GB2464161A

GB2464161A - Aircraft Afterburner for Providing Coloured Flames

Info

Publication number: GB2464161A
Application number: GB0820456A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Desmond Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-10-11
Filing date: 2008-11-10
Publication date: 2010-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-10
Also published as: GB0819138D0; GB0818680D0; GB0818932D0; GB0820456D0; GB2464161B

Abstract

An afterburner 1 has at least one colour producing chemical substance 3 which can be added to the afterburner airflow. The chemical substance produces a coloured flame, and is added in addition to the fuel required. The chemical substance may be arranged to protrude into and retract from the airflow of the afterburner, as required. More than one chemical substance may be used, and different substances may be chosen to produce a particular flame colour. The chemical substances may be held in holders 2, and the holder may be moved using a hydraulic system. In addition, the afterburner may include a duct 4 which allows fireworks to be introduced into the exhaust stream. Both the colour producing chemical substance(s) and the fireworks may be used to produce colours and effects for aircraft displays at an airshow, and particularly for airshows held at night.

Description

The airshow engine This invention relates to a type of jet engine that produces colours and effects for the public airshow environment in low light and night time conditions.

Jet display teams thrill crowds regularly throughout the world with formation flying as well as coloured smoke. However, these displays rely on daylight, meaning less time for the display during shorter days. To overcome this the present invention proposes an afterburner with at least one colour producing chemical which will in addition to fuel be in the airflow of the afterburner.

When the afterburner is activated, the chemicals which are in the airflow of the afterburner will colour the afterburning flame allowing different colours to be seen exiting the aircraft at night or in low light levels, providing entertainment for airshows.

Preferably, at least one colour producing chemical will protrude into and retract from the airflow of the afterburner.

Preferably, there will be more than one chemical used.

Preferably, the chemicals will be held in place using chemical holders.

Preferably, the chemical holders or chemicals will be moved using hydraulics.

Preferably, many different chemicals will be used to produce different colours.

Preferably, strontium carbonate, lithium carbonate, calcium chloride, sodium nitrate, barium chloride, copper chloride, potassium nitrate, iron, and aluminium will be used to produce intense red, medium red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, gold and white colours respectively.

Preferably, sets of chemical holders or chemicals, each set having the same chemical and activated individually, will be used to produce one colour at a time depending on the set activated.

Preferably, many different chemicals will be used at a time to produce a mixture of colours.

Preferably, the chemicals will be in the form of hardened powder tablets to allow consumption at a low rate.

Preferably, a pipe will lead into the exhaust of the afterburner to allow fireworks to travel along the pipe and be ignited and ejected from any aircraft using the afterburner.

Preferably, the fireworks entering the exhaust of the afterburner will be spherical shells with no ejection charge and only a time delay, or slow, fuse.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings: -figure 1 shows a side view of the afterburner; and -figure 2 shows an end view of the afterburner according to the invention.

An afterburner 1 has at least one colour producing chemical 3 which will in addition to fuel be in the airflow of the afterburner. At least one colour producing chemical may protrude into and retract from the airflow of the afterburner depending upon the pilots instruction to produce coloured flames. There may be more than one chemical used. If the chemicals protrude and retract then there will be holes in the afterburner that house the chemicals which lie level or slightly recessed with the inside of the afterburners structure until they are required to protrude. There may be sliding covers that cover the holes and the chemicals that are slid out of the way when the chemicals are required to protrude. The chemicals may be held by chemical holders 2. The chemical holders or chemicals may be moved using hydraulics and there may be a pipe 4 allowing fireworks to enter the exhaust of the afterburner to add to the display. The chemicals may be in the form of hardened powder tablets to allow consumption at a low rate. Strontium carbonate, lithium carbonate, calcium chloride, sodium nitrate, barium chloride, copper chloride, potassium nitrate, iron, and aluminium may be used to produce intense red, medium red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, gold and white colours respectively. The fireworks used may be spherical shells without the ejection charge, only a time delay, or slow, fuse. Sets of chemical holders or chemicals, each set having the same chemical and activated individually, may be used to produce one colour at a time depending on the set activated. However many chemicals may be used at the same time to produce an array of colours.

Claims

Claims 1 An afterburner with at least one colour producing chemical which will in addition to fuel be in the airflow of the afterburner.
2 An afterburner according to claim 1, in which at least one colour producing chemical will protrude into and retract from the airflow of the afterburner.
3 An afterburner according to claim 2, in which there will be more than one chemical used.
4 An afterburner according to claim 3, in which the chemicals will be held in place using chemical holders.
An afterburner according to claim 4, in which the chemical holders or chemicals will be moved using hydraulics.
6 An afterburner according to claim 5, in which many different chemicals will be used to produce different colours.
7 An afterburner according to claim 6, in which strontium carbonate, lithium carbonate, calcium chloride, sodium nitrate, barium chloride, copper chloride, potassium nitrate, iron, and aluminium will be used to produce intense red, medium red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, gold and white colours respectively.
8 An afterburner according to claim 4, in which sets of chemical holders or chemicals, each set having the same chemical and activated individually, will be used to produce one colour at a time depending on the set activated.
9 An afterburner according to claim 1, in which many different chemicals will be used at a time to produce a mixture of colours.
An afterburner according to claim 3, in which the chemicals will be in the form of hardened powder tablets to allow consumption at a low rate.
11 An afterburner according to claim 1, in which a pipe will lead into the exhaust of the afterburner to allow fireworks to travel along the pipe and be ignited and ejected from any aircraft using the afterburner.
12 An afterburner according to claim 11, in which the fireworks entering the exhaust of the afterburner will be spherical shells with no ejection charge and only a time delay, or slow, fuse. hAmendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1 An afterburner provided with an airflow which includes a fuel, the airflow including at least one colour producing chemical substance in addition to the supplied fuel, and the chemical substance producing a coloured afterburner flame.2 An afterburner according to claim 1, in which at least one colour producing chemical substance will protrude into and retract from the airflow of the afterburner.3 An afterburner according to claim 2, in which there will be more than one chemical substance used.4 An afterburner according to claim 3, in which the chemical substances will be held in place using chemical substance holders.An afterburner according to claim 4, in which the chemical substance holders or chemical substances will be moved using hydraulics.6 An afterburner according to claim 5, in which many different chemical substances will be used to produce different colours.7 An afterburner according to claim 6, in which strontium carbonate, lithium carbonate, calcium chloride, sodium nitrate, barium chloride, copper chloride, potassium nitrate, iron, and aluminium will be used to produce red, orange, yellow, : green, blue, purple, gold and white colours respectively. *... * *S... . . . 8 An afterburner according to claim 4, in which sets of chemical substance holders : **. or chemical substances, each set having the same chemical substance and activated individually, will be used to produce one colour at a time depending on the set activated.r 9 An afterburner according to claim 1, in which many different chemical substances will be used at a time to produce a mixture of colours.S..... * .An afterburner according to claim 3, in which the chemical substances will be in the form of powder tablets to allow consumption at a low rate.11 An afterburner according to claim 1, comprising a pipe leading into the afterburner exhaust, the pipe allowing fireworks to travel along the pipe for ignition and ejection.12 An afterburner according to claim 11, in which the fireworks entering the exhaust of the afterburner will be spherical shells with no ejection charge and only a time delay, or slow, fuse.