Quantic Industries, Inc.

William F Marshall

Richard Mabry

Theodore F Netoff

A safe-arm system for an explosive munition is provided which is in the form of a charge transfer circuit, including a low-voltage capacitor bank which over a relatively long period of time is charged by an associated air turbine. After being charged up, this charge is transferred to a transinductance by a transinductance to convert the low voltage to a high voltage. By the use of a multiplicity of transfer steps, which occur over a very short period of time, the size and weight of the transinductance can be small.

Safe-arm system with electrical charge transfer circuit

Electrical circuit continuity test apparatus for the high energy discharge circuitry of a firing unit couples to the stripline transmission line of the discharge circuitry but adds minimal inductance to the circuit. This is achieved by a coupling transformer having a core of high magnetic permeability alloy which loops around one of the strip conductors of the stripline. The primary winding, which couples into test circuit is merely another conductor wrapped around this core. The primary winding senses the reflected capacitive impedance of the discharge circuitry which includes an added capacitor to bypass the high energy switch of the discharge circuitry. Impedance sensing is accomplished by a resistance bridge driven by an oscillator and where imbalances indicating a defective circuit are sensed by a synchronous demodulator and a window comparator.

Electrical circuit continuity test apparatus for firing unit

A high energy switching circuit for an initiator, for example, an exploding bridgewire (EBW) or slapper-type detonator, includes a charged capacitor which is placed across a pair of series diodes connected in a reverse standoff voltage mode with respect to the capacitive voltage in series with an EBW initiator circuit. A switching field effect transistor is connected in shunt across the lower diode. In the armed condition, the pair of diodes clamp the high energy capacitor voltage at their reverse avalanche voltage. Upon the activation of the switching transistor, the capacitor voltage is impressed across the upper diode and a high reverse current flows through the upper diode placing it in destructive conduction which immediately also forces the other diode into destructive conduction to complete the series circuit from the capacitor to the EBW or slapper detonator. The circuit comprises low cost components and features very good firing simultaneity between similar firing circuits.

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Belmont, CA, United States of America

William F Marshall