Pressure-Activated Reserve Battery Using Ballistic Piston Triggering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid reserve battery activation methods rely on acceleration to rupture the electrolyte ampoule, which can be unreliable, especially at lower acceleration magnitudes, and requires precise ampoule design, limiting their use in smaller battery units and necessitating sole reliance on acceleration events for activation.
Innovation Solution
A pressure-activated battery system that utilizes ballistic pressure to translate a piston, rupture a shear disc, and break the electrolyte ampoule, thereby activating the liquid reserve battery without relying on acceleration, ensuring reliable activation across varying pressure conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If acceleration-based methods are used to rupture the electrolyte ampoule, then activation can occur during ballistic launch, but the activation becomes unreliable at lower acceleration magnitudes and requires precise ampoule design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the acceleration-based mechanical system with a pressure-based system. A pressure-sensitive element detects ballistic pressure and triggers the rupture of the electrolyte containment, eliminating the need for precise acceleration thresholds and ampoule design. This substitution resolves the contradiction by making activation reliable without requiring high manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the activation parameter from acceleration to pressure. By using a pressure-sensitive element that responds to ballistic pressure rather than acceleration, the system achieves reliable activation across varying launch conditions without requiring precise ampoule design specifications.
2Reliability
If the ampoule is designed to break at lower acceleration levels, then activation can occur at lower magnitudes, but unintentional activation during drops increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the acceleration-based mechanical system with a pressure-based system. Ballistic launch generates high pressure that triggers activation, while normal drops generate insufficient pressure. This substitution resolves the contradiction by using pressure as the activation parameter, enabling reliable activation at lower acceleration magnitudes while preventing unintentional activation during drops.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure-sensitive element is designed to respond to specific pressure thresholds characteristic of ballistic launch conditions. By localizing the sensitivity to pressure rather than acceleration, the system can distinguish between intentional launch (high pressure) and accidental drops (low pressure), resolving the contradiction between activation reliability and prevention of unintentional activation.
3Measurement precision
If glass ampoule tight requirements are imposed, then activation accuracy improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the acceleration-based mechanical system with a pressure-based system using a pressure-sensitive element. This substitution eliminates the need for tightly controlled glass ampoule specifications, as the pressure-sensitive element handles the precision requirements. The contradiction is resolved by transferring the precision function from the ampoule design to the pressure-sensitive detection mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure-sensitive element acts as an intermediary between the ballistic pressure and the electrolyte rupture. It translates pressure information into a trigger signal, eliminating the need for precise ampoule design while maintaining accurate activation timing. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by decoupling the precision requirement from the ampoule manufacturing.
4Volume of moving object
If smaller battery units are used, then system size decreases, but the mass available to react under acceleration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the acceleration-based mechanical system with a pressure-based system. Smaller battery units benefit from this substitution because pressure detection does not depend on the mass or size of the battery unit. The pressure-sensitive element can reliably detect ballistic pressure in compact units, resolving the contradiction between reduced size and maintained activation reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The pressure-activated battery system provides reliable and consistent activation of liquid reserve batteries, independent of acceleration magnitude, and prevents unintentional activation, offering improved performance and reliability compared to traditional acceleration-based methods.
Implementation Method 1
ballistic pressure for launching the projectile transitions the pressure activated battery system from an inactive state to an active state by translating a piston
Implementation Method 2
the piston translates forward in the rear cavity thereby rupturing the shear disc and breaking the electrolyte-filled glass ampoule
Data Source
AI summary
A battery activation device uses ballistic pressure to directly activate a liquid reserve battery and simultaneously complete the battery ground circuit to the electronics system. The gas pressure generated during ballistic launch reacts upon a piston face that transforms the pressure directly into a linear force which is then applied to the liquid reserve battery for activation. An internal shear disc prevents unintentional battery activation from an accidental drop and if sufficient launch pressure has not been realized by device.