US3685452A - Electrical switch acting with the force of inertia - Google Patents

Electrical switch acting with the force of inertia Download PDF

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Publication number
US3685452A
US3685452A US125586A US3685452DA US3685452A US 3685452 A US3685452 A US 3685452A US 125586 A US125586 A US 125586A US 3685452D A US3685452D A US 3685452DA US 3685452 A US3685452 A US 3685452A
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United States
Prior art keywords
mass
slug
switch
inertia
electrical
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
US125586A
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English (en)
Inventor
Manfred Held
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.)
Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
Original Assignee
Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm AG
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Filing date
Publication date
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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
    • F42C19/00—Details of fuzes
    • F42C19/06—Electric contact parts specially adapted for use with electric fuzes

Definitions

  • Said switch comprises an electrically conductive [30] fomgn Apphcauon Pnomy Data cup-shaped inertia body supported on and resiliently 1970 Germany 15 384-8 urged toward an electrically non-conductive support means.
  • Said support means has a recess receiving said [52] US. Cl.
  • This invention refers to aswitch for the. closing of an electric circuit.
  • Said switch is provided. with an inertia mass acting as one. switch contact and contained. in a switch housing acting as the other switch contact. Further, said switch is held by a coil spring in an electrically insulated rest position-from which it may be disen gaged in response to a disturbance.
  • Such switches placed in the heads of explosive projectiles must have a varying. degree of sensitivity to contact, due to the varying angles with which the projectile is aimed at the intended target, so that, for example, the electric ignition circuit can be closed even when the projectile hits the target only at a very small angle, such as 15", in relation to the trajectory of the projectile. In this case the switch has to function properly, even with only a relatively small transverse acceleration.
  • German Patentschrift No. 1,176,029 a switch of the above-mentioned type is shown wherein the inertia mass is a ball which is held in a ring or groove shaped support by means of a helical spring gripping its circumference.
  • the contact sensitivity of the switch in axial direction is determined by the tension of the helical spring, and the contact sensitivity perpendicular thereto in radial direction partially by the tip momenturn of the ball, that is, by the ratio of the diameter of the ball to the inner diameter of the support and partially by the spring tension.
  • the inner diameter of the support may not be made too small; the above-mentioned ratio of the ball diameter to the inner diameter of the support for this reason cannot be made variable within the limits desired in actual use.
  • the helical spring it is not advantageous for the helical spring to grip the ball at its circumference, that is, very far from the center of gravity.
  • Small deviations of the helical spring from its axial installation position which can occur during the installation of the switch if same is not provided with a stop, or which can occur due to vibrations during transport or even through a mask hit, may cause a radial force component on the helical spring, acting on a relatively long leverage. arm and additional to the axial force com-- ponent, which can considerably change the contact sensitivity of the switch, particularly the radial contact sensitivity.
  • the objective of this invention is to'avoid ment of contact sensitivity, particularly of the radialcontact sensitivity.
  • this objective is achieved by giving the inertia mass the shape of a cup within.
  • the support which is placed the helical spring, and the support has a conical indentation with a flat support surface, the diameter of which at that point is equal to that of the inertia mass.
  • a switch constructed according to the invention offers more exact possibilities of varying the contact sensitivity by adjusting. the spring tension and the shape of the inertia mass. While the axial contact sensitivity is determined simply by the weight of the inertia mass and the tension of the helical spring, the radial contact sensitivity is determined, in addition to the diameter of the support surface and a portion of the spring. tension, primarily by themass distribution of the inertia mass in the axial direction.
  • the cup shape of the inertia mass offers for this purpose, many possibilities to adjust the radial contact sensitivity and to balance it with the axial contact sensitivity in such a way that all the demands of the contact sensitivity of the switch which arise out of practical use can be completely fulfilled.
  • the switch according to the invention besides the centering effect due to the conical indentation of the support, an exactly centered and perfect fit of the inertia mass in the support is assured and it is impossible for same to be disturbed even by vibrations or frequencies of the helical spring which is attached either at orvery near to the center of gravity of the inertia mass.
  • the contact sensitivity therefore, remains unaffected by the above-mentioned variables even when the inertia mass is improperly installed.
  • the centering effect of the conical indentation of the support has the additional advantage that an angular hit of a target by a projectile containing this switch will. cause the inertia mass to tip exactly about the edge which is the limitation of the support, particularly when the open angle of the conical indentation is made very small, that is, only big enough that in the event of a tipping motion of the inertia mass, the sides of the indentation are touched as well as the switch casing.
  • the angular area in which the inertia mass can move from its point of support after the projectile hits the target can be kept narrow.
  • the switch When handling a projectile which is equipped with such a switch within its ignition circuit, for safety reasons it is desirable to have the switch in locked position, that is, at least until the firing of the projectile.
  • the inertia mass is held motionless with the aid of a lock mechanism up to the time of fire preparation.
  • the wall opposite to the support has an opening in which a spring held slug is arranged so that it can be moved and put in a lock position. Means providing a small indentation are so arranged that the slug can grip into it while in the locked position.
  • an electrical safety means is provided, which shorts out the ignition circuit by bypassing the ignition unit, until the mechanical lock is disengaged. This is accomplished by having the electrically conducting slug insulated from the switch casing by means of an electrically non-conducting covering.
  • FIG. 1 a cross-section of a switch built according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 the switch shown in FIG. 1 with a safety device.
  • a conical indentation 6 is cut into the support 5, the flat surface 7 of which supports the inertia mass 1.
  • the diameter of the fiat surface 7 which is limited by the edge 8 of the conical indentation is equal to the diameter of the inertia mass 1 at that point, so that the inertia mass 1 is held exactly centered on the support 5.
  • the support is screwed into an electrically conducting switch casing 11, the interior 12 of which has a cylindrical inner opening to receive the inertia mass 1 and which will surround the inertia mass 1 with a slight distance therebetween.
  • the inertia mass 1, the helical spring 3 and the switch casing 11 are part of an ignition circuit containing an ignition battery B and an ignition capsule P of a projectile (not illustrated) which will be closed as soon as the inertia mass 1 is lifted from the support 5 in response to a disturbance and touches the switch casing 1 1.
  • the contact sensitivity of the switch is adjusted by selecting the tension of the helical spring 3 so that under normal conditions, that is, during transportation, during the firing and flight of the projectile, the inertia mass does not move from the support 5, thus does not close the ignition circuit B, P, 11, 1, 3.
  • the length of the helical spring can be altered by placing a threaded pin 13 into the support 5 to the other end of which the helical spring is attached. After the fine adjustment of the spring tension, the threaded pin 13 is held secure by a nut 14 to guard against change in adjustment.
  • the conical indentation 6 (for purpose of illustration, shown somewhat larger than actually intended) will prevent the inertia mass from lifting off the support 5 in the direction of impact; it will instead, because of the centering effect of the indentation tip about a point along the edge 8 and will thus also touch the switch casing 1 1.
  • a movable slug 21 is placed in a bore 20 in the wall of the switch casing 11 (see FIG. 2) directly opposite the support 5.
  • the electrically conductive slug 21 is covered with an insulation layer 22 to insulate it from the switch casing and carries an insulated plate 23 below which is a conical spring 24 Sup ported by the switch casing.
  • a plate slide 25, schematically indicated in FIG. 2 presses the slug 21 into a cylindrical indentation 26 of the inertia mass 1, by overcoming the tension of the conical spring 24 and holds it in position in the manner as illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • the conical spring 24 moves the slug 21 upwardly through an electrically insulated cover plate 27 of the switch casing 11, so that the inertia mass 1 is now unrestrained.
  • the firing circuit is shorted out by way of the electrically conducting plate slide 25, the slug 21, the inertia mass 1, the helical spring 3 and the ignition battery B. This short is overcome as soon as the mechanical safety device is disengaged.
  • an acceleration sensitive device having a hollow electrically conductive switch casing, an electrically insulated support member defining a base for said switch casing, a generally cup-shaped inertia mass arranged coaxially in said switch casing, said mass having an open end normally resting upon said insulated base, a tension spring enclosed within said mass and having one end connected to said insulated base and the other end connected to the closed end of said mass remote from said insulated base, the improvement comprising:
  • releasable holder means for releasably holding said slug in mechanical and electrical connection with said mass to restrain the movement of said mass, a release of said holder means effecting a release of said mechanical and electrical connection between said slug and said mass to thereby free said mass from restrainment.
  • first contact means defining electrical connections on said spring means and said holder means
  • second contact means defining an electrical connection on said switch casing.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)
  • Fuses (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)
US125586A 1970-04-01 1971-03-18 Electrical switch acting with the force of inertia Expired - Lifetime US3685452A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19702015384 DE2015384A1 (de) 1970-04-01 1970-04-01 Trägheitsschalter

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3685452A true US3685452A (en) 1972-08-22

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US125586A Expired - Lifetime US3685452A (en) 1970-04-01 1971-03-18 Electrical switch acting with the force of inertia

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3685452A (ja)
DE (1) DE2015384A1 (ja)
FR (1) FR2092423A5 (ja)
GB (1) GB1277710A (ja)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4009662A (en) * 1975-09-29 1977-03-01 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force Discriminating sensor for contact fuzing
US4174666A (en) * 1978-05-01 1979-11-20 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Springless impact switch
US6167808B1 (en) * 1999-04-06 2001-01-02 Trw Inc. Initiator for air bag inflator
US20070295233A1 (en) * 2004-10-18 2007-12-27 Aai Corporation Setback switch for safe and arm
US8242392B1 (en) 2011-11-01 2012-08-14 John Ondracek Multi-directional momentum-change sensor and methods of use

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2355221C3 (de) * 1973-11-05 1981-11-19 Gianni Verga Milano Casati Vorrichtung zum Unterbrechen des elektrischen Sicherheitskurzschlußkreises der Zündung von Zündladungen
DE2366341C2 (de) * 1973-11-05 1982-08-19 Gianni Verga Milano Casati Vorrichtung zum Unterbrechen des elektrischen Sicherheitskurzschlußkreises
GB2269478B (en) * 1980-10-30 1994-07-20 Emi Ltd Disturbance sensor

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2721237A (en) * 1952-08-30 1955-10-18 Yunker George Jolt-actuated switch
US2826655A (en) * 1956-10-08 1958-03-11 Stanley C Wurm Warning signal switch
US2983800A (en) * 1956-07-05 1961-05-09 Rabinow Jacob Free flight arming device
FR1381361A (fr) * 1963-09-27 1964-12-14 Interrupteur coupe-circuit à inertie, pour véhicule automobile

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2721237A (en) * 1952-08-30 1955-10-18 Yunker George Jolt-actuated switch
US2983800A (en) * 1956-07-05 1961-05-09 Rabinow Jacob Free flight arming device
US2826655A (en) * 1956-10-08 1958-03-11 Stanley C Wurm Warning signal switch
FR1381361A (fr) * 1963-09-27 1964-12-14 Interrupteur coupe-circuit à inertie, pour véhicule automobile

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4009662A (en) * 1975-09-29 1977-03-01 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air Force Discriminating sensor for contact fuzing
US4174666A (en) * 1978-05-01 1979-11-20 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Springless impact switch
US6167808B1 (en) * 1999-04-06 2001-01-02 Trw Inc. Initiator for air bag inflator
US20070295233A1 (en) * 2004-10-18 2007-12-27 Aai Corporation Setback switch for safe and arm
US7320286B2 (en) * 2004-10-18 2008-01-22 Aai Corporation Setback switch for safe and arm
US8242392B1 (en) 2011-11-01 2012-08-14 John Ondracek Multi-directional momentum-change sensor and methods of use

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2015384C3 (ja) 1974-07-04
DE2015384B2 (ja) 1973-12-06
GB1277710A (en) 1972-06-14
FR2092423A5 (ja) 1972-01-21
DE2015384A1 (de) 1971-10-21

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