Abstract:
The present invention comprises an electronic Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) circuit which is desirably used with fuzed explosive weapons, such as projectiles having a nominal mission time. After expiration of the mission time, if the explosive has not detonated, the inventive circuit controls the energy supplied to the fuze detonation circuit to a level that is less than a threshold level required by the fuze for detonation, thereby preventing subsequent detonation of the explosive.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
       [0001]     The U.S. Government has a paid-up license in this invention and the right in limited circumstances to require the patent owner to license others on reasonable terms as provided for by the terms of contract number DAAA21-92-C-0075 awarded by the Army. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to fuze devices which render a fuze safe to handle, and more particularly to a circuit for preventing detonation of an explosive after a predetermined period of time has lapsed, such as a thirty minute time period. In a preferred embodiment, the circuit comprises a fuze Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) circuit.  
         [0003]     The use of explosive weapons and fuzes are known in the art. On occasion, explosive devices fail to detonate at the appropriate time. Such munitions are referred to as duds, and are often very dangerous because the device may remain armed and therefore capable of high order detonation for an indefinite period of time. Duds typically present a danger to friendly personnel subsequently operating in the field, battlefield cleanup crews and even civilians long after a time of conflict.  
         [0004]     When an explosive device has failed to detonate within a predetermined mission time, or the period of time within which proper detonation can be expected, it is desirable to render the fuze safe to prevent subsequent detonation.  
         [0005]     Prior art methods of accomplishing sterilization of a fuze have typically used mechanical means of interrupting the battery power. For example, the M762/M767 fuzes utilize a mechanical spin switch that closes the battery circuit only while the fuze is experiencing a spin force.  
         [0006]     Mechanical devices can have limited reliability and higher failure rates when compared to electronic devices that perform similar functions. Interacting mechanical components can wear, corrode and even seize over time. Devices with moving parts may also have difficulty withstanding the high shock levels associated with the normal operating environment of explosives devices, particularly with respect to artillery and other projectile weapons.  
         [0007]     Some fuzes with electrically initiated explosive trains, such as the XM773 fuze, simply use a resistor to dissipate the firing energy and any remaining battery energy to below a safe voltage or energy level.  
         [0008]     However, for many present fuzes, which are designed to be used in a variety of applications, a simple resistor dissipation circuit is not practical. Multi-option fuzes, such as the M782 MOFA fuze, have multiple operating modes and are designed to satisfy a wide range of current requirements. As such, a resistor dissipation circuit is not always sufficient to reliably dissipate the energy from both the firing capacitor and the battery within the desired time frame, which is often thirty minutes.  
         [0009]     Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a device for electronically preventing detonation of an explosive that failed to properly detonate within a predetermined mission time. Desirably, the device will reliably function with all operating modes and for all applications of a multi-option fuze. Further, it would be desirable to produce such a device using common components that are available at a relatively low cost.  
         [0010]     Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below.  
         [0011]     A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.  
         [0012]     All US patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The presently claimed invention prevents detonation of an explosive after a given time lapse by reducing the energy supplied to the fuze to a value below a no-fire threshold that is required for fuze detonation. In some cases, the power source is completely isolated from the firing circuit.  
         [0014]     In one embodiment, the invention is directed to an explosive ordnance disposal circuit used in conjunction with a fuze of an explosive. The circuit includes an electronic timer, a trigger and an output circuit providing an output voltage to the fuze. After the electronic timer has lapsed, the trigger is initiated and output voltage provided to the output circuit is controlled to a level lower than the threshold required for fuze operation.  
         [0015]     In another embodiment, the invention is directed to an apparatus for dissipating the firing energy of a fuze. The apparatus includes a power source, an electronic timer, a fuze output having an output voltage, a trigger and a no-fire threshold circuit. After the electronic timer has lapsed, the trigger is initiated and the no-fire threshold circuit is activated to reduce the output voltage of the fuze output below a threshold voltage required for the fuze to fire.  
         [0016]     Other embodiments may further include a second trigger that may be initiated after the first trigger. The second trigger desirably causes the power source to become isolated from the fuze or the output to the fuze.  
         [0017]     These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)  
       [0018]     A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is an electrical schematic diagram of an embodiment of the inventive Explosive Ordnance Disposal circuit.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a view of an embodiment of the inventive Explosive Ordnance Disposal circuit on a printed wire board. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific preferred embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.  
         [0022]     For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.  
