Patent Grant
11131533
The present disclosure relates generally to shock resistant structures configured to absorb, minimize, or divert shock energy for fuze survivability.
When performing shock testing or within a tactical environment, a device may be subject to sudden and extreme amounts of acceleration or deceleration. This helps determine to what degree items can physically withstand relatively infrequent forces or mechanical shocks and vibrations. During pyroshock testing or warhead penetration testing, for example, extreme shock waves may travel through various structures and advance into the housings of the electronics (e.g., fuze). These shock waves may mechanically break and damage the sensitive electronics, often impairing or disabling the warhead and disrupting mission critical events. In this regard, there is a need for a device or mechanism that absorbs, diverts, or minimizes extreme shock loading energy traveling towards critical electronic components.
To minimize the limitations in the related art and other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the following discloses embodiments of new and useful shock resistant mounting structures for fuze systems.
One embodiment may be a shock resistant washer, comprising: a ring-shaped housing having a center opening adapted to engage a fuze body, such that the ring-shaped housing may surround and snugly fit at least a portion of the fuze body; and one or more cripple studs radially disposed within the ring-shaped housing; wherein the one or more cripple studs may extend between opposing sides of the ring-shaped housing. The ring-shaped housing may be filled with a urethane polymer. Each of the one or more cripple studs may have an I-beam cross section with a web portion having a maximum thickness of 0.25 inches. Each of the one or more cripple studs may comprise at least one cantilever portion extending from the web portion; wherein the one or more cripple studs may be oriented in spaced parallel relation to each other with the at least one cantilever portion in opposing relation. Each of the one or more cripple studs may have a cross-shaped beam cross section. The ring-shaped housing and the one or more cripple studs may be constructed of a metal.
Another embodiment may be a shock resistant base cap, comprising: a circular cap housing having a receptacle configured to engage a flange end of a fuze, the circular cap housing being adapted to snugly fit within a fuze well, such that the circular cap housing may be disposed between the flange end of the fuze and the faze well; and a plurality of cripple studs disposed within the circular cap housing; wherein the plurality of cripple studs may extend between first and second sides of the circular cap housing. The circular cap housing may be filled with a urethane polymer. Each of the plurality of cripple studs may have an I-beam cross section and a web portion having a maximum thickness than 0.25 inches. Each of the plurality of cripple studs may comprise at least one cantilever portion extending from the web portion; wherein the plurality of cripple studs may be oriented in spaced parallel relation to each other with the at least one cantilever portion in opposing relation. Each of the plurality of cripple studs may have a cross-shaped beam cross section. The circular cap housing and the plurality of cripple studs may be constructed of a metal.
Another embodiment may be a shock resistant base cap and shock resistant washer combination, comprising: a shock resistant base cap and a shock resistant washer. The shock resistant base cap may comprise: a circular cap housing having a receptacle configured to engage a flange end of a fuze, the circular cap housing being adapted to snugly fit within a fuze well, such that the circular cap housing may be disposed between the flange end of the fuze and the fuze well; and a plurality of first cripple studs disposed within the circular cap housing. The shock resistant washer may comprise: a ring-shaped housing having a center opening adapted to engage a fuze body, the ring-shaped housing having an outer diameter less than a diameter of the receptacle of the circular cap housing, such that when the fuze body is snugly fit within the center opening of the ring-shaped housing, the ring-shaped housing may fit within the receptacle of the circular cap housing, the fuze well, and the flange end of the fuze; and one or more second cripple studs radially disposed within the ring-shaped housing. The flange end of the fuze may be disposed between the shock resistant base cap and the shock resistant washer when the shock resistant washer and the shock resistant base cap are engaged with the flange end of the fuze and installed within the fuze well. The circular cap housing may be filled with a urethane polymer. The ring-shaped housing may be filled with a urethane polymer. The plurality of first cripple studs may extend between opposing sides within the circular cap housing and may be oriented in spaced parallel relation to each other. Each of the plurality of first cripple studs may have an offset beam cross section extending between opposing sides of the circular cap housing and may be oriented in a direction towards the fuze. Each of the one or more second cripple studs may have a cross-shaped beam cross section and extends within opposing sides of the washer housing. The shock resistant base cap and the shock resistant washer may be constructed of a metal. The shock resistant base cap and shock resistant washer combination may further comprise a retaining ring adapted to snugly fit within the fuze well when the shock resistant base cap, the shock resistant washer, and the fuze are installed within the fuze well.
It is an object to overcome the limitations of the prior art.
These, as well as other components, steps, features, objects, benefits, and advantages, will now become clear from a review of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.
