Ammunition and explosives – Pyrotechnics – Gun-type cartridge
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-30
2001-07-24
Nelson, Peter A. (Department: 3641)
Ammunition and explosives
Pyrotechnics
Gun-type cartridge
C102S336000, C102S340000, C102S342000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263797
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to flare apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to such apparatus to provide a signal, for example, in the form of a 12-gauge flare.
Flares are well known as signaling devices, for example, to warn of distress in an emergency, to signal one's location, to provide a specific, e.g., color coded, message and the like. One common flare device is known as a 12-gauge flare, because it resembles a 12-gauge shot gun shell in appearance. Such conventional flares include a so-called flare cup or cover which contains the propellant/signal creating chemicals. The flare cups of these conventional flare devices have a flat closed end. Also, the cup is wrapped or adhered to the shell casing. Thus, when the flare is activated, the flare cup separates from the shell casing and the flare cup and chemicals are propelled into the air where the appropriate signal is given.
Such prior flare devices have a number of draw backs. For example, they tend to be relatively difficult and expensive to produce and to have relatively widely varying, e.g., inconsistent, performance characteristics. In addition, such flares often do not achieve the height or altitude desired. The signal provided by a flare of this type can be seen from a further distance if it achieves a greater altitude.
An additional problem with many prior signal flares involves shipping or transporting such items. For example, the U.S. Department of Transportation requires that signal flares pass various tests before they can be shipped on commercial aircraft and/or other convenient modes of transportation. One such test involves placing a number of flares in a fire and monitoring the number of flare projectiles which result and how far (distance) from the fire such projectiles travel. Failure to pass this test can lead to a requirement that the signal flares be transported, if at all, in restricted heavy duty containers and/or on restricted vehicles. Ultimately, failure to pass such tests can adversely affect the commercial viability of the signal flares.
There continues to be a need to provide new flares, particularly high performance signal flares which can be conveniently and cost effectively shipped/transported.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
New flare apparatus have been discovered. The present apparatus address one or more of the problems with prior flares, noted above. The present flare apparatus are easy and cost effective to produce, provide performance benefits, e.g. increased consistency or reproducibility in use from one flare to another, and/or achieve higher altitude upon activation, relative to prior flares, and can be conveniently and cost effectively shipped/transported. In short, the flare apparatus of the present invention provide one or more substantial advantages relative to prior flares.
In general, the present flare apparatus comprise a shell case or casing, an explosive assembly, a flare cup or cover, a flare composition, and a plug. The shell case has a peripheral inner surface, a first end and a opposing second end which is open. The shell case, preferably made of polymeric material, defines an interior chamber which is open at the second end. The explosive assembly is carried by the shell case at or near the first end and is located and adapted, upon activation, to cause gas to pass into the interior chamber. In one particularly useful embodiment, the explosive assembly includes a shot shell primer.
The flare cup is located in the interior chamber and is spaced apart from the first end of the shell case. Having the flare cup spaced apart from the first end of the shell case provides shipability advantages. For example, if the signal flare is exposed to a flame, for example, as in the above-noted U.S. Department of Transportation test, the heat from the flame tends to melt and/or deform the shell case before ignition, thereby reducing the risk that a projectile from the flare will result or that the projectile will travel more than an acceptable distance from the fire.
This reduced projectile risk results in the present flares being subject to less strict shipping regulations, for example, relative to certain prior signal flares. In addition, the wall or walls of the shell case, particularly at and near the first end of the shell case, preferably are of reduced thickness to facilitate the degradation, e.g., melting and/or deforming, of the shell case in the event of an external fire. The present flares preferably are acceptable for being shipped/transported on commercial, even passenger, aircraft, and/or in less restrictive, e.g., less bulky and/or heavy, containers than have been required for certain prior signal flares.
The flare cup is simply located in the interior chamber formed or defined by the shell case. The flare cup preferably is in close proximity to the inner peripheral surface of the shell case. Such arrangement provides a very convenient and straightforward approach to coupling these two components, that is the shell case and the flare cup. Moreover, no adhesives or wrappings are required. Further, this arrangement allows the flare cup to be separated from the shell case very effectively and consistently, from flare to flare, using the explosive assembly, as described hereinafter.
In one embodiment, the flare cup defines an interior space, and has an open end and a closed end surface, which is preferably convex, located opposite the open end of the flare cup. Having a convex closed end surface on the flare cup improves the aerodynamic properties of the flare projectile, that is the flare cover or cup and its contents after the flare cup has separated from the shell case. Ultimately, such convex closed end surface, alone and/or in combination with one or more other features of the present flare apparatus, provide an enhanced ability of the present flare apparatus to achieve higher altitudes relative to prior art flares of a similar type, for example, which include flare cups with flat end surfaces.
The flare composition is located in the interior space of the flare cup, and preferably comprises magnesium. The flare composition is effective, when ignited, to provide a visual indication from the projectile including at least a portion of the flare cup. A fire composition, which preferably comprises gun powder and magnesium, preferably is situated on or in proximity to the flare composition. The fire composition is effective, when ignited, to propel the flare cup away from the shell case and to ignite the flare composition.
The present flare apparatus include a plug located in the interior chamber of the shell case. Such plug is adapted to hold the flare cup in the interior chamber prior to activation of the explosive assembly. The plug preferably is sized and adapted to seal the flare cup and flare composition from moisture. This is beneficial to the general performance, and to the reliability and consistency of performance of the present flare apparatus. In a particularly useful embodiment, the plug includes a case located in close proximity to, for example, in contact with, the closed end of the flare cup. A peripheral structure is provided and extends from the case away from the flare cup. At least a portion of the peripheral structure preferably is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the shell case.
The present plug preferably provides a seal to increase pressure in the interior chamber and increase muzzle velocity when the flare apparatus is fired. The reverse design of the plug, as set forth above, facilitates the sealing of the flare cup and flare composition from moisture and allows for quick removal from the head or top of the projectile including at least a portion of the flare cup upon exiting the shell case when fired. This reduces the drag caused by the plug and results in a higher altitude of the projectile. In effect, enhanced flare performance is achieved with such reverse design plug.
Preferably the present flare apparatus includes shell cases and plugs which are made of polymeric materials, preferably t
Nelson Peter A.
Skyblazer, Inc.
Stout, Uxa Buyan & Mullins, LLP
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