US2009223402A1PendingUtilityA1

Pyrotechnic systems and associated methods

Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 13, 2004Filed: Apr 15, 2008Published: Sep 10, 2009

Est. expiryAug 13, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority

Inventors:Neal W. Brune Andrew R. Dawson George H. Wessels Kevin M. Ford

F42B 4/26

PatentIndex Score

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References

Claims

Abstract

Pyrotechnic systems and associated methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a pyrotechnic system includes a combustible material in a housing having a first and second portion. The first portion of the housing can have an inlet for receiving combustion products and the second portion can have an outlet to propagate combustion between the second portion of the housing and the combustible material. The system can further include a combustible carrier material movable from the first portion of the housing to the second portion of the housing. The combustible carrier material can be ignited in a first portion of the housing and capable of sustaining combustion while being moved to the second portion of the housing. Additional embodiments can include a seal positioned to block a migration of combustion products between the first and second portions of the housing when the combustible carrier material is in the first portion of the housing. Still further embodiments can include a vent system located proximate to the first portion of the housing and the inlet wherein the vent system includes a passageway to allow combustion products to migrate away from the first portion of the housing and/or the inlet. In yet a further embodiment, the system can include at least one gasket positioned proximate to the outlet to prevent the migration of combustion products to the combustible material except from the outlet.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified

1 . A flare deployable from a launcher, the flare comprising:
 a flare grain including an oxidizer and being configured to produce an electromagnetic radiation emission during combustion;   a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an inlet for receiving combustion products, the second portion having an outlet, the outlet being positioned to propagate combustion between the second portion of the housing and the flare grain;   a combustible carrier material movable from the first portion of the housing to the second portion of the housing, the combustible carrier material being ignitable in the first portion of the housing and capable of sustaining combustion while being moved to the second portion of the housing;   a seal positioned to block a migration of combustion products between the first and second portions of the housing when the combustible carrier material is in the first portion of the housing;   a biasing mechanism urging the combustible carrier material toward the second portion of the housing; and   a device movable between a first position and a second position, the device in the first position restricting the biasing mechanism from moving the combustible carrier material to the second portion of the housing and the device in the second position allowing the biasing mechanism to move the combustible carrier material to the second portion of the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the inlet is positioned to receive combustion products released from an expulsion charge. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the seal includes a silicone material. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the device includes a silicone material. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one flammable material positioned to propagate combustion between the second portion of the housing and the flare grain. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the flare is carried by a vehicle. 
   
   
       7 . A pyrotechnic system, comprising:
 a package having a combustible material, the package having an aperture proximate to the combustible material;   a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an inlet for receiving combustion products, the second portion having an outlet   in communication with the aperture to propagate combustion between the second portion of the housing and the combustible material in the package;   a combustible carrier material movable from the first portion of the housing to the second portion of the housing, the combustible carrier material being ignitable in the first portion of the housing and capable of sustaining combustion while being moved to the second portion of the housing; and   at least one gasket positioned proximate to the outlet and the aperture to prevent the migration of combustion products through the aperture except from the outlet.   
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the inlet is positioned to receive combustion products released from an expulsion charge. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the at least one gasket includes a silicone material. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one portion of tape positioned proximate to the at least one gasket to prevent the migration of combustion products through the aperture except from the outlet. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the combustible material includes flare grain and the package includes a first portion of tape surrounding the flare grain, the first portion of tape including the aperture to communicate with the outlet of the housing, and wherein the system further comprises a second portion of tape surrounding a portion of the housing, a portion of the at least one gasket, and a portion of the package, the second portion of tape being positioned to prevent the migration of combustion products through the aperture except from the outlet. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a seal positioned to block a migration of combustion products between the first and second portions of the housing when the combustible carrier material is in the first portion of the housing. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the combustible material in the package includes a first combustible material, and the system further comprises at least one combustible intermediary material positioned between the second portion of the housing and the first combustible material. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a biasing mechanism urging the combustible carrier material toward the second portion of the housing; and   a device movable between a first position and a second position, the device in the first position restricting the biasing mechanism from moving the combustible carrier material to the second portion of the housing and the device in the second position allowing the biasing mechanism to move the combustible carrier material to the second portion of the housing.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the pyrotechnic system includes a flare. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the pyrotechnic system is carried by a vehicle. 
   
   
       17 . A pyrotechnic system, comprising:
 a combustible material;   a housing having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an inlet for receiving combustion products, the second portion having an outlet, the outlet being positioned to propagate combustion between the second portion of the housing and the combustible material;   a combustible carrier material movable from the first portion of the housing to the second portion of the housing, the combustible carrier material being ignitable in the first portion of the housing and capable of sustaining combustion while being moved to the second portion of the housing; and   a vent system being located proximate to the first portion of the housing and the inlet, wherein the vent system includes a passageway to allow combustion products to migrate away from at least one of the first portion of the housing and the inlet.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the inlet is positioned to receive combustion products released from an expulsion charge. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the system further comprises a launcher to deploy the pyrotechnic device, the launcher having a portion that receives the combustion products that migrate through the vent system. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a seal positioned to block a migration of combustion products between the first and second portions of the housing when the combustible carrier material is in the first portion of the housing. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the combustible material is contained in a package having an aperture proximate to the combustible material, and wherein the system further comprises at least one gasket positioned proximate to the outlet and the aperture to prevent the migration of combustion products through the aperture except from the outlet. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a biasing mechanism urging the combustible carrier material toward the second portion of the housing; and   a device movable between a first position and a second position, the device in the first position restricting the biasing mechanism from moving the combustible carrier material to the second portion of the housing and the device in the second position allowing the biasing mechanism to move the combustible carrier material to the second portion of the housing.   
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the combustible material includes a first combustible material, and the system further comprises at least one combustible intermediary material positioned between the second portion of the housing and the first combustible material. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the pyrotechnic system includes a flare. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the pyrotechnic system is carried by a vehicle. 
   
   
       26 . A method for making a pyrotechnic system, comprising:
 providing a package having a combustible material, the package having an aperture proximate to the combustible material;   coupling a housing to the package, the housing having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an inlet for receiving combustion products, the second portion having an outlet, the outlet in communication with the aperture to propagate combustion between the second portion of the housing and the combustible material in the package;   installing a combustible carrier material movable from the first portion of the housing to the second portion of the housing, the combustible carrier material being ignitable in the first portion of the housing and capable of sustaining combustion while being moved to the second portion of the housing; and   positioning at least one gasket proximate to the outlet and the aperture to prevent the migration of combustion products through the aperture except from the outlet.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising positioning a seal to block a migration of combustion products between the first and second portions of the housing when the combustible carrier material is in the first portion of the housing. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising positioning at least one portion of tape proximate to the at least one gasket to prevent the migration of combustion products through the aperture except from the outlet. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein providing a package having a combustible material includes providing a package having flare grain and a first portion of tape surrounding the flare grain, the first portion of tape including an aperture to communicate with the outlet of the housing, and wherein the method further comprises surrounding a portion of the housing, a portion of the at least one gasket, and a second portion of the package with a second portion of tape, the second portion of tape being positioned to prevent the migration of combustion products through the aperture except from the outlet. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 positioning a biasing mechanism to urge the combustible carrier material toward the second portion of the housing; and   operatively coupling a device movable between a first position and a second position to the biasing mechanism, the device in the first position restricting the biasing mechanism from moving the combustible carrier material to the second portion of the housing and the device in the second position allowing the biasing mechanism to move the combustible carrier material to the second portion of the housing.   
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 26  wherein:
 providing a package having a combustible material includes providing a package having a first combustible material; and   coupling a housing to the package includes coupling a housing to the package with at least one combustible intermediary material positioned between the second portion of the housing and the first combustible material.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 26  wherein providing a package having a combustible material includes providing a package having flare grain. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising configuring the pyrotechnic system to be installed on a vehicle. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising installing the pyrotechnic system on a vehicle. 
   
   
       35 . A method for making a pyrotechnic system, comprising:
 providing a combustible material;   coupling a housing to the combustible material, the housing having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an inlet for receiving combustion products, the second portion having an outlet, the outlet being positioned to propagate combustion between the second portion of the housing and the combustible material;   installing a combustible carrier material movable from the first portion of the housing to the second portion of the housing, the combustible carrier material being ignitable in the first portion of the housing and capable of sustaining combustion while being moved to the second portion of the housing; and   locating a vent system proximate to the first portion of the housing and the inlet, wherein the vent system includes a passageway to allow combustion products to migrate away from at least one of the first portion of the housing and the inlet.   
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising positioning a seal to block a migration of combustion products between the first and second portions of the housing when the combustible carrier material is in the first portion of the housing. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein providing a combustible material includes providing a package having a combustible material, the package having an aperture proximate to the combustible material, and wherein the method further comprises positioning at least one gasket proximate to the outlet and the aperture to prevent the migration of combustion products through the aperture except from the outlet. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 positioning a biasing mechanism to urge the combustible carrier material toward the second portion of the housing; and   operatively coupling a device movable between a first position and a second position to the biasing mechanism, the device in the first position restricting the biasing mechanism from moving the combustible carrier material to the second portion of the housing and the device in the second position allowing the biasing mechanism to move the combustible carrier material to the second portion of the housing.   
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 35  wherein:
 providing a combustible material includes providing a first combustible material; and   coupling a housing to the package includes coupling a housing to the package with at least one combustible intermediary material positioned between the second portion of the housing and the first combustible material.   
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 35  wherein providing a combustible material includes providing a flare grain. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising configuring the pyrotechnic system to be installed on a vehicle. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising installing the pyrotechnic system on a vehicle. 
   
   
       43 . A method for making a flare, comprising:
 providing a flare grain including an oxidizer and being configured to produce an electromagnetic radiation emission during combustion;   coupling a housing to the flare grain, the housing having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an inlet for receiving combustion products, the second portion having an outlet, the outlet being positioned to propagate combustion between the second portion of the housing and the flare grain;   installing a combustible carrier material movable from the first portion of the housing to the second portion of the housing, the combustible carrier material being ignitable in the first portion of the housing and capable of sustaining combustion while being moved to the second portion of the housing; and   positioning a biasing mechanism to urge the combustible carrier material toward the second portion of the housing; and   operatively coupling a device movable between a first position and a second position to the biasing mechanism, the device in the first position restricting the biasing mechanism from moving the combustible carrier material to the second portion of the housing and the device in the second position allowing the biasing mechanism to move the combustible carrier material to the second portion of the housing.   positioning a seal to block a migration of combustion products between the first and second portions of the housing when the combustible carrier material is in the first portion of the housing.   
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 43  wherein coupling a housing to the flare grain includes coupling a housing to the flare grain with at least one combustible material positioned between the second portion of the housing and the flare grain. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising configuring the flare to be installed on a vehicle. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising installing the flare on a vehicle.

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