The drawings are illustrative embodiments. They do not illustrate all embodiments. They do not set forth all embodiments. Other embodiments may be used in addition or instead. Details, which may be apparent or unnecessary, may be omitted to save space or for more effective illustration. Some embodiments may be practiced with additional components or steps and/or without all of the components or steps, which are illustrated. When the same numeral appears in different drawings, it is intended to refer to the same or like components or steps.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various aspects of one or more embodiments of the shock resistant mounting structures for fuze systems. However, these embodiments may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and/or components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the aspects of these embodiments.
Before the embodiments are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that these embodiments are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but is extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “another embodiment” may refer to a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification may not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in various embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of materials, fasteners, sizes, lengths, widths, shapes, etc . . . to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the scope of protection can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. . . . In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are generally not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the disclosure.
In the following description, certain terminology is used to describe certain features of the embodiments of the shock resistant mounting structures for fuze systems. For example, as used herein, unless otherwise specified, the term “substantially” refers to the complete, or nearly complete, extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. As an arbitrary example, an object that is “substantially” surrounded would mean that the object is either completely surrounded or nearly completely surrounded. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking, the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall result as if absolute and total completion were obtained.
The use of “substantially” is equally applicable when used in a negative connotation to refer to the complete or near complete lack of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. As another arbitrary example, a composition that is “substantially free of” particles would either completely lack particles, or so nearly completely lack particles that the effect would be the same as if it completely lacked particles. In other words, a composition that is “substantially free of” an ingredient or element may still actually contain such item as long as there is no measurable effect thereof.
As used herein, the term “approximately” may refer to a range of values of ±10% of a specific value.
As used herein, the term “near” refers to a region within close proximity of an intended point, position, or target. The term “near” may also refer to being at the intended point, position, or target.
As used herein the term “somewhat” refers to a range of values of ±50% of a specific value.
As used herein, the term “about” is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing that a given value may be “a little above” or “a little below” the endpoint. In some cases, the term “about” is to include a range of not more than about two inches of deviation.
By way of illustration, a numerical range of “about 1 inch to about 5 inches” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited values of about 1 inch to about 5 inches, but also include individual values and sub-ranges within the indicated range. Thus, included in this numerical range are individual values such as 2, 3, and 4 and sub-ranges such as from 1-3, from 2-4, and from 3-5.
This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value and should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described.
Distances, forces, weights, amounts, and other numerical data may be expressed or presented herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used merely for convenience and brevity and thus should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly recited.
This same principle applies to ranges reciting only one numerical value and should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or the characteristics being described.
As used herein in this disclosure, the singular forms “a” and “the” may include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The present disclosure relates generally to mounting structures that minimize, divert, or eliminate extreme shocks. In general, when sensitive electronics are subject to sudden force or impact, shock energy may travel and physically damage the electronics. Shock testing may help prevent or mitigate such damage by subjecting a test device to sudden and extreme amounts of acceleration or deceleration and determining to what degree items can physically withstand relatively infrequent forces or mechanical vibrations. During pyroshock testing or warhead penetration testing, for example, extreme shock waves may travel through various mounting structures and advance into a fuze system. These shock waves may mechanically break the electronics, often impairing or disabling the warhead and disrupting mission critical events.
Embodiments of the shock resistant mounting structure for fuze systems disclosed herein solve this problem by interfacing the fuze system with a plurality of cripple studs that divert or physically deform when subject to extreme shocks or vibrations. For example, one embodiment of the shock resistant mounting structure may be a shock resistant base cap, comprising a circular cap housing configured to engage and disengage a flange end of a fuze. The circular cap housing may comprise a plurality of cripple studs disposed within the circular cap housing, and the cripple studs may deform when experiencing extreme shock or vibrations.
In another embodiment, the shock resistant mounting structure may be a shock resistant base cap and shock resistant washer combination adapted to interface a flange end of a fuze. The shock resistant base cap may engage a flange end of the fuze and may comprise cripple studs disposed therein. The shock resistant washer may engage with the fuze body and may likewise comprise cripple studs to mechanically deform upon receiving extreme shock. In this manner, both the shock resistant base cap and shock resistant washer may absorb or divert extreme shock loading energy from damaging critical electronic components.
In the accompany drawings, like reference numbers indicate like elements. Reference characters 1000, 2000, 3000 depict various embodiments of the shock resistant mounting structures for fuze systems.
As shown in
Embodiments of the cripple studs 110 may be manufactured in various shapes and may comprise at least two flange ends 1106 coupled to the inner opposing sides 105a, 105b of the housing 105 and a web portion 110a, 110c that extends between the flange ends 110b. For example, as shown in
The shock resistant mounting structures 1000 may be constructed of various materials. For example, in one embodiment, the shock resistant mounting structure 1000 may be constructed of a metal, Examples of such metals may include, without limitation: aluminum, titanium alloy, nickel alloy (e.g., Inconel®), and maraging steel. In another embodiment, the shock resistant mounting structure 1000 may be cast or additively manufactured.
