Ammunition and explosives – Igniting devices and systems – Impacting devices
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-21
2001-08-28
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3641)
Ammunition and explosives
Igniting devices and systems
Impacting devices
C102S272000, C102S274000, C102S236000, C102S488000, C102S252000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279480
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the priority of German Application No. 198 48 356.2 filed Oct. 21, 1998, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a firing pin for mechanically igniting a warhead detonator situated in the bottom region of the projectile carrying the warhead. The firing pin is mechanically guided in a firing pin housing.
The purpose of detonators is to ignite (detonate) the explosive of the warhead of a projectile or an explosive charge at the target or at a desired moment. Detonators of the mechanical type are provided with a firing pin to initiate the detonation.
A firing pin of the above-outlined type is disclosed in German Offenlegungsschrift (application published without examination) No. 38 35 888. The firing pin is integrated in a mechanical bottom detonator. As the projectile hits the target, the firing pin is, by inertia, accelerated forward against the force of a firing pin spring into a detonator charge causing ignition thereof to thus ignite a hollow charge of the projectile. It is a disadvantage of such a prior art arrangement that the mechanical bottom detonator may be used only in projectiles of low impact speed and thus short range because the response time of the firing pin after impact of the projectile is excessively long for igniting the hollow charge. Therefore, a mechanical detonator cannot be used as a bottom detonator for hollow charge projectiles and thus for projectiles of greater muzzle and traveling velocity. Therefore, an electric bottom detonator has been conventionally used to ensure a very short response time in high-performance projectiles. Such an electric bottom detonator, however, is more complex and more expensive than mechanical bottom detonators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved mechanical detonator which may be used in projectiles of high impact velocity requiring short response times.
This object and others to become apparent as the specification progresses, are accomplished by the invention, according to which, briefly stated, the firing pin assembly for mechanically igniting a warhead detonator of a projectile by being accelerated in a forward direction by inertia upon impact, includes a firing pin having a rearward firing pin part and a frontal firing pin part arranged in series with the rearward firing pin part as viewed in the forward direction. The assembly further has a firing pin spring urging the firing pin in a direction opposite the forward direction, and a mechanical device positioned between the rearward firing pin part and the frontal firing pin part. The mechanical device includes a transmission arrangement for transmitting a forward motion of the rearward firing pin part to the frontal firing pin part with a stepped-up transmission ratio whereby a forward motion of the rearward firing pin part through a first distance results in a forward motion of the frontal firing pin part, against the force of the firing pin spring, through a second distance which is greater than the first distance.
The invention is based on the principle to significantly reduce the response time between impact and detonation by dividing the firing pin of the mechanical detonator into several parts and placing a step-up mechanism between the divided parts. As a result, even at higher speed, the time lapse from the moment of impact of the projectile to the moment of detonation is sufficiently short. The divided firing pin preferably is composed of two parts which are spaced from, and mechanically coupled to, one another preferably by three balls.
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patent: 1382750 (1921-06-01), Sparague et al.
patent: 1509329 (1924-09-01), Woodberry
patent: 1514743 (1924-11-01), Taylor
patent: 1541279 (1925-06-01), Remondy
patent: 1618944 (1927-02-01), Pantoflicek
patent: 3439615 (1969-04-01), Forman et al.
patent: 3730004 (1973-05-01), Cwycyshyn et al.
patent: 4160414 (1979-07-01), Stockman et al.
patent: 4619200 (1986-10-01), Bell
patent: 4690057 (1987-09-01), Carlsson
patent: 4969397 (1990-11-01), Gunther et al.
patent: 0 229 302 (1987-07-01), None
patent: 614056 (1926-12-01), None
Jordan Charles T.
Kelemen Gabor J.
Rheinmetall W & M GmbH
Semunegus Lulit
Venable
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