Self-destruct fuze delay mechanism

Abstract

An exemplary self-destruct fuze delay for a submuntion includes an ampoule filled with an activation fluid, a spring-loaded pin to break the ampoule upon deployment of the munition, and a wick to collect and retain the activation liquid in contact with a spring loaded restraining link having an embedded firing pin. The activation liquid contacts the restraining link, preferably via the wick. The action of the activation liquid on the restraining link over time causes the link to fail at the predetermined location, allowing a severed portion with the embedded firing pin to move under force (e.g., spring, gas) and impact or initiate a secondary detonator. The secondary detonator is in close proximity to a primary detonator typically used to initiate a main charge of the submunition. Initiation of the secondary detonator destroys the primary detonator and, depending upon slide location, either sterilizes the submunition, or destroys the entire submunition.

1 . A self-destruct fuze delay device for a submunition, the submunition having a longitudinal axis, a main charge and a detonating fuze for initiating the main charge upon impact, the detonating fuze having a movable slide, said self-destruct fuze delay device comprising: 
 a detonator mounted to the movable slide;    a delay mechanism arranged on the movable slide offset and substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, said delay mechanism including an energizing source, a restraining link having a first portion and a second portion, and a self-destruct firing pin attached to said restraining link at said first portion proximate to said detonator, said second portion longitudinally extending from said first portion distal to said detonator and attached to the movable slide, said first portion being moveable from a first position, in which it is held by its attachment to said second portion at a predetermined distance from said detonator, to a second position in which said first portion is separated from said second portion, and said self-destruct firing pin is urged toward said detonator by the energizing source; and    an activation mechanism, in fluid communication with said delay mechanism, that releases said first portion from said second portion after a predetermined delay, with said second portion remaining attached to the movable slide after separation from said first portion.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said restraining link has a material composition different than said self-destruct firing pin, said activation mechanism causing said restraining link to fail and release said first portion from said second portion.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said activation mechanism includes a container holding a fluid for corroding said restraining link to release said first portion from said second portion, and a breaking member that impacts said container to release said fluid toward said restraining link.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said activation mechanism further includes a second energizing source that causes contact between said container and said breaking member.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said second energizing source is a compression spring.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said container is a glass ampoule and said breaking member is an ampoule weight that is urged by said second energizing source to contact and break said glass ampoule to release said fluid.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein said fluid comprises a reactant to said restraining link.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a wick adjacent said restraining link at a predetermined area between said first portion and said second portion, said wick arranged to collect said fluid from said container and isolate said fluid onto said predetermined area to facilitate the corroding of said restraining link.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 3 , said activation mechanism further including a retainer pin that maintains separation between said container and said breaking member prior to a deployment of the submunition.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a cushion pad between said container and the moveable slide.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said energizing source is a compression spring.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , the detonating fuze having a main detonator movable between a safety position and an armed position, wherein the urging of said self-destruct firing pin toward the detonator by said energizing source causes said self-destruct firing pin to contact and explode said detonator, which explodes said main detonator.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the explosion of said main detonator initiates the main charge and destroys the submunition to explode when said main detonator is in the armed position.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said restraining link includes a predetermined weakened area between said first portion and said second portion that breaks to release said first portion from said second portion.  
     
     
         15 . A self-destruct fuze delay device for a submunition, the submunition having a longitudinal axis, a main charge and a detonating fuze for initiating the main charge upon impact, the detonating fuze having a movable slide, said self-destruct fuze delay device comprising: 
 a detonator mounted to the movable slide;    a delay mechanism arranged within the submunition substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, said delay mechanism including an energizing source, a restraining link having a first end attached to said self-destruct firing pin and a second end attached to the movable slide, said self-destruct firing pin being moveable from a first position, in which it is held by its attachment to the movable slide at a predetermined distance from said detonator, to a second position in which said restraining link is separated between said self-destruct firing pin and the movable slide, and said self-destruct firing pin is urged toward said detonator by said energizing source; and    an activation mechanism that releases said restraining link from attachment to the movable slide, said activation mechanism including a container holding a fluid for corroding said restraining link, and a wick adjacent a predetermined area of said restraining link, said wick being porous to absorb and draw said fluid from said container onto said restraining link at said predetermined area to facilitate the corroding and separation of said restraining link.    
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , said restraining link having a first portion proximate to said detonator and attached to said self-destruct firing pin, and a second portion distal to the detonator and attached to the movable slide, wherein said restraining link separates under chemical attack, with said second portion remaining attached to the movable slide after the separation.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said predetermined area of said restraining link is structurally weaker and more vulnerable to chemical attack than said self-destruct firing pin.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein said container is a glass ampoule, and further comprising a breaking member that contacts and breaks said ampoule to release said fluid toward said restraining link.  
     
     
         19 . A method of self destructing a detonator of a submunition upon deployment into the air, the submunition having a detonating fuze with a movable slide, comprising: 
 (a) releasing an activation liquid from a container;    (b) absorbing the activation liquid with a porous wick;    (c) directing the absorbed activation liquid onto a predetermined area of a restraining link attaching a firing pin to the movable slide;    (d) corroding the predetermined area with the directed activation liquid;    (e) separating the restraining link at the predetermined area;    (f) urging the firing pin toward the detonator;    (g) colliding the firing pin into the detonator to destroy the detonator.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein Step (e) further comprises separating the restraining link at the predetermined area into a first portion attached to the firing pin and a second portion remaining attached to the movable slide.