1191

[111
{451

Fugelso
[541
[76]

IMPACT SWITCH
inventor: Mark A. Fugelso 521

12th Ave-

3,479,476
3,286,057

11/1969
11/1966

Swain ............................ "102/702 R

Krupen .......................... ..lO2/70.2 X

SE, Minneapolis, Minn.

.

3,715,985
Feb. 13, 1973

Primary Examiner-Samuel Feinberg

[221

F?ed:

[21]

AWL No_-_ 44,330

June 9 1970

Assistant Examiner-Thomas H. Webb

Attorney-R. S. Sciascia and Roy Miller

[52-]

US. Cl. ......................... ..102/70.2 R, 200/6153

[57]

[51]

Int-Cl ---- --H0lh 35/14,F42 19/06, F426 15/40

A nose impact switch for a projectile comprising a

[58]

Field of Search ............... 102/702 R, 70.2 GA;

plunger, an insulator, a cover and a O-ring assembled

zoo/6195,6153

such that when a projectile impacts, the plunger is

'

'

[56]

"

moved

References Clted
UNITED STATES PATENTS

ABSTRACT

back

against

slender

rod,

constituting

or.

3,169,724

2/1965

Perkins et al. ................. .tlO2/702 R

3,\ 88,953

6/1965

Bianchi et al. ................. ..l02/70.2 R

/l

2 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure

1/,

1
IO

' /,

switch function and thereby conducting electrical

energy through the plunger to the rod and to a recep

PATENTEDFEB13 I975

3,715,985

,j/ ///
/ ///

//
/

/ / ///

//

/ '

MARK

1/

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//

INVENTOR.
A. FUGELSO

HY

ROY

MILLER

ATTORNEY.

3,715,985
1

IMPACT swrrcn

to be mounted on the forward end ofa projectile. Also,

the outer surface of the insulator is copper plated so
that a complete circuit for the flow of electrical energy,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

incorporating the outer body of the projectile, may be

attained.

The nose impact switch is mounted on a forward end

of a projectile, such as a 20 mm projectile but is not

The plunger is made out of metal, such as steel or any

other suitable material. The cover 12 physically retains
the various parts in the proper spaced relationship. The

restricted thereto specifically. The impact switch

design is intended to function such that the switch func
tion will not take place until an obstacle is encoun

cover is made of aluminum in the present instance,

however, could be formed of any other suitable con
ducting material. Aluminum was selected because of its

tered. For the retention of the plunger to be perfectly

effective, it is absolutely necessary that it should be
capable of resisting the static stresses which come into
operation under the effect of the inertia of the plunger
upon the departure of the projectile from the weapon
and also under the action of air pressure. On the other
hand,'it is also imperative that the switch function take
place upon impact with an obstacle of even very slight
resistance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

strength, conductivity and low weight. The cover acts

as a conductor between the copper plated outer surface

of the insulator 11 and the steel plunger 10.

The primary advantage of the present impact fuze,

over the prior art devices, is that the present switch
requires about 10 times less force to cause successful

operation thereof. Previous switches operated by

crushing a metal nose, which requires considerable

20 force to cause successful operation.

What is claimed is:

1. An impact switch assembly adapted for use in a

FIG. 1 is a cross section of the impact switch as

sembly.

projectile comprising:
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENT

an insulating member adaped to be affixed to the for

25

The design comprises a plunger 10, an insulating

member 11, a cover 12 and an O-ring l3. Positioned

centrally of the insulating member 11 and abutting the

and the projectile;

O-ring 13 is a penetrator rod 14.

30
The insulating member 1 1, which is in this instance is
formed of Nylon, is coated on the exterior thereof with
a copper plating 15.
When the projectile strikes a target, the plunger 10 is

physically moved back against the slender rod 14. This 35

action constitutes a switch function. When the
switching function occurs, electrical energy is con

ducted through the plunger 10 to the slender rod 14

and subsequently into an electrical receptor (not
shown). In the present instance, the receiver of the 40

said conducting means comprising a conductive

coating on the exterior of said insulating member;

another conducting means centrally located in said
insulating means and spaced from said plunger
means such that when said projectile impacts, the
plunger means is moved rearwardly with respect to
said another conducting means sufficient to con
tact said another means and form a complete cir

cuit for the ?ow of electrical energy; and

a deformable insulating O-ring spacer means
between said plunger means and said another con
ductor means.

electrical energy happens to be a detonator, but it is not

2. An impact switch assembly as set forth in claim 1

necessarily restricted to this receiver.

and further including;

The O-ring 13 is formed of rubber or some other

a conducting cover means surrounding a portion of

suitable deformable nonconducting material and physi

cally keeps the plunger 10 from coming in contact with
the penetrator rod 14 until impact.

ward portion of a projectile;

plunger means forward of said insulating member
and ?xed in position with respect thereto;
conducting means connecting said plunger means

45

The insulator 11 is made out of Nylon or some other

suitable nonconducting material and has screw threads

on its outer diameter which allows the complete switch
50

55

60

65

said plunger means and extending rearwardly

thereof and surrounding an outer portion of said
insulating member and in contact with the conduc
tive coating on said insulating member.