Switch actuator
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorAlbertus E. Schmidlin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved switch actuator, for safe and arm applications requiring utmost ependability in order to preclude a premature or false arming sequence, utilizes a plurality of simultaneous input signals from independently coded pneumatic, optical and electrical sources to drive a rotary switch. A rotary fluidic valving plate is used to decode non-uniform input optical signals into a uniform cyclical output pressure signal which is used to drive a fail-safe, reversible pneumatic gerotor type motor. A geneva mechanism is used to mechanically couple the prime mover to an output gear to activate a switch. Alternatively, an electrical switch may be incorporated within the housing of the actuator.
Claims6
An improved switch actuator for safing and arming a missile:
- a housing;
- optical transducer means fixedly disposed in one end of the housing for converting a coded optical input pulse signal into a coded electrical signal of the same signature as the optical signal;
- amplifier means electrically coupled to the optical transducer means for generating an amplified coded electrical output signal in response to the coded electrical signal;
- solenoid means having a magnetically operated flapper valve member pivotally connected therewith, the solenoid means being electrically coupled to said amplifier means for converting the amplified coded electrical signal into a reciprocating mechanical motion of the flapper valve member;
- pneumatic supply cover means proximately positioned adjacent to the solenoid means, the pneumatic supply cover means having two pneumatic passageways transversely diametrically disposed therethrough, for alternatively generating, in cooperation with the solenoid means, a coded pneumatic output pulse from each of the pneumatic passageways;
- rotating valve plate means operatively disposed adjacent the pneumatic supply cover means, for mechanically decoding each of the coded pneumatic output pulses into sequential pressure pulses;
- pneumatic gerotor type prime mover means connected to the valve plate means;
- geneva movement means having a driver gear assembly and a follower assembly, the geneva movement means being gear connected to the prime mover means, the geneva driver gear assembly rotating at a predetermined relationship with the prime mover prior to the switch actuator being placed in an armed condition;
- and
- biasing means operatively disposed on the prime mover means intermediate the geneva movement means and the prime mover means for returning the switch actuator to a fail-safe position when the optical transducer means fails to receive a coded optical signal of a specific signature for a given duration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.