Patent ID: 8132510

Claim:
In a cartridge comprising a case with a head assembly and a load carrying projectile fitted to said case, said projectile having programmable electronics mounted therein at its forward end and an electrically conductive cylindrical container for tracer or base burner compound or a rocket motor system positioned at the rear of said projectile, an electromechanical electronics-setting circuit present within said cartridge for transmitting an electrical setting signal originating from an external fire control system through the head assembly to said programmable electronics, said circuit, said head assembly comprising: a) a head assembly holder connected to said case for containing head assembly components; b) a firing pin contacting electrode carried within said head assembly holder for transmitting an electrical firing signal to a primer igniter for ignition of propellant present in said case and for serving as a portion of the electromechanical electronics-setting circuit, said firing pin contacting electrode being insulated from said head assembly holder; said head assembly further comprising: c) a first electrically conductive, cylindrical sleeve fitted within the head assembly holder for electrical connection to the firing pin contacting electrode, said first cylindrical sleeve being separated electrically from the head assembly holder by first insulation means, d) a second electrically conductive, cylindrical sleeve fitted within the first cylindrical sleeve, said second cylindrical sleeve being separated electrically from the first cylindrical sleeve and the head assembly holder by second insulation means, wherein: e) the first cylindrical sleeve is electrically connected for carrying the electrical-setting signal as part of the electromechanical electronics-setting circuit; and f) the second cylindrical sleeve is electrically connected for carrying the electrical firing signal to the primer igniter; with said electromechanical circuit having a first path for transmitting said electrical setting signal, said first path originating from said external firing control system, to said firing pin contacting electrode, to said first electrically conductive, cylindrical sleeve to a first conductor, to said electrically conductive cylindrical container, to a second conductor, to a fuze contact within said projectile, to a third conductor, to said programmable electronics, returning via a surface of said cartridge to ground; and with electromechanical circuit having a second path for transmitting said electrical firing signal, said second path originating from said external firing control system, to said firing pin contacting electrode, to a bridge wire in said head assembly, to an ignition cup assembly in said head assembly, to said second electrically conductive, cylindrical sleeve returning via said assembly holder to ground.