US3273499A - High temperature illuminating flare - Google Patents

High temperature illuminating flare Download PDF

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US3273499A
US3273499A US413647A US41364764A US3273499A US 3273499 A US3273499 A US 3273499A US 413647 A US413647 A US 413647A US 41364764 A US41364764 A US 41364764A US 3273499 A US3273499 A US 3273499A
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pyrotechnic
impact
flare
high temperature
aluminum
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US413647A
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Wayne A Proell
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Standard Oil Co
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Standard Oil Co
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B4/00—Fireworks, i.e. pyrotechnic devices for amusement, display, illumination or signal purposes
    • F42B4/26—Flares; Torches

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a pyrotechnic suitable for use as a high temperature illuminating flare and more particularly to a pyrotechnic which can be ignited by impact energy and produces high temperature and high light output, characteristics which make it attractive for use as a signalling flare, aerial reconnaissance bomb for photographic purposes, and the like.
  • pyrotechnic An additional and unusual use for the pyrotechnic is in the spe'ctro analysis of the chemical composition of solid material in remote areas. Because of the unusual composition of the pyrotechnic and the high temperature of its flare, the pyrotechnic produces a light signal with spectra characteristics of the composition such as oxygen, carbon, iron, etc, of the adjoining solid material, which light signal is of suflicient output to be seen from great distances.
  • One remote area for exploration by this use is the lunar surface.
  • My invention is particularly directed to a pyrotechnic ignitable by impact and suitable for use in generating high temperature light signals which will permit the identification of many of the components of a surface by spectroscopic observation from a distance. It is especially directed at having a composition which will not interfere with observing elements of key importance to exploration, e.g., O, I-l, C.
  • the particular pyrotechnic adapted for this use is a combination of a chlorine trifluoride and a finely divided metal which has a high heat of formation with chlorine and fluorine.
  • Chlorine trifluoride provides an unusual combination of properties for the pyrotechnic in that it produces a high energy output upon reaction and also produces a stable pyrotechnic under storage conditions by the formation of a protective fluoride film with many metals.
  • the figure is a cross-sectional view of an aluminum chlorine trifluoride flare.
  • the inventive pyrotechnic comprises chlorine trifluoride and a finely divided metal having a high heat of formation with chlorine and fluorine.
  • the combination is in the form of a physical mixture although other combinations may be utilized such as one in which the chlorine trifluoride and finely divided metal are separated by a membrane which can be easily broken during impact on a surface.
  • Chlorine trifluoride is known and available from the Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation.
  • the metal is characterized as having high heat formation with chlorine and fluorine. Normally these metals include aluminum, magnesium, zirconium, beryllium and the like and preferably aluminum since it is inexpensive, easy to fabricate and produces especially good results as a reactant.
  • the metal is in a finely divided form, preferably having one dimension or more less than 1 mil, to produce the high reaction rates required for the combination of high temperature and high light output from the flare. Suitable forms are fine powder, fine wire, shredded foil, wool, and the like, with wool being preferred because less separation of the physical mixture occurs.
  • the chlorine trifluoride and metal are used in a stoichiometric ratio.
