US3678857A

US3678857A - Aerosol disseminator

Info

Publication number: US3678857A
Application number: US119281A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert W Evans; Richard C Grimm; Myron A Olstein
Original assignee: Susquehanna Corp
Current assignee: Susquehanna Corp
Priority date: 1971-02-26
Filing date: 1971-02-26
Publication date: 1972-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-25

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention disclosed herein shows a twocompartment disseminator for generating aerosols of smoke, poisons, gases, and other lethal and non-lethal agents. One disseminator compartment houses the propellant and the other compartment houses the agent. A bulkhead separates the two compartments. Sonic nozzles are formed in this bulkhead. The gases generated by propellant combustion are vented through these nozzles at sonic velocity into passageways formed in the solid agent. The agent is eroded, finely atomized and vaporized by the gases and expelled through exit orifices. The vaporized agent now condenses into minute particles to form with the gas an aerosol having long-term effectiveness. Close control of agent concentrations and dissemination time is also achieved.

Description

United States Patent Evans et al. 1 July 25, 1972 [54] AEROSOL DISSEMINATOR 3,396,659 8/1968 Akhagen ..102 45 x [72] Inventors: Robert w. Evans Hemdom Richard 3,352,238 11/1967 Spragg etal. ..102/39 Grimm, Triangle; Myron A. Olstein, Fairfax, both of Va.

[73] Assignee: The Susquehanna Corporation, Fairfax,

[22] Filed: Feb. 26, 1971 [21] Appl. N0.: 119,281

[52] U.S.Cl ,.l02/39,23/28l [51] Int. Cl ..F42b 5/20 [58] Field ofSearch ..102/39, 70, 45, 86.5; 23/281; 60/39, 47

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,305,319 2/1967 Kowalick et a1. ..l02/49 X 3,558,285 1/1971 Ciccone et a]. ..lO2/39 X 3,515,518 6/1970 Halstead et a], 102/39 X 2,926,607 3/1960 Muller, Jr. et a1 ..l02/45 X Primary Examiner-Robert F, Stahl Atmrne v-Martha L. Ross 57] ABSTRACT An embodiment of the invention disclosed herein shows a two-compartment disseminator for generating aerosols of smoke, poisons, gases, and other lethal and non-lethal agents. One disseminator compartment houses the propellant and the other compartment houses the agent. A bulkhead separates the two compartments. Sonic nozzles are formed in this bulkhead. The gases generated by propellant combustion are vented through these nozzles at sonic velocity into passageways formed in the solid agent, The agent is eroded, finely atomized and vaporized by the gases and expelled through exit orifices. The vaporized agent now condenses into minute particles to form with the gas an aerosol having longterm efi'ectiveness. Close control of agent concentrations and dissemination time is also achieved.

16 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,857

INVENTORS ROBERT W EVA/V5 RICHARD C. GAP/MM Mrfio/v A. OLSTE/A/ 50 BY QwWVEY AEROSOL DISSEMINATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement in disseminators, and more particularly to a two-compartment disseminator useful for forming aerosols of smoke, poisons, gases, and other lethal and non-lethal agents.

In the dissemination of agents of this type, it is desirable for the agent to remain suspended in the dispersing gas for suffrcient time to allow the agent to perform effectively its intended function. If the particle size of the dispersed agent is too large, the rapid settling of the agent particles out of the aerosol suspension will lower the effectiveness of the aerosol as well as reduce the effective area coverage.

It can also be an important factor as regards agent effectiveness if the agent can be disseminated in a rapid and concentrated manner. Where the agent is directed against personnel, rapid dissemination eliminates the opportunity for individuals against whom the agent is directed to take protective action or to seize the disseminator and throw or launch it back in a i return direction. Rapid dissemination of aerosol with longtermagent residence will also provide a relatively large openarea coverage.

