Training flare dispensing system

• US 4,158,323 A
• Filed: 01/27/1978
• Issued: 06/19/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Stirrat, William M., Brandt, Donald H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, David H.
• Application Number:
  US05/872,856
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 89/1.5 R, 89/1.5 C, 89/1 L, 89/1 R, 102/37.4, 102/37.1, 102/35.6, 102/35.2
• US Class Current: 89/1.51
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 4/22 characterised by having means to separate article or charge from casing without destroying the casing in aerial display rockets F42B4/10
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 4/24 characterised by having plural successively-ignited charges in aerial display rockets F42B4/14

Abstract

A system for safely simulating artillery delivered flare illumination overroops engaged in nighttime tactical training exercises, utilizes a lifting device for carrying a tethered electrically initiated, gravity released flare dispenser system to provide illumination over a target area while substantially reducing the hazard to personnel of flare debris fallout and malfunction danger to the lifting device. A tubularly shaped flare dispenser housing member supports a plurality of reloadable cylindrically shaped parachute flare assemblies. An electrically operated parachute flare initiator is utilized to simultaneously ignite and drop-release one or more combustible case flares by severing a burn-through cord retaining member.

Claims

1. A flare lighting system for safely simulating artillery delivered parachute flares assemblies over a target area containing troops engaged in nighttime tactical training exercise which comprises:

lifting means for carrying said parachute flare assemblies to said target area and for electrically initiating said parachute flare assemblies when positioned over said target area;

tethering means adapted for supporting said parachute flare assemblies a safe distance from said lifting means;

housing means for releaseably holding a plurality of said parachute flare assemblies therein during loading and transport to said target area;

electrical power cable means for electrically coupling said lifting means to said housing means;

electrical control means operatively disposed in said lifting means for determining electrical continuity between said lifting means and said parachute flare assemblies and for providing electrical switching means for safing, arming and initiating said parachute flare assemblies over said target area.

2. A flare lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said lifting means comprises a helicopter.

3. A flare lighting system as recited in claim 2 wherein said housing means comprises:

a tubularly shaped housing having a longitudinal axis, a top cover partially closing one end and a bottom cover fixed to the other end;

a pair of "U" shaped support rods, having free ends welded to the outer peripheral edge of said housing, and joined together at their top ends by a lifting loop;

a plurality of dispenser holding tubes welded to the circumference of said housing in parallel alignment with each other and with the longitudinal axis of said housing, said holding tubes having diametrically disposed tube bolt holes disposed on a top end;

a plurality of dispenser housing running lights peripherally disposed in the lower end of said housing intermediate said dispenser holding tubes;

ballast material operatively positioned in the lower end of said tubular housing;

a plurality of tubularly shaped cartridge cases slidably disposed in each of said plurality of holding tubes, each of said cartridge cases having said parachute flare assemblies operatively disposed therein, said cartridge cases and said holding tubes having sliding clearance space therebetween, said cartridge cases having a pair of axially aligned cartridge case bolt holes located in an upper end and a pair of axially aligned cord bore holes located in a bottom end;

a locking bolt having a nut threadedly fixed on one end thereof, slidably disposed through said tube bolt holes and through said cartridge case bolt holes permits easy reloading of said cartridge cases; and

a burn-through cord operatively disposed in said cord bore holes, said cord having knots on the ends thereof positioned in said sliding clearance space intermediate said cartridge case and said holding tube, said burn-through cord retaining said parachute flare assemblies in said cartridge cases while said parachute flare assemblies are being transported to said target area, and simultaneously releasing said parachute flare assemblies over said target area when said parachute flare assemblies are initiated by said electrical control means.

4. A flare lighting system as recited in claim 3 wherein said electrical control means comprises:

a continuity test set electrically coupled to said parachute flare assemblies; and

switching means electrically coupled to said continuity test set to said dispenser housing running lights and to said parachute flare assemblies adapted to provide electrical continuity checking of said power cable means to said housing means, for setting said parachute flare assemblies to a "safe" or "arm" position, and for individually initiating or initiating a plurality of combinations of said parachute flares as desired by an operator located in said lifting means.

5. A flare lighting system as recited in claim 4 wherein each of said parachute flare assemblies comprises:

a parachute disposed in each of said cartridge cases;

a candle disposed beneath said parachute;

a parachute-to-candle tether fixedly attached to said parachute and said candle for supporting said candle from said parachute; and

an electrical flare igniter proximately positioned intermediate said burn-through cord and said candle;

said parachute, candle and flare igniter each being made of a combustible material.