Self-destructing impact fuse

Details Self-destructing impact fuse Self-destructing impact fuse

1999-11-24

2001-05-29

Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)

Ammunition and explosives

Igniting devices and systems

Arming devices

C102S245000, C102S231000, C102S233000, C102S234000, C102S235000, C102S236000, C102S237000, C102S244000, C102S251000, C102S252000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06237495

ABSTRACT:

I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a self-destructing impact fuse for ammunition. In particular, the present invention pertains to a fuse for automatically and reliably detonating ammunition delivered by projectile even when the ammunition does not explode upon impact.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Self-destructing impact fuses are employed to detonate ammunition delivered by projectiles when the ammunition fails to explode upon impact. There are a variety of reasons why ammunition fails to explode upon impact: First, it misses the target and lands on soft grounds such as a swamp or a snow covered area; or secondly it lands on a suboptimal angle with respect to the point of impact. Unexploded ammunition poses hazards for the civilians and the military alike and operation to remove such unexploded ammunition is dangerous, costly and labor intensive.
Prior art self-destructing impact fuses can be generalized into three categories: (1) chemical, (2) mechanical and (3) electronic. Exemplary of a chemical self-destructing delay impact is U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,164 issued to Hadfield. The '164 patent describes a self-destructing fuse illustrating the use of a timing chamber containing liquid in combination with a weight and tubular spring mechanism for releasing the firing pin onto the detonator.
An example of a mechanical self-destructing fuse for sub-munition is U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,401 issued to Gatti. The '401 patent relies on the plastic deformation of a wire element which holds and delays the exertion of a secondary striker member onto the detonator.
Recently, electronic self-destructing fuses have also been developed to detonate projectiles via electronic timing circuitry after they fail to explode upon impact. The present invention avoids the deficiencies of the prior art, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a review of the description of the present invention.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to enhance the reliability of a self-destructing fuse without significantly increasing the unit production cost thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to incorporate into a self-destructing impact fuse key components, which respond to physical forces exerted on the ammunition and during the flight of projectile.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a cylindrical firing pin having a hollow centrifugal chamber for holding a number of spheres and a number of radial openings on its surface for exposing portions of the spheres when the chamber is spun. At one end of the chamber is a spring for exerting a compression force along the longitudinal axis of the chamber and at the other end is a self-destructing (hereinafter referred to as “SD”) firing pin for striking the detonator. A centrifugal lock having a pivot, offset from the longitudinal axis, holds the chamber in place by mating with a groove on the surface of the centrifugal chamber. The cylindrical firing pin is seated concentrically within a frame and disposed over an escapement assembly featuring the detonator. The detonator is rotated into alignment with the SD firing pin after the projectile incorporating the fuse travels a minimum tactical distance. The frame is further coupled to a base, which features a point detonation (hereinafter referred to as “PD”) firing pin for striking the detonator.


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