It has been discovered that in a two-compartment agent disseminator, the above-described advantages can be attained if there is sonic flow of the hot combustion gases from the combustion compartment or chamber into the compartment housing the agent. The sonic flow is directed along a path which causes the gases to contact the exposed surfaces of the agent, resulting in vaporization and rapid expulsion of the agent. The vaporized agent condenses into minute, solid particles which with the carrier combustion gas form an aerosol.

The flow of gases at sonic velocity causes virtually all of the agent to be vaporized. The gases cause what appears to be an erosion of the molded or tightly-pressed solid agent whereby it becomes liquefied and finely atomized. The atomized particles are then vaporized by the heat of the gas and carried by this high-velocity gas out of the disseminator. In the aerosol cloud which is formed, it is preferred that the condensed agent particles be predominantly of the micron-range size which will result in prolonged suspension of agent in the aerosol. This gives an improved effectiveness to the aerosol as compared with state-of the-art agent disseminators by providing operative agent concentrations for an extended period of time.

The rate of erosion of the agent is proportional to the mass flow of combustion gases. The use of sonic flow enables high mass flow rates to be obtained. Thus, sonic flow provides a capability for very rapid generation of effective agent concentrations. The combination of this result with the prolonged suspension of agent particles also gives an increase in effective area coverage for the agent in open areas or increased agent concentrations in a confined area when compared with the prior art systems.

In the past, a variety of two-compartment agent disseminators have been designed; but generally these do not provide an aerosol with long-term residence of the agent particles or have a capability for high mass flow rates to provide rapid dissemination of the agent.

For example, the U.S. Pat. to Bradner No. Re. 1 6,841 shows a two'compartment disseminator in which the generated gases pass through a large stack into the chamber that houses the agent and then over the agent to heat and volitize it and carry off the agent as a toxic vapor. The combustion gases are kept cool by an exchange of heat to avoid decomposition of the agent. Dissemination of the agent according to Bradner would be a relatively slow process. Furthermore, the cooling of the gases might lead to incomplete vaporization and a resulting undesired settling rate.

The U.S. Pat. to Stevenson No. 2,730,482 also shows a twocompartment disseminating device. The agent and propellant compartments are separated by a screen or perforated plate through which the hot combustion gases freely flow to contact intimately with a large free-surface area of a loosely-packed solid agent. No provision is made for sonic ejection of the combustion gases into the agent compartment to vaporize the agent to form upon condensation the small particle size desired for long residence in the aerosol.

The U.S. Pat. to York et al. No. 3,109,82l discloses the use of a two-compartment disseminating device in which the heat transferred to the agent is closely controlled to avoid its decomposition. York et al. use a system in which the agent is first caused to melt and the melted agent caused to flow into an orifice where it is aspirated by the adjacent flow of combustion gases. The combustion gases are stated to be a high velocity gas stream which atomizes and vaporizes the melted agent. However, the York et al. patent fails to recognize the advantages of or even the need for sonic ejection, namely, the ability to increase the residence time of the agent in the aerosol by eroding and vaporizing essentially all of a solid agent so that it condenses'to fine particles in the desired micron-sized range, and the capability of having high mass flow rates. Furthermore, the York et al. system is, of necessity, more complex in design and structure of having to provide the additional means for melting and causing flow of the agent.

