US3391640A - Inertia operated flare - Google Patents

Inertia operated flare Download PDF

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Publication number
US3391640A
US3391640A US563575A US56357566A US3391640A US 3391640 A US3391640 A US 3391640A US 563575 A US563575 A US 563575A US 56357566 A US56357566 A US 56357566A US 3391640 A US3391640 A US 3391640A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
flare
plugs
inertia
nose cone
fuse
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US563575A
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English (en)
Inventor
Robert H Weldon
Ian L Thompson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Australian Government
Original Assignee
Australian Government
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Australian Government filed Critical Australian Government
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3391640A publication Critical patent/US3391640A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C15/00—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges
    • F42C15/24—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges wherein the safety or arming action is effected by inertia means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B12/00—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material
    • F42B12/02—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect
    • F42B12/36—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information
    • F42B12/42—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information of illuminating type, e.g. carrying flares
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C11/00—Electric fuzes

Definitions

  • a nose cone is connected to the body but is ositioned forward of the body to leave a space therebetween in which are visible one of a number of pairs of interchangeable function controlling plugs which can be inserted into the sockets to adapt the flare for a safe transit condition, an armed condition or a test condition.
  • This invention relates to an inertia operated flare.
  • Flares used in conjunction with rocket firings require to be carried by the rockets and fired at the appropriate time such as when the acceleration reaches a predetermined value.
  • An object of this invention is to provide an improved flare which will be self-contained for independent attachment and operation and which will be simple to test and arm.
  • a further object is to allow ready testing to be effected, as well as to render the unit safe for transit, and to arm it.
  • a further object is to so construct the unit that an operator can at any time readily ascertain whether the unit is adjusted for transit or is armed.
  • a further object is to avoid the use of ground firing supply cables such as are required by'all conventional flares. These trailing cables have been known to cause damage to missiles by fouling projecting parts of the missile.
  • the inertia operated flare comprises a flare body to contain a charge, an ignition fuse at the rear of the body to ignite the charge, a component compartment at the front of the body housing energizing mechanism, sockets at the front of the body electrically connected to the energizing mechanism and the fuse, and a nose cone connected to the body but positioned forward of the body, and interchangeable function controlling plugs to engage the sockets whereby the flare can be adapted for a required function, such for instance as for testing the circuits, for arming it, or for rendering it safe for transport.
  • the flare comprises a flare body containing the charge, which flare body is provided with a fusible end closure supporting the igniting fuse and which flare body has at its forward end a compartment which houses the battery whereby the fuse is initiated and an inertia-energized switch for controlling ignition, the forward end of the compartment containing a pair of sockets which are wired to the battery and the inertia-energized switch and which are adapted to receive control plugs Which are interchangeable with further control plugs so that when one set of plugs is in position, the flare is armed and ready to be fired under influence of the inertia-energized switch, and when other plugs are in position the flare is safe for transit, test plugs being insertable to allow the components to be checked, a removable nose cone holding the arming and transit plugs in place.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the flare
  • FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the flare
  • FIG. 3 is an end elevation
  • FIG. 4 is a view of the electrical connections of the plugs to the functional parts.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram showing how the various functions may be initiated.
  • the flare body 1 consists of a tubular member having a component compartment 2 at the front end adapted to receive a battery 3 and an inertia-energized switch 4 as well as sockets 5 and 6 for control plugs 7 and 8.
  • the body 1 contains a divisional wall 9 near the front end of the body which separates the charge-holding part 10 of the body from the component compartment 2.
  • a forwardly projecting stem 11 is attached to wall 9 and the stem 11 is threaded at its forward end to engage a threaded socket 12 in the forward part 13 of the nose cone to hold it in position, this forward part in turn holding the rear part 14 of the nose cone in place.
  • the rear section of the nose cone bears against the plugs 7 and 8 when they are in position to hold them firmly in place, but there is a gap 15 between the rear part 14 of the nose cone and the front of the flare body 1 through which the plugs 7 and 8 can be clearly seen.
  • a fusible membrane or wall 16 which seals the rear of the flare body so that the charge can be held in the space 19 between the forward Wall 9 and this rear wall 16, but the fusible wall 16 has in it a member 17 which carries the fuse 18 so that the charge can be ignite-d when this fuse is actuated.
  • the battery 3 can be of any standard design and fits into a section of the front component compartment 2, as does also the inertia-energized switch 4 which will be of the type in which the circuit is closed to energize the fuse when the necessary acceleration has been reached.
  • the sockets 5 and 6 are adapted to receive the control plugs 7 and 8, the sockets being wired to the battery 3 and inertia switch 4 as well as to the fuse 18 as shown in FIG. 4, the plugs 7 and 8 being arranged to engage these sockets and to change the circuits according to whether the flare is to be deenergized for transit or is to be armed for use, and also a plug is provided with leads for test apparatus, the circuits of the plugs being shown particularly in FIG. 5.
  • the battery 3 is connected to the contacts 21 and 22 of the socket 5, while the contacts 23 and 24 are connected respectively to the switch 4 and the contact 25 of the socket 6, the switch 4 being connected to the contacts 26 and 27 respectively of the socket 6.
  • the contacts 28 and 29 of the socket 6 are connected by the shielded leads 30 and 31 to connectors 32 and 33 which couple to plugs 34 and 35 which in turn conmeet with the fuse 18.
  • the plugs 7 and 8 shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 5 show the arming circuits, while 36 and 37 represent the unarmed or transit phase plugs.
  • the plug 39 is a test plug which has a series of leads 40 which can be taken to test instruments when such a plug is placed into either the socket 5 or the socket 6.
  • the purpose of the lead 26 is to allow testing of the switch when the testing plug 39 is inserted. the leads from the contacts 26 and 27 then allowing bridging of the switch shown between these leads.
  • the plugs 7 and 8 carry the wiring which will place all operative members into the circuit so as to form the arming plugs, which plugs will be painted in a distinctive color, preferably red. or will otherwise be distinctive to ensure that they indicate the armed state of. The flare.
  • the transit plugs 36 and 37 of course are blanks so that no circuit can be made when these are in position, these again being painted in a distinctive color. such as green or otherwise identified so that the required safety is ensured.
  • the test plug is so arranged that when it is inserted the various members to be tested are connected into external test means.
  • the flare body can be attached to the rocket or the like by any convenient means, but forms a completely self-contained unit which can at that stage be readily tested because the nose cone can be unscrewed to release the plugs, or the plugs can be changed from transit to arm.
  • An inertia operated flare comprising a tlare body having front and rear ends, a charge in said body, an nition fuse at the rear of said body to ignite said arge, a component compartment in the front of said body, an energizing mechanism in said component compartment, socket means in the front part of the said body, a nose cone adapted for being mounted on the trout of said body, electrical connections between said energizing mechanism and said fuse, means for removably securing the nose cone to the body, and interchangeable i'unction controlling plugs engageable in said socket means, time to establish a safe transit condition, a second to establish an armed condition, and a third to establish a testing condition.
  • An inertia operated flare according to claim 1 wherein said energizing mechanism comprises a battery and tin inertia switch in said compartment, the electrical connections between said energizing mechanism and said Ii'use extending externally of said body.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Air Bags (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
US563575A 1965-07-09 1966-07-07 Inertia operated flare Expired - Lifetime US3391640A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU61283/65A AU6128365A (en) 1965-07-09 1965-07-09 Inertia operated flare

