US2926611A

US2926611A - Circuit controlling means

Info

Publication number: US2926611A
Application number: US560832A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Wilbur S Hinman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-10-28
Filing date: 1944-10-28
Publication date: 1960-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 1977-03-01

Description

March 1;, 196% w. s. HINMAN, JR 2,926,611

cmcun' CONTROLLING MEANS Filed 001;. 28, 1944 INVENTOR W/LBUR .5. Hl/VMAN, JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent CIRCUIT CONTROLLING MEAN Wilbur S. Hinman, Jr., Falls Church, Va., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application October 28, 1944, Serial No. 560,832

7 Claims. (Cl. 102-701 (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) This invention relates to safety devices, and particularly to improved switching and locking mechanismsfor controlling the action of the fuzing and firing'means of explosive ordnance.

In electrically operable fuzes in which electronic tubes or other devices requiring electric current are used, wind-driven generators have been employed to develop the electrical energy required. The presentinvention aims to provide improved means for preventing arming of the fuzing means, by preventing elfective operation of the generator, until a predetermined interval has elapsed after the firing, release or launching of the item of ordnance.

An important object of the invention is to provide electromagnetic switching means operable by at least a portion of the output of the generator to prevent closure of the electrical circuits leading to the fuzing means until the output of the generator has risen to a predetermined value, which value it can only achieve upon attainment of a suflicient speed by the generator.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a safety device the components of which are so arranged that during setback or rapid acceleration the inertia of the parts assists in maintaining the mechanism in safe condition so that premature arming cannot occur.

Another object is the provision of a locking device adapted to hold the rotor of the generator against movement until setback occurs, and which will then release the rotor under the influence of setback and maintain such release by electro-magnetic action.

Other objects will be apparent upon consideration of this disclosure in its entirety.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic fragmentary longitudinal view in part section, of a bomb provided with arming switches arranged in accordance with the present invention and adapted to be closed by action of developed generator current.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the nose portion of a rocket provided with a modified form of the invention in which a generator with a normally locked rotor is so arranged that the rotor is released by setback and maintained in released condition by electromagnetic action resulting from current developed by the generator.

Referring to Figure l of the drawing, generator G is driven by shaft 1 which is revolved by vane assembly V, which in turn is rotated by the medium, as air or water, through which the vehicle 4, illustrated as a bomb, is travelling. The generator has two windings, a low voltage winding 2 adapted to supply the filament current and a higher voltage winding 3 adapted to supply the plate voltage for the vacuum tube VT, which is conventionally illustrated together with an electrically operable primer S, as representative of a load. The load might of course consist of any other suitable apparatus to be operated. Such a vacuum tube will ordinarily form a part of the fuzing and/or other operating means.

Electromagnet 7 is shunted across the lead wires 5 and 6 from the high voltage winding 3. The armature 8 is pivoted at 9 to supporting plate 10 which may be insulated or of insulating material. An insulating strip or sheet 11 of trapezoidal form and which may be made of fibre or other suitable insulating material is attached by rivets (undesignated) to armature 8 and carries

switch contact blades

12 and 13. Armature 8 and the switch blades are normally yieldably held in the open circuit position shown by tension spring 14, which urges strip 11 against stop 15.

High voltage lead wire 5 is connected to switch contact 16, and from cooperating switch contact 17 a wire 18 leads to one of the high voltage terminals Eh. The

other generator lead 6 is directly connected to the otherv high voltage terminal as shown.

Wire 20, connected to one of the low voltage supply voltage winding directly to the otherlow voltage supply terminal. The switch is urged toward the open circuit. position by spring 14, as indicated above.

The vacuum tube VT and squib S are indicated as .connected in a conventional manner to the power,

supply terminals Eh, El.

In operation, when the generator has built up sufiieient'; voltage, magnet 7 is energized and armature 8 is quickly,

attracted to it. Where setbackis present, as in a rocket or shell projectile, setback forces will augment the-effect of the spring and will in fact prevent closure ofthe switch until setback is over.

the flux of electromagnet 7 at an adequate level.

-In Figure 2, rocket 25, illustrative ofrapidly accel eratedtypes of missiles or vehicles, carries agenerator 26 driven by shaft 27 and vane assembly-28., Solenoid- 29 shunted across the generator output hasa plunger type armature, 3Q slidably keyed in the tubulan coil form,

on which the solenoid is wound. Compression spring 31 urges the solenoid armature 30 outwardly so that attached prongs 32 engage suitable bores in the rotor of the generator to lock the rotor against movement. When the rocket is rapidly accelerated, setback retracts the plunger 30, freeing prongs 32 and releasing the rotor. Vane assembly 28 then quickly brings the rotor up to speed. The current generated is fed'to solenoid 29 through

lines

33 and 34 and the magnetic action of the solenoid then retains the plunger and prongs 32 in the released position.

