With Housing Patents (Class 102/202.14)
  • Patent number: 11760303
    Abstract: An initiator for a gas generator of a vehicle safety device includes a cup defining an interior, a primary pyrotechnic material disposed in the interior of the cup, and a secondary pyrotechnic material disposed in the interior of the cup. A separator member hermetically separates the primary pyrotechnic material from the secondary pyrotechnic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Francois Peremarty, Ryan Mark Hubbard, Mason Wayment, Jesse Guymon, Paul Robert Carver
  • Patent number: 11702030
    Abstract: An initiator for a gas generator of a vehicle safety device includes a cup defining an interior, a primary pyrotechnic material disposed in the interior of the cup, and a secondary pyrotechnic material disposed in the interior of the cup. A separator member hermetically separates the primary pyrotechnic material from the secondary pyrotechnic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Francois Peremarty, Ryan Mark Hubbard, Mason Wayment, Jesse Guymon, Paul Robert Carver
  • Patent number: 11555613
    Abstract: A gas generator includes, a housing provided with a gas discharge port, an ignition chamber, accommodating an igniter and a transfer charge, provided on an end portion of the housing, a combustion chamber disposed within the housing and accommodating a gas generating agent, a rupturable closing member partitioning the combustion chamber from the ignition chamber and including a rupturable portion ruptured upon an actuation of the gas generator, and an inner tube extending from the closing member toward the gas discharge port inside the combustion chamber. The inner tube defines outside thereof a space containing the gas generating agent, and defines inside a hollow space. The inner tube is provided with a plurality of through holes. The inner tube includes one end communicating the hollow space with the ignition chamber to transfer the transfer charge in a burning state toward an opposite end when the rupturable portion is ruptured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: DAICEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kenji Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 11549343
    Abstract: An initiator head assembly may include a body and an electrical contact component positioned proximal to the body. The body may include a head extending from a base, and a platform extending from the head, and the body may be injection molded as a unitary component. The electrical contact component may include a line-in portion positioned proximal to the platform and a ground portion positioned proximal to the head. The electrical contact component may be formed integrally with the body such that it is anchored in a fixed position in the body. An initiator for a perforating gun assembly may include the initiator head assembly and a shell coupled to the initiator head assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Eitschberger
  • Patent number: 11525653
    Abstract: An initiator assembly that includes an end plate, a plurality of terminals, a plurality of epoxy plugs, an insulator layer and an exploding foil initiator. The end plate is formed of aluminum and has a plurality of first terminal apertures formed there through. Each of the terminals is received through a corresponding one of the first terminal aperture. Each epoxy plug is received in an associated one of the first terminal apertures and is sealingly engaged to the end plate and to an associated one of the terminals. The insulator layer is received over the end plate. The exploding foil initiator is abutted against the insulator layer and has a bridge and a pair of initiator contacts. Each of the initiator contacts is electrically coupled to a corresponding one of the terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Reynolds Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Nance, Jacob D. Nance
  • Patent number: 11296476
    Abstract: A pyrotechnical connecting interface of a pyrotechnical vehicle safety device comprises a socket which includes a housing with a plug-in port for accepting a plug, the pyrotechnical connecting interface further comprising pins which end in the plug-in port and via which electricity for activating a pyrotechnical charge can flow, the housing being an injection-molded housing and being provided with a peripheral wall which surrounds end portions of the pins at a distance therefrom and which ends in an end face on the side facing the plug; three radial undercuts for interlocking engagement with three associated latching fingers that are part of the plug are formed on the inner face of the peripheral wall, are spaced apart from each other in the peripheral direction, are entirely closed axially as well as radially outward, and are made in an injection-molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ZF AIRBAG GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Türp, Lorenz Hinterholzer
  • Patent number: 11145477
    Abstract: The invention relates to a short-circuiting device for use in low-voltage and medium-voltage systems for the protection of property and persons, comprising: a switching element, which can be operated by the tripping signal of a fault detection device; two mutually opposite contact electrodes having power supply means, which contact electrodes can be brought into contact with an electrical circuit having connection points at different potential; furthermore, in at least one of the contact electrodes, a movable contact part, which is under mechanical preload and executes a movement to the further contact electrode with the assistance of spring force in the event of a short circuit; and a sacrificial element as a spacer between the contact electrodes, with an electrical connection between the sacrificial element and the switching element on the one hand and one of the contact electrodes on the other hand, in order to deliberately cause current-flow-induced thermal deformation or destruction of the sacrificial el
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: DEHN SE + CO KG
    Inventors: Arnd Ehrhardt, Klaus Bühler
  • Patent number: 11078764
    Abstract: An initiator head assembly may include a body and an electrical contact component positioned proximal to the body. The body may include a head extending from a base, and a platform extending from the head, and the body may be injection molded as a unitary component. The electrical contact component may include a line-in portion positioned proximal to the platform and a ground portion positioned proximal to the head. The electrical contact component may be formed integrally with the body such that it is anchored in a fixed position in the body. An initiator for a perforating gun assembly may include the initiator head assembly and a shell coupled to the initiator head assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Eitschberger
  • Patent number: 11072306
    Abstract: The invention relates, among other things, to a gas generator for generating a driving gas for a vehicle safety device, wherein the gas generator comprises: an ignition device; fuel which, after ignition using the ignition device, generates the driving gas; an at least partially tubular carrier element, in the tube interior of which a combustion chamber for the fuel is located; an injection-moulded body which fixes the ignition device in the connection hole and is located with an inner portion inside the carrier element and with an outer portion outside the carrier element; a feed pipe which is connected to a pipe end of the carrier element and which conveys the driving gas out of the combustion chamber; and a lid sealing the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Divo, Jochen Benz, Christine-Martina Ganso, Roland Schnabl, Gerhard Klingauf
  • Patent number: 11009319
    Abstract: An initiator assembly that includes a header body, a frame member, a plurality of terminals, an initiator chip, a plurality of contacts, and a support member. The frame member is coupled to the header body and defines an interior aperture. The terminals are received through the header body and the frame member. The initiator chip is received in the frame member and has a plurality of lands, a conductive bridge and a flyer that is disposed over the conductive bridge. Each of the contacts is soldered to an associated one of the terminals and an associated one of the lands. The support member is formed of plastic and encapsulates the frame member, the plurality of contacts, and a portion of the initiator chip. The support member forms a barrel aperture over the flyer. The input charge is formed of a secondary explosive and is disposed in-line with the barrel aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Reynolds Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Emmanuel Morales, Michael B. Meadows, Christopher J. Nance
  • Patent number: 10935352
    Abstract: An initiation system that includes an initiator chip having an electrically conductive bridge, a flyer layer coupled to the initiator chip and overlying the bridge, a housing, an energetic material and a lid. The housing is formed of a first plastic material that is overmolded onto the initiator chip such that the initiator chip is at least partly encapsulated into the first plastic material to thereby fixedly couple the initiator chip to the housing. The housing defines a cavity having a first end and a second, open end that is opposite the first end. The initiator chip is disposed proximate the first end of the cavity. The energetic material is disposed in the cavity. The lid is at least partly formed of a second plastic material and is fixedly and sealingly coupled to the housing to close the open end of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Reynolds Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Nance, Michael A. Amendola, Christopher J. Nance
  • Patent number: 10871354
    Abstract: An initiator assembly that includes a housing assembly, an exploding foil initiator, an input charge and an output charge. The housing assembly defines a first cavity, a second cavity, and a bulkhead member between the first and second cavities. The exploding foil initiator is received in the housing assembly and includes a bridge, a flyer and a barrel. The flyer overlies the bridge and is disposed between the barrel and the bridge. The barrel defines a barrel aperture. The input charge, which is formed of a secondary explosive, is received in the housing assembly and is disposed in-line with the barrel aperture. The output charge assembly is received in the housing assembly and is formed of a secondary explosive. Energy released from detonation of the input charge in response to operation of the exploding foil initiator penetrates the bulkhead and initiates detonation of the output charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Reynolds Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Amendola, Richard K. Reynolds, Christopher J. Nance
