Patent ID: 8079322

Claim:
A shock tube apparatus comprising: a plenum to hold a volume of gas, wherein the plenum comprises a hollow chamber having a first end and a second end located opposite one another along a longitudinal axis, the first end of the chamber defining a shock egress opening; a valve assembly positioned at the first end of the chamber to seal the shock egress opening; a piston positioned within a recess located at the second end of the chamber, wherein the piston separates a first volume located between the piston and the first end of the chamber from a smaller second volume located between the piston and the second end of the chamber; a tension supporting rod that connects or couples the valve assembly to the piston; a release valve in fluid connection with the second volume; and a switch operable to open the release valve to release gas from the second volume and trigger opening of the valve assembly to generate a shock wave through the shock egress opening.