USA as Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Donald R Garvick

Lawrence C Fan

Robert Lavin Wood

Ralph E Balestrieri

Bruce R Kuester

Gregory R Birk

Howard R Last

An EFI (exploding foil initiator) or slapper detonator, including a explodable foil (or bridge), a flyer plate and a barrel plate having a movable barrier to close a barrel in a safety mode and for opening the barrel in an arming mode, wherein the movable barrier slides from a closed (safety) position to an open (armed) position under the control of a MEMS (microelectromechanical system) energetic actuator. The slidable barrier is maintained in the closed position by one or more locking devices of the MEMS energetic actuator until predetermined stimuli are detected to cause the locking device(s) to release the slidable barrier, thereby arming the EFI or slapper detonator.

MEMS emergetic actuator with integrated safety and arming system for a slapper/EFI detonator

An improved hydrostat constructed on a silicon wafer by microfabrication methods similar to those used for integrated circuits and other devices. A thin section of the wafer acts as a diaphragm, responsive to pressure of ambient water. A lever arm is affixed at its first end to one point on the surface of the wafer and extends over the diaphragm, so arranged that the lever arm will be forced away from the wafer when pressure is applied to the diaphragm. The second end of the lever arm is moved by the diaphragm so that it moves further from the wafer, by a factor of the mechanical advantage of the lever. When the second end moves away from the wafer, it mechanically releases a lock, allowing an ordnance device to which the hydrostat is attached to arm.

Miniature hydrostat fabricated using multiple microelectromechanical

Growing community of inventors

Silver Spring, MD, United States of America

Donald R Garvick