JP7599486B2 - Active element and method for igniting an active element - Patents.com - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an active element, particularly a decoy active element, which comprises at least one active element and at least two ignition means, each of which comprises a pyrotechnic composition for igniting the active element.

The present invention further relates to a method for igniting an active element.

Active elements such as decoy active elements are used in aviation. Since about 1970, such decoy active elements have been mounted under a protective film or in a container and ignited from one side. This applies in particular to all conventional MTV (Magnesium-Teflon-Viton) decoy active elements and to spectral decoy active elements.

The ignition chain is activated from the ignition side, preferably via a fail-safe system, to the active element, which in the case of an aircraft is preferably elongated, and then ignites the active element after release. These active elements often have a fast-burning coating composition to achieve ignition from all sides within the required time.

Decoy active elements having certain active elements and geometries may have ignition issues due to the type of design and use, which may lead to delayed and reduced power delivery during the early stages of ignition.

Ignition usually begins at the initiation side in the base region, which is the so-called end face of the active element, and eventually spreads along the surface in the direction of the ejection side, either inside or outside the element, to achieve reaction of the active element on all sides.

The ignition issues outlined above can have a direct impact on effectiveness with regard to hazards during the ignition phase.

Document DE 10 2009 030 871 A1 discloses an active element comprising a container of a combustible active substance made of a plastic film, which can be inductively ignited by a laser or high temperature.

DE 10 2016 122 740 A1 discloses a pyrotechnic active element having a housing, an ignition device and at least one active composition. The ignition device is arranged, for example, at the bottom of the active element.

Patent application DE 10 2010 030 869 A1 discloses an active element containing a number of active substances, which have a number of individual flares arranged one behind the other and which can be inductively ignited by a laser or by high temperature.

DE 10 2009 030 872 A1 relates to an inductively ignited active element, which consists of individual flares packed into a carrier material such as steel foil coated with red phosphorus.

An encapsulated active element having multiple individual components for an infrared decoy and providing central longitudinal ignition is known from DE 10 2010 013 110 A1.

DE 10 2004 047 231 A1 discloses a generic active element having a number of active elements and ignition means. It does not disclose how ignition is effected or how the ignition means are arranged.

Depending on the geometry of the base and active elements, there may be no suitable approved or reliable coating composition available for implementation as a military active element. Changing the composition or geometry of the active element is not possible without limitations imposed by existing systems and therefore target impingement.

Furthermore, without a coating composition, ignition from all or multiple sides cannot be guaranteed.

DE 10 2009 030 871 A1 DE 10 2016 122 740 A1 DE 10 2010 030 869 A1 DE 10 2009 030 872 A1 DE 10 2010 013 110 A1 DE 10 2004 047 231 A1

The problem addressed by this invention is therefore to provide an active element that allows for rapid and reliable ignition of multiple active elements.

This problem is solved by the active element of claim 1. Furthermore, the problem is solved by the method of claim 13. Advantageous embodiments and developments are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

According to the present invention, an active element, in particular a decoy active element, is provided, which comprises at least one active material and at least two ignition means, each having a pyrotechnic composition for igniting the at least one active material. The at least two ignition means are arranged on the at least one active material, and the at least two ignition means are connected to each other via channels so as to be able to ignite the at least one active material from multiple sides simultaneously.

The present invention further provides a method for igniting such an active element or an active element as described below. The active element comprises at least one active material and at least two ignition means, each comprising a pyrotechnic composition for igniting the active material. The at least two ignition means are disposed on the at least one active material, and the at least two ignition means are connected to each other via a channel such that the at least one active material can be ignited from multiple sides simultaneously.

Therefore, according to the invention, it is proposed to design the active element in such a way that ignition can be initiated on multiple sides, but at least two sides, for example on the side and on the opposite side. Hence the active element with multipoint ignition.

The at least one active material is preferably at least one pyrotechnic-type active material such as those used in flares.

The channels are preferably ignition channels designed to ignite or conduct ignition to the ignition means. The channels may be arranged symmetrically and/or asymmetrically with respect to each other.

