US3672302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic digital accelerometer, fuze, or safety and arming mechanism
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1970-04-27
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1990-04-27
Abstract
Abstract Electrical apparatus comprises an oscillator or clock to feed pulses through an initiate gate to a digital X-bit counter. The counter is normally maintained at a zero level, or empty state, in condition to receive and temporarily store a maximum number of pulses, by a normally closed switch in an input line. And, pulses normally are not fed to the counter due to an open switch in an input line to the initiate gate. Upon acceleration of the apparatus the normally open switch closes to actuate the initiate gate, and the normally closed switch opens to permit the counter to begin counting or storing pulses therein. When the number of pulses reaches a predetermined value after a predetermined time delay, the counter fires off a signal to an output line. This signal may be used directly to trigger actuation of another device or apparatus. Or, the signal may be fed into an output gate which will pass the signal to the apparatus only upon the application of another signal or pulse to the output gate. The signal from the output line, or from the output gate, may be used to actuate explosive apparatus or to arm other devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald N Shaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P15/00; G01P15/02; G01P15/08; G01P15/0891; F; F42; F42C; F42C11/00; F42C11/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
Ordnance apparatus for use with a normally closed acceleration responsive control switch and a normally open acceleration responsive control switch comprising a source of electrical power having a plurality of terminals, oscillator means connected to a first terminal of said source of power, an initiate gate connected to said oscillator means, an X-bit counter connected to said initiate gate, first means connecting a second terminal of said source of power to said X-bit counter through the normally closed acceleration responsive control switch to maintain said X-bit counter set to zero or to reset said counter to zero when the switch is closed and to permit said X-bit counter to accumulate pulses coming through said oscillator when said switch is open, second means connecting said second terminal of said source of power to said initiate gate through the normally open acceleration responsive control switch to activate said initiate gate when acceleration closes the normally open switch to permit said initiate gate to pass pulses coming simultaneously from said oscillator and said last mentioned switch, said X-bit counter producing an output signal upon the accumulation of a predetermined number of pulses from said initiate gate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
Ordnance apparatus for use with a normally closed acceleration responsive control switch and a normally open acceleration responsive control switch comprising a source of electrical power having a plurality of terminals, oscillator means connected to a first terminal of said source of power, an initiate gate connected to said oscillator means, an X-bit counter connected to said initiate gate, first means connecting a second terminal of said source of power to said X-bit counter through the normally closed acceleration responsive control switch to maintain said X-bit counter set to zero or to reset said counter to zero when the switch is closed and to permit said X-bit counter to accumulate pulses coming through said oscillator when said switch is open, second means connecting said second terminal of said source of power to said initiate gate through the normally open acceleration responsive control switch to activate said initiate gate when acceleration closes the normally open switch to permit said initiate gate to pass pulses coming simultaneously from said oscillator and said last mentioned switch, said X-bit counter producing an output signal upon the accumulation of a predetermined number of pulses from said initiate gate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 and an output gate connected to the output of said X-bit counter, and an input line to enable said output gate responsive to a signal fed to said input line, the output gate blocking transmission from said X-bit counter until a signal is supplied by said input line and permitting transmission when a signal is supplied by said input line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 and a by-pass line and switch to permit a signal from said X-bit counter to by-pass said output gate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as set out in claim 1 and motor means actuable in response to an output signal from said X-bit counter tending to arm an explosive device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as set out in claim 2 and motor means actuable in response to an output signal from said output gate tending to arm an explosive device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 and means preventing arming of said explosive device prior to acceleration thereof of a predetermined magnitude.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said last mentioned means comprises safety pin locking means urged to a position to prevent arming and withdrawable in response to acceleration to permit arming.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3478356A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |