Energetic material initiation device
First Claim
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1. A device comprising:
- a housing assembly that defines a cavity;
an input charge disposed in the cavity, the input charge being formed of a secondary explosive;
an output charge formed of an energetic material that is configured to release energy in response to energy received from detonation of the input charge;
first and second terminals received through the housing assembly and extending into the cavity;
an exploding foil initiator that is disposed in the cavity, the exploding foil initiator being electrically coupled to the first terminal and being configured to initiate a detonation event in the input charge in response to receipt of an electrical pulse applied to the exploding foil initiator through the first terminal; and
a switch having a first contact and a second contact, the first contact being electrically coupled to the second terminal, the second contact being electrically coupled to the first terminal, the switch being maintained in an open state and closing within 5 microseconds after the operation of the exploding foil initiator.
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Abstract
A device for initiating an energetic material through an electrical pulse. The device includes an input charge, an initiator assembly and a switch. The input charge is formed of a secondary explosive. The initiator assembly is configured to initiate a detonation event in the input charge in response to receipt of the electrical pulse to a terminal that is electrically coupled to the initiator assembly. The switch is maintained in a normally open condition but is closed to transmit electrical energy from the pulse that remains on the first terminal after operation of the initiator assembly has been initiated.
73 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a housing assembly that defines a cavity; an input charge disposed in the cavity, the input charge being formed of a secondary explosive; an output charge formed of an energetic material that is configured to release energy in response to energy received from detonation of the input charge; first and second terminals received through the housing assembly and extending into the cavity; an exploding foil initiator that is disposed in the cavity, the exploding foil initiator being electrically coupled to the first terminal and being configured to initiate a detonation event in the input charge in response to receipt of an electrical pulse applied to the exploding foil initiator through the first terminal; and a switch having a first contact and a second contact, the first contact being electrically coupled to the second terminal, the second contact being electrically coupled to the first terminal, the switch being maintained in an open state and closing within 5 microseconds after the operation of the exploding foil initiator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A device comprising:
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a housing assembly that defines a cavity; an input charge disposed in the cavity, the input charge being formed of a secondary explosive; first and second terminals received through the housing assembly and extending into the cavity; an exploding foil initiator that is disposed in the cavity, the exploding foil initiator being electrically coupled to the first terminal and being configured to initiate a detonation event in the input charge in response to receipt of an electrical pulse applied to the exploding foil initiator through the first terminal; and a switch having a first contact and a second contact, the first contact being electrically coupled to the second terminal, the second contact being electrically coupled to the first terminal, the switch being maintained in an open state and closing after operation of the exploding foil initiator to limit a current discharged from the first terminal to the housing assembly to less than 100 amps when a current in excess of 500 amps is employed to initiate the operation of the exploding foil initiator. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A device comprising:
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a housing assembly that defines a cavity; an input charge disposed in the cavity, the input charge being formed of a secondary explosive; first and second terminals received through the housing assembly and extending into the cavity; an initiator assembly that is disposed in the cavity, the initiator assembly being electrically coupled to the first terminal and being configured to initiate a detonation event in the input charge in response to receipt of an electrical pulse applied to the initiator assembly through the first terminal; and a switch having a first contact and a second contact, the first contact being electrically coupled to the second terminal, the second contact being electrically coupled to the first terminal, the switch being maintained in an open state; wherein energy released from the detonation of the input charge is employed in the closing of the switch to limit the discharge of electrical energy from the first terminal to the housing assembly. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A device comprising:
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a housing assembly that defines a cavity; an input charge disposed in the cavity, the input charge being formed of a secondary explosive; an output charge formed of an energetic material that is configured to release energy in response to energy received from detonation of the input charge; first and second terminals received through the housing assembly and extending into the cavity; an initiator assembly that is disposed in the cavity, the initiator assembly being electrically coupled to the first terminal and being configured to initiate a detonation event in the input charge in response to receipt of an electrical pulse applied to the initiator assembly through the first terminal; and a switch having a first contact and a second contact, the first contact being electrically coupled to the second terminal, the second contact being electrically coupled to the first terminal, the switch being maintained in an open state and closing in response to receipt of energy generated by the detonation event, the switch closing within 5 microseconds after the initiator assembly initiates the detonation event. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A device comprising:
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a housing assembly that defines a cavity; an input charge disposed in the cavity, the input charge being formed of a secondary explosive; an output charge formed of an energetic material that is configured to release energy in response to energy received from detonation of the input charge; an initiator assembly that is disposed in the cavity, the initiator assembly being configured to initiate a detonation event in the input charge; and a switch that is not used to operate or to control the operation of the initiator assembly, the switch being maintained in an open state and closing in response to receipt of energy generated by the detonation event, the switch closing within 5 microseconds after the initiator assembly initiates the detonation event; wherein the initiator assembly includes an exploding foil initiator. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification