US 7,007,606 B1Granted

Method for utilizing a MEMS safe arm device for microdetonation

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy

InventorsWalter H. Maurer, Gabriel H. Soto, David R. Hollingsworth

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a method utilizing a MEMS safe arm device for electronically arming and firing a MEMS-scale interrupted explosive train to detonate a main charge explosive. The device includes a MEMS slider assembly housing a transfer charge electrically actuated to move between safe and armed positions of the explosive train.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method for utilizing a MEMS safe arm device for microdetonation comprising:

providing a safe arm device comprising:
a circuit board (305) having a slider inductor (312), at least one lockpin inductor (310) and at least one alignment pin (270) mounted thereon;
an initiator charge plate (320) positioned above and aligned with said circuit board (305) via at least one alignment hole (270), said initiator charge plate (320) having a bridgewire (322) and an initiator charge (324), said bridgewire (322) being adjacent to said initiator charge (324);
an input charge plate (330) positioned above and aligned with said initiator charge plate (320) via said at least one alignment hole (270), said input charge plate (330) having an input charge (110);
a transfer charge assembly (200) positioned above and aligned with said input charge plate (330) via said at least one alignment hole (270), said transfer charge assembly (200) having a safe position and an armed position, said safe position and said armed position of said transfer charge assembly (200) being activated in response to the application of an electric signal to said transfer charge assembly (200),
said transfer charge assembly (200) having a MEMS safety structure (210), said transfer charge assembly (200) having a slider (230) operatively coupled to said MEMS safety structure (210) by a slider spring (250), said slider (230) having an elongated axis (290), said slider (230) having a transfer charge cavity (226) housing a transfer charge (120), said slider (230) having a slider magnet cavity (220) housing a slider magnet (360), said slider (230) having a set of safe indentations (235) and a set of armed indentations (236), said slider (230) being operatively dimensioned and configured to slide along said elongated axis (290) responsive to the operation of said slider inductor (312),
said MEMS safety structure (210) having at least one lockpin (240), each said lockpin (240) being operably connected to said MEMS safety structure (210) by a lockpin spring (260), each said lockpin (240) having a lockpin magnet cavity (220) housing a lockpin magnet (360),
each said lockpin (240) being operatively dimensioned and configured to move in and out of said slider indentations (235) and said armed indentations (236) responsive to the operation of said lockpin inductor (310);
an output charge plate (350) positioned above and aligned with said transfer charge assembly (200) via said at least one alignment hole (270), said output charge plate (350) having an output charge (130), wherein said input charge (110) and said output charge (130) are located apart from one another along a charge axis (140) perpendicular to said elongated axis (290) of said slider (230);
operating said lockpin inductor (310) to affect the movement of said lockpin (240) to retract from said set of safe indentations (235), and
operating said slider inductor (312) to affect the movement of said slider (230) along said elongated axis (290) of said slider (230) aligning said transfer charge (120) with said charge axis (140) locating said transfer charge (130) adjacent to said input charge (110) and said output charge (130), thereby said device being operable in the armed position.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A method for utilizing a MEMS safe arm device for microdetonation comprising:

providing a safe arm device comprising:
a circuit board (305) having a slider inductor (312), at least one lockpin inductor (310) and at least one alignment pin (270) mounted thereon;
an initiator charge plate (320) positioned above and aligned with said circuit board (305) via at least one alignment hole (270), said initiator charge plate (320) having a bridgewire (322) and an initiator charge (324), said bridgewire (322) being adjacent to said initiator charge (324);
an input charge plate (330) positioned above and aligned with said initiator charge plate (320) via said at least one alignment hole (270), said input charge plate (330) having an input charge (110);
a transfer charge assembly (200) positioned above and aligned with said input charge plate (330) via said at least one alignment hole (270), said transfer charge assembly (200) having a safe position and an armed position, said safe position and said armed position of said transfer charge assembly (200) being activated in response to the application of an electric signal to said transfer charge assembly (200),
said transfer charge assembly (200) having a MEMS safety structure (210), said transfer charge assembly (200) having a slider (230) operatively coupled to said MEMS safety structure (210) by a slider spring (250), said slider (230) having an elongated axis (290), said slider (230) having a transfer charge cavity (226) housing a transfer charge (120), said slider (230) having a slider magnet cavity (220) housing a slider magnet (360), said slider (230) having a set of safe indentations (235) and a set of armed indentations (236), said slider (230) being operatively dimensioned and configured to slide along said elongated axis (290) responsive to the operation of said slider inductor (312),
said MEMS safety structure (210) having at least one lockpin (240), each said lockpin (240) being operably connected to said MEMS safety structure (210) by a lockpin spring (260), each said lockpin (240) having a lockpin magnet cavity (220) housing a lockpin magnet (360),
each said lockpin (240) being operatively dimensioned and configured to move in and out of said slider indentations (235) and said armed indentations (236) responsive to the operation of said lockpin inductor (310);
an output charge plate (350) positioned above and aligned with said transfer charge assembly (200) via said at least one alignment hole (270), said output charge plate (350) having an output charge (130), wherein said input charge (110) and said output charge (130) are located apart from one another along a charge axis (140) perpendicular to said elongated axis (290) of said slider (230);
operating said lockpin inductor (310) to affect the movement of said lockpin (240) to retract from said set of safe indentations (235), and
operating said slider inductor (312) to affect the movement of said slider (230) along said elongated axis (290) of said slider (230) aligning said transfer charge (120) with said charge axis (140) locating said transfer charge (130) adjacent to said input charge (110) and said output charge (130), thereby said device being operable in the armed position.

8 more elements