In another embodiment, the shock resistant mounting structure 1000 may also be filled with an insulating liquid compound such as urethane polymer 115. Specifically, urethane polymer 115 may be used to fill the housing 105 to further damp shock or vibrational energy at frequencies spectra known to excite printed circuit board mounted electronic components. Preferably, an insulating liquid compound that solidifies is used in order to permanently protect the cripple studs 110 and assembly. The urethane polymer 105 may provide shielding or heat dissipating functions in addition to preventing or mitigation extreme shock. Other embodiments that may be used to also fill the shock resistant mounting structure 1000 may include, without limitation, epoxy potting compounds, urethane potting compounds, and silicone potting compounds.
Unlike the previous embodiment,
The fuze 4000 may be a device configured to detonate a munition's explosive material under specified conditions and may have safety and arming mechanisms that protect users from premature or accidental detonation. Importantly, the fuze 4000 may contain the electronic or mechanical elements necessary to signal or actuate the detonator and may contain a small amount of primary explosive to initiate the detonation.
The fuze well 3300 may be a physical envelope or casing for interfacing the fuze 4000, Importantly, the fuze well 3300 may be adapted to hold and secure a shock resistant base cap 3100, shock resistant washer 3200, and fuze 4000. Additional details of the shock resistant base cap 3100 and shock resistant washer 3200 are described in
Regarding the cripple studs 3110 of the shock resistant base cap 3100, the cripple studs 3110 may be adapted to absorb or deform upon receipt of shock loading energy 120. The cripple studs 3110 may be disposed within the circular cap housing 3105 and may extend between the inner, opposing sides thereon. The cripple studs 3110 may also be arranged in spaced parallel relation to each other and may be oriented in a direction extending towards the fuze 4000. In this manner, shock loading energy 120 may be first required to travel along one or more cripple studs 3110 prior to advancing towards the fuze 4000.
Regarding the cripple studs 3210 of the shock resistant washer 3200, the cripple studs 3210 may absorb or deform upon receipt of shock loading energy 120. The cripple studs 3210 of the shock resistant washer 3200 are preferably located within the ring-shaped housing 3205 and may be radially disposed within the ring-shaped housing 3205. This may allow shock loading energy 120 entering from outside the fuze well 3300 to first travel along the cripple studs 3210 prior to contacting the fuze 4000. Each cripple stud 3210 may also have a cross-shaped beam cross section, as shown in
When installed, the flange end. 4100 of the fuze 4000 is preferably sandwiched or disposed between the shock resistant base cap 3100 and the shock resistant washer 3200. In particular, the shock resistant base cap 3100 may substantially cover the flanged end 4100 of the fuze when the shock resistant base cap 3100 is engaged with the flange end 4100 of the fuze 4000. The shock resistant washer 3200 may engaged with the fuze body 4200 of the fuze 4000. When engaged within the fuze well 3300, the shock resistant base cap and shock resistant washer combination 3000 may further comprise a retaining ring 5000 for holding and securing the shock resistant fuze base cap 3100 and shock resistant washer 3200 in place. Specifically, the retaining ring 5000 may snugly fit above the shock resistant base cap 3100 and within the fuze well 3300 when the shock resistant base cap 3100 and shock resistant washer 3200 are installed.
The shock resistant base cap 3100 and shock resistant washer 3200 are preferably constructed of a metal. Examples of such metals may include, without limitation, aluminum, titanium alloy, nickel alloy (e.g., Inconel®), and managing steel. In another embodiment, the shock resistant base cap 3100 and shock resistant washer 3200 may be cast or additively manufactured. Additionally, the shock resistant base cap 3100 and/or shock resistant washer 3200 may be filled with an insulating compound such as a urethane polymer.
The foregoing description of the embodiments of the shock resistant mounting structures for fuze systems has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. While multiple embodiments of the shock resistant mounting structures are disclosed, other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the above detailed description. As will be realized, these embodiments are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the detailed description is to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
Although embodiments of the shock resistant mounting structure are described in considerable detail, other versions are possible such as, for example, orienting and/or attaching the shock resistant base cap and/or shock resistant washer in a different fashion. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of versions included herein.
Except as stated immediately above, nothing, which has been stated or illustrated, is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedication of any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, or equivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recited in the claims. The scope of protection is limited solely by the claims that now follow, and that scope is intended to be broad as is reasonably consistent with the language that is used in the claims. The scope of protection is also intended to be broad to encompass all structural and functional equivalents.
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.
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