Abstract:
A modular miniaturized priming chain has a detonator and a priming booster assembly. The priming booster assembly includes a first priming booster and a second priming booster which can be modularly combined together depending on the respective power requirement at an output of the priming chain, or only the first priming booster is combined with the detonator, which is a miniature detonator.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German patent application DE 10 2008 008 937.0, filed Feb. 13, 2008; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention lies in the munitions field. More specifically, the invention pertains to a miniaturized priming chain. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The object of the present invention is to provide a miniaturized priming chain which can be varied according to the respective required power at the output of the priming chain and/or the permissible fuze screw-in length in the respective projectile (in accordance with STANAG). 
         [0005]    With the above and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a miniaturized priming chain, comprising: 
         [0006]    a detonator; and 
         [0007]    a priming booster assembly having a first priming booster and a second priming booster; 
         [0008]    wherein said first priming booster and said second priming booster are modularly combinable together depending on a respective power requirement at an output of the priming chain. 
         [0009]    In other words, the priming booster assembly of the priming chain according to the invention has a first priming booster and a second priming booster which can be modularly combined depending on the respective power requirement at the output of the priming chain. Accordingly, when a low level of power requirements is involved only the first priming booster of the priming booster assembly is combined with the detonator, formed by a miniature detonator, of the priming chain. Preferred developments and configurations of the modular miniaturized priming chain according to the invention are described in the following. 
         [0010]    The modular miniaturized priming chain according to the invention has the advantage that it is possible for example to reduce the explosive-force priming booster output for HE-munition to a priming booster output for firing transfer primer charges of a cargo munition, by removal of the second booster stage, that is to say the second priming booster. At the same time that provides for adaptation of the fuze screw-in length into the respective projectile. It is thus advantageously possible for example for a proximity fuze/multi-function fuze to be adapted to use as a time fuze by unscrewing or removing the second booster stage. 
         [0011]    The modularity is implemented in such a way that the booster stages involved are accommodated in receiving means which can be modularly connected in positively locking relationship, force-locking relationship or by a connection involving intimate joining of the materials concerned. The receiving means can also be identical or unitary with the respective booster housing. In that respect it can be provided that a priming booster is screwed or glued into a screw-in ring. That screw-in ring can then be screwed on to a screw thread of a receiving means or a housing of the preceding booster stage. 
         [0012]    Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. 
         [0013]    Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a miniaturized priming chain, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. 
         [0014]    The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a longitudinal section, on a relatively large scale, of a configuration of the modular miniaturized priming chain; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of a configuration of the miniature detonator of the priming chain of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal section of a configuration of an insensitive first booster, that is to say a first priming booster, which forms a second stage of the modular miniaturized priming chain, the first stage of which is formed by the miniature detonator as shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a longitudinal section of a second booster stage, that is to say a second priming booster, shown spaced from the first booster of  FIG. 3 ; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a longitudinal section of the boosters, that is to say the first and second priming booster, of  FIGS. 3 and 4  which are combined together as in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]    Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, in particular, to  FIG. 1  thereof, there is shown a configuration of the modular miniaturized priming chain with a miniature detonator  10  and an associated priming chain  12 . Further details of the miniature detonator  10  and the priming chain  12  emerge from the following description of  FIGS. 2 to 5 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a view on an enlarged scale of a miniature detonator  10  provided for detonation transfer on to a priming chain  12 . As can be seen from  FIG. 2  the miniature detonator  10  has a charge  14  of small mass of for example 10 to 20 mg. The charge  14  is provided for directed generation of its power emanating from a central initiation location  16 , towards a detonator base  18 . The detonator base  18  is of a concavely indented configuration for transformation into a flat disc (flyer)  20  moving at high speed. The flyer  20  is indicated in thin broken lines at a small axial spacing from the miniature detonator  10  in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0022]    The charge  14  of the miniature detonator  10  has a primary charge  22  and a secondary charge  24  adjoining same. The primary charge  22  is disposed in a centering element  26 . The secondary charge  24  adjoins the concavely indented detonator base  18 . 
