GB989864A - Marine flare - Google Patents

Abstract

989,864. Marine flares. ALBRIGHT & WILSON (MFG) Ltd. Oct. 30, 1963 [Nov. 16, 1962], No. 43417/62. Heading F3A. A marine flare comprises a canister 1 having a buoyancy chamber 16, a chamber 14 containing a water-reactive acetylene-producing carbide such as calcium carbide, a chamber 4 containing a water-reactive phosphide such as calcium phosphide, means to permit the entry of water into chambers 4 and 14 and means to permit the release from the canister of acetylene and phosphine gases in juxtaposition to each other and wherein the phosphide chamber is so situated that when the flare is afloat it is located at a lower level than the buoyancy chamber. In the embodiment shown, the means to permit entry of water and release of the gases comprises a spoke 7, preferably of steel, soldered at points S to a cap 21, a lead sealing plate 20 and to a base cover plate 24 to seal an aperture 23. When the flare is thrown, a line 30 attached to a firm object jerks the spoke 7 via a ring 22 thereby removing it from the flare together with sealing plate 20 and cap 21 and the aperture 23 is unsealed. Water entering through this aperture flows into chamber 4 and, via the top end and an aperture 9 in a tube 8, enters carbide chamber 14. Phosphine generated in chamber 4 enters a tube 10 and rises to the top of the flare where it ignites spontaneously on contact with air. The tube 10 is protected from blockage by phosphide particles by means of a perforated diaphragm 11 and by housing the phosphide in a cotton bag 28. Acetylene gas evolved in chamber 14 and conducted out of the flare through a tube 18 adjacent tube 10 is ignited by the burning phosphine. As the carbide is used, buoyancy chamber 16 is progressively filled with water and the flare is designed to sink at the end of its useful life. The flare may be attached by a line 26 to a life buoy or other floating object. Typical dimensions of the flare and the quantities of the water-reactive agents are given.