Abstract: The method for manufacturing solid rocket motors of the present invention comprises placing a mandrel having at least one easily disintegrative solid slot former positioned thereon substantially centrally along the axis of a rocket case, casting uncured solid rocket propellant about the mandrel and the easily disintegrative solid slot former, curing the solid propellant, and removing the mandrel and the easily disintegrative solid slot former from the cured propellant.

Abstract: A gas generator for air bags having a container holding a combustible gas mixture and fitted with a closure which opens into a combustion chamber fitted with a gas outlet in which the gas mixture is ignited by an ignition device. To provide a fast-reacting ignition device and generate a controllable flow of pressurized gas at a relatively low temperature, the container is mainly filled with a pressurized inert gas and contains 0.1 to 2.0% vol. of a hydrocarbon and 0.5 to 10% vol. of a gaseous oxidizing agent. On being actuated, the ignition device opens the container closure, ignites the gas mixture flowing into the combustion chamber and maintains combustion by the continuous supply of energy.

Abstract: Solid pyrotechnic gas generant compositions and monopropellants are provided for use in inflators of automotive air bag restraint systems which, when combusted, produce acceptable burning rates, generate a high concentration of substantially innocuous gases, and a low concentration of substantially water insoluble non-toxic solid combustion products which limits the potential for asthmatic and pulmonary conditions. The propellant compositions provided are based on metal salts of lanthanide and rare earth elements, particularly lanthanide or rare earth nitrate salts and lanthanide or rare earth complexes with nitrogen-containing cations and nitrate anions. Scandium and cerium are preferred lanthanide and rare earth elements for these compositions.

Abstract: An electrically actuatable igniter (24) includes a body (60), a pair of electrodes (40) and (42) associated with the body (60), a heating element (44) electrically connected between the electrodes (40) and (42), and an ignition droplet (46) covering and adhering to said heating element (44). The ignition droplet (46) comprises a particulate pyrotechnic material and a particulate polymeric resin binder. The particles (112) of the polymeric resin binder are fused together and form a structure having interconnected open cells (118). The particles (114) of pyrotechnic material are disposed within the interconnected open cells (118) and form a combustible network of pyrotechnic material.

Abstract: A gas generator for an airbag has a reduced number of components and in which an automatic ignition material can ignite at an appropriate time. This gas generator includes a housing, an ignition unit accommodating chamber in the housing, an ignition unit installed in the ignition unit accommodating chamber, a gas generating material, and a cooling and purifying unit. The ignition unit includes a transfer charge container and an igniter. The transfer charge container has a cup containing a transfer charge and a cover hermetically sealing the cup. The igniter is activated by a signal to ignite the transfer charge, and a generated gas is introduced into an airbag to protect an occupant against an impact. The transfer charge container includes a cup part and a cover part, either the bottom of the cup part or the cover part are outwardly curved to form an outwardly convex surface. The container is resiliently held between a top wall portion of the ignition unit accommodating chamber and the igniter.

Abstract: A dry water resistant ANFO-explosive, containing one or more organic fuels, one or more inorganic salts, one or more water thickening agents, and a gas generating substance which develops a gas when it gets in contact with water in a blast hole, and thereby transforms itself into a watergel slurry.

Abstract: In the development of new minimum signature ducted rocket technology, the U.S. Army MICOM Propulsion Directorate has conducted studies for the development of fuel-rich gas generators for ducted rockets. The propellant formulation goals of this study include increasing burning rate, pressure exponent, and combustion efficiency without significantly decreasing fuel value. Formulations described in this application contain an energetic nitramine-prepolymer, a range of curing agents, and zirconium hydride (ZrH2) fuel element and carbon (C) as an optional fuel element.

Abstract: An igniter for a gas generator comprises at least two connecting leads and an incandescent means arranged between the connecting leads and surrounded by an igniting substance. Several filaments are used as the incandescent means.

Abstract: A skyrocket is provided which provides a first fireworks effect prior to launch as well as a second effect after launching. The skyrocket includes a body which houses or is coupled to a rocket motor, a first effect and a second effect. A transparent or translucent nose cone is placed on the top end of the body which provides both the ability to view one of the effects placed therein but also maintains the aerodynamic properties of the skyrocket. The first effect may be a strobing effecting which during burning provides a pulsating intensity of light visible through the nose cone prior to lift-off of the skyrocket, and the second effect may be a bursting charge which explodes after the rocket is in flight. An ignition fuse leads to the first effect and a second fuse leads to the rocket motor so that by lighting the first fuse, no further fuses need be lit and a delay is provided before the rocket motor ignites.

Abstract: An inflator (14) for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) comprises a pressurized container (20), a gas generating material stored under pressure in the container (20), and an igniter (36) for igniting the gas generating material in the container. The gas generating material comprises an oxidizer and a fuel. At least a major portion of the oxidizer is nitrous oxide in a liquid-gas state. At least a major portion of the fuel is polyvinyl alcohol in a porous, molded solid state (64). A portion of the liquid nitrous oxide is absorbed into the pores of the molded polyvinyl alcohol (64). The gas generating material upon combustion produces a combustion product consisting essentially of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water.

Abstract: A solid rocket propellant includes a binder that is a linear block co-polymer of caprolatone and tetramethylene ether and an oxidizer. The propellant may be disposed of by contacting it with an aqueous solution of 12 N NaOH or 6 N HCl at a temperature of about 140° F. for about 24 hours to decompose the binder. Solids remaining in the solution after the binder decomposes are removed.

Abstract: The invention is a composition containing high loadings of TNAZ that are made by crash precipitation with water as the precipitation agent. The compositions are in the form of powders, which can be formed and shaped by presseing, extrusion, etc. The TNAZ can be from about 94 to about 99% by weight of the composition.

Abstract: A family of water-based gas-generating liquid compositions is described. A composition of the present invention includes: hydrogen peroxide; ammonium nitrate; and water. Compositions of the present invention may be mixed with fuels to make monopropellants or used in bipropellant or hybrid systems. Alternative uses of the present invention include breathable gas generation.

Abstract: A flashless rocket propellent has a continuous potassium sulfate rod extending though the length of the propellent component. The flashless rocket propellent is particularly useful in the MK 66 Rocket Motor.

Abstract: An infrared illuminating composition comprising approximately 70 weight % of an oxidant evidencing strong emission in the NIR region selected from the group consisting of potassium nitrate, cesium nitrate and mixtures thereof; 9 weight % of a metallic fuel evidencing low visible light emission, 4 weight % of an epoxy resin binder, 16 weight % of a NIR light enhancer and 1% by weight of an additive selected from the group consisting of a double base propellant material, a triple base propellant material and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: An inflator apparatus and a method are provided using a quantity of a compensatory material to supplement a stored pressurized gas.

Abstract: In the case of a semiconductor igniter, particularly for the gas generator of a protection system for vehicle occupants, consisting of a semiconductor layer which is arranged on a carrier with the insertion of a thermal insulation layer, is connected at the end side to electric contact areas and during the current passage in the ignition path range heats up in an ignition-triggering manner, while maintaining a high ignition efficiency, a mechanically secure linking of the semiconductor layer to the carrier is achieved in that the thermal insulation layer is limited to the ignition path range of the semiconductor layer and the semiconductor layer is connected directly with the carrier at its end sections kept free of the thermal insulation layer.

Abstract: As has been established, the use of energetic materials, generated by manufacturer's excess and/or demilitarization projects, as ingredients in commercial blasting explosives is a feasible and environmentally acceptable method of handling them. Ammonium picrate is used as an explosive charge in the manufacturing of conventional ammunition rounds, such as large caliber navy guns. The present invention is directed to the use of recovered ammonium picrate in commercial blasting agent compositions, that include watergel slurries, ANFO, HANFO-blends and emulsion based blasting agents. These new blasting agents exhibit favorable cost for performance characteristics and have found a use for recovered ammonium picrate, which would heretofore have been incinerated or otherwise disposed of at significant cost.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas generator, comprising a first gas-generating stage and at least one gas-generating stage arranged downstream of the first stage, and also comprising a device for detecting a pressure change in the gas generator, wherein the device for detecting the pressure change comprises a chamber divided by a movable part into two partial chambers which are gas-tight with respect to each other, the partial chambers having openings which are in flow connection with the first stage and each have different cross-sectional areas, so that the pressure change spreads at different speeds in the two partial chambers and brings about a movement of the movable part, and the movable part being connected with a movement meter, which due to the movement of the movable part generates an electrical impulse to activate the second stage.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-electric initiator tip for use with a non-electric shock tube initiation device. The initiator tip of the present invention comprises an inner electrode, an outer electrode, and a conductive component electrically coupled to the inner and outer electrodes for applying current to the inner and outer electrodes to thereby cause a percussion spark to be generated. When the initiator tip is connected to an initiation device, the conductive component of the initiator tip is electrically coupled to electronics in the initiation device such that, when the initiation device is actuated, the electronics in the initiation device in conjunction with a power supply cause a voltage differential to be generated between the inner and outer electrodes and a percussion spark to be produced. The percussion spark initiates gun powder contained in a shock tube mounted to the initiator tip.