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3391640A true US3391640A (en) 1968-07-09

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ID=3746311

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US563575A Expired - Lifetime US3391640A (en) 1965-07-09 1966-07-07 Inertia operated flare

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3391640A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AU (1) AU6128365A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1150564A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE325805B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3475572A (en) * 1968-03-05 1969-10-28 Gen Electric Acceleration actuated switch with explosive charge and thermitic material
US5390581A (en) * 1994-03-23 1995-02-21 The United States Of America Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Marker beacon case
US5561259A (en) * 1994-10-13 1996-10-01 Alliant Techsystems Inc. Decoy flare with sequencer ignition

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2642801A (en) * 1947-06-09 1953-06-23 Us Sec War Acceleration switch delayed arming fuse
US2829596A (en) * 1954-12-17 1958-04-08 Unexcelled Chemical Corp Tracking flares

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2642801A (en) * 1947-06-09 1953-06-23 Us Sec War Acceleration switch delayed arming fuse
US2829596A (en) * 1954-12-17 1958-04-08 Unexcelled Chemical Corp Tracking flares

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3475572A (en) * 1968-03-05 1969-10-28 Gen Electric Acceleration actuated switch with explosive charge and thermitic material
US5390581A (en) * 1994-03-23 1995-02-21 The United States Of America Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy Marker beacon case
US5561259A (en) * 1994-10-13 1996-10-01 Alliant Techsystems Inc. Decoy flare with sequencer ignition

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6128365A (en) 1968-01-04
GB1150564A (en) 1969-04-30
SE325805B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-07-06

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