GB1371480A - Proximity fuses - Google Patents

Abstract

1371480 Projectile fuzes CONSTRUCTIONS NAVALES ET INDUSTRIELLES DE LE MEDITERRANEE 10 April 1973 [10 April 1972] 17224/73 Heading F3A A projectile fuze comprises impact means for detonating the projectile if proximity means fail. The fuze consists of a body 1, Fig. 1, and a rotatable cap 2 having a cover 7 transparent to high frequency radio waves. A plastics body 12, slidable in a bore 11, carries an antenna 8 and a detector circuit 10. A detonator carrier 37, movable transversely by a spring or centrifugal force, is locked in a safe position by the tip 19 of a striker extending into a bore 40 in the carrier. An inertia sleeve 15 surrounding the striker is locked in place by balls 29 and 27. An inertia weight 23 retains the balls. The cap is rotatable through 90 degrees, and, in the unrotated position of the cap, an extension 25 of the inertia weight 23 is out of alignment with a recess 44 in the body 1 and therefore cannot set back to release the balls 27 and 29. Likewise, a passage 52, Fig. 2, leading from an electrical primer 51 is out of alignment with a passage 53 leading to the detonator in the carrier 37. After rotating the cap, a projectile fitted with the fuze is fired and the inertia weight 23, Fig. 1, sets back to release the balls 27 and 29. The released inertia sleeve 15 then moves rearwardly and becomes attached to the striker by engagement of a clip 32a in a groove 32. When acceleration of the projectile ceases, the inertia sleeve creeps forwards and brings the front end of the striker into contact with the displaceable body 12, thereby setting the fuze for impact detonation. The forward movement of the striker also withdraws the tip 19 from the bore 40 in the detonator carrier so that the detonator can be moved into alignment with the striker. In this position, a contact 61, Fig. 2, mounted on the detonator carrier, is in engagement with contacts 60 and enables batteries 58 to apply potential to the proximity means and to a detonation condenser 54. The condenser discharges through the primer 51 if a target is detected by the proximity means, otherwise detonation is effected by the striker on impact.