Controlled variable time radio proximity fuze

Claim 2

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having a portion adapted to be rotated to set effective target time, a clock within said fuze adapted to be started When a projectile containing said fuze is fired, said rotatable portion being provided with at least two pairs of electrical contacts the first of which is adapted when short-circuited to close an electrical circuit to activate said fuze and the second of which is adapted when short-circuited to maintain said fuze unarmed, and means short-circuiting said second pair during a portion of the flight of the projectile and rotatably driven by said clock for sequentially short-circuiting said first pair and maintaining said electrical circuit closed and removing the short circuit across said second pair after predetermined intervals in flight which are functions of said effective target time.

Claim 3

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having a portion adapted to be rotated to set effective target time, switching means comprising a clock within said fuze adapted to be started when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, said rotatable portion being provided with three pairs of electrical contacts insulated from each other, the first of which is adapted when short-circuited to complete an electrical circuit to activate said fuze, the second of which is adapted when short-circuited to complete an electrical circuit to maintain said fuze unarmed, and the third of which is adapted when short-circuited to complete an electrical circuit to self-destroy said fuze, and means short-circuiting said second pair during a portion of the flight of the projectile and rotatably driven by said clock for sequentially short-circuiting said first pair, removing the short circuit from across said second pair, and short-circuiting said third pair at predetermined intervals after said projectile is fired which intervals are functions of said effective target time setting.

Claim 4

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having a portion adapted to be rotated to set effective target time, switching means comprising a clock within said fuze adapted to be started when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, said rotatable portion being provided with three pairs of electrical contacts insulated from each other, the first of which is adapted when short-circuited to complete an electrical circuit to activate said fuze, the second of which is adapted when short-circuited to complete an electrical circuit to maintain said fuze unarmed, and the third of which is adapted when short-circuited to complete an electrical circuit to self-destroy said fuze, and means short-circuiting said second pair during a portion of the flight of the projectile and rotatably driven by said clock for sequentially short-circuiting said first pair, removing the short circuit from across said second pair, and short-circuiting said third pair at predetermined intervals after said projectile is fired which intervals are functions of said effective target time setting.

Claim 5

Switching means for a radio-controlled proximity fuze in accordance with claim 2 and including a centrifugally-operated switch adapted when operated to close an electrical circuit to activate said fuze and to prepare an electrical circuit to self-destroy said fuze, a fourth pair of contacts on said rotatable portion adapted when short-circuited to complete said circuit to self-destroy said fuze, and means to prevent said centrifugal switch from operating if a time setting is made, and in which said short-circuiting means is adapted to short-circuit between said fourth pair of contacts a predetermined interval after said projectile is fired if no time setting is made.

Claim 6

Switching means for a radio-controlled proximity fuze in accordance with claim 2 and in which said shorting means is adapted to sequentially short-circuit across said first pair, remove the short circuit from across said second pair and to short-circuit said third pair at predetermined intervals after said projectile is fired if no time setting is made.

Claim 7

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze, a generally tubular body portion having an outwardly extending flange near the front end thereof contoured to form part of the ogive of a projectile, a generally conical nose portion contoured to complete said ogive and having a rearwardly extending cylindrical portion fitting and rotatable within said body portion to set effective target time, means for preventing relative axial movement between said nose and said body portions, said nose portion containing a battery and amplifier and oscillating-detector circuits, an electrical detonator within said body portion, a clock also within said body portion adapted to be started when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, a pair of conducting rings within said body portion insulated from each other and spaced along the axis of said body portion with the rings connected to opposite sides of said detonator, a pair of brushes on said cylindrical portion each of which is resiliently urged against one of said conducting rings and connected to an electrical circuit within said nose portion, said cylindrical portion also being provided with at least one pair of electrical contacts insulated from each other and adapted to switch aN electrical circuit within said nose portion when short-circuited together, and means rotatably driven by said clock and adapted to short-circuit said contacts.

Claim 8

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze, a generally tubular body portion having an outwardly extending flange near the front end thereof contoured to form part of the ogive of a projectile, a generally conical nose portion contoured to complete said ogive and having a rearwardly extending cylindrical portion fitting and rotatable within said body portion to set effective target time, means for preventing relative axial movement between said nose and said body portions, said nose portion containing a battery and amplifier and oscillating-detector circuits, an electrical detonator within said body portion, a clock also within said body portion adapted to be started when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, a pair of conducting rings within said body portion insulated from each other and spaced along the axis of said body portion with the rings connected to opposite sides of said detonator, a pair of brushes on said cylindrical portion each of which is resiliently urged against one of said conducting rings and connected to an electrical circuit within said nose portion, said cylindrical portion also being provided with at least one pair of electrical contacts insulated from each other and adapted to switch aN electrical circuit within said nose portion when short-circuited together, and means rotatably driven by said clock and adapted to short-circuit said contacts.

Claim 9

In a fuze in accordance with claim 5 in which said rotatably-driven means short-circuits a pair of electrical contacts during a portion of the interval in flight and is adapted to remove this short circuit when rotated.

Claim 10

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having an oscillating detector adapted to oscillate at radio frequency and to detect the difference beat frequency between the signal radiated by said fuze and a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, an amplifier for amplifying said detected signal, an electrically-actuated detonator adapted to initiate the explosion of said fuze, a grid-controlled gas-filled discharge tube adapted to actuate said detonator when triggered by the output of said amplifier, a battery, and a portion adapted to be rotated to set an effective target time, an energizing interval, an arming interval, and a self-destruction interval; switching apparatus comprising means for normally maintaining a short circuit across said detonator, means for completing an electrical circuit during said self-destruction interval to connect said battery to said detonator in order to self-destroy said fuze after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective target time providing said fuze has not detonated from a signal reflected from a target, means for removing the short circuit across said detonator during said arming interval and a predetermined interval before said fuze self-destroys, and means for completing an electrical circuit during said energizing interval to connect said battery to said amplifier and said detector and said discharge tube a predetermined interval before the removal of said short circuit.

Claim 11

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having an oscillating detector adapted to oscillate at radio frequency and to detect the difference beat frequency between the signal radiated by said fuze and a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, an amplifier for amplifying said detected signal, an electrically-actuated detonator adapted to initiate the explosion of said fuze, a grid-controlled gas-filled discharge tube adapted to actuate said detonator when triggered by the output of said amplifier, a battery, and a portion adapted to be rotated to set an effective target time, an energizing interval, an arming interval, and a self-destruction interval; switching apparatus comprising means for normally maintaining a short circuit across said detonator, means for completing an electrical circuit during said self-destruction interval to connect said battery to said detonator in order to self-destroy said fuze after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective target time providing said fuze has not detonated from a signal reflected from a target, means for removing the short circuit across said detonator during said arming interval and a predetermined interval before said fuze self-destroys, and means for completing an electrical circuit during said energizing interval to connect said battery to said amplifier and said detector and said discharge tube a predetermined interval before the removal of said short circuit.

Claim 12

In a radio-controlled proximity fuse in accordance with claim 7 in which said switching apparatus includes a separate switching means operable when no time setting is made for completing an electrical circuit during said energizing interval to connect said battery to said amplifier and said detector and said discharge tube in order to activate said fuze a first predetermined interval after said projectile is fired, for removing said short circuit from across said detonator during said arming interval to arm said fuze a second predetermined interval after said projectile is fired, and for completing an electrical circuit during said self-destruction interval to connect said battery to said detonator a third predetermined interval after said projectile is fired.

Claim 13

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having an oscillating detector adapted to oscillate at radio frequency and to detect the difference beat frequency between the signal radiated by said fuze and a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, an amplifier for amplifying said detected signal, an electrically-actuated detonator adapted to initiate the explosion of said fuze, a grid-controlled gas-filled discharge tube adapted to actuate said detonator when triggered from the output of said amplifier, a battery, and a portion adapted to be rotated to set effective target time; switching apparatus comprising a clock adapted to be started when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, a pair of juxtapositioned coaxial disks of insulation one of which engages said rotatable portion and the other of which is rotatably driven by said clock, a pair of spaced electrical contacts on the face of one disk one of which contacts is electrically connected to said battery, a centrifugally-operated switch having a set of normally open contacts adapted when closed to complete an electrical circuit to connect said battery to said amplifier and to said detector and to said discharge tube in order to activate said fuze and a set of break-make contacts adapted when said switch is operated to open a circuit normally maintaining a short circuit across said detonator to arm said fuze and to electrically cOnnect said detonator to the other of said spaced contacts, means to prevent said centrifugal switch from operating if a time setting is made, and a shorting member on the contiguous face of the other disk adapted to short-circuit between said spaced contacts a predetermined interval after said projectile is fired providing no time setting is made.

Claim 14

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having an oscillating detector adapted to oscillate at radio frequency and to detect the difference beat frequency between the signal radiated by said fuze and a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, an amplifier for amplifying said detected signal, an electrically-actuated detonator adapted to initiate the explosion of said fuze, a grid-controlled gas-filled discharge tube adapted to actuate said detonator when triggered from the output of said amplifier, a battery, and a portion adapted to be rotated to set effective target time; switching apparatus comprising a clock adapted to be started when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, a pair of juxtapositioned coaxial disks of insulation one of which engages said rotatable portion and the other of which is rotatably driven by said clock, a pair of spaced electrical contacts on the face of one disk one of which contacts is electrically connected to said battery, a centrifugally-operated switch having a set of normally open contacts adapted when closed to complete an electrical circuit to connect said battery to said amplifier and to said detector and to said discharge tube in order to activate said fuze and a set of break-make contacts adapted when said switch is operated to open a circuit normally maintaining a short circuit across said detonator to arm said fuze and to electrically cOnnect said detonator to the other of said spaced contacts, means to prevent said centrifugal switch from operating if a time setting is made, and a shorting member on the contiguous face of the other disk adapted to short-circuit between said spaced contacts a predetermined interval after said projectile is fired providing no time setting is made.

Claim 15

Switching apparatus in accordance with claim 9 in which said centrifugal switch is disposed in said rotatable portion and said means to prevent said centrifugal switch from operating includes a pin in the path of movement of said switch and removable therefrom by the force of setback from the firing of said projectile to release said switch, said pin projecting through an aperture in the disk engaging said rotatable portion, said disk driven by said clock having an opening therein in alignment with said pin through which said pin may pass to release said switch if no time setting is made, whereby when a time setting is made said pin is rotated out of alignment with said opening and operation of said centrifugal switch is prevented.

Claim 16

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having an oscillating detector adapted to oscillate at radio frequency and to detect the difference beat frequency between the signal radiated by said fuze and a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, an amplifier for amplifying the output of said detector, an electrically-actuated detonator adapted to initiate the explosion of said fuze and having one side thereof connected to electrical ground, a grid-controlled gas-filled discharge tube adapted to actuate said detonator when triggered by a signal of sufficient amplitude and duration from said amplifier, a battery, and a portion adapted to be rotated to set effective target time; switching apparatus comprising a clock within said fuze adapted to start when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, a pair of juxtapositioned coaxial disks of insulation the first of which engages said rotatable portion and the second of which is rotatably driven by said clock, said first disk having a plurality of concentric arcuate electrical contacts on the face thereof including an inner ring contact normally electrically connected to the ungrounded side of said detonator, an arcuate second contact spaced radially from said inner contact and connected to electrical ground, an arcuate third contact having the same radius as said second contact and electrically connected to said battery and being disposed centrally of the open portion of said second contact, the circumferential separation between the second and third contacts subtending a central angle phi , and a pair of arcuate radially-spaced outer contacts of greater radius than said second and third contacts and subtending a central angle including and greater than the angle phi , one of said outer pair being electrically connected to said battery and the other of said pair being electrically connected to the anode circuits of said detector and said amplifier and said discharge tube, said second disk having a pair of radially aligned shorting members on the contiguous face thereof the first of which is adapted to short-circuit between said ring and said second contacts when a time setting is made and to remove this short circuit after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective time setting and the second of which is adapted to short circuit between said pair of outer contacts a predetermined interval before said first shorting member removes the short across said ring and said second contacts as said second disk is rotated by said clock, said first shorting member being also adapted to short-circuit between said ring and third contacts after rotation through said angle phi .

Claim 17

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having an oscillating detector adapted to oscillate at radio frequency and to detect the difference beat frequency between the signal radiated by said fuze and a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, an amplifier for amplifying the output of said detector, an electrically-actuated detonator adapted to initiate the explosion of said fuze and having one side thereof connected to electrical ground, a grid-controlled gas-filled discharge tube adapted to actuate said detonator when triggered by a signal of sufficient amplitude and duration from said amplifier, a battery, and a portion adapted to be rotated to set effective target time; switching apparatus comprising a clock within said fuze adapted to start when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, a pair of juxtapositioned coaxial disks of insulation the first of which engages said rotatable portion and the second of which is rotatably driven by said clock, said first disk having a plurality of concentric arcuate electrical contacts on the face thereof including an inner ring contact normally electrically connected to the ungrounded side of said detonator, an arcuate second contact spaced radially from said inner contact and connected to electrical ground, an arcuate third contact having the same radius as said second contact and electrically connected to said battery and being disposed centrally of the open portion of said second contact, the circumferential separation between the second and third contacts subtending a central angle phi , and a pair of arcuate radially-spaced outer contacts of greater radius than said second and third contacts and subtending a central angle including and greater than the angle phi , one of said outer pair being electrically connected to said battery and the other of said pair being electrically connected to the anode circuits of said detector and said amplifier and said discharge tube, said second disk having a pair of radially aligned shorting members on the contiguous face thereof the first of which is adapted to short-circuit between said ring and said second contacts when a time setting is made and to remove this short circuit after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective time setting and the second of which is adapted to short circuit between said pair of outer contacts a predetermined interval before said first shorting member removes the short across said ring and said second contacts as said second disk is rotated by said clock, said first shorting member being also adapted to short-circuit between said ring and third contacts after rotation through said angle phi .

Claim 18

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having an oscillating detector adapted to oscillate at radio frequency and to detect the difference frequency between the radiated signal and a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, an amplifier for amPlifying the output of said detector, an electrically-actuated detonator adapted to initiate the explosion of said fuze and having one side thereof connected to electrical ground, a grid controlled gas-filled discharge tube adapted to actuate said detonator when triggered by a signal of sufficient amplitude and duration from said amplifier, a battery, and a portion adapted to be rotated to set effective target time; switching apparatus comprising a clock within said fuze adapted to start when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, a first pair of electrical contacts on said rotatable portion one of which is connected to electrical ground and the other of which is electrically connected to the ungrounded side of said detonator, a second pair of electrical contacts on said rotatable portion one of which is electrically connected to said battery and the other of which is connected to the plate circuits of said amplifier and said detector and said discharge tube, a contact member on said rotatable portion also electrically connected to said battery, means rotatably driven by said clock for short-circuiting said first pair of contacts when an effective target time setting is made, and adapted to remove the short circuit a first predetermined interval after said clock starts which interval is a function of said effective target time setting, means rotatably driven by said clock for short-circuiting said second pair of contacts a second predetermined interval after said clock starts, said second interval being shorter than said first interval and also being a function of said time setting, and means rotatably driven by said clock for short-circuiting the contact of said first pair which is connected to said detonator and said contact member a third predetermined interval after said clock starts which third interval is also a function of said effective target time setting and greater than said first interval.

Claim 19

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having an oscillating detector adapted to oscillate at radio frequency and to detect the difference frequency between the radiated signal and a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, an amplifier for amPlifying the output of said detector, an electrically-actuated detonator adapted to initiate the explosion of said fuze and having one side thereof connected to electrical ground, a grid controlled gas-filled discharge tube adapted to actuate said detonator when triggered by a signal of sufficient amplitude and duration from said amplifier, a battery, and a portion adapted to be rotated to set effective target time; switching apparatus comprising a clock within said fuze adapted to start when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, a first pair of electrical contacts on said rotatable portion one of which is connected to electrical ground and the other of which is electrically connected to the ungrounded side of said detonator, a second pair of electrical contacts on said rotatable portion one of which is electrically connected to said battery and the other of which is connected to the plate circuits of said amplifier and said detector and said discharge tube, a contact member on said rotatable portion also electrically connected to said battery, means rotatably driven by said clock for short-circuiting said first pair of contacts when an effective target time setting is made, and adapted to remove the short circuit a first predetermined interval after said clock starts which interval is a function of said effective target time setting, means rotatably driven by said clock for short-circuiting said second pair of contacts a second predetermined interval after said clock starts, said second interval being shorter than said first interval and also being a function of said time setting, and means rotatably driven by said clock for short-circuiting the contact of said first pair which is connected to said detonator and said contact member a third predetermined interval after said clock starts which third interval is also a function of said effective target time setting and greater than said first interval.

Claim 20

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having a portion adapted to be rotated to set effective target time, an electrically-actuated detonator having one side thereof grounded and adapted to initiate the explosion of said fuze, an oscillating detector within said rotatable portion adapted to oscillate at radio frequency and to detect the beat frequency between the signal radiated by said fuze and a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, an amplifier within said rotatable portion for amplifying said detected signal, a grid-controlled gas-filled discharge tube within said rotatable portion adapted to actuate said detonator when triggered by the output of said amplifier, and a battery within said rotatable portion; switching means comprising a clock within said fuze adapted to be started when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, an annular insulating ring engaging said rotatable portion and provided with a first pair of spaced electrical contacts on the inner circumference thereof with each contact connected to an opposite side of said detonator and a second pair of spaced electrical contacts on the inner circumference thereof one of which is connected to said battery and the other of which is connected to the anodes of said detector and said discharge tube and said amplifier, an insulating disk within said annular ring rotatably driven by said clock and provided with first shorting means adapted to short-circuit said second pair of contacts a first predetermined interval after said clock starts which interval is a function of said effective target time, and second shorting means adapted to short-circuit said first pair of contacts during the shorting of said second pair and to remove the short circuit across said first pair a second predetermined interval after said clock starts which second interval is a function of said effective target time and longer than said first interval, said second shorting means also being adapted to short-circuit said contact of said first pair that is connected to the ungrounded side of said detonator and the contact of saiD second pair that is connected to said battery a third predetermined interval after said clock starts which interval is a function of said effective target time and greater than said second interval.

Claim 21

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having a portion adapted to be rotated to set effective target time, an electrically-actuated detonator having one side thereof grounded and adapted to initiate the explosion of said fuze, an oscillating detector within said rotatable portion adapted to oscillate at radio frequency and to detect the beat frequency between the signal radiated by said fuze and a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, an amplifier within said rotatable portion for amplifying said detected signal, a grid-controlled gas-filled discharge tube within said rotatable portion adapted to actuate said detonator when triggered by the output of said amplifier, and a battery within said rotatable portion; switching means comprising a clock within said fuze adapted to be started when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, an annular insulating ring engaging said rotatable portion and provided with a first pair of spaced electrical contacts on the inner circumference thereof with each contact connected to an opposite side of said detonator and a second pair of spaced electrical contacts on the inner circumference thereof one of which is connected to said battery and the other of which is connected to the anodes of said detector and said discharge tube and said amplifier, an insulating disk within said annular ring rotatably driven by said clock and provided with first shorting means adapted to short-circuit said second pair of contacts a first predetermined interval after said clock starts which interval is a function of said effective target time, and second shorting means adapted to short-circuit said first pair of contacts during the shorting of said second pair and to remove the short circuit across said first pair a second predetermined interval after said clock starts which second interval is a function of said effective target time and longer than said first interval, said second shorting means also being adapted to short-circuit said contact of said first pair that is connected to the ungrounded side of said detonator and the contact of saiD second pair that is connected to said battery a third predetermined interval after said clock starts which interval is a function of said effective target time and greater than said second interval.

Claim 22

Switching means in a radio-controlled proximity fuze in accordance with claim 13 and in which, when no effective target time setting is made, said first shorting means is adapted to short-circuit said second pair of contacts a first predetermined interval after said clock starts and said second shorting means is adapted to maintain a short circuit across said first pair of contacts until after the expiration of said first interval and to remove said short circuit a second predetermined interval after said clock starts which second interval is longer than said first interval, and said second shorting means is also adapted to short-circuit between said contact connected to the ungrounded side of said detonator and said contact that is connected to said battery a third predetermined interval after said clock starts which third interval is longer than said second interval.

Claim 23

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having a detonator, an electrical circuit having an energizing interval during which a potential is supplied to said circuit, an arming interval during which said detonator is triggered by a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze and a self-destroying interval during which said detonator is triggered by said circuit, and a portion adapted to be manually rotated to set effective target time and said intervals with respect to a normal position, switching means comprising a clock within said fuze adapted to be started when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, an annular insulating ring engaging said rotatable portion and having on the inner circumference thereof a first pair of electrical contacts providing said energizing interval and adapted when short-circuited to complete said electrical circuit to activate said fuze, a second pair of electrical contacts providing said arming interval and adapted when short circuited to maintain said fuze unarmed, and a third pair of contacts providing said self-destroying interval and adapted when short-circuited to complete an electrical circuit to detonate said fuze, an insulating disk arranged within said annular ring and rotatably driven by said clock with respect to said ring and said normal position and having on the outer circumference thereof first shorting means adapted to short-circuit said first pair of contacts first predetermined interval after said projectile is fired which interval is a function of said effective target time, and second shorting means for maintaining a short circuit across said second pair at the end of said first interval and for removing said short circuit a second predetermined interval after said fuze is fired which second interval is also a function of said effective target time and longer than said first interval, said second shorting means also being adapted to short-circuit said third pair of contacts a third predetermined interval after said projectile is fired which third interval is also a function of said effective target time and longer than said second interval.

Claim 24

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having a detonator, an electrical circuit having an energizing interval during which a potential is supplied to said circuit, an arming interval during which said detonator is triggered by a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze and a self-destroying interval during which said detonator is triggered by said circuit, and a portion adapted to be manually rotated to set effective target time and said intervals with respect to a normal position, switching means comprising a clock within said fuze adapted to be started when a projectile containing said fuze is fired, an annular insulating ring engaging said rotatable portion and having on the inner circumference thereof a first pair of electrical contacts providing said energizing interval and adapted when short-circuited to complete said electrical circuit to activate said fuze, a second pair of electrical contacts providing said arming interval and adapted when short circuited to maintain said fuze unarmed, and a third pair of contacts providing said self-destroying interval and adapted when short-circuited to complete an electrical circuit to detonate said fuze, an insulating disk arranged within said annular ring and rotatably driven by said clock with respect to said ring and said normal position and having on the outer circumference thereof first shorting means adapted to short-circuit said first pair of contacts first predetermined interval after said projectile is fired which interval is a function of said effective target time, and second shorting means for maintaining a short circuit across said second pair at the end of said first interval and for removing said short circuit a second predetermined interval after said fuze is fired which second interval is also a function of said effective target time and longer than said first interval, said second shorting means also being adapted to short-circuit said third pair of contacts a third predetermined interval after said projectile is fired which third interval is also a function of said effective target time and longer than said second interval.

Claim 25

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze including a detonator, an electrical circuit having an energizing interval during which a potential is supplied to said circuit and an arming interval during which said detonator is triggered by a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, and a portion adapted to be manually rotated for setting an effective target time and said intervals with respect to a normal position, circuit actuating means rendered operative upon rotation of said portion and adapted to be moved from said normal position to a position for initiating said energizing interval after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective target time and to a position for initiating said arming interval after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective target time And greater than that for said energizing interval, and centrifugally-operated means operatively connected to said circuit actuating means and adapted to be rendered operative upon setting of the target time by said portion and upon a predetermined rotational speed of said fuze for moving said actuating means from said normal position to said second-mentioned positions.

Claim 26

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze including a detonator, an electrical circuit having an energizing interval during which a potential is supplied to said circuit and an arming interval during which said detonator is triggered by a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, and a portion adapted to be manually rotated for setting an effective target time and said intervals with respect to a normal position, circuit actuating means rendered operative upon rotation of said portion and adapted to be moved from said normal position to a position for initiating said energizing interval after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective target time and to a position for initiating said arming interval after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective target time And greater than that for said energizing interval, and centrifugally-operated means operatively connected to said circuit actuating means and adapted to be rendered operative upon setting of the target time by said portion and upon a predetermined rotational speed of said fuze for moving said actuating means from said normal position to said second-mentioned positions.

Claim 27

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze including a detonator, an electrical circuit having an energizing interval during which a potential is supplied to said circuit, an arming interval during which said detonator is triggered by a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, and a self-destroying interval during which said detonator is triggered by said circuit, and a portion adapted to be manually rotated for setting an effective target time and said intervals with respect to a normal position, circuit actuating means rendered operative upon rotation of said portion and adapted to be moved from said normal position to a position for initiating said energizing interval after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective target time, to a position for initiating said arming interval after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective target time and greater than that for said energizing interval and to a position for initiating said self-destroying interval after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective target time and greater than that for said arming interval, and centrifugally-operated means operatively connected to said circuit actuating means and adapted to be rendered operative upon setting of the target time by said portion upon a predetermined rotational speed of said fuze for moving said circuit actuating means from said normal position to second-mentioned positions.

Claim 28

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze including a detonator, an electrical circuit having an energizing interval during which a potential is supplied to said circuit, an arming interval during which said detonator is triggered by a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, and a self-destroying interval during which said detonator is triggered by said circuit, and a portion adapted to be manually rotated for setting an effective target time and said intervals with respect to a normal position, circuit actuating means rendered operative upon rotation of said portion and adapted to be moved from said normal position to a position for initiating said energizing interval after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective target time, to a position for initiating said arming interval after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective target time and greater than that for said energizing interval and to a position for initiating said self-destroying interval after an interval in flight which is a function of said effective target time and greater than that for said arming interval, and centrifugally-operated means operatively connected to said circuit actuating means and adapted to be rendered operative upon setting of the target time by said portion upon a predetermined rotational speed of said fuze for moving said circuit actuating means from said normal position to second-mentioned positions.

Claim 29

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze including a detonator, an electrical circuit having an energizing interval during which a potential is supplied to said circuit, an arming interval during which said detonator is triggered by a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, and a self-destroying interval in which said detonator is triggered by said circuit, and a portion adapted to be manually rotated for setting an effective target time and said intervals with respect to a normal position, centrifugally-operated switch means arranged in said circuit and adapted to be released upon failure to rotate said portion and the application of a set back force to said fuze for initiating said energizing interval, timing means arranged in said circuit to provide a time delay upon release of said switch means and upon failure to rotate said portion for initiating said arming interval only after a predetermined interval in flight, circuit actuating means adapted to be rendered operative upon release of said switch means and moved from said normal position to a position for initiating said self-destroying interval after a predetermined interval in flight which is greater than said time delay, and a centrifugally-operated means operatively connected to said circuit actuating means and adapted to be rendered operative upon a predetermined rotational speed of said fuze for moving said circuit actuating means from said normal position to said second-mentioned position.

Claim 30

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze including a detonator, an electrical circuit having an energizing interval during which a potential is supplied to said circuit, an arming interval during which said detonator is triggered by a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, and a self-destroying interval in which said detonator is triggered by said circuit, and a portion adapted to be manually rotated for setting an effective target time and said intervals with respect to a normal position, centrifugally-operated switch means arranged in said circuit and adapted to be released upon failure to rotate said portion and the application of a set back force to said fuze for initiating said energizing interval, timing means arranged in said circuit to provide a time delay upon release of said switch means and upon failure to rotate said portion for initiating said arming interval only after a predetermined interval in flight, circuit actuating means adapted to be rendered operative upon release of said switch means and moved from said normal position to a position for initiating said self-destroying interval after a predetermined interval in flight which is greater than said time delay, and a centrifugally-operated means operatively connected to said circuit actuating means and adapted to be rendered operative upon a predetermined rotational speed of said fuze for moving said circuit actuating means from said normal position to said second-mentioned position.

Claim 31

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having a detonator, electrical means for exploding said detonator triggered by a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, and a portion adapted to be rotated to set effective target time, the combination of switching means for completing electrical circuits for activating said fuze a predetermined interval after a projectile containing said fuze is fired if no time setting is made, switching means for completing electrical circuits for arming said fuze a predetermined interval after said fuze is activated if no time setting is made, and means for completing electrical circuits for exploding said detonator in order to self-destroy said fuze a predetermined iNterval after said projectile is fired if no time setting is made, said self-destruction interval being longer than said activating and arming intervals.

Claim 32

In a radio-controlled proximity fuze having a detonator, electrical means for exploding said detonator triggered by a signal reflected from a target approached by said fuze, and a portion adapted to be rotated to set effective target time, the combination of switching means for completing electrical circuits for activating said fuze a predetermined interval after a projectile containing said fuze is fired if no time setting is made, switching means for completing electrical circuits for arming said fuze a predetermined interval after said fuze is activated if no time setting is made, and means for completing electrical circuits for exploding said detonator in order to self-destroy said fuze a predetermined iNterval after said projectile is fired if no time setting is made, said self-destruction interval being longer than said activating and arming intervals.