METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DETONATING PYROTECHNIC DEVICES IN MOTOR VEHICLES

• US 20100300316A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intamet Recycling Limited
• Original Assignee: Intamet Recycling Limited
• Inventors: Exton, Mark David
• Application Number:
  US12/294,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20100300316A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/215
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01177 Misdeployment, e.g. during assembly, disassembly, accident salvage or recycling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/067 by combustion incineration apparatuses or processes for used articles F23G7/003

Abstract

A method of detonating one or more pyrotechnic devices located within a motor vehicle comprises: locating the detonation control unit of the vehicle; removing the vehicle wiring loom connector from the detonation control unit; connecting the said connector to a first connector (4) provided at one end of a detonation control cable, the detonation control cable including, in addition to a first connector (4) for mating with the wiring loom connector, a length of cable (2) and a second connector (3) for connection to a detonation device, and incorporating means for rendering unusable the detonation control cable after a single use; connecting the second connector (3) of the detonation control cable to an external detonation device; and operating the external detonation device to detonate all the pyrotechnic devices within the vehicle via the wiring loom of the vehicle and, at the same time, to render the detonation control cable incapable of further use.

Claims

1. A method of detonating one or more pyrotechnic devices located within a motor vehicle comprises:

locating the detonation control unit of the vehicle;

removing the vehicle wiring loom connector from the detonation control unit;

connecting the said connector to a connector provided at one end of a detonation control cable, the detonation control cable including, in addition to a connector for mating with the wiring loom connector, a length of cable and a second connector for connection to a detonation device, and incorporating means for rendering unusable the detonation control cable after a single use;

connecting the second connector of the detonation control cable to an external detonation device; and

operating the external detonation device to detonate all the pyrotechnic devices within the vehicle via the wiring loom of the vehicle and, at the same time, to render the detonation control cable incapable of further use.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the means for rendering unusable the control cable after a single use comprises electrical means for preventing the transmission of a detonation signal along the cable after it has been used once.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical means is a microchip which is deactivated at the end of a detonation cycle so as to prevent reuse of the cable.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein first connector includes a circuit board which provides interconnection between the wires of the cable and the contacts on the connector and which further includes the means for rendering the control cable unusable, in particular the said microchip.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first connector further advantageously includes anti-tamper means to prevent tampering with the circuit board or the connector.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein a data collection device is included in the system which stores an electronic confirmation of the detonation of all pyrotechnic devices in the vehicle as a compliance record for proof of compliance with regulations relating to destructions of the pyrotechnic devices.

13. A detonation control cable for use in the method according to claim 1, comprising a length of cable having a first connector on a first end for mating with a wiring loom connector of a motor vehicle, a second connector on a second end for connection to a detonation device, and means for rendering unusable the control cable after a single use.

14. A control cable according to claim 13, wherein the means for rendering unusable the control cable after a single use comprises electrical means for preventing the transmission of a detonation signal along the cable after it has been used once.

15. A control cable according to claim 13, wherein the electrical means is a microchip which is deactivated at the end of a detonation cycle so as to prevent reuse of the cable.

16. A control cable according to claim 13, wherein first connector includes a circuit board which provides interconnection between the wires of the cable and the contacts on the connector and which further includes the means for rendering the control cable unusable, in particular the said microchip.

17. A control cable according to claim 13, wherein the first connector further advantageously includes anti-tamper means to prevent tampering with the circuit board or the connector.

18. A control cable according to claim 13, wherein a data collection device is included in the system which stores an electronic confirmation of the detonation of all pyrotechnic devices in the vehicle as a compliance record for proof of compliance with regulations relating to destructions of the pyrotechnic devices.

2-7. -7. (canceled)