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US4334474A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Warhead initiation system

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1976-05-21
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Granted: 1982-06-15
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Expires: 1996-05-21
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Abstract

Abstract A warhead initiation system in which a helical magnetic fluxtrapper explo a copper mesh initiator at a single point, several points, along a line and/or over a surface.

Inventors

  • 👤 David R. Coltharp

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 15:33
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42C; F42C19/00; F42C19/08; F42C19/12; F42C11/00; F42C11/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 210 words
A warhead initiation system comprising: an explosive filled warhead casing; a copper mesh initiator embedded within said explosive filled casing formed of a chemically etched copper foil wherein there are formed bridgewires and a secondary explosive which coats said foil and is detonated thereby; and a helical magnetic fluxtrapper power supply electrically connected to said copper mesh initiator for exploding said copper mesh initiator and thereby detonating the explosive within the warhead casing; said helical magnetic fluxtrapper power supply comprising: a capacitor; a first power supply for charging said capacitor; a magnetic fluxtrapper including: a detonator; an explosive; a hollow metal rod filled with said explosive and containing said detonator and said rod is connected to said copper mesh initiator; and a coil of wire surrounding said rod and connected to said copper mesh initiator; a first switch connected between said capacitor and said coil, which when closed, allows current from said capacitor to flow through said coil, said copper mesh initiator and said metal rod; a second switch, which when closed, shorts out said capacitor; and a second power supply which fires said fluxtrapper detonator at the time said second switch is closed, whereupon the fluxtrapper explosive is detonated and said hollow rod expands to short out said coil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 210 words
A warhead initiation system comprising: an explosive filled warhead casing; a copper mesh initiator embedded within said explosive filled casing formed of a chemically etched copper foil wherein there are formed bridgewires and a secondary explosive which coats said foil and is detonated thereby; and a helical magnetic fluxtrapper power supply electrically connected to said copper mesh initiator for exploding said copper mesh initiator and thereby detonating the explosive within the warhead casing; said helical magnetic fluxtrapper power supply comprising: a capacitor; a first power supply for charging said capacitor; a magnetic fluxtrapper including: a detonator; an explosive; a hollow metal rod filled with said explosive and containing said detonator and said rod is connected to said copper mesh initiator; and a coil of wire surrounding said rod and connected to said copper mesh initiator; a first switch connected between said capacitor and said coil, which when closed, allows current from said capacitor to flow through said coil, said copper mesh initiator and said metal rod; a second switch, which when closed, shorts out said capacitor; and a second power supply which fires said fluxtrapper detonator at the time said second switch is closed, whereupon the fluxtrapper explosive is detonated and said hollow rod expands to short out said coil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 13 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said copper foil is several concentric cylinders.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said copper foil is along the periphery of said warhead casing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 12 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said copper foil is a cone.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

CH357005A Cited
US3245353A Cited
US3344744A Cited
US3447416A Cited
US3457859A Cited
US3985078A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-06-14 1985-12-14 1986-06-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-06-14 1989-12-14 1990-06-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-06-14 1993-12-14 1994-06-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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