Ignitability test method and apparatus

An apparatus for testing ignitability of an initiator, comprising:

• a body having a central cavity, an upper cavity and a lower cavity, the upper and lower cavities being disposed at opposite ends of the central cavity and collectively forming with the central cavity a central passageway passing through the body;
• an initiator holder for holding the initiator over the central cavity of the body;
• an ignition material holder disposed in the central cavity of the body and having a cavity facing the initiator holder which receives a measured quantity of ignition material to be ignited by the initiator and a chamber in communication with the cavity of the ignition material holder and the central cavity of the body;
• an adaptor removably mounted in the upper cavity and abutting the upper end of the initiator holder;
• a firing mechanism slidably received in a bore extending through the adaptor and being movable into contact with the initiator, thereby firing the initiator;
• a drop weight means to provide actuation of the firing mechanism;
• a guiding means to guide the drop weight means to concentrically impact of the firing mechanism;
• an accelerator means mounted above the drop weight means to record time of impact of the firing mechanism by the drop weight means;
• and
• means, in communication with the central cavity of the body, for measuring pressure characteristics generated by ignition of the ignition material by the initiator.