ORDNANCE FIRING SYSTEM

• US 20030075069A1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (Dyno Nobel Holding ASA)
• Original Assignee: Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (Dyno Nobel Holding ASA)
• Inventors: Boucher, Craig J., Novotney, David B., Marshall, Paul N.
• Granted Patent: US 6,584,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26029 Ignitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/017 including arrangements for providing electric power to safety arrangements or their actuating means, e.g. to pyrotechnic fuses or electro-mechanic valves
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/007 Reactive armour; Dynamic armour
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/40 wherein the safety or arming action is effected electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/05 Electric circuits for blasting

Abstract

An ordnance system of the present invention may include or feature any one or more of: a control unit, one or more effectors (detonators, initiators, shaped charges and the like), and a two-, three- or four-wire communication bus between the control unit and the effectors; an addressable system in which all the effectors can be connected to the same communication bus and the control unit can issue coded signals on the bus addressed to a specific effector; inductive coupling between the effectors and the communication bus; and a multi-voltage level communication system in which communication signals are carried at a first voltage and arming signals are provided at a second, higher voltage. Other features may include two-way communication between effectors and the control unit and the de-centralization of firing control so that the control unit does not have exclusive control over whether the effectors function. As a result, the individual effectors possess decision-making ability and, for purposes of this invention, may be referred to as “intelligent” effectors. To participate in the decision-making process, effectors of this invention may be equipped with sensors or other diagnostic circuitry whose condition is checked for satisfactory output before functioning is permitted to occur.

Claims

1. An ordnance firing system for an aerospace device comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the system comprising:

firing control system circuitry for controlling the firing of a plurality of initiators;

a plurality of initiators comprising planar, low-energy initiation elements connected to the firing control system circuitry;

a low-energy power source for arming the initiators; and

a low-energy power source for powering the control circuitry.

3. The system of claim 1 or claim 2 comprising a common communication bus connecting the initiators to the control circuitry.

29. The system of claim 1, claim 2, claim 15 or claim 16 comprising at least one sensor, wherein at least one initiator is programmed to self-arm or initiate based on a signal received from the sensor.

2. An ordnance firing system for an aerospace device comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the system comprising:

firing control system circuitry for controlling the firing of a plurality of initiators, the firing control system circuitry comprising a low-energy power source and an input port for receiving low-energy power for arming the initiators and for powering the firing control system circuitry and for receiving firing control signals; and

a plurality of initiators comprising planar, low-energy initiation elements connected to the firing control circuitry.

4. In an aerospace device comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the improvement comprising initiators comprising planar, low-energy initiation elements for initiating the effectors.

5. The device of claim 4 comprising a low-energy power source connected to the initiators to provide power for arming the initiators.

7. The device of claim 4, claim 5 or claim 6 comprising a common communication bus connecting the initiators to the control circuitry.

8. The device of claim 4, claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the device comprises one of a missile and a launch vehicle.

9. The device of claim 8 comprising effectors selected from the group consisting of exploding bolts, bolt cutters, motor igniters, release fairings and destruct charges.

6. In an aerospace device comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the improvement comprising:

firing control system circuitry for controlling the firing of a plurality of initiators for the effectors;

a plurality of initiators comprising planar, low-energy initiation elements associated with the effectors and connected to the firing control system circuitry for initiating the effectors; and

a low-energy power source for arming the initiators.

10. In an aerospace device comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of initiators associated with the effectors;

a firing control system in communication with the initiators; and

at least one sensor, on the device, for sensing a condition precedent to arming or firing at least one initiator;

wherein at least one initiator is in communication with the sensor and that is responsive to the sensor and to the firing circuitry for initiating its associated effector upon receipt of proper signals from both the firing circuitry and the sensor.

11. The device of claim 10 comprising a common bus through which the initiators are linked to the firing circuitry.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the sensor is connected to the bus.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein the sensor is connected to the initiator responsive to it.

27. The device of claim 10 wherein at least one initiator is programmed to self-arm or initiate based on a signal received from the sensor.

14. A method for firing an initiator for a reactive effector in an aerospace device or land vehicle comprising at least one sensor for a condition precedent to firing the initiator, the method comprising:

taking a time-phased reading of the sensor and comparing the reading to a predetermined temporal profile, and firing the initiator when the reading correlates to the predetermined profile.

15. An ordnance firing system for a land vehicle comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the system comprising:

firing control system circuitry for controlling the firing of a plurality of initiators;

a plurality of initiators comprising planar, low-energy initiation elements connected to the firing control system circuitry;

a low-energy power source for arming the initiators; and

a low-energy power source for powering the control circuitry.

17. The system of claim 15 or claim 16 comprising a common communication bus connecting the initiators to the control circuitry.

16. An ordnance firing system for a land vehicle comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the system comprising:

firing control system circuitry for controlling the firing of a plurality of initiators, the firing control system circuitry comprising a low-energy power source and an input port for receiving low-energy power for arming the initiators and for powering the firing control system circuitry and for receiving firing control signals; and

a plurality of initiators comprising planar, low-energy initiation elements connected to the firing control circuitry.

18. In a land vehicle comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the improvement comprising initiators comprising planar, low-energy initiation elements for initiating the effectors.

19. The device of claim 18 comprising a low-energy power source connected to the initiators to provide power for arming the initiators.

21. The device of claim 18, claim 19 or claim 20 comprising a common communication bus connecting the initiators to the control circuitry.

22. The device of claim 18, claim 19 or claim 20 wherein the effectors comprise air bag inflators.

20. In a land vehicle comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the improvement comprising:

firing control system circuitry for controlling the firing of a plurality of initiators for the effectors;

a plurality of initiators comprising planar, low-energy initiation elements associated with the effectors and connected to the firing control system circuitry for initiating the effectors; and

a low-energy power source for arming the initiators.

23. In a land vehicle comprising a plurality of reactive effectors, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of initiators associated with the effectors;

a firing control system in communication with the initiators; and

at least one sensor, on the device, for sensing a condition precedent to arming or firing at least one initiator;

wherein at least one initiator is in communication with the sensor and that is responsive to the sensor and to the firing circuitry for initiating its associated effector upon receipt of proper signals from both the firing circuitry and the sensor.

24. The vehicle of claim 23 comprising a common bus through which the initiators are linked to the firing circuitry.

25. The vehicle of claim 23 wherein the sensor is connected to the bus.

26. The vehicle of claim 23 wherein the sensor is connected to the initiator responsive to it.

28. The vehicle of claim 23 wherein at least one initiator is programmed to self-arm or initiate based on a signal received from the sensor.