Patent ID: 7661363

Claim:
An impact fuse, comprising: a body comprised of a front portion and a rear portion; a piezoelectric generator housed proximate a first end of the rear portion forming an anvil; a piston slidably fitted within the front portion of the body and in physical contact with the piezoelectric generator prior to impact, the piston configured to exert force on the piezoelectric generator upon impact; a cap directly coupled to the piston by screwing, the cap configured to first contact a target upon impact and transmit impact forces to the piston; and a plastically deformable washer positioned between the cap and the front portion of the body, the cap and body being separated without directly contacting one another by the washer before impact, the washer comprising a plurality of concentric rims separated by a plurality of intermittent grooves; wherein: the rims are uniform in thickness; the grooves are uniform in thickness; the rims directly contact the cap; and the washer is configured to be deformed upon impact in a manner that causes the piston to more gradually exert force on the piezoelectric generator as compared to a transfer of force from the cap to the piezoelectric generator via the piston without a plastically deformable washer being so positioned.