Packaging kit for pyrotechnic materials loading
AssigneeGeneral Dynamics, Pomona Division
InventorSpencer J. Speer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A preformed cup for receiving and retaining pyrotechnic materials including provision for hermetic sealing against entry of disabling matter and moisture, to be inserted, after sealing, into a conventional casing in such manner as to maintain close proximity with ignition devices as provided in standard pyrotechnic systems. Close proximity of the contained pyrotechnic materials to an associated igniter is permissible with safety, regardless of the volume of material loaded or the "G" loads encountered. The device permits loading of hazardous pyrotechnic materials on an off-line basis, independently of final assembly of devices used as practice rounds in anti-armor missiles and the like.
Claims17
A packaging kit for pyrotechnic materials which comprises:
- a preformed cup of generally cylindrical configuration, closed at the bottom and open at the top, having a radially outwardly projecting lip extending about the open end;
- a sheet-like cover for hermetically sealing the cup by attachment about the periphery of the cover to the cup lip after the cup is filled to a preselected bulk density with pyrotechnic materials;
- a cup-like casing of configuration and dimension selected to receive the preformed cup therein with minimal spacing between the inner surface of the casing wall and the outer wall surface of the cup, said casing being of substantially rigid construction for protecting the cup and its contents against deformation or rupture from forces normally encountered in the handling of the cup and casing combination, the casing being longer than the cup by a predetermined dimension with a selected spacing between the bottom of the cup and the bottom of the casing being maintained by virtue of the lip of the cup engaging the upper end of the casing;
- a casing plug for insertion in the open end of the casing to push the cup a predetermined distance into the casing and to retain the cup in said position within the casing by crimping of the cup lip and outer cover portion between the plug and the casing;
- and
- means defining an opening in the bottom of the casing for receiving an igniter in a position adjacent to but spaced from the bottom of the cup within the casing.
A pyrotechnic materials package comprising:
- a preformed cup of generally cylindrical configuration, open at the top and closed at the bottom, and having a radially outwardly projecting lip extending about the open end;
- an amount of pyrotechnic materials within said cup sufficient to fill the cup to a predetermined bulk density of material when the cup is closed;
- a disc-like cover hermetically sealed to the cup by joining the outer periphery of the cover to the cup lip;
- a generally cylindrical casing being open at one end and closed at the other, said casing containing the cup in close proximity to the inner wall of the casing with the lip of the cup being constrained adjacent the open end of the casing to retain the cup in position within the casing;
- a plug inserted in the open end of the casing, bearing against the cover and crimping the lip of the cup and outer periphery of the cover between the periphery of the plug and the adjacent inner wall of the casing;
- means in the closed end of the casing defining an opening for receiving an igniter;
- and
- an igniter fixedly positioned in said opening, the casing being sufficiently longer than the cup to position the igniter adjacent to but spaced from the bottom of the cup.
The method of fabricating a pyrotechnic materials package comprising the steps of:
- selecting a preformed cup of generally cylindrical configuration, open at the top and closed at the bottom, and having a radially outwardly projecting lip about the open end;
- filling the cup with a predetermined charge of pyrotechnic material to develop a selected bulk density of contents when the package is closed;
- selecting a thin plastic cover and hermetically sealing the cup by attachment of the periphery of the cover to the lip of the cup;
- placing the sealed cover and cup with contents into a generally cylindrical casing configured and dimensioned, relative to the cup, to support the cup therein;
- pushing the cup into the casing by means of a plug dimensioned to crimp the outwardly projecting lip of the cup and periphery of the cover between the periphery of the plug and the inner wall of the casing;
- trimming those portions of the lip and cover which protrude from the closed plug and casing assembly;
- and
- mounting an igniter in the bottom of the casing in position to fire the pyrotechnic materials contents upon actuation of the igniter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.