Fuze

This article is about trigger devices for military munitions. For simple burning fuzes, see Fuse (explosives). For other uses, see Fuze (disambiguation).
"Exploder" redirects here. For the electric device used to detonate explosives, see blasting machine. For other uses, see Exploder (disambiguation).

In military munitions, a fuze (sometimes fuse) is the part of the device that initiates its function. In some applications, such as torpedoes, a fuze may be identified by function as the exploder.[1] The relative complexity of even the earliest fuze designs can be seen in cutaway diagrams.

A fuze is a device that detonates a munition's explosive material under specified conditions. In addition, a fuze will have safety and arming mechanisms that protect users from premature or accidental detonation.[2][3] For example, an artillery fuze's battery is activated by the high acceleration of cannon launch, and the fuze must be spinning rapidly before it will function. "Complete bore safety" can be achieved with mechanical shutters that isolate the detonator from the main charge until the shell is fired.[4]

A fuze may contain only the electronic or mechanical elements necessary to signal or actuate the detonator, but some fuzes contain a small amount of primary explosive to initiate the detonation. Fuzes for large explosive charges may include an explosive booster.

  1. ^ Fairfield, Arthur P., CDR USN (1921). Naval Ordnance. Lord Baltimore Press. p. 24.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-19. Retrieved 2009-12-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ Young, C. G. (November 1920). "Notes on Fuze Design". Journal of the United States Artillery. 53 (5). Fort Monroe, VA: 484–508.
  4. ^ Young 1920, p. 488