4930418 : Method for sealing
optical windows in explosive initiators
| INVENTORS: |
Folsom;
Mark, Hollister, CA
|
| ASSIGNEES: |
Whittaker Ordnance,
Inc., Hollister, CA |
| ISSUED: |
June 5 , 1990 |
FILED: |
June 23, 1989 |
| SERIAL
NUMBER: |
370495 |
FEE STATUS: |
|
| INTL.
CLASS (Ed. 5): |
F42C 19/00; C03C 27/02;
C03C 29/00; |
| U.S.
CLASS: |
102-201; 065-043; 065-154; |
| FIELD
OF SEARCH: |
102-201 ; 065-36,42,43,59.1,59.3,59.34,59.4,152,154
; |
| AGENTS: |
Nist; Donald E.; |
ABSTRACT:
The method seals optical windows in explosive
initiators so that the resulting seal remains
undamaged by exposure to about - 320°-840° F.
and pressures up to 26000 psi. The method
includes disposing a solid body optical window of
quartz or silica glass or the like in a
passageway in a wall of an explosive initiator
body of metal, ceramic or the like. The optical
window is dimensioned relative to the passageway
so that an annular space is provided between the
outer periphery of the optical window and the
passageway wall. This annular space is filled
with solder glass, in powdered or solid body or
slurry form. Preferably, the solder glass is a
ring which closely fits around the optical
window. The resulting sub-assembly preferably
abuts a shelf in the passageway formed between
two contiguous portions of the passageway with
different diameters, the sub-assembly being in
the larger portion. The assembly of solder glass,
optical window and initiator body is then heated
to above the melting point of the solder glass,
e.g. about 450° C. and held at this temperature
until the solder glass melts and fuses to the
optical body and passageway wall, sealing the
optical body in place. The assembly is then
cooled to ambient temperature.
U.S.
REFERENCES:
| Patent No. |
Patentee |
Issue Date |
| 3528372 * |
Lewis et al. |
Sep. 1 , 1970 |
| 3672858 |
Berg |
June 1 , 1972 |
| 3362329 * |
Epstein |
Jan. 1 , 1968 |
| 3296795 * |
Nielsen et al. |
Jan. 1 , 1967 |
| 3367696 * |
Langley |
Feb. 1 , 1968 |
| 3069876 * |
Certa et al. |
Dec. 1 , 1962 |
| 4343242 |
Welk |
Aug. 1 , 1982 |
|
| Show the 2 patents that
reference this one |
|
* some details unavailable
10
CLAIMS: First Claim Shown (Show all claims)
What is claimed is:
- 1. An improved method for sealing optical
windows in explosive initiators, said
method comprising:
- (a) disposing a solid body
optical window in a passageway in
a wall of an explosive initiator
body to provide an annular space
between said passageway wall and
the outer periphery of said
optical window body;
- (b) filling said annular space
with solder glass to form an
assembly;
- (c) heating said assembly to
above the melting point of said
solder glass for a time
sufficient to melt said solder
glass and fuse it to said optical
window and said passageway wall
so as to seal said optical window
body in said passageway against
leaks;
- (d) thereafter cooling said
assembly to ambient temperature
sufficiently slowly so as to
prevent cracking of said solder
glass and window.
RELATED
U.S. APPLICATIONS: none
FOREIGN
REFERENCES: none
OTHER
REFERENCES: none
PRIMARY/ASSISTANT
EXAMINERS: Jordan; Charles T.;
|