         [0023]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present inventive circuit  10  is depicted in schematic form. This embodiment is particularly useful with fuzes such as the M782 Multi-Option Fuze for Artillery. The components of this specific embodiment have been designed for use with projectile weapons, such as 105 mm and 155 mm howitzer munitions which typically have a 199 second mission time. A person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that specific tolerances of various components may be adjusted for use in other applications, and that certain illustrated components may be substituted by other components that equivalently produce the desired results.  
         [0024]     The detonation of projectile weapons are typically controlled by a fuze which operates in a safe mode until arming, whereinafter detonation may occur. Current artillery fuzes use the detection of two unique environments to activate a reserve battery and then a mechanical safe and arming (S&amp;A) device to move the detonator in-line with the firing circuit after a safe separation distance has been achieved. The arming event is then electronically determined by the operating mode of the fuze. For example, if the fuze is in the TIME mode it will arm after an operator selected time minus 0.5 seconds and then detonate at the selected time. This operation is well known in the art.  
         [0025]     The present EOD circuit  10  may be installed in-line with the battery that supplies the entire fuze with power. The EOD circuit  10  is desirably configured to be initiated upon activation of the fuze&#39;s reserve battery.  
         [0026]     Fuzes such as the M782 typically have an operational voltage range from 5.6 to 12 volts. The EOD circuit  10  of  FIG. 1  is designed to operate at a nominal 8 volts, but is capable of proper operation throughout the typical voltage ranges and fluctuations encountered.  
         [0027]     The EOD circuit  10  includes a power source input  14 , a timer  22 , a first trigger  26 , a second trigger  28 , a no-fire threshold circuit  30  and a fuze input power line  18 . Upon activation of the fuze&#39;s reserve battery, a full operating voltage is supplied to the power source input  14 , and the EOD circuit is initiated. This activates the timer  22 , and also provides a full operating voltage to the fuze input power line  18 , allowing the projectile to achieve high-order detonation during the mission time.  
         [0028]     If the fuze properly detonates within the mission time, the projectile and fuze have accomplished the mission and the EOD circuit is not required. The EOD circuit is destroyed in the high-order detonation. However, if the fuze has failed to detonate after the mission time has lapsed, the EOD circuit works to control the energy provided to the fuze input power line  18  to a level lower than a threshold value required for fuze detonation.  
         [0029]     At EOD circuit  10  initiation, operational voltage, such as a nominal  8  volts DC reaches the fuze input power line  18  and the timer  22 . The operational voltage does not travel to the first trigger  26  or through the no-fire threshold circuit  30  immediately upon circuit initiation.  
         [0030]     The timer  22  comprises Resistance-Capacitance circuitry and an IC comparator  36 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the comparator  36  is a Tiny CMOS Comparator with Rail-to-Rail Input model LMC7211B from National Semiconductor Corporation. The comparator  36  has a reference voltage line  38 , an input signal line  40  and the timer output  42 . When the timer is initiated, operational voltage is supplied to the reference voltage line  38 , but voltage on the input signal line  40  remains low due to a drain by timer capacitors  44 . As the timer capacitors  44  charge, voltage on the input signal line  40  increases. When the voltage on the input signal line  40  becomes equal to or exceeds the voltage of the reference voltage line  38 , the comparator  36  provides an output voltage to the timer output  42 .  
         [0031]     The amount of time passage that occurs between initiation of the EOD circuit  10  and when voltage is provided to the timer output  42  is desirably slightly longer than the mission time of the explosive. For a typical 155 mm howitzer artillery shell, the mission time is set at 199 seconds. Therefore, the capacitors  44  of the RC circuit illustrated in the timer  22  of  FIG. 1  will reach a voltage equal to the voltage on the reference voltage line  38  approximately 200 seconds after EOD circuit initiation. For applications where lesser or greater time spans are desired, the capacitor and/or resistor values within the timer  22  may be adjusted accordingly.  
         [0032]     Current from the timer output  42  allows filter capacitor  48  to charge. As the filter capacitor  48  charges, the voltage level rises and, after reaching a threshold value, forward biases the gate of a field effect transistor  32 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the field effect transistor  32  is a MOSFET model S12302N manufactured by Siliconix Corporation, having a gate-threshold voltage in the range of 0.65 to 1.2 volts. When the field effect transistor  32  turns on, operational voltage from the power source input  14  reaches and initiates the first trigger  26 .  
