Electronic Securing Device With Time Delay For Ignition Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing safety devices for electronic loads, particularly in ammunition and pyrotechnic projectiles, fail to reliably ensure that once an ignition signal is processed, the power supply is permanently disconnected, leading to safety risks from potential re-ignition of defective or non-ignited items.

Innovation Solution

An electronic safety device with a time delay and programmable logic that filters out interference signals by requiring a sustained input signal to activate the power supply, which is then disconnected after a predefined time, using electronic switches like thyristors and field effect transistors to ensure secure disconnection and prevent re-activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the power supply remains connected to the load after activation, then the load can be re-ignited if needed, but this creates a safety risk where defective or non-ignited ammunition may still trigger later

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveignition reliabilityVSAvoidsafety risk from re-ignition
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by implementing a time delay mechanism that automatically disconnects the power supply from the load after a predetermined time period following activation. This preliminary disconnection action ensures that even if the ignition fails or the ammunition is defective, the power supply cannot be reapplied, thereby eliminating the safety risk of re-ignition while maintaining reliable ignition during the critical window.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If a simple activation signal is used, then the device is easy to operate, but interference signals may be mistakenly recognized as activation signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation simplicityVSAvoidsignal discrimination
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces a simple mechanical or electrical switch activation with an electronic signal processing system that includes a time delay circuit and microprocessor-based recognition. The system evaluates the temporal characteristics of the input signal, requiring it to persist for a specific duration to be recognized as a valid activation signal. This substitution of mechanical simplicity with electronic intelligence maintains ease of operation while providing robust interference rejection through signal characterization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the power supply is disconnected immediately after activation, then re-ignition is prevented, but the load may not complete its ignition process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvere-ignition preventionVSAvoidignition completion time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by establishing an optimized predetermined time period for power supply connection that balances two competing requirements: it is sufficiently long to ensure complete ignition of the load, yet sufficiently short to prevent re-ignition in case of failure. The time delay parameter is carefully selected based on the specific load characteristics to achieve both reliable ignition completion and safety through automatic disconnection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3619496B1Electronic securing device
Publication Date: 2022.07.27 RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION GMBH
  • EP3619496B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

Electronic securing device (6) for an electronic load (11) with an energy supply (2), which can supply the securing device and the load with energy. The electronic securing device may supply the load with energy when an input signal is applied for a corresponding time, wherein the electronic securing device has a time delay (4), which ensures that only signals of a predetermined minimum duration are detected as a signal. The electronic securing device also has a programmable logic (9), which comprises the time control, and by way of which an operating switch (5) can also be switched on. The programmable logic itself can then switch the energy supply to the load for a certain time and switch itself off again after the time has elapsed. The switching of the energy to the load takes place by way of a power switch (10). The switching off of the logic takes place by way of a first logic switch (7), which in turn can switch the operating switch (5) and thereby deactivate the logic.