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4934804 : Focusing optical explosive initiator and initiator window


INVENTORS: Folsom; Mark, Hollister, CA
ASSIGNEES: Whittaker Ordnance, Inc., Hollister, CA
ISSUED: June 19, 1990 FILED: Jan. 13, 1989
SERIAL NUMBER: 296650 FEE STATUS:  
INTL. CLASS (Ed. 5): G02B 26/02;
U.S. CLASS: 350-618; 350-321;
FIELD OF SEARCH: 350-618,619,625,319,443,620,287,424,96.10 ; 362-299,300,307,308,297 ; 102-201 ;
AGENTS: Nist; Donald E.;

ABSTRACT:   The novel optical explosive initiator employs a window of a new type. The window hermetically seals the initiator explosive and is a transparent preferably monolithic block or cylinder of glass or the like solid material having a mirrored convex entrance end in the configuration of a segment of a spheroid, paraboloid, ellipsoid or hyperboloid and having an unmirrored opening therethrough along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The opposite exit end of the cylinder is mirrored and is perpendicular to the cylinder longitudinal axis and is at least nearly flat, preferably entirely flat. It includes an unmirrored opening along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. An optical fiber transmitting light, such a laser light, can be positioned adjacent to the entrance opening. Light passing therethrough and into the cylinder is reflected from the flat mirrored end back to the mirrored convex end and is focused to a concentrated beam of high intensity which focused beam then passes out the exit opening to an explosive initiator. Therefore, much less power is needed to initiate the desired explosive reaction.

U.S. REFERENCES:

Patent No. Patentee Issue Date
3893754 McInally July 1 , 1975
2023332 * Malivert Dec. 1 , 1935
2995973 * Barnes et al. Aug. 1 , 1961
No patents reference this one

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12 CLAIMS: First Claim Shown (Show all claims)

What is claimed is:

  • 1. An improved focusing optical explosive initiator window, said window comprising a block of transparent material, said block having an entrance end comprising a convex mirror in the shape of a segment of a generally spherical object, said mirror having a light receiving central opening therein along the longitudinal axis of said block, said block also having an exit end opposite said entrance end and comprising an at least generally flat mirror perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and having a light-exiting central opening therein along said longitudinal axis, whereby light passing through said entrance opening into said block is reflected by said flat mirror back to said convex mirror, then focused by said convex mirror and passes out of said block as a focused beam of increased intensity of illumination.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS: none
FOREIGN REFERENCES: none
OTHER REFERENCES: none
PRIMARY/ASSISTANT EXAMINERS: LaRoche; Eugene R.; Tran; T. V.