US 4,726,294 A · Projectile impact fuze containing de-arming device

Abstract

It happens time and again that a fuze does not function and that the projectile remains in the field or the place where it landed as a dud. When such a dud is found the danger exists that it might explode upon the finder's touch or when moved or lifted. To prevent this danger the impact fuze in a dud should be able to de-arm itself in a non-explosive manner. This is achieved by positioning a dud insert or de-arming device between an explosive or firing train and a booster charge. This dud de-arming device contains an escapement device which after a predetermined delay time following impact of the projectile moves a rotor from its armed or live position into its de-armed or inert position. The dud de-arming device contains structure which, by virtue of the impact delay or deceleration, that is a delay in ignition of the booster charge upon the projectile hitting the target or ground, activates the escapement mechanism.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A projectile impact fuze, comprising:

a casing having a bore extending in a lengthwise direction thereof;
a lead charge accommodated within said bore;
a slide member located in said casing and displaceable in a transverse direction with respect to said lengthwise direction of said casing from a de-armed into an armed position;
a firing pellet positioned at said slide member for igniting said lead charge;
a firing pin for piercing and igniting said firing pellet when said slide member is in said armed position thereof;
a booster charge for augmenting detonation of the projectile;
said booster charge being ignitable after ignition of said lead charge;
a dud de-arming device located between said lead charge and said booster charge and comprising:
a rotor displaceable from an armed position into a de-armed position thereof;
an escapement device for allowing displacement of said rotor from said armed position into said de-armed position thereof after the elapse of a predetermined time period;
and
means for activating said escapement device in response to impact of the projectile.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Projectile impact fuze containing de-arming device

Life of this patent

Projectile impact fuze containing de-arming device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5