"Simultaneously on multiple sides" means that the active element or at least one active material can be ignited at multiple points simultaneously, such as at the sides, top, bottom or edges. Simultaneously within the meaning of the present invention means that at least one active material can be ignited with substantially no time delay.

Within the meaning of the present invention, the ignition means may be, for example, a squib, a smaller ignition-sensitive pyrotechnic composition or other known ignition means.

As a result of the multi-surface ignition provided by the present invention, a large area of less sensitive active material can be ignited quickly and reliably with a significantly smaller ignition means.

Since multiple ignition means are provided, providing these ignition means redundantly improves the reliability of ignition.

Moreover, such an active element would have a disruptive effect on all sides immediately after being launched (e.g. from an airplane), allowing it to reliably evade oncoming missiles.

Furthermore, due in particular to the fact that at least one active material can be ignited simultaneously from several sides, a reduced scattering behavior during use and an increased responsiveness are achieved by the active element according to the invention. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the active element is improved.

In an advantageous development of the invention, it can be provided that preferably each of the multiple active substances of the active element can be ignited simultaneously from multiple sides.

The at least two active materials may be the same size and/or different sizes. By using multiple different active materials, the wavelengths in the spectrum emitted by the active element during combustion of the active materials can be tailored.

In an advantageous development, the active element has at least two active substances and the ignition means is arranged between the active substances in the active element such that the at least two active substances can be ignited simultaneously from multiple sides.

This ensures that each active material in the active element is ignited simultaneously and that the active element produces a good disruption effect on all sides.

Furthermore, the ignition means may advantageously be arranged inside and/or outside the active element.

The pyrotechnic composition and the at least one active substance of the ignition means may further be separated from each other by an inert material.

As a result, a predefined separation of the at least one active substance ignition means from the pyrotechnic composition is achieved. This prevents the active substance and the pyrotechnic composition from chemically influencing each other during storage of the active element. Furthermore, this prevents undesired ignition. Furthermore, this means that a predefined ignition energy is required to ignite the body.

According to one embodiment, the at least one active substance and/or the ignition means can also be separated from one another by a film, a housing or an air gap. The individual active substances can preferably be separated from one another in this way.

Such physical separation can be achieved, for example, by a film or a housing made of paper, plastic material or metal.

It can further be provided that the active elements have grooves, slots and/or holes. The channels extend into the grooves, slots and/or holes. The individual active elements are preferably separated by these grooves and/or slots. However, it is also possible that the grooves, slots and/or holes extend into the interior of the active elements.

The provision of grooves, slots and/or holes ensures that the positioning of the channels is predetermined and that the channels do not extend beyond or only slightly protrude beyond the contour of the active element.

In a further development, it may be provided that the grooves and/or slots extend such that they intersect at a number of intersections and that ignition means are formed at the intersections.

Providing such an intersection means that a plurality of active substances, for example four or eight active substances, are provided at a distance from one another at the intersection, and thus a plurality of active elements can be ignited at one point by the ignition means.

Furthermore, the grooves, slots and/or holes can be located on the inside and/or outside of the active element.

Furthermore, the active element can be protected from environmental influences by a film or housing, which allows the active element to reliably ignite even in the presence of high wind and/or launch velocities, e.g., when launched from a high-speed flying device or aircraft.

Furthermore, in accordance with the present invention, the active element may be free of a pyrotechnic coating composition that coats the entire active element. Such a coating composition is a fast-burning composition that coats the active element and allows ignition from all sides. This has the advantage that the active element may be approved even without a suitable approved coating composition.

The ignition means can be positioned in this manner and the length of the channel can be configured to allow the ignition means to be ignited simultaneously.

The ignition means may also be connected to an ignition initiator via a channel.

Embodiments of the method may also allow multiple active materials of the active element to be ignited simultaneously from multiple sides.

In an advantageous development, the active element may be substantially cubic and may have a substantially cubic active material. In this case, the active element may in particular be an active element for 2x1x8" or 1x1x8" NATO standard caliber ammunition.

However, the active element may also be a cylindrical active element, preferably having a diameter of 36 mm or 55 mm.

The active elements may also be spherical or triangular.

