Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6431070
-
Patent Number
6,431,070
-
Date Filed
Thursday, July 12, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 13, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Jordan; Charles T.
- Hayes; Bret
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 042 84
- 102 20211
- 102 355
- 089 2805
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An electrical connector device for use with a pyrotechnic ignition apparatus having a magazine for igniting a plurality of devices in an array in an ignition sequence includes a plastic tube mounted in a metal cap casing to which first and second electrically isolated terminals are attached, the terminals being located in the tube chamber and extending to the casing exterior. A wire is connected to each terminal at one wire end and to a terminal attached to a plastic end cap at an end of the plastic tube opposite the metal casing. The end cap is attached to a further tube mounted telescopically inside the plastic tube. A connector is attached to the end cap terminals. The connector device is of generally the same construction at its casing terminals as the pyrotechnic devices so as to be placed in the magazine in place of a pyrotechnic device and responsive to a generated ignition signal. A remote pyrotechnic device is attached by a cable to the end cap connector. When the array of devices are ignited, the connector device receives the ignition signal applied thereto and transfers the signal to and automatically ignites the remote device in a predetermined part of the sequence.
Description
This invention relates to connectors for use with pyrotechnic simulation systems and devices in which an array of pyrotechnic devices are sequentially ignited for selectively producing smoke, flash and/or noise for simulating weapon firing and hits.
Of interest are commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,157,222 ('222) disclosing a pyrotechnic ignition apparatus and 5,138,948 and 4,951,570 disclosing a pyrotechnic device useful with the pyrotechnic ignition apparatus and incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.
Military training involves the use of pyrotechnic simulation systems employing apparatus and devices similar to the apparatus and devices disclosed in the aforementioned patents. In such systems, a laser beam is activated by a fired weapon such as a tank gun and the like. A simulation system may be located at the firing weapon such as a tank for igniting a simulation device instead of an actual ammunition round to simulate the firing of the weapon. The laser beam is directed to a target being fired upon. A receiver at the target senses the received laser beam and ignites a pyrotechnic device associated with the ignition apparatus at the target simulating a hit, a near hit and the like.
The ignition apparatus has a magazine with a plurality of pyrotechnic devices which may be similar to 8 gauge shot gun shells in size. The magazine is associated with an ignition control system. The devices are ignited sequentially by the control system in response to successive firings or hits. All of these pyrotechnic devices are releasably mounted in the magazine so that the magazine can be periodically reloaded.
In some training environments, missiles or other pyrotechnics are used to simulate other conditions than that of the pyrotechnic devices associated with the ignition apparatus. These missiles and other pyrotechnics are not used with the ignition apparatus described above and in the aforementioned '222 patent. Therefore, to fire the missiles or other pyrotechnics requires separate firing devices and control systems. However, these missiles and pyrotechnics are intended to be used in conjunction with the flash, smoke and noise devices as described in the aforementioned patents. Various training sequences sometimes requires the missiles and other pyrotechnics to be fired within the sequence of the ignition of the pyrotechnic devices employed with the ignition apparatus of the '222 patent. This requires a manual timing of the ignition of the missile, which timing is difficult.
A need is seen therefore for a way to ignite such missiles automatically in the sequence of the flash, smoke, and noise pyrotechnic rounds fired by the ignition apparatus of the '222 patent Such missiles are located remotely from the ignition apparatus, for example 100's of yards to kilometers distance from the ignition apparatus located at a primary target and are typically independent of the ignition apparatus of the type described in the aforementioned patent '222. The present invention is directed to providing a solution to this problem so that the missile firings are integral with and automatically initiated as part of the ignition of the devices associated with the ignition apparatus.
A pyrotechnic ignition signal transfer connector device according to the present invention is for use with a pyrotechnic ignition apparatus having first and second device ignition terminals. The device comprises a housing having first and second opposing ends and a chamber. Third and fourth electrically conductively isolated terminals are connected to the housing first end, each terminal for respective engagement with a different one of the pyrotechnic ignition apparatus first and second terminals. Fifth and sixth electrically conductively isolated electrical terminals are secured to the housing second end, the fifth terminal being electrically conductively connected to the third terminal and the sixth terminal being electrically conductively connected to the fourth terminals.
In one aspect, the housing is thermoplastic.
In a further aspect, the first end includes a metal cap.
In a further aspect, a cap encloses the housing chamber at the second end.
In a still further aspect, the housing chamber is defined by a side wall and a bottom wall, the device including a cap enclosing the chamber at the housing chamber second end, the cap including a sleeve telescopically received in the chamber, and means for securing the cap to the housing.
In a further aspect, the sleeve overlies the housing at a side wall of the chamber, the means for securing including a fastener attached to the sleeve and housing.
In a still further aspect, the fifth and sixth terminals comprise studs, each stud having a bore for receiving one of a seventh and eighth terminals therein for connection to a remote pyrotechnic device for igniting that remote device with an ignition signal, and a means for attaching a corresponding stud to the housing.
In a further aspect the housing chamber at the second end is enclosed by a cap, the studs each being attached to the cap.
In a further aspect, the housing is tubular with the first end enclosed, the third and fourth terminals passing through the enclosed first end.
A method of making the device according to a further aspect comprises forming a tubular housing of thermoplastic material with at least one opening in the housing first end, forming the third and fourth terminals, attaching a first electrical conductor to the third terminal and a second electrical conductor to the fourth terminal, passing the first and second electrical conductors and a portion of the third and fourth terminals through said housing opening into the chamber, securing the third and fourth terminals to the housing first end, attaching the fifth terminal to first electrical conductor distal the third terminal and the sixth terminal to the second electrical conductor distal the fourth terminal, and then securing the fifth and sixth terminals to the housing second end and enclosing the chamber at the housing second end.
In a further aspect, a pyrotechnic ignition apparatus comprises a magazine; a plurality of devices secured to the magazine; at least one first of said devices for simulating at least one of flash, smoke or noise when ignited, ignition means for receiving the magazine and for selectively igniting the secured devices individually with an associated applied ignition signal; at least one second of said devices including first terminals for receiving said ignition signal and including second terminals distal the first terminals and ohmically connected to the first terminals for transferring the ignition signal to the second terminals.
In a still further aspect, a further device is included and includes third terminals arranged to be remotely positioned relative to said magazine, the further device including conductor means for ohmically connecting the third terminals to the second terminals, the third terminals being arranged to releasably mate with and electrically couple to the second terminals for applying said ignition signal to said further device.
A method of forming an electrical connection device according to a further aspect comprises forming a tubular housing with a chamber and opposing ends, the housing having a bottom wall and an annular side wall, the bottom wall being at one end of the housing and having at least one through opening in communication with the chamber; forming first and second terminals; attaching a first electrical conductor to the first terminal; attaching a second electrical conductor to the second terminal; passing the first and second electrical conductors through the at least one through opening into the chamber; securing the first and second terminals to the housing bottom wall in said at least one opening; forming a cap for enclosing the chamber; attaching third and fourth terminals to the cap, the third and fourth terminals passing through the cap in communication with opposing cap sides, the third and fourth terminals for being ohmically connected to an electrical connector; ohmically coupling the first electrical conductor to the third terminal and ohmically coupling the second electrical conductor to the fourth terminal; and attaching the cap to the housing over the chamber end opposite the bottom wall with the third and fourth terminals in communication with the chamber and ambient atmosphere.
An electrical connector for receiving and transferring an electrical signal applied to first and second terminals according to a further aspect comprises a tubular housing having first and second opposing ends, a bottom wall at the first end and a chamber; third and fourth electrically conductively isolated terminals connected to the housing bottom wall in communication with the chamber, each terminal for respective releasable engagement with a different one of and mating with the first and second terminals for receiving the applied electrical signal; a first conductor connected to the third terminal and located in the chamber and a second conductor connected to the fourth terminal and located in the chamber, a cap enclosing the housing second end; fifth and sixth electrically conductively isolated electrical terminals secured to the cap and passing through the cap, the fifth terminal being electrically conductively connected to the first conductor and the sixth terminal being electrically conductively connected to the second conductor whereby the electrical signal is applied to the fifth and sixth terminals externally the cap.
IN THE DRAWING
FIG. 1
is a schematic diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an isometric view of a prior art pyrotechnic ignition apparatus depicted in the embodiment of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a rear isometric view of one of the magazines of
FIG. 2
;
FIG. 4
is a fragmented sectional elevation view of the apparatus of
FIG. 2
taken between the magazines with a partial sectional elevation view of one of the magazines;
FIG. 5
is a sectional view of an electrical connector device used with the apparatus of
FIG. 2
to transfer an ignition signal to the remote device in the embodiment of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 6
is a fragmented sectional elevation view of a portion of the device of
FIG. 5
showing the terminal portion in more detail;
FIG. 7
is an exploded view of the device of
FIG. 5
further including a connector for connecting the remote device of
FIG. 1
to the device of
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 8
is a plan sectional view of a terminal used in the device of
FIG. 5
;
FIG. 9
is a bottom end view of the connector of
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 10
is a bottom plan view of a device according to a further embodiment; and
FIG. 11
is a sectional elevation view of the device of
FIG. 10
taken along lines
11
—
11
.
In
FIG. 1
a pyrotechnic ignition system
1
comprises a target
2
which may a simulated tank or a real combat tank. Attached to the target
2
is a pyrotechnic ignition apparatus
10
. The apparatus
10
is part of a training system (not shown) in which a firing weapon emits an electronic beam such as a laser or radio frequency signal, for example, aimed at whatever the weapon is aimed at. A receiver (not shown) at the target receives the emitted signal when the weapon is aimed correctly when fired. When the emitted signal is correctly aimed, it is received by the receiver which generates a fire command signal which is applied to the apparatus
10
. The apparatus
10
is loaded with an array of pyrotechnic devices
24
, FIG.
3
. This array of devices comprise pyrotechnic material which when ignited emit flash, smoke and/or noise depending upon the nature of the pyrotechnic material stored in each device. The smoke may also be colored to manifest a certain kind of hit The flash or noise are also arranged to manifest a certain kind of hit such as a minor hit or a kill hit which is intended to manifest that the target is disabled.
An electrical connector device
25
, FIGS.
3
and
5
-
7
, according to the present invention, is assembled to the magazine
16
for ignition in a predetermined sequence with the ignition of the devices
24
. When the device
25
receives an ignition signal it connects the signal via cable
4
,
FIG. 1
, to a remote pyrotechnic device
6
such as a missile or other type of device. This sequence of events with a remote pyrotechnic being ignited in a sequence with the devices
24
adds to the realism of the training exercise.
In
FIG. 2
, the pyrotechnic ignition apparatus
10
is fully described in the aforementioned '222 patent incorporated by reference herein. Reference should be made to that patent for details on the firing circuit and further details on the apparatus construction. The description herein is given by way of example of this apparatus and other apparatuses may also be used with the connector device
25
, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,595 to Dix available from Diehl in Germany.
The apparatus
10
includes a fire control box and support assembly
12
. Secured thereto is an array of magazines
16
,
18
and
20
. Each magazine, for example, magazine
16
, is secured to the support assembly
12
at each end by a latch assembly
22
. The latch assembly
22
comprises a hook assembly
22
′ attached to the end of magazine
16
and a loop assembly
22
″ attached to the support assembly. A latch assembly is at each end
23
and
23
′ of the magazine. Latch assemblies
22
are attached in similar fashion to each end of magazines
18
and
20
for securing the magazines
16
,
18
and
20
of the array
14
to the support assembly
12
on plates
140
,
142
144
, respectively, which form displaceable platforms. Latch assemblies
22
are all identical and perform similar functions in not only securing the magazine to the support assembly
12
, but also cause the pyrotechnic devices
24
and connector device
25
mounted in a magazine to be electrically ohmically contacted to the circuit (not shown)in the fire control box and support assembly
12
.
Representative magazine
16
includes an array of
20
receptacles
26
. The pyrotechnic devices
24
and connector
25
may be 8 gauge shot gun shells of foreshortened length closely received in the mating receptacles. The exterior shape and dimensions of the devices
24
and connector
25
are substantially the same so as to be interchangeably secured in any of the receptacles
26
.
The devices
24
and connector device
25
are inserted into the upside down magazine
16
via the bottom surface
28
, FIG.
3
. The magazine is then inverted to the position of FIG.
2
and latched to the support assembly
12
by latch assemblies
22
which thus also lock the devices
24
and connector
25
temporarily in place. The latches are cam devices which move the magazine during the latching to positively engage the contacts on the support assembly as will be explained. The support assembly
12
includes a resiliently supported metal platform formed by plate
140
,
FIG. 4
, on which each magazine rests and which may form a ground contact for the received pyrotechnic devices and connector
25
. This plate
140
displaces in response to and during latching. In the reverse procedure, unlatching the magazine
16
and removal of the magazine from the support assembly
12
and inverting to the position of
FIG. 3
permits spent devices
24
to be unloaded and fresh devices to be loaded onto the magazine. The connector device
25
remains in the magazine or may be moved to a different position or removed as desired for a given training sequence.
The magazines may all have receptacles of the same diameter, different diameters or the receptacles of one magazine may have receptacles of the same or different diameters as desired for a given implementation. The receptacles also may be of different lengths to accommodate pyrotechnic devices and connector devices of corresponding different lengths. The receptacles of each magazine have center lines that align with corresponding center lines of the mating contacts
132
(
FIG. 4
) associated with the platform
140
of the support assembly
12
so that the devices mounted in the different receptacles mate with those corresponding aligned contacts. The magazines
16
,
18
, and
20
are interchangeable with each other so that devices mounted in the receptacles
26
all will mate with the associated contacts. However, the magazines may be the same or different in respect of the receptacle dimensioning.
The magazines each include guide slots
36
,
38
(
FIG. 3
) that mate with corresponding guide pins
40
extending from the assembly
12
. In the alternative, the magazines may be hinged to the assembly
12
as shown in the aforementioned Dix patent. The mating guide slots and pins assure alignment of the contacts on assembly
12
with the magazine receptacles
26
. Each magazine has a separate individual corresponding moving platform
140
and guide pins associated thereto. In the alternative, the support assembly may be arranged to receive only one magazine rather than the three shown. Each support assembly and magazine would be operative similarly as the apparatus
10
except a maximum of
20
pyrotechnic devices
24
and connectors
25
are associated therewith rather than the
60
devices associate with the three magazines of assembly
12
.
In
FIG. 4
, a typical receptacle
26
includes a bore
44
, an enlarged shoulder
46
and an inwardly depending flange
48
at top surface
50
. The device
24
and connector
25
are foreshortened conventional eight gauge shot gun shells so as to fit within the bore
44
of a length established by flange
48
. This foreshortening prevents commercial eight gauge shells from being used in the magazines. The devices
24
and connector device
25
terminate at the activating end in an annular flange
52
. Flange
52
is received in the shoulder
46
. The flange is locked to the magazine by the platform
140
of the support assembly
12
and the smaller bore
44
of the receptacle. The flange
48
also locks the devices
24
and
25
in the mating bore
44
. The flange
48
on the magazine is optional.
A plurality of detent assemblies
54
may be used to secure the devices
24
and connector in the receptacles
26
. Apertures
64
may be used to receive some of the detent assemblies. In the alternative, U-shaped or other shaped wire springs (not shown in the magazines but described later in connection with
FIG. 8
) may be inserted in corresponding grooves or apertures in the magazines and associated with each receptacle for releasably retaining a device
24
or
25
in the receptacle. In a further alternative, the springs in each receptacle may be used for providing a ground electrical connection to each device
24
or
25
ground terminal.
In
FIG. 3
, the magazines each include a plurality of longitudinal grooves forming recesses such as recess
64
in the bottom surface
28
. These recesses enhance manual grasping of the devices
24
and connector
25
flanges
52
(
FIG. 4
) for removal from the magazine
16
.
In
FIGS. 2-4
, the magazines each include a hook assembly
22
′ comprising a block
84
and a hook
86
. The latch
22
includes a loop assembly
22
″. The assembly
22
″ has a loop
88
which engages the hook
86
and a cam mechanism (not shown) operated by latch handle
90
which when operated pulls the loop downwardly in
FIG. 2
toward the bottom of the figure (direction
92
,
FIG. 4
) pulling the magazine
16
and its support plate
140
downwardly. The loop
88
normally is loosely engaged with the hook
86
when the magazine is first mounted on the plate
140
. After mounting, the latches at each magazine end are then operated to secure the magazine to the support assembly
12
and displace the magazine and support plate
140
.
The pyrotechnic devices
24
and
25
,
FIGS. 4-7
, preferably have substantially identical terminal assemblies
69
including casings
68
and tube
70
,
70
′ constructions. Devices
24
are fabricated with insulating tubes
70
and devices
25
are fabricated with tubes
70
′ which are substantially the same as tubes
70
except for minor differences described below. The devices
24
and
25
, however, are enclosed by respective caps that are significantly different The devices comprise a metal casing
68
,
FIGS. 4 and 6
, and an insulated tube
70
such as molded thermoplastic which is preferred. The tube
70
has a thick portion
72
forming a bottom wall
74
of the tube
70
. Portion
72
has a bore
93
.
The tube
70
has a chamber
66
(
FIGS. 5 and 6
) that is filled with pyrotechnic material only in devices
24
. A pyrotechnic detonator
184
is inside the tube
70
chamber
66
in contact with the pyrotechnic material, in respect of devices
24
, but not in device
25
. The detonator
184
(used with device
24
only) is an electrically operated match connected to the terminals
71
and
73
(
FIG. 6
) of the device
24
. The terminal
71
extends from an elongated brass circular cylindrical rod
75
. The rod
75
protrudes from the casing
68
at the device bottom at flange
77
. The terminal
71
is of reduced cross section.
A rubber or other elastomeric electrically insulating tube
79
receives the rod
75
in the tube
79
bore
79
′. The tube
79
is in the bore of the terminal tube
81
. The terminal
73
extends from a circular cylindrical brass tube
81
formed at its other end with the flange
77
. The rod
75
forms a central contact which engages the contact of assembly
126
, FIG.
4
.
Casing
68
,
FIG. 4 and 6
, comprises an inner casing shell
83
and an outer casing shell
85
both made of stamped brass. Both casing shells have a radius
87
at inner concentric tubular circular cylindrical portions
89
. The inner and outer shells each have respective concentric complementary shaped outer tubular circular cylindrical portions
83
′ and
85
′ (
FIG. 5
) receiving the tube
70
upstanding outer wall. Portion
93
is shorter than portion
91
. The shells
83
and
85
are press fit to the tube
70
forming an electrical ground contact therewith. The tube
81
of terminal
73
is press fit into the tube
70
and into the casing
68
inner cylindrical portions
89
. Optionally, the flange
77
of terminal tube
84
may be soldered to inner casing shell
83
by solder joint at the outer shell
85
bottom wall
97
. Otherwise the parts may be pressed fit together and form a hermetic seal at the joint. The other end of the device
24
is hermetically sealed with a cap as described more fully in the '948 patent incorporated by reference herein. The other end of device
25
will be described in more detail below.
The casing
68
and terminal
73
,
FIG. 6
, of devices
24
and
25
forms a ground terminal and the central terminal
71
in the device
24
and
25
receives an ignition signal. The ignition signal ignites the match
74
of device
24
(FIG.
4
). The ignition signal is applied to the device
24
or device
25
central terminal by a contact
132
extending from contact assembly
126
,
FIG. 4
of support assembly
12
.
The contact assembly
126
is mounted on printed circuit board
120
,
FIG. 4
, and connected to an ignition circuit described more fully in the aforementioned pat No. '222 incorporated by reference herein. The ignition signal is applied to the different contact assemblies in a given sequence. In this sequence, all devices
24
and
25
eventually will receive the ignition signal. The timing of the generation and receipt of such signals is determined by the firing circuit described in the '222 patent. Generally the sequence is in an ordinal arrangement, but may be in other sequences. The device
25
is placed in a given receptacle based on the desired firing sequence for this device predetermined by the type of remote pyrotechnic device that is coupled to the connector device
25
.
