Patent Publication Number: US-2012037028-A1

Title: Stationary self-destruct fuze mechanism

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to fuzes for submunissions of the type which are disbursable by a vehicle such as a projectile or carrier shell, and in particular, to a self-destructing fuze that automatically self-destructs or self-neutralizes the submunition if the primary mode of detonation fails. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     For many years, submunitions included in the family of Improved Conventional Munitions (ICM) employed a simple, low cost point detonating fuze for initiating a main charge upon impact. Reliability of the fuze was in the 95% range, meaning fairly large quantities of subminitions would not function for various reasons. This failure rate of about 5% presents both an environmental and a humanitarian hazard. Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) remained on the battle field indefinitely and with potentially undesirable consequences to friendly troops and/or civilians. 
     The currently used M223 fuze incorporated unique and effective safety features for personnel and property protection during the manufacturing and loading process. Key among these safety features is a stabilizer ribbon attached to an arming screw that, in its engaged position, locks a detonator-containing slide in an unaligned position, thereby preventing any possible contact of a primary firing pin with the detonator. Upon deployment of the submunition from its carrier (e.g., howitzer projectile) the stabilizer ribbon becomes exposed to the air stream wind resistance and unfurls. The combination of wind resistance, induced spin of the submunition, and/or vibration causes the submunition to rotate relative to the ribbon, causing an arming screw to back out, which in turn releases a spring loaded slide that shifts, allowing the firing pin to align with the detonator. Upon impact, the firing pin, which is typically attached to a small weight, drives into the detonator causing initiation of the main charge. 
     In the case of projectile carrier, the entire submunition is spinning at a very high rate at ejection and the ribbon&#39;s resistance to spinning causes the arming screw to back out. However, a missile is a non-spin carrier so rotation is not available to arm the unit. Instead, the arming screw backs out because of the vibration induced as the submunition descends. That is, a loose fit between the arming screw and weight allows the arming screw to back out, which releases the spring loaded slide to align the firing pin with the detonator. 
     The failure of the armed submunitions described above results in hazardous duds. Incidence of death and injury to innocent victims from such hazardous duds, coupled with an international moratorium on antipersonnel mines, demonstrates a need to find a solution that would minimize these residuals on the battle field. It would be beneficial to provide a Self-Destruct Fuze (SDF) that, in the event of failure of the fuze in the primary mode, would cause a secondary action to either explode the entire submunition or at least destroy the detonator (e.g., sterilize the submunition, otherwise referred to as sterilization). 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,373,790, to Chemiere, et al., discloses a mechanical system for self-destruction of a submunition, having a warhead initiated by a pyrotechnic sequence, a main striker and a priming device composed of a slide movable between a safety position and an armed position, and which has a device for priming the charge. The self-destruction system includes a secondary striker mounted inside a receptacle of the slide, and a control device that releases the secondary striker after a delay. The secondary striker is integral with a holding element held abutting a seat by the urging of an arming spring. The control device of the secondary striker has a corrosive agent stored in a glass ampoule that, when broken by the holding element, chemically attacks the holding element to release it from its seat. When the holding element is released, the arming spring moves the secondary striker to contact the detonator and destroy the munition. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,653,401, to Gatti, discloses a self-destructing fuze having a first striker member movable within the body of the fuze and able to come into contact with a detonator to cause it to explode, and a slide that is movable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction in which the first striker member is movable. A second striker member is disposed in the slide, and is movable from a first position in which it elastically deforms a spring and is held at a predetermined distance from the detonator, to a second position in which it comes into contact with the detonator to cause it to explode. The movement of the second striker member is delayed by a section of wire that under a force exerted by the spring is plastically deformed over time. The plastic deformation eventually frees the second striker member allowing its movement to the second position and against the detonator to cause it to explode. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,834, to Lyon, et al., discloses an auto-destruct fuze that provides a primary mode detonator and a delayed auto-destruct/self-neutralize mode detonator for a grenade. The mechanics for the primary mode detonator is similar to the M223 fuze. Operation of the auto-destruct/self-neutralize is based on a Liquid Annular Orifice Device (LAOD) that is released from a locked position upon expulsion of the LAOD from a storage container. The LAOD moves slowly under the urging of a spring and eventually releases a clean-up firing pin which activates a clean-up detonator to activate the primary mode detonator and destructs or self-neutralizes the grenade. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,476, to Rüdenauer, et al., discloses a fuze for a bomblet including a slide having a detonator triggered in response to an impact and which undergoes a transition during the free flight of the bomblet from a safe position into an armed position. The slide also includes a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder-piston retarding device and a spring biased self-destruct pin which is operatively coupled to the device and has a self-destruct detonator associated therewith. The retarding device is freed upon movement of the slide to the armed position, and releases the movement of the self-destruct pin after a time delay to trigger the self-destruct detonator and, if needed, the primary detonator. 
