GB1231671A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,231,671. Firing mechanism for pyrotechnic devices. A. J. SCHERMULY. 23 March, 1970 [31 March, 1969], No. 16683/69. Heading F3A. A re-usable firing mechanism for line carrying or distress signal rockets, hand-held flare or smoke distress signals, aircraft-borne flares or buoyant marine illuminating or smoke signalling devices, comprises a striker pin 3, Fig. 1, slidably contained in a bore in a housing 2; means, e.g. a releasable cap 6, for holding a percussion cap or detonator 5 at one end of the bore; a substantially uncompressed spring 4; and a lever 8, pivotally secured intermediate its ends, to the striker; the lever being rotatable about its pivoting axis 9 from a transverse safety position to a position of alignment with the striker with consequential compression of the spring 4, at least part of the lever, in the aligned position, passing into the bore to allow the striker to fire the detonating cap. For remote operation of the mechanism a sleeve (not shown) is temporarily fitted over the lever 8 and a line is attached to the outer end of the sleeve. The sleeve may be secured to the striker by a shear wire which shears under a force in excess of that required to align the lever with the striker. When the mechanism is used with a rocket, it constitutes one end of a launching tube 13, Fig. 2, and extends into the trailing end of the rocket 12. A removable lid 14 closes the other end of the tube 13.