Pressure activated battery system
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsJason Cahayla, Barry Schwartz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A battery activation device uses ballistic pressure to directly activate a liquid reserve battery and simultaneously complete the battery ground circuit to the electronics system. The gas pressure generated during ballistic launch reacts upon a piston face that transforms the pressure directly into a linear force which is then applied to the liquid reserve battery for activation. An internal shear disc prevents unintentional battery activation from an accidental drop and if sufficient launch pressure has not been realized by device.
Claims15
A pressure activated battery system for a projectile wherein ballistic pressure for launching the projectile transitions the pressure activated battery system from an inactive state to an active state by translating a piston to activate a reserve battery, said pressure activated battery system further comprising:
- a housing further defining a front cavity and a rear cavity connected by a central hole, said rear cavity comprising a slip fit region exposed to an external environment and a press fit region forward of the slip fit region;
- a piston contained within the rear cavity and which the inactive state is restrained within the slip fit region by a shear disc positioned between the slip fit region and the press fit region;
- a liquid reserve battery subassembly housed within the front cavity, said liquid reserve battery subassembly further comprising a battery housing and an electrolyte-filled glass ampoule contained within said battery housing;
- and wherein in response to ballistic pressure, the piston translates forward in the rear cavity thereby rupturing the shear disc and breaking the electrolyte-filled glass ampoule to transition the pressure activated battery system to the activated state.
A gun-launched projectile comprising a pressure activated battery system in a base of the projectile, the pressure activated battery system further comprising:
- a housing further defining a front cavity and a rear cavity connected by a central hole, said rear cavity comprising a slip fit region exposed to an external environment and a press fit region forward of the slip fit region;
- a piston contained within the rear cavity and which the inactive state is restrained within the slip fit region by a shear disc positioned between the slip fit region and the press fit region;
- a liquid reserve battery subassembly housed within the front cavity, said liquid reserve battery subassembly further comprising a battery housing and an electrolyte-filled glass ampoule contained within said battery housing;
- and wherein in response to ballistic pressure, the piston translates forward in the rear cavity thereby rupturing the shear disc and breaking the electrolyte-filled glass ampoule to transition the pressure activated battery system from an inactive state to an activated state by simultaneously releasing an electrolyte in the liquid reserve battery subassembly and completing a battery ground circuit of said liquid reserve battery subassembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.