US3913486A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic delay graze sensitive fuze
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1973-10-03
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Granted: 1975-10-21
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Expires: 1993-10-03
Abstract
Abstract An auto-delay fuze for initiation of a detonator in a projectile has a self-contained inertially responsive system capable of releasing a spring loaded, ball-detented, firing pin when the projectile decelerates on impact. The fuze utilizes spin detents to hold an impact responsive slider and plunger members in contact with the firing pin detents. Upon impact a ball-plunger mass moves the slider member away from the firing pin detents and locks the slider upon an axially aligned holder thus placing the projectile in a ''''commit'''' position. Functioning of the fuze is delayed until such time as deceleration forces of impact, holding the plunger in its detenting position, are overcome by a biased spring acting in an opposite direction on the plunger, thus causing the plunger to move and release the firing pin from its detent.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephan Kosonocky
- 👤 Lloyd D Post
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:40
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42C; F42C1/00; F42C1/02; F42C1/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
327 words
An automatic, graze sensitive, impact delay fuze for actuating a spin launched projectile which comprises: a housing for holding said fuze therein, said housing having a forward end and a rear end; a cylindrically shaped plunger member slidably positioned in said housing, said plunger having a plunger forward end, a plunger rear end and a centrally positioned axially aligned plunger-holder bore therein, said plunger forward end having a plunger-slider bore larger than and axially aligned with said plunger-holder bore and communicating therewith, and a plungerdetent counterbore larger than, and axially aligned and communicating with said plunger-slider bore; firing pin detent means axially positioned in said fuze for placing said fuze in a ''''commit'''' position after said projectile is launched and has impacted; a detonator axially positioned proximate to the rear end of said plunger; and biased firing pin means, operatively held by said firing pin detent means, for forcibly striking and exploding said detonator upon decrease of the decelerating forces of impact; and spin detent means rotatably supported on said plunger member within said plunger-detent counterbore for holding said fuze in a ''''safe'''' position until such time as said projectile has seen a proper launch environment which includes; a pair of nonsmmetrically U-shaped detent levers oppositely disposed and pivotally supported on said plunger member; a disc shaped plunger-washer for operatively holding said detents to said plunger; and a spring disc operatively positioned intermediate said U-shaped detents and said plunger-detent counterbore having a pair of detent springs integrally formed from said spring disc, said pair of detent springs biasedly holding said U-shaped detents so that said fuze is maintained in said ''''safe'''' position prior to said projectile being launched, and a plurality of radially positioned inwardly protruding restraining spring fingers operatively positioned intermediate said U-shaped detents and said plunger member for restraining said firing pin detent means so that said biased firing pin means will not be released by said firing pin detent means until said projectile impacts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
327 words
An automatic, graze sensitive, impact delay fuze for actuating a spin launched projectile which comprises: a housing for holding said fuze therein, said housing having a forward end and a rear end; a cylindrically shaped plunger member slidably positioned in said housing, said plunger having a plunger forward end, a plunger rear end and a centrally positioned axially aligned plunger-holder bore therein, said plunger forward end having a plunger-slider bore larger than and axially aligned with said plunger-holder bore and communicating therewith, and a plungerdetent counterbore larger than, and axially aligned and communicating with said plunger-slider bore; firing pin detent means axially positioned in said fuze for placing said fuze in a ''''commit'''' position after said projectile is launched and has impacted; a detonator axially positioned proximate to the rear end of said plunger; and biased firing pin means, operatively held by said firing pin detent means, for forcibly striking and exploding said detonator upon decrease of the decelerating forces of impact; and spin detent means rotatably supported on said plunger member within said plunger-detent counterbore for holding said fuze in a ''''safe'''' position until such time as said projectile has seen a proper launch environment which includes; a pair of nonsmmetrically U-shaped detent levers oppositely disposed and pivotally supported on said plunger member; a disc shaped plunger-washer for operatively holding said detents to said plunger; and a spring disc operatively positioned intermediate said U-shaped detents and said plunger-detent counterbore having a pair of detent springs integrally formed from said spring disc, said pair of detent springs biasedly holding said U-shaped detents so that said fuze is maintained in said ''''safe'''' position prior to said projectile being launched, and a plurality of radially positioned inwardly protruding restraining spring fingers operatively positioned intermediate said U-shaped detents and said plunger member for restraining said firing pin detent means so that said biased firing pin means will not be released by said firing pin detent means until said projectile impacts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
236 words
An automatic, graze sensitive, impact delay fuze as recited in claim 1 wherein the firing pin detent means comprises: a cup shaped spring retainer axially and fixedly positioned in said housing forward end, said retainer having an axial flash bore therein which communicates with a larger axially aligned retained holder bore; a conically helically shaped creep spring biasedly interposed intermediate the forward end of said housing and said plunger-washer; a tubular firing pin holder having a holder forward end fixedly held in said retainer holder bore and a holder rear end fixedly held in the rear end of said housing so that said holder is axially aligned in said housing and said plunger-holder bore, said holder having an externally tapered holder section proximate said holder forward end, and a plurality of equally spaced transversely positioned ball detent bores therein; a tubular slider operatively positioned in said plunger-slider bore, said slider having a tapered inner wall surface which slidably fits over said holder and covering said plurality of ball detent bores when said fuze is in a ''''safe'''' position; and a plurality of firing pin detent balls operatively positioned in said ball detent bores; wherein said slider is forcibly moved toward said externally tapered holder section when said projectile impacts and locks thereon so that upon decrease of the decelerating force of impact said biased firing pin means can be forcibly moved toward and strike said detonator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
283 words
An automatic, graze sensitive, impact fuze comprising: a hollow cylindrical housing including outer, front and rear walls, and containing a fixed axial tubular firing pin holder portion with at least one radial opening therein; a rearwardly-biased firing pin slidably disposed in said tubular portion; a detonator disposed adjacent to the rear end of said tubular portion, in line with said firing pin; an annular plunger member slidably disposed in said housing between said outer wall and said tubular portion and having a plunger-slider bore in its inner wall opposite said radial opening when said plunger member is in a rearward safe position adjacent to said rear wall in the safe condition of the fuze; a creep spring interposed between said plunger member and said front wall for biasing said plunger member rearwardly; spin-releasable detent means locking said plunger member in said rearward safe position, said plunger member being adapted to move forward by its own inertia, after being released by said detent means at launch, at impact of said fuze with a target; a detent ball disposed partially in said opening for locking said firing pin in a safe position spaced from said detonator; first means carried by said plunger member for holding said detent ball in locking position in said safe condition of said fuze; said first means including a tubular slider positioned in said bore; second means carried by said plunger Member, spaced rearwardly from said bore, for holding said detent ball in locking position after the forward movement of said plunger member and said slider on impact; and means for holding said slider in its forward position when said plunger member is moved rearwardly by said creep spring after impact.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
283 words
An automatic, graze sensitive, impact fuze comprising: a hollow cylindrical housing including outer, front and rear walls, and containing a fixed axial tubular firing pin holder portion with at least one radial opening therein; a rearwardly-biased firing pin slidably disposed in said tubular portion; a detonator disposed adjacent to the rear end of said tubular portion, in line with said firing pin; an annular plunger member slidably disposed in said housing between said outer wall and said tubular portion and having a plunger-slider bore in its inner wall opposite said radial opening when said plunger member is in a rearward safe position adjacent to said rear wall in the safe condition of the fuze; a creep spring interposed between said plunger member and said front wall for biasing said plunger member rearwardly; spin-releasable detent means locking said plunger member in said rearward safe position, said plunger member being adapted to move forward by its own inertia, after being released by said detent means at launch, at impact of said fuze with a target; a detent ball disposed partially in said opening for locking said firing pin in a safe position spaced from said detonator; first means carried by said plunger member for holding said detent ball in locking position in said safe condition of said fuze; said first means including a tubular slider positioned in said bore; second means carried by said plunger Member, spaced rearwardly from said bore, for holding said detent ball in locking position after the forward movement of said plunger member and said slider on impact; and means for holding said slider in its forward position when said plunger member is moved rearwardly by said creep spring after impact.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fuze as in claim 3, wherein said second means is a portion of the inner surface of said annular plunger member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A fuze as in claim 3, wherein said last-named means comprises cooperating axially tapered surfaces on the outside of said tubular portion and the inside of said slider.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A fuze as in claim 3, wherein said plunger member having said plunger-detent counterbore at the forward end thereof; and said spin detent means comprises an external rearwardly facing shoulder spaced from the forward end of said tubular portion, a plurality of spin detents disposed within said detent counterbore, and spring means biasing said detents inwardly behind said shoulder in the safe condition of said fuze.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |