Safety igniter for a pyrotechnic munition component capable of being subjected to slow cook off

• US 6,615,737 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eurenco (Government of France)
• Original Assignee: SNPE
• Inventors: Bonnel, Alain, Tinet, Alain, Houdusse, Dominique, Nouguez, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US10/173,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20030010246A1
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 102/464, 102/499, 102/202.14, 102/481, 102/202.1
• US Class Current: 102/481
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: C06B 45/10 the organic component containing a resin
• CPC Class Codes: C06C 9/00 Chemical contact igniters; Chemical lighters
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 39/20 Packages or ammunition having valves for pressure-equalising; Packages or ammunition having plugs for pressure release, e.g. meltable ; Blow-out panels; Venting arrangements ventilating arrangements on packages formed from foldable or erectable blanks B65D5/4295; packages with pressure-relief valves incorporated in a container wall B65D77/225
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 19/02 Fuze bodies; Fuze housings

Abstract

A subject-matter of the present invention is a safety igniter for a pyrotechnic munition component capable of being subjected to slow cook-off comprising a structure in the form of a casing and a solid pyrotechnic charge present in the structure. This safety igniter, which is composed solely of a block of solid pyrotechnic composition based on pentrite, is intended to bring about the combustion without detonation of the pyrotechnic charge when the munition component is subjected to slow cook-off.

Claims

1. Safety igniter for a pyrotechnic munition component comprising a structure in the form of a casing, and a solid pyrotechnic charge present in the structure, wherein the safety igniter, when the pyrotechnic munition component is subjected to slow cook-off, reacts by simple combustion at a temperature lower than the reaction temperature of the solid pyrotechnic charge, the combustion of the safety igniter leading to the combustion without detonation of the solid pyrotechnic charge, the safety igniter comprises a block of solid pyrotechnic composition having a content by weight of pentrite between 5% and 98%.

2. Safety igniter according to claim 1, wherein the block of solid pyrotechnic composition having a content by weight of pentrite between 5% and 98% is a composite explosive.

3. Safety igniter according to claim 1, wherein the block of solid pyrotechnic composition having a content by weight of pentrite between 5% and 98% is provided in the form of a cylinder generated by rotation having a diameter between 2 mm and 50 mm.

4. Pyrotechnic munition component comprising a structure in the form of a casing, a solid pyrotechnic charge present in the structure, a device for deconfinement of the structure and a safety igniter wherein the safety igniter comprises a block of solid pyrotechnic composition having a content by weight of pentrite between 5% and 98%, further wherein the safety igniter, when the pyrotechnic munition component is subjected to slow cook-off, reacts by simple combustion at a temperature lower than the reaction temperature of the solid pyrotechnic charge, the combustion of the safety igniter leading to the combustion without detonation of the solid pyrotechnic charge.

5. Pyrotechnic munition component according to claim 4, wherein the solid pyrotechnic charge present in the structure is an explosive charge.

6. Pyrotechnic munition component according to claim 4, wherein the solid pyrotechnic charge present in the structure is a propulsive charge.

7. Pyrotechnic munition component according to claim 4, wherein the safety igniter is situated close to the device for deconfinement of the structure.

8. Pyrotechnic munition component according to claim 4, wherein the safety igniter is at least partially embedded in the solid pyrotechnic charge.

9. Process for bringing about the combustion without detonation of a solid pyrotechnic charge, the solid pyrotechnic charge being part of a pyrotechnic munition component comprising a structure in the form of a casing, the solid pyrotechnic charge present in the structure, a device for deconfinement of the structure, and a safety igniter which, when the pyrotechnic munition component is subjected to slow cook-off, reacts by simple combustion at a temperature lower than the reaction temperature of the solid pyrotechnic charge, the combustion of the safety igniter leading to the combustion without detonation of the solid pyrotechnic charge, and wherein the safety igniter comprises a block of solid pyrotechnic composition having a content by weight of pentrite between 5% and 98%.