Ionized Gas, I.e., Glow Tube Or Thyratron Patents (Class 102/219)
  • Patent number: 6389975
    Abstract: Disclosed, in a preferred embodiment, is a switching circuit incorporating a Field Effect Transistor (FET), two series dual-tap gas tube surge arrestors, and high-voltage resistors as part of a high voltage switch of a fireset for initiating an exploding foil initiator (EFI). Until energizing the FET via a firing command, an operating voltage of 1000 V is held off by a combination of the surge arrestors and high-voltage resistors. Upon receipt of a firing signal, a 28 V source is used to energize the FET that, in turn, decreases the voltage across the one surge arrestor connected directly to ground and increases the voltage across the other surge arrestor. Upon reaching the breakdown voltage of the ionizable gas within the second surge arrestor, the gas ionizes, becomes electrically conductive, and dumps the second surge arrestor's voltage across the first surge arrestor. This causes the first surge arrestor to also break down. Both surge arrestors are now conducting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Michael D. Haddon, Gabriel H. Soto
  • Patent number: 5585997
    Abstract: A single resonant DC charging circuit provides both the power and timing for the pedestal insertion is, likewise, controlled by a single trigger circuit input and by a saturable reactor which controls the firing of a thyratron switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Inventor: Reuben E. Nyswander
  • Patent number: 5454321
    Abstract: An electronic safe and arming device includes an enclosure (11) which has a circuit (16) for enabling a detonator (26). The circuit (16) has a sealed tube switch (17) which is pressurized with a gas mixture. The enclosure (11) is pressurized with substantially the same gas mixture (19) and pressure as in the tube switch (17). Safe and arm electronics control (20) triggering the tube switch (17) to set off a detonator (26) which in turn sets off an explosive charge. As a result the present safe and arming device is single fault tolerant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Inventors: Bradley M. Biggs, Steve M. Curtis, Robert H. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4194202
    Abstract: 5. A pulse doppler proximity fuze comprising a self-pulsing oscillator for eveloping a series of radio frequency electromagnetic energy impulses, an antenna electrically connected to said oscillator for radiating said impulses into space and for intercepting reflected impulses thereby to effect a variation in the amplitude of said impulses, a pair of detectors electrically connected to the said oscillator circuit for developing an output signal in proportion to the energy of the said reflected signal during the peak amplitude of said impulse, a thyratron firing circuit said detectors having means for detecting spurious signals and target signals but utilizing only the target signals for firing the thyratron firing circuit; and an electroresponsive ignition device electrically coupled to the thyratron firing circuit, said device being ignitable upon actuation of the thyratron firing circuit by said target signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1959
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William E. Doyle
  • Patent number: 4140062
    Abstract: 1. A differential integrator circuit comprising an input capacitance; means or applying an a-c input signal of varying amplitude between one terminal of said capacitance and circuit ground; first and second resistances each having one terminal connected to circuit ground; first and second capacitances connected across said first and second resistances respectively, said second capacitance being larger than said first capacitance; first and second diodes connected between the other terminal of said input capacitance and the ungrounded terminals of said first and second resistances respectively, said diodes being connected with opposite polarities; means for taking a first unipotential output signal from across said first resistance and means for taking a second unipotential output signal from across said second resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1955
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Paul M Tedder, Ovid R. Gano