MEMS mechanical initiator for a microdetonator
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsGerald Laib, Daniel Jean, David Olson, Michael Beggans
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Abstract
A MEMS mechanical initiator having a striker arm extending from a striker body. The tip of the striker arm is adjacent to, but does not touch, the side of a microdetonator. A cocking and release mechanism moves the striker body such that the striker arm pulls away from the side of the microdetonator against the action of a set of springs connected to the striker body. Thereafter the cocking and release mechanism releases the striker body such that the tip of the striker arm swipes the side of the microdetonator causing initiation thereof.
Claims8
A MEMS mechanical initiator apparatus, comprising:
- a microdetonator having a side;
- a striker body including a striker arm extending therefrom;
- a tip of said striker arm being adjacent said side of said microdetonator prior to initiation;
- a set of anchored springs connected to said striker body;
- and
- a cocking and release mechanism connected to move said striker body,
- wherein said cocking and release mechanism being initially operable to withdraw said striker body such that said striker arm moves away from said side of said microdetonator against action of said springs,
- wherein said cocking and release mechanism is thereafter operable to release said striker body such that said striker arm is propelled by said springs to swipe said side of said microdetonator to cause detonation thereof, and
- wherein said striker arm is a mechanical striker arm capable of operation by movement where the mechanical striker arm and the microdetonator are situated on a same layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.