In an ammunition fuzing system, a fuze setter is inductively coupled with an electronic fuze incorporated in the projectile of an ammunition round being fed to a rapid-fire cannon to transmit power supply charging energy and fuze-setting data thereto. A detonation counter is incremented at a high counting rate to accumulate a projectile flight time count indicative of the fuze-setting data. A conformation signal is transmitted to the fuze setter for determination that the flight time count acceptably corresponds to the setting data. Upon projectile launch, the detonation counter is decremented at a low counting rate and functions the projectile warhead when decremented to zero.
A projectile, having a casing, a projectile base, which closes the casing off at the rear, a receiver coil for receiving electromagnetic signals, an energy source which is put into contact with the receiver coil, and a logic module. The casing is made from a plastic material, at least in the area of the rear.
A fuse (12) detonates a spin-stabilized projectile (10) after the fuse (12) experiences a preset number of turns. The preset number is communicated (64) to the fuse (12) prior to launch. A semiconductor piezoelectric strain gauge (26) senses stress and provides a signal which is responsive to centrifugal forces experienced by the sensor (26) as a result of projectile spin. A microcontroller (30) repetitively digitizes and translates the sensor signal to determine turn numbers, which the microcontroller (30) integrates to determine the total number of turns experienced by the fuse (12) since launch. When the accumulated turn number reaches (94) the preset number, the fuse (12) detonates the projectile (10). However, an arming duration (76) must have expired before the projectile (10) can detonate, and the projectile (10) can detonate at any time following the expiration of the arming duration when an impact is detected.
A device for adjusting a fuse in the tip of a large-caliber projectile without actually touching it. The device is provided with a programming station that has an annular or cylindrical programming coil mounted on it coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the resting projectile and communicating with electric controls. The tip of the projectile extends into the coil at least while the fuse is being adjusted. The programming coil slides back and forth axially paralleling the resting projectile relative to the programming station. A Y shaped grip that secures the projectile is positioned facing the side of the coil toward the projectile. The grip is shaped to accommodate the tip of the projectile. The grip moves along with and axially parallels the coil. The tip of the projectile fixes the projectile grip when it is accommodated therein. The coil can be moved out of a disengaged position relative to the projectile grip and into a fuse-measuring position wherein the distance between the projectile grip and the coil is established by stops.
A programmable munitions device (10) includes a transponder unit (12), a digital interface (18), and munitions unit (20). The transponder unit (12) receives a radio frequency signal from an interrogation unit (22). The transponder unit (12) decodes the radio frequency signal to obtain the digital data representing the transmitted information from the interrogation unit (22). The information is stored within a memory (14) and initiates the start of a time period within a timing unit (16). Upon activation, the munitions unit (20) reads the information within the memory (14) and a timing flag within the timing unit (16) through the digital interface (18). If the timing flag is set, indicating that the information within memory (14) is still fresh, munitions unit (20) causes the detonation of explosive material if the recognized event corresponds to the triggering event programmed within the memory (14). If the timing flag is cleared, indicating that the information programmed within the memory (14) is stale, the munitions unit ( 20) reverts to default settings within the digital interface (18) in determining whether the recognized event corresponds to the default settings.
