US2978716A - Smoke float - Google Patents

Description

April 11, 1961 Filed Oct. 24, 1944 D. JACKSON 2,978,716

SMOKE FLOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 s7 63 g4 52 54 44 36 53 5 3e Apnl 1961 D. JACKSON 2,978,716

SMOKE FLOAT Filed Oct. 24, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 1% 3. FIQ 41.

Swen W049 L17. Jackson United States i The present invention relates to a smoke float of the type suitable for use in screening landing parties, vessels, airports and the like.

i The principal object of the invention is the provision of a smoke float which may be relied upon to function either on land or in water, as the case may be, regardless of weather conditions and in which ignition and uniform burning of the pyrotechnic charge therein will be insured Without the danger of violent explosive action of the confined pyrotechnic materials.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved smoke float having means for excluding water and moisture from the chamber containing the pyrotechnic charge during the transportation and launching of the float.

Another object is to provide a smoke float having a predetermined time delay period between the operation of the pull igniter and the starting of the smoke producing mixture whereby suflicient time is given the operator to launch the float before ignition of the smoke producing material has occurred.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a smoke float having new and improved means for producing suflicient heat invariably to ignite the smoke producing mixture.

A still further object is to provide a new and improved smoke float which is economical to manufacture, reliable in operation, and which possesses the qualities of durability 'during handling and transportation and safety dur-' ing storage.

Still other objects, novel features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe' following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a smoke float constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig; 2 is a bottom plan view on a reduced scale of the smoke float of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the pyrotechnic igniter and associate parts thereof;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and,

Fig, 5-is a detailsectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings wherein similar reference characters are employed-to designate like parts throughout the several views, the smokeemitting device is gen 'erally indicated by the numeral 10, and comprises an outer cylindrical casing 11 composed of sheet steel or of any other metal suitable for the purpose. The casing 11 is provided with upper and lower walls 12 and13 respectively, each wall having outwardly extending flanges 14 and 15 adapted to engage the inner periphery of the cylindrical casing. 11 adjacent the upper and lower ends respectivelyihereof, and arelsecured thereto in'any suitablemanner, preferably by welding the par-ts together in a manner as to provide a watertight; joint therebe' atent Patented Apr. 11, .1961

tween. By this arrangement a flotation chamber 16 is provided 'within the casing 11 between the cylindrical wall thereof and the walls 12 and 13 thereby rendering the float buoyant so that the float is adapted to ride in a vertical position'upon the surface of a body of Water when launched therein. The casing -11 is provided with apertures 17 and 18, of which the aperture 17 is positioned slightly abovethe lower wall 13 and communicates with the floatation chamber 16 whereas aperture 18 is positioned slightlybelow the upper wall 12 and also communicates with the floatation chamber thereby causing the smoke emitting device to sink after the sup.- ply of smoke emitting material has been exhausted. A stabilizer generally indicated by the reference character 19 comprises a cylindrical skirt 21 composed of sheet steel or any other metal suitable for the purpose which is'adapted to be welded to the flange 15 and casing 11 as indicated at 22. -The skirt is provided with an end wall 23 having an outwardly extending flange 24 adapted to be welded to the inner periphery of the skirt 22 adjacent the lower end thereof. By this arrangement a stabilizing chamber 25 is provided below the floatation chamber and within the cyl ndrical skirt 21, and between the walls 11' and 23. The cylindrical skirt 21 and the end wall 23- have openings 26 therein adapted to communicate with the stabilizing chamber thereby providing means for quickly'admitting water thereto after the smoke float has been launched. The water entering through openings 26 and flooding the chamber 25 provides a mass at the lower end of the smoke emitting device whereby the device will float in a substantially vertical position upon the surface of a turbulent body of water by reason of the inertial effect of the entrained mass of water. V

Walls 12, 13 and 23 are each provided with centrally disposed openings 27 therein, each wall having outwardly extending flanges '28 respectively surrounding each of the openings. The flanges are adapted to engage and sup? port a tubular container 29 centrally within the casing 11 and in'- spaced relation with respect thereto. Container 2 9 is provided with a reinforced convexbottom wall 31 having a downwardly extending flange 32 adapted to be welded to' the inner periphery of the container in such a manner as to provide a watertight joint therebetween; The container 29 is'of such length as to pass through the floatation and stabilizer chambers and to extend above the upper wall 12 of the casing 11. H I p The tubular container or receptacle 29 is open at the upper end thereof thereby providing means for filling the container with a smoke producing mixture indicated by the reference character 33 and consisting of ngredients well known in the art and uniformly mixed thereby to insure positive ignition and uniform burning of the' smoke producing mixture. A meltable flange disc or partition 34 is pressed into the upper end of the container 29 in such a manner as to prevent shifting of the smoke producingmixture within the container during shipment and handling thereof. The mel table disc or partition 34 is composed of material which possesses a low heat and fire resisting quality such, for example, as zinc, and is adapted to be melted or disintegratedby heat. 7

A reinforced cover or closure 35 is" adapted'to close the upper end of the container 29 after'the container has been filled with the smoke mixture 33. The cover'35is adapted to be secured to the container in any suitable manner preferably by bolts 36 passing through openings in the cover and through registering openings in a gasket 37 disposed between the cover and a flange 38" secured to the upper end of the tubular container 29 as by welding the parts'together. The bolts 36 also pass through registering openings in the flange 38- and" are provided with-'nuts"39"in abutting relation with the flange 3 8 thus providing-means whereby the gasket 37 is compressed between the cover and the flange 38 and thereby insuring water and moisture proof protection for the smoke producing mixture 33. The cover 35 is provided with a centrallydisposed opening 41 surrounded'by a flange 42 adapted to receive a nipple 43 secured to the flange in any suitable manner, preferably as by welding the nipple thereto in such a manner as to provide a water and moisture tight joint therebetween. The nipple 43 is provided with a threaded opening 44 adapted to have threaded engagement with the threaded portion ofa pyrotechnic container generally indicated by the reference character 45. The pyrotechnic container comprises a tube 46 extending below the cover 35 and into a heat and pressure chamber 47 provided in the upper end of the tubular container 29 between the cover and the meltable zinc disc 34.

A plurality of exhaust ports 48 are provided in the portion of the container 29 which extends above the upper wall 12 of the casing 11. A plurality of discs 49 composed of any suitable material, preferably of steel, are adapted to seal the ports 48 respectively, the discs being soldered to the container about the ports in such a manner as to prevent water and moisture from seeping therethrough. When sufl'icient heat and pressure have been accumulated within the heat and pressure chamber 47 as a result of the burning of the pyrotechnic material within the container 45, the solder surrounding the discs 49 melts whereby the pressure within the chamber is sufficient to blow the discs 49 from the ports 48 of the container thereby exposing the ports and allowing the smoke produced by the burning of the smoke mixture to escape therethrough. The float is adapted to produce a volume and density of smoke having total obscuring power for a suitable period of time such, for example, as a period of eighteen minutes. The container 45 is also provided with an enlarged head 51 at the upper end thereof, of larger diameter than the tube 46 thereby providing a shoulder 52 adapted to engage a gasket 53 suitable for the purpose such, for example, as a copper asbestcs gasket surrounding the container and adapted to be positioned between the shoulder andnipple 43. The head 51 is provided with oppositely arranged cutaway portions 54 adapted to receive a wrench or any other tool suitable for the purpose whereby the gasket 53 is compressed between the shoulder 52 and the nipple 43 as the container is screwed into the nipple, thereby providing a watertight joint therebetween and preventing water and moisture from seeping therethrough and contacting the smoke mixture 33 which would otherwise effect deterioration or ignition of the mixture.

