US3450048A - Spinning fuzes,in particular for small caliber shells - Google Patents

Spinning fuzes,in particular for small caliber shells Download PDF

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Publication number
US3450048A
US3450048A US622642A US3450048DA US3450048A US 3450048 A US3450048 A US 3450048A US 622642 A US622642 A US 622642A US 3450048D A US3450048D A US 3450048DA US 3450048 A US3450048 A US 3450048A
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United States
Prior art keywords
strip
sleeve
fuze
spinning
firing pin
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
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US622642A
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English (en)
Inventor
William Guerne
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.)
Brevets Aero Mecaniques SA
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Brevets Aero Mecaniques SA
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Publication date
Application filed by Brevets Aero Mecaniques SA filed Critical Brevets Aero Mecaniques SA
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • F42C15/24—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges wherein the safety or arming action is effected by inertia means
    • F42C15/26—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges wherein the safety or arming action is effected by inertia means using centrifugal force
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C1/00—Impact fuzes, i.e. fuzes actuated only by ammunition impact
    • F42C1/02—Impact fuzes, i.e. fuzes actuated only by ammunition impact with firing-pin structurally combined with fuze
    • F42C1/04—Impact fuzes, i.e. fuzes actuated only by ammunition impact with firing-pin structurally combined with fuze operating by inertia of members on impact
    • F42C1/06—Impact fuzes, i.e. fuzes actuated only by ammunition impact with firing-pin structurally combined with fuze operating by inertia of members on impact for any direction of impact
    • 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
    • F42C15/20—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges wherein a securing-pin or latch is removed to arm the fuze, e.g. removed from the firing-pin
    • F42C15/22—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges wherein a securing-pin or latch is removed to arm the fuze, e.g. removed from the firing-pin using centrifugal force
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C9/00—Time fuzes; Combined time and percussion or pressure-actuated fuzes; Fuzes for timed self-destruction of ammunition
    • F42C9/02—Time fuzes; Combined time and percussion or pressure-actuated fuzes; Fuzes for timed self-destruction of ammunition the timing being caused by mechanical means

