Abstract: A modular initiator assembly comprising a receptacle and connector combination adapted to shunt the electrical contacts of the initiator as a default condition and to only unshunt the electrical contacts coupled to the initiator when the receptacle and connector establish a fully seated connection.

Abstract: A modular initiator assembly comprising a receptacle and connector combination adapted to shunt the electrical contacts of the initiator as a default condition and to only unshunt the electrical contacts coupled to the initiator when the receptacle and connector establish a fully seated connection.

Abstract: An electronic initiator unit for the electrical firing of a charge in an energetic device is described.

Abstract: A luminaire (10) is disclosed with built-in surge protection. The luminaire comprises an electrically conductive structure including a carrier (11) carrying at least one active circuit component (15, 16) and a shielding element (13) at least partially covering the carrier inside a housing, a set of active conductors (17, 19) connected to the active circuit component for connecting the active circuit component to a mains supply including a neutral (N) and live (L) terminal, wherein one of said terminals is further connected to the shielding element by a connection (19?) bypassing the at least one active circuit. The housing comprises a cover (21) over the electrically conductive structure, wherein the shielding element defines a clearance (25) between the electrically conductive structure and the cover, said clearance comprising a pinch point (27) between the shielding element and the cover.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a novel pig design and method of retrieval based on thermal ablation. The pig comprises an external layer and an inner core, where the inner core further comprises at least one incendiary charge comprising at least one exothermic material. When ignited via an ignition source, the incendiary charge releases the exothermic material into one or more thermal dispersion channels. The exothermic material melts the interior of these thermal dispersion channels thereby distributing the exothermic material throughout the pig device causing its destruction via thermal ablation. The destroyed pig can then be easily retrieved from its location in a pipe, as detected via radio signals, without the need for costly excavation of large sections of the pipe.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a novel pig design and method of retrieval based on thermal ablation. The pig comprises an external layer and an inner core, where the inner core further comprises at least one incendiary charge comprising at least one exothermic material. When ignited via an ignition source, the incendiary charge releases the exothermic material into one or more thermal dispersion channels. The exothermic material melts the interior of these thermal dispersion channels thereby distributing the exothermic material throughout the pig device causing its destruction via thermal ablation. The destroyed pig can then be easily retrieved from its location in a pipe, as detected via radio signals, without the need for costly excavation of large sections of the pipe.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a firing switch for a downhole ballistics device. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns a firing switch for a downhole ballistics device and a method of operating the firing switch. The invention also concerns various safety features relating to the firing switch. A firing switch arrangement for a downhole perforating gun (26, 28, 30, 32, 34) is provided, and comprises a firing switch (26?, 28?, 30?, 32?, 34?), and a detonator (40), the detonator arranged to be activated in response to an electrical signal from the firing switch. A removable safety tab (42) is associated with the detonator, the removable safety tab arranged to provide a short circuit to the detonator, such that the short circuit is removed if the removable safety tab is removed.

Abstract: A detonator system is provided for use with explosives that utilizes two subsystems. A first subsystem functions as a non-explosives based detonator, which does not contain any explosives. The second subsystem is an initiating subsystem, which includes an initiating pellet. To set off an explosive event, the non-energetics based detonator is coupled to the initiating subsystem and the non-energetics based detonator is commanded to provide a suitable signal to the initiating subsystem that is sufficient to function the initiating pellet. Further, the initiating subsystem can be integrated directly into an associated explosive such as a booster that has been configured to receive the initiator subsystem without changing the hazard class of the booster.

Abstract: An radio frequency (RF) safe, high standoff voltage, ESD protected primary explosive detonator is described. The primary explosive detonator includes an isolated spark gap (SG) circuit and one or more shunt capacitors to insulate the electric match from ignition when exposure to high stray voltage or RF occurs in oilfield applications.

Abstract: A pyroelectronic detonator (1) includes an electronic circuit for at least controlling the detonator ignition by supplying igniting current to an electrothermal bridge (4) and at least one electronic shunting element (7) directly connected to the bridge (4), wherein the shunting element (7) is controllable between the closed low-electric resistance state of the shunt and the open high electric resistance state thereof and the electronic circuit (2) controls the states. The shunt is constructed in such a way that it can be monostable and bistable.

Abstract: A pyroelectronic detonator (1) includes an electronic circuit for at least controlling the detonator ignition by supplying igniting current to an electrothermal bridge (4) and at least one electronic shunting element (7) directly connected to the bridge (4), wherein the shunting element (7) is controllable between the closed low-electric resistance state of the shunt and the open high electric resistance state thereof and the electronic circuit (2) controls the states. The shunt is constructed in such a way that it can be monostable and bistable.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an electronic Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) circuit which is desirably used with fuzed explosive weapons, such as projectiles having a nominal mission time. After expiration of the mission time, if the explosive has not detonated, the inventive circuit controls the energy supplied to the fuze detonation circuit to a level that is less than a threshold level required by the fuze for detonation, thereby preventing subsequent detonation of the explosive.

Abstract: A squib associated with a supplemental restraint system includes an igniting agent positioned above a first pin that is a connecting terminal providing a connection with a two-wire system bus wire, which is an external signal wire, and above a header that is provided with a second pin that is a connecting terminal. The squib also includes an IC substrate that controls communications and ignitions, and is positioned above the igniting agent, an ignition element between the igniting agent and the IC substrate, and joining portions provided in two locations bridging the igniting agent so as to connect the IC substrate with the first pin and the header. The IC substrate, the igniting agent, the pin, and the header are covered by a circular cylinder shaped cap whose top portion is closed off. Furthermore, these are formed integrally by being covered by a resin mold that is made to extend across the portions of the pins using a molding process.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an electronic Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) circuit which is desirably used with fused explosive weapons, such as projectiles having a nominal mission time. After expiration of the mission time, if the explosive has not detonated, the inventive circuit controls the energy supplied to the fuse detonation circuit to a level that is less than a threshold level required by the fuse for detonation, thereby preventing subsequent detonation of the explosive.

Abstract: A gas generator for an air bag comprises: a housing having a gas discharging port; an initiator assembly provided with a first igniter and a second igniter mounted to the housing via a holder, each of the first igniter and the second igniter including a priming activated upon an impact, the second igniter having, a center pin connected to an external power supply to constitute a positive electrode, a grounding pin connected to a metal portion of a motor vehicle to constitute a negative electrode, and an opening-shutting device of current provided between the center pin and the external power supply; and gas generating material ignited and burnt by the initiator assembly.

Abstract: An initiator has a circuit board with two spaced copper traces and a bridge resistor of Nichrome® or tantalum nitride at one end, and wire leads or pins joining the wire traces at the other end. A zener diode is placed between the wire leads and a bridge resistor. Immediately before the wire leads reach the circuit board they pass through a ferrite core. The wire leads, the ferrite core, and the circuit board except for the end of the board to which the bridge resistor is mounted, is insert molded into a body of glass filled nylon 6,6. The nylon body mounts an aluminum can that covers the bridge resistor and is bonded to a circumferential groove in the nylon body. The bridge resistor is covered with primary explosives such as zirconium potassium perchlorate and the can is filled with gas generating granules such as 5-aminotetrazole.

Abstract: An electronic module for a detonator, the module comprising an electronic circuit (4, 5, 6) encapsulated in a mass of hardened resin (7) in which there terminates at least one inlet conductor (8) and from which there extend two outlet conductors forming a detonator ignitor line (9), the mass of resin (7) being received in a tubular housing (1) which extends beyond the mass of resin (7) adjacent to the ignitor line (9) to define a cavity (11), the outlet conductors of length greater than the depth of the cavity forming an ignitor line (9) short circuited outside the mass of resin inside the cavity (11), which cavity is provided with a removable end cap (12).

Abstract: An ignitor has an outer metal can containing a quantity of reactive material for initiating a pyrotechnic material. A circuit board has a first side that is in contact with the reactive material and a second side that is isolated from the reactive material. A metal structure adjacent the circuit board is well grounded. At least two electrical pins are electrically connected to first electrical traces formed on the second side of the circuit board. Electrical discharge gaps are formed by second electrical traces extending from the first electrical traces to form sharp points which extend to within less than about 0.127 mm of a conductive path to ground.