Initiation fixture and an initiator assembly including the same

Abstract

An initiator assembly ( 38 ) is factory-pre-assembled and comprises an initiation fixture ( 10 ) secured to a triggering device ( 40 ). The initiation fixture ( 10 ) comprises a unitary body, i.e., one without moving parts, and includes a bushing groove ( 18 ) to receive as an accessory an O-ring ( 64 ) to seal the device within the barrel ( 42 ) of the triggering device ( 40 ). A fuse/fixture sub-assembly ( 34 ) includes an initiation charge ( 30 ) disposed at the firing face ( 13 a ) and a signal-transmission fuse ( 22 ). The initiation fixture ( 110 ) maybe a “universal” fixture having thereon optional external threads ( 36 ) and being otherwise dimensioned and configured to be received within either an internally threaded barrel ( 42 ) of a triggering device ( 40 ) or the barrel ( 42 ) of a triggering device which utilizes a fuse-holding cap ( 56 ). The initiator assembly ( 38 ) may include a spool ( 66 ) on which the signal-transmission tube ( 22 ) is wound.

1 . An initiator assembly comprising: 
 (a) a triggering device having a barrel comprising an output end and an interior surface, the barrel having disposed therein an internal positioning member and a firing mechanism comprising a firing pin;    (b) an initiation fixture is of unitary construction whereby no part thereof is movable relative to any other part thereof, and is secured to the triggering device and comprises: (i) a cylindrical body member having an external surface, an end face and a firing face, the body member being received within the barrel of the triggering device at the output end thereof, (ii) a longitudinal internal passage extending through the body member, (iii) an external positioning member disposed on the external surface of the body member and engaging the internal positioning member, thereby positioning the body member at a predetermined position within the barrel, and (iv) an initiation charge disposed within the longitudinal internal passage at the firing face of the body member and exposed to the firing pin of the firing mechanism; and    (c) a signal-transmission fuse secured to and extending from the body member and having an input end disposed in signal-transfer relation to the initiation charge, and an opposite output end.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the internal positioning member comprises an internal stop and the external positioning member comprises a shoulder which is dimensioned and configured to abut the internal stop.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the internal positioning member comprises internal threads of the barrel and the external positioning member comprises external threads on the firing face of the body member, the external threads being dimensioned and configured to threadably engage the internal threads of the barrel.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the initiation fixture further comprises a sealing member disposed circumferentially about the body member and dimensioned and configured to engage the interior surface of the barrel to form a seal therewith.  
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the triggering device further comprises a fuse-holder cap disposed at the output end of the barrel and having therein an aperture through which the signal-transmission fuse passes.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 5  wherein the end face of the body member is dimensioned and configured to be engaged by the fuse-holder cap to retain the body member within the barrel.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the initiation fixture further comprises a sleeve extending from the end face of the body member and through which the signal-transmission fuse passes.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the triggering device further comprises a fuse-holder cap disposed at the output end of the barrel, and having therein an aperture through which the sleeve of the initiation fixture extends.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the triggering device is mounted on a spool on which the signal-transmission fuse is wound.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the output end of the signal-transmission fuse is received within a detonator.  
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein the detonator is positioned within a connector block dimensioned and configured to receive a plurality of signal-transmission lines therein.  
   
   
       12 . An initiation fixture dimensioned and configured to be received within a barrel of a triggering device, the initiation fixture comprising: (i) a cylindrical body member, having an external surface, an end face and a firing face, the body member dimensioned and configured to be received within a barrel of a triggering device, (ii) a longitudinal internal passage extending through the body member, (iii) an external positioning member disposed on the external surface of the body member and dimensioned and configured to position the body member within the barrel, and (iv) a well formed in the body member at the firing face thereof and dimensioned and configured to receive an initiation charge, the well being in signal-transfer communication with the longitudinal internal passage; and 
 wherein the initiation fixture is of unitary construction whereby no part thereof is movable relative to any other part thereof.    
   
   
       13 . The fixture of  claim 12  wherein the external positioning member comprises a shoulder.  
   
   
       14 . The fixture of  claim 12  wherein the external positioning member comprises external threads on the nose portion of the body member.  
   
   
       15 . The fixture of  claim 12  further comprising a sleeve extending from the end face of the body member and through which the longitudinal internal passage extends.  
   
   
       16 . The fixture of  claim 12  further comprising a sealing member disposed circumferentially about the body member.  
   
   
       17 . An initiator assembly comprising: 
 a spool having a signal-transmission fuse wound thereon, the signal-transmission fuse having an input end and an opposite, output end;    a triggering device mounted upon the spool, the triggering device having a barrel comprising an output end, the barrel having disposed therein a firing mechanism;    an initiation fixture comprising: (i) a cylindrical body member being received within the barrel of the triggering device at the output end thereof, (ii) a longitudinal internal passage extending through the body member, and (iii) an initiation charge disposed within the longitudinal internal passage of the body member and exposed to the firing mechanism; and    the input end of the signal-transmission fuse being disposed within and secured to the initiation fixture in signal-transfer relation to the initiation charge.    
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the output end of the signal-transmission fuse is received within a detonator.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly of  claim 18  wherein the detonator is positioned within a connector block dimensioned and configured to receive therein one or more receptor signal-transmission lines.