Controlled fluid energy delivery burst cartridge

• US 7,004,074 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Martin Electronics Inc (Nammo AS)
• Original Assignee: Martin Electronics Inc (Nammo AS)
• Inventors: Van Stratum, Bruce G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parsley, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/187,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20040000250A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• Field of Search: 102/430, 102/440, 102/441, 102/442, 102/444, 102/446, 102/447, 102/448, 102/454, 102/456, 102/457, 102/469, 102/470
• US Class Current: 102/470
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/02 Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile

Abstract

A modified gas delivery cartridge. A conventional straight-sided brass cartridge case is primed and then filled with solid propellant. A burst cup is then inserted in the case mouth. The burst cup is embossed with a cross or other shape to promote predictable rupture. Once the burst cup is in place, the upper edges of the cartridge case are rolled over the burst cup. In operation, the propellant is ignited to produce pressure within the sealed case. This pressure builds steadily until the embossed cross in the burst cup ruptures. The propellant gases are then vented in a metered fashion through the ruptured burst cup. However, the burst cup is retained by the case so that no solid object escapes the high pressure cartridge. In addition, by carefully designing the shape of the burst cup and the components surrounding it, it is possible to create an efficient expansion nozzle to better meter the propellant gases.

Claims

1. A cartridge for the controlled delivery of a fluid comprising:

a. a case, having a closed lower end, an open upper end, and a continuous vertical side wall thereby defining a hollow interior;

b. propellant, contained within said hollow interior of said case;

c. a hemispherical burst cup, having an open lower end and a closed upper end thereby defining a hollow interior, being embossed so as to rupture into a plurality of approximately uniform petals, and being placed within said open upper end of said case;

d. a charge casing surrounding and reinforcing said vertical side wall;

e. a bulkhead, completely joined to said charge casing and covering over the top of said burst cup;

f. means for securely holding said case within said charge casing and beneath said bulkhead;

g. ignition means to ignite said propellant, thereby creating pressurized propellant gases within said case; and

h. wherein said bulkhead opens into a nozzle passing vertically therethrough, and wherein said nozzle lies directly over said burst cup so that when said propellant gases burst said burst cup into said plurality of approximately uniform petals, said petals will press tightly against said nozzle, thereby efficiently metering said propellant gases, and said nozzle will prevent the ejection of said burst cup from said case.

2. A cartridge as recited in claim 1, wherein said nozzle is formed in the shape of a DeLaval nozzle.

3. A cartridge for the controlled delivery of a fluid comprising:

a. a case, having a closed lower end, an open upper end, and a continuous vertical side wall thereby defining a hollow interior;

b. propellant, contained within said hollow interior of said case;

c. a hemispherical burst cup, having an open lower end and a closed upper end thereby defining a hollow interior, and being placed within said open upper end of said case;

d. a neck formed in said side wall of said case proximate said upper end of said case so as to lap said side wall over said burst cup, thereby capturing and retaining said burst cap within said case; and

e. ignition means to ignite said propellant, thereby creating pressurized propellant gases within said case and bursting said burst cup to release said gases without ejecting said burst cup from said case.

4. A cartridge as recited in claim 3, wherein said burst cup is embossed so as to rupture into a plurality of approximately uniform petals.

5. A cartridge for the controlled delivery of a fluid comprising:

a. a case, having a closed lower end, an open upper end, and a continuous vertical side wall thereby defining a hollow interior;

b. a delay charge, contained within said hollow interior of said case proximate said lower end;

c. an output charge, contained within said hollow interior of said case proximate said upper end;

d. a burst cup, having an open lower end and a closed upper end thereby defining a hollow interior, and being placed within said open upper end of said case over said output charge;

e. a roll crimp formed in said side wall of said case proximate said upper end of said case so as to lap said side wall over said burst cup, thereby capturing and retaining said burst cup within said case; and

f. ignition means to ignite said delay charge, so that said delay charge will subsequently ignite said output charge, thereby creating pressurized propellant gases within said case and bursting said burst cup to release said gases without ejecting said burst cup from said case.

6. A cartridge as recited in claim 5, wherein said burst cup is embossed so as to rupture into a plurality of approximately uniform petals.

7. A cartridge for the controlled delivery of a fluid comprising:

a. a case, having a closed lower end, an open upper end, and a continuous vertical side wall thereby defining a hollow interior;

b. a delay charge, contained within said hollow interior of said case proximate said lower end;

c. an output charge, contained within said hollow interior of said case proximate said upper end;

d. a hemispherical burst cup, having an open lower end and a closed upper end thereby defining a hollow interior, and being placed within said open upper end of said case over said output charge;

e. a neck formed in said side wall of said case proximate said upper end of said case so as to lap said side wall over said burst cup, thereby capturing and retaining said burst cup within said case; and

f. ignition means to ignite said delay charge, so that said delay charge will subsequently ignite said output charge, thereby creating pressurized propellant gases within said case and bursting said burst cup to release said gases without ejecting said burst cup from said case.

8. A cartridge as recited in claim 7, wherein said burst cup is embossed so as to rupture into a plurality of approximately uniform petals.