US3188960A - Impact switch for missile warhead - Google Patents

Description

June 15, 1965 s. N. sAMBuRol-F IMPACT SWITCH FOR MISSILE WARHEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April l1, 1958 SERGE/V. SAMBUROFF aA/u, ATTORNEYS BY G? gw June 15, 1965 s. N. sAMBURol-'F IMPACT SWITCH FOR MISSILE WARHEAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April ll, 1958 Il H SERGE N. SAMBUROFF JNVENTOR.

12v/g GQ Bw gmsh MECHANISM NBII v MANY A7 TOR/VE YS FIG. 6.

States This invention relates to ordnance switches and more particularly to a dual contact switch for use in the tiring circuit of a missile warhead.

Among the disadvantages of prior contact switches for ring circuits of missile warheads and similar projectiles are the safety hazard resulting from accidental detonation due to handling, the failure to detonate because of shallow impact angles, and damage to the switch circuit due to high accelerations created in launching.

In particular, the failure of prior switches to detonate upon shallow impact with a target surface makes their use inadvisable. The availability of high yield warheads has made it unnecessary to achieve direct hits upon a target to insure destruction of the objective. It is vital however that detonaton of the warhead occur upon impact even with such yielding surfaces as the sea or soft earth. Moreover, certain of the present day warheads require that the tiring cuircuit be maintained closed for some minimum time after impact. Prior switches capable of operating at shallow angles of impact with a yielding surface were found .to be capable of eecting only an almost instantaneous closure of the tiring circuit after which contact was broken by the impact destruction of the switch mechanism, an event which occurred a comparatively long time before the warhead could be detonated.

The primary object of the present invention, therefore, resides in the provis-ion of a new and improved dual contact switch for the tiring circuit of a missile warhead.

Another object is to provide a new and improved dual contact switch which will insure detonation of the warhead should one of the circuits become inoperative due to mechanical failure.

A further object is the provision of a new and improved dual contact switch which possesses the qualities of durability and safety during handling.

A still further object is the provision of a new and improved dual contact switch which is responsive throughout a wide range of angles of impact.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a switch capable of maintaining contact for a considerable time after impact, requiring almost complete destruction of the switch to break an established contact.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. l is an axial section of the switch of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a base end view of the switch;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section of the switch taken on line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section of the switch taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective View of the switch mechanism; and

FIG. 6 is a -schematic drawing of the switch circuit.

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a nose cone 10 enclosing a dual contact switch mechanism 12 for a missile warhead which upon impact of said warhead will insure the closing of at least one of the two parallel switch circuits and consequent detonation of the warhead. The switch includes two pair of semi-cylindrical atent ECC Contact members 26 and 30, each having radially adjacent semi-cylinders 26A and 30A, connected electrically in common to form the lixed switch contact on the first of the parallel circuits, and semi-cylinders 26B and 30B, electrically connected in common to form the lixed contact on the second of the parallel circuits. Four deformable struts 13, electrically connected in common pairs 18A and 18B, form the movable contacts for the two parallel switch circuits. The struts 18 extend axially between the semi-cylinders 26 and 30 so that upon impact contact will be certain to be established between at least one of the semi-cylinders and struts, whether the strut be deflected laterally, compressed, twisted or otherwise deformed. Moreover, the length of the struts defining the contacting members insures the maintenance of contact for a certain definite time following the impact of the switch.

Considering FIGS. 1 and 5 in detail, the conductive switch elements 18, 26 and 30 are secured to a circular insulating base 16. The base 16 is provided with an aperture 28 through which the iianged semi-cylinders 30A and 30B extend. The lower ends of the struts 18 are bent laterally and are secured within a counter-bored portion 29 of base 16 by means of screws 22 and arcuate clamping plates 21A and 21B (FIG. 3). The anged - semi-cylinders 26A and 26B are mounted on the surface of base 16 by screws 32 passed through the iianged portion of said semicylinders and engaging the anged portions 35A and 35B of semi-cylinders 30A and 30B. The iianged portions 35A and 35B being cut away, as lshown at 37 in FIG. 5, to clear the screws 22. The upper end portions of the struts 18 are bowed slightly inwardly and are secured by screws 20 to an insulating hub 14. The switch mechanism 12 is secured to the protective nose cone 10 by base screws 38 which engage a base flange 36 on said nose cone and by a -screw 42 passing axially tbroughhub 14- into a stub 40 depending from the apex of said nose cone.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the tiring circuit which includes a battery 44, a firing mechanism 46 and the dual switches A and B. Switch A is composed of struts 18A and semi-cylinders 25A and 30A. Switch B is composed of struts 13B and semi-cylinders 26B and 30B. The battery 44 of the firing circuit is connected to the parallel switches A and B by leads 34A and 34B secured to screws 32A and 32B (FIG. 2) and consequently to the Iixed switch contacts comprised by semi-cylinders 26 and 30. Leads 24A and 24B are attached to screws 22 (FIG. 2) and consequently to the struts 18, constituting the movable contacts of the switches A and B, and thence to the tiring mechanism 46. The tiring mechanism 46 is returned by lead 50 to the negative terminal of battery 44. The tiring circuit is normally open circuited and can be closed by either switch A or switch B or by both switches simultaneously. Contact of the outer conical body 10 with a target, whether head-on or side-0n, will result in a deformation of the nose cone 10. 'I'he struts 13A and 18B will be forced either outwardly against contact 26A and 26B or inwardly against contacts 30A and 30B. Closure of either switch A or switch B will complete the tiring circuit immediately upon impact and maintain the circuit closed for an appreciable time due to the provision of contacting elements of substantial length.

