US2924177A - Detonator - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 9, 1960 w. D. cRozlER DETONATOR Filed Dec. 2'?, 1945 nm Y lb M O m R m mn. mm@ @WWW IN1 W W \\\\\\N|l/////. l/////// \\M\\\\ N Wl. u s f .ff/k... ,//f ///U QN /fU/.I

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Patented Felz.4 9,: 1960 nEToNAToR William D. Crozier, Albuquerque, N. Mex., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application December 27, 1945, Serial No. 637,429

` 4 Claims. (Cl. 102-75) This invention relates to detonators for missiles and more particularly to an improved post-impact detonator for projectiles.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved and easily manufacturable detonator which operates after cessation of impact of a projectile with a target and causes the projectile to explode after it has passed into or directly behind the target.

Another object of the invention is to provide a postimpact detonator employing simple and efficient means for preventing premature operation thereof.

For a better understanding of the present invention together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following specification taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a preferred embodiment of detonator in accordance with my inven tion, the view being taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of said line.

. Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a portion of the nose of an ordnance projectile. This portion is formed with an axial recess 2 therein, the recess being enlarged to define a shoulder 3. Mounted in the enlarged portion of the recess and having its inner margin abutting the shoulder 3 is a primer plug 4, which carries a conventional primer 5. The forward or inner end of the primer is in communication with the interior of the recess through an axially disposed opening 6. The outer or rear end of the primer is in communication with a rearwardly-located auxiliary detonator (not shown) through an apertured primer-anchoring ring 7. This ring is staked in place. The primer plug 4 is screwed into the position illustrated in Fig. 1. l

The firing pin 13 of my detonator is initially prevented from coming intocontact with the primer 5 by a segmented spring locking sleeve 8. The spring segments are arranged collectively in a generally cylindrical fashion and therefore are referred to in aggregate as the locking sleeve. Formed on the exterior of the sleeve is a flange 9 defining a shoulder 10. Rearwardly the sleeve is thickened at 11 to define an inclined shoulder 12. Shoulder 12 abuts a complementary shoulder 16 of the iiring pin 13, initially to maintain the latter in a safe position out of Contact with primer 5. Moreover, in this position the segments of a detent 28 frictionally embrace sleeve 8 and restrain movement thereof.

The generally cylindrical ring pin 13 is positioned concentrically within the segmented locking sleeve. The ring pin has a head 14, formed with an axially and centrally located pointed nib 15. The firing pin also has a tapered or frusto-conical inclined rear edge portion 16 which initially abuts the complementary inclined shoulder 12. The tiring pin 13 is reduced in diameter forwardly (forwardly being in the direction of ght of the projectile) `of the head 14 to define a guide stem 17 and a shoulderlS. In order to drive the tiring pin into the primer, percussively to fire the latter, there is provided a helical spring 19. This spring is concentrically disposed on stem 17 and conned between shoulder 18 and the forward wall 33 of the recess 2.

Thus it will be seen that when the locking sleeve 8 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 complementary surfaces 12 and 16 are maintained in contact and radial expansion of sleeve 8 is prevented by a retaining sleeve 20. This is a generally cylindrical sleeve. This sleeve is provided with a thickened forward end portion 21. Formed in that portion is an annular groove l22, which receives a circular snap spring 23, the purpose of which is hereinafter indicated.

A cylindrical housing 24 slidably embraces the retaining sleeve 20. The diameter of the housing is such that it snugly fits within recess 2 and its length is such that it `terminates short of the front wall of the recess. The 'housing 24 is longitudinally shorter than the locking sleeve, so that an annular chamber 25 is defined at the front end of the recess. Formed in the interior of the 'housing 24 and at its front end is an annular depression A26 defining a shoulder 27.

Means must be provided for preventing retaining sleeve 20 from moving forward if the detonator is dropped or carelessly handled. If such means were not provided the `retaining sleeve 20 might clear shoulder 10 and permit flange portions 9 of locking sleeve 8 to spring radially outwardly, so that biasing spring 19 would drive firing pin 13 into primer 5 and cause undesired detonation of the projectile. To prevent such premature shifting of the parts of my improved detonator, I provide segmented detent 28, positioned in chamber 25 in such manner that its segments longitudinally overlie substantial portions of `the forward end of housing 24 and retaining sleeve 20. The segments of this detent are normally held in contact by a band spring 29. As indicated above, these segments also frictionally restrain movement of sleeve 8.

Should a projectile containing a detonator in accordance with my invention be dropped or otherwise carelessly handled segments 28 prevent housing 24 and retaining sleeve 20 from moving forwardly and retaining sleeve 20 confines flange 9, so that the locking sleeve 8 prevents firing pin 13 from striking primer 5. In this manner the detonator is rendered bore safe. When the projectile is fired from a gun, however, and travels in the direction indicated by the single long arrow in Fig. 1, centrifugal force accompanying projectile spin causes separation of the segments of detent 28 against the compression of spring 29 and the segments radially clear the forward end of the retaining sleeve 20. However, the segments of detent 28 continue to prevent forward movement of housing 24.

