Ballistic gas fired device

A hot ballistic gas fired explosive transfer device embodying an explosive train sealed against environmental effects and placed in the line of delivery of hot ballistic gas which ruptures the seal and initiates the action of the explosive train. The explosive transfer device is arranged for applications with escape systems having shielded mild detonating cords, or having primers for activating rocket motors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to emergency escape systems utilizing a ballistic 
gas fired device wherein a hot ballistically generated gas is delivered 
from a remote source directly to an explosive energy transfer device 
incorporated in the escape system. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
An explosive device utilized in escape systems and principally applicable 
to aircraft installations is represented in Schimmel U.S. Pat. No. 
3,326,127 of June 20, 1967 in which the explosive devices are mounted in 
an angular relation so that the transfer of energy is affected in only one 
direction. A more recent disclosure is found in Klein et al U.S. Pat. No. 
4,378,739 of Apr. 5, 1983 which is directed to a firing mechanism for 
detonating a plurality of percussion primers by delivering explosive 
energy through a shielded mild detonating cord. A still more recent 
disclosure is found in Schimmel U.S. Pat. No. 4,423,682 of Jan. 3, 1984 
which relates to a one-way explosive transfer assembly wherein initiating 
energy is delivered by a sheilded mild detonating cord and is transferred 
in only one direction to an output shielded mild detonating cord. 
The prior art is also exhibited by energy conversion devices in which 
ballistic gas input is directed against a piston element held in position 
by a shear pin which must be sheared off to release the piston carrying a 
firing pin for striking a primer which, in turn, transfers the energy to 
an output which may be either a rocket motor or a shielded mild detonating 
cord. 
The problem with the prior art devices resides in the expense involved in 
making the several individual parts which go into a finished assembly and 
also in the possibility that the assembly of the parts could result in 
defective elements and especially the primer devices which are present. 
There is also the problem of obtaining reliability which is very important 
when devices of this type are incorporated in emergency aircraft escape 
systems. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a ballistic gas fired device utilizing 
the heat and pressure of the ballistic gas for activating an explosive 
train device used in an emergency escape system. The objects of the 
present invention are to improve on the prior art devices by eliminating 
as many components and elements as possible so as to simplify the 
assembly, to reduce the cost of manufacture of such devices, and to gain 
greater assurance of reliable operation. 
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is directed to a hot 
ballistic gas fired device in which improvements comprise the simple 
provision of a housing having inlet and outlet ends communicating with an 
internal cavity, mounting an explosive train in the housing cavity, 
sealing the explosive train against deteriorating from environmental 
influences and providing means for admitting hot ballistic gas directly 
against the explosive train for effecting or initiating the firing of that 
explosive train so as to initiate the escape system in which the device is 
incorporated. 
The present invention will be set forth in connection with certain 
modifications to be disclosed and described in detail hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
In order to illustrate the advantages and improvements which the present 
invention embodies over the prior art, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a 
current conventional device 10 having a main body 11 threadedly receiving 
ah insert 12 for the reception of an internal sleeve 13 which forms the 
cylinder for a piston 14 formed with a firing pin 15. The firing pin is 
aligned so as to enter a port 16 in the inner closed end of the 
cylindrical sleeve 13 so as to allow the firing pin 15 to pass through the 
port and impact a primer 17 for the purpose of activating an explosive 
train 18 which is intimately associated with the primer 17. The explosive 
train 18 delivers its energy through an outlet 19 which can be occupied by 
a shielded mild detonating cord of conventional character or a suitable 
rocket motor which, in some instances, is incorporated in an escape 
system. It is seen in FIG. 1 that the insert 12 locates the cylindrical 
sleeve 13 and all of the parts associated therewith, including a shear pin 
20, whereby ballistic gas can be admitted through the inlet 21 to propel 
the piston 14 and drive its pin 15 into the primer 17 to initiate the 
intended operation of such a device. 
FIG. 2 illustrates a presently preferred embodiment of the present 
invention which is shown in the assembly 22 as being made up of a housing 
23 which has an inlet end 23A and an outlet end 23B, and is counterbored 
from the left hand end to provide a cavity 23C to receive a holder 24 for 
an explosive train 25. The holder 24 is firmly held in abutment by its 
external shoulder 24A in position against an internal shoulder 26 
surrounding the cavity 23C by the threaded mounting of a hot gas delivery 
sleeve 27 in the housing 23. The sleeve may or may not incorporate 
mounting lugs 28, depending on the location and means for securing the 
assembly in operative position. The sleeve 27 is embraced by an O-ring 
seal 29 and may be locked into position by a key element 30. It is noted 
that the sleeve 27 is formed with a bore 27A which is adapted to direct 
hot ballistic gas from a remote source (not shown) directly against the 
assembly of means in the holder 24. 
Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4 it can be seen that the holder 24 is a 
suitable body for axially locating the explosive train 25 such that the 
output end of the explosive train is positioned against a metallic closure 
disc 31 which is circumferentially stitch welded or otherwise attached to 
the body of the holder 24. The opposite face of the holder 24 is formed 
with a counterbored cavity 32 which is adapted to be closed by a metallic 
disc 33 which, again, is stitch welded or otherwise secured in the face of 
the holder 24 so as to enclose the cavity 32. As seen in FIG. 3, the disc 
33 is structurally weakened by the formation of scoring 34 which is a way 
of weakening the integrity of the disc without actually penetrating 
through to the cavity 32. In some instances, the scored surface of the 
disc 33 may be given a thin coating of a suitable sealant without 
detracting from the intended structural weakness of the disc. The sealant 
coating is shown fragmentarily at S in FIG. 3. It should be understood 
that when hot ballistic gas is delivered through the bore 27A of the 
sleeve 27, it is generated with a delivery pressure greater than 500 psi 
which is sufficient to rupture the disc 33 and deliver the hot gas 
directly at the explosive train 25. In the rupture of the disc 33 the 
material thereof is ruptured in the form of petals that bend or are driven 
into the cavity 32 which is provided for that purpose so that the hot gas 
is effectively delivered on the explosive train 25. 
The makeup of the explosive train may be a combination of two or three 
components, but primarily lead azide and hexanitrostilbene. The third 
element is lead styphnate and may be utilized for accelerating the 
explosive action of the train. An important feature of the assembly shown 
in FIG. 4 is that the respective seals 31 and 33 are to enclose the 
explosive train and isolate it from environmental influences that might 
affect the intended response of the explosive train. 
The embodiment of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2 can be 
seen to greatly simplify the construction of such a device over that shown 
in the prior art of FIG. 1. The simplification is directed to eliminating 
a number of unnecessary elements and making it possible to deliver hot 
ballistic gas directly onto an explosive train so as to greatly improve 
the reliability of initiating the operation of an escape system, and to 
accomplish this at reduced cost because of the elimination of a number of 
components that have heretofore been believed necessary. The 
simplification results in increased reliability. 
Turning now to FIG. 5, a brief disclosure of a conventional prior art 
device is seen to include a rocket motor housing 47 with the usual nozzle 
blowout plug 48 therein, and a head cap 49 which is threadedly engaged on 
the housing 47 at the opposite end from the location of the blowout plug 
48. The housing 47 contains a body of solid propellant fuel 50 with a 
hollow bore 51 which receives an igniter cartridge 52 inserted opposite 
the blowout plug 48. The cartridge 52 is provided with an end seal 53, 
while the opposite end is associated with the firing mechanism for 
activating a primer 54 which, in torn, activates the igniter cartridge 
1552 when a firing pin 55 is forced to pass through a port in a firing pin 
stop 56. The firing pin 55 is carried by a piston 57 which is held by a 
shear pin 58 in a cylinder 59. The cylinder is threadedly mounted in the 
reduced end 60 of the head cap, and the piston is suitably sealed therein 
at 61. The reduced end 60 of the head cap is adapted to be connected to a 
hot ballistic gas source (not shown) which develops sufficient pressure on 
the piston 57 to shear the shear pin 58 and drive the firing pin 55 
through the firing pin stop 56 so that it activates the primer 54 to set 
up the necessary chain reaction in the igniter cartridge 52. A protective 
removable cap C covers the end 60 until the assembly is installed. 
The embodiment disclosed in FIG. 6 pertains to the improvements that are 
associated with a head cap 49 of the prior art example, but in the present 
embodiment an improved head cap 62 forms a housing which receives a number 
of simplified and less expensive components now to be described. The inlet 
end 63 of the head cap housing opens into an internal bore 64 for the 
reception of a carrier 65 for a pair of primers 66, and the carrier is 
positioned in the bore 64 by an orifice plate 67 which is provided with 
orifices 68 which are aligned respectively with the primers 66. The 
carrier and the orifice plate are secured in the bore 64 by a holder 69 
which is threadedly mounted so that its inner end bears on the orifice 
plate 67 to provide a cavity 70 in front of the orifices. The holder 69 
carries an explosive train assembly 71 and is enclosed in the holder by a 
suitable frangible seal disc 72 secured by circumferential stitch welding 
at 73. The outlet opening 74 for the head cap 62 housing is enlarged so as 
to be able to receive the cartridge 52 for a rocket motor housing such as 
the one shown at 47 at FIG. 5. 
In comparing the embodiment of FIG. 2 with the embodiment of FIG. 6 it can 
be appreciated that the protective closure 72 is similar to the closure 33 
seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 so that the difference lies in the provision in the 
FIG. 6 embodiment of an apertured orifice plate 67 for the disposition of 
redundant primers 66 such that the full thrust of the rocket motor carried 
in the outlet opening 74 of the head cap is applied to perform the 
operation for which it is designed. The presence of the orifice plate 67 
and the primers 66 acts to prevent flow of the hot gases in the same 
direction as the thrust of the rocket motor. In FIG. 2 once the explosive 
train has performed its function the housing is open between its inlet and 
outlet ends. The embodiment of FIG. 6 has provided redundant primers, and 
eliminated the expense of providing a piston and a firing pin element 
along with a shear pin for activating a single primer, and greatly reduces 
the expense and increases the reliability of the device. 
In obtaining the objectives heretofore pointed out, the preferred form of 
the invention resides in the improvement of a housing having inlet and 
outlet ends and an intervening housing cavity in communication with those 
ends, an explosive train mounted in the housing cavity and suitably 
protected against environ mental exposure, and means for directing hot 
ballistic gas directly at the explosive train to initiate its function 
such that the environmental protection provisions for the explosive train 
do not lessen the ability to obtain the firing of the explosive train so 
as to secure the end result desired. 
The invention illustrated in FIGS. 2 thru 4 and 6 inclusive is considered 
to set forth the presently preferred embodiment of the invention so as to 
accomplish the advantages of simplicity of construction, the reduction of 
cost of manufacturing and a greatly increased reliability in its function. 
However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are 
possible changes and modifications that may come to mind without departing 
from the true spirit and scope of the invention.