  • Patent number: 10857967
    Abstract: An initiator assembly for an automotive safety device includes a tubular housing with a first end and a second end. A cruciform formed in the second end of the tubular housing is designed to open when the initiator fires. A pyrotechnic load is disposed within the tubular housing at the second end, the pyrotechnic load is formed to define a void comprising an open end and a tip. The void includes sides that extend from the open end to the tip and angle toward the second end of the tubular housing and angle toward a longitudinal axis of the tubular housing. The sides of the void can transition into a tip portion of the void that comprises a geometry distinct from that of the sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Mason Chappell Wayment
  • Patent number: 10829086
    Abstract: A webbing take-up device includes a spool that takes up webbing worn by an occupant by being rotated in a take-up direction, and a pretensioner mechanism. The pretensioner mechanism includes a gas generator that includes a gas-generating-agent-storing portion and an ignition-device-storing portion, and a cylinder to which the gas generator is attached and that includes a second tubular portion into which gas generated by the gas generator is supplied. A discharge hole, through which gas supplied to the second tubular portion is discharged, is formed in a portion of the cylinder where the ignition-device-storing portion is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Wataru Yanagawa, Shinichi Okubo, Takahiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10794670
    Abstract: An initiation system that includes a housing, an exploding foil initiator and a securing structure. The housing is formed of plastic and defines a cavity with an open end. The exploding foil initiator assembly has an initiator chip, a flyer layer and a barrel. The initiator chip has an electrically conductive bridge and is at least partly encapsulated in the plastic of the housing. The flyer layer has a first side, which faces the bridge, and a second side opposite the first side. The barrel is disposed between the second side of the flyer layer and an end of the cavity opposite the open end. The securing structure is formed of metal and is partly encapsulated in the plastic of the housing. The securing structure is disposed about the cavity and extends away from the housing about a perimeter of the open end of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Reynolds Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Nance, Michael A. Amendola, Christopher J. Nance
  • Patent number: 10731953
    Abstract: A deployment unit for use with a handle of a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”). The deployment unit includes wire-tethered electrodes for launching toward a human or animal target for providing a current through the target to impede locomotion of the target. The deployment unit includes a barrier that prior to use with the handle protects the deployment unit from electrostatic discharge. Prior to use of the deployment unit, the barrier may further protect the deployment unit from ingress of dirt and/or moisture into the deployment unit. While the deployment unit is inserted into a handle, the barrier shields conductors of the handle and the deployment unit to facilitate delivery of a launch signal from the handle to the deployment unit to launch the wire-tethered electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksander Petrovic, Albert Lavin, Magne Nerheim, Milan Cerovic
  • Patent number: 10697742
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to a Multiple Payload Expendable Device consisting of a set of cylindrical multiple payload casings, each payload casing exhibiting circular symmetry fluid passages in relation to firing squibs and voltage coded squib actuating circuit that converts existing single payload expendable device systems to multiple payload expendable device systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: QUAD-M, INC.
    Inventors: Victor James Dube, Tyler Holden, Beryl W. Cotton
  • Patent number: 10669822
    Abstract: A method of forming an initiator head assembly for an initiator is described. An initiator head assembly having particular application with a perforating gun assembly is also described. The initiator head assembly includes a body and an electrical contact component with the electrical contact component embedded therein. The initiator head assembly, with the embedded electrical contact component, is configured as a unitary component and holds a pressure differential across the top and bottom parts of the initiator head assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Eitschberger
  • Patent number: 10557693
    Abstract: A downhole explosive detonation assembly with a high voltage electro-explosive initiator having an input high voltage power supply with a low impedance shunting fuse, a flexible electrical link and a capacitor discharge unit. The explosive detonation assembly is adapted to detonate detonating cord from the side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Hunting Titan, Inc.