A quantity of starter mixture 55 of any composition suitable for the purpose is disposed within-the tube 46. A plurality of ejector fuses 56 are disposed within the tube 46 in such a manner as to contact the tapered inner wall of the tube 46 and to extend throughout approximately the full length of the tube. The starter mixture 55 is adapted to enclose the fuses 56 substantially as shown on Figs. 3 and 5, whereby upon ignition of the starter mixture the ignition of the fuses is initiated. By reason of the tapered inner wall of the tube 46 and the action of the ignited ejectors, the hot slag formed by the burning of the starter mixture is prevented from clogging tube 46 and is ejected therefrom downwardly onto the zinc disc 34. When this occurs, the heat and hot slag causes disintegration of the disc 34 thereby allowing the hot slag to come intocontact with the smoke producing mixture causingignition of the smoke producing mixture and producing smoke therefrom. The ejector fuses are of any well known type suitable for the purpose and of such construction as to burn evenly for approximately 27 seconds.

A shoulder 57 is provided within the lower end of the tube 46 and is adapted to provide a seat for a blow 'out disc 58 composed of suitable material preferably having a, highly combustible quality such, for example, as nitro.

cellulose, the disc being provided with a plurality of vents 59 to relieve the pressure within the pyrotechnic eontainer caused by the ignition and burning of the pyrotechnic material therein, thereby preventing violent explosions of the confined pyrotechnic materials during the burning thereof. b An end wall 61 composed preferably of Manila paper is mounted within the pyrotechnic container subjacent the blow out disc 58. The disc 58 and end wall 61 are adapted to be retained within the lower end of the tube 46 in any suitable manner as by crimping the lower edge of the pyrotechnic container as at 62 whereby the wall 61 is held firmly against the disc 58 and thereby prevents the starter mixture from seeping through the vents 59 of the disc 58.

The container 45 is internally threaded at the upper end portion thereof and is adapted to receive an adapter generally indicated by the reference character 63 comprising a flange 64 provided with a downwardly extending threaded nipple 65 adapted to have threaded engagement with the aforesaid threaded upper end of the container. The nipple is thoroughly coated with cement of any well known type preferably of such type known in the trade as Pettmans cement whereby a water and moisture tight joint is provided between the adapter and the upper end of the container 45. The adapter 63 is also I provided with an upwardly extending threaded nipple 66 adapted to have threaded engagement with the threaded portion of a detachable cap 67. Each of the nipples 65 and 66 is provided with centrally disposed recesses 68 and 69 separated by an inwardly extending flange 71. An igniter unit and time fuse container generally indicated by the reference character 72 and comprising a tubular member 73 of any material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as heavy cardboard having the upper end thereof restricted in such a manner as to provide a flattened portion 74 adapted to be inserted into diametrically opposite U shaped notches 75 provided in flange 71. The recesses 68 and 69 are filled with molten beeswax 76 thereby providing additional means for securing the tube within the adapter. The igniter unit comprises a length of pull igniter wire of any well known type suitable for the purpo e preferably of the type known in the trade as Ensign Bickford Ingniter adapted to be disposed within the upper end of the tube 73 and comprising the usual ignitercap 77 and igniter wire 78 having a toggle or handle 79 connected to the upper end thereof thereby providing means whereby the toggle may be readily grasped and the igniter wire pulled through the igniter cap 77. When this occurs, a sudden burst of flame is produced therefrom as the frictional surface on the igniter wire frictionally engages the igniter cap 77 whereby initial starting of the pyrotechnic material within the pyrotechnic container is accomplished. The cap 67 is adapted to protect the toggle 79 and the igniter wire 78 and prevent accidentally pulling or bending of the igniter wire sufliciently to cause preignition of the smoke float until the cap has been removed.

A time fuse 81 well known in the art as safety fuse and having a burning time of approximately seconds per foot length of the fuse is disposed within the tube 73 and is adapted to have a short piece of quickmatch 82 secured in the upper end thereof and spaced a predetermined distance from the igniter cap 77 so that ignition of the quickmatch will occur when the cap 77 has been ignited by a pull on the igniter wire 78. Furthermore, the time fuse 81 is adapted to extend beyond the lower end of the tubular member 73 and into contact with the starter mixture 55 and is provided with a length of quickmatch 83 mounted crosswise therein by reason of diametrically opposite slits provided in the lower end of the time fuse. A ferrule 84 is pressed about the lower end of the time fuse 81 thereby contracting the end portion thereof due to the slits therein thereby providing means for clamping the quickmatch within thelower end of the fuse. The tubular member 73 is adapted to be wrapped with? a ;strip-of; k-raft wrapping paper 85, the; wrapping extending belowthe lower-end 1 thereof and covering a portion .of the-time fuse whichextends beyond thetubular member 73, thereby enclosing the lower end of'the tubular member so that sparks, created by the burning of the time'fuse will be prevented from contacting the starter mixture, whereby premature-firing of the starter mixture is prevented.

