June 24, 1958 ‘J.

RABlNow AL 2,839,998 '

.INERTIA AND AIR-OPERATED ARMING MECHANISM
Filed Jan.» 15. 1948 a Sheets-Sheet 1

. I QrWM't/IZO’DS,

4L) .Jacclh Rahinnvv

Laurence. M. Andrews.
John W. Euwlimj‘
" @QMJWW
June 24, 1958 J. RABINOW ET AL 2,339,998
INERTIA AND AIR-OPERATED ARMING MECHANISM
Filed Jan. 15. 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

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June 24,1958 ' J, RABINOW'ETAL 2,839,998
INERTIA AND AIR-OPERATED ARMING MECHANISM
Filed Jan. 15, 1948 ' s Sheets-Sheet 3

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Laurence M.Flnch~aws
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 nited States Patent O?lice 1
t r 2,839,998

Patented June 24,

.2 ,

2,839,998 train contained within the' section 3 of the fuze which ‘also
contains the inertia mechanism of, our‘ invention. When
INERTIA AND AIR-OPERATED ARMING the gear train is elfectively driven by the shaft ata relag'
MECHANISM ‘ > e I tively high speed, it turns arming shaft 16 which carries‘
Jacob Rahinow, Laurence M. Andrews, and John W. . . the detonator rotor 4 with it due to lock pin6,-wl1ich'at
Bowling, Washington, D. C., assignors to the United all times keys rotor 4 to shaft 16. Initially the 'detona'tor'
States of America as represented by the Secretary of rotor 4 is so orientedthat squib 5 is safely outofline '
the Army - . with port 50 and contacts 5A and‘SB of the squib ?ring"
circuit are similarly out of line.’ When the arming device
Application January 15, 1948, Serial No. 2,533 10 is successfully operating, i. e., when normal discharge"
8 Claims. ((31. 102-s1.2) ‘ occurs, the elements above described will be' effective to'
rotate the squib 5 from the safety position shown ‘in Fig‘;
(Granted under Title 35, U. '5. Code (19.52), sec. 266) 1 to the armed position in whichv ‘the squib is aligned
with elements 5C and 5B so that closing of )thesquib
The invention described herein may be manufactured 15 circuit by electric fuze means. of any suitable type‘such'
and used by or for the Government, for governmental as a proximity fuze, electric time fuze, etc., will befetfec-v
purposes, without the payment to ‘us of any royalties ~ tive to cause a detonation. The electric fuze elements‘
thereon. - ' . -
are not shown in the drawings but the components thereof
This invention relates to an arming mechanism for an are "intended to be housed in the empty spaces shown 7
electric fuze for ordnance projectiles, such as rockets, 20 immediately before and behind the mechanism 3- in Fig.
and has for its primary object to insure that the fuze can 1. Because of the stringent‘ safety requirements of prox?
not be armed unless the projectile bearing it has been imity fuzes, our invention is particularly’ useful’with such
discharged normally. '
fuzes and is especiallyadapted for'use with one type of
Among the objects of the invention is the provision, in proximity fuze in which the high speed sh'aft'ZA drives‘
a powder train interrupter of the ‘out-of-line type, of 25 an electric generator for energizing the fuze, since this
means for aligning the detonator'only after the comple source of power'can then be also used to drive our‘ safety
tion of normal acceleration resulting from successful dis? armingmechanism. An arming wire 7 is normally
charge of the projectile. Another object is to provide threaded through a suitable bracket 7A on the body-:of:
safety means including an arming wire for the'fuze so the fuze, and through'thervane 2 so as to keep the latter‘
arranged that accidental withdrawal of the arming wire 30 7 from ‘turning until the projectile 8 is ?red, at
can not arm the fuze. Still another object is‘ to provide V which time
the arming wire is withdrawn.
means requiring both air pressure and inertia forces to '7 The main elements of the gear train and inertia mecha-'
accomplish arming of the fuze. More speci?cally this nism are contained between two ?at plates '27 and 28
object is accomplished by the use of disengaging gears which are spaced by studs 26. Worm 29 on the ‘end ‘or
