Compact encapsulated exploding foil initiator assembly
A compact encapsulated initiator assembly includes an initiator chip having a plurality of bridge contacts; a first terminal, including a first terminal end facing an opposite axial direction, configured to releasably and electrically couple with an electrical conductor of ordnance, and a first chip end that electrically couples with one of the bridge contacts; a second terminal, including a second terminal end, configured to releasably and electrically couple with another electrical conductor of ordnance, and a second chip end that electrically couples with another of the bridge contacts; and a shaped composite housing encapsulating at least some of the initiator chip, the first terminal, and the second terminal, such that at least a portion of an outer diameter of the first terminal end and an outer diameter of the second terminal end are positioned nearer a center axis than an outer edge of the initiator chip.
1 . A compact encapsulated initiator assembly comprising:
an initiator chip, formed on an electrically non-conductive substrate, having a plurality of bridge contacts;
a first terminal, including a first terminal end, configured to releasably and electrically couple with an electrical conductor of ordnance, and a first chip end that electrically couples with one of the bridge contacts;
a second terminal, including a second terminal end, configured to releasably and electrically couple with another electrical conductor of ordnance, and a second chip end that electrically couples with another of the bridge contacts; and
a shaped composite housing encapsulating at least some of the initiator chip, the first terminal, and the second terminal,
wherein at least a portion of an outer diameter of the first terminal end and an outer diameter of the second terminal end are positioned nearer a center axis than an outer edge of the initiator chip.
2 . The compact encapsulated initiator assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein the initiator chip is an exploding foil initiator.
3 . The compact encapsulated initiator assembly recited in claim 1 , further comprising an aperture in the shaped composite housing that is adjacent an input charge.
4 . The compact encapsulated initiator assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein the first chip end or the second chip end includes a planar section.
5 . The compact encapsulated initiator assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein the first terminal end and the second terminal end are formed from a material having a substantially uniform thickness.
6 . The compact encapsulated initiator assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein the first terminal end and the second terminal end are formed as female cylindrical electrical conductors.
7 . The compact encapsulated initiator assembly recited in claim 6 , the female electrical conductors each including an axially extending slot.
8 . The compact encapsulated initiator assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the shaped composite housing is cylindrically shaped.
9 . The compact encapsulated initiator assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein the initiator chip faces one axial direction and at least one of the first terminal end or the second terminal end faces an opposite axial direction.
10 . The compact encapsulated initiator assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the shaped composite housing is less than or equal to 0.235 inches.
11 . The compact encapsulated initiator assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the shaped composite housing is less than or equal to 0.190 inches.