In the U.S. Pat. to Spragg et al. No. 3,352,238, the propellant compartment is separated from the agent compartment by a screen which limits the flame front produced by the propellant charge. The generated gases flow through the screen into holes formed in the solid agent, the holes becoming gradually enlarged as the agent is disseminated. Spragg et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,238 states that the gases which are generated provide a relatively high velocity stream through the agent so that there is a limited heat exchange, and thereby minimization of thermal decomposition of the agent. However, this patent teaches that only a minor portion of the agent is actually vaporized by the hot gases, this purportedly being an advantage of the construction and operation of the disclosed disseminator. Spragg et al. thus also fails to recognize the advantages to be secured by having sonic ejection of the combustion gases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the provision of an aerosol disseminator in which the propellant or gas-generating composition compartment is separated from the compartment housing the agent. One or more apertures are provided in the structure separating the compartments. When the composition is ignited, the hot gases which are generated by the burning of the composition raise the pressure in the compartment to a level sufficient to cause sonic flow through the one or more apertures. The apertures are arranged to cause the sonic flow of hot gases to contact the agent so that the agent will become vaporized and discharged from the disseminator. The agent then condenses as minute particles whose size is such that they remain suspended in the carrier gas and resist settling for a period of time sufficient for the agent to be fully effective. The sonic flow of hot gases permits tailoring of the mass flow rate and burn time to provide a rapid vaporization and ejection of the agent such that a voluminous, concentrated aerosol suspension is quickly formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of FIG. .1 adapted to fit a conventional munition package; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary crosssectional view of a modifica tion of a portion of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to the drawings in which a cross-sectional schematic of a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1 for purposes of illustration, a disseminator is depicted having a gas generator 10 and agent 12 arranged in tandem fashion within an outer casing 14. Separating the interior of the disseminator into two compartments is a stationary bulkhead or plate 16 having one or more nozzle orifices 18. Each nozzle orifice is aligned with a perforation or passageway 20 formed longitudinally in agent 12. A conventional fuze/igniter assembly 22 is positioned at one end of the disseminator casing 14 and reposes within the central perforation of the gas generator 10. At the opposite end of the disseminator, exit orifices 24 are provided in communication with the passageways 20 of the agent. These orifices 24 are shown as being canted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the disseminator.

In the operation of the disseminator shown in FIG. 1, the fuze/igniter combination 22 is caused to ignite by impact, time delay or in any other desired way. The gas generator becomes ignited and burns. The gas generator compartment functions as a combustion chamber and the gases which are generated build the pressure in this chamber up to a level which causes sonic flow of these gases through the noules 18. The sonic flow or streams of these hot combustion gases are now directed through the passageways and vented externally of the disseminator through exit orifices 24.

As the hot gases flow through the passageways 20, they briefly contact and erode the exposed surface of the agent 12. The eroded portion becomes liquefied and finely atomized by this gas flow, and then vaporized by the heat of gas; and the vaporized particles are carried by the gases through exit orifices 24. The vaporized particles now condense to minute solid particles to form with the combustion gases the desired aerosol cloud.

Sonic flow of the gas is critical. At this velocity, virtually all of the eroded agent is finely atomized and vaporized. The resulting agent particles which condense in the aerosol have been observed, in the case of dissemination of CS agent, to be primarily 1 micron in size; however, the particle size will vary based upon the type of agent employed, its molecular weight, and other factors. As long as the size of the particles is within the 0.1 to 3.5 micron range, undesired settling of the agent out of the aerosol should be deterred, although this range of sizes is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention.

The utilization of sonic flow provides the capability to control precisely mass flow rates of the combustion gases and the burning time of the gas-generating composition. The rate of agent erosion is proportional to mass flow rate, and agent dissemination time is, of course, essentially coincident with burning time. Thus, sonic flow permits close control of agent concentrations and agent dissemination time. It has been found that for many applications large mass flow rates and short dissemination times are preferred and the gas-generating grain and sonic nozzles can be designed accordingly.

The actual design function is facilitated by the utilization of sonic flow because recourse can now be had to conventional rocket motor internal ballistics. Such factors as nozzle sizing, burning rates, grain configuration and the like can be readily solved by the use of conventional techniques and formulas for the mass flow rate and combustion time dictated by or desired for the planned end use of the agent.

To ensure continuous sonic flow, the pressure within the combustion chamber compared to the pressure with the agent compartment must be kept at a ratio of about two-to-one or greater in accordance with standard design practice. Care must be taken during operation that the pressure in the agent compartment does not increase to a level that causes pressure fluctuations in the combustion chamber and a loss of sonic flow. To prevent this from occurring, the exit orifices 24 are preferably sized to be at least twice the cross-sectional area of the sonic nozzles 18.

