USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

James V McVay

George N Hennings

George E Cooksey

Patrick A Yates

Steven E Fowler

A setback motivated element has its movement to an armed position control by an electromechanical escapement which permits arming only upon the reception of a predetermined number of electrical pulses of opposite polarity to provide protection against improper arming due to either electronic or mechanical failure.

Electromechanical safe and arm mechanism

A munition fuze electronic arming and firing controller includes a micropessor and logic network which verify controller operation and provide an enabling signal necessary to arm the fuze. A signal of predetermined duration is twice produced by the microprocessor and is utilized with a clock signal continuously produced in the logic network to cause a counter to count during two separate periods. The resulting counter count is checked by verifying logic which outputs a signal only if the count is a predetermined count after each counting period. If the counter output is twice verified and an energy storage component external to the controller is charged to less than a predetermined minimum the logic network outputs an enabling signal which triggers the microprocessor to produce drive signals utilized to arm the fuze by charging the energy storage device. User selected inputs and firing sensor initiated inputs initiate munition detonation at a predetermined time and under predetermined conditions.

Self-checking arming and firing controller

A conductor plated on a frangible substrate. The unit is potted in a silicon base compound, placed in a header, and attached to a printed circuit board. This assembly is then encased in a housing using epoxy resin potting compound. The circuit is protected from breakage due to mechanical shock by the epoxy resin but is immediately broken by an explosive shock wave which fractures the substrate and the conductor and opens the circuit.

Growing community of inventors

China Lake, CA, United States of America

James V McVay