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

What is claimed is:

1. A contact switch for the tiring circuit -of a missile warhead, comprising, an outer warhead body, a switch assembly including two pair of semi-cylindrical contact elements a circular base of insulating material mounting said elements, said switch assembly including two pair of struts connected to but insulated from said outer body, means for supporting said switch assembly within said outerbody, means for connecting said struts and said contact elements in said ring circuit so that one pair of struts and one pair of contact elements comprise a first normally open conductive path and the other pair of struts and the other pair of contact elements comprise a second normally open conductive path, either of said paths being closeable upon displacement of said struts by deformation of said outer body.

2. A switch for the tiring circuit of a missile warhead, comprising, a base of insulating material having an aperture therein, a rst pair of semi-cylindrical contact elements mounted on said base, a second pair of semicylindrical contact elements projecting through said aperture internally of said first pair' of contact elements, the contact elements of each pair being electrically connected in common, two pair of struts having ends mounted on said base between said iirst and second pair of contact elements and projecting axially beyond said elements, a hub of insulating material attached to the opposite ends of said struts, a nose cone, means for securing said base and hub internally of said cone, means for connecting said struts and said contact elements in said firing circuit so that one pair of said struts and the pair of contact elements adjacent thereto comprises a tirst normally open switch and the other pair of struts and the pair of contact elements adjacent thereto comprises a second normally open switch, the deformation of said nose cone upon impact with a target forcing said struts into engagement with said contact elements thereby closing either of said switches and thus said tiring circuit.

3. A contact switch for the firing circuit of an electrically detonated projectile warhead, comprising, fixed arcuate contact elements in radially spaced relationship with one another, means for supporting said elements in the rearward portion of the warhead in insulated relationship with one another and with the warhead, a plurallity of movable Contact elements extending between said fixed contact elements in spaced relationship with one another and with said fixed contact elements, means for supporting said movable contact elements Within the warhead in insulated relationship with said iixed Contact elements and with the warhead, and means electrically connecting said contact elements to the firing mechanism of the warhead whereby the firing circuit is closed upon impact deformation resulting in radial displacement of said movable contacts.

4. A contact switch for the ring circuit of a missile warhead, comprising, an outer conical body, a switch assembly including a pair of insulating members disposed forwardly and rearwardly within said conical body, a plurality of struts spaced one from another interconnecting said members, said struts being insulated from said conical body and the warhead, two semi-cylindrical contact elements mounted on one of said members in spaced relationship with one another and with said struts, one of said elements being disposed radially loutwardly of said struts and the other disposed radially inwardly of said struts, means supporting said switch assembly within said outer body, and means for so connecting said struts and said contact elements in said firing circuit that said firing circuit will be closed upon impact deformation of said outer body and engagement of certain of said struts and contact elements.

5. A Contact switch for the firing circuit of an electrically detonated warhead, comprising, pairs o-f fixed semicylindrical contact elements in radially spaced relationship within a nose cone, means for supporting said elements in the rearward portion of the warhead in insulated relationship with one another 'and with the warhead, a pluralityof movable contact elements extending between said fixed contact elements in spaced relationship with one another and with said'iixed contact elements, means for supporting said movable contact elements Within the warhead in insulated relationship with said iixed contact elements and with the warhead, and means electrically connecting said xed and movable contact elements in the tiring circuit of-the warhead, whereby, the firing circuit will be closed upon impact deformation of said nose cone and engagement of certain of said fixed and movable contact elements.

6. A contact switch for the tiring circuit of ar missile warhead, comprising, an outer deformable conical body, a iirst group of contact members iixed to said body in insulated relationship thereto, a second group of contact members spaced radially of and in non-contacting electrical relationship with said rst group of contact members and fixed to said outer body in insulated relationship thereto, a third group of deformable contact members connected to and insulated from said body, said third group of contact members'extending between said iirst and second groups of contact members and insulated therefrom, and means electrically connecting said third group of contact members with said iirst and second groups in the tiring cricuit, whereby, impact deformation of said conical body causes at least one of the movable contact members of said third group to deform radially into contact withrat least one of the contact members of said iirst or second groups, thereby closing said firing circuit.

7. A contact switch according tol claim 6, wherein the contact members of each of said groups are annularly arrangedj about the longitudinal axis of said warhead.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/55 France.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

CHESTER L. JUSTUS, FREDERICK M. STRADER,

Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. 3. A CONTACT SWITCH FOR THE FIRING CIRCUIT OF AN ELECTRICALLY DETONATED PROJECTILE WARHEAD, COMPRISING, FIXED ARCUATE CONTACT ELEMENTS IN RADIALLY SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID ELEMENTS IN THE REARWARD PORTION OF THE WARHEAD IN INSULATED RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH THE WARHEAD, A PLURALITY OF MOVABLE CONTACT ELEMENTS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID FIXED CONTACT ELEMENTS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH SAID FIXED CONTACT ELEMENTS, MEANS FOR

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