The present invention relates to a safety and arming unit for initiation of underwater charges, comprising: a housing; a detonator; an interrupter slidable within the housing from a first position in which a firing chain from the detonator to a charge is interrupted, to a second position, in which the firing chain is complete; a first member configured to cooperate with the housing and the interrupter to form a first interlock, wherein, upon the first member being in a first position, said interlock locks said interrupter in said first position,and upon the first member being in a second position, said interrupter is free to slide relative to said first member; a second member configured to cooperate with the housing and the interrupter to form a second interlock, mechanically independent of said first interlock, wherein, upon the second member being in a first position, the interlock locks said interrupter in said first position, and upon the second member being in a second position, said interrupter is free to slide relative to said second member; and a plurality of electrical switches arranged in series, switchable from a first configuration in which the detonator is electrically isolated from a remote initiation firing system, to a second configuration in which the detonator is in electrical communication with a remote initiation firing system; wherein, upon the first member being in the second position, and the second member being in the second position, the interrupter is slidable from the first position to the second position upon being subjected to an external water pressure of at least a predefined threshold value. Upon the interrupter being in the second position, the interrupter acts on the plurality of electrical switches to switch said plurality of switches to said second configuration.
F42C 14/04 - Fuzes characterised by the ammunition class or type for torpedoes, marine mines or depth charges
F42C 15/00 - Arming-means in fuzesSafety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges
F42C 15/32 - Arming-means in fuzesSafety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges operated by change of fluid pressure
F42C 15/34 - Arming-means in fuzesSafety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges wherein the safety or arming action is effected by a blocking-member in the pyrotechnic or explosive train between primer and main charge
F42C 15/44 - Arrangements for disarming, or for rendering harmless, fuzes after arming, e.g. after launch
2.
SYSTEM FOR ATTACHING A DEVICE TO AN OBJECT, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEM FOR DEPLOYING THE DEVICE
The present invention relates to a system for attaching a device to an object, comprising: an attachment device for attaching the device to an object, the attachment device having a trigger for triggering activation of the attachment device; a releasable coupling device for releasably coupling the attachment device to a deployment system. The releasable coupling device comprising: a housing; a trigger system, configured to trigger the attachment device trigger; and a retaining system, configured to releasably retain the attachment device. The releasable coupling device is configured such that: in a first configuration, the trigger system is in a disarmed state; in a second configuration, the trigger system is in an armed state, such that movement of the attachment device relative to the housing of the releasable coupling device activates the trigger of the attachment device; and in a third configuration, the retaining system releases the attachment device. The invention is particular of use in attaching an ordnance clearance charge to underwater ordnance.
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