US3320891A

US3320891A - Delayed action fuze

Info

Publication number: US3320891A
Application number: US492683A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald E Holmes
Original assignee: Avco Corp
Current assignee: Avco Corp
Priority date: 1965-10-04
Filing date: 1965-10-04
Publication date: 1967-05-23
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-23

Description

United States Patent O 3,320,891 DELAYED ACTION FUZE Donald lE. Holmes, Greenville, Ohio, assignor to Avco Corporation, Riclmond, End., a corporation of Dela- Ware Filed Oct. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 492,683 Claims. (CI. 102-82) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This fnze has a generally cup-shape stator and a rotor, formed to define a raceway. Carried by the stator, and disposed in this raceway is a pliable tube. Bearings are disposed in the raceway and urged against this tube by the rotor. The rotor is unlocked from the stator by centrfugal force and the rotor moves clockwise into arming position, the motion being delayed by the squeezing and pumping action of the ball *bearings, acting on the tube.

The present invention relates to timing devices for fuzes, and its provides an improved means for delaying the initiation of a fuze function until a predetermined time following an initial event.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a delaye d firing or arming fuze which is reliable and uniform in performance characteristics.

For a better Understanding of the invention, together with other and further objects, advantages, and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following description of the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a plan View of a delayed firing fuze in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional View of the improved fuze as taken along the section line 2--2 of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views showing alternate roller elements for incorporation in the improved fuze.

The fuze herein shown comprises, among other elements hereinafter described, a stator which consists of two members designated and 11. tator member 10 is generally cup-shaped in contour. An annular retaining groove is located on the inner wall. In the groove is positioned a pliable tire-like tube 12 which functions as the principal time-delay element, as hereinafter described. The closed portion of member 10` is formed with a port 13 through which the firing train is propagated. Further formed in the closed portion of member 10 is a hole 15 which serves to release the striker locking ball 28 when the rotor has moved to the firing position. The stator member 10 and the rotor are shaped to provide an annular ndentation in which there is disposed a spitally Wound power spring which in installed and preloaded so as to result in clockwise rotation of the rotor 20' with respect to the stator 10, as viewed in FlG. 1, This spring is identified as 16.

Referring now to the stator member 11, its general contour is that of a circular cap for the principal stator body member 10. The stator member 11 has an integral cylindrical extension 9 which serves as a shaft on which the rotor 20` rotates. The extension contains a cylindrical recess positioned normal to the principal axis of the extension. The recess contains a primer 19, the first explosive element in the firing train.

Coming now to a description of the rotor 20, it is generally cylindrical in configuration and mounted on the cylindrical extension 9 for rotation relative to the stator. Three 90-degree displaced

wells

21, 22, and 23 are formed in the rotor. Well 21 provides a cylinder for the pisten-like striker 18. In wells 22 and 23` there are mounted springs 24 and 25, respectively, which urge ontwardly the

cylindrical bearings

26 and 27, thereby depressing the pliable tube 12. The -bearings are in a raceway defined by the rotor and stator.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 there are shown alternate forms of hearing 27' and tube 12', the essential difference between the FIGS. 3 and 4 embodiments being that in FIG. 3 the hearing is spherical and is urged diagonally and radially by the spring 25, whereas in FIG. 4 the hearing 27' is of the roller type and is urged radially outward.

FIG. 1 illustrates the conditions which exist when the fuze is in unarmed condition. As the device containing the fuze is fired and spins the detent pin 30 moves radially outwardly under centrifugal forces and disengages from the notch 31 in the stator portion 9, permitting the rotor to turn. It will be understood that the pin moves outwardly in well 33 against the bias of the spring 32 which normally keeps pin 30 pushed inwar-dly.

The rotor 20, containing the striker 18, rotates clockwise through degrees and aligns the striker 18 With the primer 19. As alignment is reached, the striker locking -ball 28 drops into the hole 15, releasing the springloaded striker 13 to impact the primer 19, thus initiating the firing train which passes through the aperture 13 to successive explosive elements.

This necessary rotation of the rotor from the FIG. 1 position is delayed or clocked by reason of the fluid in tube 12 being displaced through orifice 7 by the squeezing and pumping action of

rollers

26 and 27. The time of this delay s a function of the rotational force on rotor 20 due to the motor spring 16, the effective fluid orifice provided by the

elements

12 and 26, 27, the orifice 7, the viscosity of the fluid in element 12, and the initial and Operating fluid pressures.

The principles of this invention stated broadly are:

(a) One rotatable member, i.e., rotor element 20 must travel a certain number of angular degrees With respect to a stator 10 to unlock a gate and perform a desired -delayed arming function;

(b) The movement of this rotor 20 is impeded by at least one ball 26 and/or 27 or roller traveling on or in a pliable track 12 wherein a Viscous fluid must be displaced rearward through the eifective orifice formed in the fluid contaner 12 by depression of this track by the ball to allow movement (orifice 7 is an optional feature), and

(c) The restrainng gate is unlocked at the end of the damped rotor travel and the desired arming action is promoted after the projectile is a safe distance from the gun muzzle.

The fuze and initially positioned FIGS. l-2 device are mounted in a spir stabilized projectile. The stator 10 is integral with the projectile body and rotates with it. The energy of the spring 16 is expended in the forced fluid -displacement as the balls depressing the fluid sac 12 travel to unlock the safety and arm the fuze.

These rotor and stator functions may be reversed in a manner such that the fluid sac 12 is carried on the rotor.

Principles of this invention are adaptable to various design treatment. Almost an noncornpressible fluid may be used from water to mercury in the pliant sac 12. The choice will be dictated largely by the particular construction and performance desired. The rotor rotation may range from a few degrees of arc to essentially full 360 degrees.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the invention provides:

In a fuze of the type comprising a striker 18 and relatively angularly movable rotor 20 and stator 10 members for bringing the striker into alignment with a firing train 19, the combination of: a flexible tube 12 containing a hydraulic fluid carried -by one of said members, and at least one roller mounted in and urged from the other member to constrict said tu be and to propel fluid through an orifice in order to delay rotation between said members.

While there have been shown and described what are vatepresent considered to -be the preferred embodirnents of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and change-s may be made therein without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fuze of the type comprising a striker and rela- 'tively angularly movable rotor and stator members for bringing the striker into alignment with a firing train, the combintion of:

a fiexible tube containing a hydraulic fluid carried by one of said members, said members defining a raceway, and roller means disposed in said raceway and urged from the other member to constrict said tube to propel fluid through -an orifice in order to regulate rotation between said members. 2. In a fuze, the com-bination of: a stator; a rotor; a striker carried :by said rotor; a firing train including a primer carried by the stator; a flexible tube containing a hydraulic fluid carried 'by said stator;

and at least one roller disposed between said rotor and stator for constricting said tube to provide an effective orifiee and for propelling fluid through said orifice in order to delay rotation of said rotor as it turns to align said striker with said primer.

3. In a fuze, the combination in accordance With claim 2 in which the striker is mounted for radial movement relative to the rotor when the striker is released, and including means for restrainng the strker until it is aligned with the primer.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 3 and including spring means for imparting torque to the rotor, and means normally preventing rotation of the rotor but responsive to the development of centrifugal forces to permit such rotation.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 4 in which a section of the rotor is formed With a fixed orifice.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,142,375 6/1915 Smith 102-82 2,893,322 7/1959 Leroy 102-78 X 2,977,883 4/1961 Czajkowski 102-79 SAMUEL FEINBERG, Primary Examier.

G. H. GLANZMAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A FUZE OF THE TYPE COMPRISING A STRIKER AND RELATIVELY ANGULARLY MOVABLE ROTOR AND STATOR MEMBERS FOR BRINGING THE STRIKER INTO ALIGNMENT WITH A FIRING TRAIN, THE COMBINATION OF: A FLEXIBLE TUBE CONTAINING A HYDRAULIC FLUID CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID MEMBERS, SAID MEMBERS DEFINING A RACEWAY, AND ROLLER MEANS DISPOSED IN SAID RACEWAY AND URGED FROM THE OTHER MEMBER TO CONSTRICT SAID TUBE TO PROPEL FLUID THROUGH AN ORIFICE IN ORDER TO REGULATE ROTATION BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS.