Patent ID: 6564716
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: F42C

Abstract:
A fuze for a munition adapted to become armed only when said munition is deployed from a rapidly spinning airborne projectile, said fuze comprising:a fuze housing; an arming member disposed at least partially within said fuze housing and adapted to rotate about a longitudinal axis thereof when said fuze and its associated munition are deployed from a rapidly spinning airborne projectile, said arming member having a keyed portion; a centrifugal locking system disposed within said fuze housing and having at least one locking member and a biasing element for biasing said locking member into engagement with said keyed portion of said arming member to thereby prevent said arming member from being unthreaded and to maintain said arming member in an unarmed condition; and wherein said locking member is centrifugally urged away from said keyed portion against a biasing force of said biasing element only when said fuze housing is deployed from an airborne projectile and said fuze housing is caused to rotate about a longitudinal axis thereof at a rotational speed exceeding about 2500 rpm, to thereby allow said arming member to be urged into an armed condition.