In'operation, the, protector cap 67 is removed from the nipple;66 and the toggle79 is grasped by the operatorand given a, quick, pull whereby the igniter wire 78 secured thereto frictionally engages the igniter cap 77 as the wire is drawn therethrough thereby igniting thecap 77 to produce aflame therefromeandaalsozlcreating a stream of smoke .=thatvwill; be; emittedifrom a hole: left in the bees.- wax: as: the igniter-wire;78;is:withdrawn therefrom thus assuring properfunctioning of'the pull igniter and, initial starting of.;.the pyrotechnic materialwithin: thezpyrotechnic container. The smoke float is now launched and, dueto the floatation chamber and stabilizer aforesaid, the float will ride in a vertical position upon the surface of. the water for a predetermined period of time. Ignition of the quickmatch 82 mounted in the upper end of the time fuse '81 is initiated by the flame from the igniter cap 77 after theigniter Wire 78 has been withdrawn thereby initiating burning of the time fuse. After a predetermined'period of time controlled 'by the time fuse has elapsed, the quickmatch 83 and the ejector fuses 56 are ignited thereby causing ignition of the starting mixture 55. As the starting mixture continues to burn, heat and pressure are produced suflicient to cause disintegration of the end wall 61 and to cause blowing out or melting of the disc 58 thereby allowing the hot slag produced by the burning of the starting mixture to be ejected from the now open end of tube 46 and to be deposited upon the zinc disc 34 causing disintegration of the disc and the ignition of the smoke producing material therein. sufficient heat and pressure are now stored within the heat chamber 47 to melt the solder surrounding the discs 49 thereby allowing the pressure within the heat chamber to blow off the discs 49- and unseal the ports 48 provided in the upper portion of the container 129 so that the smoke produced by the burning of the smoke mixture 33 will' escape through the ports 48. Furthermore, when the supply of-smoke producing mixture 33 has become exhausted the float sinks in the following manner: as the smoke float rides upon thesurface of the water, a quantity of water enters the floatation chamber 16 through aperture 17 thereby-forcing air outwardly from the chamber through aperture 1-8 until the chamber is flooded and substantially all the air has been expelled therefrom, whereby the specific gravity of the float becomes greater than'the specific gravity of the surrounding water and the float is caused to sink.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government'of the United States of-America for governmental purposes without the payment of. any royalties thereon or therefor. 7

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by 7 Letters .Patent of the United States is: I

1. A smoke emitting-device adapted to float upon the surface of a body of water for a predetermined period of time comprising an outer cylindrical casing having upper and lower Walls secured thereto and providing a floatation chamber therebetween, means including a perforated cylindrical skirt secured to the lower portionof said casing and having'a perforated end wall secured thereto for entraining a mass of water as said smoke emitting device is launched within the water, an inner container having a: heat and pressure chamber enclosed therein and supportedwithin said casing by said upper, lower and perforated walls respectively and in spaced relation with re specttthereto, said inner container having a quantity of smoke producing mixture therein subjacent the heat and pressure chamber,- fusible means forpreventing said mixture from shifting within said container,- a closure for Hermetically sea-lingsaid container, apyrotechnic container r supported by-said closureand exte'ndinginto said'heat and pressure chamber, a firing unit arranged in said pyrotechnic container, said firing unitincluding means for igniting said smokemixture'jsaid inner'container having aplurality of scaled exhaust'portsarranged therein incommunication with said heat-and pressure chamber, said ports being adapted tobe unsealed by 'heat and'pressure thereon produced by the burning of 'saidimixture thereby to permit the escape of "smoke therethrough from said inner container, said casing having. a port-arranged in thelower portion-thereofin communication with" said floatation chamber-for admittingwaterrtheretoi and'an additional port arranged in the upper. portion thereof 10 permit the escape of airthe'refrom as the water riseswithinssaidi floatation chamber whereby sufli'cient water-may enterthe floatation chamber to cause the smoke emitting device to. sink when apredetermined' period of time has elapsed: after the .device has-been launched.

