Patents by Inventor John A. Sudick

John A. Sudick has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20110308414
    Abstract: An electronic ignition safety device configured to reject signals below a predetermined ‘all-fire’ voltage includes an exploding foil initiator having an electrical input and an output end, and an electronic fireset electrically connected to the electrical input of the exploding foil initiator. The device also includes a through bulkhead initiator (TBI) body, a donor charge disposed adjacent the output end of the exploding foil initiator, and an acceptor charge. The device further includes an integral barrier disposed between the donor charge and the acceptor charge, and one or more of the donor charge, the acceptor charge, and/or the integral barrier being disposed within a component part that is assembled to the TBI body. The device also includes an output charge disposed adjacent the acceptor charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defence Company
    Inventor: John A. Sudick
  • Patent number: 7987787
    Abstract: An electronic ignition safety device configured to reject signals below a predetermined ‘all-fire’ voltage comprising an exploding foil initiator having an electrical input and an output end, a pickup comprising a secondary explosive donor charge adjacent to the exploding foil initiator's output end and separated from a secondary explosive acceptor charge by an integral barrier, and an output charge adjacent to the acceptor charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company
    Inventor: John A. Sudick
  • Patent number: 7464648
    Abstract: A hybrid electronic and electromechanical arm-fire device comprising a moving mechanical element having a safe position and an armed position, one or more pyrotechnic detonators each having an output mounted on the moving mechanical element, a pickup adjacent to the detonator output(s) that is in alignment therewith when the moving mechanical element is in the armed position but is not so aligned when the moving mechanical element is in the safe position, and electronic circuitry including a logic core having an electronic switch. The electronic circuitry may also include an electronic sensor such as a photointerruptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Special Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Gimtong Teowee, John A. Sudick, Russ E. Rukavina
  • Publication number: 20070204757
    Abstract: A hybrid electronic and electromechanical arm-fire device comprising a moving mechanical element having a safe position and an armed position, one or more pyrotechnic detonators each having an output mounted on the moving mechanical element, a pickup adjacent to the detonator output(s) that is in alignment therewith when the moving mechanical element is in the armed position but is not so aligned when the moving mechanical element is in the safe position, and electronic circuitry including a logic core having an electronic switch. The electronic circuitry may also include an electronic sensor such as a photointerruptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventors: Gimtong Teowee, John Sudick, Russ Rukavina
  • Publication number: 20040007123
    Abstract: An actuator connected to receive high pressure gas from a pyrotechnic initiator incorporates a primary piston and a secondary piston mounted for limited movement along cylindrical bores in a housing; the pistons are held in a fixed inactive position and are restrained from movement within the housing by a tension screw connected to the primary piston and the housing. The tension screw incorporates a calibrated reduced diameter section that ruptures at a predetermined applied force to permit the pistons to move within the housing. Gaseous products resulting from initiation are trapped and maintained within the housing by an expandable bellows secured internally of the housing at one end of the bellows and secured at the opposite end of the bellows to the interior of the housing. A calibration/test port extends through the housing into the bore externally of the bellows to permit calibration and testing of the actuator without initiating the pyrotechnic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Robert S. Ritchie, John A. Sudick
  • Patent number: 5279226
    Abstract: A pair of explosive detonators are recessed in the end of a cylindrical body containing a permanent magnet, which serves as the rotor in a brushless, bi-directional torque motor enclosed in a housing. A reversible positioning current causes the motor to rotate the body between armed and safe positions and thereby establish and interrupt axial explosive transfer paths from the detonators to a corresponding pair of explosive transfer lines ported through the housing cover. An internal switching circuit disables the detonators when the body is in the safe position and passes a firing current to them when the body is in the armed position. A detent ring secured to the rotatable body, and a pair of spring-loaded detents in the housing index the rotatable body in the armed and safe positions and prevent its accidental rotation. Mechanical safing means are provided for manually overriding an electrical arming signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Special Devices, Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert S. Ritchie, John A. Sudick