Method of reinforcing propellant charge

• US 4,321,220 A
• Filed: 03/07/1980
• Issued: 03/23/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Camp, Albert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/128,080
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 264/3 R, 149/3, 149/92, 149/97, 149/98
• US Class Current: 264/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 21/00 Apparatus or methods for working-up explosives, e.g. forming, cutting, drying
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 45/00 Compositions or products which are defined by structure or arrangement of component of product explosive charges of particular form or shape F42B1/00, F42B3/00

Abstract

A method for strengthening a propellant charge by incorporating a support ructure in the propellant charge comprises slowly traversing a flexible perforated material through a propellant lacquer until the desired loading is obtained. Reinforcement by this technique makes possible the use of a double base propellant in high-thrust, short-burning applications.

Claims

1. A method for fabricating a double-base propellant charge reinforced with a support structure which comprises:

selecting a flexible, perforated material for said support structure;

traversing said material through a double-base propellant lacquer; and

drying said material upon removal from said propellant lacquer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said material exits from said propellant lacquer in a substantially vertical manner.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said material exits from said lacquer at a rate less than the drip rate of said propellant lacquer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said material is a non-metallic screen having a mesh size from 4 to 9 meshes per centimeter.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said propellant lacquer comprises from 10 to 35 weight percent of a double-base propellant and a solvent.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said material is a non-metallic screen having a mesh size from 4 to 9 meshes per centimeter and said propellant lacquer comprises from 10 to 25 weight percent of a double-base propellant and a solvent.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein said material is traversed through said propellant lacquer more than once and is dried upon exiting from said lacquer sufficiently to ensure a uniform fault-free coating.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said propellant concentration in said lacquer is from 15 to 25 weight percent.