In addition, the firing sequences of each contact assembly
126
may be timed in different timing arrangements so that only a given number of devices
24
(and
25
) are fired in the sequence. Further, this sequence may be arranged in such close time intervals, e.g., a fraction of a second between device ignitions, that the ignition of the entire group of devices appears to be simultaneous. This timing may be made to the disclosed circuit of pat. '222 by one of ordinary skill.
For example, if a large explosion effect is desired, all 20 devices of a magazine may be ignited within a short interval such as one second or so. If a small explosion effect is desired any fewer number of devices in a group, e.g., 2-20 or more may be ignited within the short interval of one second for example to give the appearance all devices are fired simultaneously. Each such group is ignited by a common command signal applied to the apparatus
10
. See pat '222 for the use of such command signals for operating the circuit to cause the generation of an ignition signal. Each command signal manifests a given hit or firing of a weapon. The command signals generally will be spaced apart in time intervals of much greater value than a fraction of a second, for example in terms of intervals of minutes, rather than fractions of seconds, such as intervals in terms of microseconds, for all devices of a selected group to be ignited by one command signal. The circuit described in pat. '222 describes the firing of devices in different groups. The timing of the firing of devices in a group can be programmed into the CPU device described therein to be fired in fraction of second intervals as desired.
Assembly
12
,
FIGS. 2 and 4
, comprises a housing
94
including end walls
96
and
98
, side walls
100
and
102
, and bottom wall
104
. Handles
34
are secured to the walls
96
and
98
. Switches and connectors connected to tea housing
94
for operating the circuit contained in housing
94
are not shown. In
FIG. 4
, a support plate
118
is secured to walls
98
,
100
and
102
. A latch assembly
22
is also secured to walls
96
,
98
. Printed circuit board
120
is secured to plate
118
in recess
124
by screws not shown. Three printed circuit boards
120
are provided each corresponding to a different support plate
140
and corresponding magazine
16
,
18
and
20
. The contact assemblies
126
are mounted on the corresponding printed circuit boards
120
in the corresponding desired array of the receptacles
26
of the different magazines.
The contact assemblies
126
,
FIG. 4
, are described more fully in the aforementioned '222 patent and are in the same center to center spacing as the receptacles
26
. A typical contact assembly
126
comprises a metal hollow housing, containing a compression spring (not shown) and a needle contact
132
which is resiliently mounted to the spring and extends from the housing. The contact
132
is in ohmic contact with the assembly
126
housing which in turn is coupled to the ignition circuit (not shown) by its connection to a printed circuit board
120
conductor and related connection circuitry, described in the '222 patent. The assemblies
126
pass through holes in the plate
118
to electrically isolate them from the plate and each other. The assemblies
126
are electrically isolated from each other by the board
120
. The needle contacts
132
pass through corresponding apertures in the mounting plate
140
as shown in
FIG. 4
when making electrical contact to the received devices
24
and
25
. The needle contacts
132
ohmically engage the center terminal contact of device
24
by rod
75
, FIG.
6
. The plate
140
is made of metal and forms an electrical ground contact in the operating circuit (not shown) and connects the device
24
casing
68
to ground potential.
In the alternative, the casing may be connected to ground via the magazines which are metal and the guide pins
40
,
FIG. 2
, which are in ohmic contact with the mating magazine via guide slot
38
which is bare metal for making such a contact. In addition, springs (not shown) in the magazine at each receptacle as described above may contact the casing
68
for making further ohmic coupling of the casing
68
to the magazine
16
. In the latter case, the housing
94
of the support assembly
12
and the support plate
140
may be anodized to protect these elements from environmental effects, the anodizing being an electrical insulator. The magazine guide slots and mating guide pins are not anodized in this case.
Not shown are further contacts such as assemblies
126
between the plate
118
and the plate
140
for providing additional or alternative ground connections therebetween. These latter contacts may engage bared contact terminals on the plate
140
undersurface (not shown). Thus a number of different alternative ground potential connections may be used to connect the received devices
24
casings
68
to ground potential.
In
FIG. 4
, plate
140
displaces in direction
92
in response to the latching as described above. A plurality of resilient support plungers (not shown) resiliently mount the plate
140
to plate
118
. The plungers include a housing, a spring in the housing and a ball secured to the housing (all not shown) and mounted engaged with the spring so the ball is resiliently secured to the housing. The plate
140
rests on the ball. These are described in more detail in pat No. '222.
Also, a plurality of guide devices including shoulder bolts (not shown) retain the plate
140
attached to the plate
118
and permit the plate
140
to displace relative to plate
118
. These devices include a guide formed by a bore in plate
118
. A threaded stud with a head is threaded to plate
140
and has a shank which is received in the bore in the plate
140
(not shown). The shank slides in the bore in plate
118
as plate
140
displaces with the stud. The head captures the plate
118
to plate
140
. The contacts
132
preferably are recessed in the mating plate
140
aperture and selectively protrude therefrom to engage the devices
24
and
25
terminals when the plate is displaced as the magazine
16
is latched. This prevents damage to the contacts when the magazines are not mounted on the plate
140
.
A battery not shown for operating the circuit (not shown) is also mounted to the housing
94
as are other circuit components (not shown). Reference is made to Pat. No. '222 for further details on the circuit and its manner of operation.
In
FIG. 5
, connector device
25
includes terminal assembly
69
described above in connection with the description of device
24
. The terminal assembly
69
may be identical to both devices and may be constructed as described more fully in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,138,948 and 4,951,570 incorporated in their entirety by reference herein. The tube
70
′ differs from tube
70
in that the tube
70
′ has an aperture
106
through its side wall
76
for receiving a screw
108
. Otherwise the tubes
70
and
70
′ are of the same construction. The tube
70
has a bottom wall
74
and a side wall
76
.
Connector device
25
,
FIGS. 5-7
, includes a connector assembly
108
that is attached to terminal assembly
69
and tube
70
′. Connector assembly
108
,
FIGS. 7 and 8
, includes a preferably molded thermoplastic tube
110
. Tube
110
comprises an elongated tube portion
112
with a through aperture
116
for receiving screw
109
. The screw
109
fastens the tube
110
in the position of
FIG. 5
inside of the chamber
66
′ of the tube
70
′. The tube portion
112
is telescopically received inside of tube
70
′ chamber
66
′ formed by side wall
76
and bottom wall
74
and preferably abuts the inner side wall surface of tube
70
′.
An outer radially extending flange
54
is adjacent to end
56
of the tube
110
. The flange
56
abuts the end edge
58
of tube
70
′,
FIG. 5
, when assembled thereto as in FIG.
5
. In
FIG. 7
, the tube
110
includes an end cap
60
attached to the tube at end
56
and is preferably one piece integral therewith. The end cap
60
has two like through bores
62
.
Two like terminals
122
,
122
′,
FIG. 7
, are attached to end cap
60
and pass through a corresponding mating bore
62
. Each terminal
122
,
122
′ comprises a conventional commercially available terminal stud
124
. Stud
124
has a hexagonal head
126
and a threaded stem
128
. The stud
124
has a through bore
130
,
FIG. 8. A
U-shaped spring steel wire
134
has a leg
136
in a through bore in the head
126
on one side of the bore
130
and a leg
138
in a slot in the head on the other side of the bore
130
and in communication with the slot so that a portion of the leg
138
is in the bore
130
as shown. The threaded stem passes through the bore
62
in the tube end cap
60
into the chamber
66
′.
An elongated insulated electrical conductor wire
142
is connected at one end to terminal
73
of the terminal assembly
69
preferably by soldering or by a terminal lug not shown. The other end of wire
142
is connected to a conventional ring-like connector lug
144
. The lug
144
receives the stem
128
therethrough,
FIG. 5. A
nut
146
is attached to the stem
128
and locks the lug ohmically connected to the stem
128
and thus to the stud
124
. In similar fashion, electrically conductive wire
148
is connected at one end to terminal
71
and at its other end to terminal
122
′, which is identical to terminal
122
.
It should be appreciated that the terminals
122
,
122
′ are given by way of example, as any terminal configuration may be attached to the cap such as cap
60
. Numerous terminals are available commercially and may be utilized according to a given implementation. Such terminals merely require a metal electrical conductor be connected externally the tubes
70
′,
110
and the end cap
60
and be coupled to a through bore in the cap or tube(s) to permit an electrical conductor to pass therethrough for connection to the wires
142
and
148
.
The assembly sequence for assembly
108
is that the wires
142
and
148
are first attached to the terminals
73
and
71
, respectively, prior to attachment of the terminal assembly
69
to the tube
70
′ and casing
68
. Next, the wires
142
and
148
are passed through the opening bore
93
in the bottom wall
74
portion
72
of tube
70
′ and casing
68
. The terminals
71
and
73
including the rod
75
, tube
79
and attached tube
81
are then inserted into the bore
93
formed by tube
70
and the casing
68
. This may be a press interference fit between the tube
81
, portion
72
and casing
85
and in addition, the solder joint
95
may also be formed at this time.
The other ends of the wires
142
and
148
are then attached to terminals
122
,
122
′ previously assembled to the cap
60
. The tube
110
with the terminals
122
,
122
′ attached to the wires
142
and
148
is then inserted into the tube
70
′ chamber, FIG.
5
. One or more screws
108
are then attached to the tubes
70
′ and
112
at apertures
106
and
116
and other similar apertures, if desired (not shown). The connector device
25
thus appears as shown in FIG.
5
.
In
FIG. 7
, a mating connector
150
which is commercially available comprises a plastic housing
152
to which two metal terminals
154
are attached. The terminals
154
mate with and are inserted into the bores
130
of the studs
124
of the terminals
122
,
122
′. The terminals
154
have a curved ends
156
for easy insertion into the bores
130
. The terminals engage the spring wire
134
in the studs
124
to provide good electrical ohmic contact therewith. The wires
134
also hold the terminals
154
to the studs
124
. The terminals
154
are held rigidly in place by the housing
152
is spaced relation that corresponds to the spacing of the studs
124
in cap
60
. The connector
150
is releasably connected to the studs
124
.
The wires
158
of cable
4
,
FIG. 1
, are soldered or otherwise ohmically and mechanically secured to terminals
154
inside of the housing
152
chamber
190
. An epoxy potting material (not shown) may fill the chamber
190
to permanently secure the wires
158
to the connector
150
. The other ends of the wires
154
are connected to the remote pyrotechnic device
6
, FIG.
1
.
In operation, one or more of the devices
25
are placed in any of the desired receptacles
26
,
FIG. 2
, of the magazines
16
,
18
and/or
20
. The ignition signal applied to the device
25
is then transferred to the remote device
6
, igniting the remote pyrotechnic device
6
in the desired sequence. That sequence may include any or all of flash, smoke of a given color and noise of a given intensity produced by the devices
24
ignited in that sequence. The device
25
is easily placed in any receptacle of any magazine providing great flexibility in transferring signals to the remote devices in any desired time frame relative to the ignition of the remaining pyrotechnic devices
24
.
While the wires
142
and
148
,
FIG. 7
, are shown as discrete Insulated conductors. In the alternative, the wires may be directly printed on or attached to the inner surface of the electrically insulating plastic tube
70
′ inside of the chamber. Terminals may be attached to the printed conductors. These latter terminals may be metal studs for example which pass through bores in a cap such as cap
60
to form terminals which are the equivalent of terminals
122
.
In a further embodiment, the conductors may be printed wire conductors on an insulating substrate board. In
FIG. 11
, device
160
comprises a thermoplastic tubular casing
162
having a chamber
164
defined by bottom wall
166
and side wall
168
. Located in the chamber
164
is a printed circuit board assembly
170
. The assembly
170
comprises an insulating printed board
172
on which are printed two circuit conductors
174
and
176
. The conductor
174
terminates at conductive pads
174
′ and
174
″ at opposite conductor ends. Conductor
176
terminates at conductive pads
176
′ and
176
″ at opposite conductor ends.
A metal terminal
178
, which may be a rod or other conventional terminal construction, is ohmically and mechanically secured to pad
174
′. A metal terminal
177
, which may be a rod or other conventional terminal construction, is ohmically and mechanically secured to pad
174
′. Terminals
177
and
178
pass through the bottom wall
166
and may be press fit to the bottom wall to form a hermetic seal therewith. These terminals may be first assembled to the bottom wall and then soldered to the pads
174
′ and
176
′, for example. Terminals
179
and
180
are soldered for example to respective terminals
174
″ and
176
″ of the board
172
. The terminals
179
and
180
have bores for receiving the terminals
154
of
FIG. 7
, for example. In the alternative, terminals such as terminals
122
of
FIG. 7
may be attached to pads
174
″ and
176
″.
A cap
181
is then attached to the open end of the casing
162
to enclose the chamber
164
. The cap has a flange
182
which is bonded to the upper edge of the casing
162
wall
168
and to the wall
168
upper inner surface at cap depending annular portion
183
. As a result, all of the terminals and conductors are attached to a printed circuit board attached to the tube casing
162
′ and enclosed by the end cap
181
. Thus the terminals attached to the printed circuit board extend therefrom to pass through bores in the bottom wall
166
and through the cap
181
.
It is preferred that the chambers of the tubes and casings be hermetically sealed, but this is optional. Also, the terminals such as terminals
179
and
180
,
FIG. 11
, do not necessarily have to be attached to the cap, but may be attached elsewhere, for example, to the side wall
168
in other embodiments wherein a tube such as casing
162
may extend beyond the magazine
16
since the device such as device
160
has no pyrotechnic material in its chamber and does not ignite. In this case, the terminals on the tube side wall such as wall
168
would be accessible externally the magazine
16
. For this embodiment, the terminals such as terminals
179
and
180
would be attached to pads that terminate adjacent to the wall
168
and pass through the wall
168
. A cap then seals the chamber after the terminals are in place. The terminals being preassembled to the printed circuit board are passed through appropriate apertures formed in the tubular casing walls. The device
160
may be used with an ignition apparatus such as disclosed by Dix U.S. Pat. No. 5,585,595 incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
In the alternative. A metal outer casing as disclosed in the aforementioned patents '948 and '570 may be attached over the bottom wall
166
and ohmically connected to terminal
177
to form a ground contact that is usable with the apparatus of FIG.
2
.
It will occur to one of ordinary skill that various modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiments which are given by way of illustration and not limitation as described above by way of example. It is intended that the scope of the invention is as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A pyrotechnic ignition signal transfer connector device for use with a pyrotechnic ignition apparatus having first and second device ignition terminals comprising:a housing having first and second opposing ends and a chamber; third and fourth electrically conductively isolated terminals connected to the housing first end, each terminal for respective engagement with a different one of the pyrotechnic ignition apparatus first and second terminals; and fifth and sixth electrically conductively isolated electrical terminals secured to the housing distal the first end, the fifth terminal being electrically conductively connected to the third terminal and the sixth terminal being electrically conductively connected to the fourth terminals.
- 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing is thermoplastic.
- 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first end includes a metal cap.
- 4. The device of claim 1 including a cap enclosing the housing chamber at the second end.
- 5. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing chamber is defined by a side wall and a bottom wall, the device including a cap enclosing the chamber at the housing chamber second end, the cap including a sleeve telescopically received in the chamber, and means for securing the cap to the housing.
- 6. The device of claim 5 wherein the sleeve overlies the housing at a side wall of the chamber, the means for securing including a fastener attached to the sleeve and housing.
- 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the fifth and sixth terminals each comprise a stud with a bore for ohmically receiving one of seventh and eighth terminals for transferring an ignition signal applied to the third and fourth terminals by the ignition apparatus to a remote pyrotechnic device connected to the seventh and eighth terminals, and means for attaching a corresponding stud to the housing.
- 8. The device of claim 7 wherein the housing chamber at the second end is enclosed by a cap, the studs each being attached to the cap.
- 9. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing is tubular with the first end enclosed, the third and fourth terminals passing through the enclosed first end.
- 10. A method of making the device of claim 1 comprising forming a tubular housing of thermoplastic material with at least one opening in the housing first end, forming the third and fourth terminals, attaching a first electrical conductor to the third terminal and a second electrical conductor to the fourth terminal, passing the first and second electrical conductors and a portion of the third and fourth terminals through said housing opening into the chamber, securing the third and fourth terminals to the housing first end, and then attaching the fifth terminal to first electrical conductor distal the third terminal and the sixth terminal to the second electrical conductor distal the fourth terminal, and then securing the fifth and sixth terminals to the housing second end and enclosing the chamber at the housing second end.
- 11. A pyrotechnic ignition apparatus comprising:a magazine; a plurality of devices secured to the magazine; at least one first of said devices for simulating at least one of flash, smoke or noise when ignited, ignition means for receiving the magazine and for selectively igniting the secured devices individually with an associated applied ignition signal; at least one second of said devices including first terminals for receiving said ignition signal and including second terminals distal the first terminals and ohmically connected to the first terminals for transferring the ignition signal to the second terminals.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 11 including a further pyrotechnic device; the further device including third terminals and arranged to be remotely positioned relative to said magazine, the further device including conductor means for ohmically connecting the third terminals to the second terminals, the third terminals being arranged to releasably mate with and electrically couple to the second terminals for applying said ignition signal to said further device.
- 13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the ignition means includes means for igniting the devices in a given sequential order.
- 14. A method of forming an electrical connection device comprising:forming a tubular housing with a chamber and opposing ends, the housing having a bottom wall and an annular side wall, the bottom wall being at one end of the housing and having at least one through opening in communication with the chamber, forming first and second terminals; attaching a first electrical conductor to the first terminal; attaching a second electrical conductor to the second terminal; passing the first and second electrical conductors through the at least one through opening into the chamber; securing the first and second terminals to the housing bottom wall in said at least one opening; forming a cap for enclosing the chamber; attaching third and fourth terminals to the cap, the third and fourth terminals passing through the cap in communication with opposing cap sides, the third and fourth terminals for being ohmically connected to an electrical connector; ohmically coupling the first electrical conductor to the third terminal and ohmically coupling the second electrical conductor to the fourth terminal; and attaching the cap to the housing over the chamber end opposite the bottom wall with the third and fourth terminals in communication with the chamber and ambient atmosphere.
- 15. An electrical connector for receiving and transferring an electrical signal applied to first and second terminals comprising:a tubular housing having first and second opposing ends, and a bottom wall at the first end forming a chamber; third and fourth electrically conductively isolated terminals connected to the housing bottom wall in communication with the chamber, each terminal for respective releasable engagement with a different one of and mating with the first and second terminals for receiving the applied electrical signal; a first conductor connected to the third terminal and located in the chamber and a second conductor connected to the fourth terminal and located in the chamber; a cap enclosing the housing second end; fifth and sixth electrically conductively isolated electrical terminals secured to one of the housing and the cap, the fifth terminal being electrically conductively connected to the first conductor and the sixth terminal being electrically conductively connected to the second conductor whereby the electrical signal is applied to the fifth and sixth terminals.
- 16. The connector of claim 15 wherein the fifth and sixth terminals are secured to the cap and include a portion extending externally the cap.
- 17. The connector of claim 15 wherein the fifth and sixth terminals pass through the one of the housing and cap into the chamber.
- 18. The connector of claim 15 wherein the fifth and sixth terminals are substantially identical.
- 19. The connector of claim 15 wherein the fifth and sixth terminals each have a cap portion and a stem portion, the stem portion being threaded and located in the chamber, and a nut attached to the stem portion for locking the fifth and sixth terminals to the cap.
- 20. The connector of claim 15 wherein the fifth and sixth terminals each have a bore for receiving a further terminal.
US Referenced Citations (13)