2. A-smokefloat adapted to ride upon the surface of a body of Water and-comprising an outer casing having a floatation chamber enclosed therein adapted to render the floatbuoyant; said casing having a plurality of ports therein for flooding of said floatation chamber thereby causing the-float to sink-after a predeterminedperiod of time has elapsed, a water entraining stabilizer secured to the .lower portion of said casing and'includingmeans for flooding the stabilizer as the float is launchedwhereby the smoke float will ride in a-substantially vertical position upon the surface ofthe water, an inner containerhaving a quantity of smoke producing mixture therein, a meltabl-e disc pressedinto said inner container for-preventing said mixture from shifting within said container, a cover spaced from said meltable disc for closing the upper end of said container, a heat and pressure chamber provided within said inner container between said cover and melt-' able disc, a pyrotechnic container supported by said cover and extending into said heat and pressure chamber, said pyrotechnic container having a tapered bore within which is arranged a quantity of starter mixture, said starter mix ture having fuse ejector means arranged therein, a tubular member supported within said pyrotechnic container and having firing means arranged therein, said firing means including means for igniting said starter mixture and thereby producing hot slag therefrom as the starter mixture burns, said firing means also igniting said fuse ejector means and thereby causing said'slag to 'be'ejected from the tapered bore of said pyrotechnic container, said slagbeing ejected: onto said meltabledisc thereby causing the disc to melt and allow the slag to come into contact with and'ignite said smoke producing mixture whereby smoke will be emitted therefrom, said inner container having a plurality of sealed exhaust ports arranged therein and adapted to be unsealed. by said heat and pressure thereby to permit escape of said smoke.

3. A smoke emitting device adapted to float upon the surface of abody of water for a predetermined periodoftime and comprising an outer cylindrical casing having upper and lower Walls secured thereto thereby to provide a floatation chamber, a water entraining stabilizer secured to said casing and to said lower wall, said' stabilizer including a perforated cylindrical skirt having a perforated end wall secured thereto to allow the stabilizer to be flooded quickly and entrain a mass of water when the smoke emitting device is launched, an .inner container having a heat and pressure chamber enclosed therein and sup ported within said casing by said upper and lower and perforated walls in spaced relation with respect to the casing, said container having a quantity of smoke producing mixture arranged therein subjacent said heat and pressure chamber, a fusible flanged disc pressed into' said container'and adapted to prevent said'mixture from: shifting'therein during handling and during transportation of therdevicqa cover adapted to seal' the-upper end of said containerhermetically, a pyrotechnic container supported by said cover and extendinginto said heat and pressure chamber, firing means arranged within the pyrotechnic container, said firing means including means for igniting said smoke producing mixture thereby to produce smoke therefrom, said inner container having a plurality of scaled exhaust ports arranged therein in communication with said heat and pressure chamber, said exhaust ports being adapted to be unsealed by the heat and pressure caused by the burning of said mixtures thereby to permit smoke to escape from the inner container, said casing having a pair' of apertures therein arrangedwithin the upper and lower portions respectively of said casing thereby to flood the floatation chamber sufiiciently to cause the device to sink when a predetermined period of time has elapsed after the device has been launched.