FIG. 2 is included to illustrate how the present invention, such as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, can be adapted to fit a conventional munition package.

FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a riot-control grenade having a generally cylindrical body closed at each end by

circular plates

32 and 34, the latter commonly known as a bouchon plate. The plates are secured by a plurality of pins 36 spaced around the periphery of the body 30 at each end or by any other conventional means.

The interior of the grenade is divided into two compartments by a stationary nozzle plate or bulkhead 38 which is shown as welded to the inside surface of body 30. One compartment 40 serves as the combustion chamber and houses the propellant grain 42 and fuze/igniter assembly 44. The other compartment 46 contains the agent 47.

The nozzle plate 38 has a plurality of nozzle openings 48 sized to vent the gases generated in compartment 40 at sonic velocity into compartment 46. Aligned with each nozzle 48 is a longitudinal passageway 50 formed in the agent 46 for passage of the combustion gases.

Plate 32 contains a centrally-located exit orifice 52 aligned with the passageway 50 at the longitudinal axis of the grenade. Orifice 52 vents the hot gases and vaporized agent axially of the grenade. Additional exit orifices 54 are formed in the periphery of the body 30 adjacent to plate 32. These orifices 54 communicate with the passageways 50 which are parallel with but offset from the longitudinal axis of the grenade. These latter passageways, as shown, are formed with a rightangle turn at the inside face of plate 32. Orifices 54 vent the hot gases and vaporized agent radially out from and omnidirectionally about grenade body 30.

The remaining structure of the grenade includes a conventional propellant inhibitor 56, and a spacer ring 58 positioned to cushion the propellant grain 42 and to space the grain from nozzle plate 38 to ensure communication between the nozzles 48 and chamber 40. The grenade also has a conventional pullring and pin assembly 60 and arming handle 62 positioned at the top of the fuze/igniter assembly 44. The latter assembly is screw-mounted into the grenade at bouchon 34.

A riot-control grenade is an example of where it is preferred to have an extremely fast dissemination of the riot-control agent in order to avoid the opportunity for a rioter to pick up and hurl back the grenade prior to the complete dissemination of the agent. The above-described grenade can readily meet this requirement without the need to explode the grenade or subject the rioters to fragment hazards. The propellant 42 and sonic nozzles 48 are accordingly designed to give a high mass flow rate of generated gases at sonic velocity so that the agent 47 is quickly eroded, atomized, vaporized and discharged from the grenade once the propellant is ignited. The result is the nearly instantaneous generation of the aerosol cloud. The kinetic energy of the gas causes a further expansion of the cloud even after the agent has been completely expelled from the grenade so that a large open area is quickly encompassed by the aerosol. The particles of agent being of the desired small size remain suspended in the carrier gas to effect the riot-control function. In practice, 40 grams of CS have been disseminated in one second. The gases vented through the exit orifice 52 impart a skittering thrust to the grenade to deter seizure by the rioters and also increase area coverage.

Canting of the exit orifices, such as shown in FIG. 1, serves to increase the lateral width of the aerosol cloud by ejecting the gas and vaporized agent at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the disseminator. Similarly, the side orifices 54 (FIG. 2), which in effect are canted at a angle, cause a marked increase in the lateral width of the cloud. The gases vented through any exit orifice having a thrust component along the longitudinal axis will cause thrusting of the disseminator and thereby an increase in area coverage by the aerosol which is formed. If desired, exit orifices such as 24 (FIG. 1) and 52 (FIG. 2) can be provided with expansion cones to increase the velocity of the ejected gases and vaporized agent with a resulting increase in the size of the aerosol cloud.

