Safe and arming device

• US 4,677,913 A
• Filed: 04/17/1986
• Issued: 07/07/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Farace, Louis P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Application Number:
  US06/853,281
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 102/215, 102/221, 102/264
• US Class Current: 102/215
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/40 wherein the safety or arming action is effected electrically

Abstract

The present invention consists of a safe and arming device and method that utilizes a combination of linear and angular accelerometers to determine the type of weapon being used. From a determination of the type of weapon an arming distance is looked-up and divided by the linear velocity to provide an arming delay time. When the delay time has elapsed an actuator is activated thereby arming the munition.

Claims

1. A safe and arming device comprising:

linear accelerometer means for determining linear acceleration, said linear accelerometer having an output;

angular accelerometer means for determining angular acceleration, said angular accelerometer having an output;

actuator means for actuating a munition, said actuator means having an input; and

safe and arming logic means for determining a time delay and actuating said actuator means, said safe and arming logic means having a first input coupled to said output of said linear accelerometer, a second input coupled to said output of said angular accelerometer, and an output coupled to said input of said actuator.

2. The safe and arming device of claim 1 wherein said safe and arming logic means comprises:

twist determining means for determining a ratio of linear acceleration to angular acceleration, said twist determining means having a first input coupled to said output of said linear accelerometer, a second input coupled to said output of said angular accelerometer, and an output;

lookup means for looking up a variable in response to an input from said twist determining means, said lookup means having an input coupled to said output of said twist determining means and an output;

first dividing means for dividing a first input signal by a second input signal, said first dividing means having a first input coupled to said output of said lookup means, a second input coupled to said output of said linear accelerometer, and an output;

timing means for activating said actuator following a time delay, said timing means having a input coupled to said output of said first dividing means and an output coupled to said input of said actuator.

3. The safe and arming device of claim 2 wherein said lookup means comprises a memory device having an input coupled to said output of said twist determining means and an output coupled to said first input of said first dividing means.

4. The safe and arming device of claim 2 wherein said twist determining means comprises a second dividing means for dividing a first input signal by a second input signal, said second dividing means having a first input coupled to said output of said linear accelerometer, a second input coupled to said output of said angular accelerometer, and an output coupled to said input of said lookup means.

5. The safe and arming device of claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises a piston actuator having an input coupled to said output of said safe and arming logic means.

6. A safe and arming device comprising:

linear accelerometer means for determining linear acceleration, said linear accelerometer having an output;

angular accelerometer means for determining angular acceleration, said angular accelerometer having an output;

twist determining means for determining a ratio of linear acceleration to angular acceleration, said twist determining means having a first input coupled to said output of said linear accelerometer, a second input coupled to said output of said angular accelerometer, and an output;

lookup means for looking up a variable in response to an input from said twist determining means, said lookup means having an input coupled to said output of said twist determining means and an output;

first dividing means for dividing a first input signal by a second input signal, said first dividing means having a first input coupled to said output of said lookup means, a second input coupled to said output of said linear accelerometer, and an output;

timing means for activating said actuator following a time delay, said timing means having a input coupled to said output of said first dividing means and an output coupled to said input of said actuator; and

actuator means for actuating a munition, said actuator means having an input coupled to said output of said timing means.

7. The safe and arming device of claim 6 wherein said lookup means comprises a memory device having an input coupled to said output of said twist determining means and an output coupled to said first input of said first dividing means.

8. The safe and arming device of claim 6 wherein said twist determining means comprises a second dividing means for dividing a first input signal by a second input signal, said second dividing means having a first input coupled to said output of said linear accelerometer, a second input coupled to said output of said angular accelerometer, and an output coupled to said input of said lookup means.

9. The safe and arming device of claim 6 wherein said actuator means comprises a piston actuator having an input coupled to said output of said safe and arming logic means.

10. A method of arming a munition comprising the steps of:

firing said munition from a weapon;

measuring a linear and an angular acceleration of said munition;

processing said linear and angular accelerations to derive linear and angular velocities of said munition;

dividing said linear velocity by said angular velocity providing a twist ratio;

looking-up a distance in a lookup table that corresponds to said twist ratio;

dividing said distance by said linear velocity deriving a time delay;

loading said time delay into a timer; and

activating an actuator after said time delay has elapsed.

11. A method of arming a munition comprising the steps of;

firing said munition from a weapon;

measuring a linear and an angular velocity of said munition;

determining a type of munition from a ratio of the linear and angular velocities;

determining the arming distance of the munition using said type of munition;

determining a time delay by dividing the arming distance by the linear velocity of the munition;

activating an actuator after said time delay has elapsed.