Manual actuator for an electrically responsive fire extinguisher

A fire suppression or explosion protection system is having a manual actuator for an electrically responsive initiator or gas-generating cartridge activator. The manually operated actuator (10) for triggering the electrically responsive initiator (26) or gas-generating cartridge activator (17) includes a shaft (46), for generating a current for delivery to the initiator (26) or cartridge activator (17) when the shaft (46) is rotated; a manually moveable handle (38) shiftable between first and second positions at any desired speed; and structure (40) operably coupling the handle (38) with the shaft (46) for rotating the shaft (46) at a selected speed when the handle (38) is shifted between the first and second positions regardless of the speed at which the handle (38) is shifted for generating a current pulse of a selected magnitude for triggering the initiator (26) or gas-generating cartridge activator (17). The gas cartridge activator includes a tubular unit (45) which confines a quantity of smokeless powder granules and has an outermost discharge end normally sealed by a non-fragmenting closure (77) which is vaporized upon ignition of the smokeless powder. The products of combustion from the smokeless powder serve to rupture a rupture disc controlling release of the fire or explosion suppressant.