Patent ID: 8037826

Claim:
A mechanical escapement fuze self-destruct device that is attached to a projectile that rotates about its axis of symmetry when in flight, comprising: a rotor having an armed position where a stab detonator is aligned with a primary charge or a spitback and an unarmed position where the stab detonator is misaligned with said primary charge or said spitback; said rotor being mounted in a hollow interior of said projectile and said rotor rotating conjointly with said projectile when said projectile rotates about said axis of symmetry; a firing pin and a firing pin drive spring mounted on said rotor; said firing pin drive spring being compressed and said firing pin being retracted when said projectile is rotating at an RPM associated with its maximum range; said firing pin drive spring being uncompressed and said firing pin being extended when said projectile is rotating at an RPM less than said RPM associated with its maximum range; said stab detonator being detonated when said firing pin is extended, said detonation causing self-destruction of said projectile if said rotor is in said armed position; and said detonation of said stab detonator rendering said projectile “safe” if said rotor is in said unarmed position because if said rotor enters into said armed position after detonation of said stab detonator, the primary charge or spitback cannot detonate due to the previous detonation of said stab detonator.