Firing apparatus for a plurality of electric valves

In a firing device for a plurality of electric valves comprising a plurality of detectors for electromagnetic radiation each forming an input to a firing circuit coupled to a valve said electric valves being electrically coupled in at least one circuit, all valves being required to be simultaneously fired, the firing device also including a transmitter coupled to means providing thereto a firing control signal, said transmitter being equipped with a radiator which directs energy toward the plurality of detectors for the individual valves, said individual detectors being arranged so as to be able to intercept the radiation from the radiator to permit firing of the valves without a wired connection, the improvement comprising:

• a. the radiating device being designed to generate substantially parallel rays of electromagnetic radiation;
• and
• b. the plurality of detectors for electromagnetic radiation being arranged spacially displaced relative to each other such that each is exposed to the parallel ray beam from said radiating device without mutual shadowing when all of said detectors are projected onto a plane perpendicular to the direction of radiation as viewed in the direction of radiation.