Abstract: A charge formed of a mass of packed propellant is generally centered on an axis and is of radially generally uniformly and radially outwardly increasing density. This charge has a predetermined size and shape and is made by first filling particulate propellant into a chamber centered on an axis and defined by side walls extending at least generally parallel to the axis. This chamber is radially somewhat larger than the predetermined size and shape for the charge. At least some of the side walls are then displaced radially inward to reduce the volume of the chamber until the reduced chamber generally has the size and shape for the charge. The weight of the particulate propellant filled into the chamber is equal to the desired weight for the charge. The tail of a projectile is positioned in the chamber before filling the particulate propellant into the chamber. The projectile downwardly closes the chamber and can be raised after the mass is packed to push it up out of the chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a general method of producing progressively burning deterrent-coated powder, more particularly propellant powder for weapons having barrels. According to the method a film-forming, preferably polymerizable deterrent substance is fed to the powder loosely or dispersed in a liquid phase which is thereafter driven off. The invention also relates to a method of giving a deterrent coating to granular powder or powder cut up in to short pieces (so-called tubular powder) in a fluidized bed. Finally, the invention relates to a special deterrent substance in the form of a water-dispersable polyurethane built up on an aliphatic isocyanate and a caprolacton polyester.

Abstract: End burning gas generators for use either as propulsion systems or means for generating large volume of gases for various purposes such as the generation of the fuel for a ducted rocket engine, the rapid inflation of air bags for personal protection or recovery of submersed items or the expulsion of projectiles from subsurface launch tubes are currently widely utilized. End burning gas generator grains are ignited at one end of a generally cylindrical charge mounted within a combustion chamber which is fixed with a suitable exhaust means. For many of the applications described above, it is desirable that the gas generator burn in a uniform manner such that a constant volume of gas is generated per unit of time so that the chamber pressure and the mass flow rate of gas remain constant.

Abstract: The invention is an improved solid propellant grain, wherein the solid prllant grain is structured to provide a programmed method and system for splitting the solid propellant grain at a programmed moment to provide an increase in the burning surface. The programmed-splitting of the solid propellant grain provides improved ballistic performance of guns, which yields a higher muzzle velocity for a given projectile without increasing the maximum pressure exerted on the gun chamber. The improvement consists of embodiments that are a plurality of slits of various configurations through the longitudinal length of each grain of solid propellant. The improvement includes a structure to delay end burning of the grains until the longitudinal exterior surface burns sufficiently to split the grain into a plurality of sections at a programmed moment when the increased burning surface is desired to occur.

Abstract: An explosive booster, useful as a starter for one or more low-energy explosive connecting cords, e.g., low-energy detonating cord (LEDC), comprises a detonating explosive charge in the form of a rod having at least one longitudinal perforation for threading one or more (receiver) cords to be initiated by the booster explosive charge, which in turn is initiated by a blasting cap or preferably by the side-output of a (donor) detonating cord in contact therewith. A preferred rod has multiple perforations for threading multiple receiver cords, and is housed within a rigid plastic connector having a portion of its wall circumferentially cut out to allow a donor cord to contact the thereby-exposed rod therein. A trunkline cord is thereby adapted to initiate multiple downlines via a single booster.

Abstract: Propellant charge, the combustion of which takes place according to at least two thrust modes, and which makes it possible to obtain at least one acceleration phase and one cruising phase of the self-propelled device equipped with this charge.The propellant charge is of the so-called "trumpet block" type with radial combustion from a central channel which has a star-shaped cross-section over a length equal to at least one third of the total length of this charge. In order to obtain at least one dual combustion mode using only a single charge of propellant, that part of the channel which is of star-shaped cross-section possesses at least one zone in which the star of the channel has at least four arms which determine at least two tooth-like sectors of propellant with a large sector angle (A) and at least two tooth-like sectors of propellant with a small sector angle (a), distributed symmetrically relative to the axis of the charge.

Abstract: Pyrotechnic devices are described which are intended to emit an illuminating flux starting from multiple, exact, movable sources, particularly suitable for displays of artificial fireworks. The illuminating pyrotechnic devices consist of a shell which contains a block of a pyrotechnic composition consisting of at least a polymerized binder, an oxidizer and a combustible metal. For the purpose of achieving the bursting of the composition into a multitude of incandescent fragments when the device is ignited, the pyrotechnic composition consists of a binder of the phenoplastic type and an oxidizer, the granulometry of which is lower than 150 micrometers and the block, the smallest dimension of which is greater than 15 mm, has undergone a rapid cooling which gives rise to internal strains and fracture points within the composition.

Abstract: An improved embedment system is disclosed which is comprised of an embedm granule portion in percent by weight of nitrocellulose of about 23.0, nitroglycerine of about 15.0, resorcinol of about 1.5, 2-nitrodiphenylamine of about 1.0, ammonium perchlorate (10 micrometers) of about 45.5, and aluminum powder (20 micrometers) of about 14.0 and an embedment resin portion in percent by weight of bisphenol A-epichlorohydrin of about 44, epoxidized dimer acid of about 20, and a curative which is the condensation product of 2 moles of 1,2-bis(maleimido)ethane and one mole of triaminotriazine of about 36.0. This embedment system has superior characteristics of a high peel strength and greater resistance to penetration by or absorption of carboranylmethyl propionate or casting solvent absorption.

Abstract: The burning rate of a composite solid propellant comprising ammonium perchlorate and a fuel binder such as polysulfide, polyurethane or polybutadiene can remarkably be increased by the addition of a small amount of FeOOH. Considering the mechanical properties of the propellant, the maximum amount of FeOOH is preferably limited to 7 Wt % of the toatal of the fuel binder and ammonium perchlorate. It is possible to jointly use FeOOH and Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 on condition that the weight ratio of FeOOH to Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 is at least 10:90 and that the total weight of FeOOH and Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 is in the range from 0.9 to 7% of the total weight of the fuel binder and ammonium perchlorate.

Abstract: A propellant grain for improved ballistic performance of guns, the grain prising a cylinder of generally hexagonal cross-section being provided with a plurality of perforations, preferably 37, passing therethrough. The perforations are disposed such that the interstitial distance between adjacent perforations is substantially equal and the extrastitial distance between peripheral perforations and the surface of the outer wall is substantially equal to the aforesaid interstitial distance. The novel shape of the solid propellant grain improves ignition and burning characteristics such that higher average pressures are maintained during projectile acceleration without increasing the maximum pressure within the gun barrel.

Abstract: Unit charge of propellant powder, which can be fragmented and has the ballistic properties of a granular charge. A charge of this type consists of 85 to 97% of grains of propellant powder containing nitrocellulose and 15 to 3% of a thermoplastic energy-producing binder which is in the form of small solid grains, under normal conditions, and has the following composition:(a) 30 to 60% of polyvinyl nitrate,(b) 70 to 40% of nitrocellulose having a low nitrogen content, or polyvinyl acetate or a mixture of the two, and(c) optionally, a stabilizer.The use of a solid binder makes it possible to mix the propellant powder with the said binder homogeneously and instantaneously, to introduce precise amounts of the mixture thus obtained into a mould and to simplify the moulding operations.