Rheinmetall Gmbh

Guenter Backstein

Hans W Unger

Dieter Kaltbeitzer

Hendrik Veldhoen

Walter Unger

Michael Guenther

The invention relates to a fuse for a satellite projectile that is expelled from a carrier projectile. In order to maintain a defined ignition time within narrow tolerances, despite initial blind position of the fuse immediately after the expulsion of the satellite projectile, the firing pin 7 is centrally arranged in the interior of a key-shaped cover 12 which is movably disposed in the interior of a housing 1. The wall 12' of the cover 12 has a plurality of recesses 5' into which there engage a corresponding number of locking pins 5 mounted on sheet metal springs 4. These springs 4 are radially outwardly swingable and are secured to the housing 1. The locking pins 5 prevent an axial movement of the firing pin 7 during the safety inactive-position-period and prevent thereby a radial outward swinging of the detonator support 15 into the ignition position. The lockings pins 5 are capable of being swung outwardly in a radial direction out of the wall of the cover 12 only after the unwinding of a wound band 11, whereby the ignition process can be introduced.

Fuse for a satellite projectile

An underwater ignition device is provided comprising a rotor, a detonator disposed at the rotor, a locking pin secured in position by a safety pin, a release pin maintained in position by the locking pin, a first water pressure safety device normally engaging the rotor and preventing a rotating motion of the rotor into an ignition position and a second water pressure safety device actuable after the locking pin is removed and after the first water pressure safety device has been actuated and capable of actuating the release pin for rotating the rotor into an ignition position. An ignition circuit employed comprises a digital logic connected to an analog receiver, dual driver stages connected to the digital logic, parallel discharge circuits connected to the dual driver stages and to a detonator and the voltage supply and suitable for selectively igniting the detonator or for short circuiting the voltage supply. The digital logic actuates two discharge circuits in successive time intervals (t.sub.1,t.sub.2,t.sub.3) depending on two frequency and time correlated input signals.

Underwater detonating device

A fuse apparatus for a depth charge or the like has a primary fuse that operates at a relatively shallow depth to position a detonator in line with a firing pin, and a secondary fuse that operates to release the firing pin to explose the detonator. A safety mechanism normally prevents operation of the primary fuse, but can be canceled to allow such operation. The secondary fuse cannot itself operate until the primary fuse has operated, so that the two fuses must operate successively to set off the detonator. In addition the two fuses operate along mutually perpendicular axes, so accidental jarring of the device cannot set it off. Finally the arrangement is constructed to leak slightly so that in the event it fails to go off it will rapidly become inoperative.

Dual underwater safety fuse

In a rifled missile having a primer tube or firing channel, a safety device adapted to coact with a percussion fuse. The safety device is disposed in the missle transversely across the primer tube between the impact-sensitive primer and a booster charge. The primer tube axially extends from the impact-sensitive primer to the booster charge. The safety device includes a blocking disc and a biased tape-reel surrounding the blocking disc and bearing against it. The tape-reel is adapted to unwind when under the influence of a predetermined centrifugal force to thereby release the blocking disc which is then freed to turn oppositely relative to the rotary direction of the missile due to the influence of a predetermined inertial force to thereby unblock the primer tube.

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Meerbusch, Germany

Guenter Backstein