Explosive-driven, high speed, arcless switch

Patent · Tue Jul 14 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6287532

Skogmo, P J; Tucker, T J

An explosive-actuated, single-use, fast-acting, arcless switch is described for a high current circuit, comprising: a frangible conductive foil element having opposed first and second surfaces providing a low impedance path between an input and an output for a high current in the circuit; a hard dielectric surface positions against the first surface of the frangible foil and provides with a predetermined pattern of grooves, the surface between the grooves extending from the input to the output; and explosive force-generating means for generating an explosive force acting on the second surface of the frangible foil towards the grooved hard dielectric surface. The foil over the grooves is ruptured by the explosive force, providing a current path only through the unruptured foil to increase the impedance of the switch between the input and output.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4680434
• OSTI ID: 6287532
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420800* -- Engineering-- Electronic Circuits & Devices-- (-1989)
BLAST EFFECTS
CURRENTS
DESIGN
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC IMPEDANCE
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
EQUIPMENT
EXPLOSIVES
FOILS
IMPEDANCE
MATERIALS
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POSITIONING
PULSE TECHNIQUES
SURFACES
SWITCHES