Self-destructing impact fuse

A self-destructing impact fuse for a projectile including an escapement assembly for detonating explosive charge coupled thereto, said escapement assembly further comprising at least a rotor assembly and a detonator for aligning said detonator with a point detonation (PD) firing pin, said self-destructing impact fuse comprising:

• (a) a frame;
• (b) a self-destructing (SD) firing pin assembly disposed concentrically within said frame for detonating said detonator after said PD firing pin fails to detonate said detonator, said SD firing pin assembly further comprising a SD head on one end for receiving a SD spring, a SD firing pin on the opposite end for striking said detonator, and a centrifugal chamber for holding a plurality of spheres therein, said chamber further communicating with a plurality of radial openings and exposing a portion of said spheres when the fuse rotates;
• (c) a groove disposed on the surface of said SD firing pin assembly for receiving a centrifugal lock, said lock having a pivot offset from the longitudinal axis of said frame;
• (d) a setback pin assembly controlling the release of said centrifugal lock from said SD firing pin assembly, said setback assembly having a setback pin retractable upon experiencing acceleration of said projectile;
• and
• (e) a support ring disposed concentrically within said frame for balancing the forces exerted radially on said centrifugal chamber with forces exerted axially on said SD firing pin assembly by said SD spring, whereby said support ring prevents said SD firing pin assembly from being lowered onto said detonator when centrifugal forces on said projectile push said spheres against said ring and said SD spring lowers said SD firing pin assembly onto said detonator when the compression forces overcome the centrifugal forces on said spheres.