Electronic, out-of-line safety fuze for munitions such as hand grenades
AssigneeBulova Technologies Inc.
InventorEdward F. Cooper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A munitions fuze implements an operating mechanism comprising a piston, operating rod and toggle body bearing a detonator, aligned in a cavity within a munitions housing. In the safe condition the toggle body is out of line with a transfer lead and output booster arranged to charge an explosive when activated by the detonator. Overlying the piston is a primer and a piezoelectric device and primer that, when impacted by a striker produces pressurized gas for driving the piston and electricity for an electronic delay circuit. The piston moves the operating rod to bring the toggle body and detonator into alignment with the transfer lead and booster for detonation.
Claims19
A munitions fuze, comprising an operating mechanism that is normally in a disarmed position and in an armed position when displaced;
- a power generator coupled to said operating mechanism for producing power when said operating mechanism is displaced into the armed position;
- and an explosive train having a portion that rotates substantially about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said train between out-of-line and in-line orientations in response to power produced by said power generator, said explosive train including a detonator armed upon rotation of said portion of said explosive train between said out-of-line and in-line orientations, said operating mechanism comprising:
- a slidably mounted safety pin retaining said explosive train;
- a striker for activating said power generator;
- said striker having a safe position retaining said safety pin and being displaced from said power generator;
- and
- a manually operated activation mechanism having safe and armed positions, wherein said activation mechanism, when in the armed position, permits said striker to active said power generator and release said pin from said explosive train.
A munitions fuze, comprising an operating mechanism that is normally in a disarmed position and in an armed position when displaced;
- a power generator coupled to said operating mechanism for producing power when said operating mechanism is displaced into the armed position;
- and an explosive train having a portion that rotates substantially about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said train between out-of-line and in-line orientations in response to power produced by said power generator, said explosive train including a detonator armed upon rotation of said portion of said explosive train between said out-of-line and in-line orientations, said munitions fuze including:
- an electricity generator having excited and non-excited states, wherein said excited state produces electrical power, and wherein said power generator includes a primer, that when activated, excites said electricity generator.
A fuze, comprising:
- a toggle body having respectively out-of-line and in-line orientations;
- a detonator carried by said toggle body and becoming armed when said toggle body moves between said out-of-line and in-line orientations;
- a breakable element maintaining an initial orientation of said toggle body;
- an operating rod capable of breaking said breakable element and moving said toggle body between said out-of-line and in-line orientations;
- a piston aligned with said operating rod such that said piston, when advanced, drives said operating rod;
- an electricity generator, when excited, producing electrical power;
- a primer, when activated, advancing said piston and exciting said electricity generator;
- an electronic circuit, powered by said electricity generator, including a delay mechanism and detonating said detonator when connected thereto and activated;
- a slidably mounted safety pin initially in a locked state limiting the movement of said piston;
- a striking component;
- and
- a manually operated activation mechanism normally in an unarmed position and displaceable into an armed position, wherein said activation mechanism, when in said armed position, permits said striking component to activate said primer assembly and enables said slidably mounted safety pin to move into an unlocked state releasing said piston for movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.