    Inventors: Nolan C. Lerche, James E. Brooks
  • Patent number: 10495425
    Abstract: An axisymmetric disk-shaped cartridge is provided for firing from a gun having a fluted bore. The cartridge is initiated by a firing pin and includes a primer core, a propellant charge, a booster charge, a projectile mass, an ablative cap and a ductile metal coating. The projectile mass is disposed over the booster charge while the ablative cap is disposed over the projectile mass. The coating and mass elongate and radially narrow to maintain axial symmetry while being accelerated along the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: John-Paul Shebalin
  • Patent number: 10391963
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing aircraft airbag initiators in air bag systems includes: providing a diagnostic circuit per aircraft seat, the diagnostic circuit being in a normally off condition and enabled by a user activation; providing a power supply independent of aircraft power; providing a momentary switch; providing a visual indicator; receiving a signal indicating user activation of the momentary switch; and responsive to receiving the signal: completing a circuit, regulating a current into the diagnostic circuit to prevent a squib from firing during diagnostic evaluation; detecting a voltage; and providing feedback to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Schroth Safety Products LLC
    Inventors: Mario Schnetger, Ray Garcia, Craig William White, Ahad M Zadeh, Stefan Meier-Arndt
  • Patent number: 10340104
    Abstract: A permanent short-circuit device includes an enclosure with a first and second fixed electrically conducting body, each connected to a respective conductor leaving the enclosure, the first and second bodies body each having a first and a second surface on opposite sides of the respective body, where the first surface of the first body faces the first surface of the second body and is separated therefrom by a gap with width d and the second surface of the first body is provided with explosives connected to a detonator for deforming the first body towards the first surface of the second body such that the first surface of the first body crosses the gap and galvanically connects to the first surface of the second body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventor: Åke Öberg
  • Patent number: 10309199
    Abstract: An initiator head assembly having particular application with a perforating gun assembly. The initiator head assembly includes a body and an electrical contact component with the electrical contact component embedded therein. The initiator head assembly with the embedded electrical contact component is configured as a unitary component, and holds a pressure differential across the top and bottom parts of the initiator head assembly. A method of forming the initiator head assembly is also generally described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: DynaEnergetics GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Eitschberger
  • Patent number: 10260846
    Abstract: A consumer-ready, disposable pyrotechnic display system includes a pyrotechnic module and a control module. The pyrotechnic module includes a mounting substrate, electrically ignitable pyrotechnic devices, and electrical conductors connected to the pyrotechnic devices and disposed beneath the mounting substrate. The control module includes a housing having an upper surface and a bottom surface on which electrical contacts are disposed; and a processor, a memory, a power supply, and a transceiver within the housing. The electrical conductors are connected to the electrical contacts prior to receipt by the consumer. When the transceiver receives a signal from a remote device (such as a cellular telephone), the processor ignites each of the electrical conductors in a sequence programmed into the memory of the control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Inventor: James E. Fish
  • Patent number: 10180313
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric detonator (1) comprising a cap (2), comprising a priming charge (3) and an electrode (4), comprising a positive pole, a negative pole and a resistor element (8), the said priming charge (3) comprising at least two primary explosives, a first primary explosive (9) and a second primary explosive (10), and at least one secondary explosive (11). The electric detonator is characterized in that the two primary explosives (9, 10) and the secondary explosive (11) are arranged in layers, in an increasing degree of sensitivity, bearing one against the other, wherein the first primary explosive (9), constituting the most sensitive of the two primary explosives (9, 10), is arranged closest to the resistor element (8), and in that the second primary explosive (10) is arranged thereafter between the first primary explosive (10) and the secondary explosive (11). The invention also relates to a production method for the said electric detonator (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Karl Edström, Johan Östlund
  • Patent number: 10067175
    Abstract: Systems and methods of determining bond wire failures are provided. In particular, data indicative of a first resistance of a first bond wire set associated with a first semiconductor device on a power semiconductor module can be obtained. In addition, data indicative of a second resistance of a second bond wire set associated with a second semiconductor device on the power semiconductor module can be obtained. A bond wire failure can then be determined in the first bond wire set or the second bond wire set based at least in part on the data indicative of the first resistance of the first bond wire set and the data indicative of the second resistance of the second bond wire set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Juan Diego Ramirez, Robert Gregory Wagoner
  • Patent number: 10059303
    Abstract: In a belt tensioner (10) for a seat belt comprising an elongate pressure reservoir (12), a piston (18) movably supported in the pressure reservoir (12) in the longitudinal direction to which piston pressurized fluid can be applied and which in this way can be moved in a tensioning direction (S), a mechanical thrust means (20) interacting with the piston, the thrust means interacting with a gearwheel (22) and driving the same in the case of restraint, and comprising a stop (24) on which the piston (18) abuts in the tensioning direction in a final position, it is provided that between the piston (18) and the thrust means (20) a spacer (30) in the form of a separate member is provided which is dimensioned such that in the final position of the piston (18) the thrust means (20) is urged past the stop (24) by said spacer. Furthermore there is provided a method of mounting a belt tensioner of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Moedinger, Martin Nuding, Andreas Pregitzer, Bernd Gentner
  • Patent number: 10059302
    Abstract: The invention provides in a best tensioner (10), especially a rotary tensioner, for a seat belt comprising an elongate and preferably cylindrical pressure cylinder (129, a piston (18) movably supported in the pressure cylinder (12) in the longitudinal direction which is adapted to be pressurized with fluid under pressure and thus to be moved into a tensioning direction (S), a thrust means (20) interacting with the piston (18) and a stop (24) provided on the inside (38) of the pressure cylinder (12) to which the piston (18) can be adjacent in the tensioning direction (S) at an end position at which the piston (18) seals the pressure cylinder (12), that the stop (24) is made of a plastically deformable material and is plastically deformed by the piston (18) at the end position so that the piston is in sealing contact with the inside of the pressure cylinder (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Adrian Landbeck, Bernd Hofmann, Alexander Waidmann
  • Patent number: 10041146
    Abstract: Processes for producing low-nitrogen metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloys, which prevent the nitrogen in the surrounding atmosphere from being carried into the melt and being absorbed by the metallic chromium or chromium-containing alloy during the metallothermic reaction, include vacuum-degassing a thermite mixture comprising metal compounds and metallic reducing powders contained within a vacuum vessel, igniting the thermite mixture to effect reduction of the metal compounds within the vessel under reduced pressure i.e., below 1 bar, and conducting the entire reduction reaction in said vessel under reduced pressure, including solidification and cooling, to produce a final product with a nitrogen content below 10 ppm. The final products obtained, in addition to low-nitrogen metallic chromium in combination with other elements, can be used as raw materials in the manufacture of superalloys, stainless steel and other specialty steels whose final content of nitrogen is below 10 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineraçäo
    Inventors: Kleber A. Sernik, Alaercio Salvador Martins Vieria, Adriano Porfirio Rios, Daniel Pallos Fridman
  • Patent number: 9879951
    Abstract: An initiator assembly includes an initiator housing having an initiator cavity and a housing orifice edge. A bridge substrate is positioned within the initiator cavity, the bridge substrate includes a substrate base including a uniform first planar surface and first and second bridge contacts flush with the uniform first planar surface. The first and second bridge contacts form a continuous planar mounting surface. An explosive charge and a flyer plate are within the initiator cavity, the flyer plate interposed between the explosive charge and the bridge substrate. A plunger head is telescopically received in the initiator cavity and includes an anchoring cylinder face having a face perimeter and extends between first and second face ends. The housing orifice edge is anchored to the anchoring cylinder face at a position between the first and second face ends and extends around the face perimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Bradley Biggs, Timothy B. Bonbrake, George Darryl Budy, Christopher Schott
  • Patent number: 9829287
    Abstract: An explosive tube having an air gap and a method of blasting bedrock using the same, comprising: a filling tube having a filling space which is to be filled with explosives; and an air tube, the upper part of which is connected with another tube to form an air gap space therein, and which has an insertion hole formed on the bottom of the air tube to introduce the explosives into the filling space, the air tube being integrally formed on the filling tube. A plurality of tubes filled with explosives are connected with each other and inserted into blasting holes formed through bedrock to break the bedrock by blasting the explosives. By forming an air gap in the upper part of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Inventor: Jin Sung Lee
