Triggering device with safety valve and linkage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11022414-B2
Application number	US-201916585922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2019
Priority date	Sep 27, 2019
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

A heat-activated triggering device, such as for a missile or munition, includes a firing pin that is driven into a primer, to initiate a detonation and/or combustion reaction. The firing pin may be mechanically coupled to a linkage that prevents egress of output from the primer if the firing pin has not been moved. The linkage may include, for example, a cylindrical valve element with a through hole, the through hole being alignable with an output channel from the primer when the firing pin has been moved sufficiently. The movement of the firing pin slides a dowel pin that is attached to the firing pin. This in turn translates a cam element that turns the cylindrical element. Partial movement of the firing pin still may leave the valve closed. Preventing the primer from prematurely operating to trigger explosion, for example preventing full operation due to a primer being heated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A triggering device comprising:
a firing pin configured to impact a primer;
a linkage; and
a valve mechanically coupled to the firing pin via the linkage, wherein the valve selectively allows output from firing of the primer to pass to an output port of the triggering device based on movement of the firing pin acting through the linkage to open the valve.

2. The triggering device of claim 1 , wherein the valve is a barrel valve with a through hole that selectively lines up with a passage between the firing pin and the output port.

3. The triggering device of claim 2 , wherein the barrel valve rotates to align with the passage just as the firing pin reaches the primer.

4. The triggering device of claim 1 ,
wherein the valve is a barrel valve, with a through hole that selectively lines up with a passage between the firing pin and the output port; and
wherein the linkage includes a linking member that translates along with movement of the firing pin, and a cam mechanism that interacts with the linking member to convert translation of the linking member to rotation of the barrel valve.

5. The triggering device of claim 4 , wherein the linkage further includes a dowel pin coupling together the firing pin and the linking member.

6. The triggering device of claim 4 , wherein the linking member has a slot therein that receives a follower of the barrel valve.

7. The triggering device of claim 6 , wherein the slot is substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the linking member.

8. The triggering device of claim 4 ,
wherein the triggering device further comprises a casing that defines cavities including a first cavity and a second cavity that are parallel to one another; and
wherein the linking member moves in the first cavity and the firing pin moves in the second cavity.

9. The triggering device of claim 1 , further comprising a lockout configured to selectively prevent movement of the firing pin.

10. The triggering device of claim 9 ,
wherein the valve is a barrel valve, with a through hole that selectively lines up with a passage between the firing pin and the output port;
wherein the linkage includes a linking member that translates along with the firing pin, and a cam mechanism that converts translation of the linking member to rotation of the barrel valve; and
wherein the lockout includes an inertial mass that moves in a recess coaxial with a recess in which the linking member is located.

11. A munition including the triggering device of claim 1 , a primer operatively coupled to the firing pin, and a shaped charge, wherein the triggering device is operatively coupled to the shaped charge of the munition such that detonation products from the primer detonates the shaped charge.

12. A method of operating a triggering device including a firing pin, a primer, a linkage, and a barrel valve, the method comprising:
moving the firing pin toward the primer; and
the movement of the firing pin rotating the barrel valve through the action of the linkage mechanically coupling the firing pin and the barrel valve.

13. The method of claim 12 ,
wherein a through hole of the barrel valve aligns with an output passage and an outlet port of the triggering device, as the firing pin reaches the primer; and
further comprising expelling output from firing of the primer through the outlet port.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the rotating the barrel valve includes a follower on the barrel valve moving in a slot of a linking member that translates along with the firing pin.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the linking member translates in a first passage of a housing of the triggering device and the firing pin translates in a second passage of the housing, with moving of the firing pin moving the linking member and a dowel pin that connects together the firing pin and the linking member.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Koehler Frederick B
• Merems Paul A

Classifications

• F42C15/20

  wherein a securing-pin or latch is removed to arm the fuze, e.g. removed from the firing-pin ({F42C9/041 and} F42C15/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• F42C15/34 Primary

  wherein the safety or arming action is effected by a blocking-member in the pyrotechnic or explosive train between primer and main charge (F42C15/18, F42C15/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• F42C15/24

  wherein the safety or arming action is effected by inertia means (F42C15/196, F42C15/20 take precedence) · CPC title

• F42B39/20

  Packages or ammunition having valves for pressure-equalising; Packages or ammunition having plugs for pressure release, e.g. meltable {; Blow-out panels; Venting arrangements (ventilating arrangements on packages formed from foldable or erectable blanks B65D5/4295; packages with pressure-relief valves incorporated in a container wall B65D77/225)} · CPC title

• F42C15/36

  wherein arming is effected by combustion or fusion of an element; {Arming methods using temperature gradients}(F42C15/31 takes precedence) · CPC title