US3004491A

US3004491A - Arming device

Info

Publication number: US3004491A
Application number: US45514A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eugene W Place; Jack H Davidson; Santo James D De
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-07-26
Filing date: 1960-07-26
Publication date: 1961-10-17
Anticipated expiration: 1978-10-17

Description

Oct. 17, 1961 E. w. PLACE ETAL 3,004,491

ARMING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 DIRECTION OF ACCELERATION 76 FIG. I 64 40 IO 70 i 58 7O B 74 32 Q A26 '58 x FIG. 2. FIG. 2A.

4 FIG. 3. 1

32 INVENTORS.

EUGENE w. PLACE JACK H. DAVIDSON JAMES D. DeSANTO BY ATTORNEY'S.

Oct. 17, 1961 E. w. PLACE ETAL 3,

ARMING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 ELECTRICAL ACTUATOR l52- I50 FIG. 4. {141 lsl I42 32 98 26 148 a ||2 I mun l i. mm ICHARGEII 2?? CHARGE W a I BOOSTER pfq BOOSTER "I CHARGE: v CHARGE J L 9* JV //)v////////// lzs ELECTRICAL ACTUATOR /22 I47 FIG. 4A.

|42 1/ I -LI4O I48 26 I g 38 v MAIN CHARGE 24 x 0 BOOSTER 4 4 1 4 CHARGE v 0 v 4 P INVENTORS.

EUGENE W. PLACE JACK H. DAVIDSON JAMES D. DeSANTO BY ATTORNEYS:

Oct. 17, 1961 E. w. PLACE EI'AL 3,004,491

ARMING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7.

FlG. 8. 64

INVENTOR S.

I; II/

EUGENE W. PLACE JACK H. DAVIDSON 38 JAMES D. DeSANTO -l-M ATTORNE Y S.

, ARMING DEVICE Eugene W. Place, Salinas,"and Jack H. Davidson and James D. De Santo, China Lake, Caiif., assignors, by

.

tures

50, 50 and into aperture 48, securing shafts 28 and ,f gi g fih gif i g li g fi fii iii Amenca as 38 together for joint rotation. spiral Wound flat spring Filed July 26, 1960, Ser. No. 45,514 54, FIG. 8, disposed in a cavity 56 formed in housing .14 Claims. (Cl. 102-83) 32 resiliently urges the shafts to rotate in the direction of, a t I arrow A, oneof its ends being fixed to shaft 28 and the; s inv n on r a teaeceleration responsive arm-K other fixed to housing 32;. The shafts are drivingly con 3 devices for s in fusing Systems for missile eefried nected' to a conventional oscillating pallet type escapeeXPIOSiVeS, and more Particularly acceleration p ment mechanism 58, selected to cause the shafts to ro--' sive arming devices of the SP which remain unarmed tate at a predetermined constant rate of rotation, through hhiil iePse f a definite interval of time after initial acaspur gear 60 fixed'to shaft 28, which gear enmeshes a celeration. first pinion 62 .of the escapement mechanism. *The afore The Object Of the present invention is P Q all said arrangement of spring 54and escapement mechanism impiovedadeviee 0 the yp referred which may he 58 constitute a clockmotor which biases the shafts to toseieeiiveiy Preseiio m r y one Of tate at a constant rate of rotation in the directionof areral intervals of time. i r a row A, FIG. 1. I Other objects and m ny f the attendant advantages f A cavity 64, FIG. 1, having opposite walls 66, as i s invention will be readily appreciated as the same formed in housing 32. An interlock element 70, FIG. 9, comes better understood by reference to the following i fi d t h f 23, wh h fts 28 and 33 r t te, indetm'led description'when considered in connection with t -1 l e 70 d ribe n arc of rotation reprethe accompanying drawings wherein! sented by arrow 72, which arc of rotation in part extends FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device of the present 2 in cavity 64, A rod 74, FIG. 1, suitably fixed at its invention; ends to the housing, extends between

