Thiokol Corporation

Brendan M Walsh

Victor Singer

Francois X Prinz

Peter L Atkeson

Michael A Gerace

Frederick W Van Name

J Michael Wilson

Kent Steeves

A programmable electronic time delay initiator includes a digital time-delay circuit that counts in response to a dual-resonator clock and, at the end of the programmed time delay, gates the pre-stored charge on a capacitor to a semiconductor bridge initiator to fire an explosive. The timer circuit includes a combined crystal/RC oscillator that provides high accuracy oscillations from the crystal or oscillations from the RC components in the event the crystal fails. The timer circuit functions in response to multi-part serial commands delivered on a conventional two-wire path. The timer is initially powered-on to provide power to a capacitor that supplies power to the time-delay and related circuits. An initial ATTENTION pulse initializes the circuitry and starts a watchdog timer that counts a fixed number of clock cycles and resets the logic if a following WRITE, ARM, or FIRE command is not received. A WRITE pulse and following programming pulses programs a fusible link memory with time-delay information, an ARM pulse effects charging of a firing-charge capacitor, and a FIRE pulse gates the firing-charge to the bridge initiator to fire the explosive.

Programmable electronic time delay initiator

A composite structure for rocket motors includes a longitudinal element of the composite structure, which is an assembly of segments of clamshell or barrel stave form. The element is held in place by a circumferential element, which is a composite overwrap of reinforcing fibers in a resin matrix. The matrix may be thermoplastic or thermosetting. The reinforcing fiber being high strength polyolefin thereby providing the rocket motor with insensitive munitions capability.

Low cost segmented structure for pressure vessels, rocket motors, piping

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Wilmington, DE, United States of America

Brendan M Walsh