Method and apparatus for safer remotely controlled firing of ignition elements
First Claim
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1. A method for firing an electric ignition element from a remote control site, said method comprising:
- generating at said remote site an energy control signal;
transmitting said energy control signal from said remote control site and receiving said energy control signal at the site of the ignition element, the received energy control signal being of sufficiently low energy as to be incapable of directly firing the ignition element;
amplifying the received energy control signal in amplifying means powered from a local power source located adjacent to the ignition element to provide an amplified local energy signal;
feeding the amplified energy signal to local energy storage means whereby said energy storage means is charged with sufficient energy for firing said ignition element;
thereafter generating at said remote site at least one characteristic firing control signal;
transmitting said firing control signal(s) to firing control means located at the site of the ignition element whereby at least one characteristic firing control signal is identified and,in response to said identification, discharging said energy storage means through said ignition element.
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Abstract
Low level remotely generated control signals are amplified at a local ignition site using a local power source and the amplified control signals are used to charge a local energy storage device. Thereafter firing control signals (e.g., controlled duration suppressions of the remotely generated control signals) are detected and used to control discharge of the thus stored energy through an electrical ignition device.
61 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for firing an electric ignition element from a remote control site, said method comprising:
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generating at said remote site an energy control signal; transmitting said energy control signal from said remote control site and receiving said energy control signal at the site of the ignition element, the received energy control signal being of sufficiently low energy as to be incapable of directly firing the ignition element; amplifying the received energy control signal in amplifying means powered from a local power source located adjacent to the ignition element to provide an amplified local energy signal; feeding the amplified energy signal to local energy storage means whereby said energy storage means is charged with sufficient energy for firing said ignition element; thereafter generating at said remote site at least one characteristic firing control signal; transmitting said firing control signal(s) to firing control means located at the site of the ignition element whereby at least one characteristic firing control signal is identified and, in response to said identification, discharging said energy storage means through said ignition element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Apparatus for electrically igniting an ignition element from a local energy source using remotely generated control signals, said apparatus comprising:
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a local power source; signal receiving means for receiving said remotely generated control signals; signal amplifier means powered by said local power source and connected to amplify said control signals; energy storage means connected to receive said amplified control signals and to store electrical energy derived therefrom; and local firing control means comprising means to detect a predetermined characteristic of said received control signals as firing control signals and, in response to such detection, to discharge stored electrical energy from the energy storage means through an electrically ignitable ignition element. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification