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.

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.

This invention relates to a non-detonating cartridge containing an explosive composition, and more particularly but not exclusively to a non-detonating cartridge having enhanced safety characteristics. The cartridge includes a container including a cavity suitable for receiving a low explosive composition; an initiator, for in use initiating the explosive composition inside the cavity; and a shielding member which is displaceable relative to the container between a safe position, in which the initiator is shielded from the cavity such that initiation of the initiator does not result in initiation of the explosive composition, and a live position in which the initiator is exposed to the cavity to permit initiation of the explosive composition. The cartridge is characterised in that the shielding member is slideably displaceable relative to the container.

This invention relates to a non-detonating cartridge containing an explosive composition, and more particularly but not exclusively to a non-detonating cartridge having enhanced safety characteristics. The cartridge includes a container including a cavity suitable for receiving a low explosive composition; an initiator, for in use initiating the explosive composition inside the cavity; and a shielding member which is displaceable relative to the container between a safe position, in which the initiator is shielded from the cavity such that initiation of the initiator does not result in initiation of the explosive composition, and a live position in which the initiator is exposed to the cavity to permit initiation of the explosive composition. The cartridge is characterised in that the shielding member is slideably displaceable relative to the container.

A device for detecting the absence of a mechanical barrier for a missile comprises a rod constrained by a first elastic element and a free end capable of coming into contact with the mechanical barrier and a cam constrained by a second elastic element. The rod can assume one or more of the following positions: an initial entry position wherein the rod is held in a stable position between the cam and the mechanical barrier, an extended position wherein the cam moved the rod in the direction of the free end, and a final entry position wherein the rod is acted upon by the first elastic element after the rod has been released by the cam once the rod has completely entered the missile in the final entry position so as to no longer present a danger to its environment or a hindrance to the proper functioning of the missile.

A device for detecting the absence of a mechanical barrier for a missile comprises a rod constrained by a first elastic element and a free end capable of coming into contact with the mechanical barrier and a cam constrained by a second elastic element. The rod can assume one or more of the following positions: an initial entry position wherein the rod is held in a stable position between the cam and the mechanical barrier, an extended position wherein the cam moved the rod in the direction of the free end, and a final entry position wherein the rod is acted upon by the first elastic element after the rod has been released by the cam once the rod has completely entered the missile in the final entry position so as to no longer present a danger to its environment or a hindrance to the proper functioning of the missile.

The invention relates to a detonator system for hand grenades, having an ignition element (1) which after initiation triggers a delay and safety device, which, with a time delay after the initiation, fires a detonator (7), which then ignites an ignition booster (8), wherein the delay and safety device includes a dual safety device of two independent parts. So that the hand grenade detonator system according to the invention includes a purely pyrotechnic detonator system instead of a pyrotechnic-mechanical system, it is suggested that the delay and safety device consists of two pyrotechnic ignition delay devices with different delay times—specifically a safety element (3) and a delay element (4)—wherein the delay time of the safety element (3) is shorter than the delay time of the delay element (4), and the safety element (3) includes a timing composition which, once it has burned through, ignites a gas charge (9), the gas of which opens blocking elements (5), and the delay element (4) includes a firing charge, and the firing charge is only in operative connection with the detonator (7) after the opening of the blocking elements (5).

The invention relates to a detonator system for hand grenades, having an ignition element (1) which after initiation triggers a delay and safety device, which, with a time delay after the initiation, fires a detonator (7), which then ignites an ignition booster (8), wherein the delay and safety device includes a dual safety device of two independent parts. So that the hand grenade detonator system according to the invention includes a purely pyrotechnic detonator system instead of a pyrotechnic-mechanical system, it is suggested that the delay and safety device consists of two pyrotechnic ignition delay devices with different delay times—specifically a safety element (3) and a delay element (4)—wherein the delay time of the safety element (3) is shorter than the delay time of the delay element (4), and the safety element (3) includes a timing composition which, once it has burned through, ignites a gas charge (9), the gas of which opens blocking elements (5), and the delay element (4) includes a firing charge, and the firing charge is only in operative connection with the detonator (7) after the opening of the blocking elements (5).

A vented pyrotechnic device is provided that hermetically seals the pyrotechnic material contained therein under ambient storage conditions, but vents upon exposure to elevated-temperature conditions at or below the outgassing temperature for the pyrotechnic material. The vent passage communicating the chamber containing the pyrotechnic material with the exterior of the device is initially sealed at ambient storage conditions by a temperature-sensitive material. When exposed to a predetermined temperature condition, the temperature-sensitive material undergoes a physical change unblocking the passage and permitting venting of off gases produced by the pyrotechnic material.

A vented pyrotechnic device is provided that hermetically seals the pyrotechnic material contained therein under ambient storage conditions, but vents upon exposure to elevated-temperature conditions at or below the outgassing temperature for the pyrotechnic material. The vent passage communicating the chamber containing the pyrotechnic material with the exterior of the device is initially sealed at ambient storage conditions by a temperature-sensitive material. When exposed to a predetermined temperature condition, the temperature-sensitive material undergoes a physical change unblocking the passage and permitting venting of off gases produced by the pyrotechnic material.