Conax Florida Corporation

Conax Corporation

Francis M Miller

Carlton William Naab

A water-actuated, pressurized gas release device (10) that automatically actuates to inflate an associated personal flotation device when immersed in an electrically conductive fluid, such as salt or fresh water, is described. The device is comprised of a high strength plastic housing (12) that holds an enclosure tube (62) housing a primer charge (68) in a longitudinal alignment with a piercing pin (44). The primer is connected to a lever (80) and a lead wire (84) that is electrically connected to an electrical circuit means (87) which is in electrical contact with a pair of batteries (118A, 118B). When the device is immersed in water, an electrical circuit is formed between a terminal (122) of the battery pack and the lever and lead wire which serve as an electrical return to the electrical circuit means. This ignites the primer which creates explosive propulsion gases that drive a lance portion (46) of the piercing pin into a puncturable closure member (32) of a gas container (30) to inflate the personal flotation device. A conformal coating prevents the water from short circuiting the electrical circuit means until after the primer has been ignited. The gas container can also be manually punctured by actuating the lever which cams against the enclosure tube which moves against the piercing pin to drive the lance into the puncturable closure.

Water-actuated pressurized gas release device

A circuit for operating a load in response to predetermined external conductivity conditions comprising a pair of sensing electrodes, a source of electrical energy connected to one of the electrodes, a load connected to the other of the electrodes, a controlled switch connected to the load, a first energy storage branch having a timing chracteristic and connected between the source and the other electrode, a second energy storage branch having a timing characteristic and connected across the combination of the load and a controlled switch, and a control operatively connected to the first and second branches and connected in controlling relation to the controlled switch so that when the electrodes are exposed to a first medium having a predetermined electrical conductivity energy builds up on first and second branches and the controlled switch is open and then a predetermined time after the electrodes are exposed to a second medium having a different electrical conductivity the controlled switch is closed and the load is operated by energy stored in the second branch. The first and second energy storage branches have different timing characteristics, and the predetermined time is a function of that difference. The control and its connection in the circuit are determined so as to be responsive to the first medium being of higher electrical conductivity than the second medium, for example, water being the first medium and air the second. The load can be an electro-explosive device of an automatic release mechanism for an aviator helmet.

Sensor circuit response to different fluid conductivities and having

A circuit for operating a load device comprising an operating circuit including an energy storage device for providing electrical energy for operating the device and a voltage responsive switch having a control terminal and connected between a voltage source and energy storage device of the operating circuit to provide energy to the storage device and opening when the stored energy causes the voltage on both sides of the switch to be essentially the same thereby disconnecting the source from the operating circuit so that any short circuit in the load does not affect the source or the remainder of the circuit associated therewith. The circuit can be in combination with a structure having a conducting path, the load device can have a conductive casing physically contacting the path of the structure, there can be a conducting element within the casing, the device can be susceptible to short circuit conditions between the conducting element and casing, and the voltage source can be in the structure and have positive and negative terminals, one of which is connected to the path of the structure as a common return for a circuit including the source. The circuit can be an electronic firing circuit for an electro-explosive device.

Electronic firing circuit

A circuit for operating a load in response to predetermined external conductivity conditions including a pair of sensing electrodes, a source of electrical energy connected to one of the electrodes, a load, an operating circuit connected to the load, to the source and to the other of the sensing electrodes and including a first portion for storing electrical energy for operating the load and a second portion utilizing the stored energy to operate the load, and a control for allowing operation of only the first circuit portion when the sensing electrodes are exposed to a first medium having a predetermined electrical conductivity and then allowing operation of the second portion thereafter and when the sensing electrodes are exposed to a second medium having a different electrical conductivity. The control and its connection in the circuit are determined so as to be responsive to the first medium being of higher electrical conductivity than the second medium, for example water being the first medium and air the second. The load can be an electro-explosive device of an automatic release mechanism for an aviator helmet.