The present invention will be described below based on an embodiment with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an active element according to the invention having a channel according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the active element according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1, with the channels hidden. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an active element according to a second embodiment of the invention, the active element having an internal channel. FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an active element according to the invention in a third embodiment, which is an active element having internal symmetric and asymmetric channels.

1 is a schematic perspective view of an active element according to the present invention 1. The active element 1 comprises a plurality of active materials 10 _1...n and a plurality of ignition means 20 _{1... n} , each of which comprises a pyrotechnic composition for igniting the active materials 10 _1...n .

FIG. 2 is also a schematic perspective view of an active element according to the invention according to FIG. 1, with the channels 30 _{1 . . . n} hidden.

The ignition means 20 _{1 . . . n} are arranged between the individual active materials 10 _{1 . . . n} and the ignition means 20 _{1 . . . n} and are connected to one another via channels 30 _{1 . . . n} so that the active element 1 can be ignited simultaneously from several sides.

The ignition means 20 _{1 . . .} n are connected via channels 30 _{1 . . . n} to an ignition initiator (not shown) and the ignition means 20 _{1 . . . n} are arranged and the length of the channels 30 _{1 . . . n} is formed such that the ignition means 20 _{1 . . . n} can be ignited simultaneously.

As can be seen from Figure 2, the active element 1 has grooves and/or slots 22 _1...n , by means of which the individual active substances 10 _1...n are separated from one another. According to the first embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the grooves and/or slots 25 _1...n are arranged on the inside and/or outside, i.e. on the exterior, of the active element 1.

The grooves and/or slots 22 _1...n extend such that they intersect at a plurality of intersections 25 _1...n and the ignition means 20 _1...n are disposed at the intersections 25 _1...n .

1, the grooves and/or slots 22 _1...n receive the channels 30 1...n, i.e., the channels 30 _{1 ...n} are disposed within the grooves and/or slots.

The individual channels 30 _{1 . . . n} are formed in a bead-like manner.

The individual active materials 10 _{1 . . . n} of the active element 1 can be ignited simultaneously from several sides.

According to an embodiment, the ignition means 20 _{1 ...n} are arranged inside/outside the active element 1. For this purpose, said ignition means are provided in slots/grooves in the active element 1.

The pyrotechnic composition of the ignition means 20 _1...n and the active substance 10 _1...n are separated from each other by an inert material, which can be designed, for example, as a film, a housing or an air gap.

According to Fig. 3, a schematic perspective view of an active element 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention based on the embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 1 is shown, with the differences additionally indicated below: The active element 1 has internal slots, grooves and/or holes _231...n in which channels 311...n are formed. The channels _{311... n} are formed inside the individual active materials _101...n and have a symmetrical pattern.

According to Fig. 4, a schematic perspective view of an active element 1 according to the invention is shown according to a third embodiment based on the embodiment according to Fig. 3. In contrast to the embodiment according to Fig. 3, the internal channels 31 _1...n are formed as symmetrical and/or asymmetrical channels 31 _{1...n inside the individual active substances 10 1... n} .

The embodiment shown in figures 1 to 4 is an active element 1 with eight active materials 10 _{1 ... 8} and six ignition means 20 _{1 ... 6.} The active element 1 is substantially cubic and comprises substantially cubic active materials 10 _{1 ... 8.} In this case, the active element may in particular be an active element for 2x1x8" or 1x1x8" NATO standard calibre ammunition. However, this design of the above embodiment is merely an exemplary embodiment. Other than eight active materials and six ignition means are also possible. However, the active element may also be a cylindrical active element, preferably with a diameter of 36 mm or 55 mm. The active element may also be spherical or triangular.

