Electric and magnetic field hardened igniter for electrically fired ammunition
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsJohn F. Kostka, Jason D. Mishock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An EMF hardened igniter for electrically fired ammunition includes a central electrode, a dielectric that surrounds the central electrode, and a conductive body that surrounds the dielectric. A hot wire is fixed to an output end of the central electrode and to the conductive body. An ignition mixture is in contact with the hot wire. A cup surrounds and contains the ignition mixture. The cup is sealed to the conductive body. An outer surface of the central electrode is mechanically locked with an inner surface of the dielectric. An outer surface of the dielectric is mechanically locked with an inner surface of the conductive body.
Claims18
An electric and magnetic field hardened igniter for electrically fired ammunition, comprising:
- a central electrode having an input end, an output end, and an outer surface;
- a dielectric that surrounds the central electrode, the dielectric having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface being contiguous to the outer surface of the central electrode, the outer surface of the central electrode and the inner surface of the dielectric being fixed to each other by at least one mechanical lock wherein the at least one mechanical lock that fixes the outer surface of the central electrode and the inner surface of the dielectric comprises protrusions on the inner surface of the dielectric and corresponding mating circumferential channels in the outer surface of the central electrode;
- a conductive body that surrounds the dielectric, the conductive body having an inner surface that is contiguous to the outer surface of the dielectric, the inner surface of the conductive body and the outer surface of the dielectric being fixed to each other by at least one mechanical lock wherein the at least one mechanical lock that fixes the outer surface of the dielectric and the inner surface of the conductive body comprises a stepped down portion on the inner surface of the conductive body and a corresponding mating stepped up portion on the outer surface of the dielectric wherein said mechanical lock is proximal to the hot wire;
- at least one hot wire fixed at one end to the output end of the central electrode and at another end to the conductive body;
- an ignition mixture in contact with a majority of surface area of the at least one hot wire wherein said ignition mixture comprises zirconium, potassium perchlorate, graphite, and Viton;
- and
- a cup that surrounds and contains the ignition mixture, the cup having an inner surface that is contiguous to the ignition mix, the cup being fixed to the conductive body.
An electric and magnetic field hardened igniter for electrically fired ammunition, comprising:
- a generally cylindrical central electrode having an input end, an output end, and an outer surface;
- a generally cylindrical, hollow dielectric that surrounds the central electrode, the dielectric having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface being contiguous to the outer surface of the central electrode, the outer surface of the central electrode and the inner surface of the dielectric being fixed to each other by at least one mechanical lock wherein the at least one mechanical lock that fixes the outer surface of the central electrode and the inner surface of the dielectric comprises protrusions on the inner surface of the dielectric and corresponding mating circumferential channels in the outer surface of the central electrode;
- a generally cylindrical, hollow conductive body that surrounds the dielectric, the conductive body having an inner surface that is contiguous to the outer surface of the dielectric, the inner surface of the conductive body and the outer surface of the dielectric being fixed to each other by at least one mechanical lock wherein the at least one mechanical lock that fixes the outer surface of the dielectric and the inner surface of the conductive body comprises a stepped down portion on the inner surface of the conductive body and a corresponding mating stepped up portion on the outer surface of the dielectric wherein the at least one mechanical lock is proximal to the hot wire;
- a hot wire fixed at one end to the output end of the central electrode and at another end to the conductive body;
- an ignition mixture in intimate contact with the hot wire wherein said ignition mixture comprises zirconium, potassium perchlorate, graphite, and Viton;
- and
- a cup that surrounds and contains the ignition mixture, the cup having an inner surface that is contiguous to the ignition mix, the cup being fixed to the conductive body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.