Voltage monitoring for fireset

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8976503-B2
Application number	US-201213568179-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2012
Priority date	Aug 7, 2012
Publication date	Mar 10, 2015
Grant date	Mar 10, 2015

Abstract

An improved fireset for detonating an explosive includes a voltage monitor arranged to measure a voltage across a quickly dischargeable energy storage device (QDESD), such as a capacitor, and to perform a detonation sequence based at least in part on the voltage measured by the voltage monitor. The fireset employs feedback from the voltage monitor to promote accurate charging of the QDESD and accurate maintenance of charge during an armed state. The voltage monitor also promotes safety by allowing the fireset to indicate when the QDESD is discharged to a safe level, i.e., one which is assured not to result in detonation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fireset for detonating an explosive, comprising:
a discharge circuit including a quickly dischargeable energy storage device coupled in series with a LEEFI (Low Energy Exploding Foil Initiator);
a high voltage source coupled to the discharge circuit to charge the quickly dischargeable energy storage device;
a high voltage switch coupled to the discharge circuit and having a control input;
a high voltage monitor coupled to the discharge circuit and ha…

Assignees

• Overbey Jacob T
• Livingstone Abel
• Textron Systems Corp

Inventors

• Overbey Jacob T
• Livingstone Abel

Classifications

• F42B3/12 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F42C19/12

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• G01R19/0084

  Physics · mapped topic

• F42C11/002 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic