Combustible flare ignition system

A pyrotechnic ignition system for use in igniting illuminant in a warhead, the warhead attached to a propulsion device, comprising:

• an ignition initiator, comprising:
• a fuse;
• and
• a separation charge for promoting the separation of the propulsion device from the warhead, said separation charge positioned in communication with said fuse such that the firing of said fuse triggers combustion of said separation charge;
• a pyrotechnic train positioned in communication with said separation charge such that the firing of said separation charge triggers combustion of said pyrotechnic train, said pyrotechnic train comprising a continuous pyrotechnic composition which is shock sensitive and which is not heat sensitive;
• an output charge positioned contiguous said pyrotechnic train such that the firing of said pyrotechnic train triggers combustion of said output charge;
• and
• an illuminant igniter positioned in communication with said output charge such that the firing of said output charge triggers the firing of said illuminant igniter, thereby permitting the illuminant to be ignited, the illuminant igniter and output charge configured such that inadvertent firing of the illuminant igniter will not trigger combustion of the combustible train.

An insensitive pyrotechnic ignition system for use with a variable range, illuminant containing warhead, the warhead attached to a propulsion device, comprising:

• a variable range fuse;
• a separation charge for promoting the separation of a propulsion device from the warhead, said separation charge positioned in communication with said fuse such that the firing of said fuse ignites said separation charge;
• a pickup charge positioned in communication with said separation charge such that the firing of said separation charge triggers combustion of said pickup charge;
• a pyrotechnic train positioned contiguous to said pickup charge such that the firing of said pickup charge triggers combustion of said pyrotechnic train, said pyrotechnic train comprising a continuous pyrotechnic composition positioned within a plastic tubing, said plastic tubing selected such that the melting temperature of said plastic tubing is less than the ignition temperature of said separation charge and of said pickup charge, such that exposure of the warhead to continuously increasing temperatures will result in said plastic tubing melting and destroying the continuity of said continuous pyrotechnic composition before either of said separation charge and said pickup charge ignites;
• an output charge positioned contiguous said pyrotechnic train such that the firing of said pyrotechnic train triggers combustion of said output charge, said output charge selected such that the firing of said output charge will not trigger combustion of said pyrotechnic train;
• and
• an illuminant igniter positioned in communication with said output charge such that the firing of said output charge triggers the firing of said illuminant igniter, thereby permitting the illuminant to be ignited.

An ignition system for an illuminant containing warhead attached to a propulsion device, comprising:

• an ignition initiator comprising
• a separation charge for promoting the separation of the propulsion device from the illuminant containing warhead, and
• a variable range fuse positioned in communication with the separation charge such that the firing of the fuse triggers combustion of the separation charge;
• a combustible train positioned in communication with the ignition initiator such that the firing of the ignition initiator triggers combustion of the combustible train;
• and
• an illuminant igniter positioned in communication with the combustible train such that the firing of the combustible train triggers the firing of the illuminant igniter, thereby permitting the illuminant to be ignited.

An ignition system for an illuminant containing warhead, the warhead attached to a propulsion device, comprising:

• an ignition initiator comprising
• a separation charge for promoting the separation of the propulsion device from the illuminant containing warhead, and
• a pickup charge positioned in communication with the separation charge such that the firing of the separation charge triggers combustion of the pickup charge;
• a combustible train positioned contiguous to the pickup charge such that the firing of the pickup charge triggers combustion of the combustible train;
• and
• an illuminant igniter positioned in communication with the combustible train such that the firing of the combustible train triggers the firing of the illuminant igniter, thereby permitting the illuminant to be ignited.

An ignition system for an illuminant containing warhead, comprising:

• an ignition initiator;
• a combustible train positioned in communication with the ignition initiator such that the firing of the ignition initiator triggers combustion of the combustible train, the combustible train comprising a continuous combustible composition positioned within a meltable tubing;
• and
• an illuminant igniter positioned in communication with the combustible train such that the firing of the combustible train triggers the firing of the illuminant igniter, thereby permitting the illuminant to be ignited.