While FIG. 2 depicts one type of munition package suitable as a disseminator, it is merely representative of munition packages which can be used. The disseminator is equally adaptable to other types of munition vehicles including, as examples, rocket warheads, artillery rounds, and prime munition vehicles. As regards the last type, the disseminator would be classed as a submunition and could be provided in large numbers or clusters for dispensing over a wide target area prior to actuation.

The use of the present disseminator is not limited solely to munitions, nor must the disseminator necessarily be thrown or launched to be effective. For example, it could be used as a stationary smoke marker or insecticide disseminator, or positioned in a bank or other building to thwart robbers by dissemination of an ineapacitating agent or the like when triggered. If desired, the disseminator can serve both as the vehicle and the payload by utilizing the ejected gases and vaporized agent to launch and/or sustain the disseminator in flight. Uses for such versatile devices are readily foreseen in crop-dusting and the laying of smokescreens, for example.

The external configuration of the disseminator is likewise not critical although only tubular embodiments have been illustrated herein. The end use will be some extent dictate the shapeof the disseminator package but rectangular, cube and even pie-shapes are readily foreseeable. Additionally, the exit orifices which vent the combustion gases and vaporized agent to the outside can be selectively positioned to attain the desired aerosol plume pattern.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modification of FIG. 2. As before, bulkhead or plate 38 is made stationary within body 30 and is positioned to separate the propellant 42 from agent 47.

The plate 38 contains several alternative arrangements for nozzles 48. The uppermost part of plate 38 shows a plurality of nozzles 48a in communication with a single passageway 50, in contrast with the single nozzle per passageway construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Also, these nozzles 48a are here shown as being canted so that the combustion gases will be directed into passageway 50 at a slight angle. This canting changes the flow path of the hot gases and results in increasing the erosion rate of the agent 47. Thus, less propellant is required to vaporize the agent and higher agent-to-propellant loading ratios can be realized.

The central part of plate 38 in FIG. 3 shows a nozzle 48b opening into a milled dome 49 formed downstream in the plate. The dome 49 permits free expansion of the gases venting through nozzle 48b at sonic velocity. If desired, nozzle 48b can be canted as described above. If a controlled expansion is preferred, the dome 49 can be replaced with an expansion cone of the type conventionally used in the design of rocket motor nozzles.

The variety of agents which can be disseminated find utility as insecticides, rescue and marker smokes, and antipersonnel toxicants, all by way of example. It is feasible to disseminate insecticides such as DDT, TEPP and Chlordane, among others; and various dye stuffs for the production of smokes such as l-methylaminoanthraquinone; l,4-ditoluidinoanthraquinone, among others. It is also feasible as re gard antipersonnel agents to disseminate a variety of harrassing, nauseating, incapacitating and lethal agents such as CS, tear gas, mustard gas, and DM, among others. The agent is solid and can be cast or can be formed as a tightly-pressed powder, and is shaped to fit in the space provided in the disseminator device. The quantity of agent used will be based upon the volume and characteristics of the gas-generator so that essentially all of the agent will be vaporized and ejected from the disseminator. In the case of CS agent, ejection efficiencies have been found to be consistently at least 95 percent. Furthermore, the recovery efiiciencies, that is, the amount of agent which is disseminated in the effective particle sizes, have consistently been on the order of 90 percent, which is a significant improvement over the state-of-the-art disseminators.

The gas-generating compositions are preferably in a cast solid form to facilitate their shaping and loading, but other types can obviously be used. The particular compositions selected are not critical provided the gases which are generated do not adversely affect the chemical structure or performance of the agent, or cause untenable environmental results as the carrier gas of the aerosol. A likely source of candidate compositions occur in the solid propellant field, the state-of-the-art of which is well defined and readily available in the published literature and issued patents.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been particularly shown and described, it is apparent that various modifications may be made therein within the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is to be understood, therefore, that only such limitations be placed on the invention as are imposed by the prior art and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A disseminator for generating aerosols of lethal or nonlethal agents comprising:

a. a first compartment, said first compartment including:

1. a gas-generating composition;

b. A second compartment separate from said first compart' ment, said second compartment including:

I. an expellable agent having a composition which permits vaporization by the gases generated in the first compartment, and which condenses as agent particles after expulsion from the disseminator,

2. at least one passageway for providing gas-flowing contact with said agent;

c. means for igniting said gas-generating composition;

d. means for separating said first and second compartments;

e. said separating means defining at least one sonic orifice providing communication between said first and second compartments for venting gases, generated by the burning of said composition in said first compartment, at sonic velocity into said second compartment such that said generated gases flow through said at least one passageway to contact and cause vaporization of the agent therein, said gases and vaporized agent being expelled from the disseminator to provide an aerosol of condensed agent particles and carrier gas.

2. A disseminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a. said first and second compartments are arranged in tandem;

b. said separating means is a bulkhead positioned between and separating said compartments;

c. said sonic orifice being formed in said bulkhead.

3. A disseminator as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

a. said sonic orifice is canted.

4. A disseminator as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a. A plurality of sonic orifices formed in said bulkhead;

b. a plurality of passageways formed in said agent in said second compartment;

c. said sonic orifices being aligned to vent generated gases into said plurality of passageways.

5. A disseminator as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

a. a plurality of exit orifices formed in communication with said plurality of passageways for venting the generated gases and vaporized agent externally of said disseminator, whereby an aerosol of said agent is formed.

6. A disseminator as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

a. said sonic orifices are canted.

7. A disseminator as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

a. more than one sonic on'fice is aligned to vent generated gases into each of said plurality of passageways.

8. A disseminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

a. said separating means is a bulkhead positioned between and separating said compartments;

b. said sonic orifice being formed in said bulkhead.

9. A disseminator as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a. a plurality of sonic orifices formed in said bulkhead.

10. A disseminator as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

a. said sonic orifices are canted.

11. A disseminator as claimed in claim 9, further comprismg:

a. a plurality of passageways formed in said agent in said second compartment;

b. said sonic orifices being aligned to vent generated gases into said plurality of passageways.

12. A disseminator as claimed in claim 11, further comprisa. a plurality of exit orifices formed in communication with said plurality of passageways for venting the generated gases and vaporized agent externally of said disseminator. whereby an aerosol of said agent is formed.

13. A disseminator for generating aerosols of lethal or nonlethal agents comprising:

a. a disseminator housing;

b. a stationary bulkhead positioned within said housing to divide the interior of said housing into first and second compartments;

c. said first compartment functioning as a combustion chamber and including:

1. a propellant grain, 2. an igniter for said grain;

d. said second compartment including: i g

l ari'expe'llabl'e solid agent filling substantially the entire second compartment, said agent having a composition which permits vaporization by the gases generated in the first compartment, and which condenses as agent particles after expulsion from the disseminator, 2. a plurality of passageways formed in said agent; e. a plurality of sonic nozzles formed in said bulkhead, said sonic nozzles establishing communication between said first and second compartments,

1. each of said sonic nozzles being positioned to direct combustion gases, generated in said combustion chamber upon ignition and burning of said propellant, into at least one of said plurality of passageways at sonic velocity whereby said agent is vaporized by said combustion gases;

f. a plurality of exit orifices formed at one end of said housing, said exit orifices being in communication with said plurality of passageways to vent the combustion gases and vaporized agent externally of said disseminator, whereby an aerosol of condensed agent particles is formed.

14. A disseminator as claimed in claim 13 wherein:

a. said housing is ofsubstantially tubular shape; and

b. said bulkhead is positioned transversely to the longitu- W dinal axis of said housing. 15. A disseminator as claimed in claim 14, wherein: a. more than one sonic nozzle is positioned to direct combustion gases into each of said plurality of passageways. 16. A disseminator as claimed in claim 14, wherein: a. said sonic nozzles are canted.

I II

Claims

1. A disseminator for generating aerosols of lethal or nonlethal agents comprising: a. a first compartment, said first compartment including: 1. a gas-generating composition; b. A second compartment separate from said first compartment, said second compartment including: 1. an expellable agent having a composition which permits vaporization by the gases generated in the first compartment, and which condenses as agent particles after expulsion from the disseminator, 2. at least one passageway for providing gas-flowing contact with said agent; c. means for igniting said gas-generating composition; d. means for separating said first and second compartments; e. said separating means defining at least one sonic orifice providing communication between said first and second compartments for venting gases, generated by the burning of said composition in said first compartment, at sonic velocity into said second compartment such that said generated gases flow through said at least one passageway to contact and cause vaporization of the agent therein, said gases and vaporized agent being expelled from the disseminator to provide an aerosol of condensed agent particles and carrier gas.

2. A disseminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a. said first and second compartments are arranged in tandem; b. said separating means is a bulkhead positioned between and separating said compartments; c. said sonic orifice being formed in said bulkhead.

2. an igniter for said grain; d. said second compartment including: 1 an expellable solid agent filling substantially the entire second compartment, said agent having a composition which permits vaporization by the gases generated in the first compartment, and which condenses as agent particles after expulsion from the disseminator,

2. a plurality of passageways formed in said agent; e. a plurality of sonic nozzles formed in said bulkhead, said sonic nozzles establishing communication between said first and second compartments,

2. at least one passageway for providing gas-flowing contact with said agent; c. means for igniting said gas-generating composition; d. means for separating said first and second compartments; e. said separating means defining at least one sonic orifice providing communication between said first and second compartments for venting gases, generated by the burning of said composition in said first compartment, at sonic velocity into said second compartment such that said generated gases flow through said at least one passageway to contact and cause vaporization of the agent therein, said gases and vaporized agent being expelled from the disseminator to provide an aerosol of condensed agent particles and carrier gas.

3. A disseminator as claimed in claim 2, wherein: a. said sonic orifice is canted.

4. A disseminator as claimed in claim 2, further comprising: a. A plurality of sonic orifices formed in said bulkhead; b. a plurality of passageways formed in said agent in said second compartment; c. said sonic orifices being aligned to vent generated gases into said plurality of passageways.

5. A disseminator as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a. a plurality of exit orifices formed in communication with said plurality of passageways for venting the generated gases and vaporized agent externally of said disseminator, whereby an aerosol of said agent is formed.

6. A disseminator as claimed in claim 4, wherein: a. said sonic orifices are canted.

7. A disseminator as claimed in claim 5, wherein: a. more than one sonic orifice is aligned to vent generated gases into each of said plurality of passageways.

8. A disseminator as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a. said separating means is a bulkhead positioned between and separating said compartments; b. said sonic orifice being formed in said bulkhead.

9. A disseminator as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a. a plurality of sonic orifices formed in said bulkhead.

10. A disseminator as claimed in claim 9, wherein: a. said sonic orifices are canted.

11. A disseminator as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a. a plurality of passageways formed in said agent in said second compartment; b. said sonic orifices being aligned to vent generated gases into said plurality of passageways.

12. A disseminator as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: a. a plurality of exit orifices formed in communication with said plurality of passageways for venting the generated gases and vaporized agent externally of said disseminator, whereby an aerosol of said agent is formed.

13. A disseminator for generating aerosols of lethal or non-lethal agents comprising: a. a disseminator housing; b. a stationary bulkhead positioned within said housing to divide the interior of said housing into first and second compartments; c. said first compartment functioning as a combustion chamber and including:

14. A disseminator as claimed in claim 13 wherein: a. said housing is of substantially tubular shape; and b. said bulkhead is positioned transversely to the longitudinal axis of said housing.

15. A disseminator as claimed in claim 14, wherein: a. more than one sonic nozzle is positioned to direct combustion gases into each of said plurality of passageways.

16. A disseminator as claimed in claim 14, wherein: a. said sonic nozzles are canted.