     Numerous variations of self-destruct (SD) devices, working in conjunction with proven safety features of the stabilizer ribbon arming screw, and sliding arrangement have been developed with various degrees of success. In one variant, the SD feature centers around a microelectronic battery and circuit with a complicated attendant initiating device. Two other variants employ a critical pyrotechnic delay column to achieve the necessary time lapse. Even if successful, the critical manufacturing process and high costs of these candidates raise long term and expensive productabilty concerns. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,530,313 to Chamlee, et al., discloses a submunition having a slide that houses a self-destruct fuze delay. The delay includes a container filled with an activation fluid, a spring-loaded ampoule breaker to break the container upon deployment of the munition, a spring-loaded self-destruct firing pin to initiate a secondary detonator in close proximity to a primary detonator, and an interlock ball supported by the ampoule breaker that locks the self-destruct firing pin away from the secondary detonator. The ampoule breaker includes a piston and a timing ball, which accesses the activation liquid. The action of the activation liquid on the timing ball over time causes the timing ball to erode until it is forced into the container by the spring-loaded piston. The movement of the piston frees the interlock ball, allowing the spring-loaded self-destruct firing pin to move under force and impact or initiate the secondary detonator. Initiation of the secondary detonator destroys the primary detonator and, depending upon slide location, either sterilizes the submunition, or destroys the entire submunition. 
     The current self-destruct fuze development still does not consistently meet the overriding human safety requirement to reduce unexploded hazardous duds and unexploded ordinances to at least one percent. Accordingly, it would still be beneficial to provide more reliable and improved self-destruct delay devices or mechanisms for automatically destroying or self-neutralizing submunitions after a time delay to minimize undesirable consequences to friendly troops and/or civilians. All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The preferred embodiments include a self-destruct detonating fuze for a submunition having a longitudinal axis, a main charge and the self-destruct detonating fuze for initiating the main charge upon impact. The exemplary self-destruct detonating fuze includes a self-destruct slide housing holding a first detonator, a movable fuze slide slidingly engaged with the self-destruct slide housing between a safe position and an armed position with the movable fuze slide having a second detonator mounted thereto, and a slide housing holding member permanently engaged with the self-destruct slide housing and holding the self-destruct slide housing in a stationary position relative to the submunition regardless of the position of the movable fuze slide. This stationary self-destruct slide housing includes a delay mechanism, an interlock unit and an activation mechanism. The delay mechanism is offset and substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the submunition. The delay mechanism includes an energizing source and a self-destruct firing pin, with the self-destruct firing pin aligned with the first detonator and urged toward the first detonator in a first direction by the energizing source to explode the first detonator. The interlock unit is movable between a first position within the self-destruct slide housing, in which the interlock unit abuts the self-destruct firing pin and restrains the self-destruct firing pin away from the first detonator, and a second position within the self-destruct slide housing offset from the first position in a second direction in which the interlock unit allows the energizing source to move the self-destruct firing pin into the first detonator. The activation mechanism is offset from the delay mechanism and supports the interlock unit in the first position against the self-destruct firing pin. The activation mechanism is adapted to shift after a delay and release its support of the interlock unit against the self-destruct firing pin to allow movement of the interlock unit to the second position. 
     The preferred embodiments also include a self-destruct detonating fuze for a submunition having a longitudinal axis, a main charge and the self-destruct detonating fuze for initiating the main charge upon impact. The self-destruct detonating fuze includes a self-destruct slide housing holding a first detonator, a movable fuze slide slidingly engaged with the self-destruct slide housing between a safe position and an armed position with the movable fuze slide having a second detonator mounted thereto, and a slide housing holding member permanently engaged with the self-destruct slide housing and holding the self-destruct slide housing in a stationary position relative to the submunition regardless of the position of the movable fuze slide. This stationary self-destruct slide housing also includes a delay mechanism, an interlock unit and an activation mechanism. The delay mechanism is offset and substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The delay mechanism includes an energizing source and a self-destruct firing pin, with the self-destruct firing pin aligned with the first detonator and urged into the first detonator by the energizing source. The activation mechanism is offset from the delay mechanism, and includes a container holding a fluid and a breaking member that breaks the container and accesses the fluid, which erodes the breaking member over a delay and releases a hold against the self-destruct firing pin. The interlock unit is movable between a first position supported by the activation mechanism against the self-destruct firing pin to hold the self-destruct firing pin away from the first detonator, and a second position that releases the hold against the self-destruct firing pin and allows the energizing source to move the self-destruct firing pin into the first detonator. Preferably, the self-destruct slide housing includes a channel between the delay mechanism and the activation mechanism, and the interlock unit includes at least one interlock ball that moves within the channel between the first position and the second position. 
     While not being limited to a particular theory, the preferred slide housing holding member includes a fuze housing. The fuze housing is fixedly secured to the submunition and covers the stationary self-destruct slide housing. The fuze housing includes a slide housing locking unit extending around and holding the self-destruct slide housing in the stationary position relative to the submunition. It should also be noted that the slide housing holding member preferably further includes an arming screw received within an aperture of the stationary self-destruct slide housing. The aperture is aligned between the arming screw and the second detonator when the movable fuze slide is in the armed position. While not considered a primary function of the arming screw, it is contemplated that the arming screw may also retain the self-destruct slide housing in the stationary position relative to the submunition. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top sectional view of an exemplary stationary self-destruct fuze mechanism according to the preferred embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  depicts the fuze mechanism shown in  FIG. 1  from a side sectional view; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the exemplary stationary self-destruct fuze mechanism prior to loading into a carrier; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the exemplary stationary self-destruct fuze mechanism; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the stationary self-destruct slide housing; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the stationary self-destruct slide housing underside; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the movable fuze slide; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the exemplary stationary self-destruct fuze mechanism and partial side view of the attached charge before deployment into the atmosphere; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view partially in section of the exemplary stationary self-destruct fuze mechanism shown in  FIG. 1  after deployment; 
         FIG. 10  is a side view partially in section of the exemplary fuze delay device shown in  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a side view of the timing ball and ampoule cup shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a top view partially in section of the exemplary stationary self-destruct fuze mechanism of  FIG. 1  after erosion of the timing ball; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view partially in section of the exemplary stationary self-destruct fuze mechanism of  FIG. 1  after release of the restraining unit and fuze slide in an armed position; 
         FIG. 14  is a top view partially in section of the exemplary stationary self-destruct fuze mechanism of  FIG. 1  after release of the restraining unit and fuze slide not in the armed position; and 
         FIG. 15  is a flow diagram depicting an exemplary sequence of events for the destruction of the fuze mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Exemplary embodiments for a stationary self-destruct (SSD) fuze mechanism are described with reference to the figures noted above. Although the preferred SSD fuze is applicable to all the various ICM items, in the interest of brevity, the exemplary SSD fuze mechanisms are generally tailored toward use in the M864, M155 MM projectile which contains 72 submunitions, each with its own SSD fuze. While not being limited to a particular theory, the submunitions typically are disbursed via an expulsion charge that explodes in flight creating ample internal pressure to shear the base plate threads and expel the cargo out the rear of the projectile and into the atmosphere. 
     In general, as each submunition is disbursed into the atmosphere, the impact of the air stream causes the submunition&#39;s stabilizer ribbon to unfurl, allowing an arming screw to back out and a slide to move to its armed position. Upon impact, the firing pin is free to pierce the primary detonator and cause a subsequent main charge explosion, which destroys the submunition. Damaged fuzes and fuzes that arm properly but come into contact with the ground or a target via side impact may fail to initiate the main charge resulting in residual hazardous duds. A hazardous dud is a submunition that still has its fuze attached and its primary detonator present that together could potentially initiate the main charge. A hazardous dud is different than an unexploded ordinance, which is a submunition that has no means of initiation (e.g., primary detonator is missing or destroyed). 
     The SSD fuze mechanisms of the preferred embodiments incorporate a predetermined time delay (e.g., about 25 seconds minimum to about 5 minutes) that is greater than the foreseeable flight time of the respective submunition, which ends when the submunition reaches the ground or target. This delay allows the primary detonator to initiate the main submunition charge when the submunition strikes the ground or target. The SSD fuze mechanisms destroy the submunition or sterilize the fuze if the submunition fails to explode after it strikes the ground or target. The fuze also retains the positive operation of the M223/M239 fuze, that is, it utilizes the stabilizer ribbon, arming screw and slide to retain the known out-of-line safety features. 
     Other advantages, characteristics and details of the invention will emerge from the explanatory description thereof provided below with reference to the attached drawings and examples, but it should be understood that the present invention is not deemed to be limited thereto. Toward that end,  FIGS. 1-15  depict an exemplary stationary self-destruct (SSD) fuze  10  as part of a SSD fuze mechanism  12  for a submunition, as readily understood by a skilled artisan. The SSD fuze  10  includes a stationary self-destruct slide housing  14  slidingly engaged with a movable fuze slide  16  of the fuze mechanism  12 . The movable fuze slide  16  holds a primary detonator  18  that shifts with the slide between a safety position ( FIGS. 1 ,  3 ), where the primary detonator is not aligned with a main striker (e.g. arming screw  20 ), and an armed position ( FIGS. 9 ,  10 ), where the primary detonator is aligned with the arming screw preferably along the longitudinal axis of the submunition between the arming screw and the submunition. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the slide holding members  28  in this exemplary embodiment extend from a fuze housing  30  as metal fingers bending down and about the SSD slide housing  14 . The fuze housing is preferably made of metal and maintains the slide housing in its stationary position relative to the submunition regardless of the position of the movable fuze slide  16 . For example, the fuze housing  30  includes a first side wall  32  and opposing second side wall  34  that abut and hold a first lengthwise wall  36  and second lengthwise wall  38  of the SSD slide housing  14 , while the slide holding members  28  abut and hold a first width side wall  37  and opposing second width side wall  39 , of the SSD slide housing. Thus the side walls  32 ,  34  and holding members  28  combine to rigidly secure and protect the SSD slide housing  14  stationary relative to the submunition. This is especially beneficial to protect the internal components (e.g., movable fuze slide  16 , detonators  18 ,  40 , arming screw  20 , delay mechanism  22 , activation mechanism  24 , interlock unit  26 ) from damage from severe premature impacts. 
     The delay mechanism  22  of the SSD fuze  10  includes a self-destruct (SD) detonator  40  that is arranged in a first channel  42  of the SSD slide housing  14  offset and substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the submunition and to the arming screw  20 . A self-destruct detonator retainer  44  preferable formed of a plastic or metal secured (e.g., by adhesives, crimping, friction, heat) to an inner-cylindrical wall  46  of the channel  42  to seal the self-destruct detonator  40  within the channel. The delay mechanism  22  also includes a compression spring  46  as an energizing source, and a self-destruct (SD) firing pin  48 , both preferably formed of metal or other hard material and located within the first channel  42 . 
     The SD firing pin  48  includes a front end  50  proximate the self-destruct detonator  40  and a spring holding rod section  52 . While not being limited to a particular theory, the rod section  52  prior to deployment extends through a reduced diameter  54  of the first channel  42  at the second width side wall  39  of the SSD slide housing  14 , where it is held in place by a firing pin safety clip  56 , as would readily be understood by a skilled artisan. In this arrangement shown in  FIG. 2 , the firing pin clip  56  holds the firing pin compression spring  46  in a state of tension between the front end  50  of the firing pin and an interior shoulder wall  58  of the first channel  42 . The firing pin safety clip  56  slides about a narrowed portion  60  of the rod section  52  between a distal end  62  of the SD firing pin  48  ( FIG. 10 ) and the second with side wall  39  of the SSD slide housing  14 . As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the SD firing pin  48  is aligned with the SD detonator  40  and movable along the first channel  42  to explode the detonator upon release of the SD firing pin and the compression spring  46  as described by example in greater detail below. 
     The interlock unit  26  is shown in  FIG. 2  as including as part of a restraining unit that secures the SD firing pin  48  during a predetermined delay away from the SD detonator  40 . While not being limited to a particular theory, the interlock unit  26  includes at least one, and preferable two interlock balls  64 ,  66  housed within an adjoining channel  68  of the SSD slide housing  14  between the first channel  42  of the slide housing and a second channel  70  of the slide housing. It should be noted that while the adjoining channels  68  is shown substantially orthogonal to the generally parallel directions of the first and second channels  42 ,  70 , that the angle of the adjoining channel is not so limited and may be exactly orthogonal, acute or obtuse to the direction of the first and second channels within the scope of the invention. It should further be noted that while the preferred interlock unit  26  includes two interlock balls  64 ,  66 , that the interlock unit is also not limited to the two balls, as the unit may include more or fewer balls, or one or more alternatively shaped members that are movable within the adjoining channel  68  and that extend from the activation mechanism  24  to restrict movement of the firing pin  48  for a predetermined self-destruct time after deployment of the submunition. 
     The activation mechanism  24  is offset from the delay mechanism  22  and supports the interlock unit  26  in a position that restricts movement of the SD firing pin  48  toward the SD detonator  40 . As will be described in greater detail below, the activation mechanism is adapted to shift after a time delay and release its support of the interlock unit against the self-destruct firing pin to allow movement of the interlock unit to a position that frees the firing pin to explode the SD detonator. 
     While not being limited to a particular theory, the activation mechanism  24  is located in the second channel  70 , which is offset from the first channel  42  that houses the delay mechanism  22 . The activation mechanism  24  includes a breakable container  72  (e.g., glass ampoule, ceramic ampoule) that holds a reactant fluid  74 . The reactant fluid  74  is preferable a corrosive agent (e.g., acid or liquid solution) that chemically attacks and causes certain materials (e.g. hard plastics) of the interlock unit  26  to erode over time. The container  72  is partially housed in a generally cup-shaped ampoule cup  76  that is a resilient insulator preferably not susceptible to the reactant fluid  74  so that the reactant fluid does not erode the ampoule cup if it inadvertently leaks out of the container. The resilient insulative ampoule cup  76  seals the container  72  and other elements of the activation mechanism  24  discussed below within the second channel  70  of the SSD slide housing  14 . In particular, the container  72  is sealed inside the ampoule cup  76  preferably with an epoxy, and then secured inside the second channel  70  as a unit. The ampoule cup  76  also contains the orifice (e.g., ampoule cup aperture  94 ) through which the timing ball  90  must pass to release the self-destruct firing pin  48 , as discussed in greater detail below. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the activation mechanism  24  further includes a breaking member (e.g., timing ball)  78 , an activation pin  80 , and an activation pin compression spring  82 , which is shown in  FIG. 2  as being held in a compressed state by a self-destruct (SD) activation clip  84 . That is, the SD activation clip  84  slides about a decreased diameter portion  86  of the activation pin  80  between a distal end  88  of the activation pin and the outer force of the second width sidewall  39  of the SSD slide housing  14 . 
     The breaking member  78  is an ampoule breaker that upon release of the SD activation clip  84  is urged by the compression spring  82  into impact with the container  72 , causing the container to break and release the reactant fluid  74  into communication with the breaking member. Preferably, the breaking member is a timing ball  90  made of a hard plastic or similar material that is hard enough to break glass or similar fragile material (e.g., ceramic), and that erodes when exposed to the reactant fluid  74 . While not being limited to a particular theory, a resilient sleeve 92 centers the timing ball  90  in the second channel  70  and keeps the timing ball aligned between the glass ampoule and the activation pin  80 . 
     The ampoule cup  76  preferably includes a semi-closed end with an aperture  94  facing the timing ball  90 . The aperture  94  in the ampoule cup is large enough to allow direct contact between the timing ball  90  and the container  72  (e.g. glass ampoule), but is small enough to still prevent the ball from passing through until the reactant fluid has reduced the diameter. As can best be see in  FIG. 11 , the exemplary ampoule cup aperture  94  is not completely circular, but is shaped to include aperture grooves  96  for allowing the reactant fluid  74  access to the side and back ends of the timing ball  90 . That is, the aperture grooves  96  allow the reactant fluid to seep to the outer surfaces of the timing ball for greater coverage of the ball beyond the aperture  94 . Without the aperture grooves  96 , the timing ball  90  would emulate a plug and prevent the reactant fluid  74  from coating and dissolving the surface of the timing ball. Accordingly, the aperture  94  and breaking member  78  preferably have different shapes at their intersection to allow fluid bypass through their meeting. It is understood that the aperture  94  is not limited by shape or size by the aperture shown in  FIG. 11 . The ampoule cup aperture  94 , or its equivalents, such as a metal member placed between the container  22  and timing ball  90 , provide a means for permitting fluid communication between the timing ball and the reactant fluid  74 . 
     While not being limited to a particular theory, the activation pin  80  is a generally rod-shaped metal unit that holds the breaking member  78  against the ball guide  92  before deployment. In particular, the activation pin  80  includes an enlarged diameter section  98  that abuts the compression spring  82 , and a proximal section  99  between the enlarged diameter section  98  and the timing ball  90 . During deployment and after release of the SD activation clip  84 , the activation pin  80  is urged by the compression spring  82  toward the fragile container  72 , pushing the breaking member  78  at least partially past the ampoule cup aperture  94  at the semi-closed end of the ampoule cup  76  into the container  72 , breaking the container and releasing the reactant fluid  74  onto the breaking member  78 . Before deployment, the SD activation clip  84  holds the compression spring  82  in a state of tension between the enlarged diameter section  98  of the activation pin  80  and an interior wall  100  of the SSD slide housing  14 . Before and during deployment, the enlarged diameter section  98  also abuts and supports the interlock unit  26  to its first position where the interlock unit prevents the self-destruct firing pin  48  from moving into and exploding the self-destruct detonator  40 . 
     As noted above, the breaking member  78 , activation pin  80  and compression spring  82  are aligned with the container  72  in the second channel  70  of the SSD slide housing  14 , with the second channel being offset from the first channel  42  and in communication with the first channel via the adjoining channel  68 . The compression spring  82  is an energizing source mounted in a compressed state inside the second channel  70  between the interior wall  100  of the SSD slide housing  14  and the enlarged diameter section  98  of the activation pin  80 . When inserted against the SSD slide housing  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the SD activation clip  84  keeps the compression spring  82  in its tension state, and thereby keeps the activation pin  80  and the breaking member  78  away from the container  72 . Therefore, the inserted SD activation clip  84  is a spring retainer that prevents activation of the activation mechanism  24  by keeping the fragile container  72  safe from impact by the breaking member  78 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, removal of the SD activation clip  84  from the decreased diameter portion  86  between the second width side wall  39  of the SSD slide housing  14  and the distal end  88  of the activation pin  80  releases the activation pin for movement within the second channel  70 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the timing ball  90  is contained in an aperture of the ball guide  92  and abuts the activation pin  80 . Preferably, the timing ball  90  is free to move laterally within the confines of the guide to allow free movement from the expansional forces applied by the compression spring  82  against the activation pin  80 , which thereby drives the timing ball  90  into the container  72 . The fragile container  72  (e.g., glass or ceramic ampoule) is breakable upon collision with the breaking member  78 , for example, the timing ball  90 , when the breaking member is pushed into the container by the compression spring  82 . 
     While not being limited to a particular theory, the ampoule cup  76  includes an open end  104  for allowing insertion of the container  72  into the cup where it is sealed in place with epoxy sealant within the interior walls of the ampoule cup and its semi-closed end  106 . The semi-closed end  106  of the ampoule cup  76  extends radially inward to define the ampoule cup aperture  94  having a diameter slightly less than the pre-deployment diameter of the breaking member  78 , so as to prevent premature passage of the timing ball  90  through the aperture. As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the ampoule cup  76  preferably includes a cylindrical wall extension that holds the ball guide  92  within. 
     The timing ball  90  is both a part of the breaking member  78  that breaks the container  72  upon collision, and a weakened area of the activation mechanism  24  that erodes under chemical attack from the reactant fluid  74  and, after a delay, slips through the ampoule cup aperture  94  and allows the compression spring  82  to move the activation pin  80  beyond its prior abutment of the interlock unit  26 . This frees the SD firing pin  48  to overcome the restraint of the interlock unit  26  for release into the SD detonator  40 , as set forth in greater detail below. As such, the timing ball  90  is constructed of a material, preferably styrene (e.g., polystyrene) that is both hard enough to break glass or ceramics, and is vulnerable to the reactant fluid  74  (e.g., corrosive agent, acid, solution). In particular, the timing ball  90  is vulnerable to the reactant fluid, in comparison to the other elements of the activation mechanism discussed above, to fail over time over application of the reactant fluid. As can be seen in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  12 , the reactant fluid  74  erodes the timing ball  90 , changing the structure (e.g., size, shape, hardness, composition) of the ball until it pops through the ampoule cup aperture  94  under the expansive forces of the compression spring  82 . It is understood that the timing ball  90 , while shown as a sphere, is not limited to that shape. It is more important that the timing ball  90  does not slide through the ampoule cup aperture  94  until after the delay required for the timing ball to erode to a structure that can slide through the aperture sufficiently to allow the interlock unit  26  to release the SD firing pin  48 . 
     The stationary self-destruct fuze self destructs or sterilizes the submunition after a preset delay if the submunition fails to explode upon its impact with the ground or a target all while remaining stationary within the slide housing  14 . As discussed above, the SSD slide housing  16 , which houses the delay mechanism  22 , activation mechanism  24  and interlock unit  26 , remains within the fuze housing  30  preferably by slide holding members  28 . These members hold the SSD slide housing  14  in a locked position within the fuze housing for reliable, desirable self destruction while permitting the movable fuze slide  16 , which holds the primary detonator  18  to shift out after deployment into its armed position. As noted above, the self-destruct fuze  10  self destructs the attached submunition after a preset delay if the submunition fails to explode upon its impact with the ground or a target.  FIG. 8  depicts the fuze mechanism  12  with the stationary self-destruct fuze  10  in side view. As can be seen in  FIG. 8 , the fuze mechanism  12  is mountable on a submunition  108  and includes a slide lock  110  and a stabilizer ribbon as well understood by a skilled artisan. The slide lock  110  is preferably a thin plastic ribbon retainer that holds the stabilizer ribbon and the movable fuze slide  16  in place prior to deployment of the submunition  108 . That is, the slide lock  110  prevents premature unfurling of the stabilizer ribbon  110 , and also serves as a secondary safety device to prevents premature movement of the movable fuze slide  16  from its safe position ( FIGS. 1-3 ) to its armed position ( FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  12 - 14 ) where the primary detonator  18  is aligned with the main striker of arming screw  18 . When discarded upon expulsion, the slide lock  110  also extracts the SD activation clip  84  and the firing pin safety clip  56 . While not being limited to a particular theory, both the firing pin safety clip  56  and the SD activation clip  84  must be extracted before the self-destruct firing pin  48  can release, but neither clip prevents the movable fuze slide  16  from extending to its armed position. That is, slide arming and self-destruct initiation are two separate and independent functions. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  depict an exemplary stationary self-destruct fuze  10  mechanism  12  in perspective and exploded view, respectively. As can be seen in  FIGS. 3 and 8 , the fuze housing  30  is attached to a cover  112  and combined to substantially enclose the delay mechanism  22 , the activation mechanism  24  and the interlock unit  26 . Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , prior to loading a submunition with its fuze mechanism  12  into a carrier, the movable fuze slide  16  is locked to both the SSD slide housing  14  and the fuze housing  30  via a safety pin  114 . A safety clip  116  locks the arming screw  20  in the safe position with a distal tip  118  of the arming screw  20  engaged in the movable fuze slide ( FIG. 1 ). As noted above, the slide holding members  28  ( FIG. 1 ) lock about the first and second width side walls  37 ,  39  on opposite sides of the SSD slide housing  14  to restrict the SSD slide housing movement at least until explosion of the submunition. The safety pin  114  and safety clip  116  are both removed preferably immediately prior to placing the submunition into the carrier. In this preferred embodiment, both the firing pin safety clip  56  and the SD activation clip  84  must be extracted and the activation mechanism  24  must time out (e.g., the activation pin  80  pushing the eroded breaking member  78  into the container  72  and releasing the interlock unit  26 ) before the SD firing pin  48  can move to strike the SD detonator  40 . The firing pin safety clip  56  and SD activation clip  84  remain attached to the fuze mechanism  12  until deployment. 
     The cover  112  includes a finger bent upright as a backing to retain a fuze slide compression spring  120  against the movable fuze slide  16 . The compression spring  120  urges the fuze slide  16  from the safety position to the armed position after deployment. As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , an anti-backlash ball  122  slides down into the movable fuze slide  16  when the fuze slide shifts into its armed position as would be readily understood by a skilled artisan. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  depict an exemplary stationary self-destruct (SSD) slide housing  14  in accordance with the preferred embodiments. The SSD slide housing  14  is preferably made of a tough, moldable material and is held stationary in the fuze mechanism by the slide holding members  28  of the fuze housing  30 . As can best be seen in  FIG. 5 , the SSD slide housing has a first channel  42  for housing the delay mechanism  22 , and further includes the second channel  70  for housing the activation mechanism  24 . The top bore  126  of the SSD slide housing is preferably aligned with the longitudinal axis of the submunition as a passage for the arming screw  20  to extend through the SSD slide housing as can best be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 9 . The SSD slide housing further includes a safety pin channel  128  for holding the safety pin  114  until removal of the pin before the submunition is placed into its carrier pre-deployment. As can best be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the SSD slide housing  14  also includes a bi-level movable fuze slide channel  130  defining interior walls  146  that extends to the bottom  132  of the SSD slide housing. The bi-level movable fuze slide channel extends from the first width side wall  37  to the second width side wall  39  at the opposite side of the SSD slide housing  14 , and is shaped to house the movable fuze slide  16  in sliding engagement therewith. The slide channel  130  also defines shoulders  148  of the interior walls  146  for stopping the movable fuze slide  16  in the armed position and preventing shifting of the movable fuze slide further out of the SSD slide housing beyond the armed position. Referring to  FIG. 6 , the SSD slide housing  14  also includes a ball channel  144  as further described in greater detail below. 
