Miniature delay switch

Abstract

A delayed action switch embodied in a tubular casing adapted to be incorporated in a missile or a guided projectile. For example, the Redeye missile is activated by a soldier who keeps it against his shoulder. As he pulls the trigger, the missile takes off toward a specific target such as a tank, truck or the like, a distance of a few seconds away from the soldier. Should the missile drop near the soldier and explode, the soldier would be killed; but with the delay switch of this invention incorporated in the missile, it would be deactivated before it hits the ground. Consequently, the missile would be a "dud", a non functional device. In general, the switch of our invention includes, in succession within a tubular casing, a priming charge which is ignited when the missile is first propelled into the atmosphere, and which fires an ignition charge which in turn ignites a delay charge. The latter, in turn, after a predetermined delay, ignites a base charge which acts against a piston to propel it at high speed forwardly, causing it to cut a circuit when the missile has attained a high elevation in its upward travel. In a modified form of the invention, the piston is adapted to establish a circuit at the end of the delay charge burning.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.