Projectile Electronic Fuze Shock Protection via Decoupling Rods

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic fuzes for projectiles face challenges in protecting electronic cards from extreme accelerations, vibrations, and shocks during firing, logistical transport, and trajectory impacts, with current coating methods requiring total encapsulation and being insufficient for impact protection.

Innovation Solution

An electronic fuze design where the electronic card is secured to support rods partially coated by a protective block, with decoupling means between the block and the projectile body, allowing for adjustable resistance to shocks and vibrations, including elastically deformable components and energy absorbers to manage stress during firing and impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If total encapsulation of electronic cards in the projectile body is used, then protection against shocks and vibrations is improved, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increases and disassembly is prohibited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against shocks and vibrationsVSAvoidmanufacturing and assembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic card is segmented from the projectile body through the use of support rods and decoupling means, allowing the card to be mounted on rods that extend through the wall rather than being fully encapsulated. This segmentation enables easier manufacturing and assembly while maintaining protection through the protective block and damping material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic card is extracted from the traditional fully encapsulated position and mounted on support rods that extend through the wall. This extraction allows the card to be positioned and secured separately, simplifying assembly and enabling potential disassembly while maintaining protection through the protective block and decoupling means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Strength

If classic coating methods are used to protect electronic boards, then rigidity and bending prevention is improved, but protection against trajectory shocks such as impacts on overprotection plates is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverigidity against bendingVSAvoidprotection against trajectory shocks
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic card is mounted on support rods with decoupling means including elastically deformable elements and energy absorption devices positioned beforehand to absorb shocks from trajectory impacts. The protective block and damping material provide additional cushioning, ensuring the card is protected before shocks occur during flight or impact on overprotection plates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting system uses composite construction combining rigid support rods for structural strength, elastically deformable elements for flexibility, and energy absorption devices with damping material for shock mitigation. This composite approach provides both the rigidity needed to prevent bending and the shock absorption needed for trajectory protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If electronic boards are secured rigidly to withstand firing stresses, then acceleration resistance is improved, but vulnerability to vibrations during logistics transport and movement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacceleration resistanceVSAvoidvibrations during transport
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support rods with decoupling means act as intermediaries between the electronic card and the projectile wall. The elastically deformable elements and energy absorption devices in the decoupling means filter out harmful vibrations during transport while maintaining the rigid connection needed to withstand firing accelerations, thus mediating between these two opposing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Facilitates easier integration into projectiles while providing enhanced protection against shocks and vibrations, allowing for adaptable resistance to operational stresses, ensuring the electronic card remains functional during firing and impact events.

Implementation Method 1

the first and/or second decoupling means may include at least one elastically deformable means

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the fastening means being in contact with the elastomer tube so as to be able to crush it by inertia when the projectile impacts a target

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertia: Inertia

Implementation Method 3

the energy absorption device may comprise an elastomer tube inserted in a metal sheath, the fastening means being in contact with the elastomer tube so as to be able to crush it by inertia

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy absorption through material deformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP3974765B1Electronic warhead for projectile
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 NEXTER MUNITIONS SA
  • EP3974765B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3974765B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an electronic rocket (1) for a projectile comprising at least one electronic board (3) disposed in a housing (4) in the body (2) of the projectile, the board being encased by a block (6) of protective material. This rocket is characterized in that the board (3) is integral with at least one support rod (7) partially encased by the protective block (6), the support rod being engaged through a hole (9) in a wall (10) integral with the body (2) of the projectile, the rod (7) being secured to the wall by a fastening means (8), a first decoupling means (A) being interposed between the block (6) and the wall (10) and a second decoupling means (B) being interposed between the fastening means (8) and the wall (10), the board (3) being positioned towards a front (AV) part of the projectile and the wall (10) towards a rear (AR) part of the projectile.