Ammunition and explosives – Igniting devices and systems
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-08
2001-06-19
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3641)
Ammunition and explosives
Igniting devices and systems
C102S215000, C102S217000, C102S268000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247408
ABSTRACT:
ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
The invention described herein was made in the performance of official duties by employees of the Department of Army and may be manufactured, used, licensed by or for the Government for any governmental purpose without the payment of any royalty thereon or therefore.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1.0 Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for detonating explosives and, more particularly, to a system for remotely controlling and firing explosive charges by sympathetic detonation.
2.0 Description of the Prior Art
Explosive charges find usage to initiate and control avalanches or rock slides and for military applications. As is known in the art, a system for firing explosive charges includes a firing circuit that contains an arming device. As is also known and understood, a firing pulse is always processed first by the arming device. As used herein, for the sake of brevity, the usage of term “firing circuit” is meant to mean and is interchangeably referred to as “arming-firing circuit.” For explosive charge usage, presently wires are used to physically connect a string of charges together. As the area in which explosive charges are used increases, so do the critical locations where explosive charges are placed. Generally, precisely placed explosive charges are used in lieu of one large, bulk charge. These small charges must be physically connected together by detonation cords or shock tubes to achieve effective simultaneous or sequential detonation which, in turn, effectively controls the avalanches, rock slides or destroys military targets. As the number of charges increases, the process of connecting the charges together requires the user to spend more time within the target area, thus increasing the safety risk, especially for military applications. Also, the user is required to carry large quantities of wire. It is desired that a system be provided for remotely controlling the detonation of an initial explosive charge and allowing for sympathetic detonation of follow-on charges. It is further desired, that the system (sympathetic detonator unit) be self-contained so that it can be emplaced within a target area by employing airborne means, and all units should function by sympathetic detonation. Further, it is desired that the system contain electronic circuitry, which controls power consumption. The electronic circuitry contains a manually-set delay timer and means to receive and emit RF signals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a means for remotely controlling a primary firing device for detonation of an explosive charge. The primary firing device in turn activates and detonates a follow-on charge by sympathetic detonation. The follow-on charges can vary from 1 to n and are separated from one another by some distance. Each of the follow-on charges is called a SYDET unit. A SYDET unit contains a sensor suite, a settable timer and an RF link.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system for sympathetically controlling one or more firing devices in which each controls the detonating of a respective explosive charge.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide for a self-contained system (consisting of many charges) which can be emplaced at desired target areas by airborne means.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a system having power-saving means and for sympathetically controlling explosive devices.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a SYDET unit which contains manual settable timers which are set to cause detonation by a time delay or absolute time.
In accordance with these and other objects, the invention provides a system that remotely controls a firing device for detonating an explosive charge. The system comprises one or more sensors selected from a group consisting of an acoustic sensor, a seismic sensor, and a hydrophone sensor. Each of the sensors provides an analog output signal. The system further comprises an analog digital (A/D) converter for each of the one or more selected sensors and each A/D converter receives the respective analog output signal and provides a corresponding digital output signal. The system further comprises one or more classifiers and a coincidence circuit. A classifier is provided for each of the one or more A/D converters and each classifier receives a respective digital signal of the A/D converter and compares the received digital signal against one or more predetermined quantities and provides an output signal if a match exists therebetween. The coincidence circuit, in one embodiment, receives the output signal of each of the classifiers and provides an output signal which is applied to the firing device when the output signals of the classifiers are all in coincidence. The preferred embodiment requires one or more sensors for activation. It is not excluded that one sensor with set detection levels can be used exclusively (e.g. in the surf zone a hydrophone is more effective than a seismic sensor or acoustic sensor). Depending on the field requirements, one or more sensors could be coupled together.
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patent: 4478149 (1984-10-01), Backstein et al.
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patent: 5159149 (1992-10-01), Marsden
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patent: 5415100 (1995-05-01), Tolley
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Andrejkovies Richard
Campagnuolo Carl
Chopack James
Nappi Frank
Chambers Troy
Clohan, Jr. Paul S.
Jordan Charles T.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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