US3616756A - Time fuze for projectiles - Google Patents

Time fuze for projectiles Download PDF

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Publication number
US3616756A
US3616756A US801705A US3616756DA US3616756A US 3616756 A US3616756 A US 3616756A US 801705 A US801705 A US 801705A US 3616756D A US3616756D A US 3616756DA US 3616756 A US3616756 A US 3616756A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
fuze
pin
projectile
clockwork
support
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
Application number
US801705A
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English (en)
Inventor
Robert Simmen
Francis Liengme
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.)
Mefina SA
Original Assignee
Mefina SA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mefina SA filed Critical Mefina SA
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Publication of US3616756A publication Critical patent/US3616756A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • F42C9/04—Time fuzes; Combined time and percussion or pressure-actuated fuzes; Fuzes for timed self-destruction of ammunition the timing being caused by mechanical means by spring motor
    • F42C9/041—Time fuzes; Combined time and percussion or pressure-actuated fuzes; Fuzes for timed self-destruction of ammunition the timing being caused by mechanical means by spring motor the clockwork activating a security device, e.g. for unlocking the firing-pin
    • F42C9/045—Time fuzes; Combined time and percussion or pressure-actuated fuzes; Fuzes for timed self-destruction of ammunition the timing being caused by mechanical means by spring motor the clockwork activating a security device, e.g. for unlocking the firing-pin and the firing-pin being activated by a spring
    • 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
    • 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
    • F42C9/04—Time fuzes; Combined time and percussion or pressure-actuated fuzes; Fuzes for timed self-destruction of ammunition the timing being caused by mechanical means by spring motor
    • F42C9/048—Unlocking of clockwork mechanisms, e.g. by inertia or centrifugal forces; Means for disconnecting the clockwork mechanism from the setting mechanism

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a fuze for projectiles, the fuze incorporating one or more safety devices to prevent accidental detonation of the projectile.
  • the purpose of the invention is to provide a fuze that solves these three problems, and in so doing ensures that a projectile incorporating the fuze of the invention is detonated only at the desired moment.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in cross-section, of the time fuze of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a view taken along line M-M of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a side view, partly cut away, of the fuze clockwork mechanism
  • FIG. 4 is a view taken along line A-B of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a view taken along line C-C of FIG. 3;
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 are views respectively taken along lines D-D and E-E of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 8 is a side view, similar to that of FIG. 3, partly cut away, taken along a plane passing through the axis of the ring pin;
  • FIG. 9 is a side view, similar to that of FIG. l, showing the fuze armed Iafter the proejctile has been red;
  • FIG. 10 is a view taken along line M-M of FIG. 9;
  • FIG. 11 is a side view corresponding to that of FIG. 3, showing the fuze armed;
  • FIG. 12 is a side view corresponding to that of FIG. 8, showing the fuze at the instant it sets off the primer charge;
  • FIG. 13 is a view taken along line AB of FIG. 1l.
  • FIG. 14 is a view taken along line DLE of FIG. 11.
  • the mechanical time fuze, or fuse (the preferred spelling for a mechanical fuse), of the invention is particularly suitable for mounting in non-spinning projectiles, and belongs to the category of fuzes that incorporate means for making the projectile transport safe, bore safe, and trajectory safe.
  • the fuze comprises abody 1 in which a clockwork, or time mechanism, indicated generally by the reference number 2, is mounted. This clockwork is wound up by a fuze setting disc 3.
  • the lower part of the fuze body 1 incorporates a threaded hole 4 for a detonator, not shown.
  • a stop 5 is fixed at the top of the fuze body, of which the upper part embodies a cylindrical projection 52 that mounts a cap y6 forming part of the ogive of the projectile.
  • the cap is angularly movable with respect to the fuze body, and is held axially to the latter by -a steel wire arent O 7 Iwhich is bent zigzag so that it partly occupies a groove 53 of the fuze body 1 and partly a groove 54 in the cap 6.
  • An O-ring gasket 57 is held in a groove 58 of the cap.
  • the cap also has a stop y8 which cooperates with the stop 5- to limit the angular movement of the cap 6 between the one side of the stop 5, corresponding to the minimum fuze setting, and the other side, corresponding to the maximum setting.
  • the cap 6 carries a split pin t9 mounting a catch, or coupler, 10 that is free to pivot about a pin 11 transversely held in the pin 9.
  • a leaf spring 12, carrying weights 13, is lixed to the cap 6 by rivets 14.
  • the clockwork 2 comprises a series of plates 15, 16, 17, and 1'8 (see FIG. ⁇ 8) connected together by spacers 28 and 59. It also includes a central spindle 19, to which are rigidly fixed the fuze setting disc 3, a cam 20, spacers 21 and 22, a tightening nut 23, and a supporting plate 24.
  • the main wheel 26 of the clockwork movement is frictionally held between the plate 24 and an elastic washer 25 mounted by this plate, which washer presses the main wheel against the plate.
  • One end of a spiral spring 27 is fixed to the spindle 19 and the other end to the spacer 28.
  • the main wheel 26 transmits the turning force of this spring to the wheels 29, 30, and 31 of the clockwork, the wheel 31 being the escapement wheel, which cooperates with the balance 32 of the clockwork, as shown in FIG. 6, the wheel 31 and the balance 32 together constituting the escapement mechanism.
  • the pivotal support 41 of a primer charge 45 Arranged between the plates 17 and 18 is the pivotal support 41 of a primer charge 45, which latter is ignited by the tiring pin 38, leading to the detonation of the projectile.
  • the support 41 is mounted free to turn about an axle 60, seen in FIG. 3.
  • a spring 43 tends to cause the support to turn clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 7.
  • Two trains of safety elements hold the support in its iixed position, shown in FIG. 7.
  • the first train (see FIGS. 3 and 4) includes a 'bolt 36 held by a spring 35 against the periphery of the fuze setting disc 3, which latter embodies a notch 3a, 2b that permits the bolt 36 to turn.
  • the bolt is carried by a spindle 33 which also carries a retaining finger 37 that holds the support 41 of the primer charge 45 in place, as seen in FIG. 7.
  • the second train of safety elements comprises an inertial safety mechanism consisting ofl the parts 4-6 to 51, illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 7.
  • the mechanism incorporates a retractable pin 48, the lower extension of which holds the support 41 in its fixed position, as does the finger 37.
  • This pin embodies two axially spaced grooves 61 and 62.
  • a sliding bushing 46 Around the upper end of the pin 48 is placed a sliding bushing 46 having elastic claws 63, which engage the groove 61 or 62, depending on the position of the bushing.
  • a sleeve 47 serving as a counterweight, surrounds the claws 63, and permits the latter to leave the groove 61 and to enter the groove 62, after the bushing 46 has moved axially with respect to the pin 48, only when the sleeve 47 also moves axially.
  • a compression spring 49 normally prevents this movement of the sleeve 47 during axial acceleration, since the lower end of this spring presses against a shoulder ⁇ 64 of the pin 48 and the upper end against a shoulder I65 of the sleeve 47.
  • a second compression spring 50 surrounding the lower part of the pin 48, keeps the pin raised.
  • a collar 51 held at the lower end of the pin limits the upward movement of the pin, when the inertial safety mechanism is released, by striking the plate 17 ⁇
  • the inertial safety mechanism, consisting of the parts 46 to 51, is partly housed within a tube 66 that 'also constitutes a spacer between the plates 15 and 16.
  • the bushing 46 has an outer groove 67 that accepts the periphery of the cam 20 in its :fixed position.
  • the pin 48 near its base, incorporates a collar 68, which has a greater diameter than any other part of the pin and which lies in the path swept by the balance 32. For this reason, the collar, when it is in its fixed position, illustrated in FIG. 3, prevents the clockwork from running.
  • the ring pin 38 seen in FIG. 8, is guided between the plates and 16. It carries a collar 69 having a face 70 in the shape of a truncated cone.
  • the tiring pin is biased by ⁇ a compression spring 39 tending to thrust it downwards. It is held in its xed position by a small plate 40 that is mounted free to pivot by a pin 71.
  • This plate has a sloped face 72 that supports the face 70 of the collar 69.
  • the sloped face 72 and the face 70 in the shape of a truncated cone, cooperate to cause the plate 40 to tend to pivot clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 6, since the tiring pin 38 is constantly urged downwards by the spring 39.
  • the plate 40 is prevented from turning, however, because its end 73 is stopped by the spindle 33 of the bolt 36.
