Initiator device with adiabatic compression ignition

A pyrotechnic cartridge assembly for application to an initiator for activating emergency equipment,

• said cartridge assembly comprising:
• a cylindric metallic body defining a compression chamber adjacent one end of same and a pyrotechnic charge receiving chamber adjacent the other end of same,
• said compression chamber having a piston received in same at said one end of said body in slip fit relation to said compression chamber,
• said body short of said pyrotechnic chamber defining an annular recess thereabout and an annular land that is disposed transversely of said compression chamber and forms the inner end of said compression chamber,
• pyrotechnic material means mounted in said pyrotechnic material receiving chamber substantially along the length of same defining a pyrotechnic column having its head end in substantially planar relation to said body annular land,
• closure means secured to said body other end for retaining said pyrotechnic column in said pyrotechnic material receiving chamber,
• said closure means comprising a disc of film thickness proportions for displacement on ignition of said pyrotechnic column,
• said compression chamber between said annular recess and said one end of said body defining a piston travel length portion of uniform dimensions transversely of said compression chamber,
• said said piston being in complementary fit relaetion with said piston travel length portion of said chamber,
• and said piston being frangibly anchored to said body at said one end of said body and within said compression chamber,
• said piston defining opposite end portions including an inner end portion disposed within said compression chamber and facing said annular land of said body,
• with said piston inner end defining:
• a marginal annular skirt extending thereabout and longitudinally of said body,
• a substantially planar land surfacing that extends transversely of said piston,
• and an annular groove separating said piston land and said piston skirt,
• said groove and skirt being of uniform dimensions three hundred sixty degrees thereabout,
• whereby when said piston is forced to travel the length of said chamber piston travel length portion and impacts said land thereof against said body land, an adiabatic compression stroke of same within said chamber has been completed and effects igniting of said pyrotechnic column at said head end of same, for creating initiator pressure that ruptures said disc.

A pyrotechnic material activated gas generating initiator device for activating emergency equipment,

• said iniator device comprising:
• a housing of cylindric configuration defining a central chamber having a discharge bore at one end of same and being open at the other end of same,
• said housing defining an annular shoulder about said chamber adjacent said other end of said housing,
• a pyrotechnic cartrige mounted in said chamber,
• said cartridge comprising:
• a cylindric metallic body defining a compression chamber adjacent one end of same and a propellant charge receiving chamber adjacent the other end of same,
• said body one end defining a head portion for seating against said housing annular shoulder,
• said compression chamber having a piston received in same at said one end of said body in slip fit relation to said chamber,
• said body short of said propellant chamber defining an annular recess thereabout and an annular land that is disposed transversely of said compression chamber and forms the inner end of said compression chamber,
• said body between said compression chamber and said propellant chamber defining a pyrotechnic material receiving chamber,
• pyrotechnic material means mounted in said pyrotechnic material receiving chamber forming a pyrotechnic column substantially along the length of same having a head end,
• a propellant charge mounted in said propellant chamber,
• closure means secured to said body other end for retaining said propellant charge in said propellant chamber,
• said closure means comprising a disc of film thickness proportions for rupturing on ignition of said propellant and generation of pressure thereby,
• said compression chamber between said annular recess and said one end of said body defining a piston travel length position of uniform dimensions transversely of said compression chamber,
• with said piston being in complementary fit relation with said piston travel length portion of said chamber,
• and said piston being frangibly anchored to said body at said one end of said body and within said compression chamber,
• said piston defining opposite end portions including an inner end portion disposed within said compression chamber and facing said land of said body,
• with said piston inner end defining:
• a marginal annular skirt extending thereabout and longitudinally of said body,
• a substantially planar land surfacing that extends transversely of said piston,
• with said head end of said pyrotechnic column being in substantially coplanar relation with said body land surfacing,
• and an annular groove separating said land and said skirt,
• said groove and skirt being of uniform dimensions three hundred sixty degrees thereabout,
• and a head secured in said other end of said housing and against said body head portion for biasing said cartridge body against said housing shoulder for centering said cartridge body in said housing and directing said cartridge other end toward said housing discharge bore,
• said head having a bore therethrough in communication with the piston outer end portion,
• and means for acting through said head bore for effecting thrust of said piston toward said pyrotechnic column head end to effect adiabatic compression ignition of same, for initiating pressure discharge from said housing discharge bore.