  • an increase in light output is required, an
  • the pyrotechnic provides additional advantages of being stable under ordinary conditions of storage. Flare packages, in which the pyrotechnic is contained in a metallic housing, are stable up to temperatures in the order of F. and stable under vibration tests and S-ft. drop tests.
  • the metallic housing is made from a metal which forms a protective fluoride film which is not soluble in the trifluoride. Such metals include aluminum, copper, brass, magnesium, and many of the stainless steels. Aluminum is preferred since it is inexpensive, easy to fabricate and light weight.
  • an aluminum-chlorine trifluoride flare comprising chlorine trifluoride liquid 10, enclosed in aluminum foil tube 11.
  • Tube 11 having formed thereon protective fluoride film 12, film 12 being fracturable upon impact. Impact of said flare results in a break in film 12, thus providing fresh, reactive area on tube 11, with which liquid 10 may react.
  • the reaction and at least partial consumption of tube 11 with liquid 10 allows not previously utilized liquid 10 to additionally react with aluminum powder 13 and aluminum foil casing 14.
  • a major advantage of the pyrotechnic comprising the combination of chlorine trifluoride and aluminum is that its spectra does not interfere with the spectra of the important elements, such as oxygen, carbon and iron, commonly present either in free or combined form on the surface of the earth and expected to be present on the lunar surface.
  • the aluminum content of the particular surface is being investigated, a pyrotechnic from another of the suitable metals can be utilized.
  • the pyrotechnic is usable in a method of analyzing the chemical composition of solid material in remote areas from a distance, which method comp-rises igniting the pyrotechnic described above in the Presence of the solid material to produce a high temperature illuminating light signal with spectra characteristic of the composition of the solid material, receiving the light signal at a distance from the ignition, and analyzing the spectra from the light signal to determine at least some of the components of said solid material.
  • Example I A pyrotechnic composed of chlorine trifluoride and aluminum was ignited by impact.
  • the pyrotechnic . was prepared by placing 1520 g. of chlorine trifluoride in a glass test tube which was surrounded by an excess of aluminum powder (about 150 g.). The powder was contained in an aluminum foil cup and separated from the glass test tube by an aluminum foil test tube.
  • Example II The effect of burial in soil on light output from an ignited pyrotechnic was determined.
  • the pyrotechnic was composed of a mixture (approximately stoichimetric) of about 37.1 g. of chlorine trifluoride and about 14.1 g. of aluminum foil.
  • the pyrotechnic was enclosed in a small aluminum canister, which weighed about 9.7 g., to form a flare package. The canister was then buried to a depth equal to approximately its diameter in crushed granite rock and the pyrotechnic was ignited electrically.
  • the light yield from the flare was about 0.47 10 lumen secs. Inspection of the exposed crushed rock showed it to be heavily attacked. Spectrograms taken during the test showed excellent soil involvement lines which demonstrated that temperatures had been reached to produce spectra which could be used for analysis purposes.
  • a pyrotechnic ignitable by impact and suitable for use as a high temperature illuminating flare which pyrotechnic comprises chlorine trifluoride and a finely divided metal having a high heat of formation with chlorine and fluorine, said pyrotechnic being in a chemically stabilized condition until reaction is intentionally initiated by impact, said stability being imparted by the presence of a protective impact fracturable barrier separating sa-id chlorine rtrifluoride from said metal.
  • a flare package comprising the pyrotechnic of claim 1 enclosed in a housing constructed of a metal which forms a protective impact fractura-ble film with fluorine, which film is not soluble in chlorine trifiuoride.

