US3961578A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Point-detonating projectile fuze
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1974-03-01
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Granted: 1976-06-08
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Expires: 1994-03-01
Abstract
Abstract A fuze for a spin-stabilized artillery projectile comprises a body includ: an ogive member containing point-detonating firing means, selectable for super-quick or delay firing; and a base member containing an inertial delay fuze operable by either direct or graze impact, a combustible fuse loop surrounding the inertial delay fuze and exposed to the point-detonating firing means, and a firing train coupling the inertial delay fuze and the fuse loop to a booster charge for initiating the main explosive charge of the projectile. The inertial delay fuze may comprise a cylindrical housing including a rear wall, an outer cylindrical wall and a front wall including a rearward tubular extension forming an annular chamber, a rearwardly-biased firing pin slidable in the tubular extension, a rearwardly-biased, annular, locking member slidable in the annular recess from a rear position, wherein it engages a series of detent balls which hold the firing pin in safe position, to a forward, firing pin-releasing position, a detonator positioned to be fired by the firing pin, and a series of spherical inertial weights which engage inclined cam surfaces on the locking member to force the latter forwardly on graze impact with a target.
Inventors
- 👤 Dragolyoub Popovitch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:44
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42C; F42C1/00; F42C1/02; F42C1/04; F42C1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
332 words
An inertial graze-impact fuze comprising: a hollow cylindrical housing including outer, front and rear walls; said housing having a tubular portion extending axially from one of said front and rear walls with at least one radial opening therein; a firing pin slidably disposed in said tubular portion with a spring interposed between said front wall and said firing pin for biasing said firing pin rearwardly; a detonator disposed adjacent to the rear end of said tubular portion, in line with said firing pin; an annular locking member slidable in said housing, in the space between said outer wall and said tubular portion, independently of said firing pin; a creep spring between said locking member and said front wall to bias said locking member rearwardly independently of said firing pin; spin-releasable detent means locking said locking member in a rearward position in the safe condition of said fuze; a detent ball disposed partially in said opening for locking said firing pin in a safe position spaced from said detonator, and means carried by said locking member for holding said detent ball in locking position in said safe condition; and inertia means, responsive to transverse or graze impact of said fuze with a target, for positively moving said locking member forwardly in opposition to said creep spring, after being released by said detent means during launch, to release said detent ball and unlock said firing pin, whereby said firing pin is free to be moved rearwardly by its spring to fire said detonator after the forward inertia force of said firing pin at impact becomes less than the force of said firing pin spring; said inertia means comprising a plurality of spherical weights all of which initially engage outer portions of at least one outwardly-and-forwardly inclined camming surface on the rear end of said locking member and a radial surface at the rear of said housing, and at least one of which moves inwardly upon said graze impact to move said locking member forwardly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
332 words
An inertial graze-impact fuze comprising: a hollow cylindrical housing including outer, front and rear walls; said housing having a tubular portion extending axially from one of said front and rear walls with at least one radial opening therein; a firing pin slidably disposed in said tubular portion with a spring interposed between said front wall and said firing pin for biasing said firing pin rearwardly; a detonator disposed adjacent to the rear end of said tubular portion, in line with said firing pin; an annular locking member slidable in said housing, in the space between said outer wall and said tubular portion, independently of said firing pin; a creep spring between said locking member and said front wall to bias said locking member rearwardly independently of said firing pin; spin-releasable detent means locking said locking member in a rearward position in the safe condition of said fuze; a detent ball disposed partially in said opening for locking said firing pin in a safe position spaced from said detonator, and means carried by said locking member for holding said detent ball in locking position in said safe condition; and inertia means, responsive to transverse or graze impact of said fuze with a target, for positively moving said locking member forwardly in opposition to said creep spring, after being released by said detent means during launch, to release said detent ball and unlock said firing pin, whereby said firing pin is free to be moved rearwardly by its spring to fire said detonator after the forward inertia force of said firing pin at impact becomes less than the force of said firing pin spring; said inertia means comprising a plurality of spherical weights all of which initially engage outer portions of at least one outwardly-and-forwardly inclined camming surface on the rear end of said locking member and a radial surface at the rear of said housing, and at least one of which moves inwardly upon said graze impact to move said locking member forwardly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fuze as in claim 1, further comprising detent means for locking said locking member in its forward position after impact.