USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Ltv Aerospace & Defense Company

Ltv Aerospace Corporation

Albert J Marek

Homer W Heinzman

A circuit for providing controlled switching of power applied to a load is adapted for actuating and deactivating a power switching circuit in response to a command signal. The circuit employs a switching circuit having a time delay section operable to terminate application of power immediately upon the cessation of a control signal and to conduct current after a predetermined delay interval after receipt of a command signal. The circuit is adapted for use with pyrotechnic ignition systems in which it is desired to quickly discharge capacitive elements connected to a load for prevention of undesired and possibly hazardous build-up of heat in a resistive ignition element.

High-speed capacitor discharge circuit suitable for the protection of

A parachute release arrangement which is mounted on the parachute buckle lizes a pair of water sensors that are activated when they are immersed in sea water. Activation of one sensor results in the connection of a battery to a DC-to-DC converter which raises the battery voltage to a substantially higher level for charging a storage capacitor. If the other sensor is also activated, this storage capacitor is subsequently discharged through an electrical explosive device when the voltage across it reaches a predetermined value. The resultant explosive force disengages a release lever in the buckle from the parachute strap and allows the detachment of the parachute. A checkout circuit is provided for monitoring the standby status of the control circuit.

Automatic parachute release system

A power controller for transmitting alternating current from a power input circuit to a load, the controller being a master silicon controlled rectifier, hereinafter the 'master rectifier,' and a slave silicon controlled rectifier, hereinafter the 'slave rectifier,' connectible in parallel with the load across the input circuit, a capacitor chargeable during positive half cycles for discharging at the zero voltage crossover between half cycles of positive and negative input voltage to render the master capacitor conductive and a second capacitor chargeable When the master controlled rectifier is conductive whose discharge renders the slave rectifier conductive at the instant of zero voltage crossover between half cycles of negative and positive input voltage. The controller may also include a light sensitive diode connected in series between the control gate of the master rectifier and the first capacitor which is conductive only as long as a light emissive diode is energized and an overload responsive circuit for deenergizing the light emissive diode upon the occurrence of an overload. The controller may also additionally include a shunting transistor for shunting the discharge from the first capacitor from the light sensitive diode during half cycles of negative input voltage to prevent initiation of conduction of the master rectifier at times other than at the instant of zero voltage crossover between half cycles of positive and negative input voltage. Another form of the power controller may include a DC to DC converter for supplying the power for turning on the master rectifier and for supplying substantially a large proportion of the current for turning on the slave rectifier. In this second form of controller a single capacitor is charged during the periods of conduction of the master rectifier and discharged through an amplifying transistor to the gate of the master rectifier.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

Albert J Marek