       FIG. 7  depicts an exemplary movable fuze slide  16  slidingly engaged with the SSD slide housing  14  and shaped slightly smaller than and approximate to the bi-level movable fuze slide channel  130  to slide from a safety position within the housing ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) to an armed position offset from the safety position that aligns the primary detonator  18  with the arming screw  20  ( FIGS. 9 ,  10 ,  12  and  13 ). As can be seen in  FIG. 7 , the movable fuze slide  16  has a two tier top surface  150  shaped to slide within the bi-level movable fuze slide channel  130 . In particular, the movable fuze slide  16  has a broad lower section  152  and a narrow top section  154 , with the broad lower section split by a gap  156 . The narrow top section includes a top side  138 , a first wall  158  and a second wall  160  defining a top section shoulder  162  for abutting one of the shoulders  148  and thus stopping the movable fuze slide  16  from shifting beyond the armed position. The movable fuze slide  16  further includes a primary detonator port  134  for holding the primary detonator  18 , and a safety pin port  136  for locking the movable fuze slide  16  with the SSD slide housing  14  via the safety pin  114  when the pin is engaged into the safety pin port. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 7 , the movable fuze slide  16  includes two further ports. One of the ports is an arming screw port  140  that extends into the movable fuze slide through the top side  138  of the slide. The arming screw port  140  accepts the distal top  118  of the arming screw before deployment as can best be seen in  FIG. 1 . Another opening extending into the top side  138  of the movable fuze slide  16  defines an anti-backlash ball port  142  that helps to lock the movable fuze slide  16  in its armed position as discussed by example in greater detail below. 
     The anti-backlash ball  122  ( FIGS. 2 ,  4 ,  10 ) is a locking member preferably made of metal (e.g., chrome steel) that holds the movable fuze slide  16  against the SSD slide housing  14  when the movable fuze slide shifts into its armed position. Before deployment, the anti-backlash ball  122  rests in the ball channel  144  ( FIG. 6 ) of the SSD slide housing  14  which is sized having a diameter slightly larger than a diameter of the anti-backlash ball  122 . Here, the anti-backlash ball  122  sits within the ball channel  144  where it rests upon the top side  138  ( FIG. 7 ) of the movable fuze slide  16 . While the anti-backlash ball sits upon the top side of the movable fuze slide, the ball does not impede movement of the movable fuze slide between its safety position and armed position. During this time, that is before the movable fuze slide is shifted to its armed position, the anti-backlash ball  122  is kept within the ball channel  144  as it is blocked from exit of the ball channel by the top side of the movable fuze slide. 
     When the movable fuze slide  16  is shifted to its armed position, such that the primary detonator  18  is aligned with the arming screw  20 , the ball channel  144  of the SSD slide housing is shifted over the anti-backlash ball port  142  of the movable fuze slide  16 . This alignment of the ball channel and anti-backlash ball port allows the anti-backlash ball  122  to fall into the anti-backlash ball port  142  ( FIG. 10 ). However, the depth of the anti-backlash ball port  142  is less than the diameter of the anti-backlash ball, and thus the ball does not fall completely out of the ball channel  144  of the SSD slide housing. Instead, the anti-backlash ball  122  remains housed within both the ball channel  144  and the anti-backlash ball port  142 , where it holds the movable fuze slide  16  in its armed position and thereby prevents further sliding or backlash of the movable fuze slide out of or into the SSD slide housing  14 . Accordingly, once the movable fuze slide  16  shifts into its armed position, the anti-backlash ball  122  holds the movable fuze slide in its position until detonation or sterilization of the SSD fuze  10 . 
       FIG. 15  is a flow diagram depicting an exemplary functional sequence of events for explosion of the SSD fuze mechanism  12  of the preferred embodiments. When an exemplary submunition  108  having the SSD fuze mechanism is expelled from its carrier and encounters the airstream at deployment (Step  200 ), the force of the airstream discards the slide lock  110 , which removes the firing pin safety clip  56  and the SD activation clip  84  and allows the stabilizer ribbon to unfurl and stabilize the flight of the submunition (Step  202 ). The extraction of the SD activation clip  84  frees the activation pin compression spring  82 . Upon its release, the compression spring  82  drives the breaking member  78  through both the ball guide  92 , the ampoule cup aperture  94 , and then into the container  72  via the activation pin  80 . The breaking member  78  breaks the fragile container  72  and unleashes the reactant fluid  74  through the ampoule cup aperture  94  to the timing ball  90  at Step  204 . This exposure of the reactant fluid  74  about the breaking member  78  (e.g., timing ball  90 ) causes an erosion of the timing ball  90  at step  206  ( FIG. 9 ). 
     As can best be seen in  FIG. 10 , the extraction of the firing pin safety clip  56  moves the self-destruct firing pin  48  into contact with the interlock ball  64  of the interlock unit  26 . In other words, with the firing pin safety clip  56  no longer available as support for the self-destruct firing pin  48 , the firing pin compression spring  46  is free to expand slightly and shift the self-destruct firing pin incrementally toward the self-destruct detonator  40 . At this time, the self-destruct firing pin remains urged against the interlock unit  26  by the firing pin compression spring. 
     As steps  204  and  206 , the fuze mechanism  12  appears, for example, at  FIG. 10  with the activation pin compression spring  82  partially extended, the container  72  broken at its bottom by the timing ball  90 , the reactant fluid  74  initiating its erosion of the timing ball, and the self-destruct firing pin  48  being urged by the firing pin compression spring  46  against the interlock unit  26 , and more particularly, the SD firing pin releasing interlock ball  64 . As this point, the size (e.g., diameter) of the polystyrene timing ball  90  forbids its passing through the ampoule cup aperture  94  into the container  72 . 
     In the case of projectile carrier, the entire submunition is spinning at a very high rate at ejection. While not being limited to a particular theory, the wind resistance of the air stream tends to cause the unfurled stabilizer ribbon to resist the rotational spinning of the submunition  108 . This resistance to rotation is transferred to the arming screw  20 , causing the arming screw to rotate against the spinning submunition and back out from its pre-deployment position ( FIG. 1 ) that locks the movable fuze slide  16  in its safe position. Preferably the backing out of the arming screw  20  from its pre-deployment safe position releases the movable fuze slide  16  to shift, under the rotational forces of the deployed submunition  108 , to its armed position, as readily understood by a skilled artisan. It should be noted that the arming screw  20  is always engaged with the SSD slide housing  14 , providing a positive alignment of the arming screw distal tip  118  to the primary detonator  18  when the movable fuze slide  16  is in the armed position. 
     It is generally recognized that not all submunitions are spinning projectiles. For example, some missile warheads are non-spin; meaning that rotation is not available to arm a deployed submunition. Here, the arming screw backs out because of the vibration induced as the submunition descends. That is, a loose fit between the arming screw and its housing, along with the screw&#39;s weight allows the arming screw to back out, which releases the spring loaded slide to align the firing pin with the detonator, as readily understood by a skilled artisan. Regardless of their spinning characteristics, submunitions are designed so that when the munition is designed to explode (e.g., upon impact with its target), the arming screw  20  with weight inertia initiates the primary detonator  18 , causing a chain of explosions through the lead charge  21  and main charge  23  ( FIG. 8 ) that destroys the submunition  108 . In the preferred embodiments, the sequence of events described in this example, from the arming screw  20  releasing the movable fuze slide  16  to the destruction of the submunition  108 , occurs during the reaction between the timing ball  90  and the reactant fluid  74 . In other words, if the submunition  108  works as normally intended, the chain of explosions will destroy the submunition before the release of the self destruct firing pin  48  to the self-destruct detonator  40  while the reactant fluid  74  erodes the timing ball  90  outside the container  72 . 
     However, if the submunition  108  does not function normally, that is, explode upon hitting its target; the reactant fluid  74  continues to erode the timing ball  338  ( FIGS. 9 ,  10 ). After a predetermined delay (e.g., between about 25 seconds and 5 minutes, the timing ball  90  exposed to the reactant fluid  74  erodes to a point where it is small enough to pop through the ampoule cup aperture  94 . The predetermined time period typically varies in accordance with several factors, for example, the composition of the reactant fluid, the composition and density of the timing ball and the ambient temperature, as would be readily understood by a skilled artisan. 
     As the timing ball  90  erodes to a size small enough to fit through the ampoule cup aperture  94 , the force of the activation pin compression spring  82  pulses the timing ball through the aperture at Step  208 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 12-14 , the compression spring  82  urges the activation pin&#39;s proximal section  99  through the ball guide  92  until the enlarged diameter section  98  of the activation pin  80  abuts the ball guide. This movement of the activation pin pushes the timing ball  90  into the container  72 . As a result of this movement, the enlarged diameter section  98  of the activation pin, which previously supported the interlock unit  26 , moves out of its supporting position, thereby releasing the interlock balls  64 ,  66  to move further through the adjoining channel  68  toward the second channel  70 . As can be seen in  FIG. 12 , the self-destruct firing pin  48  pushes the interlock balls, forcing the interlock ball  66  into the second channel  70 . At this time, the interlock ball  64  is no longer available to restrict movement of the self-destruct firing pin  48 . 
     Accordingly, the movement of the timing ball  90  into the container  72  in step  208  releases the self-destruct firing pin  48 . At Step  210 , the firing pin compression spring  46  drives the released self-destruct (SD) firing pin  48  toward the self-destruct detonator  22 , causing the SD firing pin to impact and explode the SD detonator  40 . See, for example,  FIG. 13 , which depicts the SD firing pin  48  at impact with the SD detonator  40 . As can be seen in  FIG. 13 , output from the exploded SD detonator  40  initiates the adjacent primary detonator  18 , causing it to explode. If at this time the movable fuze slide  16  is in its armed position, such that the primary detonator  18  is aligned with the arming screw  20  and the main charge, then at Step  212  the initiation of the primary detonator  18  from the SD detonator  40  fires the main charge and destroys the submunition  108  (e.g., grenade, missile, rocket warhead munition). 
     However, if the movable fuze slide  16  is not in the armed position (e.g., the movable fuze slide did not complete its shift to arm and instead remains in the safe position or in a position between its safe an armed position where the primary detonator  18  is not aligned with the main charge as show by example in  FIG. 14 ), then at step  214  the output from the exploded SD detonator  40  initiates and explodes the primary detonator  18 , which at least sterilizes the submunition  108 . As can be appreciated by a skilled artisan, the chain of explosions at step  214  may still initiate the submunition&#39;s main charge if the output from the SD detonator  40  and/or the primary detonator  18  are sufficient to initiate the non-aligned main charge. Accordingly, the stationary self-destruct fuze  10  ensures sterilization or destruction of the submunition  108  in a timely manner in accordance with the relationship between the primary detonator  18  and the main charge. 
     It is understood that the method and mechanism for making and using the self-destruct fuze delay device described herein are exemplary indications of preferred embodiments of the invention, and are given by way of illustration only. It other words, the concept of the present invention may be readily applied to a variety of preferred embodiments, including those disclosed herein. 
     While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. For example, the SD fuze delay device is applicable to all the various ICM items including the submunitions of the non-rotating GMLRS/MLRS warheads. Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate the invention that other may, by applying current or future knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.