Exothermic-based composite structures

Abstract

A method for assembling a thermal battery. The method including: arranging a plurality of tubes into a cylindrical shape; connecting the plurality of tubes to each other; attaching a first plate to a first end of the connected plurality of tubes into corresponding holes in the first plate; providing an initiation device to the first end of each of the plurality of tubes; filling each of the plurality of tubes from a second end with an exothermic material; assembling thermal battery components inside the connected plurality of tubes; connecting terminal wires to the thermal battery components; and connecting the second end of the connected plurality to a second plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for assembling a thermal battery, the method comprising:
 arranging a plurality of tubes into a cylindrical shape;   connecting the plurality of tubes to each other;   attaching a first plate to a first end of the connected plurality of tubes into corresponding holes in the first plate;   providing an initiation device to the first end of each of the plurality of tubes;   filling each of the plurality of tubes from a second end with an exothermic material;   assembling thermal battery components inside the connected plurality of tubes;   connecting terminal wires to the thermal battery components; and   connecting the second end of the connected plurality to a second plate.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing an outer layer of thermal insulation material on an outer surface of the connected plurality of tubes. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 connecting a third plate to the first plate; and   providing a compartment for the initiation device corresponding to the plurality of tubes in the third plate.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filling comprises partially filling each of the plurality of tubes from the second end with the exothermic material; and 
 the method further comprises filling a remaining portion of each of the plurality of tubes with thermal isolation material.   
     
     
         5 . The Method of  claim 1 , further comprising flattening a cross-sectional shape of the connected plurality of tubes to compact the exothermic material.