Unpowered railgun field validation for safe-arm fuzing
Inventors
Assignees
Publication Number
US-9915511-B1
Publication Date
2018-03-13
Expiration Date
2036-04-04
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Abstract
Embodiments are directed to unpowered railgun field validation for safe-arm fuzing. Embodiments use a wire coil having an induced electromotive force voltage. At least one positive duration circuit measures the positive portion of the induced voltage. At least one positive peak duration circuit measures the peak value of the positive portion of the induced voltage. At least one negative duration circuit measures the duration value of the negative portion of the induced voltage. At least one negative peak detector circuit measures the peak value of the negative portion of the induced voltage.
Core Innovation
Embodiments of the invention relate to the validation of the magnetic field environment for railgun munition safe-arm fuzing. The invention uses a wire coil to induce an electromotive force (EMF) voltage and includes multiple electronic circuits to measure both the duration and peak values of the positive and negative portions of the induced voltage. These measurements allow the munition's safe-arm fuze to validate if the magnetic field corresponds to that generated by a railgun launch environment.
The problem being addressed is the challenge of validating the arming environment for railgun munitions where the power is not applied to the electronics before launch, making it difficult to confirm if a munition has been fired from a gun. The invention overcomes this by capturing and storing the waveform shape of the induced voltage caused by the magnetic field generated during launch, using energy harvesting and analog processing techniques, so that upon fuze power-up post-launch, the stored voltage and duration values can be evaluated to determine the munition's firing status and ensure safe operation.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes two independent claims that describe the overall magnetic field validation circuit and the magnetic field validation tool, each comprising multiple electronic circuits and a complex logic device.
Magnetic field validation circuit for safe-arm device
A circuit comprising a wire coil with an induced EMF voltage; four electronic circuits connected to the coil to measure the duration and peak values of positive and negative portions of the induced voltage; and a complex logic device connected to these circuits to perform validation.
Magnetic field validation tool for safe-arm fuzing
A tool comprising a wire coil with an induced EMF voltage; an analog processing system connected to the coil that includes four circuits measuring duration and peak values of positive and negative portions of the induced voltage; and a complex logic device connected to the analog processing system to perform validation.
The independent claims cover a system and tool that utilize multiple circuits to measure positive and negative induced voltage characteristics and a complex logic device to validate the magnetic field environment for safe-arm fuzing, enabling verification of a railgun launch event using induced EMF signals.
Stated Advantages
Enables validation of an unpowered railgun munition safe-arm fuze by measuring the magnetic field induced voltage waveform without requiring power before launch.
Allows safe determination of whether a munition has been properly fired from a gun, preventing accidental arming and ensuring safety.
Uses energy harvesting from the magnetic field to capture the duration and magnitude of voltage signals, facilitating validation without additional power sources before launch.
Documented Applications
Validation of the magnetic field environment for railgun munition safe-arm fuzing to ensure proper arming conditions post-launch.
Use in munitions launched from cannons and guns to detect firing status by measuring induced electromotive force in coil circuits.
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