  • the spindle embodies a groove 34 located substantially in the plane of the plate 40, so that when the groove is positioned opposite the plate end 73, the plate is free to turn, thereby releasing the firing pin 38.
  • the notch 3a, 3b in the fuze setting disc 3 has a profile that forms two successive supports for the bolt 36, after the disc 3 has been turned by the clockwork.
  • the rst support 3a (see FIGS. 4 and 13) holds the bolt in that position in which the retaining finger 37 for the support 41 of the primer charge 45 frees the support.
  • the primer charge is then moved into the armed position opposite the firing pin 38.
  • the second support 3b corresponds to an angular position of the bolt 36 and its spindle 33 in which the groove 34 is positioned opposite the end 73 of the plate 40, whereby the latter is now free to turn and to release ⁇ the firing pin 38, detonating the projectile.
  • the catch 10 (see FIGS. l, 2, 9, and l0) actually serves as a retractable coupler between the member for setting the fuze, consisting of the cap 6, and the fuze setting disc 3. As long as the fuze is not set, the catch 10 is held in its position in which it makes a positive connection between the cap and the disc. After the fuze is set, the catch 10 can be retracted to uncouple the cap 6 from the disc 3 only under the effect of an axial acceleration of the projectile causing the weights 13 of the leaf spring 12 -to bend the latter downwards against the catch 10, as shown in dot-dash line in FIG. 9.
  • the fuze described operates in the following manner: Before the fuze is set, the catch 10 holds the fuze setting disc 3 in the position illustrated in FIG. l. The catch cannot turn about the pin 11 because of the stop 5. Nor can the inertial safety mechanism 46 to 51 lbe armed, since the projection 74 of the edge of the cam 20 enters the groove 67 of the bushing 46 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). preventing any axial movement of the latter. For this reason, the movable support 41 of the primer charge 45, as well 'as the balance 32 of the escapement mechanism 31 and 32, remains locked in the nonset position.
  • the fuze is set by turning the cap 6 against an amount of friction sufficient to ensure that the cap is held stably in any angular position of the latter with respect to the body 1.
  • the fuze setting disc 3 is rotated by the catch 10 held by the split pin 9, the catch thus being moved away from the stop 5.
  • the rotation is also transmitted to the cam 20, the spacers 21 and 22, the nut 23, the plate 24 and its washer 25, and to the central spindle 19 of the spiral spring 27.
  • This movement of the spindle 19 winds up the spring 27 to a certain tension.
  • the main wheel 26 cannot turn with the spindle 19, since it is held by the wheels 29 and 31 and by the balance 32 locked by the collar 68 of the pin 48.
  • the plate 24 and the elastic washer 25 consequently slide over the main wheel. While the cam turns, the cam projection 74 leaves the groove 67 of the bushing 46.
  • the sleeve 47 holds the bushing 46 at the position of the pin groove ⁇ 62, the part 46, 47, and 48 thus acting as a lock.
  • the fuze just described ensures the utmost safety in operation, because the fixed position of the movable support 41 for the primer charge 45 is undertaken by two separate trains of safety elements.
  • the mechanical time fuze of the invention is particularly valuable for non-spinning projectiles, although it is, of course, perfectly applicable to a spinning one.
  • a time fuze particularly suitable for a non-spinning projectile, incorporating means for making the projectile transport safe, bore safe, and trajectory safe, including a spring-loaded firing pin, a movable support, a primer charge carried by said support and movable therewith from an inactive position, in which it cannot, to an active position, in which it can be struck by said ring pin, the trajectory-safe means including a clockwork for controlling the operation of said firing pin and for preventing movement of said primer charge to its active position for a predetermined time after the projectile has been shot, an escapement mechanism incorporated by said clockwork, a body for the fuze, a fuze setting member movable angularly with respect to said fuze body, a fuze setting disc turned by said fuze setting member, a clockwork drive spring, a clockwork drive spindle rotationally rigid with said disc and subject to the torque of said spring for turning said spindle when the fuze is armed, and wherein the improvement comprises a retractable couple
  • fuze as defined in claim l, including a cam carried by said clockwork drive spindle and turning therewith for locking said inertial safety mechanism as long as the fuze is not set.
  • the fuze as defined in claim 2 including a plate for holding said iiring pin in its loaded position, means for mounting said plate to move from a first position, in which said iiring pin is held loaded, to a second position, in which said firing pin is released, said bolt spindle cooperating with said plate to prevent the latter from moving from its iirst position, a groove in said bolt spindle for permitting said plate to move its second position as soon as said disc notch permits said bolt to move angularly a sufficient amount.
  • said retaining finger prevents said support from moving said primer charge to its active position and including iirst and second supports incorporated by said disc notch for successively supporting said bolt against further angular movement, said first support determining an angular bolt movement that moves said retaining linger so as to release said support therefrom, whereby the latter is free to move said primer charge to its active position, said second support determining a further angular bolt movement in which said bolt spindle groove frees said plate to move to its second position.
  • the fuze as defined in claim 6, including a balance incorporated by said escapement mechanism, and a train of wheels, including an escapement wheel forming a part of said escapement mechanism and driving said escapement balance, and a main wheel driven by said clockwork drive spindle for driving said train of wheels, and wherein the improvement comprises that said main wheel is in frictional engagement with said clockwork drive spindle.
  • said retractable pin has upper and lower longitudinal spaced grooves, a bush for moving longitudinally along said retractable pin, a plurality of elastic claws on said bush for engaging in one of said pin grooves in dependence on the position of said bush, a sleeve acting as a counterweight and surrounding said bush claws and free to move longitudinally along said retractable pin under the effect of axial acceleration of the projectile, for preventing movement of said bush, and for holding: said bush claws in said upper pin groove, except when said sleeve is caused to move longitudinally along said retractable pin under the effect of projectile axial acceleration, and wherein said resilient means of said inertial safety mechanism holds said sleeve in that position in which said bush claws engage said upper pin groove until the projectile is axially accelerated, and further resilient means for causing movement of said retractable pin from its unarmed to its armed position after said sleeve has moved longitudinally.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)
  • Securing Globes, Refractors, Reflectors Or The Like (AREA)
US801705A 1968-04-04 1969-02-24 Time fuze for projectiles Expired - Lifetime US3616756A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH501368A CH475544A (fr) 1968-04-04 1968-04-04 Fusée mécanique à temps