1 active element 10 _1...n active material 20 _1...n ignition means 22 _1...n slots, grooves and/or holes (interior)
23 _1...n slots, grooves and/or holes (external)
25 _1...n intersection (inside)
26 _1...n intersection (external)
30 _1...n channels (internal)
31 _1...n channels (external)

Claims (14)

An active element (1),
at least one active substance (10 _1...n ),
at least two ignition means (20 _1...n ) containing a pyrotechnic composition for igniting the active material (10 _1...n ) ;
said at least two ignition means (20 _1...n ) are arranged on at least one active substance (10 _1...n ) and are connected to each other via channels (30 _1...n , 31 _1...n ) so as to be able to ignite said at least one active substance (10 _1...n ) simultaneously from multiple sides ,
The active element (1) comprises at least two active materials (10 _1...n ), and the ignition means (20 _1...n ) is arranged between the active materials (10 _1...n ) of the active element (1) so that the at least two active materials (10 _1...n ) can be ignited simultaneously from multiple sides. An active element (1),
at least one active substance (10 _1...n ),
at least two ignition means (20 _1...n ) containing a pyrotechnic composition for igniting the active material (10 _1...n ) ;
said at least two ignition means (20 _1...n ) are arranged on at least one active substance (10 _1...n ) and are connected to each other via channels (30 _1...n , 31 _1...n ) so as to be able to ignite said at least one active substance (10 _1...n ) simultaneously from multiple sides ,
The active element (1) is characterized in that it has grooves, slots and/or holes (22 1 _...n , 23 _1... n ) through which the individual active materials (10 _1...n ) are separated and through which the channels (30 1 _...n , 31 ^1... n ) extend. An active element (1),
at least one active substance (10 _1...n ),
at least two ignition means (20 _1...n ) containing a pyrotechnic composition for igniting the active material (10 _1...n ) ;
said at least two ignition means (20 _1...n ) are arranged on at least one active substance (10 _1...n ) and are connected to each other via channels (30 _1...n , 31 _1...n ) so as to be able to ignite said at least one active substance (10 _1...n ) simultaneously from multiple sides ,
Active element (1), characterized in that said at least one active material (10 _1...n ) has grooves, slots and/or holes (22 _1...n , 23 1 _... n ) through which channels (30 _1...n , 31 _1...n ) extend . An active element (1),
at least one active substance (10 _1...n ),
at least two ignition means (20 _1...n ) containing a pyrotechnic composition for igniting the active material (10 _1...n ) ;
said at least two ignition means (20 _1...n ) are arranged on at least one active substance (10 _1...n ) and are connected to each other via channels (30 _1...n , 31 _1...n ) so as to be able to ignite said at least one active substance (10 _1...n ) simultaneously from multiple sides ,
The active element (1) is characterized in that it does not have a pyrotechnic coating composition covering the entire active element (1). 5. Active element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that the at least two ignition means (20 _1...n ) are arranged inside and/or outside the active element (1). 6. An active element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the pyrotechnic composition of each ignition means (20 _1...n ) and the at least one active substance (10) are separated from each other by an inert material. 7. An active element (1) according to claim 6 , characterized in that the at least one active material and/or ignition means ( _201...n ) are separated from one another by a membrane, a housing and/or an air gap. 3. An active element (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the grooves, slots and/or holes (22 1 _{...n ,} 23 _{1...n )} extend such that they intersect at a plurality of intersections (25 1...n , 26 1... _{n ) and the ignition means (20 1...} n ) are formed at the intersections ( 25 _1...n , 26 _1...n ). 9. An active element (1) according to any one of claims 2, 3 and 8 , characterized in that the grooves, slots and/or holes (221 _...n , _231...n ) are arranged on the inside and/or on the outside of the active element (1). The active element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the active element (1) is protected from environmental influences by an inert film or a housing. 11. An active element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the channels (30 _1...n , 31 _1...n ) is such that the ignition means (20 _1...n ) can be ignited simultaneously. The active element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, which is a decoy active element. A method for igniting an active element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising the steps of:
The active element (1) is
at least one active substance (10 _1...n ),
at least two ignition means (20 _1...n ), each of which comprises a pyrotechnic composition for igniting the active material (10 1 _{... n} );
Equipped with
said at least two ignition means (20 _1...n ) are arranged on at least one active material (10 _1...n ), said at least two ignition means (20 _1...n ) being connected to each other via channels (30 1 _...n , 31 _1...n ) so that the at least one active material (10 _1...n ) can be ignited simultaneously from multiple sides. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein a plurality of active materials (10 _{1 . . . n} ) of the active element (1) are ignited simultaneously from a plurality of sides.