4. A smoke emitting device comprising an outer casing enclosing a floatation chamber, a water entraining stabilizing device secured to'said casing, an inner container supported within said casing and having a heat and pressure chamber therein and a quantity of smoke producing mixture arranged subjacent the heat andpressure, chamber, a meltable disc mounted in the end of said inner container for preventing said mixture from shiftingtherein, a closure for hermetically sealing the upper end of said inner container, a pyrotechnic container, means of said clo-- sure for supporting said pyrotechnic container within said heat and pressure chamber in proximate spaced relation to said disc, said pyrotechnic container having a tapered bore adapted to contain a quantity of starter mixture therein, said starter mixture having fuse ejector means arranged therein, an adapter for closing the upper end of said pyrotechnic container, means on said adapter for supporting a tubular'mcmber within said pyrotechnic container, said tubular member extending into said starter mixture and having afiring unit and time delay unit arranged therein, said firing unit being adapted to ignite said time delay unit and allow a predetermined period of time to elapse before said time delay unitignites said starter mixture to produce hot slag therefrom, combustible means mounted in the lower end of said pyrotechnic container for retaining said starter mixture within said tapered bore, and fusible means mounted in said pyrotechnic container superjacent said combustible means and adapted to relieve the pressure within said pyrotechnic container sufficiently to prevent a violent explosion of the confined pyrotechnic material within said bore, each of said combustible and fusible means being adapted to be disintegrated by the heat and pressure caused by the burning of said pyrotechnic material whereby said hot slag is ejected from the open end of said pyrotechnic container by said fuse ejector means onto said meltable disc to cause disintegration of the disc and ignition of said smoke producing mixture.

S. A smoke emitting device comprising an outer casing enclosing a floatation chamber and having water entraining stabilizing means secured thereto, an inner container supported within said casing and having a heat and pressure chamber enclosed therein and a quantity of smoke producing mixture disposed therein subjacent said heat and pressure chamber, a meltable disc mounted in one end portion of said inner container for preventing said mixture from shifting therein, a closure for hermetically sealing the upper end of said inner container, means attached to said closure for supporting a pyrotechnic container within said heat and pressure chamber in proximate spaced relation to said disc, said pyrotechnic container having a tapered bore within which is arranged a quantity of starter mixture, fuse ejector means arranged within said starter mixture for causing the residue of the starter mixture to be ejected from said pyrotechnic container onto said meltable disc thereby to cause disintegration of the disc and the ignition of said smoke producing mixture, means for closing the upper end of said pyrotechnic container, said closing means including means for supporting a tilbular member within the pyrotechnic container, said tu-' bular member extending into said starter mixture and having a firing unit arranged therein, a time delay unit arranged within said tubular member and adapted to be firedby said firing unit and having means for igniting said starting mixture, means enclosing the tubular member and a portion of saidtime delay unit for preventing premature firing of said starter mixture, said inner container having a plurality of scaled exhaust ports provided therein in communication with said heat and pressure chamber, said exhaust ports being adapted to be unsealed by the heat and pressure thereby to permit the escape of smoke therethrough.

" 6. A smoke emitting device comprising an outer casing enclosing a floatation chamber and having water entraining stabilizing means secured thereto, an inner container supported within said casing and having a heat and pressure chamber therein, a quantity of smoke producing mixture disposed within said inner container subjacent said heat and pressure chamber, a meltable disc mounted in an end portion of said inner container for preventing said smoke producing mixture from shifting therein, a cover for hermetically sealing the upper end of said inher container, an annular flange attached to said cover and having a threaded nipple secured thereto, a pyrotechnic container provided with a screw threaded portion adjacent the upper end thereof and in threaded engagement with saidthreaded nipple thereby supporting said pyrotechnic container within said heat and pressure chamber in proximate spaced relation to said disc, said pyrotechnic container having a tapered bore, the wall of said bore being threaded adjacent the upper end thereof, a quantity of starter mixture arranged within said bore, a pair of fuse ejcctors arranged within said starter mixture, a perforated fusible disc mounted in the lower end ofsaid pyrotechnic container for relieving pressure within the pyrotechnic container after ignition and during the burning of said starter mixture, a combustible disc mounted in said pyrotechnic container subjacent said fusibledisc for sealing the lower end of the pyrotechnic container thereby retaining the starter mixture within said tapered bore prior to the ignition thereof, an adapter, an annular member on said adapter, a downwardly extending threaded nipple attached to 'said annular member and in threaded engagement with said threaded portion within said tapered bore for sealing the upper end of said pyrotechnic container, said annular member having an upwardly extending threaded nipple thereon, each of said nipples being provided with a recess therein, a flange on said adapter disposed between said recesses and having a pair of diametrically opposed U-shaped notches therein, a tubular member having a restricted upper end constructed and arranged to be forced into said U-shaped notches thereby to support said tubular member within said pyrotechnic container and within said starter mixture, an igniter unit arranged in the upper end of said tubular member, an igniter cap operatively connected to said igniter unit, a pull igniter wire extending through said igniter cap for igniting the cap as the wire is pulled therethrough, a toggle secured to the end of said pull igniter wire to provide a hand grip therefor, a detachable cap enclosing said toggle to prevent accidential pulling and bending of said pull igniter wire, said cap having a screw threaded portion therein in normal threaded engagement with said upwardly extending screw threaded nipple, a quantity of beeswax arranged within each of said recesses respectively for sealing a portion of said pull igniter wire within said beeswax until the igniter wire is removed therefrom and for additionally supporting the tubular member within said adapter, a time delay fuze disposed within said tubular member, a quickmatch mounted in the upper end of said time delay fuse for firing the time delay fuse, and an additional quickmatch mounted crosswise in the lower end of said time fuse for firing said starter mixture there by to produce hot slag therefrom, said last named quickmatch being constructed and arranged to ignite said fuse ejectors whereby said slag is ejected from said pyrotechnic container onto said meltable disc due to the action of the .fuse ejector upon said slag within said tapered bore thereby causing disintegration of the disc and ignition of said smoke producing mixture.

