Ammunition and explosives – Pyrotechnics – Flare
Patent
1989-02-21
1991-09-03
Nelson, Peter A.
Ammunition and explosives
Pyrotechnics
Flare
102351, 102354, 102357, 102224, F42B 428
Patent
active
050442813
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to submarine flares and relates particularly, but not exclusively, to such which can be released from submarine vessels, such as military submarines used for warfare or from other vessels which travel underwater.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Hitherto it has been known to release flares from submarine vessels. One such flare is permitted to float to the surface of the water where it can give a visual display. A problem with such flares is that they operate only on the surface of the water and accordingly the range at which they can be observed is quite minimal.
Another such flare is permitted to float to the surface of the water whereupon it is fired into the air where it can give a visual display and thus be observed from a greater range. A problem with such flares is that they do not always fire vertically into the air from the sea surface as waves can tilt the flare and in some instances they can be fired generally horizontally. Thus the flares are not reliable for firing into the air so that they can be observed from a considerable range. Sometimes such flares are unintentionally discharged below water level in high seas states and thus do not reach the required altitude.
STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised to attempt to provide an improved flare.
Therefore according to a first broad aspect of the present invention there may be provided a flare for submarine use comprising a buoyant casing in which a flare composition is carried and from which said flare composition can be projected into the air when the flare is at or near the surface of the water, inclination means for sensing when the flare can be projected into the air in a direction within a range of vertical tolerance and means for projecting said flare composition into the air when said casing is at or near the surface of the water and means to ignite the flare composition so that it will provide a visible display in the air when so projected, said flare being releasable from a submarine location whereupon its buoyant casing will carry it towards the surface of the water where the flare composition can be projected into the air to give the visible display when ignited.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there may be provided a flare for submarine use comprising a buoyant casing in which a flare composition is carried and from which said flare composition can be projected into the air when the flare is at or near the surface of the water, means for sensing when at least a forward nose end of the casing is above the surface of the water and means for then projecting said flare composition into the air, and means to ignite said flare composition so that it will provide a visible display in the air when so projected, said flare being releasable from a submarine location where its buoyant casing will carry it towards the surface of the water where the flare composition can be projected into the air to give the visible display when ignited.
In one embodiment the flare is provided with a time delay means so that said flare composition can be fired into the air to clear the surface of the water before said flare composition is ignited.
Preferably a cycle for the firing and ignition of said flare composition is initiated by operating a hydrostatic means when the flare reaches a point at to near the surface of the water.
In one particularly preferred embodiment the hydrostatic means is a valve which opens and exposes salt water batteries to salt sea water where they are then activated by the salt water. In this way, electrical power for an electronic control circuit used to commence said cycle is not available until the hydrostatic valve has opened and the batteries activated.
In one particularly preferred embodiment there is provided a latch mechanism which is operated during discharge of the flare from the submarine vessel. The latch mechanism is associated with the hydrostatic valve to inhibit operation of the hydrostatic valve until it is trip
REFERENCES:
patent: 2966849 (1961-01-01), Joiner
patent: 3199453 (1965-08-01), Fasig et al.
patent: 3262387 (1966-07-01), Reams
patent: 3440960 (1969-04-01), Reams
patent: 3670692 (1972-06-01), Jackson
patent: 4164186 (1979-08-01), Beatty et al.
patent: 4335656 (1982-06-01), Beatty et al.
Bushnell Gerald M.
Clarke Timothy R.
Coxhead Maxwell J.
Czigledy Robert C.
Nanut Victor
Nelson Peter A.
The Commonwealth of Australia
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