Description

Sept. 20, 1966 w. A. PROELL 3,273,499
HIGH TEMPERATURE ILLUMINATING FLARE Filed Nov. 24, 1964 I NVENTOR.
Wayne A. Proe/l United States Patent 3 27 3,499 HIGH TEMPERATUIiE ILLUMINATING FLARE Wayne A. Proell, Seymour, Ind., assignor to Standard Oil Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Indiana Filed Nov. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 413,647 8 Claims. (Cl. 102-318) This invention relates to a pyrotechnic suitable for use as a high temperature illuminating flare and more particularly to a pyrotechnic which can be ignited by impact energy and produces high temperature and high light output, characteristics which make it attractive for use as a signalling flare, aerial reconnaissance bomb for photographic purposes, and the like.
An additional and unusual use for the pyrotechnic is in the spe'ctro analysis of the chemical composition of solid material in remote areas. Because of the unusual composition of the pyrotechnic and the high temperature of its flare, the pyrotechnic produces a light signal with spectra characteristics of the composition such as oxygen, carbon, iron, etc, of the adjoining solid material, which light signal is of suflicient output to be seen from great distances. One remote area for exploration by this use is the lunar surface.
My invention is particularly directed to a pyrotechnic ignitable by impact and suitable for use in generating high temperature light signals which will permit the identification of many of the components of a surface by spectroscopic observation from a distance. It is especially directed at having a composition which will not interfere with observing elements of key importance to exploration, e.g., O, I-l, C. The particular pyrotechnic adapted for this use is a combination of a chlorine trifluoride and a finely divided metal which has a high heat of formation with chlorine and fluorine. Chlorine trifluoride provides an unusual combination of properties for the pyrotechnic in that it produces a high energy output upon reaction and also produces a stable pyrotechnic under storage conditions by the formation of a protective fluoride film with many metals.
The accompanying drawing illustrates a particular embodiment of the invention.
The figure is a cross-sectional view of an aluminum chlorine trifluoride flare.
The inventive pyrotechnic comprises chlorine trifluoride and a finely divided metal having a high heat of formation with chlorine and fluorine. Usually the combination is in the form of a physical mixture although other combinations may be utilized such as one in which the chlorine trifluoride and finely divided metal are separated by a membrane which can be easily broken during impact on a surface.
Chlorine trifluoride is known and available from the Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation. The metal is characterized as having high heat formation with chlorine and fluorine. Normally these metals include aluminum, magnesium, zirconium, beryllium and the like and preferably aluminum since it is inexpensive, easy to fabricate and produces especially good results as a reactant. Preferably, the metal is in a finely divided form, preferably having one dimension or more less than 1 mil, to produce the high reaction rates required for the combination of high temperature and high light output from the flare. Suitable forms are fine powder, fine wire, shredded foil, wool, and the like, with wool being preferred because less separation of the physical mixture occurs.
When an especially high temperature is preferred, the chlorine trifluoride and metal are used in a stoichiometric ratio. When an increase in light output is required, an
3,273,499 Patented Sept. 20, 1966 ICC excess of metal may be utilized although some sacrifice in the temperature occurs. Normally the excess is in the order of 1() equivalent percent.
In addition to its excellent properties of high temperature and high light out-put, the pyrotechnic provides additional advantages of being stable under ordinary conditions of storage. Flare packages, in which the pyrotechnic is contained in a metallic housing, are stable up to temperatures in the order of F. and stable under vibration tests and S-ft. drop tests. The metallic housing is made from a metal which forms a protective fluoride film which is not soluble in the trifluoride. Such metals include aluminum, copper, brass, magnesium, and many of the stainless steels. Aluminum is preferred since it is inexpensive, easy to fabricate and light weight.
In the figure, an aluminum-chlorine trifluoride flare is shown comprising chlorine trifluoride liquid 10, enclosed in aluminum foil tube 11. Tube 11 having formed thereon protective fluoride film 12, film 12 being fracturable upon impact. Impact of said flare results in a break in film 12, thus providing fresh, reactive area on tube 11, with which liquid 10 may react. The reaction and at least partial consumption of tube 11 with liquid 10 allows not previously utilized liquid 10 to additionally react with aluminum powder 13 and aluminum foil casing 14.
