Abstract: A heat generating structure includes a substrate of a first material and a second material coating at least a portion and preferably all of the first material, where the second material is different from the first material. The structure also includes an additional material or compound such as ammonia borane that is impregnated or located within the structure. When the structure is thermally energized, the first and second materials react with each other in an exothermic and self-sustaining reaction that pyrolyzes the impregnated ammonia borane compound to create a target gas, for example, hydrogen from the ammonia borane. An additional material, for example, a thermite, may be interposed between the structure and the ammonia borane to facilitate the ignition of the ammonia borane.

Abstract: A structure includes a substrate of a first material and a second material coating at least a portion of the substrate, where the second material is different from the first material, where the first and second materials, upon being thermally energized, react with each other in an exothermic and self-sustaining alloying reaction that propagates from a first location within the structure along a travel path to a second location within the structure at a rate that depends upon one or more characteristics of the first and second materials.

Abstract: An initiator assembly (38) is factory-pre-assembled and comprises an initiation fixture (10) secured to a triggering device (40). The initiation fixture (10) comprises a unitary body, i.e., one without moving parts, and includes a bushing groove (18) to receive as an accessory an O-ring (64) to seal the device within the barrel (42) of the triggering device (40). A fuse/fixture sub-assembly (34) includes an initiation charge (30) disposed at the firing face (13a) and a signal-transmission fuse (22). The initiation fixture (110) may be a “universal” fixture having thereon optional external threads (36) and being otherwise dimensioned and configured to be received within either an internally threaded barrel (42) of a triggering device (40) or the barrel (42) of a triggering device which utilizes a fuse-holder cap (56). The initiator assembly (38) may include a spool (66) on which the signal-transmission tube (22) is wound.

Abstract: An initiator assembly (38) is factory-pre-assembled and comprises an initiation fixture (10) secured to a triggering device (40). The initiation fixture (10) comprises a unitary body, i.e., one without moving parts, and includes a bushing groove (18) to receive as an accessory an O-ring (64) to seal the device within the barrel (42) of the triggering device (40). A fuse/fixture sub-assembly (34) includes an initiation charge (30) disposed at the firing face (13a) and a signal-transmission fuse (22). The initiation fixture (110) may be a “universal” fixture having thereon optional external threads (36) and being otherwise dimensioned and configured to be received within either an internally threaded barrel (42) of a triggering device (40) or the barrel (42) of a triggering device which utilizes a fuse-holder cap (56). The initiator assembly (38) may include a spool (66) on which the signal-transmission tube (22) is wound.

Abstract: An ordnance system of the present invention may include or feature any one or more of: a control unit, one or more effectors (detonators, initiators, shaped charges and the like), and a two-, three- or four-wire communication bus between the control unit and the effectors; an addressable system in which all the effectors can be connected to the same communication bus and the control unit can issue coded signals on the bus addressed to a specific effector; inductive coupling between the effectors and the communication bus; and a multi-voltage level communication system in which communication signals are carried at a first voltage and arming signals are provided at a second, higher voltage. Other features may include two-way communication between effectors and the control unit and the de-centralization of firing control so that the control unit does not have exclusive control over whether the effectors function.