The operation of my improved detonator is such that it remains in a safe condition until cessation of the forces of impact on a target. When the projectile strikes a target, the retainer sleeve 20 and the locking sleeve 8 are driven forwardly by their inertia into contact with the front wall 33 of the recess 2. As indicated above, the housing 24 is held against forward longitudinal displacement by the segments of detent 28. After cessation of the forces of impact spring 19 urges firing pin 13 rearwardly. Shoulder 12 urges shoulder 16 rearwardly so that locking sleeve 8 is also pushed aft. Flange 9 is pressing radially outwardly against retaining sleeve 20, so that the latter is likewise impelled rearwardly. However, rearward travel of retaining sleeve 20 is prevented by the snapping of the spring 23 into the annular depression 26. The rear end of the retaining sleeve 20 therefore does not strike plug 4 but stops at the point shown by the dotted line 30. The rear end portion of the interor.. surface of housing, 2i# and the forward wall of plug 4 then cooperate to dene a, recess. 3,1. Locking sleeve 8 continues to move rearwardly under the influence of spring 19 and the camming action of shoulder 16 against Shoulder lf2` Causesthe flange portions. utosplead radially` outwardly into recess 3.1. Spring 19,1then forces firingV pin 13 yin to primer 5 and detonation of the. Projectile occurs.

While there has been shown what is` at present considered to be a preferredembodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and` modifications may be made therein without departing from the true scope of the invention, and it is accordingly, intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modications as fall within the true scope of the invention and without that of the prior art.

I claim:

l. In a detonator for a riiled ordnance missileand which includes a striker member and a percussion primer member, means urging said members toward one another, a radially expansible housing, one of said members being slidable within said housing, means coacting with said housing to` limit the extent of said sliding, said housing having also an outwardly extending flange, means enclosing said flange and thereby preventing expansion of the housing, said last-named means being mounted to be capable of relative shifting in the direction of travel of the missile, whereby its own inertia will cause such shift to occur during deceleration of the missile, latching means normally preventing the shift, said latching means being capable of radially-outward yield in response to centrifugal force when the missile spins, to release the enclosing means which then moves forward withv the housing, and means for holding said enclosing means in its fo1ward position after the deceleration ceases, whereupon the means that urges the striker member toward the primermember will move the housing to a position wherein the outer flange thereof is free to expand and then release the said urging means.

2. In adetonator for a ried ordnance missile and which includes a. striker member and a percussion primer member, means urging said members toward one another, a radially expansible housing, one of said members being slidable within said housing, a ange on said housing projecting radially inwards and limiting the extent of said sliding, saidhousing having also an outwardly eX- tending flange, a sleeve enclosing said housing llange and thereby preventing expansion of the housing, said sleeve being mounted to be capable of relative shifting in the direction of travel of the missile, whereby its own inertia will cause such shift to occur during deceleration oi the missile, latching means normally preventing the shift, said latching means being capable of radially-outward yield in response to centrifugal force when the missile spins, to release the sleeve, which then moves forward with the housing, and means for holding said sleeve in its forward position after the deceleration ceases, whereupon lthe means that urges the striker member toward the primer member will move the housing to a f position wherein the outer ange thereof is free to expand and then release the said urging means.

3. In a detonator for a ried ordnance missile and which includes a strikervmernber and a percussion primer member, a spring urging said members toward one another, a radially expansible housing, one of said members being slidable within said housing, a flange on said housing projecting radially inwards and limiting the extent of said sliding, said housing having also an outwardly extending ilange, a sleeve enclosing said housing flange and thereby preventing expansion of the housing, said sleeve being mounted to be capable of relative shifting in the direction of travel of the missile, whereby its own inertia will cause such shift to occur during deceleration of the missile, latching means normally preventing the shift, said. latching meansl being capable of radially-outward yield` in response to centrifugal force when the missile spins, to release the sleeve, which then` moves forward with. the housing, and means` for holding said sleeve in yits forward position after the deceleration ceases, whereupon the spring will move the housing to a position wherein the outer flange thereof isfree to expand and then release the said spring.

4. In a. detonator for a riiled` ordnance missile and which includes a striker member and a percussion primer member, means. urging said members toward one another, aradially expansible housing, one of said members being slidable within said housing, a ilange on said housingk projecting radially inwards and limitingthe extent of said'sliding, said housingrhaving also an outwardly extending flange, means enclosing said housing ilange and thereby! preventing expansion of the housing, said last-namedmeans being mounted to be capable of relative shiftingl in the direction of travel of the missile,Av whereby its own inertia will cause such shift to occur during deceleration of the missile, latching means normally preventing the shift, said latching means being capable of radially-outward yield in response to centrifugal force when the missile spins, to release the enclosing means which then moves forward with the housing, and means for holding said enclosing means in its forward position after. the deceleration ceases, whereupon the means that urges the striker member toward the primer member will move the housing to aV position wherein the outer ange thereof is free to expand and then release the said urging means.

References yCited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,309,763k Newelll July l5, 1919 1,549,763 Greenwell ..-g Aug, 18, 1925 FOREIGNPATENTS 769,602 Francek June 11, 1934

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