Igniting apparatus for explosive substances

• US 5,069,129 A
• Filed: 11/07/1990
• Issued: 12/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shigeaki Kunitomo
• Original Assignee: Shigeaki Kunitomo
• Inventors: Kunitomo, Shigeaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Application Number:
  US07/610,089
• Time in Patent Office: 391 Days
• Field of Search: 102/200, 102/206, 102/217, 102/311, 102/360
• US Class Current: 102/200
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/65 for giving ripple fire, i.e. using electric sequencer switches for timed multiple-charge launching, e.g. for rocket launchers

Abstract

A program-controlled automatic ignition apparatus comprising: a number of ignition circuits for igniting explosive charges, a plurality of terminal control units 6a, 6b, 6c, . . . disposed in the vicinity of a location where explosive charges 17 are set, for managing divided groups of the ignition circuits, respectively, and controlling them individually, while monitoring the loaded state of the explosive charges 17 in the circuits, a central control unit 1 for controlling the ignition circuits through the terminal control units 6a, 6b, 6c, . . . according to the program so as to successively ignite them, and an interface unit 2 for transmitting instructions from the central control unit 1 to the individual terminal control unit.

Claims

1. A program-controlled automatic ignition system for pyrotechnics, comprising:

a) a number of ignition circuits for igniting pyrotechnic devices, said circuits being divided into a plurality of groups;

b) a plurality of terminal control units disposed in proximity to the pyrotechnic devices for managing said plurality of groups of said number of ignition circuits and for controlling said ignition circuits individually while monitoring the loaded state of the pyrotechnic devices on the ignition circuits;

c) a central control unit for controlling said ignition circuits through said terminal control units according to a preset program to successively ignite the pyrotechnic devices;

d) an interface unit for transmitting instructions from said central control unit to the individual terminal control units;

e) a power source for said number of ignition circuits; and

f) each of said plurality of terminal control units including signal processing means comprising a microprocessor unit which is operable in accordance with the instructions of said central control unit, n-channel peripheral interface means connected to said signal processing means for n-ignition circuits constituting said group each of which consists of a channel driver and an ignition pellet of one of the pyrotechnic devices in circuit with said channel driver, a channel selector connected to said signal processing means for preselecting at least one channel of said n-channel peripheral interface means, a unit-test switching means connected to said processing means for selectively testing at least one channel of said n-channel peripheral interface means, and unit power supply line conductors connected to said power source and said n-ignition circuits in sequential shunt relationship.