US 5,033,382 A · Piezoelectric fuse for projectile with safe and arm mechanism

Abstract

A piezoelectric fuse, and safe and arm mechanism for a small active projectile is disclosed including a piezoelectric element mounted within the projectile near the leading end thereof with an impact deformable electrically conductive shell spaced from and at least partially surrounding the piezoelectric element and a resilient material substantially filling the space between the piezoelectric element and the shell. Electrical leads connect the detonator to the shell and to a rearward piezoelectric element contact so that upon projectile impact, the shell deforms compressing the piezoelectric element generating a voltage thereacross, and thereafter, the shell makes electrical connection with a piezoelectric element forward contact actuating the detonator. The safe and arm mechanism includes an interrupter located in a "safe" position between the detonator and a lead charge. The interrupter may move from the safe position only upon both sufficient angular velocity and sufficient linear acceleration of the projectile.

Claims14

Dependent claims

In an active projectile of the type having an electrically triggerable detonator spaced from and aligned with a lead charge for firing a shaped charge, the combination comprising:

a disk shaped interrupter normally interposed between the detonator and the lead charge for preventing detonator activation from actuating the shaped charge;
first means normally blocking the interrupter and responsive to linear acceleration along a central axis of the projectile upon the projectile being fired from a gun to move from its normal interrupter blocking position;
second means normally blocking the interrupter and responsive to rotation of the projectile to move from its normal interrupter blocking position;
the interrupter being freed to move in response to projectile rotation from its normal position interposed between the detonator and the lead charge to a position where detonator activation may actuate the shaped charge only when both the first and second means have moved from their respective interrupter blocking positions.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Piezoelectric fuse for projectile with safe and arm mechanism

Life of this patent

Piezoelectric fuse for projectile with safe and arm mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14