so arranged that arming is initiated andpartly accom— shaft 2A drives gear 10 which,'in turn, through worm '11'
plished by means of a propeller, and is completed by (Fig. 4) drives gear 12. 'Gear.12 is mounted integrally"
means of a spring. ~ _ i
' ' with’ pinion 13 which drives idler: 1‘4 loosely mounted'ori
The purpose of these elements is to provide a projectile stud 14A. Idler 14 initially engaged with theteeth of
fuze which is fool-proof aspossible in‘that it requires a gear sector 15‘ (Fig. 3). This gear sector 15 is rigidly
series of conditions to arm the fuze, which conditions 40
attached to shaft 16 for rotation therewith;
occur only if the fuzed projectile has been‘s'afely handled‘
and successfully discharged. This is particularly im The initial condition of the mechanism is of coursefthe ‘
portant in the case of extra-sensitive fuzes such as super
.safe or unarmed conditionwhich isshown in Figs.v l, 3
quick fuzes or proximity fuzes. ' I - ' '
and 5. A detent element 24 (Fig. 3) is mounted so as
45
to pivot loosely on the stud 26,'and is provided with a'
Other objects and advantages vof_our invention
become apparent as the disclosure proceeds.
will notch 23. A setback weight 20 is preferbaly formed‘ of '
In the drawings; 7 > -'
two semilcircular plates riveted together 'at 20A and is‘,
provided with struck-out portions 2013 serving as hinge
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal axial partial sectional view of pins in cooperation with coacting struck-out portions of V ,
the nose of a projectile embodying our invention, prior plate~27 (Fig; 2) whereby the ‘weight? 20 has'iva limited
to discharge, - - I ' '50
amount of angular motion, about the axis of its'i‘hinge >
Fig. 2 is a similar view after the projectile has been dis pins between two extreme positions shown‘in Figs.‘ 1 and
charged, , ’ '> ‘a _
' - 2 respectively.’ Weight 20 is‘ biased into the’forward posié, I
Fig. 3 is a sectional transverse ‘view taken on line tion shown in Figs. 1 and, 5, by a compression ‘spring 21,
3—30fFig.l, ~ - ‘
the lower, ‘end of 'Whichengages plate 28 (Fig. '5) while"
Fig. 4 is a sectional transverse view'taken on line 55 the upperiend is seated in a depression in_weight;2_0._
4—4 of Fig. 2, ~ ' _ '
Weight 29 is provided with a finger 22 (see for example"
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional detail taken on line Fig 6,) which engages notch 23, of detent 24 in such
5——5ofFig.3,and‘. , I -- V,
fashion that when the weight'zll is inits initial position
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional’detail taken on line detent’ 244s in the path‘ of gear sector 15, as shown/in
6—6ofFig.4. ', ;" ' Y» 3 _ 60
Fig. 3, and serves as 1a stop'for'sector' 15, but when
Fig. 7 is a detail view of the bottom plate showing the“ Weight‘VZil is displaced toits rearward position as by"
gear sector in the ?nal armed position. ‘ e i ' '
Referring to Fig. l, the fuze 1 is screwed into the
acceleration forces acting thereon, detentzd ‘ismovedlbryii
?nger 22 to the position shown in Fig. ‘4, 'allowinglg r a
projectile 8 which may be a rocket ‘mounted on an air sector 15 to move into the position shown in Fig.4.’ ‘
plane for discharge therefrom’ against another airplane 65
If the arming wire 7 were accidentally pulledso as ‘to:
or a ground target, or it may be any other type of pro releaselthe vanep2 while the projectileyfor' example, a
jectile intended to be discharged with high initial accelera rocket, is mounted below a wing of an'airplane'the vane
tion toward a target. Fuze 1 ,is provided with an air would‘start turning,’ resulting Lin‘ the rotation of gear‘,
operated wind vane or turbine 2 which ontraYelling sector 15, clockwise, as seen in. Fig. .3, and the'gear?vwillf
through the air tends to drive- a'shaftZZAWhich,“ in turn, 70 be driven until'it‘ impinges on 'detent'24." Any further
(under the proper operating conditions) drives a gear turning of the vane would then either'be prevented or '
 < r "2,839,998

