Post burn hydrogen light gas cartridge

Abstract

A post burn hydrogen light gas cartridge utilizes a separation tube to prde a high velocity flow to allow for separation of hydrogen gas from the hydrogen-oxygen combustion product water in a high temperature state produced in a primer initiated combustion chamber containing pressurized hydrogen gas. An accumulator is utilized to provide a large volume of hydrogen gas at high pressure and temperature to feed the expansion of the hydrogen. A second oxidant ampoule reacting with the expanded hydrogen provides a secondary propulsion means giving a velocity additive to the velocity resulting from a primary expansion means.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A post-burn light gas cartridge which comprises: spherically shaped combustion chamber means for holding hydrogen gas therein;   aft oxidant ampoule means threadedly attached to said chamber means for storing liquid oxidant therein;   primer means operatively disposed in juxtaposition with said aft ampoule for initiating the firing sequence of said cartridge;   separation means operatively connected to said combustion chamber means for separating mixtures of hydrogen and super heated steam;   accumulator means integrally attached to said separation means for providing space for compression of said hydrogen gas resulting from the heat of reaction in said combustion chamber means and from shock waves generated in said separation means, and as a source of hydrogen gas at uniform temperature and pressure for expansion;   driver means crimpedly attached to said accumulator means for controlling the rate of pressure build up in said accumulator means;   housing-sabot means threadedly attached to said driver means for releasably holding a projectile therein and for providing a hermetically sealed space between said driver means and said housing-sabot means;   piston means slidably disposed in said hermetically sealed space for providing movement in response to pressures generated in said accumulator means; and   a fore oxidant ampoule means operatively disposed in said hermetically sealed space proximate to said piston means for providing oxygen to said hydrogen gas to effect its burning, providing additional energy to be released thereby imparting higher velocity to said sabot means.   
     
     
       2. A post-burn light gas cartridge as recited in claim 1 wherein the combustion chamber means includes first valve means for loading hydrogen gas in said chamber means under pressure. 
     
     
       3. A cartridge as recited in claim 2 wherein said aft oxidant ampoule means includes: second valve means for loading liquid oxygen in said aft ampoule means; and   a breakable membrane operatively disposed adjacent to said primer means and breaking upon initiation of said primer means.   
     
     
       4. A cartridge as recited in claim 3 wherein said primer means includes electrical connection operatively attached thereto for providing means for applying a voltage to initiate said primer means. 
     
     
       5. A cartridge as recited in claim 4 wherein said separation means includes a tubular member having its rear end hermetically sealed to said chamber means and its front end hermetically sealed to said accumulator means. 
     
     
       6. A cartridge as recited in claim 5 wherein said accumulator means includes a front end releasably crimped to said driver means. 
     
     
       7. A cartridge as recited in claim 6 wherein said driver means includes: a convex front wall;   a centrally disposed polymeric burn-out plug disposed in said front wall and in axial alignment with said separation tube and said piston means; and   a threaded rear end hermetically attached to said housing-sabot means.   
     
     
       8. A cartridge as recited in claim 7 wherein said housing-sabot means includes: an externally threaded and counter bored rear end in axial alignment with said piston means; and   a polymeric segmented front end.   
     
     
       9. A cartridge as recited in claim 8 wherein said fore oxidant ampoule means includes liquid oxygen. 
     
     
       10. A cartridge as recited in claim 8 wherein said fore ampoule means includes hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
       11. A cartridge as recited in claim 1 wherein said aft oxidant ampoule means includes hydrogen peroxide.