The present invention relates to a safety and arming unit for initiation of underwater charges, comprising: a housing; a detonator; an interrupter slidable within the housing from a first position in which a firing chain from the detonator to a charge is interrupted, to a second position, in which the firing chain is complete; a first member configured to cooperate with the housing and the interrupter to form a first interlock, wherein, upon the first member being in a first position, said interlock locks said interrupter in said first position, and upon the first member being in a second position, said interrupter is free to slide relative to said first member; a second member configured to cooperate with the housing and the interrupter to form a second interlock, mechanically independent of said first interlock, wherein, upon the second member being in a first position, the interlock locks said interrupter in said first position, and upon the second member being in a second position, said interrupter is free to slide relative to said second member; and a plurality of electrical switches arranged in series, switchable from a first configuration in which the detonator is electrically isolated from a remote initiation firing system, to a second configuration in which the detonator is in electrical communication with a remote initiation firing system; wherein, upon the first member being in the second position, and the second member being in the second position, the interrupter is slidable from the first position to the second position upon being subjected to an external water pressure of at least a predefined threshold value. Upon the interrupter being in the second position, the interrupter acts on the plurality of electrical switches to switch said plurality of switches to said second configuration.

A non-electric device of initiation is proposed, converting initial mechanical pulses into firing force or stimulating an explosive transformation, usable for initiating explosive devices or any means involving sanctioned detonation or combustion. The proposed device includes an element provided with an axial through-channel in the form of an insert or being integral with a housing of an igniter, munition, or pyrotechnic device. An igniting composition may be positioned in the channel. The proposed device can be triggered by any mechanical impulse, such as a shock impulse, a percussive impulse, or a grating impulse. The proposed device is standardized so as to work with various explosive devices, pyrotechnic devices and igniting compositions, provides for high operational reliability, a high level of safety, a long useful life of the initiator, simple and safe production, and an optional capability to avoid the use of metal components and phosphorus compositions.

The present invention relates to a safety and arming unit for initiation of underwater charges, comprising: a housing; a detonator; an interrupter slidable within the housing from a first position in which a firing chain from the detonator to a charge is interrupted, to a second position, in which the firing chain is complete; a first member configured to cooperate with the housing and the interrupter to form a first interlock, wherein, upon the first member being in a first position, said interlock locks said interrupter in said first position, and upon the first member being in a second position, said interrupter is free to slide relative to said first member; a second member configured to cooperate with the housing and the interrupter to form a second interlock, mechanically independent of said first interlock, wherein, upon the second member being in a first position, the interlock locks said interrupter in said first position, and upon the second member being in a second position, said interrupter is free to slide relative to said second member; and a plurality of electrical switches arranged in series, switchable from a first configuration in which the detonator is electrically isolated from a remote initiation firing system, to a second configuration in which the detonator is in electrical communication with a remote initiation firing system; wherein, upon the first member being in the second position, and the second member being in the second position, the interrupter is slidable from the first position to the second position upon being subjected to an external water pressure of at least a predefined threshold value. Upon the interrupter being in the second position, the interrupter acts on the plurality of electrical switches to switch said plurality of switches to said second configuration.

An article ejection structure is disclosed, having a housing, and a first biasing member positioned in the housing and having a first biasing force biasing the first biasing member toward a first neutral position to drive a rupture structure to rupture the housing. A release member restricts the first biasing member from moving toward the first neutral position when the release member is in a lock state, and is conditionable to a release state, in which the release member at least partially releases the first biasing member to move toward the first neutral position and drive the ejection structure to rupture the housing. A second biasing member positioned in the housing, the second biasing member having a second biasing force biasing the second biasing member toward a second neutral position to drive an article positioned in the housing out of the housing when the housing is ruptured.

An article ejection structure is disclosed, having a housing, and a first biasing member positioned in the housing and having a first biasing force biasing the first biasing member toward a first neutral position to drive a rupture structure to rupture the housing. A release member restricts the first biasing member from moving toward the first neutral position when the release member is in a lock state, and is conditionable to a release state, in which the release member at least partially releases the first biasing member to move toward the first neutral position and drive the ejection structure to rupture the housing. A second biasing member positioned in the housing, the second biasing member having a second biasing force biasing the second biasing member toward a second neutral position to drive an article positioned in the housing out of the housing when the housing is ruptured.

An article ejection structure is disclosed, having a housing, and a first biasing member positioned in the housing and having a first biasing force biasing the first biasing member toward a first neutral position to drive a rupture structure to rupture the housing. A release member restricts the first biasing member from moving toward the first neutral position when the release member is in a lock state, and is conditionable to a release state, in which the release member at least partially releases the first biasing member to move toward the first neutral position and drive the ejection structure to rupture the housing. A second biasing member positioned in the housing, the second biasing member having a second biasing force biasing the second biasing member toward a second neutral position to drive an article positioned in the housing out of the housing when the housing is ruptured.