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3616756A true US3616756A (en) 1971-11-02

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ID=4286429

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US801705A Expired - Lifetime US3616756A (en) 1968-04-04 1969-02-24 Time fuze for projectiles

Country Status (14)

Country Link
US (1) US3616756A (de)
AT (1) AT296089B (de)
BE (1) BE724075A (de)
BR (1) BR6804966D0 (de)
CH (1) CH475544A (de)
DE (1) DE1814546C2 (de)
DK (1) DK133521B (de)
ES (1) ES362080A1 (de)
FI (1) FI53629C (de)
FR (1) FR1592296A (de)
GB (1) GB1199707A (de)
NL (1) NL164957C (de)
NO (1) NO125066B (de)
SE (1) SE353790B (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3978798A (en) * 1973-11-09 1976-09-07 Kaj Backstrom Fuze mechanism having integrated safety functions
US4004520A (en) * 1973-04-10 1977-01-25 Mefina S.A. Time fuse
US4128061A (en) * 1976-09-29 1978-12-05 Gebruder Junghans Gmbh Safety system for a projectile fuse
US4144816A (en) * 1976-04-06 1979-03-20 Mefina S.A. Missile security mechanism
US4389937A (en) * 1980-01-29 1983-06-28 Mefina S.A. Fuze for non-spinning projectiles

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1693516A (en) * 1927-01-19 1928-11-27 Junghans Siegfried Mechanical time fuse
NL96235C (de) * 1954-09-04
DE1200176B (de) * 1963-05-14 1965-09-02 Junghans Geb Ag Uhrwerkszuender als Bodenzuender
CH409709A (fr) * 1965-01-08 1966-03-15 Industrial Holding Ets Fusée de projectile non girant

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4004520A (en) * 1973-04-10 1977-01-25 Mefina S.A. Time fuse
US3978798A (en) * 1973-11-09 1976-09-07 Kaj Backstrom Fuze mechanism having integrated safety functions
US4144816A (en) * 1976-04-06 1979-03-20 Mefina S.A. Missile security mechanism
US4128061A (en) * 1976-09-29 1978-12-05 Gebruder Junghans Gmbh Safety system for a projectile fuse
US4389937A (en) * 1980-01-29 1983-06-28 Mefina S.A. Fuze for non-spinning projectiles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL164957B (nl) 1980-09-15
FI53629B (de) 1978-02-28
NL164957C (nl) 1981-02-16
SE353790B (de) 1973-02-12
AT296089B (de) 1972-01-25
FR1592296A (de) 1970-05-11
DK133521C (de) 1976-10-25
DE1814546A1 (de) 1969-10-16
GB1199707A (en) 1970-07-22
CH475544A (fr) 1969-07-15
BE724075A (de) 1969-05-02
ES362080A1 (es) 1970-11-01
NL6817874A (de) 1969-10-07
BR6804966D0 (pt) 1973-03-20
NO125066B (de) 1972-07-10
FI53629C (fi) 1978-06-12
DE1814546C2 (de) 1983-09-22
DK133521B (da) 1976-05-31

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