Blast-actuated control system

Claim 2

A blast-actuated alarm system operatively responsive to the occurrence of an explosion which produces a sudden high rise in the temperature and the pressure of air surrounding said system, said alarm system comprising a switch with a normally unoperated condition and an alternative operated condition, a flat plate having a normal position and adapted for movement to an operated position in response to said sudden high rise in air pressure produced by said explosion, said operated position being elevated in space above said normal position, means responsive to said elevation of said plate to its operated position for changing said switch from its unoperated condition to its operated condition, a housing having a cavity for surrounding said plate, both said housing and said plate being adapted for expanding in size in response to said sudden high rise in temperature generated by said explosion, means for insuring that said movement of said plate to its elevated position will not be impeded or restricted by said expansion of said housing and said plate, said last-mentioned means including supporting means for loosely supporting said plate within said cavity, said supporting means comprising a bottom portion of said housing, said bottom housing portion having means defining a recess formed therein, and said recess having an area that is larger than the area of said plate whereby said recess is adapted for loosely receiving said plate therein.

Claim 3

A blast-actuated alarm system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said bottom housing portion comprises means for defining a peripheral ledge immediately below said recessed area and adapted for loosely supporting said plate thereon.

Claim 4

A blast-actuated alarm system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means for defining a peripheral ledge comprise means defining a second recess formed in said bottom housing portion immediately beneath said first-mentioned recess and concentric therewith, said second recess having an area that is smaller than that of said plate, and said second recess having means for defining at least one hole therethrough for admitting therein the shock wave air pressure generated by said explosion.

Claim 5

A blast-actuated control system for operatively controlling an electrical circuit in response to the occurrence of a nuclear explosion which produces a sudden high rise in both the temperature and the pressure of air surrounding said system, said control system comprising, a switch operatively connected to said electrical circuit for alternatively opening and closing said circuit, a housing structure having an internal cavity and a partition for dividing said cavity into an upper portion and a lower portion, means for mounting said switch on said partition and in said upper portion of said cavity, a flat plate disposed within said lower portion of said cavity in such a manner as to become physically elevated in response to said sudden high rise in pressure, an actuator having one position for opening said switch and another position for closing said switch, said actuator having a portion thereof positioned within said lower portion of said cavity and adapted to be pushed by said elevation of said plate whereby said actuator is moved from one of its positions to the other of its positions, both said housing structure and said plate being subject to rapid and extensive expansion in response to said sudden high rise in temperature, and means for preventing said expansion of said housing and said plate from producing stress on said plate such as might restrict its elevation, said last-mentioned means including supporting means for loosely supporting said plate within said lower portion of said cavity.

Claim 6

A blast-actuated control system for operatively controlling an electrical circuit in response to the occurrence of a nuclear explosion which produces a sudden high rise in both the temperature and the pressure of air surrounding said system, said control system comprising, a switch operatively connected to said electrical circuit for alternatively opening and closing said circuit, a housing structure having an internal cavity and a partition for dividing said cavity into an upper portion and a lower portion, means for mounting said switch on said partition and in said upper portion of said cavity, a flat plate disposed within said lower portion of said cavity in such a manner as to become physically elevated in response to said sudden high rise in pressure, an actuator having one position for opening said switch and another position for closing said switch, said actuator having a portion thereof positioned within said lower portion of said cavity and adapted to be pushed by said elevation of said plate whereby said actuator is moved from one of its positions to the other of its positions, both said housing structure and said plate being subject to rapid and extensive expansion in response to said sudden high rise in temperature, and means for preventing said expansion of said housing and said plate from producing stress on said plate such as might restrict its elevation, said last-mentioned means including supporting means for loosely supporting said plate within said lower portion of said cavity.

Claim 7

A blast-actuated control system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said supporting means include a disk for formIng the bottom of the lower portion of said cavity, said disk having a recessed area formed in its upper surface, and said recessed area having a size greater than that of said plate and adapted for loosely receiving said plate therein.

Claim 8

A blast-actuated control system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said disk further including means for defining a peripheral ledge that is positioned immediately below said recessed area and adapted for loosely supporting said plate thereon.

Claim 9

A blast-actuated control system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means for defining a peripheral ledge comprise a second recessed area formed in said disk immediately below said first-mentioned recessed area, and said second recessed area having a size that is smaller than that of said first-mentioned recessed area and also smaller than the area of said plate.