USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Jack S Bernardes

Joseph F Sharrow

David C Stoudt

Michael G Grothaus

Kurt W Solomon

Frank E Peterkin

Brian J Hankla

A battery mechanism is disclosed. The battery mechanism in one embodiment includes battery assemblies, a switching mechanism, and an actuating mechanism. The battery assemblies are removably mounted to the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism has a non-energized position in which the battery assemblies are electrically disconnected from the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism also has an energized position in which the battery assemblies are electrically connected to the switching mechanism. The actuating mechanism is connected to the switching mechanism, and switches the switching mechanism between the non-energized and the energized positions. The actuating mechanism preferably is activated remotely, improving personnel safety. The number and make-up of the battery assemblies may be varied to provide for different voltages.

Battery mechanism

Disclosed is a high-voltage, high-current, multichannel, optically-trigge switch with the potential for improved lifetime of operation. Triggering of the switch is accomplished by ultraviolet illumination of multiple cathode apertures via fiber-optic cables. The trigger optics for each channel, being composed of a fiber-optic cable terminated by some collimating optics, are protected from damaging metalization by enclosing them in an angled metal or dielectric tubes in the cathode backspace. The use of collimating optics at the output of the fiber allows the fiber to be recessed inside the shield tube, providing further protection from discharge by-products.

Optical pseudospark switch

A sliding breech block system and method for repetitive firing of electrothermal cartridges in an electrothermal gun are provided. The sliding breech block system comprises a high-power, low resistance, flexible coaxial cable which is routed through a sliding breech-block, a pulse-forming network, and two groups of bristles for conducting the pulses from the breech block to the electrothermal cartridge. The power cable comprises two layers of individually insulated, multi-strand wires both within a jacket of braided wire. The method for repetitively igniting an electrothermal gun comprises the steps of fixedly attaching tightly-packed, brass bristles to the electrothermal cartridge conductors, sliding the breech-block into position so that its surface contacts the brass bristles of the cartridge, and supplying an electrical current from the pulse-forming network to the cartridge by means of a flexible high-power cable.

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Fredericksburg, VA, United States of America

Jack S Bernardes