Ronald Fowler

US Patent:

42044758, May 27, 1980

Filed:

Apr 29, 1969

Appl. No.:

4/823243

Inventors:

Ronald J. Fowler - Columbus OH

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

F42C 1512
F42C 1540
F42C 1304
F42C 1104

US Classification:

102262

Abstract:

The system of the present invention basically consists of a detector unit unted in each bomb or airborne weapon and operable upon interception of a signal emitted by an aircraft-mounted source. The required signal for arming is present only in a well defined zone below the aircraft and only in response to pilot command during weapon release. The signal consists of mechanically modulated beam of high-energy photons (gamma rays) emitted by a radioisotope source on the aircraft. The weapon must fall well below the aircraft to see the signal. Geiger-Mueller tubes are used for radiation detectors and the resulting signal is processed to initiate the arming or fuzing sequence. Power for the operation of the detector and associated electronics is transferred through the metallic covering of the weapon by means of a split-core transformer at the time of release. The power transferred is capable of operating the unit for the length of time it would normally take the weapon to fall through the signal zone; after which the weapon returns to a dormant, safe, state if no arming signal has been received.

US Patent:

41604172, Jul 10, 1979

Filed:

Apr 29, 1969

Appl. No.:

4/823242

Inventors:

Ronald J. Fowler - Columbus OH

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

F42C 1512
F42C 1540
F42C 1304
F42C 1104

US Classification:

102221

Abstract:

The system of the present invention basically consists of a detector unit unted in each bomb or airborne weapon and operable upon interception of a signal emitted by an aircraft-mounted source. The required signal for arming is present only in a well defined zone below the aircraft and only in response to pilot command during weapon release. The signal consists of an unmodulated beam of high-energy photons (gamma rays) emitted by a radioisotope source on the aircraft. The weapon must fall well below the aircraft to see the signal. Geiger-Mueller tubes are used for radiation detectors and the resulting signal is processed to initiate the arming or fusing sequence. Power for the operation of the detector and associated electronics is transferred through the metallic covering of the weapon by means of a split-core transformer at the time of release. The power transferred is capable of operating the unit for the length of time it would normally take the weapon to fall through the signal zone; after which the weapon returns to a dormant, safe, state if no arming signal has been received.