US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Louis J Adimari

Keith R Fulton

Joseph A Donini

Frank Diorio

Edward F Cooper

Jerry Pentel

John C Yoo

Michael T Tari

Marc E Ball

George D Dusoe

John R Hertzler

A grenade dispensing mechanism for non-spin or low spin dual purpose improved conventional munition launched from inside a projectile. At a pre-determined point along the trajectory, the projectile time fuze which is set at the gun functions to provide initiation output to the payload expulsion charge assembly. The payload expulsion charge assembly contains a propellant which when ignited, produces a gas pressure acting on a pusher plate which acts as a piston. The gas pressure increases with time until the forces of the gas pressure acting on the pusher plate through the grenade payload to the base/tail assembly are sufficient to shear the thread attachment of the base assembly to the projectile body section. An obturator band serves to seal the expulsion gas pressures to prevent excessive gas blow-by as the payload canister assembly travels through the rifled projectile body section. Upon thread shear, the base separates from the projectile body permitting movement of the grenade payload toward the aft open end of the projectile body. The projectile payload section is in the warhead/payload canister assembly. A pre-engraved rotating band attached to the payload canister as it travels through the projectile section rifling creates a torque thus the grenades emerge from the projectile body with rotational and tangential velocity determined by their position in the payload section which cause the grenades to disperse, arm and stabilize to form a large approximately uniform, distribution of grenades in a pattern effects over a target area.

Grenade dispense mechanism for non-spin dual purpose improved conventional munitions

A fuze operates in two modes. In a primary mode, the fuze functions similarly to a conventional M223 fuze. In a secondary, self-destruct mode, a pyrotechnic delay mechanism is initiated. The slide assembly is comprised of an aerodynamic safety release, a safety pin, a rotational firing pin fitted with a resilient member such as a spring, a M55 detonator, pyrotechnic initiator, a pyrotechnic delay mix and end cap. In use, the fuze is fitted to a grenade. As the grenade is dispensed from its carrier, a grenade stabilizer starts to oscillate. The oscillation results in an arming screw and an inertial weight to back out from a slide assembly, allowing the slide assembly to move to an in-line position relative to a main M55 detonator in-line with the arming screw (firing pin). Concurrently, the aerodynamic safety release is lifted in the upward direction under the force of the airstream, releasing the safety pin. This releases the rotational firing pin, which forces the rotational firing pin to contact the pyrotechnic initiator. The pyrotechnic delay mix burns to the end cap which propagates to the M55 detonator. The initiation of the main detonator causes the fuze to function in the primary mode or, if for any reason the primary mode fails to function the grenade, the grenade is rendered safe to handle by the secondary mode.

Pyrotechnic slide assembly

A secondary self-destruct fuze that functions in the event the primary fuze mode fails to function, and that meets the design requirements for a low cost, highly producible no-spin/low velocity operating environment. The fuze includes a bottom plate, two spacers, a firing pin, a striker, a rotor, a pyrotechnic mix, a rotor spring, a striker spring, a weight with a firing pin, a weight spring, a bore rider, a bore rider spring, a housing, a handling safety pin, and a ribbon retainer. In use, the handling safety pin is removed upon loading of the grenade in the main carrier. When the grenade is ejected, the expulsion event forces the ribbon retainer to be uncovered and the ribbon to unfurl, which releases the safety lock feature. The unfurling of the ribbon in the air stream stabilizes the grenade by causing an upward pull force. Simultaneously, the air stream forces the bore rider and the bore rider spring out of the fuze. In addition, the upward pull force translates to the weight firing pin and causes the latter to move up and away from the rotor. Both the rotor and the striker are free to move under the action of their respective springs. The burning of the pyrotechnic mix is initiated by the striker firing pin hitting the match tip at the open end of the channel in the rotor. After a predetermined delay, the detonator is functioned. In the meantime, the rotor, together with the striker have moved into their respective in-line positions. Upon impact, the firing pin of the weight is forced into the detonator, thereby igniting the lead charge of the grenade.

Self-destruct fuze for munitions

A secondary self-destruct fuze that functions in the event the primary fuze mode fails to function, and that meets the design requirements for a low cost, highly producible no-spin/low velocity operating environment. The fuze includes an improved slide assembly comprised of an aerodynamic safety release (ASR), a safety pin, a secondary firing pin fitted with a spring, a secondary detonator which is placed in alignment with the secondary firing pin, a slide, an omni directional weight release that operates at various impact angles, and a weight release support. In use, the fuze is fitted to a munition or grenade. As the grenade is dispensed from its carrier, the oscillation of a grenade stabilizer causes an arming screw to back out from the fuze slide, allowing the slide assembly to move to an in-line position relative to the center of the fuze. Concurrently, the aerodynamic safety release is lifted in the upward direction under the force of the airstream, releasing the safety pin. This releases the weight release support, which slides out of the fuze. Upon impact with ground, the omni directional weight release drops in a corresponding cavity in the slide, freeing the secondary firing pin, which then impacts the secondary detonator initiating it, which, in turn, initiates a main detonator. If for any reason the primary mode fails to function the grenade, the grenade is rendered safe to handle by the secondary mode that sterilizes a main detonator of the fuze.

Self destruct fuze with improved slide assembly

The invention relates to a fuze for a submunition grenade which will selfstruct electrically in the event that the mechanical primary inertial functioning mode fails to operate upon striking an intended target.

Self-destruct fuze for improved conventional munitions

The invention discloses an improved conventional munition employing a dual omblet configuration including dual shaped charges and a design which uses a Misznay-Schardin end plate with a shaped charge. Both bomblets are separately enclosed by fragmenting warheads that are positioned in tandem. the tandem bomblet design results in a nesting arrangement of the fragmenting warhead, or sub-munition, to produce maximum packaging efficiency. A forward sub-munition of a tandem bomblet will nest within a cavity of a shaped charge of an aft sub-munition.

Tandem bomblet

In a projectile wherein a payload is to be ejected at a selected point al the trajectory of the projectile, an improvement for increasing the payload through the loading of the projectile volume encompassed by the ogive portion thereof. The projectile is provided with an expulsion charge cup disposed proximate the nose for supplying an explosively expanding gas to eject the payload carried within the center and rear portions of the projectile housing. Intermediate the expulsion cup and the primary payload and within the projectile ogive there is disposed for sliding movement a pusher assembly which in one embodiment is in the form of an open cup with the closed end opposite the expulsion charge and carrying an 'O' ring between its outer surface and the inner surface of the projectile housing. In the second embodiment the cup structure is in the form of two parts. A hollow circular cylinder partially closed at one end and having a pusher plate closing the partially open end of the cylinder and being formed with an annular shoulder abutting the inner peripheral surface defining the opening in the partially closed end. In both embodiments the forward inner surface of projectile housing carries an inwardly directed stop for terminating the movement of said expulsion mechanism.

Growing community of inventors

Montague, NJ, United States of America

Louis J Adimari