Conductors

33 and 34 are extended to supply energy to the electrical components (unshown) of the fuze. An additional winding can of course be used if desired.

The output of the generator may also be used to actuate mechanical apparatus such as the rotatable powder train interrupter 35. In the arrangement diagrammatically shown in the drawing, the interrupter is urged toward armed position by a spring 36 but held in unarmed position by a catch 37 releasable by an electromagnet 38 when the output of the generator is applied thereto. 7

The invention herein described may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. In combination with an item of ordnance incorporating electrically operable components, means including a generator having a rotatable part and arranged to sup- Patented Mar. 1, 1960- When armature '8 is; pulled to magnet 7 both the high and low voltage circuits are. closed, and they are maintained closed'solong as the; potential of the generator remains sufiicient to n aintain ply current to such components, driving means for rotating such part of the generator, releasable means for'holding said part of the generator against unwanted rotation, means responsive to bodily movement of the item of ordnance for releasing said holding means, and means also responsive to actuation of said driving means for holding the releasable means in released position.

2. Means as set forth in claim 1 in which said holding means includes a spring-pressed locking element, said locking element being urged toward released position by setback, said means for holding the releasable means in released position comprising electromagnetic means operable by current from the generator.

3. In a control device for delaying the arming of a fuzing means in an item of ordnance subject to acceleration, a generator for energizing the fuzing means, means for driving said generator, means for countering the effect of said driving means, means responsive to the accoloration of the item of ordnance for releasing said countering means to permit the actuation of said generator, and means responsive to the actuation of said generator for retaining the countering means in its released condition.

4. In a control device for delaying the arming of an ordnance fuzing means in an item of ordnance subject to acceleration, a; generator for energizing the fuzing means and including a rotor, mechanical means connected on one end of the rotor for imparting motion thereto, means for locking the rotor against movement, means responsive to the acceleration of said item of ordnance for releasing said locking means, and means responsive to the resultant actuation of said generator for retaining the locking means in its released condition.

5. In a control device for delaying the arming of an ordnance fuzing means in an item of ordnance subject to acceleration, a generator for energizing the fuzing means and including a rotor, mechanical means mounted on' one end of said rotor for imparting motion thereto, a solenoid shunted across an output of said generator, an armature slidably mounted in said solenoid for movement longitudinally of the direction of travel of the item of ordnance, means for preventing the rotation of said armature, resilient means for urging said armature into engagement with the other end of the rotor to lock said rotor against movement, said armature moving out of engagement with said rotor upon a predetermined acceleration of said item of ordnance to permit the actuation of said generator, said solenoid being energized by the resultant output of said generator to retain said armature in a retracted position.

6. In a control device for delaying the arming of an ordnance fuzing means mounted in an item of ordnance subject to acceleration, a generator mounted for energizing the hazing means and including'airotor shaft having a plurality of bores in one end thereof, mechanical means mounted on one end of said rotor shaft for imparting motion thereto, a solenoid shunted acrossan output of said generator, an armature slidably mounted in said solenoid for movement. longitudinally of the direction of travel of said item of ordnance, means for locking the armature against rotation, a plurality of prongs mounted on one end of said armature for engagement with said bores, resilient means for urging said armature and prongs toward said shaft to lock the shaft against movement, said armature moving away from said rotor upon a predetermined acceleration of said item of ordnance to permit the actuation of said generator, said solenoid being energized by the resultant output of the generator to retain said armature in a retracted position.

7. in a control device for delaying the armingof fuzing means mounted in an item of ordnance subject to acceleration, a generator forenergizing the fuzing means:-

and' including a rotor shaft mounted therein, mechanical means connected on one end of the rotor shaft for imparting rotation thereto, a solenoid shunted across an output of said generator, an armature slidably mounted with said solenoid for movement longitudinally of the direction of travel of said item of ordnance, means for locking the armature against rotation, means on said armature for locking the rotor shaft against rotation, said armature being responsive to the acceleration of said item of ordnance for releasing said locking means, and said solenoid being responsive to the resultant actuation of said generator for retaining the locking means in its released condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 1,089 Great. Britain Jan. 13, 1912 6,757 Great Britain Mar. 19, 1912 304,254 Germany. Oct. 1, 1920