Shear-based inertia igniters with preset no-fire protection for munitions and the like

• US 10,458,769 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2018
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Inventors: Rastegar, Jahangir S
• Primary Examiner(s): Bergin, James S
• Application Number:
  US15/934,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20180274892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 584 Days
• Field of Search: 102216, 102247, 102251, 102256
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 1/04 operating by inertia of members on impact
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/24 wherein the safety or arming action is effected by inertia means F42C15/196, F42C15/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 19/0838 Primers or igniters for the initiation or the explosive charge in a warhead F42C19/095 takes precedence

Abstract

An inertial igniter for igniting a thermal battery upon a predetermined acceleration event. The inertial igniter including: a base having a first projection; a striker mass rotatably connected to the base through a rotatable connection, the base having a second projection aligned with the first projection such that when the striker mass is rotated towards the base, the first projection impacts the second projection; a rotation prevention mechanism for preventing impact of the first and second projections unless the predetermined acceleration event is experienced; and a spring for biasing the striker mass in a biasing direction away from the base, the spring being disposed between a portion of the striker mass and a portion of the rotation prevention mechanism.

Claims

1. An inertial igniter for igniting a thermal battery upon a predetermined acceleration event, the inertial igniter comprising:

a base having a first projection;

a striker mass rotatably connected to the base through a rotatable connection, the striker mass having a second projection aligned with the first projection such that when the striker mass is rotated towards the base, the first projection impacts the second projection;

a rotation prevention mechanism for preventing impact of the first and second projections unless the predetermined acceleration event is experienced; and

a spring, separate from the rotation prevention mechanism, for biasing the striker mass in a biasing direction away from the base, the spring being disposed between a portion of the striker mass and a portion of the rotation prevention mechanism.

2. The inertial igniter of claim 1, wherein the rotation prevention mechanism comprises a restriction member for restricting rotation of the sticker mass, the restriction member being disposed directly or indirectly between the striker mass and the base.

3. The inertial igniter of claim 2, wherein the restriction member has a weakened portion which fails upon the predetermined acceleration event thereby allowing the striker mass to rotate towards the base.

4. The inertial igniter of claim 3, wherein the restriction member is configured to fail in shear and the weakened portion is a reduced cross-sectional portion.

5. The inertial igniter of claim 3, wherein the restriction member is configured to fail in tension and the weakened portion is a reduced cross-sectional portion.

6. The inertial igniter of claim 1, further comprising a stop for limiting the movement of the striker mass in the biasing direction.