7. A smoke emitting device adapted to float in water and sink after a predetermined period of time, said device comprising a central tubular receptacle, a casing surrounding said receptacle and secured thereto with provisions for entraining water to thereby stabilize said device, said receptacle being of greater length than said casing and having one end thereof extending therebeyond, a closure secured to said one end of the receptacle, a quantity of smoke producing material retained within said receptacle, holding means within said receptacle for engaging said material and maintaining the same in place therein, said holding means being spaced from said closure for forming a heat and pressure chamber, and a self-contained pyrotechnic unit detachably secured in said closure and including a container extending therethrough and into said chamber, said container terminating adjacent said holding means and having combustible means therein for destroying said holding means and igniting said material, said receptacle adjacent said one end thereof being formed with a plurality of sealed exhaust ports communicating with said chamber, said exhaust ports being adapted to be unsealed by heat and pressure for escape of smoke therethrough to the outside atmosphere.

8. A smoke emitting device as defined in claim 7, said casing comprising a floatation chamber having a plurality of apertures therein for admitting water thereinto and causing said device to sink after a predetermined period of time sufficient for the smoke producing mixture to be exhausted.

9. A smoke emitting device as defined in claim 7, said combustible means including a starting mixture which produces a hot slag upon burning thereof, said holding means being fusible and adapted to be fused by said hot er and including a container extending therethrough and into said receptacle to a point adjacent said material, the lower end of said container being closed by a disc of com bustible material, at least a pair of elongated ejector fuzes arranged in tranversely spaced relation within said container and extending upwardly from said disc, a tubular member disposed between said ejector fuses and secured in dependent relation to the upper end of the container, igniter means in the upper portion of said tubular memher and operatively connected for actuation by means outside the container, an elongated time delay fuze having a lower end disposed adjacent said disc and the major portion of the remainder thereof encased in said tubular member, a transversely disposed length of quick match connected at its intermediate portion of the lower end of said time delay fuse with its ends engaging said pair of ejector fuses respectively, and a quantity of starter mixture in said container filling the space between said fuses and encasing said quickmatch, whereby the starter mixture and ejector fuses are ignited in time delayed relation with respect to actuation of the igniter means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 366,077 Delany July 5, 1887 650,288 Wilson May 22, 1900 1,886,522 Buck Nov. 8, 1932 2,119,697 Anderson June 7, 1938 2,328,916 Le Gomte Sept. 7, 1943 2,362,553 Hitt Nov. 14, 1944 2,402,143 Arenstein June 18, 1946 2,423,859 Van Karner July 15, 1947 2,430,698 Allen Nov. 11, 1947

Images