  • Patent number: 9821752
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hybrid inflator (10) including a burst cap (20) including a bottom (21) and a sleeve-like side wall (22), the bottom (21) and the side wall (22) delimiting an igniter compartment (23), and the burst cap (20) in the idle mode being pressurized on the outer peripheral side with compressed gas having a filling pressure (PF) which at a functional maximum temperature of the hybrid inflator (10) has a maximum filling pressure (PFmax), and wherein the burst cap (20) can be destroyed by an igniter compartment side bursting pressure in the case of operation. In accordance with the invention, a transitional portion (24) is formed from the side wall (22) of the burst cap (20) to the bottom (21) so that the igniter compartment side bursting pressure required to destroy the burst cap (20) is lower than the sum of the maximum filling pressure (PFmax) and the filling pressure (PF).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Lorenz Seidl
  • Patent number: 9778001
    Abstract: A pyrotechnical igniter (100) for an inflator of a vehicle safety system comprises at least two contact pins (102) physically separated from each other by an electrically insulating compound and a bridge wire (110) connected to both contact pins (102) in an electrically conducting manner. A fastening portion (112) in which the bridge wire (110) is welded to the contact pins (102) is provided at each of the contact pins (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Hinkofer, Christoph Knollhuber, Werner Muller, Stefan Heigl, Georg Schonhuber, Horst Laucht, Andreas Seidel
  • Patent number: 9752857
    Abstract: Lead free microdet electric detonators comprising a bridgewire having milled DBX-1 as a spot charge and unmilled DBX-1 as the intermediate material. Such improved microdet electric detonator is free of lead azide and lead styphnate, but with comparable stability, power and sensitivity to current lead-based M100 electric detonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Neha Mehta, Gartung Cheng, Kin Yee, Karl Oyler, Akash Shah, John Marin, John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams, Steven H. Marino, Pamela Tran
  • Patent number: 9709273
    Abstract: Portable Charcoal Starting Grill (FIG. 4) has a built in replaceable/interchangeable heating element in the grate (FIG. 3) that is used to start the charcoal briquettes. Electric current to power the electric heating element (FIG. 2) comes from an interchangeable/rechargeable battery (FIG. 5) that is built on the side railing 12 of the grill (FIG. 4). Predetermined configuration of the heating element will start the charcoal briquettes on fire in a more uniform evenly manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventor: Charles Neuman
  • Patent number: 9669795
    Abstract: A dual-stage hybrid inflator and triggering a method thereof are provided. The dual-stage hybrid inflator includes a main casing, a central pipe, and a disc set, a first propellant chamber assembly, a second propellant chamber assembly, a pressurized gas, a first igniter assembly, a second igniter assembly and an exhaust hood. The main casing includes a bottom housing and an upper housing. The central pipe is fixed with the bottom housing and passed through the upper housing. A convective hole is disposed on the central pipe. The disc set, which is used to prevent the gas escaping from the main casing, is disposed on the top of the central pipe. The doublet propellant chamber, which is filled with different dosage of propellant, is initiated by the igniters disposed thereon in order to generate various degrees of gas depended on various degrees of collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: MOSA INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Teh-Hsin Wang, Long-Ming Tsai, Chia-Jung Lin, Han-Le Wang, Yun-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 9656626
    Abstract: A gas generator includes a lower shell as a housing, an igniter including a squib cup and a plug, and a fixing portion formed from a resin molding for fixing the igniter to the lower shell. The squib cup includes a contact portion in contact with the plug and a non-contact portion not in contact with the plug. The fixing portion includes a cover portion secured to an outer circumferential surface of the squib cup, and the cover portion has a lower-side annular cover portion covering a part of the contact portion and an upper-side annular cover portion covering a part of the non-contact portion. A thickness t2 of the upper-side annular cover portion is smaller than a thickness t1 of the lower-side annular cover portion, and the cover portion is formed in a stepped shape having a substantially two-dimensionally annular step-formed surface orthogonal to an axial direction of the squib cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: NIPPON KAYAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoshi Ohsugi, Akinori Matsumoto, Masahiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9534875
    Abstract: An initiator including a housing adapted to be received in an igniter or rocket motor, at least one charge at a distal end of the housing, an electro-explosive device behind the charge for detonating the charge when subject to a voltage HV, and a pressure bulkhead behind the electro-explosive device. An electronic subsystem in the housing is connected to the electro-explosive device through the bulkhead and includes a lead for providing the voltage HV to the electro-explosive device to initiate it, and a switch in the lead which does not conduct if errant voltages are present on the lead to prevent initiation of the electro-explosive device until the correct voltage HV is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Excelitas Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Barry Neyer, Daniel Raymond Knick, Paul Thomas Moore, Robert Tomasoski
  • Patent number: 9500448
    Abstract: An initiator assembly having a base, first and second conductive elements, a first electrically insulating member and an energetic material. The first conductive element, which is configured to receive an electrical input, is coupled to the base and includes a tip. The first electrically insulating member is disposed over the tip. The second conductive element has a bridge that is disposed over the first electrically insulating member. The bridge is configured to vaporize in response to transmission of the electrical input from the tip of the first conductive element to the bridge. The energetic material is disposed over the bridge. Energy produced during vaporization of the bridge is transmitted to the energetic material to initiate at least one of a combustion event, a deflagration event and a detonation event in the energetic material. A method for operating an initiator assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Reynolds Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Nance, Bradley L. Hanna, Edwin J. Wild
  • Patent number: 9435618
    Abstract: A firework safety igniting device includes a housing having a hollow interior and an open end, the open end sized to receive a firework fuse therethrough; A first electrode is mounted within the hollow interior on an interior surface of the housing. A second electrode is also mounted within the hollow interior on the interior surface in a spaced apart relationship with the first electrode. A source is provided to generate and supply, through wires, an electric charge to the first and second electrodes, whereby the first electrode is being negatively charged and the second electrode is being positively charged. The firework fuse, being inserted into the hollow interior through the open end, is positioned in a contact with the first and second electrodes, the contact transferring the electric charge to the firework fuse causing an ignition thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Billy R Dean
  • Patent number: 9423229
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are provided including electrically fired detonator are provided using, e.g., secondary explosives (SE), that have increased safety and reliability relative to primary explosives (PE). PEs require a lower amount of energy or shock to detonate than SEs thus are more difficult to initiate than PEs; SEs are less sensitive to shock or energy than PEs. SEs increase safety but suffer design difficulties in using such SEs in place of PEs that are more susceptible to undesired detonation. Various embodiments are provided including a metalized barrel with a specific thickness that is filled with a SE having a required diameter that has structures that provide efficient transfer/conversion of electrical energy into a detonation of the SE by, among other things, reducing electrical and mechanical/chemical losses. Embodiments of the invention also include various methods of design, use, and manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Brett A. Rice
  • Patent number: 9395162
    Abstract: A pyrotechnical igniter (100) for an inflator of a vehicle safety system comprises at least two contact pins (102) physically separated from each other by an electrically insulating compound and a bridge wire (110) connected to both contact pins (102) in an electrically conducting manner. A fastening portion (112) in which the bridge wire (110) is welded to the contact pins (102) is provided at each of the contact pins (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Airbag Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Hinkofer, Christoph Knollhuber, Werner Muller, Stefan Heigl, Georg Schonhuber, Horst Laucht, Andreas Seidel
  • Patent number: 8978557
    Abstract: A ring-shaped or plate-like element, in particular for a metal-sealing material-feedthrough, for example for devices which are subjected to high pressures, such as igniters for airbags or belt tensioning devices, includes a feedthrough opening, whereby the feedthrough opening is located substantially in the center of the ring-shaped or plate-like element and whereby the ring-shaped or plate-like element has a thickness. The ring-shaped or plate-like element has a relief region in the area of the feedthrough opening. Further, the ring-shaped or plate-like element in the relief region has at least one thickness which is reduced by the height of the relief region and which is selected so that the feedthrough opening can be punched out of the ring-shaped or plate like element having the reducing thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Helmut Hartl, Thomas Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 8967047