Definitions

  • a spinning shell fuze includes a body and a firing pin slidable axially in said body. To prevent axial sliding of said firing pin before the projectile is launched, a strip is spiral wound about a sleeve freely rotatable about said firing pin.
  • This spiral wound strip bears through its edges on the one hand against a shoulder of the fuze body and on the other hand against a flange belonging to said sleeve, said flange bearing against a shoulder of the firing pin so that said sleeve is driven axially by said firing pin when the latter is actuated by the impact of the shell against an obstacle.
  • the present invention relates to spinning fuzes, this term designating the fuzes intended to be fitted on spinning shells which are armed (that is to say made sensitive to a possible impact) by the centrifugal force brought into play by the spinning movement of the shell.
  • the invention is more especially concerned with small caliber shells, in particular of a caliber ranging from 20 to 50 mms.
  • the chief object of the present invention is to provide a fuze of this type which is better adapted to meet the requirements of practice than those known up to this time, especially from the point of view of safety.
  • the fuzes with which this invention is concerned comprise a movable axial element (.generally a firing pin) capable of igniting, by an axial displacement thereof, the fuze primer, said movable element being prevented from moving, before the shot is fired, by a centrifugal locking device releasable by the radial acceleration produced by the spinning of the shell and comprising a spiral wound strip, generally metallic, a coaxial with said element and adapted to play, through one of its edges, before the shot is fired, that is to say when, the strip is still wound, the part of an axial holding abutment preventing displacement of said movable element, whereas after the shot has been fired and once said spiral strip has been unwound as far as permitted by the radial dimensions of its housing, it permits axial displacement of said movable element which is to ignite the fuze primer.
  • a movable axial element (.generally a firing pin) capable of igniting, by an axial displacement thereof, the fuze
  • the fuze instead of winding this spiral strip directly on the movable element to be locked, the fuze further comprises a sleeve interposed between said spiral strip and said movable element and mounted in such manner as to be able to rotate freely with respect to said movable element, the whole of the spiral strip and the sleeve being arranged in such manner that said spiral strip, when it is unwinding, drives the sleeve in rotation, whereby the unwinding of said spiral strip is braked by the angular inertia of the sleeve, this braking of the spiral strip unwinding movement delaying the release of the movable element and thus increasing the safety of the fuze, i.e. the distance from the gun muzzle for which the fuze is armed.
  • FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in axial section, of a point detonating fuze made according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section, on the line II-II of FIG. 1, of the locking means of this fuze;
  • FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a base detonating fuze made according to this invent-ion.
  • the fuze according to this invention illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a fuze body 1 in which is slidable an axial firing pin 2 adapted to cause, by axial displacement thereof toward the rear, the firing of a primer (not shown by the drawing) housed in the rear portion 1a of the fuze body.
  • the centrifugal locking device includes a spiral strip 3 wound about the axis of firing pin 1 and the front edge of which acts as an abutment for holding firing pin 1 in inoperative position.
  • a spiral strip 3 wound about the axis of firing pin 1 and the front edge of which acts as an abutment for holding firing pin 1 in inoperative position.
  • the spires formed by strip 3 have been shown as being not in contact with one another, but this is merely for the sake of clarity and, actually, the spires of the strip adjoin one another.
  • strip 3 permits the axial displacement of firing pin 1 so as to operate the fuze.
  • spiral wound strip 3 is surrounded by an expansible slit ring 5 for keeping said strip in the wound position until the shot is fired.
  • this ring 5 is expanded by the centrifugal force against the wall of housing 4, thus releasing spiral wound strip 3 which can then unwind under the action of the centrifugal force.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 instead of winding spiral strip 3 directly on firing pin 2, there is provided a sleeve 6 interposed between strip 3 and firing pin 2 and freely rotatable about said firing pin, the whole formed by spiral wound strip 3 and sleeve 6 being such that, when spiral strip 3 unwinds under the action of the centrifugal force, it drives sleeves 6 together with it.
  • connection between spiral strip 3 and sleeve 6 is such that, at the end of the unwinding of said strip, the inner end thereof releases sleeve 6 so as to permit axial movement of the whole of firing pin 2 and sleeve 6.
  • the inner end 7 of strip 3 is U-bent and engaged in a groove 7a provided in the outer wall of sleeve 6 and parallel to the generatrices thereof.
  • Advantageously strip 3 is made as thin as possible, account being taken of the stresses to be exerted thereon, whereby, for a given area of its end edges in the wound position, it has the greatest possible number of spires, the time necessary for the unwinding of such a spiral strip being the greater as it comprises a greater number of spires.
  • strip 3 may be cut from a thin metal sheet (such as a foil) for instance of bronze or steel.
  • sleeve 6 it preferably has an angular inertia as high as possible, account being taken of the strength of the strip.
  • sleeve 6 is made of brass.
  • Sleeve 6 may consist of a mere cylindrical piece, possibly provided with holes or slots. It seems preferable to make it as shown by FIG. 1 where sleeve 6 comprises a cylindrical portion mounted with an easy fit on firing pin 2 and provided with a flange 6a on the side thereof where is located the active edge of spiral spin 3. Said flange 6a is interposed between said edge of strip 3 and a shoulder 2a of firing pin 2.
  • flange 6a has an outer diameter such that the whole active edge of strip 3 bears thereon.
  • Flange 6a might include a cylindrical projection extending toward the fuze nose.
  • said sleeve 6 is advantageously made of a height such that the end 6b thereof opposed to flange 6a engages in a guiding bore 8.
  • sleeve 6 might be made of an external diameter smaller than the diameter of said bore, a guiding ring fitted on firing pin 2 being provided near the end 6b of said sleeve.
  • Spiral strip 3 was made of bronze foil, this strip being 580 mms. long, 3 mms. high and 0.05 mm. thick, its weight being 0.76 gr. and the number of spires when the strip is wound being 36.
  • Sleeve 6 made of brass, had a total height of 5.8 mms. and a weight of 0.54 gr.
  • the safety from the gun muzzle averaged 20 meters for an initial velocity of about 1,050 meters and a spinning rate averaging 87,000 revolutions per minute.
  • firing pin 2 instead of being mounted in the front part of the fuze and of having its pointed end directed toward the rear, is mounted in a base plug 9 and has its point directed toward the front, as shown by FIG. 3.
  • the reference numerals in FIG. 3 are the same as in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • a spinning fuze according to this invention has many advantages, and in particular the following ones:
  • an improved fuze comprising:
  • a fuze body to be fixed on the projectile
  • said means consisting of, as sole and exclusive active element thereof, a spiral wound strip acting as an axial abutment by one of its edges and capable of unwinding in response to the spinning movement of the projectile to make said locking means inoperative, wherein the improvement comprises, an annular piece of substantial inertia interposed between said spiral strip and said firing member at a location where said annular piece ofiers substantially no resistance to the longitudinal movement of said axial firing member, said annular piece being freely rotatable about said firing member and being con- 4 nected in rotation with said spiral strip by fixation means released at the end of the unwinding of said spiral strip, said annular piece constituting means for slowing down the unwinding of said strip.
  • a fuze according to claim 1 comprising means for securing the inner end of said strip to said annular piece, said means being releasable by the centrifugal movement of said strip inner end away from said sleeve.
  • a fuze according to claim 2 wherein said annular piece is provided with a groove parallel to the axis thereof and the inner end of said strip is bent to engage in a radially slidable manner in said groove.
  • annular piece comprises a continuou's cylindrical sleeve longitudinally movable with said axial firing member upon unlocking of said firing member.
  • a fuze which comprises, in combination:
  • a fuze body to be fixed on the projectile, said body being provided with an axial bore and forming an annular shoulder coaxially surrounding said bore,
  • a firing pin longitudinally slidable in said axial bore, said firing pin having an annular shoulder coaxial with said bore,
  • a sleeve coaxially surrounding said firing pin and freely rotatable about it, said sleeve being longitudinally movable with said pin and including an outward flange fitting against said firing pin shoulder, and
  • the outer wall of the cylindrical portion of said sleeve being provided with a longitudinal radial slot and the inner end of said strip being bent to engage freely in said longitudinal slot, the engagement between said strip and said sleeve being released upon unwinding of said strip, said sleeve constituting means for retarding the unwinding of said strip, and
  • said fuze body forming a cylindrical casing around said strip of sufficient radius to permit outward movement of the whole of said strip under the effect of the centrifugal force when said body is spinning about its axis.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automotive Seat Belt Assembly (AREA)
  • Braking Arrangements (AREA)
  • Compositions Of Oxide Ceramics (AREA)
  • Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
US622642A 1966-03-16 1967-03-13 Spinning fuzes,in particular for small caliber shells Expired - Lifetime US3450048A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
LU50666 1966-03-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3450048A true US3450048A (en) 1969-06-17

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Country Status (10)

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US (1) US3450048A (en(2012))
BE (1) BE695549A (en(2012))
CH (1) CH458135A (en(2012))
DE (1) DE1578445C3 (en(2012))
FR (1) FR1513950A (en(2012))
GB (1) GB1174804A (en(2012))
IL (1) IL27511A (en(2012))
LU (1) LU50666A1 (en(2012))
NL (2) NL6703344A (en(2012))
SE (1) SE312503B (en(2012))

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4449456A (en) * 1981-09-21 1984-05-22 A/S Raufoss Ammunisjonsfabrikker Safety device for a projectile
US5147974A (en) * 1990-11-06 1992-09-15 Motorola Inc. Unwinding ribbon safing and arming device
US8552349B1 (en) * 2010-12-22 2013-10-08 Interstate Electronics Corporation Projectile guidance kit

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3022733A (en) * 1958-04-25 1962-02-27 Junghans Helmut Rotary shell fuze
US3076410A (en) * 1957-04-25 1963-02-05 Brevets Aero Mecaniques Centrifugally armed fuze for rotating projectile
DE1183409B (de) * 1963-11-23 1964-12-10 Rheinmetall Gmbh Zerlegerzuender fuer Drallgeschosse mit Vorrohrsicherheit
US3270670A (en) * 1964-02-18 1966-09-06 Brevets Aero Mecaniques Impact fuzes for spinning explosive projectiles and more particularly basedetonatingfuzes of the type equipped with a mechanical auto-destruction device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3076410A (en) * 1957-04-25 1963-02-05 Brevets Aero Mecaniques Centrifugally armed fuze for rotating projectile
US3022733A (en) * 1958-04-25 1962-02-27 Junghans Helmut Rotary shell fuze
DE1183409B (de) * 1963-11-23 1964-12-10 Rheinmetall Gmbh Zerlegerzuender fuer Drallgeschosse mit Vorrohrsicherheit
US3270670A (en) * 1964-02-18 1966-09-06 Brevets Aero Mecaniques Impact fuzes for spinning explosive projectiles and more particularly basedetonatingfuzes of the type equipped with a mechanical auto-destruction device

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4449456A (en) * 1981-09-21 1984-05-22 A/S Raufoss Ammunisjonsfabrikker Safety device for a projectile
US5147974A (en) * 1990-11-06 1992-09-15 Motorola Inc. Unwinding ribbon safing and arming device
US8552349B1 (en) * 2010-12-22 2013-10-08 Interstate Electronics Corporation Projectile guidance kit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL6703344A (en(2012)) 1967-09-18
DE1578445C3 (de) 1978-10-12
NL131407C (en(2012))
LU50666A1 (en(2012)) 1967-09-18
GB1174804A (en) 1969-12-17
CH458135A (fr) 1968-06-15
DE1578445B2 (de) 1978-02-16
DE1578445A1 (de) 1972-04-06
BE695549A (en(2012)) 1967-08-14
FR1513950A (fr) 1968-02-16
IL27511A (en) 1971-06-23
SE312503B (en(2012)) 1969-07-14

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