US4278026A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rocket motor igniter, arming firing device
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1979-10-15
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Granted: 1981-07-14
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Expires: 1999-10-15
Abstract
Abstract An arming-firing device that provides handling safety in a rocket motor. arming-firing device provides pyrotechnic (out-of-line) and electrical (open circuit) safety features wherein the arming-firing device is armed by rotating a mechanical rotor by a solenoid that aligns multiple prongs of the barrier with multiple cavities of the rotor and this action simultaneously electrically arms (closes circuits) and mechanically enables the igniter whereupon receiving a firing signal starts the rocket motor. The mating of the barrier prongs with the rotor cavities obviates rebounding, thus affording proper ignition. The mechanical barrier and a solenoid return spring prevents inadvertent firing from any cause.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph E. Hibbs
- 👤 Gerald W. Chalmers
- 👤 Robert L. Durrell
- 👤 Walter C. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:48
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42C; F42C15/00; F42C15/40; F42C15/28; F42C15/31; F42C21/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A safety-arming device for preventing unintentional ignition of a rocket motor, comprising: a housing defining a plurality of vent ports; a pressure sleeve squib assembly attached within said housing and having a plurality of vent ports; a rotary solenoid located forward of said squib having a rotor with multiple cavities therein; a barrier located between said rotor and said squib having multiple prongs defined to fit said cavities in said rotor; said barrier interconnected with said squib; a solenoid return spring attachably interconnected to said rotor; and an exterior observation viewer so attached through said housing to afford interior visual inspection of said barrier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A safety-arming device for preventing unintentional ignition of a rocket motor, comprising: a housing defining a plurality of vent ports; a pressure sleeve squib assembly attached within said housing and having a plurality of vent ports; a rotary solenoid located forward of said squib having a rotor with multiple cavities therein; a barrier located between said rotor and said squib having multiple prongs defined to fit said cavities in said rotor; said barrier interconnected with said squib; a solenoid return spring attachably interconnected to said rotor; and an exterior observation viewer so attached through said housing to afford interior visual inspection of said barrier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The safety-arming device of claim 1 wherein: said pressure sleeve squib assembly is keyed and retained by a shear pin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The safety-arming device of claim 1 wherein: said rotary solenoid cavities are tapered.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The safety-arming device of claim 1 wherein: said barrier prongs are tapered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The safety-arming device of claim 1 wherein: said solenoid spring is a torsional spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The safety-arming device of claim 1 wherein: said exterior observation viewer is for affording an interior positive inspection of said barrier to ascertain whether device is safe or armed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
172 words
A safety-arming device for preventing unintentional ignition of a rocket motor, comprising: a housing means having a plurality of vent ports; a pressure sleeve squib assembly means attached within said housing means for ignition of said rocket motor; a rotary solenoid means located forward of said squib, having multiple cavities therein, for rotation of a barrier to an armed position to an input signal; a barrier means located between said rotor and said squib and interconnected thereto and having multiple prongs defined to fit said cavities in said rotor for giving a wedging action to the barrier and rotor, thus attentuating rebound of the barrier and interference with ignition of the rocket motor; a solenoid return spring means interconnected to said rotor for rotating said barrier to a safe position if during arming and firing sequence the arming voltage is removed or if there is an electrical malfunction which causes loss of electrical power to said safety-arming device; and an exterior observation viewer means for affording interior visual inspection of said barrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
172 words
A safety-arming device for preventing unintentional ignition of a rocket motor, comprising: a housing means having a plurality of vent ports; a pressure sleeve squib assembly means attached within said housing means for ignition of said rocket motor; a rotary solenoid means located forward of said squib, having multiple cavities therein, for rotation of a barrier to an armed position to an input signal; a barrier means located between said rotor and said squib and interconnected thereto and having multiple prongs defined to fit said cavities in said rotor for giving a wedging action to the barrier and rotor, thus attentuating rebound of the barrier and interference with ignition of the rocket motor; a solenoid return spring means interconnected to said rotor for rotating said barrier to a safe position if during arming and firing sequence the arming voltage is removed or if there is an electrical malfunction which causes loss of electrical power to said safety-arming device; and an exterior observation viewer means for affording interior visual inspection of said barrier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The safety-arming device of claim 7 wherein: said pressure sleeve squib assembly is keyed and retained by a shear pin for the elimination of any moment under transportation vibrations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The safety-arming device of claim 7 wherein: said rotary solenoid cavities are tapered for interlocking said barrier prongs to prevent any rebound and thus allowing proper initiation of said igniter means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The safety-arming device of claim 7 wherein: said barrier prongs are tapered for interlocking within said rotary solenoid cavities to prevent any rebound and thus allowing proper ignition of said igniter means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The safety-arming device of claim 7 wherein: said solenoid spring is a torsional spring for rotating said barrier back to a safe position in the event of any malfunction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The safety-arming device of claim 7 wherein: said exterior observation viewer means is so designed for affording a positive inspection of said barrier to ascertain whether device is safe or armed.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-07-13 | 1985-01-12 | 1985-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-07-13 | 1989-01-12 | 1989-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-07-13 | 1993-01-12 | 1993-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |