Piezoelectric fuse system with safe and arm device for ammunition

A fuze apparatus comprising a detonator cup having an outwardly projecting pin contact adapted to receive a spring biased socket contact connected to an electronic safety device only when said cup is in an armed position, said socket contact sliding over said pin contact and gripping said pin contact sufficiently to prevent inadvertent separation of said contacts.

A self powered fuze apparatus adapted for use in a projectile having a central axis and containing an explosive charge, said apparatus comprising:

• a detonator cup supported in said apparatus so that it is adapted to be shielded from said charge to be exploded in an unarmed position and adapted to communicate with said charge to be exploded in an armed position;
• a first housing containing a mechanical safety device for releasably preventing undesired movement of said detonator cup from said unarmed to said armed position, and
• a second housing adjacent said first housing containing an electronic safety device electrically coupled to said mechanical safety device for sensing a target impact and selectively passing a piezoelectrically generated firing current to said detonator cup only upon sensing a target impact of a predetermined magnitude only within a predetermined time after sensing a predetermined launch acceleration value, said electronic device being electrically and mechanically connected to said detonator cup only when said cup is in said armed position, said electronic safety device including delay means for passing said piezoelectrically generated current to said detonator cup only after a predetermined time after said impact.

A projectile comprising:

• explosive charge and a self powered fuze apparatus to detonate said charge comprising:
• a detonator cup supported in said apparatus so that it is adapted to be shielded from said charge to be exploded in an unarmed position and adapted to communicate with said charge to be exploded in an armed position automatically upon sensing a predetermined projectile launch acceleration;
• an electronic safety device selectively electrically coupled to said detonator cup, said device sensing and selectively passing a sensor generated current to said detonator cup only upon sensing an impact of a predetermined magnitude within a predetermined time after separately sensing said predetermined launch acceleration, said electronic device being electrically and mechanically connected to said detonator cup only when said predetermined launch acceleration has been sensed.

A spring biased socket contact for mating with a pin contact of a detonator cup, said socket contact comprising a contact sleeve slidably supporting a generally tubular contact body having a hollow socket portion, a sleeve portion and a transverse partition between said portions, said socket portion having a plurality of inwardly directed prongs to permit insertion of said pin contact, engage said pin contact and prevent disengagement of said pin contact under shock loading.