IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,004,072
Granted Patent B1
US 7,004,072 · App. 09/538,785 · Granted Feb 28, 2006

Magnetically sensed second environment safety and arming device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,004,072
App. No.
09/538,785
Granted
Feb 28, 2006
Kind
B1
Abstract

The fuze is armed only if muzzle exit is sensed by a magnetic sensor within a predetermined time after setback is sensed and either one or both of a minimum spin rate is sensed by the magnetic sensor and/or a minimum number of turns are counted.

Claims (18)

1. A safety and arming fuze apparatus for use with a projectile, comprising:

a magnetic sensing apparatus for determining the occurrence of at least two of the events selected from the group consisting of muzzle exit, a predetermined spin rate, and a predetermined number of turns,

whereby upon the occurrence of the at least two events the fuze is armed.

2. The safety and arming apparatus of claim 1 further including a timer and wherein the magnetic sensing apparatus is programmed to arm the fuze only if the at least two events occur in a predetermined order in a predetermined time window.

3. The safety and arming apparatus of claim 2 further including a setback sensor and wherein the fuze is armed only if setback occurs and the at least two events occur in a predetermined order.

4. The safety and arming apparatus of claim 3 wherein the fuze is armed only if muzzle exit occurs within a predetermined time window from when setback occurs.

5. The safety and arming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two events are a predetermined spin rate and a predetermined number of turns.

6. The safety and arming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two events are muzzle exit, a predetermined spin rate, and a predetermined number of turns.

7. The safety and arming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two events are muzzle exit, spin rate, and turns in a predetermined time window.

8. The safety and arming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two events are muzzle exit and a predetermined number of turns.

9. The safety and arming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fuze is armed only if the spin rate is between a predetermined minimum and maximum spin rate within a predetermined time window.

10. A method for safing and arming a projectile, the steps comprising:

a) determining the occurrence of at least two of the events selected from the group consisting of muzzle exit, a predetermined spin rate, and a predetermined number of turns,

b) arming the fuze.

11. The method of claim 10 further including the step of arming the fuze only if a setback event occurs.

12. The method of claim 11 further including the step of arming the fuze only if the event of muzzle exit occurs within a predetermined time from when setback occurs.

13. The method of claim 12 further including the step of arming the fuze only if the spin rate is between a predetermined minimum and maximum spin rate.

14. The method of claim 13 further including the step of arming the fuze only after the projectile has turned a predetermined number of turns.

Assignments (14)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2021
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS LLC
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055215/0559 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 1, 2021
From: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS, INC.
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS LLC
Reel/Frame 055191/0490 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 17, 2020
From: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
To: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATION SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 054799/0623 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Jun 6, 2018
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
Reel/Frame 046477/0874 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 14, 2017
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
To: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
Reel/Frame 043865/0372 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2015
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE CO.; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; AMMUNITION ACCESSORIES, INC.; ORBITAL ATK, INC. (F/K/A ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.)
Reel/Frame 036816/0624 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2015
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 036728/0311 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 30, 2015
From: ORBITAL ATK, INC.; ORBITAL SCIENCES CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 036732/0170 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 26, 2013
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; CALIBER COMPANY; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; SAVAGE ARMS, INC.; SAVAGE RANGE SYSTEMS, INC.; SAVAGE SPORTS CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 031731/0281 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; AMMUNITION ACCESSORIES INC.; ATK COMMERCIAL AMMUNITION COMPANY INC.; ATK COMMERCIAL AMMUNITION HOLDINGS COMPANY; ATK LAUNCH SYSTEMS INC.; ATK SPACE SYSTEMS INC.; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; EAGLE INDUSTRIES UNLIMITED, INC.; EAGLE MAYAGUEZ, LLC; EAGLE NEW BEDFORD, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 025321/0291 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2004
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.; ALLIANT AMMUNITION AND POWDER COMPANY LLC; ALLIANT AMMUNITION SYSTEMS COMPANY LLC; ALLIANT HOLDING LLC; ALLIANT INTERNATIONAL HOLDING INC.; ALLIANT LAKE CITY SMALL CALIBER AMUNITION COMPANY LLC; ALLIANT PROPULSION AND COMPOSITES LLC; AMMUNITION ACCESSORIES INC.; ATK AEROSPACE COMPANY INC.; ATK AMMUNITION AND RELATED PRODUCTS LLC; ATK COMMERCIAL AMMUNITION COMPANY INC.; ATK ELKTON LLC; ATK INTERNATIONAL SALES INC.; ATK LOGISTICS AND TECHNICAL SERVICES LLC; ATK MISSILE SYSTEMS COMPANY LLC; ATK ORDNANCE AND GROUND SYSTEMS LLC; ATK PRECISION SYSTEMS LLC; ATK TACTICAL SYSTEMS COMPNAY LLC; COMPOSITE OPTICS, INCORPORATED; FEDERAL CARTRIDGE COMPANY; GASL, INC.; MICRO CRAFT INC.; MISSION RESEARCH CORPORATION; NEW RIVER ENERGETICS, INC.; THIOKOL TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 014732/0027 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 7, 2004
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK)
To: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 015201/0095 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 22, 2001
From: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
To: THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
Reel/Frame 011821/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2000
From: CEOLA, KENNETH D.
To: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 010720/0780 →