Fuze safing and arming device utilizing propellant ionization

Abstract

This invention makes use of the gas that escapes past a shell as it emerges rom a gun barrel to provide a safety and arming device. This gas is electrically active and has the properties of a plasma. Electrical charge from this gas accumulates on the surface of the projectile as it exits from the barrel. This accumulation takes place at the muzzle of the gun tube since the projectile is effectively grounded as it travels up the tube. The invention utilizes a specifically adapted capacitor to accumulate this charge and arm the fuze. Arming is provided by detecting a particular threshold of the charge on the capacitor and utilizing a standard "AND", "OR", or "NOR" gate to make the decision whether or not to initiate a standard mechanical arming mechanism.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.