    Abstract: Igniter base for a pyrotechnic initiator has a glass base together with fused-in contact pins that function as a pole carrier and thus fixes the contact pins in secure correlation to one another. The end side of the glass base and the contact pins form a level plane, so that an ignition bridge resting flush on the glass base can be attached to the poles. The contact pins project beyond the glass base on the opposite side and a part of the glass base and a part of the contact pins projecting beyond the glass base are equipped with a plastic jacketing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: A & O Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Kraft, Christian Kuhn, Olaf Jurkowski
  • Patent number: 8960093
    Abstract: An igniter for seismic prospection or for mining applications or for use in the crude oil and natural gas industries is described, including a detonator in which an explosive material, an igniting element and internal wires for initiating the igniting element are arranged, wherein the internal wires lead into a plug which is arranged at one end of the detonator. In order for the user of the igniter to be able to introduce external wires into the plug without having to strip the wires of insulation beforehand, and, in the plug, for the internal wires to be electrically connected to the external wires, without the external wires requiring any plug and socket connector or mating part of a plug and socket connector, the plug is designed as a multifunctional plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Dynaenergetics GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Frank Haron Preiss, Rolf Rospek, Malte Veehmayer
  • Publication number: 20150013560
    Abstract: An electronic detonator (10) which includes a housing (12) which contains an explosive charge (18), an initiating element (20), a control circuit (24), at least one coil (32) having a plurality of windings (30) in a tubular configuration, and a magnet (40) wherein passage of the magnet (40) through the coil (32) creates voltage to which the control circuit (24) is responsive, and a connector (46) for connecting a shock tube (48) to the housing (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Craig Charles Schlenter, Herman Van Der Walt
  • Patent number: 8925461
    Abstract: An igniter includes a housing having a first end with an opening, a second end opposite the first end, a longitudinal axis extending from the first end to the second end, and a top surface with a weakened area. The igniter may further include a pyrotechnic material disposed within the housing, a header having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a bridge element provided on the first end of the header and having lead wires on the second end of the header. The first end of the header may be inserted into the opening of the housing in a first direction so as to force the header against the pyrotechnic material. Flow of current through the bridge element heats the bridge element and ignites the pyrotechnic material, which causes the weakened area to rupture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Eaglepicher Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Andersen, Steve Brandon, Jim Ferraro, James Kelley, Grant Tollefson
  • Publication number: 20140352565
    Abstract: An activation unit for explosive masses or explosive bodies includes an ejector tube and high-performance heating elements mounted around the ejector tube, each made of at least one heating wire supplied with electrical power by a control unit. Each heating wire is enclosed in a casing and embedded in a material minimizing heat loss. When the explosive body is passed through the activation unit, the jacket surface of the explosive body contacts the individual elements of the activation unit in a direct or non-contact manner. Thermal energy is transferred to the explosive body by means of the heating wires, and the body ignites at the contact points. A further activation unit includes heating elements in the ejector tube, at least partially fed longitudinally through the ejector tube, made of heating wire clad with CrNi steel and contact plates soldered thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH
    Inventors: Nenand Prelic, Oliver Frank, Heribert Eglauer, Florian Huber
  • Publication number: 20140345485
    Abstract: Disclosed is a robust selective fire switch. One exemplary selective fire switch includes a switch housing, a plunger having a head and a body extending longitudinally from the head, the head extending at least partially into an opening defined in the switch housing, a first post and a second post arranged on opposing sides of the switch housing, and a filament wire coupled to and extending between both the first and second posts, the filament wire being in contact with the plunger and thereby securing the plunger in a seated configuration within the switch housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Anthony Molina, Maquelle Lee Bienvenu, Tony Tran, Donald Crawford
  • Publication number: 20140326154
    Abstract: A detonator which includes a tubular body within which is located a detonator assembly which comprise a container (20) which houses a set explosive composition element in which is embedded part of a PCB (72, 76) which carries an ignition element (66).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Johannes Petrus Kruger, Herman Van Der Walt