walls

66 and 68, and. 1A is a fragment of a Side elevation like a weight 76 is slideably mounted on rod 74 for rectilinear iihistmting a Particular adaptation of the device of motion, the rod slideably extending through a bore 78: FIG. 1; extending through the weight. The Weight is further sup FIG. 2 is an end view of t e dev ce of FIG- 1; ported for such movement by a pin 80, FIG. 7, carried FIG. 2A is an e ie O t device of thereby, which rides in a groove 82 formed in the hous- 3 is a P1311 View Of the device of I:IG- ing. A helical compression spring 84, FIG. 1, is mounted 'FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 4-4, FIG. 3, showabout rod 74 between weight 76 and wall 68, resiliently ing t device in t n d position and diasrammatiurging weight 76 toward wall 66 to the initial limit stop callyshowing certain elements of an exemplary fuse sys: position shown, against wall 66. A step 86, FIG. 9, term in which the device may be employed; formed on weight 76 has a path of movement which in FIG. 4A is a section like FIG. 4 Showing the devi in part coincides with the arc ofrotation of interlock eleits armed position; rnent 70. The mechanism is so arranged that when .FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 55, FIG. 4; weight 76 is in its initial position, step 86 initially engages 'FIG. 6is a detail indicated by arrow 6, FIG. 4; interlock element 70 locking shafts 2s and as against FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken along line 7-7, the urge of spring 54, establishing an initial angular posi- FZG. 3; tion of the shafts. Until the shafts have rotated from FIG. 8 is a section taken along line 8-8, FIG. 7; their initial position through an angle in excess of angle FIG. 9 is a section taken along line 9-9, FIG. 7; and 0, step 86 may engage interlock element 70. FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a detail indicated by A rotor 88, FIG. 4, having formed thereon a first col-. arrow 10, FIG. 2. lar 90, a stud 92, a second collar 94, and a cam 96 is l Referring in detail to the drawing, the invention comrotatably mounted to housing 32, stud 92 being disposed prises an arming and firing unit 20, indicated as a whole in a cavity 98, FIG. 3, formed in the housing and second in FIG. 1, which unit may be employed'in various fuse collar 94 being journaled in a bore 100 also formed in systems for missile carried explosive charges, as, for exthe housing. A disk 102 fixed to shaft 38 in a predeterample, the arrangement shown in FIG. 4 which includes mined angular position and having a transverse slot 104 an electrical actuator 22 for providing an electrical comformed therein is generally disposed in cavity 98 for comand signal suitable for igniting an electrical primer, a operation with stud 92. A torsion spring 106 mounted booster charge 24, and a main charge 26, the other comabout rotor 88, resiliently urges rotor 88 to rotate in the ponents of the fuse system being omitted since they are direction of arrow B, FIG. 2, one end of the spring ennot important to the present invention. gaging a slot 108, FIG. 6, formed in surface 110 of the Within unit 20, a hollow shaft 28, FIG. 7, having a housing, and the other end extending into an aperture central bore 30 extending between its ends is rotatably 111 formed in collar 90 of the rotor, the spring being remounted to a housing 32 by

ball bearings

34, 36. A tained in place by meansof an annular plug 112 force shaft 38 is journaled inbore -30 with its ends projecting fitted into a passage 113. .The mechanism is so arranged from-the respective ends of shaft 28. A disk shaped that slotted disk 102 initially engages stud 92 locking it flange 40 is formeden ene end ofihaft' ze and i ffifii iii ifiih position shewn in F-irre against thern gepf spring" ing disk shaped flange 42 is fixed to the adjacent end of 196, establishing such position as an initial unarmed shaft 28. As best shown in FIG. 10, flange 40 has a position of the rotor. When the slotted disk is rotated single threaded aperture 48 formed therein and flange 42 has a series of

apertures

50, 50, each registrable with aperture 48 in a difierent predetermined angular position of shaft 38 relative to shaft 28. A hub 44 is formed on flange 42 having a slot 46 formed therein adapted to be engageable with a suitable hand tool, such as a screw driver, to permit a desired manual adjustment of the 2,004,491 ete e t; 12 1.

angular position of shaft 38 to any one of the aforesaid angular positions, the significance of such adjustment to become hereinafter apparent. After such adjustment, a screw 52 is extended through one of the series of apera to its position shown in FIG. 4A, by rotationo-

f shafts

28 and 38, stud 92 may pass through slot 104 releasing rotor 88 to rotate to its final armed limit stop position shown in FIG. 4A against a surface 114 formed in the housing. The housing and rotor are so arranged to receive an interruptable explosive train including an electrical primer 116 disposed in chamber 118, an elongated 3. flash detonator 120 fixedly mounted in an aperture 122 extending I diametrically through collar 94' of the rotor, and suitable

explosive pellets

124, 124 disposed in a passage 126 extending through the housing. An aperture 128 communicates between chamber 118 and bore 160, and an aperture 130 communicates between passage 126 and the bore,

apertures

128 and 130 being diametrically disposed through the bore. When the rotor is in the unarmed position flash detonator 126 is out of alignment with

apertures

128 and 130 so that even if primer 116 is accidently ignited the rotor will act as a barrier restricting its output to chamber 118, and when in the armed position flash detonator 120 is in alignment with the aperture so that elements of the explosive train are in alignment whereby ignition of primer 116 will fire detonator 120, as shown by arrow 131, in turn detonating

explosive pellets

124, 124, as shown by arrow 131a. Upon detonation,

explosive pellets

124, 124 project an explosive charge outward from both ends of passage 126 in the directions of arrow 132, 134 which in turn detonates booster charge 24 and then main charge 26. It is to be noted that the fuse system may be arranged with the booster and final charge disposed either in their full line positions 24, 26, or in the phantom line positions 24a, 26a, adjacent the other end of passage 126, the unused end being left open, as shown, which does not affect detonation of the charge at the other end.

A conventional miniature single pole double throw switch assembly 136 of the type actuable by an actuating button 138 movable between a retracted position best shown in FIG. and an extended position shown in FIG. 4A and spring urged toward the latter position, is mounted to housing 32 with the actuating button engaged against cam 96. In the unarmed position of FIG. 4, cam 96 locks actuating button 138 hits retracted position actuating a pole 140, shown schematically, into contact with a stationary contact member 142 thereby short circuiting primer leads 144 and 146 through lead 147. In the armed position, FIG. 4A, cam surface 96 permits actuating button 138 to move to its extended position actuating pole member 140 into contact with a stationary contact member 148, electrically connecting primer lead 146 to an output terminal 150 of electric actuator 22 through lead 151, and thereby electrically arming the device, primer lead 144 being electrically connected to the other output terminal 152 through lead 153.

In operation of unit 20, initial acceleration in the direction of arrow 154, FIG. 1, moves Weight 76 away from its initial position releasing interlock element 70 and thereby permitting

shafts

28 and 38 to start rotating in response to the clockmotor mechanism. If the acceleration is of sufiicient level or levels to move weight 76 clear of the path of rotation of interlock element 70 over a s'ufiicient length of time to permit the shaft to rotate from its initial position through an angle in excess of angle 6, the shafts will continue in normal rotation until they reach an angular position whereat stud 92 on rotor 88 passes through slot 104 of slotted disk 102, thereby arming the unit. Since the shafts rotate at a constant rate of rotation determined by the clockmotor mechanism, the time interval between initial acceleration and arming is determined by the angular distance between the initial position of the shafts and their position whereat slotted disk 102 releases the rotor, which in turn is determined by the hereinbefore described preliminary positioning of shaft 38 relative to shaft 28, each of the aforesaid predetermined positions corresponding to a predetermined interval of arming time. Accordingly, the unit may be selectively preset to provide any one of several intervals oftime between initial acceleration and arming. If weight 76 is not moved clear of the path of interlock element 70, the shaft will rotate only until interlock element 70 engages the weight thereby preventing further rotation, and upon termination of the acceleration, the weight will return to'itsinitial position in response to the urge of 75 spring 84 moving interlock element and the shafts back to their initial position" against the retarding effect of escapement mechanism 58.

In certain instances, as for example, in multiple propulsion stage missiles, where the missile is subjected to acceleration effects subsequent to initial acceleration, it may be desirable to adapt unit 20 to remain unarmed unless the unit is subjected to acceleration subsequent to the initial acceleration. This maybe effected by provision of additional interlocking elements between the rotating shafts and weight 76. For example, an interlock element 156, FIG. 1A, may be fixed to flange 42 and an abutment 158 engageable with element 156 may be affixed to weight 76, the mechanisms being so ai'ranged that interlock element 156 is engageable with abutment 153 unless the unit is subje'cted to acceleration at a predetermined time subsequent to the initial acceleration.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above" teachings. It is therefore to be understood thatwithin the scope of the appended claims 'the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. An arming device for use in a missile comprising, in combination, first and second shafts adapted for rotation about a common axis, said shafts being positionable in angular position about said axis relative to each other, means for effecting desired adjustment of the angular relationship between said first and second shafts whereby said shafts may be selectively secured together for joint' rotation in a plurality of predetermined relative angular positions, a clo-ckmotor mechanism operatively connected to one of said shafts, said clockmotor mechanism being adapted to bias said shafts to rotate in one direction of rotation at a predetermined rate of rotation, acceleration responsive means cooperating with said first shaft adapted to lock said shafts in an initial position whereat saidfirst shaft is in a predetermined angular position about'said' common axis against said bias of the clockmotor mechanism and adapted to release said' shafts in response to ac-' celeration of said housing, arming means actuable in'respouse to rotation of said shafts from said initial position to a position whereat said second shaft is in a predetermined position about said common axis. i

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of flange, said second flange having a series of equiangularly" spaced apertures formed therein representing equal increments of time, each of said series of apertures being registrable with said first aperture, and means engageable in said first aperture and one of said series ofapertures for securing said flanges together against relative rotation.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said acceleration responsive means includes movable means responsive to missile acceleration and engageable with an element carried by said first shaft to interrupt rotation of said shafts unless said initial acceleration of the housing is sustained at a predetermined level of magnitude for a predetermined period of time.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said arming means includes an interruptable explosive train, said explosive train including an actuating element adapted to initiate said explosive train, said explosive train including a final explosive element adapted to provide a predetermined explosive output, said explosive train including an interrupter element adapted for movement from an initial unarmed position wherein said interrupter element renders said actuating element ineffective to initiate said final element to an armed position wherein said actuator element is effective to initiate said final element, movable means to effect movement of said interrupter element to said armed position, and means operatively connecting said second shaft and said movable means torestrain said movable means until said second shaft reaches said predetermined position.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said explosive train is operatively responsive to a signal applied thereto through an electrical firing circuit, said interrupter element comprising a rotatable shaft and an associated arming switch connected in said circuit, said armed position being an angular position of said shaft, said shaft and switch being effective to arm the firing circuit, only if the shaft is in said angular position.

7. An arming device to be carried by an accelerated missile comprising first and second co-axial shafts, means for securing said first and second shaft together for joint rotation including adjustable means for manually presetting relative angular positions of said shafts, a clockwork mechanism adapted to bias said shafts to rotate in one direction of rotation and at a predetermined rate, acceleration responsive means cooperating with said first shaft adapted to initially lock said shafts against rotation and to release same in response to acceleration of said missile, a third shaft spring biased in one direction of rotation toward an armed position, means carried by said second shaft engageable with an element carried by said third shaft adapted to permit said third shaft to rotate after said second shaft has rotated to a predetermined position, and arming means carried by said third shaft adapted to move to an armed position when said third shaft is rotated to its armed position.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein one of said coaxial shafts has an axial bore extending therethrough with the other of said shafts journaled therein.

9. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said adjustable means for presetting the angular positions comprises first and second flanges carried by said first and second shafts, and means to selectively fasten said flanges in a plurality of predetermined relative angular positions.

10. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said; acceleration responsive means comprises a weight guidingly supported for rectilinear movement in directions parallel to the direction of missile travel and spring urged toward a locking position wherein it engages an element carried by said first shaft and adapted to move away from said locking position in response to acceleration of said missile.

11. A device in accordance with claim 10 wherein said Weight is moved away from said locking position to at least a second position in response to a predetermined magnitude of acceleration, said weight being engageable with said element carried by said first shaft over a pre determined portion of the path of rotation thereof.

12. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means carried by said second shaft is a disk-like element having a face engageable with said element and having formed therein a transverse slot through which said element carried by the third shaft may move when said second shaft is in said predetermined position.

13. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said arming means comprises a pyrotechnic train including a pyrotechnic element carried by said third shaft and positionable to complete said train only when the third shaft is in its armed position.

14. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said arming means comprises an electric arming switch operatively associated with said third shaft and actuable to its armed position in response to final movement of said third shaft to its armed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Parker June 20, 1950