Projectile Fuse Speed Sensor Safety Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current safety mechanisms in mechanical time fuses for projectiles are inadequate as they can be triggered accidentally, leading to potential explosions due to a single point of failure, such as a malfunctioning timer, and do not provide sufficient protection against unintended detonation.
Innovation Solution
A synergic assembly of safety means including speed sensors independent of the timer, which control the transition of detonation and actuating means from safety to armed conditions based on projectile speed, ensuring that the timer only activates the fuse when both detonation and actuating means are in their armed states, thereby enhancing safety without adding complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple safety means are used in sequence (under rest conditions, inertial safety means, timer means), then the safety level is improved, but the device complexity increases and a single point of failure can still cause accidental detonation
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse is divided into functionally independent segments: speed sensor means independent from timer means, detonation means independent from actuating means. Each segment has its own safety controls, eliminating the single point of failure problem while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Speed sensor means act as an intermediary safety layer between the timer means and the detonation/actuating means. The speed sensor independently verifies projectile motion before allowing the fuse to arm, providing an additional safety check without requiring complex integration with existing safety mechanisms
2Reliability
If speed sensor means independent from timer are added to control transition to armed condition, then the safety level is significantly improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Speed sensor means perform preliminary verification of projectile motion before the fuse arms. The speed sensor detects and verifies speed characteristics during the propelling phase, then controls the transition to armed condition. This preliminary safety check prevents accidental detonation while using simple, well-established sensor technology
Solution Approach 2:
The speed sensor means automatically detect and verify projectile speed characteristics without requiring external intervention or complex processing. The sensor self-regulates the transition to armed condition based on detected speed parameters, eliminating the need for additional control systems or complex decision logic
Data Source
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AI summary
A fuse (1) for a projectile (300) capable of ensuring a particular safety, comprising - detonation means (3000), capable of assuming a detonation means safety condition and a detonation means armed condition; actuating means (2000), suitable to detonate said detonation means; a timer (117), suitable to activate said actuating means,- whereby said actuating means (2000) are capable of assuming an actuating means safety condition, an actuating means armed condition, and an actuating means active condition, in which said active condition the actuating means (2000) detonate the detonation means (3000),- - the fuse (1) further comprises speed sensor means (1000) independent from said timer (117), operating on the basis of parameters depending on the projectile speed, said speed sensor means being safety means suitable to control the transition of at least one of said detonation means (3000) and actuating means (2000) from the respective safety condition to the respective armed condition,- - said timer (117) is capable of controlling the transition of said actuating means (2000) from said armed condition thereof to said active condition thereof.