Devices incorporating non-lethal payloads and methods of producing a flash

Abstract

Non-lethal payloads may be customized for particular uses and desired visual and audible incapacitation based upon the selection of igniter/activators and illuminants used with the non-lethal payloads. Non-lethal payloads employing high flame temperature igniter/activators and illuminants of powder metals, powdered metals combined with oxidizers, and powdered metals combined with heat-activated chromophores may produce improved “flashes” and “bangs” for non-lethal payloads used with diversionary or other devices. Such devices and methods of producing illuminance and noise are also disclosed.

1 . A device for producing illuminance, comprising:
 an igniter/activator within a device casing, the igniter/activator having a flame temperature greater than 2000 K;   an initiation device contacting the igniter/activator; and   an illuminant within the device casing.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter/activator comprises an igniter/activator selected from the group consisting of boron potassium nitrate, magnesium strontium nitrate, and mixtures of boron potassium nitrate and magnesium strontium nitrate. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter/activator comprises a mixture of about 50 percent by weight boron potassium nitrate and about 50 percent by weight magnesium strontium nitrate. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant comprises an illuminant selected from the group consisting of powdered magnesium, powdered aluminum, powdered titanium, powdered zirconium, flaked aluminum, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant comprises powdered magnesium. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant further comprises an oxidizer. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the oxidizer comprises an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of sodium nitrate and strontium nitrate. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the illuminant and oxidizer mixture comprises from about 1 percent by weight to about 40 percent by weight oxidizer. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device casing comprises an M116A1 hand-grenade simulator casing. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device casing comprises:
 a casing tube having an inner and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a space within the casing tube and at least one open end of the casing tube; and   at least one removable seal over the at least one open end of the casing tube, the removable seal adapted to be removed during the activation of the igniter/activator.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the initiation device comprises an initiation device selected from the group consisting of a fuse, an electric fuse, an electric match, a point-detonation fuse, a primer, a safety fuse, a proximity fuse, a timed fuse, and a remote detonation fuse. 
     
     
         12 . A method of producing a diversionary flash, comprising:
 igniting an igniter/activator to heat and disperse an illuminant into a cloud of illuminant and air; and   activating the cloud of illuminant and air to produce a diversionary flash.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein igniting an igniter/activator comprises igniting an igniter/activator selected from the group consisting of boron potassium nitrate, magnesium strontium nitrate, mixtures of boron potassium nitrate and magnesium strontium nitrate, boron and silicon, magnesium, aluminum, titanium, zirconium, magnesium/aluminum alloy, ZrH 2 , TiH 2 , TiB 2 , TiN, and ZrC. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein igniting an igniter/activator to heat and disperse an illuminant comprises heating and dispersing an illuminant selected from the group consisting of powdered magnesium, powdered aluminum, flaked magnesium, flaked aluminum, powdered titanium, powdered zirconium, ZrH 2 , TiH 2 , TiB 2 , TiN, and ZrC. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein igniting an igniter/activator to heat and disperse an illuminant comprises heating and dispersing a magnesium metal powder. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein igniting an igniter/activator to heat and disperse an illuminant comprises heating and dispersing a powdered metal mixed with an oxidizer. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the powdered metal mixed with the oxidizer comprises from about 1 percent by weight to about 40 percent by weight of the oxidizer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the oxidizer comprises an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of sodium nitrate and strontium nitrate. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter/activator and the illuminant are mixed together. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter/activator is layered over the illuminant. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant surrounds the igniter/activator. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device casing is configured to not produce lethal shrapnel upon activation of the igniter/activator. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device casing is configured to not fracture upon activation and distribution of the igniter/activator. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter/activator comprises a mixture of from about 5 percent by weight to about 95 percent by weight of boron potassium nitrate and from about 5 percent by weight to about 95 percent by weight of magnesium strontium nitrate. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter/activator comprises a mixture of from about 15 percent by weight to about 40 percent by weight of boron potassium nitrate and from about 60 percent by weight to about 85 percent by weight of magnesium strontium nitrate. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant comprises a powdered metal. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant comprises a boron-containing chromophore. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the oxidizer comprises an inorganic oxidizer. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant comprises boron and magnesium. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the illuminant comprises powdered boron. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter/activator comprises boron, magnesium, and strontium nitrate. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter/activator comprises boron, magnesium, and potassium nitrate. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the igniter/activator is free of a binder. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein igniting an igniter/activator to heat and disperse an illuminant into a cloud of illuminant and air and activating the cloud of illuminant and air to produce a diversionary flash comprises igniting the igniter/activator in a device and heating the illuminant to produce sufficient pressure to rupture the device.