As mentioned above, a major advantage of the pyrotechnic comprising the combination of chlorine trifluoride and aluminum is that its spectra does not interfere with the spectra of the important elements, such as oxygen, carbon and iron, commonly present either in free or combined form on the surface of the earth and expected to be present on the lunar surface. When the aluminum content of the particular surface is being investigated, a pyrotechnic from another of the suitable metals can be utilized.
Performance of the pyrotechnic is considered very satisfactory. Combinations of chlorine trifluoride and aluminum have produced temperatures up to 4000 C. and 1.23 10 lumen secs. with a peak of 13.6 l0' lumens based on approximately 50 gms. of pyroltechnic. In addition, the pyrotechnic has also been ignited successfully under vacuum conditions and impact conditions.
Therefore, the pyrotechnic is usable in a method of analyzing the chemical composition of solid material in remote areas from a distance, which method comp-rises igniting the pyrotechnic described above in the Presence of the solid material to produce a high temperature illuminating light signal with spectra characteristic of the composition of the solid material, receiving the light signal at a distance from the ignition, and analyzing the spectra from the light signal to determine at least some of the components of said solid material.
The following examples illustrate some embodiments of this invention. It is to be understood that these are for illustrative purposes only and do not purport to be wholly definitive with respect to conditions or scope.
Example I A pyrotechnic composed of chlorine trifluoride and aluminum was ignited by impact. The pyrotechnic .was prepared by placing 1520 g. of chlorine trifluoride in a glass test tube which was surrounded by an excess of aluminum powder (about 150 g.). The powder was contained in an aluminum foil cup and separated from the glass test tube by an aluminum foil test tube.
After dark, a bullet from a .22 caliber rifle was fired at the chlorine trifluoride-aluminum target and upon impact of the rifle bullet, and intense white fireball estimated at 2-3 ft. in diameter was formed. The test demonstrated that the pyrotechnic could be ignited by impact.
3 Example II The effect of burial in soil on light output from an ignited pyrotechnic was determined. In the test, the pyrotechnic was composed of a mixture (approximately stoichimetric) of about 37.1 g. of chlorine trifluoride and about 14.1 g. of aluminum foil. The pyrotechnic was enclosed in a small aluminum canister, which weighed about 9.7 g., to form a flare package. The canister was then buried to a depth equal to approximately its diameter in crushed granite rock and the pyrotechnic was ignited electrically.
A temperature of over 3660 C. and a light peak of about 15.6)(10 lumens were produced by the flare. The light yield from the flare was about 0.47 10 lumen secs. Inspection of the exposed crushed rock showed it to be heavily attacked. Spectrograms taken during the test showed excellent soil involvement lines which demonstrated that temperatures had been reached to produce spectra which could be used for analysis purposes.
I claim:
1. A pyrotechnic ignitable by impact and suitable for use as a high temperature illuminating flare, which pyrotechnic comprises chlorine trifluoride and a finely divided metal having a high heat of formation with chlorine and fluorine, said pyrotechnic being in a chemically stabilized condition until reaction is intentionally initiated by impact, said stability being imparted by the presence of a protective impact fracturable barrier separating sa-id chlorine rtrifluoride from said metal.
2. The pyrotechnic of claim 1 wherein said metal is aluminum.
3. The pyrotechnic of claim 1 wherein said metal is magnesium.
4. The pyrotechnic of claim 1 wherein said metal is zirconium.
5. The pyrotechnic of claim 1 wherein said metal is beryllium.
6. The pyrotechnic of claim 2 wherein said aluminum is aluminum wool having a thickness of less than one mil.
7. A flare package comprising the pyrotechnic of claim 1 enclosed in a housing constructed of a metal which forms a protective impact fractura-ble film with fluorine, which film is not soluble in chlorine trifiuoride.
8. The flare package of claim 7 wherein both said metal of said pyrotechnic and said metal of said housing are aluminum, the former in a finely divided form.
References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,323,303 7/1943 Bluehdorn et al 102-90 2,791,178 5/1957 Thompson et a1. 102-9O X 3,102,477 9/1963 Stefan et a1. 102-37.6 3,107,614 10/1963 Rolle 10237.8 3,110,259 11/1963 Van Dersarl 102-37.8 3,113,991 12/1963 Kleber 8814 3,143,446 8/1964 'Berman 14937 X 3,163,113 12/1964 Davis et al 149-37 X 3,194,110 7/1965 Eppig et a1. 88-14 BENJAMIN A. BORCH'ELT, Primary Examiner.
R. F. STAHL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A PYROTECHNIC IGNITABLE BY IMPACT AND SUITABLE FOR USE AS A HIGH TEMPERATURE ILLUMINATING FLARE, WHICH PYROTECHNIC COMPRISES CHLORINE TRIFLUORIDE AND A FINELY DIVIDED METAL HAVING A HIGH HEAT OF FORMATION WITH CHLORINE AND FLUORINE, SAID PYROTECHNIC BEING IN A CHEMCIALLY STABILIZED CONDITION UNTIL REACTION IN INTENTIONALLY INITIATED BY IMPACT, SAID STABILITY BEING IMPARTED BY THE PRESENCE OF A PROTECTIVE IMPACT FRACTURABLE BARRIER SEPARATING SAID CHLORINE TRIFLUORIDE FROM SAID METAL.
US413647A 1964-11-24 1964-11-24 High temperature illuminating flare Expired - Lifetime US3273499A (en)

