Fuze indication system

Abstract

A device for monitoring the status of a munition fuze is disclosed. The device includes a visible marker; an indicator strip, capable of actuation, from a first state to a second state; and a power source providing power to the munition initiation system, the visible marker and/or the indicator strip. The visible marker and indicator strip are positioned to be visible to an observer when the fuze has been fitted for use on said munition and activation of the power source causes switching of the visible marker from an off state to an on state and actuation of the indicator strip from a first state to a second state, such that the power source's activation is indicated by the actuation of the indicator strip to its second state. The visible marker remains in an on state only if there is sufficient power to operate the initiation system.

Claims

1. A device configured to monitor the status of a fuze of a munition, the device comprising: a visible marker configured to be switched between an off state and an on state; an irreversible indicator strip configured to be actuated from a first state to a second state; and a power source configured to provide power to an initiation system in the fuze, the visible marker and/or the indicator strip; wherein said visible marker and indicator strip are configured to be positioned on the munition such that they are visible to an observer of said munition; wherein the power source is configured to cause switching of the visible marker from the off state to the on state, and actuation of the indicator strip from the first state to the second state, such that activation of the power source is indicated by the actuation of the indicator strip to the second state; and wherein the visible marker is configured to remain in the on state only if there is sufficient power to operate the initiation system.

2. The device according to claim 1, where the visible marker includes a light source.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the light source includes a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the visible marker is configured to switch to the on state prior to intended activation, thereby indicating unintended activation.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the power source includes a battery.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the power source includes a reserve battery.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator strip is a thermochromic or electrochromic indicator strip.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator strip is actuated by a heating element, wherein said heating element is connected to the power source.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the heating element is a resistive heating element.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the temperature of actuation of the indicator strip is in the range of from 90 to 120° C.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator strip has a tolerance of plus or minus 5° C. before activation.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the visible marker and indicator strip are located in a separate housing which is retrofittable to the munition, such that the housing operatively engages with the munition's power source.

13. A munition comprising the device according to claim 1.

14. A device configured to monitor the status of a fuze of a munition, the device comprising: a visible marker configured to be switched between an off state and an on state, wherein the visible marker includes a light source; an indicator strip configured to be actuated from a first state to a second state, wherein the indicator strip includes an irreversible indicator strip; and a heating element configured to actuate the indicator strip, the heating element connectable to a power source; wherein said visible marker and indicator strip are configured to be positioned on the munition such that they are visible to an observer of said munition; wherein the power source is configured to cause switching of the visible marker from the off state to the on state, and actuation of the indicator strip from the first state to the second state, such that activation of the power source is indicated by the actuation of the indicator strip to the second state; and wherein the visible marker is configured to remain in the on state only if there is sufficient power to operate an initiation system of the fuze.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the light source includes a Light Emitting Diode (LED).

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the visible marker is configured to switch to the on state prior to intended activation, thereby indicating unintended activation.

17. The device according to claim 14, wherein the power source includes a battery.

18. A device configured to monitor the status of a fuze of a munition, the device comprising: a visible marker configured to be switched between an off state and an on state, wherein the visible marker includes a Light Emitting Diode (LED); an indicator strip configured to be actuated from a first state to a second state, wherein the indicator strip includes an irreversible indicator strip; and a heating element configured to actuate the indicator strip, the heating element connectable to a power source; wherein said visible marker and indicator strip are configured to be positioned on the munition such that they are visible to an observer of said munition; wherein the power source is configured to cause switching of the visible marker from the off state to the on state, and actuation of the indicator strip from the first state to the second state, such that activation of the power source is indicated by the actuation of the indicator strip to the second state; wherein the visible marker is configured to remain in the on state only if there is sufficient power to operate an initiation system of the fuze; and wherein the power source is a power source of the munition, and the visible marker and indicator strip are located in a housing which is retrofittable to the munition, such that the housing operatively engages with the munition's power source.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the visible marker is configured to switch to the on state prior to intended activation, thereby indicating unintended activation.

20. The device according to claim 14, wherein the indicator strip is a thermochromic or electrochromic indicator strip.

Description

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:—

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a fuze with indicator strip and light emitting source visible to the observer.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram depicting an example design for the layout of the fuze components.

(4) Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a fuze 10 with a warhead 12 and an insertion portion 13. On the front of the fuze 10, in a position that may be viewed by an observer (not shown), there is a visible marker 14, present to highlight when power is provided to the fuze 10 initiation systems, this may have been unintentional and as a result of environmental or physical stimulus such as a knock or drop. Activation of the power source (not shown) will supply current to the visible marker turning it from an off state to an on state and will remain in the on state until the visible marker is manually reset and when power remains in the power source (not shown), that is sufficient to operate the fuze 10 initiation systems. A thermochromic irreversible indicator strip 18 is also present, in view of the observer (not shown). In the event of the power source (not shown) being activated, a current is supplied to a heating element (not shown), which increases in heat causing an irreversible reaction to the thermochromic irreversible indicator strip 18, changing its colour and showing that the power source (not shown) has been activated.

(5) Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a circuit diagram, wherein there is a fuze 20 circuit with a power source 25. If the power source 25 initiates then the current will pass through the visible marker 24 and the resistive heating element 21, which would cause the visible marker to switch from an off position to an on position and the resistive heating element 21 to increase in temperature by the current passing through the resistive heating element 21. The heat from the resistive heating element 21 causes the thermochromic irreversible indicator strip 28 to undergo a reaction after reaching a certain temperature, changing from a base colour to a different colour, indicating that the power source 25 has been activated.