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: Explosive initiator with angled fiber optic
input
| INVENTORS: |
Folsom;
Mark, Hollister, CA
|
| ASSIGNEES: |
Whittaker Ordnance,
Inc., Hollister, CA |
| ISSUED: |
Apr. 30, 1991 |
FILED: |
Feb. 2 , 1990 |
| SERIAL
NUMBER: |
473785 |
FEE STATUS: |
|
| INTL.
CLASS (Ed. 5): |
F42C 13/02; |
| U.S.
CLASS: |
102-201; 060-039.821; |
| FIELD
OF SEARCH: |
102-201,202,200 ; 060-39.821
; 372-077 ; |
| AGENTS: |
Nist; Donald E.; |
ABSTRACT:
The explosive initiator features an angled fiber
optic adapter connected thereto. The initiator
includes an elongated tubular cartridge with a
longitudinal passageway having input and output
ends and an explosive disposed therein downstream
of a transparent sealing window and upstream of
an output closure. The adapter has an elongated
passageway therethrough with input and output
ends and divided into a first portion at an angle
of preferably 90 degrees from the longitudinal
axis of the cartridge and a second portion in
line with the cartridge. A mirror lens is
positioned in the adapter passageway at the
intersection of the two portions for reflecting a
light beam from an optical fiber in the inlet end
of the adapter to the cartridge passageway and
focusing the light beam on the window. Preferably
the second portion of the adapter is rotatably
mounted to the cartridge. In one embodiment, the
first portion is rotatably mounted to the second
portion and includes two sub-portions at an angle
to each other and bearing a mirror at the
intersection thereof. With this arrangement, the
initiator can receive an optical fiber from
various locations without strain on the fiber.
U.S.
REFERENCES:
| Patent No. |
Patentee |
Issue Date |
| 4870903 |
Carel et al. |
Oct. 1 , 1989 |
| 3618526 |
Baker |
Nov. 1 , 1971 |
| 3408937 * |
Lewis et al. |
Nov. 1 , 1968 |
| 3296795 * |
Nielsen |
Jan. 1 , 1967 |
| 4917014 |
Loughry et al. |
Apr. 1 , 1990 |
|
| Show the 1 patent that
references this one |
|
* some details unavailable
6
CLAIMS: First Claim Shown (Show all claims)
What is claimed is:
- 1. An improved explosve initiator with an
angled fiber optic input, said initiator
comprising, in combination:
- (a) a hollow elongated initiator
cartridge having a longitudinal
axis and a longitudinal
passageway extending therethrough
with an input end and an output
end, an explosve positioned in
said passageway, said explosive
being explosively responsive to
light of sufficient intensity and
appropriate wavelength, a
transparent window in said
passageway sealing said explosive
from said input end, and an
output closure in said passageway
downstream of said explosive;
and,
- (b) a hollow adapter connected to
said cartridge input end, a part
of said adapter extending at an
angle from said longitudinal axis
of said cartridge, said adapter
having a longitudinal passageway
extending therethrough with an
output end adjacent to said
cartridge input end and with an
input end for holding the output
end of an optical fiber having an
output end and an input end, said
adapter having a first portion
containing said adapter input end
and being at an angle to said
cartridge longitudinal axis, and
having a second portion
containing said adapter output
end and being in line with said
cartridge longitudinal axis, said
first and second adapter portions
intersecting, and a mirror lens
disposed in said adapter
passageway at the intersection of
said first and second adapter
portions for reflection of a
light beam from said optical
fiber into said cartridge
passageway and for focusing said
beam on said window to initiate
said explosion.
RELATED
U.S. APPLICATIONS: none
FOREIGN
REFERENCES:
| Document No. |
Country |
Date |
Intl. Class |
| 1031215 |
Canada |
May 1 , 1978 |
|
OTHER
REFERENCES:
- Crosby et al.; Nondestructive Laser
Pumping by High Explosives; pp.
1339-1340, Applied Optics, 12/63.
PRIMARY/ASSISTANT
EXAMINERS: Kyle; Deborah L.; Johnson;
Stephen
|