Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100307362 | Setback and Set-Forward Initiated Inertial Igniters and Activated Electrical Switches - A method of igniting one of a pyrotechnic material and primer during or after an all fire setback acceleration. The method including: positioning a mass element along an inclined surface; biasing the mass element in a direction into the inclined surface such that the mass element traverses the inclined surface upon the all fire setback acceleration against the biasing; drawing the mass element toward one of a pyrotechnic material and primer with the biasing after the mass element traverses the inclined surface. The method can further include delaying the drawing until the mass element experiences a set forward acceleration. The delaying can include drawing the mass element into a delay well after the mass element traverses the inclined surface and drawing the mass element across a delay wedge when the mass element experiences the set forward acceleration. | 12-09-2010 |
20110171511 | Compact and Low-Volume Mechanical Igniter and Ignition Systems For Thermal Batteries and the Like - An inertial igniter including: a body having a base and three or more posts, each post having a hole; a locking ball corresponding to each post, wherein a portion of the locking balls are disposed in the hole; a striker mass movably disposed relative to the posts and having a surface corresponding to the posts, the striker mass further having a concave portion corresponding to the locking balls, wherein a second portion of each locking ball is disposed in a corresponding concave portion for retaining the striker mass relative to the posts; a collar movable relative to the posts; and a biasing element for biasing the collar in a first position which retains the striker mass, the biasing element permitting movement of the collar to a second position to release the striker mass relative to the posts upon a predetermined acceleration profile. | 07-14-2011 |
20110193350 | Electrical Generators For Low-Frequency and Time-Varying Rocking and Rotary Motions - An apparatus for generating electrical energy from a first motion having a low and/or variable frequency. The apparatus including: a first device to which the first motion is transferred; and a second device to which the first motion is transferred from the first device, the second device operating at a second motion having a frequency which is higher and/or more constant that the first motion. Wherein the first device comprises one of a first rotating shaft or first translating mass; the first shaft or first mass includes a tip interacting with the second device to transfer the first motion thereto, the second device comprises a mechanism having an electrical energy generator for converting the second motion to electrical energy; and the electrical energy generator comprises a rotary or linear coil and magnet generator or a piezoelectric generator. The interaction of the tip with the shaft or mass can be contactless. | 08-11-2011 |
20110204751 | Generators For Very-High-G Energy Harvesting - A method for harvesting energy from a high-G acceleration of a munition. The method including: proving a vibrating mass-spring unit in a housing of an energy harvesting device; and reducing an effective acceleration on the mass-spring unit by one or more of: offsetting the vibration of the mass-spring unit with respect to a direction of the high-G acceleration; biasing a mass of the mass-spring unit in a direction having at least a component in the direction of the high-G acceleration; limiting a vibration deflection of at least a portion of the mass-spring unit in the direction of the high-G acceleration; or limiting an amount of vibration of the mass-spring unit in a direction offset from the direction of the high-G acceleration and removing such limit after the acceleration. | 08-25-2011 |
20110271864 | Speed-Adaptive Deployable Boat-Tailing Cone for Munitions for Range Extension - A base cone for a projectile including: a cone member being movable between a retracted position and an extended deployed position, the deployed position being longer in an axial direction than the refracted position; a member adapted to connect the cone member to a trailing portion of the projectile; and a release mechanism for releasing the cone member from the refracted position to the extended deployed position. | 11-10-2011 |
20120132097 | Compact Mechanical Inertia Igniters For Thermal Batteries and the Like - An inertial igniter for igniting a thermal battery upon a predetermined acceleration event is provided. The inertial igniter including: a base having a first projection; a striker mass rotatably connected to the base through a rotatable connection, the base having a second projection aligned with the first projection such that when the striker mass is rotated towards the base, the first projection impacts the second projection; and a rotation prevention mechanism for preventing impact of the first and second projections unless the predetermined acceleration event is experienced. | 05-31-2012 |
20120169055 | NOVEL ELECTRICAL GENERATORS FOR USE IN UNMOORED BUOYS AND THE LIKE PLATFORMS WITH LOW-FREQUENCY AND TIME-VARYING OSCILLATORY MOTIONS - A buoy for generating electrical energy from an roll/pitch motion resulting from a passing wave. The buoy including: a body; a pendulum member rotatably disposed on the body at a first end of the pendulum member; a pendulum mass disposed at a second end of the pendulum member; an exciter mass positioned on the pendulum member between the first and second ends; and one or more generators for generating electrical energy, the one or more generators being positioned in the body such that swinging of the pendulum member due to the roll/pitch motion causes a portion of the exciter mass to engage the one or more generators to generate the electrical energy. | 07-05-2012 |
20130081550 | MINIATURE SAFE AND ARM (S&A) MECHANISMS FOR FUZING OF GRAVITY DROPPED SMALL WEAPONS - A device for enabling safe/arm functionality in a gravity dropped weapon detachably connected to an airframe where the device includes: an elastic element disposed in a shell of the weapon; a releasable connection between the weapon and the airframe to release one or more of a stored and generated energy in the elastic element; and a piezoelectric member connected to one end of the elastic member for converting the one or more of the stored and generated energy to an electrical energy. The releasable connection can include: a link having a movable connection for movement of the link relative to the shell between a first position constraining the elastic element from movement and a second position releasing the elastic member to generate the electrical energy; and a lanyard for tethering the link to the airframe such that the link is moved to the second position upon the weapon being released from the airframe. | 04-04-2013 |
20130181459 | POWER GENERATION DEVICES AND METHODS - A power generation device including: a housing; an elastic element disposed in the housing in a preloaded state; a power source operatively connected to the elastic element such that release of the elastic element from the preloaded state converts potential energy in the elastic element to electric power by the power source; and a locking element for releasably locking the elastic element in the preloaded state such that removing the locking element causes the potential energy preloaded in the elastic element to be converted to electric power by the power source. | 07-18-2013 |
20130228425 | Setback and Set-Forward Activated Electrical Switches - An electrical switch including: a body; a mass element; a spring element attached at one end to the body and at another end, at least indirectly, to the mass element; and an inclined surface upon which the mass element moves from a resting position to an all-fire position. The inclined surface being inclined with respect to a firing setback acceleration. When the body experiences the firing setback acceleration, the mass element travels at least across the inclined surface against a force of the spring element to contact an electrical contact and close a circuit. | 09-05-2013 |
20140013983 | Compact and Low-Volume Mechanical Igniter and Ignition Systems for Thermal Batteries and the Like - An ignition system for a thermal battery where the ignition system includes: a base plate for connection to the thermal battery; and two or more inertial igniters formed on the base plate, each of the two or more inertial igniters having a striker mass which ignites one or more pyrotechnic materials upon a predetermined acceleration profile, the base plate having an opening corresponding to each of the two or more inertial igniters for allowing a generated spark to pass into the thermal battery. | 01-16-2014 |
20140023901 | Compact and Low-Volume Mechanical Igniter and Ignition Systems for Thermal Batteries and the Like - A thermal battery including: a housing having a first compartment and a second compartment; a thermal battery housed in the first compartment; and an inertial igniter housed in the second compartment; where the first and second compartments are separated by a rigid member. | 01-23-2014 |
20140028027 | Novel Electrical Generators For Use In Unmoored Buoys And the Like Platforms With Low-Frequency and Time-Varying Oscillatory Motions - A buoy for generating electrical energy from an roll/pitch motion resulting from a passing wave. The buoy including: a body; a pendulum member rotatably disposed on the body at a first end of the pendulum member; a pendulum mass disposed at a second end of the pendulum member; an exciter mass positioned on the pendulum member between the first and second ends; and one or more generators for generating electrical energy, the one or more generators being positioned in the body such that swinging of the pendulum member due to the roll/pitch motion causes a portion of the exciter mass to engage the one or more generators to generate the electrical energy. | 01-30-2014 |
20140060367 | GRAVITY DROPPED SMALL WEAPON ELECTRONIC SAFE ARM FUZE AND ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE FOR POWER GENERATION ONBOARD GRAVITY DROPPED WEAPONS - A generator including: a member having a cable wound thereon, the cable having a free end; a spring for storing energy as the cable is unwound from the member by pulling on the free end; and an electromagnetic generator operatively connected to the member such that rotation of the member is transferred to an input side of the electromagnetic generator after the cable is unwound from the member and the stored energy in the spring turns the member. | 03-06-2014 |
20140076186 | MINIATURE SAFE AND ARM (S&A) MECHANISMS FOR FUZING OF GRAVITY DROPPED SMALL WEAPONS - A device for enabling safe/arm functionality in a gravity dropped weapon detachably connected to an airframe. The device including: an elastic element disposed in a shell of the weapon; a releasable connection between the weapon and the airframe to release a stored and/or generated energy in the elastic element; and a piezoelectric member connected to one end of the elastic member for converting the one or more of the stored and generated energy to an electrical energy. Wherein the releasable connection includes: a link having a movable connection for movement of the link relative to the shell between a first position constraining the elastic element from movement and a second position releasing the elastic member to generate the electrical energy; and a lanyard for tethering the link to the airframe such that the link is moved to the second position upon the weapon being released from the airframe. | 03-20-2014 |
20140305326 | Compact Mechanical Inertia Igniters For Thermal Batteries and the like - A method for igniting a thermal battery upon a predetermined acceleration event. The method including: rotatably connecting a striker mass to a base; aligning a first projection on the striker mass with a second projection on the base such that when the striker mass is rotated towards the base, the first projection impacts the second projection; and preventing impact of the first and second projections unless the predetermined acceleration event is experienced. | 10-16-2014 |