Igniter device

Abstract

The invention relates to an igniter device for igniting energetic materials, more specifically to the area of the initiation of munitions, and methods of forming said ignition devices. There is provided an igniter device, for use in an explosive train, comprising a first synthetic polymer layer, a second synthetic polymer layer, wherein said first layer and second layer envelope a portion of an energetic material, wherein said synthetic polymer is capable of being sealed.

Claims

1. An igniter device, comprising: a first synthetic polymer layer having a first plurality of holes extending therethrough; and a second synthetic polymer layer having a second plurality of holes extending therethrough, wherein the first synthetic polymer layer and the second synthetic polymer layer envelope a portion of an energetic material, wherein the first and second plurality of holes form clear holes from one side of the igniter device through to another side of the igniter device while the first and the second synthetic polymer layers envelop the portion of the energetic material without causing leakage of the energetic material, and wherein the first and second synthetic polymer layers each comprise a synthetic polymer material that is capable of being sealed.

2. The igniter device according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic polymer material self-seals when caused to flow or partially melt by application of at least one of heat, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and pressure, thereby sealing the first and second synthetic polymer layers.

3. The igniter device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one rigid internal separator structure formed from a polymer and configured to divide the enveloped portion of the energetic material into at least two segments once the first and second synthetic polymer layers are sealed.

4. The igniter device according to claim 1, wherein the first synthetic polymer layer is a preformed shape.

5. The igniter device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second synthetic polymer layers are preformed shapes, further comprising a fill portal and a sealable joining seam.

6. A munition comprising at least one igniter device according to claim 1.

7. The igniter device according to claim 1, wherein the second synthetic polymer layer is formed from one of a portion of the first synthetic polymer layer folded over itself and a separate synthetic polymer layer.

8. The igniter device according to claim 1, further comprising a third synthetic polymer layer, wherein the second and third synthetic polymer layers envelop another portion of the energetic material.

9. The igniter device according to claim 8, wherein the portion of the energetic material enveloped by the second and third synthetic polymer layers is stacked on top of the portion of the energetic material enveloped by the first and second synthetic polymer layers.

10. The igniter device according to claim 9, wherein the portion of the energetic material enveloped by the second and third synthetic polymer layers is a different type of material than the portion of the energetic material enveloped by the first and second synthetic polymer layers.

11. The igniter device according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the portion of the energetic material enveloped by the second and third synthetic polymer layers and the portion of the energetic material enveloped by the first and second synthetic polymer layers is a loose powder.

12. A method of forming an igniter device, the method comprising: preparing a first synthetic polymer layer having a first plurality of holes extending therethrough; adding an energetic material onto the first synthetic polymer layer; forming an envelope about the energetic material with a second synthetic polymer layer having a second plurality of holes extending therethrough, wherein the second synthetic polymer layer is one of a portion of the first synthetic polymer layer folded over itself and a separate synthetic polymer layer, wherein the first and second plurality of holes form clear holes from one side of the igniter device through to another side of the igniter device while the first and the second synthetic polymer layers envelop the energetic material without causing leakage of the energetic material; forming, within the envelope, at least one rigid internal separator from at least one polymer to divide the envelope into at least two segments; and sealing the at least one rigid internal separator between the first and second synthetic polymer layers.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the sealing is performed under a vacuum.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the sealing is performed by application of at least one of heat, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and pressure.

15. An igniter device, comprising: a first synthetic polymer layer; a second synthetic polymer layer; and a third synthetic polymer layer, wherein the first and second synthetic polymer layers envelop a first energetic material, wherein the second and third synthetic polymer layers envelop a second energetic material, wherein the enveloped second energetic material is stacked on top of the enveloped first energetic material, wherein each of the first, second and third synthetic polymer layers comprise a synthetic polymer material that is capable of being sealed, wherein at least one of the first, second and third synthetic polymer layers forms a rigid internal separator structure configured to divide the enveloped first energetic material into at least two segments once the first and second synthetic polymer layers are sealed, wherein the first energetic material is a different type of material than the second energetic material, and wherein at least one of the portion of the energetic material enveloped by the second and third synthetic polymer layers and the portion of the energetic material enveloped by the first and second synthetic polymer layers is a loose powder.

16. The igniter device according to claim 15, wherein the synthetic polymer material self-seals when caused to flow or partially melt by application of at least one of heat, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and pressure, thereby sealing the first, second and third synthetic polymer layers.

Description

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIGS. 1a, b and c show a number of cross sections of various embodiments of the igniter device.

(3) FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c show a view of the igniter device in sheet form, rolled into a cylindrical shape and including a plurality of through holes.

(4) FIGS. 3a and 3b show a view of the igniter device as a base pad igniter including separator structures.

(5) FIGS. 4a and 4b show a view of the igniter device as a base pad consisting of more than one energetic material.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a view of the igniter device moulded into a shape and incorporates multiple layers as well as more than one energetic material.

(7) Referring to FIGS. 1a, b and c there shows a cross section of the igniter device 5a; FIG. 1a shows the device 5a with a synthetic polymer sheet 2 providing the first synthetic polymer layer 4 with an energetic material 3 encased between the first synthetic polymer layer 4 and a second synthetic polymer sheet 2a, which makes up the second synthetic polymer layer 4a, wherein said layers of synthetic polymer 4, 4a are sealed 1 together by application of heat, pressure or UV.

(8) FIG. 1b shows an alternative embodiment of the igniter device as a cross section 5b where a single sheet of synthetic polymer 6 has been used to create a first synthetic polymer layer 4c, but has been wrapped over itself to encase the energetic material 3 and to be sealed 1b at an edge, giving it both a first layer 4c and a second synthetic polymer layer 4b. A sealed edge 1b is created at one side of the igniter device and a fold 8 is present at the other.

(9) FIG. 1c shows an embodiment of the device 5c where the first synthetic polymer layer 4e is preformed 7 and contains the energetic material 3. A second synthetic polymer layer 4d is placed on top to cover and is sealed 1c.

(10) Referring to FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c there is provided a central core igniter synthetic polymer sheet with a plurality of holes 15. The energetic material 13 is encased between two synthetic polymer sheets as shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c. In this figure the synthetic polymer sheet is shown in both a flat sheet embodiment 14 and a cylindrical form 12. In the cylindrical form the centre remains hollow and the outer synthetic polymer layer is rigid and may be inserted into a propellant cavity.

(11) Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b which shows a base pad 27 igniter, the synthetic polymer sheet 24 has been manufactured in the form of a circle, consisting of two layers 22, 22a, with the energetic material 23 encased between the layers 22, 22a. The separator structures 28 can be seen dividing the energetic material into four segments and can contain energetic material if required and provides rigidity to the base pad igniter device 27.

(12) Referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b there is a base pad igniter 30 which consists of two separate areas of different energetic materials 33, 33a. This configuration allows two energetic materials 33, 33a to be arranged in a base pad igniter to control the output of the explosive train.

(13) Referring to FIG. 5 there is an igniter device 40 with two types of energetic material 43, 43a stacked on top of each other, though further energetic materials may be included if required. The separator structures 48 divide the energetic material into four segments; again additional segments may be created by including further separator structures or by sealing the device at desired locations. The separator structures 48, 48a in this embodiment have an added advantage of providing a more rigid structure for the igniter device.