Safe and arm mechanisms and methods for explosive devices
AssigneePacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company
InventorRobert S. Ritchie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A SAFE and ARM mechanism includes an elongated casing having a first end and a second end. A high-G force firing pin is arranged relatively near to the first end and a low-G force firing pin is arranged relatively near to the second end. A detonator is arranged between the high-G force firing pin and the first end. When a G-force within a first range of magnitudes is applied to the casing along its longitudinal axis, the low-G force firing pin is displaced to strike a portion of the high-G force firing pin, and if a G-force within a second range of magnitudes is applied to the casing along its longitudinal axis, the high-G force firing pin is displaced to strike the detonator. The device may become ARMED in response to a centrifugal force generated by spinning the casing on its longitudinal axis.
Claims16
A method of controlling an explosive device, comprising:
- sliding a rotor in a direction generally perpendicular to a trajectory of the explosive device;
- moving a lock in the mechanism in the direction generally perpendicular to the trajectory of the explosive device in response to a centrifugal force, wherein the lock includes lock pins;
- extending the lock pins of the lock in a direction generally parallel to the trajectory of the explosive device to engage with the rotor and to transition the mechanism from a SAFE arrangement to an ARMED arrangement;
- and
- moving a first firing pin in response to a first deceleration force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.