Mark W Heyse

US Patent:

6732656, May 11, 2004

Filed:

Sep 16, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/244914

Inventors:

Mark W. Heyse - Destin FL
Ronald E. Stearns - Mary Esther FL
Marcus A. Cash - Destin FL

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force - Washington DC

International Classification:

F42C 1500

US Classification:

1022021, 1022022, 1022025, 1022027, 1022028

Abstract:

A fiber-optically-and-pneumatically-controlled firing set for explosive-bridgewire detonators. The firing set consists of a detonation-controlling module and a battery-operated firing module that are interconnected by fiber-optic signal conductors and a pneumatic conduit. The firing set provides high voltage isolation between the control module and the firing module while employing redundant safety features including fail-safe pneumatic crowbar shunting of the firing module output, frequency-selective fiber-optic signal communication, controlled battery life and explosive material detonation enablement and multiple, fail-safe serial switching to control the energy transfer sequence in the firing module. Both high voltage and low potential uses of the invention are included.

US Patent:

54580439, Oct 17, 1995

Filed:

Jul 28, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/282850

Inventors:

Daniel B. Jensen - Albuquerque NM
James B. Cornette - Austin TX
Mark W. Heyse - Destin FL
Ronald E. Stearns - Esther FL

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air
Force - Washington DC

International Classification:

F41B 600

US Classification:

89 8

Abstract:

A rapid fire electromagnetic launcher system (EML) employs a plurality of capacitor modules which are charged by an equal number of modules of lead acid batteries. The invention comprises the combination of standard automotive lead acid batteries for charging an electrolytic capacitor array which is switched into an Electromagnetic Launcher (EML) by means of silicon controlled rectifiers, and a control circuit for controlling the loading and launching of projectiles at a very rapid rate. The system includes a multishot preinjector and rapid fire controller for operating the system in a safe and reliable manner. The system includes a preaccelerator, magazine and barrel. The combination eliminates the low power density limitation of the batteries, the requirement to repetitively commutate energy out of an inductor, and allows for a modular system than can be expanded to provide higher energy to each projectile in the burst.