         [0023]    The miniature detonator  10  has an electrical bridge element  28  for initiation of the primary charge  22 . The electrical bridge element  28  is provided on an electrically insulating bottom closure element  30  of the miniature detonator  10 . Connecting elements  32  which are contacted with the electrical bridge element  28  extend at a spacing from each other out of the electrically insulating bottom closure element  30 . 
         [0024]    The electrically insulating bottom closure element  30  has a peripheral sleeve  34  which surrounds the bottom closure element  30 . 
         [0025]    The centering element  26  is mounted to an extension sleeve  36 . In the embodiment of the miniature detonator  10  shown in  FIG. 2 , there is provided a compensating sleeve  38  between the extension sleeve  36  of the centering element  26  and the peripheral sleeve  34  of the electrically insulating bottom closure element  30 . 
         [0026]    The concavely indented detonator bottom  18  is formed integrally in respect of the material involved with a peripheral detonator casing  40 . The detonator casing  40 , the extension sleeve  36  of the centering element  26 , the compensating sleeve  38  between the extension sleeve  36  and the peripheral sleeve  34  of the bottom closure element  30  and the peripheral sleeve  34  are sealingly welded together at the connecting side that is remote from the concavely indented detonator base  18 . That sealed weld is identified by reference  42 . 
         [0027]    The miniature detonator  10  shown in  FIG. 2  forms a first stage of the miniaturized modular priming chain, the second stage of which is formed by an insensitive first booster  54  or a first priming booster (see  FIGS. 3 and 5 ). The insensitive first booster  54  has an entry diameter adapted to the exit diameter of the miniature detonator  10 . The first booster  54  has an insensitive explosive booster charge  56  provided in a receiving space  58 , which enlarges in a funnel shape, of a first booster housing  60 . The receiving space  58  which is enlarged in a funnel shape in the first booster housing  60  is closed on the side towards the miniature detonator by a closure element  62  and on the other side remote therefrom by a closure element  64  (see  FIGS. 3 and 5 ). 
         [0028]    The insensitive first booster  54  is or can be combined with a second booster stage  66  which in  FIG. 4  is axially spaced from the first booster  54  as shown in  FIG. 3  and is shown in  FIG. 5  combined with the first booster  54 . 
         [0029]    The two booster stages can be arranged in spaced relationship in the fuze in dependence on the structural factors involved. 
         [0030]    The second booster stage  66  has an associated second booster housing  68  which has a receiving space  70  which is also enlarged in a funnel-like shape. An explosive booster charge  72  is provided in the receiving space  70 . The receiving space  70  of the second booster housing  68  of the second booster stage  66  is closed at the side towards the first booster  54  (see  FIG. 3 ) by means of a closure element  74  and on the second side remote therefrom by a closure element  76 . 
         [0031]    The closure element  64  of the first booster  54  can be of a concavely indented configuration to form a flyer. That is indicated in  FIG. 3  by an arcuate broken line  78 . Likewise it is possible for the closure element  76  of the second booster stage  66  to be of a concavely indented configuration to form a flyer. That is indicated in  FIG. 4  by the broken line  80 . 
         [0032]    As already mentioned the Figures illustrate a miniaturized modular priming chain in which the first booster  54 , that is to say the first priming booster, and the second booster stage  66 , that is to say the second priming booster, respectively form independent components which are or can be arranged in mutually adjoining relationship. For that purpose it is possible for them to be connected together in positively locking relationship, force-locking relationship or by a connection involving intimate joining of the materials concerned. In that respect easily releasable connections are to be preferred as simpler faster adaptation to the purpose of use is thereby often possible. Specifically screw connections are considered as they afford sufficient stability or guidance, such as for example by way of a suitable screwthread or bore in conjunction with a fixing ring, but in that respect they can also be easily released again. It is however also possible to have recourse to clamping connections, rivet connections, claw coupling configurations, adhesive layers and the like. 
         [0033]    The miniature detonator  10  can be for example of a diameter of 2.5 mm and an axial lengthwise dimension of 3.5 mm. It will be appreciated that other dimensions are also possible. 
         [0034]    The explosive booster charge of the miniature detonator is for example 10 to 20 mg without being restricted thereto.