High-G inertial igniter

• US 8,875,631 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2011
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Inventors: Rastegar, Jahangir S., Spinelli, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin P
• Application Number:
  US13/207,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20120205225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 102/221, 102/216, 102/226, 102/222, 102/227, 102/247, 102/249, 102/251, 102/252, 102/253, 102/254, 102/256, 102/272, 102/274, 102/275, 102/202.1
• US Class Current: 102/216
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/24 wherein the safety or arming action is effected by inertia means F42C15/196, F42C15/20 take precedence

Abstract

A method for igniting a thermal battery upon a predetermined acceleration event. The method including: rotatably connecting a striker mass to a base; aligning a first projection on the striker mass with a second projection on the base such that when the striker mass is rotated towards the base, the first projection impacts the second projection; and preventing impact of the first and second projections unless the predetermined acceleration event is experienced.

Claims

1. An inertial igniter for igniting a thermal battery upon a predetermined acceleration event, the inertial igniter comprising:

a base having a first projection;

a striker mass rotatably connected to the base through a rotatable connection, the striker mass having a second projection aligned with the first projection such that when the striker mass is rotated towards the base, the first projection impacts the second projection; and

a rotation prevention mechanism for preventing impact of the first and second projections unless the predetermined acceleration event is experienced;

wherein the rotation prevention mechanism comprises a retaining member movably disposed at least partially in the striker mass and a blocking member movably disposed in a blocking position for blocking the retaining member from moving from the striker mass unless the predetermined acceleration event is experienced; and

the blocking member is a flexural spring having a first end connected to one of the base or striker mass and a second end blocking the retaining member, and the second end includes an opening that allows the retaining member to pass when the flexural spring rotates or bends due to the predetermined acceleration event.

2. A switch for opening a circuit upon a predetermined acceleration event, the switch comprising:

a base having first and second electrical contacts configured to form a closed electrical circuit;

a striker mass rotatably connected to the base through a rotatable connection, the striker mass having a member formed of an electrically insulating material, the first and second electrical contacts being aligned with the member such that when the striker mass is rotated towards the base, the member opens the circuit between the first and second electrical contacts; and

a rotation prevention mechanism for preventing the member from opening the circuit unless the predetermined acceleration event is experienced;

wherein the rotation prevention mechanism comprises a retaining member movably disposed at least partially in the striker mass and a blocking member movably disposed in a blocking position for blocking the retaining member from moving from the striker mass unless the predetermined acceleration event is experienced; and

the blocking member is a flexural spring having a first end connected to one of the base or striker mass and a second end blocking the retaining member, and the second end includes an opening that allows the retaining member to pass when the flexural spring rotates or bends due to the predetermined acceleration event.

3. A switch for closing a circuit upon a predetermined acceleration event, the switch comprising:

a base having first and second electrical contacts configured to form an open electrical circuit;

a striker mass rotatably connected to the base through a rotatable connection, the striker mass having a third electrical contact formed of an electrically conductive material, the first and second electrical contacts being aligned with the third electrical contact such that when the striker mass is rotated towards the base, the third electrical contact closes the circuit between the first and second electrical contacts; and

a rotation prevention mechanism for preventing the third electrical contact from closing the circuit unless the predetermined acceleration event is experienced;

wherein the rotation prevention mechanism comprises a retaining member movably disposed at least partially in the striker mass and a blocking member movably disposed in a blocking position for blocking the retaining member from moving from the striker mass unless the predetermined acceleration event is experienced; and

the blocking member is a flexural spring having a first end connected to one of the base or striker mass and a second end blocking the retaining member, and the second end includes an opening that allows the retaining member to pass when the flexural spring rotates or bends due to the predetermined acceleration event.