Shock Sensitive Circuit Breaker Navy SBIR FY2010.3 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.3 Topic No.: N103-222 Topic Title: Shock Sensitive Circuit Breaker Proposal No.: N103-222-0094 Firm: McQ Inc. 1551 Forbes St. Fredericksburg, Virginia 22405-1603 Contact: Scott Jackson Phone: (540) 373-2374 Web Site: www.mcqinc.com Abstract: Equipment on board US Naval ships must survive severe shock events and thus must be subjected to extensive shock testing. While this testing ensures that a piece of equipment is shock resistant and will not pose a danger to other shipboard equipment, it is expensive and requires a one-use expenditure of the device under test. A shock sensitive circuit breaker (SSCB), designed to open when it detects a shock event of a given magnitude, will greatly simplify this testing. It will also have direct applications on board in-service naval vessels as a safety device. The SSCB will be designed to meet military standards for shock, vibration, and environment to ensure its reliable and safe operation. It will fit into existing standard form factors and be compatible with existing standards for shipboard power. The SSCB will also provide facilities to quickly and visually determine its status (on, off, or tripped), reset the breaker, and to command the breaker to perform a self-test. Benefits: A shock sensitive circuit breaker (SSCB) would have several benefits and advantages over current testing and safety systems. Equipment shock qualification will benefit first. The use of a circuit breaker that can turn equipment off if it is exposed to severe shock will greatly simplify current testing procedures which require a one-time expenditure of equipment under test. Secondly, installation of SSCBs on board naval vessels would enhance ship safety by severing power to shipboard equipment in the event of severe shock. This will help to prevent equipment from damaging itself, other equipment, and injuring or killing a ship's crew. Finally the SSCB would have similar applications in commercial markets, specifically in the area of transportation. The SSCB's design will be such that it can easily be modified to be sensitive to factors other than shock in order to further widen its applicability and usefulness in real world situations. Return