Werkzeugmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-buhrle Ag

Oerlikon Contraves Ag

Klaus Munzel

Panayotis Karayannis

Viktor Kalin

Hansjorg Naef

In order to improve the inductive transmission of pulses from a transmitter coil to a receiver coil of a projectile fuze, an insert formed of a steel band is mounted between a coil and a coil core formed of aluminum. This insert shields the coil against eddy current fields.

Receiver coil for a programmable projectile fuze

Upon detonating a projectile in the proximity of a target, there are produced projectile fragments which fly towards the target in a predetermined direction. To have as many fragments as possible fly towards the target, the projectile must be detonated at a suitably selected angle measured between the line of sight which extends between the projectile and the target, and the projectile flight trajectory. This detonation angle varies as a function of the encountering velocity of the projectile and the target. A predetermined reference value associated with a predetermined encountering velocity value is computed using a stationary firing control system and represented by the quotient c/(2VBg), wherein c is the velocity of light and VBg is the predetermined encountering velocity value. Such reference value is stored in a storage device aboard the projectile. The projectile also contains a device for determining a plurality of encountering velocity values and such device converts the determined encountering velocity values into actual values c/(2VB), wherein c is the velocity of light and VB the measured encountering velocity value. A comparator is connected with the determining device and storage device and compares the actual values and the reference value. Detonation of the projectile occurs once the actual value is substantially equal to or exceeds the stored reference value.

Method of, and apparatus for, detonating a projectile in the proximity

For small calibre projectiles the electrical energy needed for igniting a low-ohm ignition capsule is stored in a supply or ignition capacitor which, upon firing of the projectile, is charged by a current generator. To ensure that during charging of the supply capacitor upon firing of the projectile, the ignition capsule does not prematurely ignite, there are provided safety circuits, in particular a static blocking circuit, a dynamic blocking circuit and a static delatching circuit.

Control circuit for igniting a low-ohm ignition capsule

An impact fuze with a time-delay between the impact of a flying object, such as a rocket or projectile at the target and the detonation thereof renders possible the penetration of the rocket or projectile into the target before the detonation. The flight velocity or speed of a projectile decreases with increasing flying time. In order to ensure for a penetration depth which nevertheless is sufficient, the impact time-delay must increase with decreasing flight velocity of the rocket or projectile. For this purpose, a time-delay counter is set by means of a self-destruction counter as a function of the flight velocity.

Impact fuze with flight time-dependent detonation delay

In an electronic fuze for a projectile the ignition energy, upon firing of the projectile, is produced by a generator and stored in a storage capacitor. An electronic circuit serving for the barrel safety i.e. to prevent premature detonation of the projectile in front of the barrel, delaying ignition upon impact, the delay-free ignition upon impact and the self-destruction of the projectile, controls the delivery of the energy stored in the capacitor to the detonator or ignition cap. To ensure that the energy of the storage capacitor is sufficient the electronic circuit of the fuze must work with extremely low current. This is realized by providing for the circuit a stabilizer, a switching-on element, resetting elements, blocking elements and time-delay elements, the stabilizer and time-delay elements being structured as solid-state circuits.

Electronic fuze

An apparatus for generating an electrical ignition current in the fuze of a projectile to be fired from a weapon, comprising an induction coil arranged in the projectile, a magnet for generating a magnetic field, a bipartite yoke, one part of which is located at the projectile and the other part at the weapon barrel, for producing a change in the magnetic flux upon passage of the projectile through the weapon barrel. According to one embodiment the part of the yoke located at the weapon barrel comprises a number of ferromagnetic rings and paramagnetic rings arranged between the ferromagnetic rings. The part of the yoke located at the projectile body comprises a substantially cylindrical body member having a substantially disc-shaped flange for the reception of the induction coil as well as a soft iron disc. With this arrangement the magnet is a permanent magnet which is disposed between this cylindrical body member and the soft iron disc. The axis of the induction coil substantially coincides with the projectile axis, and the aforesaid ferromagnetic and paramagnetic rings are arranged at the end of the weapon barrel. It is possible, according to another embodiment, to use instead of a permanent magnet, an electromagnet located at the mouth of the weapon and containing such ferromagnetic and paramagnetic rings, with the yoke at the weapon barrel being in the form of a triple-arm yoke carrying two oppositely polarized electromagnetic coils.

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Klingnau, Switzerland

Klaus Munzel