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Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3774022A (en) * 1965-06-30 1973-11-20 Trw Inc Packaged chemiluminescent material
FR2306423A1 (en) * 1975-03-29 1976-10-29 Dynamit Nobel Ag INFRARED RADIATION TRANSMITTERS
US4280409A (en) * 1979-04-09 1981-07-28 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Molten metal-liquid explosive device
US4640193A (en) * 1985-12-26 1987-02-03 American Cyanamid Company Chemiluminescent light container
US6544093B2 (en) * 2000-09-19 2003-04-08 Lumica Corporation Revolving and flying toy
FR2875002A1 (en) * 2004-09-08 2006-03-10 Ardi Sa Air maroon type amusement firework for announcing starting or ending of fireworks display, has container divided into two compartments containing non explosive components that are maintained separated and isolated from explosive charge
ES2326150A1 (en) * 2005-07-29 2009-10-01 Pirotecnia Igual, S.A. Thunder of notice for pirotecnia. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
US10570605B2 (en) 2016-07-14 2020-02-25 Helios Applied Science Inc. Photoinitiation-based deployable structures

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2323303A (en) * 1941-06-27 1943-07-06 William R Biuchdorn Incendiary bullet
US2791178A (en) * 1944-11-14 1957-05-07 Norman J Thompson Incendiary device
US3102477A (en) * 1961-11-21 1963-09-03 Russell O Stefan Rocket signal device
US3107614A (en) * 1959-06-02 1963-10-22 Edward W Rolle Thermit reaction underwater flare
US3110259A (en) * 1961-08-16 1963-11-12 Edward F Van Dersarl Signal device and composition therefor
US3113991A (en) * 1959-08-18 1963-12-10 Nuclear Corp Of America Method of tagging bulk materials
US3143446A (en) * 1959-11-27 1964-08-04 Gen Electric Propellant charge containing fluid encapsulations
US3163113A (en) * 1959-01-12 1964-12-29 Burke High energy fuel units and assemblies
US3194110A (en) * 1961-12-28 1965-07-13 Gen Electric Method of detecting oxygen contaminant in sealed envelopes

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2323303A (en) * 1941-06-27 1943-07-06 William R Biuchdorn Incendiary bullet
US2791178A (en) * 1944-11-14 1957-05-07 Norman J Thompson Incendiary device
US3163113A (en) * 1959-01-12 1964-12-29 Burke High energy fuel units and assemblies
US3107614A (en) * 1959-06-02 1963-10-22 Edward W Rolle Thermit reaction underwater flare
US3113991A (en) * 1959-08-18 1963-12-10 Nuclear Corp Of America Method of tagging bulk materials
US3143446A (en) * 1959-11-27 1964-08-04 Gen Electric Propellant charge containing fluid encapsulations
US3110259A (en) * 1961-08-16 1963-11-12 Edward F Van Dersarl Signal device and composition therefor
US3102477A (en) * 1961-11-21 1963-09-03 Russell O Stefan Rocket signal device
US3194110A (en) * 1961-12-28 1965-07-13 Gen Electric Method of detecting oxygen contaminant in sealed envelopes

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3774022A (en) * 1965-06-30 1973-11-20 Trw Inc Packaged chemiluminescent material
FR2306423A1 (en) * 1975-03-29 1976-10-29 Dynamit Nobel Ag INFRARED RADIATION TRANSMITTERS
US4280409A (en) * 1979-04-09 1981-07-28 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Molten metal-liquid explosive device
US4640193A (en) * 1985-12-26 1987-02-03 American Cyanamid Company Chemiluminescent light container
US6544093B2 (en) * 2000-09-19 2003-04-08 Lumica Corporation Revolving and flying toy
FR2875002A1 (en) * 2004-09-08 2006-03-10 Ardi Sa Air maroon type amusement firework for announcing starting or ending of fireworks display, has container divided into two compartments containing non explosive components that are maintained separated and isolated from explosive charge
EP1635134A1 (en) * 2004-09-08 2006-03-15 Hunter Pacific Ltd Firework body for entertainement of the mortar bomb type.
ES2326150A1 (en) * 2005-07-29 2009-10-01 Pirotecnia Igual, S.A. Thunder of notice for pirotecnia. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)
US10570605B2 (en) 2016-07-14 2020-02-25 Helios Applied Science Inc. Photoinitiation-based deployable structures
US10760259B2 (en) 2016-07-14 2020-09-01 Helios Applied Science Inc. Photoinitiation-based deployable structures
US11384526B2 (en) 2016-07-14 2022-07-12 Helios Applied Science Inc. Photoinitiation-based deployable structures

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