Timers for Ordnance Symposium: Flutter Arming and Timing Mechanism for Fuzes
Abstract
The components in the conventional mechanical fuzing system for bombs include an arming vane to extract energy from the environment, high speed bearings to ensure proper rotational characteristics of the arming vanes, clutch or similar mechanism to sense a specific velocity threshold and a clock escapement or governor for proper delay arming of the fuze. This report is concerned with another mechanism that current exploratory development shows promise of accomplishing the same ends. The mechanism has the potential to become an inexpensive environmentally operated delay device that could effect a considerable savings if used on fin stabilized cluster bomblets. The operational basis of this arming mechanism is a controlled flutter phenomenon. A rectangular flat-plate oscillating member is pivoted about its midchord and has a spring member providing a restoring moment. Placed edgewise in a wind stream, the system is in unstable-stable equilibrium; at a predetermined air speed or above, aerodynamic lift on the flat plate overcomes the restoring moment and the oscillator vibrates.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 16, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0847720
Entities
People
- P. D. Gratton
- W. J. Donahue
Organizations
- Naval Ordnance Laboratory