Abstract: The present invention provides a rigid reactive cord such as a detonating cord (10) that includes a core (38) of an energetic material and a rigid non-metal sheath (40) disposed about the core. The cord (10) is sufficiently rigid so that it can be inserted through a material to be fractured or through passages formed therein. A method of using the rigid reactive cord for the removal of combustion residue from boiler tubes is also presented.

Abstract: An oxidizer package for a propellant system for a motor in which the oxidizer is separated from fuel grain, the oxidizer package comprising oxidizer material and an ignition system therefor in a wrapping or sealing material. A hybrid rocket comprising oxidizer material and fuel grain, the oxidizer material being separated from the fuel grain and being in the form of a single package or plurality of packages of oxidizer material and an ignition system therefor, said packages generally conforming to the shape of the rocket. A grid of a pyrotechnic material. A propulsion system for a hybrid rocket comprising oxidizer material in a matrix, mesh, wool, foamed metal or wires of structural or pyrotechnic material.

Abstract: An automatic door opener (10) for opening or closing a door (28) includes a motor (14) driving a drive shaft (50) and an opener arm (18) connected to the door (28) and being responsive to rotation of the drive shaft (50) for moving the door (28) to an open or closed position. A clutch (46) operable to disengage the drive shaft (50) from the opener arm (18) is provided in the event of the door (28) engaging an obstacle, electric power being unavailable, or the door being fully open or fully closed. The door opener (10) may also include a brake (48) for selectively preventing movement of the door (28). Various embodiments of the invention are provided, including an electromagnetic clutch (80) and an electromagnetic brake (114).

Abstract: A wiper allows controlled passage of water through at least one blade of the wiper. In one embodiment, the wiper comprises first and second substantially parallel wiper blades (26, 28), each having wiping faces (26c, 28c) in contact with a surface S and defining therebetween a channel (30). The blades (26, 28) have formations thereon, such as notches (34,36) dimensioned and configured to permit passage of water through first blade (26) to the channel (30) when the first blade (26) is moving in a first direction and to prevent passage of water through notches (34) when the first blade is moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The second blade (28) formations, e.g., notches (34) permit water to pass through the formations when the second blade (28) is moving in the second direction and to prevent passage of water therethrough when the second blade is moving in the first direction. Water trapped within channel (30) will then be diverted out the ends of the channel.

Abstract: The performance and stability of thick film electroluminescent displays is enhanced by a non-porous layer inserted between the thick film dielectric layer and thin film phosphor structures in these displays. The inserted layer facilitates increased luminance, increased energy efficiency and improved operating stability.

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.

Abstract: An electrochemical sensor for detection of a gas in an atmosphere containing the gas. The sensor has a housing having an electrochemical gas sensor with an electrolyte and at least two electrodes, one electrode being a gas sensing electrode. The housing has an orifice between the sensing electrode and the atmosphere for transmission of gas from the atmosphere to the sensing electrode, the orifice being protected by a hydrophobic membrane, and connected to at least two radial channels extending from the orifice. Each of the radial channels is connected to a common channel, such that gas communication from the atmosphere through the orifice to the sensing electrode is through the common channel and the radial channels, in addition to the covering membrane if the membrane is gas permeable.

Abstract: A needle assembly includes a needle member (10) and a blunting member (26), the needle member (10) containing a needle cannula (12), the needle cannula (12) having a puncture tip (14) and having a needle passageway therethrough. The blunting member (26) contains a blunting probe (28) having a blunt end (28a). The needle cannula (12) and the blunting probe (28) are disposed telescopically one within the other without obstructing flow through the needle passageway, and are movable between a sharpened configuration in which the puncture tip (14) of the needle cannula (12) is exposed and a blunted configuration in which the blunt end (28a) of the blunting probe (28) extends beyond the puncture tip (14) to blunt the needle assembly. The assembly may be combined with an accessory device (such as a catheter hub, guide wire, etc.) to produce an apparatus that is lockable in a blunted configuration and that can be released by the associated accessory, or may be configured to be released by manual manipulation.

Abstract: An initiator (14c) for a secondary explosive receptor charge is provided by forming a length of detonating cord (14) into a helical coil containing a plurality of windings with a cutoff barrier provided by, e.g., a separating rib (46) between adjacent windings. The adjacent windings may be not more than about 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) apart. The detonating cord (14) may be wound about a spindle (16) which may optionally provide the separating rib (46). The coil may be a tapered coil which may define a taper angle of e.g., from about 2 to 4 degrees. Alternatively, the coil may be a cylindrical coil, or the cord may be configured in a planar spiral. Optionally, the detonating cord in the helical coil may have a core of explosive material with a loading of less than 15 grains per foot of the cord, e.g., less than 12 grains per foot of the cord, or a loading in the range of from 8 to 12 grains per foot of the cord. The coil may consume about six inches of the cord.

Abstract: An explosive charge such as a cast booster charge (10, 110, 210) includes an explosive charge (14, 114, 214) having a first explosive matrix material (114a, 214a) with discrete bodies (118, 218) of a second material embedded therein. In some embodiments, discrete bodies may comprise explosive material and the first explosive matrix material (114a, 214a) may be more sensitive to initiation than the explosive material of the discrete bodies (118, 218). In a separate aspect of the invention, the discrete bodies may have a minimum dimension of at least 1 millimeter or, optionally, 1.6 millimeter, regardless of the explosive properties of the material therein. In a particular embodiment, discrete bodies may be shaped as cylindrical pellets rounded at at least one end. The cast booster charge (10, 110, 210) may be produced by melting the first explosive, disposing discrete bodies therein and cooling the molten material to solid form.