else a mechanical failure of the gear train would result
due to the large mechanical’, advantage of the system.
If, however, the projectile were properly ?red immedi
ately after the 'arming wirev is; pulled; acceleration of the
fuze body would cause weight .2010 move 'back com
pressing spring 21 and moving detent,24 outwardly as
shown in Fig; 4. Rotation of ‘the ,vane 2 under this con
dition would permit the gear sector teeth to move clock
wise Without hitting detent 24 until they were completely
disengagedfrom the driving idler 14. A spring 18 is
mounted around shaft‘16 andfastened thereto at 18A
(Fig. 6) at one end’ and hooked into plate 28 at the other
endat 18B so as to drive the shaft 16 and sector 15 clock
ated by the acceleration forces of setback resulting from
normal discharge of the projectile.
3. Safety arming mechanism for a projectile fuze of
the type having an out-of-line?powder train interrupter
which is rotated into aligned position to arm the fuze,
an air driven motor operatively connected with said in
terrupter for initial movementthereof toward aligned
' position, means for releasing the connection of said
motor from said interrupter after a predetermined initial
10 motion of said interrupter, spring means biased to con
tinue said movement of the interrupter into fully aligned
armed position, stop means for preventing said spring
1

from completing its action, :andacceleration responsive

wise in the same direction as turned by the action of the
vane 2. Spring 18 causes the gear sector 15 to continue 15
its motion after it is. disengaged from the driving idler 14
and drives it forward until the leading edge of the gear
sector impinges on detent 25 (Fig. 4) which extends from
weight 20 similar to ?nger 22 (see Figs. 1 and 2). Shaft
2A is now free to-continue rotation but further rota 20
tions of the shaft 2A has no‘ effect on the arming system.
' The arming mechanism has now rotated the arming
rotor 74 approximately 90° to the position shown in vFig. 6. terrupter for initial movement vthereof toward aligned
This is notsu?icient for arming as another 90f’ of rota
tion is necessary for the squib to be properly aligned into. 25 from said interrupter after a predetermined initial motion
?ring position. However, it is desirable that the fuze
be not fully armed until ‘acceleration has ceased, to in
sure that it has moved a su?‘icient distance from the point,
of ?ring to be safe to the using personnel in the event
that. the fuze is so defective that it will detonate im
mediately on attaining the armed position. This 'is
accomplished by the described structure, since detent 25
blocks completion of the arming as long as weight 20
is in the setback position. When the setback force on
weight 20 has diminished to the point Where spring 21
can return weight 20 to its initial forward position, then’
detent 25 moves out of the way of gear sector 15 which
is rotated, under the action of spring 18 into ?nal armed
position, which is e?t'ected by detent 19 (Figs. 1 and 7)
struck up from plate28. Fig. 7 shows the ?nal position 40 thereby,
of the gear sector relative to plate 28. . , '
r In position the arming shaft has revolved the de
tonator rotor out of the aligned position and the fuze is.
nowrready’to function. ' ‘ .
means for rendering effective said stop means when actu~
ated by the acceleration forces of normal setback, and
responsive. gtoAcessation of'said setbackto disable said
stop means and thereby enable completion of arming of
the fuze. g _ ' " ' ’ . f ‘
4. Safety‘ arming mechanism for a projectile fuze of
the type having an out-of-line powder train interrupter
which is rotated into aligned position to arm the fuze,
an air driven motor operatively connected with said in
position, means for-releasing the connection of said motor
of said interrupter, spring means biased to continue said
movement of the interrupter into fully aligned armed
position, ?rst stop means for preventing said air-driven
motor from completing its action, acceleration-responsive
means for disabling said stop means when actuated by
the acceleration forces of setback resulting from normal
discharge of the projectile, second stop means for pre
venting said spring means from completing its action,
and acceleration responsive means for rendering effective
35 said second 'stop‘means when actuated by the acceleration
forces of normal setback, and responsive to cessation of
said setback to disable said second stop means and
thereby enable completion of arming of the fuze.
- 5.1Thevinvention, as recited in claim 4, wherein said
air-driven motor comprises a wind vane, ‘a shaft driven
a reduction ‘gear. train driven by said shaft, a
gear sector ~driven ~by said gear train, a second shaft
rotated with‘ said gear sector and a powder train inter
rupter rotated’ by said shaft. ' ‘

i It will be- seen that the above described construction 45 . 6. The invention, as recited in claim 5, wherein said
gear sector is proportioned to be disengaged from said
accomplishes the objects of the invention, but it will be gear train after partial rotation of said second shaft and
apparent that other mechanical motions and elements said spring means includes a spring tensioned to com
than the ones shown could be used to accomplish the
same objects within the scope of the invention as de?ned plete rotation of said second shaft after said disengage
by the appended claims. " ' ‘ '' 50 ment. - -‘

'27. The‘ invention, as recited in claim 6, wherein said

'lweclaimr , e ‘ '1 i‘ 'i
‘~71. Safety arming'mechanism for a projectile fuze, of acceleration responsive ‘means comprises an inertia
theftype having an out-of-line powder train interrupter weight, said ?rst stop means being held thereby into the
which ‘is-moved into aligned position to arm the fuze, path of said‘ gear sector and e?ective to prevent disen
gagement of said gear sector and gear train in the normal
comprising an air driven motor operatively connected 55 position
with said interrupter to initiate movement thereof toward and movable by said inertia weight under the
aligned position, means for releasing the connection of force of normal setback out of said path to permit‘further
said motor from said interrupter after a predetermined movement of said gear sector under force of said spring.
initial ' motion of said interrupter, and spring means 8. The invention, as recited in claim 7, wherein said
second stop‘means comprises a' second stop held by said
biased to'continue said movement of the interrupter into‘ 60 inertia
fully aligned‘ armed position, _ , v
weight in the path of said gear sector to prevent
'2. Safety arming mechanism for a projectile fuze of said gear sectorifrom fullyi completing its arming rota
the type having, an out-of-line powder train‘ interrupter 9 tion when said inertia weight is in its setback position,
but movable byssaid inertia'weight ‘out of said‘ stopping
which is moved “into aligned position to arm the fuze,
an air driven, motor operatively connected with said 65 position upon the cessation of setback.
interrupter for initial movement thereof toward aligned ‘ .: References Cited in the ?le of this patent
position, ‘means for releasing the connection of: said
motor from said interrupter after a predetermined initial “UNITED STATES PATENTS
motion of said interrupter, spring means biased to con --2,409,205 n 'Grauman'n' _____ _;___j__
' Oct. 15, 1946
tinue said movement of the'interrupter into fullyaligned 7 O 2,420,237; - Girouard _._‘___.;_ _____ _._. May 6, 1947.
- armed position, stop means for preventing said air-driven
I " ' _ FOREIGN PATENTS
motor from completing its action, and acceleration-re
sponslve means for disabling said stop means when actu reat Britain-____ __'_,_V__-Iuly 26, 1912