Chemiluminescent light container

A container adapted for insertion into a device is disclosed wherein the container has fitted into its hollow interior the components required to form therein and eject therefrom a chemiluminescent light emitting material upon impact of the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
One of the most important requirements in the training of military 
personnel, especially in those branches of the service wherein there is a 
need to train in the area of projectiles e.g. bombs, shells etc., is the 
ability to detect the accuracy of the subject being trained. In the air 
force, for example, it is important to be able to determine the accuracy 
of bombing etc. in order to calibrate equipment and train pilots and 
bombardiers. 
Presently there is being used various devices for determining the exact 
area in which a projectile falls. The most used devices are pyrotechnics 
which produce a flash of light and a puff of smoke to indicate the site of 
projectile impact. One such device employs titanium tetrachloride which 
produces a cloud of smoke when it reacts with the moisture in the air on 
impact. A second such device is a red phosphorus bearing projectile which 
emits a flash of light upon impact. 
The problems attendant these types of detection devices are numerous. The 
main problems, however, are that the phosphorus device generates light by 
burning and, as a result, many items with which the burning phosphorus 
comes into contact also burn i.e. trees, shrubs; grass etc. while the 
titanium tetrachloride devices, because they only emit smoke, are 
practically useful for nighttime detection. 
Amine materials known to emit chemiluminescent light on contact with the 
atmosphere have also been used however, the light emitted is not of a high 
enough intensity to provide accurate detection. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A novel container adapted for insertion into a device for use in creating a 
signal has been devised. The container has fitted into its interior, a 
fuse or percussion cap, a propellant, a chemiluminescent light activator 
solution, a chemiluminescent light fluorescer solution, a non-reactive 
enhancer and a sealing means. The chemiluminescent light is produced upon 
impact of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
A typical practice device which is utilized in the training of personnel 
and which creates a detectible signal upon impact normally is of a 
tear-drop configuration with a hollow core running its entire length. A 
cartridge fits into the hollow core at the front end of the device. A 
firing pin at the front end of the device detonates the cartridge upon 
impact and the signal is emitted through the hollow core at the rear end 
in the form of a flash of light, smoke etc. 
Projectile impact accuracy is normally evaluated by camera from an elevated 
platform at a distance of one-half to one mile from the target site. 
Visual inspection of the target site after completion of the test firings 
or droppings is also used. 
Any signal device therefore has to emit a signal which is detectable by the 
camera if manual inspection of the target site, the least desired method, 
is to be avoided. 
The novel containers of the present invention are useful for both day and 
night practice and do not function by burning i.e. they are cold, and 
therefore are free from the disadvantages attendant present devices. They 
provide non-pyroforic chemical light illumination as a spray of light 
which can be blue, yellow or green. A secondary benefit is the formation 
of colored smoke which can be detected in daylight. The instantaneous 
spray of chemical light lasts preferably less than about one (1) minute 
and is visible for at least one (1) mile. 
The instant invention comprises a hollow container adapted for insertion 
into a device for use in creating a signal and having fitted into the 
hollow space or interior thereof, in the following sequence, order or 
relationship, 
(a) a fuse of percussion cap, 
(b) a propellant, 
(c) a chemiluminescent light activator solution, 
(d) a chemiluminescent light fluorescer solution, 
(e) a non-reactive enhancer capable of absorbing or adsorbing the reaction 
product produced upon contact of (c) and (d) which occurs upon detonation 
of said fuse or cap and 
(f) a sealing means. 
The containers of the present invention are preferably prepared from a 
metal such as aluminum however, any other material known for the purpose 
e.g. plastic, may also be used. They generally range in length from about 
6-18 inches, preferably 9-15 inches, and in outer diameter from 1/2 to 
11/2 inches preferably, about 3/4 to 1 inch. 
The containers have a fuse or percussion cap (a) fitted into one end and 
then, in sequence, the remaining contents thereof. The fuse or percussion 
cap can be of any configuration or type and is merely a means of igniting 
the propellant upon impact of the projectile which is being tested. 
The next ingredient, is a propellant (b) and any material known to be 
useful as such may be used. The preferred propellant is gun powder. 
Sufficient gunpowder to cause mixing of (c) and (d) upon impact is 
employed. 
The chemiluminescent light activator solution (c), which is preferably used 
encapsulated within a thin glass ampule, but can be used as such if kept 
separated from the fluorescer solution, is known in the art. It contains 
water, catalyst, hydrogen peroxide and solvent. Typical solutions of this 
type can be found in any one of the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3749679; 
3391068; 3391069; 3974368; 3557233; 3597362; 3775336 and 3888786, 
incorporated herein by reference. Preferred solvents include esters, 
aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated hydrocarbons, of which the esters 
are most preferred, specifically, a mixture of dimethylphthalate and 
t-butyl alcohol. Preferred catalysts include sodium salicylate, sodium 
5-bromosalicylate, lithium bromide and rubidium acetate. 
Similarly, the fluorescer solution (d), which is also preferably used 
encapsulated in a thin, glass ampule, includes, oxalate, of which 
bis(2,4,5-trichloro-6-carbopentoxyphenyl)oxalate is preferred, and 
fluorescer of which 9,10-diphenylanthracene (blue), 
1-chloro-9,10-bis(phenylethylnyl)anthracene (green) are exemplary, see the 
above-mentioned patents for further exemplary fluorescer solutions. Esters 
such as dibutylphthalate are the preferred solvents. 
The containers of the present invention must contain the chemiluminescent 
light components in concentrations which enable the initial outburst of 
light upon detonation to be intense for a short period of time. This 
result is achieved by the use of larger amounts of catalyst and hydrogen 
peroxide as compared to typical chemiluminescent light devices. 
The following table sets forth the useful concentration ranges of each 
ingredient of the chemiluminescent light activator component (c) in the 
container. 
TABLE I 
______________________________________ 
Concentration* 
Ingredient Range Preferred 
______________________________________ 
Hydrogen peroxide 
4-15% 7-10% 
Catalyst.sup.1 0.15-1.1% 0.3-0.8% 
Water 0.6-2.3% 1.0-1.6% 
Solvent.sup.2 remainder 
______________________________________ 
*by weight, based on total weight of solution 
.sup.1 a preferred catalyst mixture contains .05-.4% sodium salicylate, 
.05-.3% salicylic acid and .05-.45 rubidium acetate. 
.sup.2 the solvent mixture which is preferred contains 75-90%, by weight, 
of dimethylphthalate and 10-25%, by weight, of tertbutyl alcohol. 
The non-reactive enhancers (e) play a significant role in the 
chemiluminescent light display formed upon detonation of the container of 
the present invention. The container, upon impact and detonation, forms a 
concentration area of chemiluminescent light display, of a preferred 
diameter and preferably at a height which would enable vision thereof from 
a distance of at least one mile. 
The non-reactive enhancer is a material which absorbs or adsorbs the 
chemiluminescent light generated by mixing components (c) and (d) upon 
detonation and is ejected from the container into the air and hence onto 
the ground. Suitable non-reactive enhancers which have been found to be 
effective for this purpose include small porous, plastic, foamed plugs; 
small perforated beads of glass etc.; lengths of cellulose acetate fiber 
tow; cigarette filter staple; other fibrous yarns, e.g. nylon, polyester, 
rayon; sand, carbon black, alumina mixtures thereof and the like. By 
"non-reactive" is meant that the enhancer in no way enters into any 
reaction with the other components of the container. 
The sealing means (f) merely comprises a closure of the end of the 
container to keep the components intact and tightly compressed together. 
It can comprise a wad of soft material alone or in combination with a 
screw or compression cap, for example. The wad can range in thickness from 
2-10 millimeters. 
The following examples are set forth for purposes of illustration only and 
are not to be construed as limitations on the present invention except as 
set forth in the appended claims. All parts and percentages are by weight 
unless otherwise specified. 
EXAMPLES 1-18 
Simulation of a bomb exploding on impact with the ground is achieved by 
detonating a 12 inch long, 13/16 inch diameter container in a cannon. The 
container has an enclosed end containing a fuse and is then packed, in 
sequence, as follows: 3 grams of smokeless, black gunpowder; a 3.3 mm wad; 
a 10 ml glass ampule of activator solution; a 10 ml glass ampule of 
fluorescer solution; enhancer; seal. 
Table I, below, sets forth the average of the observer ratings for light 
intensity and smoke density. Smoke density was only rated at the target 
site. Light intensity ratings are given at target site and at distances of 
1/2 and 1 mile. After detonation, chemiluminescence continued in the 
enhancer on the ground for about an average of 10 minutes. 
The container is inserted into the rear end of a Cannon and fired from the 
cannon set at an angle of 10-15 degrees. Detonation starts at dusk and 
continues into the night. A 10-15 mph wind subsided during the testings. 
The following is a compilation of the activator solutions and fluorescer 
solutions employed. 
______________________________________ 
Activator #1 
Activator #2 
______________________________________ 
Dimethylphthalate 
385.0 parts 192.5 parts 
t-butylalcohol 
73.6 parts 36.8 parts 
86.9% organic 
54.8 parts 27.4 parts 
process H.sub.2 O.sub.2 
Sodium Salicylate 
1.4 parts 1.3 parts 
Salicylic Acid 
0.6 parts -- 
Rubidium Acetate 
1.12 parts -- 
______________________________________ 
Fluorescer #1 
Fluorescer #2 
______________________________________ 
Dibutylphthalate 
213.0 parts 210.0 parts 
Oxalate** 32.6 parts 40.0 parts 
Fluorescer*** 
0.84 part 0.98 part 
______________________________________ 
** = bis(2,4,5trichloro-6-carbopentoxyphenyl)oxalate 
*** = 1chloro-9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene yellow 
Enhancer #1 Enhancer #2 Enhancer #3 
______________________________________ 
Cellulose Acetate 
Three 8 foot Cellulose Acetate 
Tow lengths of Cellu- 
Staple-1" 
lose acetate Tow 
pieces/glass beads 
tied at one end 
______________________________________ 
Table II, below, shows the combinations of activator solution, fluorescer 
solution and enhancer employed in the test firings. 
TABLE II 
______________________________________ 
Example Activator Sol. 
Fluorescer Sol. 
Enhancer 
______________________________________ 
1 #1 #1 #1-15 feet 
2 #1 #1 #1-18 feet 
3 #1 #1 #1-18 feet 
4 #1 #1 #1-19 feet 
5 #1 #1 #1-19 feet 
6 #1 #1 #3-55/45 
mix 
7 #1 #1 #3-55/45 
mix 
8 #1 #1 #3-45/55 
mix 
9 #2 #2 #1-23 feet 
10 #2 #2 #1-23 feet 
11 #2 #2 #1-23 feet 
12 #2 #2 #1-23 feet 
13 #2 #1 #2* 
14 #2 #1 #2* 
15** #1 #2 #1-23 feet 
16** #1 #2 #2* 
17** #1 #2 #2* 
18 #1 #1 #1-23 feet 
______________________________________ 
*knot beneath sealing means 
**wad used directly beneath sealing means 
Each of the detonations of Examples 1-17 are visible at one mile. The light 
and smoke density ratings at different distances by visual ratings of 
observers stationed at different distances are set forth in Table III, 
below. 
TABLE III 
______________________________________ 
Observer Rating of % Light Output 
at site 1/2 mile 
Examples 
Ave. Range Ave. Range 1 mile 
Smoke % 
______________________________________ 
1-5 68 50-80 72 72-80 Visible 
60 
6-8 70 50-85 68 50-85 Visible 
73 
9-12 78 60-90 78 70-85 Visible 
78 
13-14 80 -- 85 80-90 Visible 
80 
15 80 -- 85 80-90 Visible 
80 
16-17 80 -- 78 70-85 Visible 
80 
18 100 -- 100 -- Visible 
Not Reported 
______________________________________ 
EXAMPLE 19 
Replacement of the oxalate of Example 1 with 
9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene-(green) results in similar observations. 
EXAMPLE 20 
Following the procedure of Example 9 except that the fluorescer is 
9,10-diphenylanthracene (blue), similar results are achieved.