Selectable delay mechanism for pyrotechnic munitions

Abstract

A selectable delay mechanism for a pyrotechnic munition having an indexing sleeve and a fuze core containing delay composition positioned within the indexing sleeve and a plurality of ports each located in the indexing sleeve and the fuze core wherein a port in the indexing sleeve is aligned with a port in the fuze core to vary the initiation of the delay composition.

1 . A delay mechanism for a munition comprising:
 an indexing sleeve;   a fuze core at least partially positioned within the indexing sleeve; and   means for aligning the fuze core within the indexing ring to vary the initiation of delay composition located within the fuze core.   
     
     
         2 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the means for aligning the fuze core within the indexing sleeve comprises a plurality of ports in each of the index sleeve and the fuze core wherein a port in the index sleeve is aligned with a port in the fuze core. 
     
     
         3 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the means for aligning the fuze core in the index sleeve further comprises an index ring adjacent the indexing sleeve and positioned around the fuze core. 
     
     
         4 . The mechanism of  claim 3  wherein the index ring is held under pressure against the indexing sleeve by a spring and a retaining clip positioned around the fuze core. 
     
     
         5 . The mechanism of  claim 1  further comprising a sealing ring positioned in a groove between the fuze core and the index sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The delay mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the delay composition located within the fuze core comprises multiple strands of timed delay fuze. 
     
     
         7 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the delay composition located within the fuze core comprises a multiple individual pressed column delay. 
     
     
         8 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the delay composition located within the fuze core comprises a single multi-staged pressed column delay. 
     
     
         9 . The mechanism of  claim 1  wherein the means for aligning the fuze core within the indexing ring can comprise one of a spring-loaded detent pin, interference groove, locking ring, or set screw. 
     
     
         10 . The mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the fuze core and indexing sleeve are rotatable with respect to each other. 
     
     
         11 . A pyrotechnic munition comprising:
 a housing having a pyrotechnic mix; and   a selectable delay mechanism for varying deployment times of the munition.   
     
     
         12 . The munition of  claim 11  wherein the selectable delay mechanism comprises an indexing sleeve, a fuze core positioned within the indexing sleeve, and a plurality of alignable openings in each of the indexing sleeve and the fuze core. 
     
     
         13 . The munition of  claim 11  wherein the selectable delay mechanism further comprises an index ring adjacent the indexing sleeve and positioned around the fuze core. 
     
     
         14 . The munition of  claim 13  wherein the index ring is held under pressure against the indexing sleeve by a spring and a retaining clip positioned around a portion of the fuze core. 
     
     
         15 . The munition of  claim 12  further comprising a sealing ring positioned in a groove between the fuze core and the index sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The munition of  claim 12  wherein the fuze core includes a delay composition comprising multiple strands of timed delay fuze. 
     
     
         17 . The munition of  claim 12  wherein the fuze core includes delay composition comprising a multiple individual pressed column delay. 
     
     
         18 . The munition of  claim 12  wherein the fuze core includes a delay composition comprising a single multi-staged pressed column delay. 
     
     
         19 . A method of selecting a detonation time for a pyrotechnic munition having a selectable delay mechanism including a fuze core positioned with an indexing sleeve comprising the steps of:
 rotating the fuze core and the indexing sleeve with respect to one another; and   aligning at least one port in the fuze core with at least one port in the indexing sleeve.   
     
     
         20 . A method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of rotating the fuze core and the indexing sleeve with respect to one another to align a second port in the index sleeve with a second port in the fuze core.