         [0033]     When the first trigger  26  is initiated, the no-fire threshold circuit  30  becomes activated. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the first trigger  26  is desirably a fast acting low current fuse connected to ground. As depicted, the first trigger  26  is a Very Fast-Acting Chip Fuse model C1Q250 from Bel Fuse Corporation, rated at 250 mA. Upon first trigger  26  initiation, meaning in this embodiment that current in excess of 250 mA starts to flow through the first trigger  26  and causes it to blow, current flow is diverted from ground to the base of the transistor  54 , which turns on the transistor  54 , thereby activating the no-fire threshold circuit  30 . Thus, the first trigger  26  acts as a non-volatile memory device permanently activating transistor  54 . The first trigger  26  desirably initiates in a very short time period. While the Bel Fuse C1Q250 will open the circuit at a current of 250 mA or more, if the current exceeds 750 mA, which is three times its rating, it will open the circuit within 200 milliseconds.  
         [0034]     The no-fire threshold circuit  30  includes a transistor  54  which acts as a switch to connect the fuze input power line  18  to ground. When the first trigger  26  is initiated, power is routed to the base of the transistor  54 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the transistor  54  is desirably a high current NPN transistor, such as a model FZT849 from Zetex Semiconductors. When power is supplied to the base of the transistor  54 , the fuze input power line  18  becomes connected to ground through the transistor  54 , thereby initiating the second trigger  28  and lowering the energy available to the fuze input power line  18  to a level below a threshold energy level required by the fuze for detonation.  
         [0035]     Due to the capacitance of the fuze firing capacitor circuitry and the EOD circuit  10  as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the voltage provided to the fuze input power line  18  must be less than  1 . 02  volts in order to have the total energy available to the fuze input power line  18  be less than the government specified no-fire threshold energy required for an M782 fuze to detonate. The 1.02 volt level is determined from the specified no-fire energy threshold using the well known formula ½ CV 2  and the specific firing capacitor value of the fuze. With the specified voltage of 1.02 and a capacitance of 47 microfarads, the energy threshold is 24.45 microjoules for the circuit of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0036]     The second trigger  28  is desirably a second fast acting low current fuse. As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the second trigger  28  is a Very Fast-Acting Chip Fuse model C1Q750 from Bel Fuse Corporation. The second trigger  28  has a higher initiation current requirement than that of the first trigger  26 , 750 mA with the C1Q750 fuse used in the circuit of  FIG. 1 . This insures that the first trigger  26  will always initiate first and activate transistor  54 . Typically, when the fuze input power line  18  is grounded through the transistor  54 , the second trigger  28  will initiate, thereby opening the circuit and isolating the fuze and its EOD circuit  10  from the power source.  
         [0037]     The second trigger  28  must allow appropriate current flow to the circuit for operation of the fuze circuit and its EOD circuit comprised of the timer  22 , field effect transistor  32 , first trigger  26  and no-fire threshold circuit  30 , but should also be capable of isolating the power source when it is required to lower the fuze input power line  18  below the no-fire threshold voltage. The fuze operating current can be over 300 mA in some operating modes.  
         [0038]     On occasion, batteries used as a power source for fuze circuits lose voltage over the mission time. In the EOD circuit of  FIG. 1 , the second trigger  28  will initiate (meaning that the fuse  28  will blow, isolating the fuze circuit from the power source input  14 ) if the power source is still providing operational voltage when the no-fire threshold circuit  30  is activated. However, if the power source is operating at a voltage level lower than required for second trigger  28  initiation, the second trigger  28  will not initiate. In such a case of lowered input voltage, the grounding of the fuze input power line  18  through the transistor  54  serves to lower the fuze input power line  18  energy below the no-fire threshold (i.e. voltage at the fuze input power line  18  below 1.02 v). Specifically, in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the Zetex Semiconductors model FZT849 transistor has a collector to emitter voltage of 0.1 and will therefore lower the fuze input power line  18  voltage accordingly.  
         [0039]     Thus, the second trigger  28  should be designed to allow adequate current flow to the fuze and its EOD circuit  10  during the mission time, and also to trigger isolation of the power source after activation of the no-fire threshold circuit  30  if it is required to lower the energy available to the fuze input power line  18  to a level below the no-fire threshold.  
         [0040]     Circuit  10  also includes a first bleed resistor  56  arranged from the power source input  14  to ground, and a second bleed resistor  58  arranged across the field effect transistor  32 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , both the first bleed resistor  56  and the second bleed resistor  58  are 2K ohm resistors. A leakage resistor  50 , desirably an 11 megaohm resistor, is used to prevent charge build-up on the filter capacitor  48  which could prematurely activate the no-fire threshold circuit  30 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 2  depicts the embodiment of  FIG. 1  of the EOD circuit  10  on a printed wire board.  
         [0042]     The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.  
         [0043]     Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim  1  should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below.  
         [0044]     This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.