Initiation devices, initiation systems including initiation devices and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356580-A1
Application number	US-201314049614-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 9, 2013
Priority date	Oct 9, 2013
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Initiation devices may include at least one substrate, and initiation element the positioned on a first side of the at least one substrate, and a spark gap electrically coupled to the initiation element and positioned on a second side of the at least one substrate. Initiation devices may include a plurality of substrates where at least one substrate of the plurality of substrates is electrically connected to at least one adjacent substrate of the plurality of substrates with at least one via extending through the at least one substrate. Initiation systems may include such initiation devices. Methods of igniting energetic materials include passing a current through a spark gap formed on at least one substrate of the initiation device, passing the current through at least one via formed through the at least one substrate, and passing the current through an explosive bridge wire of the initiation device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An initiation device, comprising:
at least one substrate configured to electrically couple with a control system; an initiation element configured to ignite an energetic material, the initiation element positioned on a first side of the at least one substrate; and a spark gap electrically coupled to the initiation element, the spark gap positioned on a second side of the at least one substrate, wherein the initiation device is configured such that a current resulting from a voltage supplied to the initiation device from the control system passes through the spark gap before initiating the initiation element.

2 . The initiation device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one substrate comprises a plurality of substrates, and wherein the initiation element is positioned on a side of a first substrate of the plurality of substrates and the spark gap is positioned on a side of a second substrate of the plurality of substrates.

3 . The initiation device of claim 2 , further comprising a third substrate of the plurality of substrates, wherein the third substrate is positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate and comprises an aperture that forms a cavity about the spark gap.

4 . The initiation device of claim 2 , wherein at least one substrate of the plurality of substrates is electrically connected to at least one adjacent substrate of the plurality of substrates with at least one via extending through the at least one substrate, and wherein the initiation element is electrically connected to the spark gap with the at least one via.

5 . The initiation device of claim 1 , wherein the first side of the at least one substrate opposes the second side of the at least one substrate.

6 . The initiation device of claim 1 , wherein the initiation element is offset from the leads about a longitudinal axis of the initiation element.

7 . The initiation device of claim 1 , wherein the initiation element comprises an exploding bridge wire.

8 . The initiation device of claim 7 , further comprising a first lead and a second lead coupled to the substrate, the first lead and second lead configured to supply the voltage from the control system to the initiation device.

9 . The initiation device of claim 8 , wherein an axis extending between a portion of the leads coupled to the substrate is transverse to an axis extending along at least a portion of the exploding bridge wire.

10 . An initiation device, comprising:
a plurality of substrates configured to electrically couple with a control system, at least one substrate of the plurality of substrates electrically connected to at least one adjacent substrate of the plurality of substrates with at least one via extending through the at least one substrate; an initiation element configured to ignite an energetic material, the initiation element positioned on one substrate of the plurality of substrates; and a spark gap electrically coupled to the initiation element, the spark gap positioned on another substrate of the plurality of substrates, wherein the initiation element is electrically connected to the spark gap with the at least one via.

11 . The initiation device of claim 10 , wherein each substrate of the plurality of substrates comprises at least two vias extending therethrough, wherein a first via of the at least two vias of each substrate of the plurality of substrates electrically connects a first portion of the initiation element to a first lead of the initiation device, and wherein a second via of the at least two vias of each substrate of the plurality of substrates electrically connects a second portion of the initiation element to a second lead of the initiation device.

12 . The initiation device of claim 10 , further comprising a housing, wherein each substrate of the plurality of substrates is disposed within the housing.

13 . The initiation device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of substrates comprises:
a first substrate coupled to a first lead and a second lead, the first lead and second lead configured to supply a voltage from the control system to the initiation device, wherein the spark gap is positioned on the first substrate; a second substrate positioned adjacent to and in electrical connection with the first substrate, the second substrate comprising an aperture that forms a cavity about the spark gap; and a third substrate positioned adjacent to and in electrical connection with the second substrate, wherein the initiation element is positioned adjacent on the third substrate.

14 . The initiation device of claim 10 , further comprising a housing, wherein each substrate of the plurality of substrates is disposed within the housing.

15 . The initiation device of claim 14 , further comprising an energetic material disposed in the housing adjacent to the initiation element.

16 . The initiation device of claim 15 , further comprising a second energetic material disposed in the housing adjacent to the energetic material, the second energetic material being less reactive than the energetic material.

17 . The initiation device of claim 16 , wherein the second energetic material comprises an aperture formed in the second energetic material and configured to form a jet during decomposition of the second energetic material.

18 . The initiation device of claim 16 , wherein each of the energetic material and the second energetic material comprises a material that decomposes primarily through deflagration.

19 . An initiation system, comprising:
a control system; and at least one initiation device configured to be electrically connected to the control system, the at least one initiation device comprising the initiation device of claim 10 .

20 . A method of igniting energetic material, the method comprising:
supplying a voltage to an initiation device; passing a current resulting from the voltage through a spark gap formed on at least one substrate of the initiation device; passing the current through at least one via formed through the at least one substrate of the initiation device; and passing the current through an explosive bridge wire of the initiation device to ignite the explosive bridge wire.

Assignees

• Battelle Energy Alliance Llc

Inventors

• Daniels Michael A
• Condit Reston A
• Rasmussen Nikki
• Wallace Ronald S

Classifications

• F42B3/124

  characterised by the configuration or material of the bridge (F42B3/13 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F42B3/14 Primary

  Spark initiators {(F42B3/195 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F42B3/12

  Bridge initiators {(F42B3/103, F42B3/11, F42B3/195 take precedence; electric ignitors in propellant charges F42C19/12)} · CPC title