Abstract: A flare including: a casing; and a grain assembly, at least a portion of the grain assembly being slidably disposed in the casing, the grain assembly including: a shell structure; and a grain component at least partially disposed in the shell structure, the grain component including at least one combustible material and at least one reactive material positioned relative to the combustible material and configured to ignite combustion of the at least one combustible material; wherein the shell structure includes one or more fins at an aft end of the shell structure, the one or more fins being restrained into a first shape in the casing and configured to have a second shape, different from the first shape, when the restraint is removed.

Abstract: A flare including: a casing; and a grain assembly, at least a portion of the grain assembly being slidably disposed in the casing, the grain assembly including: a shell structure; and a grain component at least partially disposed in the shell structure, the grain component including at least one combustible material and at least one reactive material positioned relative to the combustible material and configured to ignite combustion of the at least one combustible material; wherein the shell structure includes one or more nozzles at an aft end of the shell structure for generating a thrust resulting from ignition of the at least one combustible material.

Abstract: A munition including: a shell; and a generator including: a drum having a cable with a free end, the drum includes a drum gear, the cable releasing from the drum when unwound; a spring for storing energy as the cable is unwound; a generator connected to the drum such that drum rotation is transferred to an input of the generator after the cable is unwound and stored energy in the spring turns the member, the generator includes an input gear connected to the drum gear; and a clutch having an input gear engaged with the drum gear and an output gear engaged with the generator input gear, wherein the clutch transfers rotation of the clutch input gear to rotation of the clutch output gear after the cable is unwound and released from the drum and the stored energy in the spring turns the drum.

Abstract: A method for generating power in a gravity dropped munition. The method including: attaching a cable from a generator associated with the munition to a portion of an aircraft; separating the munition from the aircraft to pull the cable from the munition; converting the pulling of the cable to a rotation; producing power from the rotation; and providing the power to an internal component of the munition.

Abstract: A method for providing electrical energy to a self-destruct fuze for submunitions in a projectile, the method including: storing mechanical energy in an elastic element attached to a first movable mass at one end of the elastic element upon a firing acceleration of the projectile; engaging a second movable mass with the first movable mass such that movement of the second movable mass upon the acceleration moves the second movable mass which in turn moves the first movable mass; converting the stored mechanical energy to electrical energy upon the acceleration to vibrate the first movable mass and the elastic element to apply a cyclic force to a piezoelectric element attached to another end of the elastic element; and locking the second movable mass in a position where the second movable mass cannot interfere with vibration of the first movable mass upon the second movable mass being subjected to the acceleration.

Abstract: A device for providing electrical energy in a submunition of a projectile upon an expulsion acceleration of the submunition from the projectile, the device including: at least one elastic element and a mass connected to the at least one elastic element such that a firing acceleration of the projectile deforms to store mechanical energy in the elastic element; and a mechanism for locking the elastic element in the deformed position and unlocking the elastic element due to the expulsion acceleration to vibrate the at least one elastic element and mass and apply a cyclic force to at least one piezoelectric element to convert the stored mechanical energy to electrical energy.

Abstract: A method for providing electrical energy to a self-destruct fuze for submunitions in a projectile, the method including: storing mechanical energy in an elastic element attached to a first movable mass at one end of the elastic element upon a firing acceleration of the projectile; engaging a second movable mass with the first movable mass such that movement of the second movable mass upon the acceleration moves the second movable mass which in turn moves the first movable mass; converting the stored mechanical energy to electrical energy upon the acceleration to vibrate the first movable mass and the elastic element to apply a cyclic force to a piezoelectric element attached to another end of the elastic element; and locking the second movable mass in a position where the second movable mass cannot interfere with vibration of the first movable mass upon the second movable mass being subjected to the acceleration.

Abstract: A flare including: a casing; and a grain assembly, at least a portion of the grain assembly being slidably disposed in the casing, the grain assembly including: a shell structure; and a grain component at least partially disposed in the shell structure, the grain component including at least one combustible material and at least one reactive material positioned relative to the combustible material and configured to ignite combustion of the at least one combustible material; wherein the shell structure includes one or more nozzles at an aft end of the shell structure for generating a thrust resulting from ignition of the at least one combustible material.

Abstract: A flare including: a casing; and a grain assembly, at least a portion of the grain assembly being slidably disposed in the casing, the grain assembly including: a shell structure; and a grain component at least partially disposed in the shell structure, the grain component including at least one combustible material and at least one reactive material positioned relative to the combustible material and configured to ignite combustion of the at least one combustible material; wherein the shell structure includes one or more fins at an aft end of the shell structure, the one or more fins being restrained into a first shape in the casing and configured to have a second shape, different from the first shape, when the restraint is removed.

Abstract: A method for providing electrical energy in a projectile upon an expulsion acceleration of the projectile. The method including: using a firing acceleration of the projectile to deform at least one elastic element to store mechanical energy in the elastic element; locking the elastic element in the deformed position; and unlocking the elastic element due to the expulsion acceleration to vibrate the at least one elastic element and apply a cyclic force to at least one piezoelectric element to convert the stored mechanical energy to electrical energy.

Abstract: A power supply for providing electrical energy to a self-destruct fuze for submunitions contained in a projectile. The power supply including: a movable mass; at least one elastic element attached to the mass at one end for storing mechanical energy upon a firing acceleration of the projectile; at least one piezoelectric element attached to another end of the at least one elastic element for converting the stored mechanical energy to electrical energy upon the firing acceleration to vibrate the mass and at least one elastic element to apply a cyclic force to the at least one piezoelectric element; and a self destruct fuze for detonation of the self destruct fuze upon receiving the electrical energy.

Abstract: Methods and devices for ejecting a grain assembly from a casing of a flare. Where a combustible material in the casing is ignited to eject the grain assembly and one or more of the following features are provided to the device: imparting a spin on the grain assembly after it is ejected from the casing, stabilizing a flight of the grain assembly or generating a thrust from an aft end of the grain assembly.

Abstract: A munition including: a shell; and a generator including: a drum having a cable with a free end, the drum includes a drum gear, the cable releasing from the drum when unwound; a spring for storing energy as the cable is unwound; a generator connected to the drum such that drum rotation is transferred to an input of the generator after the cable is unwound and stored energy in the spring turns the member, the generator includes an input gear connected to the drum gear; and a clutch having an input gear engaged with the drum gear and an output gear engaged with the generator input gear, wherein the clutch transfers rotation of the clutch input gear to rotation of the clutch output gear after the cable is unwound and released from the drum and the stored energy in the spring turns the drum.

Abstract: A method for generating power in a gravity dropped munition. The method including: attaching a cable from a generator associated with the munition to a portion of an aircraft; separating the munition from the aircraft to pull the cable from the munition; converting the pulling of the cable to a rotation; producing power from the rotation; and providing the power to an internal component of the munition.

Abstract: A method for providing electrical energy in a projectile upon an expulsion acceleration of the projectile. The method including: using a firing acceleration of the projectile to deform at least one elastic element to store mechanical energy in the elastic element; locking the elastic element in the deformed position; and unlocking the elastic element due to the expulsion acceleration to vibrate the at least one elastic element and apply a cyclic force to at least one piezoelectric element to convert the stored mechanical energy to electrical energy.

Abstract: A power supply for providing electrical energy to a self-destruct fuze for submunitions contained in a projectile. The power supply including: a movable mass; at least one elastic element attached to the mass at one end for storing mechanical energy upon a firing acceleration of the projectile; at least one piezoelectric element attached to another end of the at least one elastic element for converting the stored mechanical energy to electrical energy upon the firing acceleration to vibrate the mass and at least one elastic element to apply a cyclic force to the at least one piezoelectric element; and a self destruct fuze for detonation of the self destruct fuze upon receiving the electrical energy.

Abstract: Methods and devices for ejecting a grain assembly from a casing of a flare. Where a combustible material in the casing is ignited to eject the grain assembly and one or more of the following features are provided to the device: imparting a spin on the grain assembly after it is ejected from the casing, stabilizing a flight of the grain assembly or generating a thrust from an aft end of the grain assembly.

Abstract: A generator including: a member having a cable wound thereon, the cable having a free end; a spring for storing energy as the cable is unwound from the member by pulling on the free end; and an electromagnetic generator operatively connected to the member such that rotation of the member is transferred to an input side of the electromagnetic generator after the cable is unwound from the member and the stored energy in the spring turns the member.

Abstract: A method for providing electrical energy to a self-destruct fuze for submunitions contained in a projectile. The method including: using a firing acceleration of the projectile to deform at least one elastic element to store mechanical energy in the elastic element; converting the stored mechanical energy to electrical energy; and providing the electrical energy at least indirectly to the self destruct fuze for detonation of the self destruct fuze.

Abstract: An ignition system for a thermal battery where the ignition system includes: a base plate for connection to the thermal battery; and two or more inertial igniters formed on the base plate, each of the two or more inertial igniters having a striker mass which ignites one or more pyrotechnic materials upon a predetermined acceleration profile, the base plate having an opening corresponding to each of the two or more inertial igniters for allowing a generated spark to pass into the thermal battery.