Abstract: An initiator (100) assembled from a housing (112), an output charge (144) and an initiation means (110, 120, 58, 54) includes a pulverulent ignition charge (46a) disposed in direct initiation relation to the initiation means, and an output charge (144) that may contain a pulverulent deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT) charge (144a) and an explosive base charge (144b). The ignition charge (46a) has an average particle size of less than 10 microns, or even less than 5 microns, e.g., 1 to 2 microns. The initiation means may include a semiconductor bridge (18) and the ignition charge (46a) may be compacted with a force of less than about 5880 psi, e.g., with a force of 1000 psi. In another embodiment, an initiator (210) includes a low-energy electrical initiator (234), a loosely packed BNCP ignition charge (218) and a pyrotechnical output charge (214).

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a composite package system that provides sufficient protection and containment of eight explosive devices that contain 33 grams each (264 grams total) of RDX explosive or the equivalent thereof, such as HMX, HNS, etc., to qualify for a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) classification of 1.4S. The composite package system of this invention comprises the combination of a prior art corrugated paper box in a wooden crate that meets DOT 4C1 requirements and that is lined with cement-fiber material.

Abstract: A shock-resistant electronic circuit assembly (10) is provided in which an electronic circuit is encased in an encapsulation (14) that engages a surrounding enclosure (18) in shock-dispersing contact therewith. The encapsulation may have a plurality of edges (16, 16a, 16b), fins (24) or bosses (70) that bear against the enclosure. The encapsulation may include a shock-absorbing material (14f) disposed against the enclosure to protect the circuit against vibrations and a structural support material such as a casing (14e) to protect the circuit against stress. The circuit assembly (10) may be part of a sheathed initiator assembly (55) that includes a transfer member (58) for converting shock wave energy into electrical energy for the electronic circuit, and the released energy may be converted into a detonation initiation signal. Assembly (55) may be part of a detonator (100) that receives a non-electric initiation signal and detonates following the delay determined by the electronic circuit.

Abstract: An explosive pipe cutter assembly (10, 10′) has a housing (20, 20′) which defines at its closed end a hemispherical shaped nose end (22, 22′) and contains a toroidal shaped charge (48) comprised of two half-charges (42). Toroidal shaped charge (48) has a seating surface (31) seated on a support shoulder (50, 50′) adjacent the closed end of the housing (20, 20′), and a trailing end which is engaged by a retaining ring (38) received in the open end (24, 24′) of the housing (20, 20′). Two juxtaposed half-liners (28) provide a liner having an apex (A) which is curved in longitudinal cross section to increase the mass of the metal formed into a penetrating jet by detonation of the shaped charge (48).

Abstract: An electronic delay circuit (10) useful for the delayed initiation of detonators illustrates several novel features that may be combined, including a novel oscillator (34), a programmable timer circuit (32) and a run control circuit (46). The oscillator (34) generates a clock signal determined by the rate of discharge of a capacitor (34a) relative to a reference voltage REF. A second capacitor (34b) is charged to a voltage that exceeds REF, and when the first capacitor (34a) falls below REF, an internal signal is generated and the capacitors are switched, so that the first capacitor gets charged while the second is discharged. A latch (34f) produces clock pulses in response to the internal signals. The programmable timer circuit (32) includes a ripple counter (38) and a program bank (40) that loads a count in the counter upon initialization.

Abstract: A self-blunting needle medical device comprises a needle cannula (18) fixed to a hub (20) having a receiving structure therein such as ferrule (22) and a movable blunting member (14) movably received within the cannula (18). Ferrule (22) defines a passage (38) extending therethrough, within which both the cannula (18) and the movable member (14) can be received and which establishes a coaxial relationship between them. The ferrule (22) defines a first guide surface (40) for directing the blunting end (14a) of the movable member (14) into the central bore of the cannula (18) during assembly. A second guide surface (42) performs the function of guiding the mounting end (18b) of the cannula (18) into ferrule (22) for mounting therein. Typically, the cannula (18) has a tissue puncture tip (18a). When the movable member (14) is retracted into the cannula (18), the puncture tip (18a) is exposed for use, e.g., injection into tissue.

Abstract: A perforating gun (10, 210, 310, 410) is provided for retaining a plurality of explosive charges (16, 16′) in an angular phased array with the discharge ends (16a, 16a′) of each succeeding explosive charge (16, 16′) disposed at a selected angular orientation relative to the other explosive charges (16, 16′) as determined by the configuration of an undulating path defined by support wires (14, 14′) or wire pairs (19a, 19b). The perforating gun (10, 210, 310, 410) comprises a plurality of support wires (14, 14′) disposed about a common longitudinal axis (L—L) and extending in an undulating path so as to define a wire carrier or cage in which the explosive charges (16, 16′) are retained by securing the discharge ends (16a), or the initiation ends (16b), or both, to support wires (14, 14).

Abstract: The present invention provides several embodiments of tension-indicating fasteners that include tension indicators having indicating arms equipped with a laterally-extending contact member or a foot portion. A contact member extends in a tangential direction from the fastener head. The indicating arm is secured to the fastener and, by having laterally-distant contact points, the deflection of a substrate caused by the fastener head causes a distal end of the indicating arm to move with amplified magnitude. In still other embodiments of the invention, a fastener includes tension indicia for indicating a target degree of substrate deflection. The tension indicator may be disposed within a recess in the fastener head to allow the use of conventional tightening tools.