric circuit in said
  • a combination according to claim l further including, in said xed circuit, a resistance, and switch means forming a short-circuit path for discharge of said voltage accumulating means through said resistance in case of failure of said projectile to be launched.
  • a projectile to be fired off from a launching apparatus an electric fuze titted on said projectile and including fuze arming means, electric voltage accumulating means carried by said projectile to feed electric current to said fuze arming means, switch means inserted between said fuze arming means and said accumulating means, said switch means including a tixed part and a movable part sensitive to the action of inertia so as to be urged by the inertia created by the launching of said projectile toward the position with respect to said xed part where it connects said voltage accumulating means with said fuze arming means, safety means carried by said projectile for holding said switch part in cut off position where said accumulating means and said fuze arming means are out of contact with each other, an electric circuit in said projectile including in series a contact carried by the external wall of said projectile, said electric voltage accumulating means, said switch means in cut olf position, said safety means and a contact,
  • o impulse is ypassed therethrough, said safety means inoperative ⁇ andlthus to cause said switch movable part to shift under the effect o'f the starting acceleration of the vehicle from its cut olf position to its connecting position between .
  • said voltage accumulating means and said fuze arming means a source of alternating current impulse carried ,bysaid launching apparatus and cooperating means carried by said projectile and said launching apparatus for temporarily coupling said last mentioned source ⁇ with said finedv circuit in response to the initial launchingy movementv of said projectile with respect to said launching apparatus.
  • said safety means include a locking wire normally holding said Switch movable part in cut-off position with respect to said switch fixed part, said wire extending transversely tothe direction of displacement of said movable part with respect to said fixed part so as to be sheared by said displacement, and a charge of explosive inserted in said first circuit and adapted to explode in response to the passage of said current impulse for moving saidmovablepart with respectv tol said fixed part.
  • a projectile an electric fuze fitted on saidy projectile and including fuze arming means, electric voltage accumulating means carried by said projectile to feed electric current to said fuze arming means, switch means inserted between said fuze arming means and said accumulating means, mechanical safety means carried lby said projectile for normally holding said switch means in cut off position between said accumulatingV means and vsaid fuze arming means, electrical impulse operative means carried by said projectile and connected with said safety means for making said safety means inoperative, and means operatively connected with said eectrical impulse operative means ,for feeding thereto an electrical impulse in response to the tiring off of said projectile.
  • a projectile an electric fuze fitted on. said projectile and. having an electric circuit which comprises a control switch, said switch including av fixed part carried by said projectile and a movable part capable of occupying either of two positions with respect to said fixed part, a locking member normally holding said movable part in one of said positions, said member being fixed to each of said parts in the direction of their rela,- tive movement and being so dimensioned and made of such material as lto be shearable by a relative displacement of said parts from said lastv mentioned position toward the other one under the effect of a given thrust, said two parts fitting in each other so ⁇ as to form between them a variable volume chamber, an explosive charge insaidy chamber capable by its explosion to supply such said thrust, and electric means connected with said explosive charge to explode it by an electric impulse.

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US439832A 1953-06-29 1954-06-28 Electric fuze Expired - Lifetime US2880672A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
LU323354X 1953-06-29

Publications (1)

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US2880672A true US2880672A (en) 1959-04-07

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ID=19732570

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US439832A Expired - Lifetime US2880672A (en) 1953-06-29 1954-06-28 Electric fuze

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US (1) US2880672A (fr)
BE (1) BE528698A (fr)
CH (1) CH323354A (fr)
DE (1) DE1009981B (fr)
FR (1) FR1107717A (fr)
GB (1) GB752153A (fr)
LU (1) LU32256A1 (fr)
NL (3) NL102231C (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3500746A (en) * 1968-04-17 1970-03-17 Lear Siegler Inc Weapon system with an electronic time fuze
US3732823A (en) * 1967-07-06 1973-05-15 Bolkow Gmbh Electrical igniter or fuse
US4372212A (en) * 1980-11-24 1983-02-08 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Composite safe and arming mechanism for guided missile
FR2596507A1 (fr) * 1986-03-27 1987-10-02 Diehl Gmbh & Co Dispositif de securite pour detonateur a explosif secondaire

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3613589A (en) * 1955-12-23 1971-10-19 Us Army Bomb fuzing system
CH358694A (de) * 1958-03-12 1961-11-30 Contraves Ag Elektrisch lenkbares Explosivgeschoss
NL257675A (fr) * 1959-11-06

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2404553A (en) * 1941-08-06 1946-07-23 Jr Nathaniel B Wales Electric fuse and setting apparatus
US2702507A (en) * 1942-11-20 1955-02-22 Ralph D Bennett Delayed arming circuit for mines

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE486942C (de) * 1926-06-26 1929-11-28 Rheinische Metallw & Maschf Elektrischer Zuender
CH175182A (de) * 1934-04-07 1935-02-15 Angeli Angelo Thermische Vorrichtung zur Öffnung oder Schliessung elektrischer Stromkreise.
FR864811A (fr) * 1939-12-21 1941-05-06 Centre Nat Rech Scient Fusée sonore
US2458464A (en) * 1943-01-21 1949-01-04 John W Busacker Switch
US2458467A (en) * 1943-02-20 1949-01-04 Sheldon H Dike Centrifugal delay switch
US2458479A (en) * 1943-04-28 1949-01-04 Thomas M Perry Setback switch

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2404553A (en) * 1941-08-06 1946-07-23 Jr Nathaniel B Wales Electric fuse and setting apparatus
US2702507A (en) * 1942-11-20 1955-02-22 Ralph D Bennett Delayed arming circuit for mines

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3732823A (en) * 1967-07-06 1973-05-15 Bolkow Gmbh Electrical igniter or fuse
US3500746A (en) * 1968-04-17 1970-03-17 Lear Siegler Inc Weapon system with an electronic time fuze
US4372212A (en) * 1980-11-24 1983-02-08 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Composite safe and arming mechanism for guided missile
FR2596507A1 (fr) * 1986-03-27 1987-10-02 Diehl Gmbh & Co Dispositif de securite pour detonateur a explosif secondaire

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE528698A (fr)
LU32256A1 (fr)
FR1107717A (fr) 1956-01-04
NL234031A (fr)
CH323354A (fr) 1957-07-31
NL102231C (fr)
DE1009981B (de) 1957-06-06
GB752153A (en) 1956-07-04
NL188455B (nl)

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