Multiple squib assembly

• US 5,631,439 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tracor Aerospace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tracor Aerospace, Inc.
• Inventors: Cotton, Beryl W. III, Sallee, Bradley T.
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US08/478,224
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 86/1.1, 86/10, 102/200, 102/202.5, 102/202.9, 102/202.12, 102/202.14, 102/206, 102/211, 102/214, 102/217, 102/340, 102/342, 102/345, 102/346, 102/351, 102/352, 102/357 , 102/360, 102/472, 102/505, 102/530, 102/531, 280/741, 422/166
• US Class Current: 102/217
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/08 modified for electric ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 19/00 Details of fuzes except F42C15/00

Abstract

A multiple squib assembly is provided for use in a chaff deployment system. A method of manufacture is also provided. The assembly of this invention represents an improvement over prior art squib assemblies, such as the BBU48. In preferred embodiments, the assembly comprises a brass base plate, a pair of squibs, a center contact connected to the squibs, and a zener diode connected between one of the squibs and the baseplate. All of those components are retained within a molded rubber or plastic body, which is shaped to hold the components in the desired relative position and to form sealing elements around each of the squibs. A reliable, integral assembly is thus provided using a minimal number of parts and electrical connections. In alternative embodiments, a larger number of squibs may be incorporated into the assembly, and alternative discrimination elements may be employed.

Claims

1. A multiple squib assembly for use in a chaff deployment system, the squib assembly comprising:

a brass base plate having an orifice formed therein;

a brass center contact positioned in the orifice in the base plate, said brass center contact and said orifice defining an insulative space therebetween;

a first squib and a second squib positioned in complementary relationship, each squib having a first end, a second end, a ground lead and a positive lead, the ground lead of each squib being connected to the base plate, and the positive lead of the first squib being connected to the center contact, and wherein each of staid second ends of said first and second squibs are insertable for insertion into a chaff chamber of said chaff deployment system;

a zener diode directly coupled in series between the positive lead of the second squib and the center contact; and

potting material engaging and retaining the first ends of said first and second squibs, the base plate, the center contact, the ground leads, the positive leads, and the zener diode, said potting material being shaped to form a first seal around said first squib and a second seal around said second squib, each of said first and second seals sealably insertable into a chaff chamber of said chaff deployment system, and wherein said potting material is disposed in said insulative space so as to insulate said brass center contact from said base plate.

2. A multiple squib assembly for use in a chaff deployment system having a chaff cartridge with first and second chaff chambers, the multiple squib assembly consisting essentially of:

a base plate having an orifice formed therein;

a center contact positioned in the orifice in the base plate said center contact and said orifice defining an insulative space therebetween;

a first squib and a second squib positioned in complementary relationship, each squib having a first end, a second end, a ground lead and a positive lead, the ground lead of each squib being attached to the base plate, and the positive lead of the first squib being attached to the center contact, and wherein each of said second ends of said first and second squibs are insertable into said respective first and second chaff chambers;

a discriminating element operatively coupled to the second squib and to the center contact; and

potting material engaging the first ends of the first and second squibs, the base plate, the center contact the ground leads, the positive leads, and the discriminating element, said potting material being shaped to form a first seal around said first squib and a second seal around said second squib, each of said first and second seals sealably insertable insertion into said respective first and second chaff chambers of said chaff cartridge, and wherein said potting material is disposed in said insulative space so as to insulate said center contact from said base plate.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the potting material is urethane.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the potting material is thermoplastic.

5. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the base plate and the center contact are made of brass.

6. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the discriminating element is a zener diode.

7. A method of manufacturing a dual squib assembly, comprising:

providing a first squib and a second squib, each squib having a first end, a second end, a ground lead and a positive lead, and wherein each of said second ends of said first and second squibs are insertable into a payload chamber of a payload deployment system;

connecting an anode of a zener diode to the positive lead of the second squib and connecting the cathode of the zener diode to a center contact;

connecting the positive lead of the first squib to the center contact;

connecting the negative leads of both squibs to a base plate having an orifice formed therein;

positioning the squibs, the zener diode, the base plate, the ground leads, the positive leads and the center contact in a fixture so that said center contact is positioned in the orifice in such a way to define an insulative space between said orifice and said center contact, the fixture being adapted to receive potting compound and to mold the potting compound to engage the first ends of said first and second squibs, the zener diode, the base plate, the ground leads, and the positive leads, and the center contact, and so that it forms a first squib sealing structure around said first squib and a second squib sealing structure around said second squib, each of said first and second squib sealing structures sealably insertable into a payload chamber of said payload deployment system;

injecting potting compound into the fixture such that it engages the first ends of said first and second squibs, the zener diode, the base plate, the ground leads, the positive leads, and the center contact, and wherein the potting compound fills said insulative space so as to insulate said center contact from said base plate and forms said first and second sealing structures; and

removing the completed assembly from the fixture.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising curing the potting compound after injecting it into the fixture.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the connecting steps comprise soldering.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the injecting step comprises injecting a urethane potting compound.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the injecting step comprises injecting a thermoplastic potting compound.

12. A squib assembly, comprising:

a base plate having an orifice formed therein;

a center contact positioned in the orifice, said center contact and said orifice defining an insulative space therebetween;

one or more squibs, each having a first end, a second end, a first contact and a second contact, said first contact and said second contact connected adjacent said first end, each said first contact connected to the baseplate and each said second contact connected to the center contact, and wherein each of said second ends of said one or more squibs are insertable into a payload chamber; and

insulating material engaging and retaining the baseplate, the center contact, the first contact, the second contact, and the first ends of each of said one or more squibs, said insulating material terminating at a point between said first and second ends of said squibs so that said second ends of said squibs extend free of said insulating material from said point, and wherein said insulating material is disposed in said insulative space.

13. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising at least two squibs and a discriminating element connected to one of the squibs.

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the discriminating element is a zener diode.

15. The assembly of claim 12, wherein the insulating material is formed into squib sealing elements encircling each squib at a point between said first and second ends of each squib, each of said first and second squib elements sealably insertable into said payload chamber.