Selective emitting flare nanosensors

• US 7,617,776 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2004
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marsupial Holdings Inc.
• Original Assignee: Diffraction Ltd. (The O'Gara Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Parker, William P., Bibby, Thomas F. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers; Troy
• Application Number:
  US10/483,754
• Time in Patent Office: 1,877 Days
• Field of Search: 102336-345, 362/34, 362/84, 362/253
• US Class Current: 102/336
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2211/182 of the rare earth metals, i.e. Sc, Y or lanthanide
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 9/02 Organic tenebrescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 2/04 using triboluminescence; using thermoluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 4/26 Flares; Torches mines for practice or training containing flares or illuminating charges F42B8/28; projectiles of illuminating type F42B12/42

Abstract

A flare includes an air-tight rupturable capsule and an energy releasing material, contained within the air-tight rupturable capsule, such that the energy-releasing material releases energy in response to exposure to at least one component of air.

Claims

1. A flare comprising:

an air-tight rupturable capsule; and

an energy-releasing material, contained within the air-tight rupturable capsule, wherein the energy-releasing material releases energy in response to exposure to at least one component of air,

wherein the energy-releasing material includes a material exhibiting air-initiated exothermic reactions, and

wherein the material exhibiting air-initiated exothermic reactions is a mixture of iron powder, salt, activated charcoal, cellulose and water.

2. A flare comprising:

an air-tight rupturable capsule;

a rupture assistance device, positioned within the air-tight rupturable capsule, configured to perforate the air-tight rupturable capsule in response to an external force acting upon an external surface of the air-tight rupturable capsule; and

an energy-releasing material, contained within the rupturable capsule, wherein the energy-releasing material releases energy within the infrared spectrum in response to exposure to at least one component of air.

3. A flare comprising:

an air-tight rupturable capsule;

an energy-releasing material, contained within the air-tight rupturable capsule, wherein the energy-releasing material releases energy in response to exposure to at least one component of air; and

a rupture assistance device, positioned within the air-tight rupturable capsule, configured to perforate the air-tight rupturable capsule in response to an external force acting upon an external surface of the air-tight rupturable capsule.

4. The flare of claim 3 wherein the at least one component of air is chosen from the group consisting of water vapor;

nitrogen;

oxygen;

carbon dioxide; and

hydrogen.

5. The flare of claim 3 wherein the rupture assistance device is constructed of a plastic material.

6. The flare of claim 3 wherein the energy is released within the infrared spectrum.

7. The flare of claim 3 wherein the energy-releasing material includes a material exhibiting air-initiated exothermic reactions.

8. The flare of claim 7 wherein the energy-releasing material further includes a temperature sensitive oxidizer.

9. The flare of claim 7 wherein the energy-releasing material further includes a moderator.

10. The flare of claim 9 wherein the moderator is activated charcoal.