Sensor circuit responsive to different fluid conductivities

A circuit for sensing the electrical conductivity of fluid comprising a pair of electrodes adapted to be exposed to the fluid, a voltage source connected to one of the electrodes, a load connected to the other of the electrodes, a firing circuit branch including a firing capacitor connected to the other electrode, a conductivity sensing circuit branch including a sensing circuit capacitor connected to the other electrode and to the voltage source, and characterized by a switch connected in controlled relation to the sensing circuit branch and in controlling relation to the firing circuit. In response to the electrodes being exposed to fluid having a predetermined condition of electrical conductivity, current flows in the sensing circuit branch which operates the switch to connect the firing circuit in a manner preparing it for firing, i.e. charging the capacitor therein. After a predetermined time, i.e. after the firing capacitor is charged, the switch operates to connect the firing circuit to the load for operating the same. The sensing capacitor is selected to charge significantly more rapidly than the firing capacitor. A current regulator is connected between the voltage source and load. The switch can be a relay with the control coil thereof in the sensing circuit branch. The load can be an electro explosive device in a release mechanism for uncoupling a parachute canopy from its load upon landing in water.

Fluid conductivity sensor controlling an electro explosive device

A method and apparatus for testing a circuit which senses the condition of an electrical quantity, the sensing circuit having a sensing portion which indicates a predetermined condition of the electrical quantity of a load connected between a pair of sensing terminals, and having a current conducing device which is activated a given time after the sensing portion indicates the predetermined electrical condition. The testing apparatus includes a network which is connected to the sensing circuit terminals for simulating a load having the electrical quantity to which the sensing circuit is responsive, the network having at least one branch which simulates the existence of the predetermined condition in the load, and the network having a timing component causing the predetermined condition to be simulated for a time adequate to test the sensing circuit response but inadequate to provide sufficient energy to activate the device. The network preferably has another branch for simulating the absence of the predetermined condition in the load, and a switch for selecting which of the branches is connected to the sensing circuit terminals. The testing apparatus also includes monitoring apparatus which is connected to the sensing circuit terminals for comparing the actual response of the sensing circuit to the load simulation provided by the network to the desired response of the network, and the monitoring apparatus indicates whether the actual and desired responses of the sensing circuit are within or without a predetermined range of coincidence.

Method and apparatus for testing a conductivity sensing circuit

Apparatus for sensing the electrical conductivity of fluid which can be used to detonate an electro explosive device for operating a release mechanism for uncoupling a parachute canopy from its load upon landing in water. An operating network connected to an ignition capacitor and to a conductivity sensing circuit and connected in controlling relation to a semiconductor switch has a voltage independent portion which controls the time at which the semiconductor switch is closed to define a discharge path to detonate the electro explosive device independent of the rate of voltage rise on the ignition capacitor. The operating network also has a voltage dependent portion which when a voltage of predetermined magnitude is developed on the conductivity sensing circuit in response to fluid not having the predetermined condition of conductivity, the voltage dependent portion closes the semiconductor switch to define the discharge path when the energy level is insufficient to detonate the electro explosive device. A regulated current source is connected in relation to the conductivity sensing circuit and to the electrodes thereof in a manner placing the circuit voltage across the electrodes when the conductivity of the fluid is below a predetermined magnitude so that the sensing circuit does not respond thereto and placing the circuit voltage across the sensing circuit when the conductivity of the fluid is greater than a predetermined magnitude. The apparatus is operated from a battery, and the electrodes are of dissimilar metals so selected and connected relative to the polarity portions of the circuit to maximize utilization of the battery output voltage.

Fluid conductivity sensor

Apparatus for sensing the electrical conductivity of field including a pair of electrodes and a capacitive type conductivity sensing circuit which in response to the electrodes being exposed to fluid of predetermined minimum conductivity under conditions involving a predetermined minimum rate of change of conductivity applies a gating voltage to the control terminal of a semiconductor device switching it into conduction to define a current flow path through a load. The load can be an ignition capacitor for an electro explosive device which, in turn, can be employed in a release mechanism for uncoupling a parachute canopy from its load upon landing in water. A semiconductor switch defines a discharge path for the ignition capacitor through the electro explosive device. A timing network connected to the ignition capacitor and semiconductor device and including a current regulating device and capacitor causes the semiconductor device to switch into conduction to define the discharge path to detonate the electro explosive device a predetermined time after initiation of charging of the ignition capacitor independent of the rate of charging of the ignition capacitor.

A water activated pressurized gas release device, especially suited for automatically controlling the release of the pressurized gas for inflating flotation equipment when dumped into water, which includes an electrically fireable primer for generating propulsion gas to drive a piercing pin into the closure of a container of pressurized gas to release the same, and fired by electrical energy derived from a battery arranged in a circuit maintained open on the ground side by electrically conductive elements providing two spaced apart electrodes until such space is filled with water for a predetermined duration of time as occurs upon immersion to close the circuit.

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Snyder, NY, United States of America

Francis M Miller