Self-sparging inertia armed nose fuze

Abstract

An arming fuze for ordnance type munitions having but one movable part comprising a solvent desensitized liquid explosive contained in a ported (ventillated) cavity that is normally sealed by a sleeve. Upon movement of the sleeve and exposure of the liquid explosive within the cavity to the air, the liquid explosive loses a volatile solvent, the desensitizing agent, and becomes progressively more sensitive. A first embodiment is that of an inertia armed nose fuze for a projectile wherein the desensitized liquid explosive is enclosed in the cavity in a porous solid matrix. Upon rapid acceleration, as when the projectile is fired, the sleeve undergoes set-back thereby exposing the porous matrix to a violent slip stream of air and to a strong desiccating action. The liquid explosive rapidly loses solvent to the air, rapidly becoming more sensitive whereby it is impact sensitive by the time impact on the target occurs. A second embodiment is that of a contact fuze for mine munitions wherein the fuze is armed by manually moving the sleeve to uncover the ventillation ports thereby to allow the solvent to leave the explosive liquid. When the explosive liquid has "dried", it is rendered sensitive to pressure or shock whereby detonation occurs upon striking or crushing the fuze.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.