Patent US5166468A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5166468A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermocouple-triggered igniter
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems LLC
•
Filing: 1991-04-05
•
Granted: 1992-11-24
•
Expires: 2011-04-05
Abstract
Abstract An igniter which is triggered by a thermocouple for detonating an explosive material for forming an opening in a rocket motor case to render it non-propulsive in the event of a fire dangerously close thereto or for any other suitable purpose. The bridge therefor is preferably a suitable semiconductor bridge for handling a reduced amount of electrical energy which may be provided by the thermocouple. The thermocouple may be a plurality of pairs of dissimilar metal layers or foils alloyed together and the pairs connected in series.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter L. C. Atkeson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:02
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B39/00; F42B39/20; F42B3/00; F42B3/10; F42B3/12; F42B3/13; F42C; F42C19/00; F42C19/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
An igniter comprising an ignitable material, means for igniting said ignitable material in response to electrical energy, thermocouple means for generating electrical energy, electric circuit means for supplying electrical energy generated by said thermocouple means to said igniting means said circuit means including an oscillator means and at least one photodiode in series with said thermocouple means and responsive to infrared light to provide voltage in addition to voltage provided by said thermocouple means for operating said oscillator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
An igniter comprising an ignitable material, means for igniting said ignitable material in response to electrical energy, thermocouple means for generating electrical energy, electric circuit means for supplying electrical energy generated by said thermocouple means to said igniting means said circuit means including an oscillator means and at least one photodiode in series with said thermocouple means and responsive to infrared light to provide voltage in addition to voltage provided by said thermocouple means for operating said oscillator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
An igniter according to claim 1 wherein said electric circuit means comprises a capacitor, oscillator means for charging said capacitor, and switch means which closes for shunting voltage on said capacitor to said igniting means, said switch means being responsive to a comparator means for closing upon occurrence of a predetermined thermocouple means output voltage for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An igniter according to claim 1 further comprising an electrically conductive housing means for protecting the igniter from external electrostatic interference and at least one window means in said housing means to pass infrared light to said photodiode and to block visible and ultraviolet light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
An igniter according to claim 1 further comprising an electrically conductive housing means for protecting the igniter from external electrostatic interference.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An igniter according to claim 1 wherein said thermocouple means comprises at least one pair of foils of dissimilar metals joined along their planar surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An igniter according to claim 1 wherein said thermocouple means comprises a plurality of pairs of foils of dissimilar metals joined along their planar surfaces and connected in series and heat insulation means for housing the connections of the plurality of pairs of foils.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
An igniter comprising an ignitable material, semiconductor bridge means for igniting said ignitable material in response to electrical energy, thermocouple means for generating electrical energy, electric current means for supplying electrical energy generated by said thermocouple means to said semiconductor bridge means, said circuit means including an oscillator means and at least one photodiode in series with said thermocouple means and responsive to infrared light to provide voltage in addition to voltage provided by said thermocouple means for operating said oscillator means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
An igniter comprising an ignitable material, semiconductor bridge means for igniting said ignitable material in response to electrical energy, thermocouple means for generating electrical energy, electric current means for supplying electrical energy generated by said thermocouple means to said semiconductor bridge means, said circuit means including an oscillator means and at least one photodiode in series with said thermocouple means and responsive to infrared light to provide voltage in addition to voltage provided by said thermocouple means for operating said oscillator means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
An igniter according to claim 7 wherein said electric circuit means comprises a capacitor, oscillator means for charging said capacitor, and switch means which closes for shunting voltage on said capacitor to said semiconductor bridge means, said switch means being responsive to a comparator means for closing upon occurrence of a predetermined thermocouple means output voltage for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for rendering a rocket motor non-propulsive in case of fire comprising embedding a thermocouple means in the rocket motor case, and providing an electric circuit between the thermocouple means and an igniting device for supplying electrical energy generated by the thermocouple means to the igniting device for forming an opening in the rocket motor case.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
57 words
A method for rendering a rocket motor non-propulsive in case of fire comprising embedding a thermocouple means in the rocket motor case, and providing an electric circuit between the thermocouple means and an igniting device for supplying electrical energy generated by the thermocouple means to the igniting device for forming an opening in the rocket motor case.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 9 comprising composing the thermocouple means of at least one pair of foils of dissimilar metal and joining the foils along their planar surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 9 further comprising selecting the igniting device to be a semiconductor bridge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 9 comprising providing a plurality of thermocouples connected in series and providing heat insulation for the connections.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 12 further comprising selecting the igniting device to be a semiconductor bridge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 9 further comprising constructing the circuit to have a capacitor, an oscillator for charging the capacitor, and a switch for shunting voltage on the capacitor to the igniter, the switch being responsive to a comparator for closing upon occurrence of a predetermined thermocouple means output voltage for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 9 further comprising providing at least one photodiode in series with the thermocouple means for providing additional electrical energy in response to infrared light.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 15 further comprising enclosing the igniter with an electrically conductive housing for protecting the igniter from external electrostatic interference and providing at least one window in the housing for passing infrared light to the photodiode and for blocking visible and ultraviolet light.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3038303A
Cited
US3052091A
Cited
US3323459A
Cited
US3167910A
Cited
US3946675A
Cited
US3946674A
Cited
US4421029A
Cited
US4458482A
Cited
US4478151A
Cited
US4708060A
Cited
US4700629A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-11-24 | 1996-05-25 | 1996-11-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-24 | 2000-05-25 | 2000-11-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-24 | 2004-05-25 | 2004-11-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |