Patent Application
20110146520
The invention relates to a flare and to the capability for improved flare ignition. In particular, the invention relates to a flare provided with novel and rapid ignition of coated films with active pyrotechnic substances for the production of a pyrotechnic signature with the aim of producing a camouflage screen etc., for the protection of vehicles and objects, for example, aircraft against heat-seeking threats, for example, surface-to-air rockets.
Pyrotechnic films provided with a pyrotechnic coating, for example red phosphorus, are used in various cartridges, in order to spontaneously cover a surface with hot particles in order, for example, to mask out a thermal image. In this case, the carrier is broken up with the aid of a central fuse charge. During break up, a flame front and a pressure front are formed, which, on the one hand, distribute the pyrotechnic films over an area, and, on the other hand, produce a flame front, thereby igniting the pyrotechnic films.
At the moment, Class 1 break-up systems are used to produce these massive pyrotechnic effects. This results in a very high classification of the active system and prevents use for protection, for example, of civilian aircraft, because it is forbidden to carry Class 1 substances/appliances in aircraft such as civilian aircraft.
The purpose for the present invention, in this context, is to provide a flare having a flare ignition that also allows use of the flare for/in civilian aircraft, vehicles, objects, etc. In other words, an object of the present invention is to provide a flare that has a flare ignition system that permits its use for civilian purposes (i.e., with civilian aircraft, civilian vehicles, and the like), and that is not limited to use with military aircraft, vehicles, and the like.
The object of the invention is achieved by the features of a first embodiment, which pertains to a flare (10) for the production of a pyrotechnic signature with the aim of producing a camouflage screen etc., for the protection of vehicles and objects, the flare (10) is characterized in that the flare (10) is polygonal and coated, with the number of corners (E) being greater than three. Further advantages are achieved by the following additional embodiments, in accordance with the present invention.
In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, the flare ignition for the ejectable flare (10) according to the first embodiment is modified so that contactless igniting is carried out by heat transfer within a type of tube or tubular connecting stub (1) with heating elements, wherein the tubular connecting stub (1) has a conically tapering shape. In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, the second embodiment is modified so that the tubular connecting stub (1) can be heated electrically and by a burner.
In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, an ejection system (2) having flare ignition is provided, wherein the flare ignition is that provided by the second embodiment or the third embodiment, which is further characterized by an acceleration unit (3), which is disposed adjacent to the tube (1) and the heat decoupling (4), wherein the heat decoupling (4) is located between the acceleration unit (3) and the tube (1). In accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention, the fourth embodiment is modified so that the diagonal (DF) between the corners (E) of the flare (10) is greater than the front internal diameter (DIR-2) but is less than or equal to the rear internal diameter (DIR-1) of the tubular connecting stub (1). In accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention, the fourth embodiment and the fifth embodiment are further modified so that the flares (10) can be accelerated mechanically, pneumatically or pyrotechnically. The present invention is based on the idea of achieving the ignition of the flare contactlessly, for example, by heat transfer. To this end, a specific temperature that is higher than the ignition temperature of pyrotechnic films coating the flare is produced and is transmitted to the pyrotechnic films, so that they are ignited by the heat transfer.
This ignited flare is then carried out from the interior of the tubular connecting stub 1 so that the ignited flare is ejected by the ejection system 2 as the flare moves in the axial direction.
The solution principle is represented by a tubular connecting stub, which can be heated to the specific temperature and, preferably, tapers conically, by means of which the films, provided with a pyrotechnic or comparable coating that can be ignited, are ignited during axial relative movement. The coated films are ignited in the tubular connecting stub and travel inside the tubular connecting stub while burning until the ignited flare is ejected by a flare ejection system.
When the coated polygonal films move relatively in the heated tubular connecting stub, their corners slide along the connecting stub length and are ignited by the heat transfer produced in the corners that are in contact with the tube or tubular connecting stub.
The tapering barrel is, therefore, one preferred embodiment to ensure ignition. The contact surface between the coated film and the (conical) tubular connecting stub increases continuously during relative movement, and, as a consequence, increases the functional reliability of the ignition mechanism.
The heating of the (conical) tubular connecting stub can be carried out both electrically (i.e., by electrical heating elements) and by a burner, etc. An advantage provided by the present invention is that the active signature of the flare starts without delay of ejection of the burning coated films of the flare, and enhances the effectiveness of the protection system.
The coated films preferably have a specific polygonal geometry. The functional reliability of the ignition mechanism is, in this case, increased in proportion to the number of corners of the coated films of the flare.
The coated films can be deployed individually, and in layers in a pack; thus, considerably enhancing the effectiveness of the protection system. Radial rotation of the coated film is irrelevant to the effectiveness itself of the ignition system of the present invention.
The advantages of this ignition system are not only the very high functional reliability with a low failure rate, but little maintenance effort, low costs and adequate safety for transport and when in operation. This is achieved because the coated films are accelerated in a separate acceleration system, which is at the same time decoupled from the heat, before the heated tube or tubular connecting stub. The coated films can be accelerated mechanically (for example, by a spindle drive of the acceleration unit of the flare deployment system), pneumatically (for example, by compressed air from a pneumatic system of the acceleration unit of the flare deployment system), or else pyrotechnically (e.g., by using a pyrotechnic mechanism).
The ignition system of the present invention is suitable not only for protection of civilian aircraft but also for protection of vehicles, buildings, moving and/or stationary objects of any type (i.e., civilian or military), and of marine vessels because of the characteristics of the flares, which provide visual (smoke) and infrared concealment.
The present invention will be explained in more detail using one exemplary embodiment, and with reference to the drawings, in which:
In
In sum then, the ignition system of the present invention includes a heating element 22 of the deployment system 2, wherein the heating element is a burner or an electrical device (See
The ignition system of the present invention operates in a manner similar to the ignition system disclosed by DE 10 2009 020 558 A1, and its corresponding U.S. patent application No. 12/969,253, filed Dec. 15, 2010. Both DE 10 2009 020 558 A1 and U.S. patent application No. 12/969,253 are incorporated herein by reference for all they disclose.
The described exemplary embodiment is one preferred embodiment. Alternatively, the heatable tubular connecting stub may also have a constant internal diameter. Conditions can then be created that allow adequate ignition of the flare 10, which can be achieved, for example, by the configuration of the flare 10 such that it should then be considerably larger than the internal diameter of the tubular connecting stub, in order that the corners of the flare can thus also come into contact with the heatable inner wall 1a of the tube. In order to ensure adequate ignition, the films 11 could, for example, have corners that can be bent over, via which the heat transfer then likewise takes place, when the film is accelerated along the inner wall of the tube or tubular connecting stub.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2008 064 638.5 | Jun 2008 | DE | national |
This is a Continuation-in-Part Application in the United States of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2009/004113 filed Jun. 8, 2009, which claims priority on German Patent Application No. 10 2008 064 638.5, filed Jun. 16, 2008. The entire disclosures of the above patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2009/004113 | Jun 2009 | US |
| Child | 12970585 | US |
