Fuzes having centrifugal arming lock for a munition
US6564716B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 5, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF42C15/184
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A fuze for a munition adapted to prevent unintended arming thereof. The fuze incorporates an arming screw having a keyed portion and a centrifugal locking mechanism for preventing rotation of the arming screw unless the fuze mechanism is in a rapidly spinning condition such as that experienced when the fuze and its associated munition are deployed from an airborne rocket or artillery shell, and thus spinning at a rate of at least several thousand rpm. The centrifugal locking mechanism includes a pair of locking members which are biased by biasing elements into engagement with the keyed portion of the arming screw. This prevents the arming screw from being accidentally unscrewed from an inertia weight within the fuze, thus placing the fuze in an unintended armed condition. However, when the munition is deployed from an airborne rocket or artillery shell, and thus reaches a spinning rate of several thousand rpm or higher, the centrifugal force acting on the locking members forces them out of engagement with the keyed portion. This allows the arming screw to unscrew from the inertia weight and arm the fuze.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.