US1088911A - Ignition device. - Google Patents

Description

P. M. LEAVITT.

IGNITION DEVICE.

APPLIOATION rum) MAY 29, 1913.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

INVENTOR [3y "ll/01714116.

ITNESSES: W

and to provide an i UNITED STATES Parana? onmon.

FRANK M. LEAVIT'I', OF SMITHTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR -TO E. W. BLISS COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, "YORK, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

IGNITION -DEVI,GE.

Specification of'Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3,1914.

Application fi1edMay'29, 1:913. Serial No. 770,740.

'To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK ML'LIEAYII'ILR citizen of the United States, residing 1n Smithtown, in the county of Suffolk and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ignit1o n Devices, of which the following is a speclfication.

This invention provides an igniter esecially designed for igniting the fuel 1n\a iieater (or so-called superheater) for automobile torpedoes. In such torpedoes lt IS customary to pass the compressed air on ts way from the reducing valve to the turbine or other engine throu h a heater-pot, in which it is heated by t e flame from burning alcohol or other liquid or gaseous fuel, the products of combustion from which are added to the supply of air, thereby greatly increasing the energy of the torpedo.

In the ignition device or fuse heretofore was liable to damage. In order to retain the powder while burning, the pencil was surrounded by a steel tube having openings for the powder gases and flame to escape to ignite the surroundin gaseous or vapor zed fuel. The heat-in t e heater-pot, however,

is so great, that the steel holder is liable to fuse off after a few runs, and the molten metal from such holder will clog the turbine.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the difficulties above referred to, ition device peculiarly adapted for use in igniting the charge used to heat and au ent the pressure of the propellin 'fluid 1n submarine torpedoes,- and onew erein complete combustion of the fuse, particularly a slow-burning fuse, is had, and to effect the combustion of the fuse in such manner as to safeguard the surrounding portions of the apparatus, and to pre vent thepassage to the operative parts of unconsumed portions of thefuse and fused portions of the apparatus.

In the drawing accompanying this specification one practicable embodiment of the invention is illustrated in central longitudinal section applied to a form of heater pot, which is shown partly in elevation and partlyin longitudinal section.

The heater pot shown by way of illustration is designated by the reference character 1. To this heater pot is secured a suitable head 2 which has a coupling 3 for connection with the air supply, and an outlet 4 leading to the turbine nozzle. This outlet in the present illustration is shown at the bottom of the heater.

A plug 5 is shown mounted in the head 2. This plu constitutes a chamber for receiving the blank cartridge Send a holder for the fuse 7, such fuse being shown in the form of 'apencil, which will be made of some coinparatively slow-burnin material, such, for instance as cordite. TlllS pencil in the illustration is supported in a vertical position,

, being dependent from the holder 5 and hav- 10; The lower part of the plug or holder 5v is chambered at 11 for receiving the flash or flame from the cartridge when this is exploded. Suitable passages 12 for the flame extend from the chamber 11 into the chamber 9. The cartridge is exploded in the present illustration by means of a hammer 13, which is actuated in a well known manner by a portion of the compressed air finding access to its upper end through the conduit-14. The outlet or vent from the chamber 9, bein provided at 10 adjacent the free end of tfie pencil 7, will tend to induce the ignition of the encil at its free end, so that the combustion of the pencil will be substantially complete. But, to assure the ignition at this point and to assure instantaneous ignition, and to cause the pencil to ignite first at its lower end and to burn mainly backward to its point of sup port, some readily combustible end quickburning material 15 will be provided in the end of the casing 8 at the free end of such pencil. For instance, a mass of gun-cotton 15 will be placed at this position so that, upon the passage of the flame into the chamber 9, it will immediately ignite and will itself ignite the free end of the pencil.

The casing 8 is shown .open at its free end, such opening being closed by some closure which will be of a combustible nature and which may be readily blown out by the discharge from the cartridge (3. This closure in the present instance is shown as a paper cap 16,- which holds the mass of guncotton 15 in position. The cap is preferably made of a paper which is impervious to moisture so as to assure the dryness of the gun-cotton. To further safeguard the gun-cotton and the fuse 7, the openings 10 are also covered with paper 18 impervious to moisture. The paper, upon the flash en tering the chamber .9, will either be con sumed or blown off.

To safeguard the machinery, for instance the turbine, fronr being clogged by fused portions of the-apparatus finding access to it, the casing 8 is made of some inflammable material, for instance, celluloid, so that upon the ignition of the mass 15 not only will the pencil 7 be ignited, but the casing also will be ignited and will burn rapidly, but not as rapidly as does the fuse pencil 7 This will also add to the heat produced within the heating pot l and will also effect the desired result in that agnaterial which is completely combustible is employed for this easing; Celluloid being impervious to moisture, will prevent any moisture getting to the inflammable parts within it. 7

Although but one embodiment of the invention is shown, it will be understood that this is illustrativeof the improvement, and

that changes maybe madewithin the scope 1. An ignition device comprising a slowburning fuse supported at one end,- and a casing of inflammable material so arranged that when the primer is detonated the flame therefrom will pass between the fuse and the casing and ignite the former at its free end.

2. An ignition device comprising a cordite pencil supported at one end, and a celluloid casing surrounding such pencil.

3. In an ignition device, the combination with an elongated body of slow-burning material, of a holder engaging one end of such body, an inflammable casing surrounding such body, a mass of inflammable material in the casing at the free end of the said body, and means for passing a flame through the casing to such mass.

4. The combination with a slow-burning fuse, of a holder from which the fuse is pendant, and a casing inclosing the fuse having a flame opening at one end, and a vent hole at its other end.

5. The combination with a holder, of a pencil of inflammable material supported at one end by the holder, an inflammable casfuse and inflammable casing therefor dependent from such holder.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK M. LEAVITT. Witnesses H. C. SEAMAN, JOHN D. MoIN'rYRE.

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