Rheinmetall Gmbh

Hermann Schaper

Gunter Backstein

Hans-Joachim Kaltmann

Klaus-Jurgen Pohl

Steffen Weber

Eckhardt Knabel

Anette Brinkmann

Dirk Wolff

A fuze or igniter provided with an adjustable electronic unit (24), a separate energy supply (40) as well as a mechanical safety device (26). In order for this fuze to be independent of the weapons system and not be bound to a particular type of payload, the adjustable electronic unit (24) and the mechanical safety device (26) are accommodated in the essentially cylindrical, watertight housing (22) of a basic module (20) that has two end faces (28, 30). The energy supply (40) can be mechanically and electrically connected with the basic module (20). In the region of one of its end faces (28), the basic module (20) can be connected with either a programming device (136) in order to program in an ignition time and a sterilization time (desensitization time) or a payload (42) that is independent of the weapons system employed and is not ammunition specific. In the region of its other end face (30), the basic module (20) can be connected with at least one additional module (50, 62, 76) for use with the payload (42).

Modular fuze

A minehunting apparatus is carried by an underwater transporting drone to the mooring cable of a mine. The minehunting apparatus includes a housing and clamping levers pivotably mounted on the housing to close around the mooring cable. Inside the housing are explosives which are detonated by a coded sonar signal. To improve the maneuverability of the transporting drone, the weight of the minehunting apparatus is balanced so that the apparatus has an essentially neutral buoyancy during the transporting process in the water. After the clamping mechanism has clamped itself around the mooring cable, a lighterweight is released to cause the remainder of the minehunting apparatus to float upwardly toward the mine.

Minehunting apparatus for removing moored mines

This invention relates to an apparatus for destroying sea mines, especially anchored cable mines, and to an improved mine-sweeping method. The apparatus consists of an active device and upthrust mechanisms which permit the active device to climb up the anchor chain to the mine, which, once encountered, is destroyed. In one preferred embodiment, the device comprises a hollow charge carrier with rocket propulsion which is temporarily secured to a towing device, such as a towing cable. The device is released when it encounters the anchor chain of a mine, it rises along the chain, and then destroys the mine.

Device for destroying water mines and mine-sweeping method

A pressure-actuated fuse has a housing formed with an inner chamber and with a passage having an outer end opening to the exterior and an inner end opening into the chamber. A plug in the passage has a porosity sufficient to allow slow liquid flow through itself. An actuating element is exposed inwardly in the chamber and outwardly to the exterior and is displaceable in the housing by a pressure differential between the chamber and the exterior along an actuating axis between an outer position and an inner position. The chamber is substantially closed to the exterior except through the passage. A valve in the passage connected to the actuating element blocks liquid flow along the passage only when the actuating element is in its outer position. Thus, when the element moves out of its outer position liquid can flow through the plug and limitedly along the passage into the chamber. A spring braced between the housing and the actuating element urges it into its outer position so that only when the exterior pressure effective inwardly on the element is greater than the spring force can the element move into its inner position. A firing member is displaceable in the housing into firing position engaging and exploding a detonator therein. A link mechanism blocks the firing member from moving into the firing position except when the actuating element is in its inner position. Thus the interior of the device is cut off from the outside until the actuating member moves into its inner position, which normally only is when the device has been submerged fully.

Growing community of inventors

Vallendar, Germany

Hermann Schaper