A.

Initiation by stab If the pin punctures the primer case and enters a suitable explosive charge an explosion can be produced. This is referred to as stab initiation. The point of the stab firing pin commonly used in united stats fuzes is constructed in the shape of the frustum of a right circular cone. A firing pin with a poit in the shape of a pyramid seems to improve sensitivity, but is more difficult to manufacture. The criteria below have been developed for the design of stab firing pins they are illustrated in fig. 3-2. 1. Flat diameter, variations in this diameter have shown little effect on energy input required for initiation below a diameter of 0.015 in. for stab initiated items of currently prevalent design. For larger diameters, the energy input requirements increase at a much higher rate. 2. Included angle. As this angle is decreased, the apparent primer sensitivity is increased. However, some compromise must be reached; for, the smaller is the angle, the weaker is the firing pin. The angle should be hold under 26 where practical because above this value the required energy input increased rapidly. 3. Corner radius. A sharp corner is desirable but a small radius is permissible. A radius of 0.004 in, is specified for the stab pin of fuze M557 (fig. 3-1). 4. Material. Both steel and aluminum alloys are in common use as firing pin materials. Tests indicate a slight sensitivity advantage for steel, but the difference is not sufficient to rule out aluminum alloys or even other metals. 5. Other criteria. The rear end of the pin may be shaped in any way convenient for assembly. Two configurations are shown in fig.3-1.the firing pin alignment with the primer and the surface finish of the pin will affect the sensitivity of a stab initiator. Other considerations of importance pertain directly to the primer and are discussed in prt 4-3. Generally the primer specifications indicate the details of a firing pin and holder. A typical stab detonator is shown in fig 4-4 B. Initiation by percussion Contrary to initiation by stab, the firing pin does not puncture the case in percussion initiation. This difference in action is due to primer construction. In a percussion primer, the explosive is backed up by a metal anvil. The firing pin dents the case and pinches the explosive between case and anvil. The minimum energy of the firing pin is, therefore, a function of the explosive, its container, and the supporting structure. Energy must be applied at a rate sufficient to fracture the granular structure of the explosive. Incidentally, percussion primers are constructed in this manner to seal the gases. Percussion primers are discussed more fully in par. 4-3. Typical primers are shown in fig 4-4 Criteria for percussion firing pins have not as yet been refined to the same degree as those for stab pins. However, studies have been made of the effect of firing pin contour on the sensitivity of specific primers. It was found that a hemi-spherical tip gives greater sensitivity than a flat tip and that there is little effect on primer sensitivity as a result of changing tip radius. A full investigation of the sensitivity relationship with respect to cup, anvil, charge, and in has indicated that sensitivity variations appear to originate in the nature of primer cup collapse rather than in the detonation phenomenon itself. A study of the effect of firing pin alignment on primer sensitivity indicates that there is little effect if the eccentricity is less than 0.02in. above this eccentricity, sensitivity decreases rapidly

because of primer construction. Sensitivity also decreases as the rigidity of the primer mounting is decreased. C. Initiation by adiabatic compression A very simple impact fuze that does not contain a firing pin is one that is initiated by a process called adiabatic compression. Fig. 3-3 illustrates a small caliber fuze of this type. The explosive charge can be considered to be initiated by the temperature rise resulting from the rapid compression of the air column upon target impact. It is also possible for fragments of the nose of the fuze body to cause initiation. While this fuze is easy to manufacture, it is neither as sensitive nor as reliable at low velocities or for thin targets as firing pin fuzes. D. Initiation by friction The heat generated by friction is sufficiently high to initiate an explosive reaction. Friction can be generated in various ways, such as by rubbing two surface together. An example of friction initiation is firing device, M2 (fig. 13-6), wherein a wire coated with a friction composition is pulled through an ignition mix. Because the heating time cannot be closely controlled, friction initiation is used only in firing device, not in fuzes