Self-destruct fuze delay mechanism

Abstract

An exemplary self-destruct fuze delay for a submuntion includes an ampoule filled with an activation fluid, a spring-loaded pin to break the ampoule upon deployment of the munition, and a wick to collect and retain the activation liquid in contact with a spring loaded restraining link having an embedded firing pin. The activation liquid contacts the restraining link, preferably via the wick. The action of the activation liquid on the restraining link over time causes the link to fail at the predetermined location, allowing a severed portion with the embedded firing pin to move under force (e.g., spring, gas) and impact or initiate a secondary detonator. The secondary detonator is in close proximity to a primary detonator typically used to initiate a main charge of the submunition. Initiation of the secondary detonator destroys the primary detonator and, depending upon slide location, either sterilizes the submunition, or destroys the entire submunition.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of Invention [0002] The present invention relates to fuzes for submunissions of the type which are disbursable by a vehicle such as a projectile or carrier shell, and in particular, to a self-destructing fuze that automatically self-destructs or self-neutralizes the submunition if the primary mode of detonation fails. [0003] 2. Description of Related Art [0004] For many years, submunitions included in the family of Improved Conventional Munitions (ICM) employed a simple, low cost point detonating fuze for initiating a main charge upon impact. Reliability of the fuze was in the 95% range, meaning fairly large quantities of subminitions would not function for various reasons. This failure rate of about 5% presents both an environmental and a humanitarian hazard. Hazardous duds (e.g., armed but unexploded submunitions) remained on the battle field indefinitely and with potentially undesirable consequences to friendly troops and / or civilians. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a self-destruct fuze delay device is provided, preferably for a submunition having a longitudinal axis, a main charge and a detonating fuze having a movable slide for initiating a main charge upon impact. The self-destruct fuze delay includes a detonator mounted to the fuze slide, a delay mechanism arranged within the submunition substantially orthogonal to the submunition's longitudinal axis, and an activating mechanism. The delay mechanism includes an energizing source (e.g., compression spring, pressurized gas container), a restraining link (e.g, piston, rod) having a first end attached to the self-destruct firing pin and a second end attached to the fuze slide. The restraining link is moveable from a first position, in which it is held by its attachment to the fuze slide at a predetermined distance from the detonator, to a second position in which the restraining link is separated from its attachment to the fuze slide and the self-destruct firing pin is urged toward the detonator by the energizing source. The activation mechanism separates the restraining link from its attachment to the detonating fuze slide. The activation mechanism includes a container (e.g., glass ampoule) holding a fluid (e.g., acid, solution, liquid) for corroding the restraining link, and a wick adjacent a predetermined area of the restraining link, with the wick being porous to absorb and draw the fluid from the container onto the restraining link at the predetermined area to facilitate the corroding and separation of the restraining link from attachment to the fuze slide.

Problems solved by technology

This failure rate of about 5% presents both an environmental and a humanitarian hazard.

Hazardous duds (e.g., armed but unexploded submunitions) remained on the battle field indefinitely and with potentially undesirable consequences to friendly troops and / or civilians.

However, a missile is a non-spin carrier so rotation is not available to arm the unit.

The failure of the armed submunitions described above results in hazardous duds.

Even if successful, the critical manufacturing process and high costs of these candidates raise long term and expensive productabilty concerns.

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