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fuze as in claim 1, wherein said tubular portion has an annular series of radial openings, and a detent ball is disposed partially in each of said openings, with each ball engaging said locking member and said firing pin in the rearward position of said locking member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A fuze as in claim 1, wherein said detonator is carried by and extends through said rear housing wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
172 words
A fuze structure for an explosive projectile, comprising: a cup-shaped base; an ogive member attached to the open end of said base to form therewith a coaxial cylindrical cavity; an inertial fuze disposed in said cavity and including a first detonator disposed adjacent to said base and inertia-operated means responsive to transverse graze impact of said fuze with a target for exploding said first detonator; a continuous loop of combustible fuze material extending around said inertial fuze in an axial plane, with the rear side thereof between said base and said first detonator, said loop being otherwise isolated from said inertial fuze; direct-impact firing means including an axially-movable firing member in said ogive and a second detonator adjacent to the front side of said fuze loop and aligned with said firing member; and at least one explosive charge in said base adjacent to said rear side of said fuze loop; whereby said explosive charge can be independently initiated, through said fuze loop, by either said inertial fuze or said direct-impact firing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
172 words
A fuze structure for an explosive projectile, comprising: a cup-shaped base; an ogive member attached to the open end of said base to form therewith a coaxial cylindrical cavity; an inertial fuze disposed in said cavity and including a first detonator disposed adjacent to said base and inertia-operated means responsive to transverse graze impact of said fuze with a target for exploding said first detonator; a continuous loop of combustible fuze material extending around said inertial fuze in an axial plane, with the rear side thereof between said base and said first detonator, said loop being otherwise isolated from said inertial fuze; direct-impact firing means including an axially-movable firing member in said ogive and a second detonator adjacent to the front side of said fuze loop and aligned with said firing member; and at least one explosive charge in said base adjacent to said rear side of said fuze loop; whereby said explosive charge can be independently initiated, through said fuze loop, by either said inertial fuze or said direct-impact firing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A fuze structure as in claim 5, wherein said inertial fuze further includes: a firing pin adapted to explode said first detonator, means for locking said firing pin in safe position spaced from said first detonator prior to impact, and inertia-operated means responsive to transverse graze impact for releasing said firing pin locking means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fuze as in claim 5, wherein said direct impact firing means comprises spring means biasing said firing member forwardly away from said second detonator, prior to impact with a target.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A fuze as in claim 5, wherein said direct impact firing means comprises a super-quick detonator and a delay detonator, both coupled to said fuse loop, and said firing member includes selective means for firing either detonator when actuated by impact with a target.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
A fuze as in claim 8, wherein: said firing member is a cylindrical member slidably and rotatably mounted in an axial cylindrical bore in said ogive member, and comprises an eccentric firing pin facing said detonators; and said detonators are eccentrically mounted so that either of said detonators may be fired by said firing pin by rotating said firing member to either of two predetermined angular positions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fuze as in claim 9, comprising means, including a plurality of spring-biased detent balls in said ogive member and longitudinal grooves in said firing member, for holding said firing member in a selected angular position after impact.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A fuze as in claim 9, wherein said direct impact firing means comprises means, including a spring-biased, spin releasable detent ball in said ogive member and a circumferential groove in said firing member, for holding said firing member in a safe position prior to spin-up during launch.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-06-08 | 1979-12-08 | 1980-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-08 | 1983-12-08 | 1984-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-08 | 1987-12-08 | 1988-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |