Ignitor with stable low-energy thermite igniting system

Patent · 05 February 1991

OSTI ID:867691

Kelly, Michael D ^[1]; Munger, Alan C ^[2]

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1. West Alexandria, OH
2. Miamisburg, OH

A stable compact low-energy igniting system in an ignitor utilizes two components, an initiating charge and an output charge. The initiating charge is a thermite in ultra-fine powder form compacted to 50-70% of theoretical maximum density and disposed in a cavity of a header of the ignitor adjacent to an electrical ignition device, or bridgewire, mounted in the header cavity. The initiating charge is ignitable by operation of the ignition device in a hot-wire mode. The output charge is a thermite in high-density consoladated form compacted to 90-99% of theoretical maximum density and disposed adjacent to the initiating charge on an opposite end thereof from the electrical ignition device and ignitable by the initiating charge. A sleeve is provided for mounting the output charge to the ignitor header with the initiating charge confined therebetween in the cavity.

• Research Organization: MONSANTO RESEARCH CORP
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00053
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4989515
• Application Number: 07/390,853
• OSTI ID: 867691
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/102/
50-70
90-99
adjacent
bridgewire
cavity
charge
compact
compacted
components
confined
consoladated
density
device
disposed
disposed adjacent
electrical
electrical ignition
fine powder
form
header
high-density
hot-wire
ignitable
igniting
ignition
ignition device
ignitor
initiating
initiating charge
low-energy
low-energy thermite
maximum
mode
mounted
mounting
operation
opposite
output
output charge
powder
powder form
provided
sleeve
stable
theoretical
therebetween
thermite
ultra-fine
utilizes