Initiator

Abstract

An initiator including a housing adapted to be received in an igniter or rocket motor, at least one charge at a distal end of the housing, an electro-explosive device behind the charge for detonating the charge when subject to a voltage HV, and a pressure bulkhead behind the electro-explosive device. An electronic subsystem in the housing is connected to the electro-explosive device through the bulkhead and includes a lead for providing the voltage HV to the electro-explosive device to initiate it, and a switch in the lead which does not conduct if errant voltages are present on the lead to prevent initiation of the electro-explosive device until the correct voltage HV is present.

1 . An initiator adapted to be received in an igniter or rocket motor, the initiator comprising:
 at least one charge;   an electro-explosive device for detonating the charge when subject to a high voltage; and   an electronic subsystem connected to the electro-explosive device and including:
 a lead for providing the voltage to the electro-explosive device to initiate it; and 
 a switch in the voltage lead which does not conduct if an errant voltage less than a breakdown voltage is present on the lead to prevent initiation of the electro-explosive device until the correct high voltage is present. 
   
     
     
         2 . The initiator of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic subsystem further compromises an igniter housing wall between the electro-explosive device and the charge, in which a shock wave travels through igniter housing wall and detonates the charge when the electro-explosive device detonates. 
     
     
         3 . The initiator of  claim 1 , in which the electro-explosive device includes an exploding foil initiator and an energetic charge. 
     
     
         4 . The initiator of  claim 3  further including a housing having threads configured to be received in an igniter or rocket motor. 
     
     
         5 . The initiator in  claim 1  in which the at least one charge includes two charges in the distal end of the initiator. 
     
     
         6 . The initiator of  claim 5  in which one charge is a pyrotechnic material and the other charge is a detonating material. 
     
     
         7 . The initiator of  claim 6  in which the pyrotechnic material includes BKNO 3  and the detonating material includes HNS-IV. 
     
     
         8 . The initiator of  claim 1  in which the electro-explosive device is an exploding foil initiator. 
     
     
         9 . The initiator of  claim 1  in which the switch is a spark gap. 
     
     
         10 . The initiator of  claim 1  in which the switch is a MOS Controlled Thyristor (MCT). 
     
     
         11 . The initiator of  claim 1 , wherein the breakdown voltage is 500 volts. 
     
     
         12 . The initiator of  claim 1 , wherein the breakdown voltage is 1000 volts.