Flare with safe-and-arm ignition system

Abstract

An aerial flare having a safe-and-arm ignition system in which a radially vable valve element or slider is retained in a safe position obstructing ignition ports by engagement of the slider with interior walls of the flare casing. To deploy the flare, an expulsion charge is electrically detonated, ruptures a frangible barrier, ignites primer in the igniter, and expels igniter-illuminant assembly from the forward end of the casing. When the igniter clears the casing, the slider is powered radially outwardly under the force of a biasing spring to uncover the ignition ports so that the parts are in an arm position. The flaming primer then ignites the illuminant through the open ignition ports.

We claim: 
     
       1. An aerial flare, comprising a casing having a fore-and-aft axis and having internal surfaces defining a chamber having a fore portion and an aft portion,   an igniter disposed in the chamber and slidable in a direction along the fore-and-aft axis of the casing,   a mass of illuminant disposed in the chamber forward of the igniter and slidable in a direction along the fore-and-aft axis of the casing,   means for attaching the igniter to the illuminant,   expulsion charge means in the aft portion of the chamber for expelling the igniter and the illuminant from the chamber,   the igniter including   a housing having passage means communicating between the aft portion of the chamber and the fore portion of the chamber,   primer means for igniting the illuminant,   the primer means being disposed in the passage means for ignition by the expulsion charge means,   blocking means mounted on the housing for movement in a direction transverse to the fore-and-aft axis between a safe position in which the blocking means blocks the passage means between the primer means and the illuminant, and an arm position in which the blocking means is displaced from blocking the passage means and exposes the illuminant for ignition by the primer means through the passage means, and   biasing means operably associated with the housing and the blocking means for biasing the blocking means toward the arm position and into engagement with an internal surface of the casing which restrains the blocking means in the safe position while the igniter is within the casing, and   breakaway closure means for sealing the illuminant and igniter in the chamber until broken away by expulsion of the illuminant and igniter by the expulsion charge means.   
     
     
       2. The flare of claim 1, in which the blocking means is mounted on the housing by guide means defining a cavity in the housing for slidably receiving the blocking means, and   the biasing means powers the blocking means into the arm position when the blocking means is freed from restraint by the internal surfaces of the casing upon expulsion of the igniter from the chamber.   
     
     
       3. The flare of claim 1, in which the means for attaching the igniter to the illuminant includes a base portion carried by the housing and a forwardly extending barbed portion embedded in the illuminant.   
     
     
       4. The flare of claim 1, including sheathing means covering the mass of illuminant for insulating the illuminant from ignition by blowby around the igniter from the expulsion charge means.   
     
     
       5. The flare of claim 1, including frangible means forming a barrier between the expulsion charge means and the primer means until ruptured by activation of the expulsion charge means.   
     
     
       6. The flare of claim 1, in which the biasing means includes a spring.