Liquid propellant igniter

Abstract

A liquid propellant igniter uses axially aligned ring electrodes separatedy high strength ring-shaped insulators and a high-voltage electrode assembly to provide reliable electrical discharges for initiating and igniting a propellant.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A liquid propellant igniter which comprises: a liquid propellant;   metal housing means for retaining said liquid propellant therein;   a plurality of ring electrode means operatively disposed in said housing means for providing an electrical arcing gap area;   electrode insulator means for holding said ring electrode means in axial alignment and insulated from each other;   propellant bore means for positioning said liquid propellant in axial disposition with said electrode and insulator means;   high voltage electrode assembly means for providing electrical connection to said ring electrode means; and   plug means for retaining said liquid propellant in proximity of said electrode means and for supporting said electrode means and said insulator means in sufficiently close position to cause reliable ignition of said liquid propellant upon application of a high voltage to said electrode assembly means.   
     
     
       2. A liquid propellant igniter as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing means includes: a vertical propellant bore in axial alignment with a vertical centerline;   a restricted throat bore in axial alignment with said propellant bore;   a first electrode counter bore in axial alignment with said propellant bore;   a second housing counter bore in axial alignment with said propellant ore;   a threaded counter bore in axial alignment with said propellant bore, and   a horizontally threaded housing counter bore for operatively holding said electrode assembly means therein.   
     
     
       3. A liquid propellant igniter as recited in claim 2 wherein said ring electrode means includes: a first-ring electrode positioned in said first-electrode counter bore of said housing means; and   a second-ring electrode positioned operatively disposed in said second-electrode counter bore of said housing means.   
     
     
       4. A liquid propellant igniter as recited in claim 3 wherein said ring electrode means further includes a third-ring electrode electrically connected to the same potential as said first-ring electrode and in axial alignment therewith and separated therefrom by said electrode insulator means. 
     
     
       5. A liquid propellant igniter as recited in claim 4 wherein said electrode insulator means includes: an upper ring-shaped insulator positioned intermediate said first-ring electrode and said second-ring electrode;   a lower ring-shaped insulator positioned in juxtaposition with said upper ring-shaped insulator and in contact with said second-ring electrode; and   an annular dielectric spacer operatively disposed in said second housing counter bore intermediate said electrode and insulator means and said plug means.   
     
     
       6. A liquid propellant igniter as recited in claim 5 wherein said propellant bore means includes: a restrictive throat bore in axial alignment with said ring electrode means; and   a vertical propellant bore in axial alignment with said restrictive throat bore.   
     
     
       7. A liquid propellant igniter as recited in claim 6 wherein said electrode assembly means includes: a high-voltage tapered electrode having a bottom end and a threaded top end;   a wave spring contactor operatively disposed intermediate said second electrode and tapered electrode bottom end;   an annular high strength insulator disposed around said tapered electrode bottom end;   a flanged hollow high strength feed through insulator having an inside diameter which slidably fits over and operatively supports said tapered electrode therein so that said high-voltage electrode is insulated from said housing means;   an externally threaded steel tubular member operatively holds said high voltage electrode against said wave spring contactor;   a top end electrode insulator is positioned in a top end of said tubular member, said top and electrode insulator supports the top end of said high-voltage electrode; and   a cap nut connector terminal threadably connected to said threaded top end of high voltage electrode holds said wave-shaped spring in contact with said second-ring electrode.