Through bulkhead initiator

Abstract: A through-the-bulkhead initiator is constructed of an age-hardened nickel material so as to permit use of explosives which meet U.S. Government Military Standard Mil-Std 1316.

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to pyrotechnic systems and more particularly to such systems in which a downstream ignition reaction or shock wave is transmitted through a solid barrier or bulkhead to initiate an upstream explosive function. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Through bulkhead initiators are well known, and commonly employed, particularly, in ordinance applications which have an ordinance transfer line to initiate an explosive type of ordinance device, herein referred to as an "initiator." Such initiators accept a detonating signal from an ordinance transfer device or assembly, and convert the detonating signal to a hot gas output on the downstream side of a solid barrier or bulkhead of the initiator, thereby producing an "initiation stimulus" for an upstream ordinance subsystem. The bulkhead or barrier is intended to provide a pressure seal during operation of the upstream ordinance sub-system. The initiation stimulus provided by a through the bulkhead initiator is generally transmitted through the bulkhead via shock waves. The initiator generally includes an explosive donor charge of an explosive material which is detonated by the detonating signal. In turn, a shock wave is generated by the detonation of the explosive donor charge, transferred to the bulkhead, and propagated therethrough to an explosive acceptor charge on the upstream side of the bulkhead, and which forms, in part, the upstream ordinance subsystem. The initiator must provide a shock wave of sufficient energy to cause a detonation reaction of the explosive acceptor charge of the upstream ordinance subsystem. As is well understood in the prior art, the bulkhead or barrier generally comprises a thin member of a larger body which may also serve as a housing which encloses the initiator explosive donor charge and initiator ordinance transfer subassembly. Outer portions of the housing may also serve structural support functions of the upstream ordinance subsystem. Further, portions of the upstream side of the bulkhead may include structural configuration features for receiving the explosive acceptor charge of the upstream ordinance subsystem. Initiators of the prior art as just described are disclosed in, among others, the following publications: "Development of the Saturn V Thru Bulkhead Initiator," Corwin et al, North American Rockwell Corp., 6 th Symposium on Electroexplosive Devices, July 1969; "Through-Bulkhead-Initiator Development," by Hecks, Sandia Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 6 th Pyrotechnic Seminar, 1978; "Thermal Ignition of Pyrotechnics Through a Bulkhead," by Kjeldgaard et al, Sandia Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 8 th Symposium on Electroexplosive Devices, 1974; and "Development of a Shock Initiated Through-Bulkhead Actuator," Schwarz et al, Sandia Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 6 th Pyrotechnic Seminar, 1980. Further, initiators are also described in, among others, the following U.S. Patents: U.S. Patent No. 4,608,926, issued to Stevens, entitled, "Swivel Type Through Bulkhead Initiator; U.S. Patent No. 4,660,472, issued to Stevens, entitled, "Optical Through Bulkhead Initiator and Safe-Arm Device;" U.S. Patent No. 4,699,400, issued to Adams, et al, entitled, "Inflator and Remote Sensor with Through Bulkhead Initiator;" U.S. Patent No. 4,766,726, issued to Tackett, et al, entitled "Segmented Case Rocket Motor;" and U.S. Patent No. 4,829,765, issued to Bolieau, et al, entitled, "Pulsed Rocket Motor." Bulkheads or barriers of prior art initiators are generally metallic, commonly stainless steel, and are of sufficient structural size to withstand the passage of the shock wave produced by the detonation of a donor charge without structural degradation. Further, such barriers or bulkheads are also designed to have sufficient structural integrity to withstand both the detonation sequence of the initiator and the operational pressure of an upstream ordinance device , refer for details to prior art document US-A-39 45 322, Developments in the ordinance industry have place greater demands on the size of the initiator. At the same time, military standards have been imposed as to the type and quantities of explosive donor and acceptor charges, particularly the explosive requirements imposed by U.S. Government Military Standard Mil-Std 1316. More particularly less sensitive donor and explosive acceptor charges must now be used in such initiators. The latter donor charge requirements affect the relationship between achieving structural integrity of the bulkhead, and at the same time establishing a sufficient shock wave resulting from detonation of the explosive donor charge to detonate the explosive acceptor charge of the upstream ordinance subsystem. Designs meeting Mil-Std 1316 have system length constraints that require reduction of bulkhead thickness. Prior art bulkheads typically use stainless steel barriers that do not exhibit acceptable shock transfer properties or strength to function at operating pressures of, for example, about 7250 Pa (5,000 psi), when reduced in size as is required for such designs. The present invention overcomes shortcomings found in the prior art by providing a miniaturized bulkhead of about a third of the size of previously known bulkheads, while still providing sufficient structural strength and shock wave properties so as to function with less sensitive explosives meeting the requirements of Mil-Std 1316. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide an initiator of small size having a bulkhead with sufficient structural integrity to withstand both the detonation sequence of the initiator and the operational pressure of an upstream ordinance device. Another object of the present invention is to provide an initiator of small size and having a bulkhead with sufficient structural integrity to withstand both the detonation sequence of the initiator and the operational pressure of an upstream ordinance device while employing explosives which satisfy the requirements of Mil-Std 1316. In accordance with the present invention, a through bulkhead initiator is provided by way of an initiator body constructed substantially of an age hardened nickel-base alloy, wherein the composition of said age hardened nickel-base alloy includes nickel in the range of 50-55 percent by weight. The initiator body includes a first cavity bounded, in part, by a barrier member integral with the initiator body. The first cavity is substantially filled with an explosive donor charge on the down stream side of the barrier member. An explosive acceptor charge is placed in communication with the upstream side of the barrier member. The barrier member is structurally configured so that a shock wave initiated by detonating the explosive donor charge may be transferred through the barrier member to impact the explosive acceptor charge so as to cause detonation of the explosive acceptor charge. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art through the description of the preferred embodiment, claims and drawings herein wherein like numerals refer to like elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To illustrate this invention, a preferred embodiment will be described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a through bulkhead initiator in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is an expanded view showing a more detailed schematic of a through bulkhead initiator in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Illustrated in Figure1 is a cross sectional view of a through bulkhead initiator, in accordance with the present invention, that is particularly applicable for deployment of a rocket motor. Figure 2 is an expanded view of a portion of Figure 1 showing a more detailed schematic of a through bulkhead initiator in accordance with the present invention. The essential components which comprise the through bulkhead initiator, hereafter referred to as "initiator," will now be described with reference to a projectile fuse 10 which is shown, in part, in the Figures. Now referring to Figure 1, fuze 10 includes, more generally, a cylindrically shaped or hub-like forward fuze housing 100 and mating aft fuze housing 200 which are coupled together by a threaded coupling technique, or other coupling technique. As illustrated, a generally cylindrically shaped chamber 210 is enclosed by forward fuze housing 100 when mated with aft fuze housing 200. Chamber 210 is intended to provide a volume of space for containing fuze components, not shown, including, by way of example, electronic circuit assemblies, a rocket motor, and the like. Forward fuze housing 100 may also include a channel 110 for containing an O-ring 220 positioned between the forward and aft fuze housing components 100 and 200, respectively, thereby providing a gas tight seal for enclosing components within chamber 210. Forward fuze housing 100 is generally hub shaped, as aforesaid, and includes an inner side 102 and an outer side 104. Forward fuze housing 100 includes a centrally located bore hole or cavity 120 generally aligned with a central axis of the cylindrically shaped forward fuze housing 100. Now referring particularly to Figure 2, bore hole 120 is generally defined by a bottom end surface 122 and an open end 124 integral with said inner side 102. Forward fuze housing 100 also includes cylindrical protrusion 107 extending from outer side 104, and generally aligned with the central axis of forward fuze housing 100. As shown in Figure 2 in expanded view, protrusion 107 includes a centrally located and cylindrically shaped bore hole or cavity 180 having a generally flat bottom end surface 182 and an open end 184. Extending into forward fuze housing 100 from bottom end surface 184 is a centrally located and cylindrically shaped bore hole or cavity 130, also centrally aligned with the central axis of forward fuze housing 100. Referring again to the expanded view of Figure 2, bore hole 130 includes a bottom end surface 132 and an open end 134 integral with bottom end surface 182 of cavity 180. Cavities 120, 130, and 180 are generally cylindrical and axially aligned with the central axis of forward fuze housing 100. Cavities 120 and 130 are so constructed in a manner such that opposite bottom end surfaces 122 and 132 are in juxtaposition so as to be separated by a bulkhead or barrier member integral with fuze housing 100, and which is generally depicted by numeral 140. In a simple configuration, cavities 120 and 130 may be axially aligned bore holes or apertures created by common boring techniques such that the bottom end surfaces 122 and 132, opposite their respective open ends 124 and 134, respectively, are generally described as having a concave end surface as seen from the open ends thereof. Alternatively, other boring techniques are of course possible including those providing a pointed conical shaped surface or a flat grounded surface. Referring again particularly to Figure 2, Cavity 120 is intended to be press loaded with an explosive donor charge 125, and cavity 130 is intended to be pressed loaded with an explosive acceptor charge 135 through cavity open ends 124 and 134, respectively. Further, cavity 180 is intended to be press loaded with a secondary explosive 185 intended to be detonated by an aft explosion of the acceptor charge 135 as is well understood in the art. Open end 122 of cavity 120 may be sealed by a foil seal 123 as is well known in the art. Coupled to foil seal 123 and the explosive donor charge 125 enclosed within cavity 120 is an ordinance transfer line depicted as detonator cord 240 which is coupled to detonator cord stimulus, for example an electronic circuit assembly as is generally depicted by reference numeral 245. Pressed against the open end 124 of cavity 120 and a central portion of side 102 is a closure disk 150 for press fitting the detonator chord to be in communication with the explosive donor charge and thereby provide a somewhat gas tight explosion chamber generally within the confines of cavity 120. As shown in Figure 1, closure disc 150 may be held in place by threaded engagement within an aperture, generally indicated by numeral 160. Aperture 160 may advantageously be defined in part by side 102 of forward fuze housing 100, or other arrangement, so as to be in fixed arrangement with forward fuze housing side 102 to provide the intended function, i.e. a gas tight explosion chamber within cavity 120. Fuze 10 further includes an insulator cap 170 configured to mate with portions of outer side 104 of forward fuze housing 100 surrounding protrusion 107. Insulator cap 170 may be held in place by use of a lacquer sealant or other arrangement. A button like closure cap 190 is intended to seal the open end 184 of cavity 180 when loaded with a secondary explosive. Forward fuze housing 100 may also include ignitor flash holes (not shown) as is commonly practiced in such ordinance devices. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, forward fuze housing 100 is constructed of a nickel alloy which is age hardened. One example of an age hardened nickel alloy is Inconel #718 manufactured by Huntington Alloy Products Division, International Nickel Co., Inc., Huntington, West Virginia. Inconnel #718 includes nickel in the range of 50-55 per cent by molecular weight. Having described the invention in detail, the following example embodiment is provided to promote a better understanding of the invention. It will be understood that the invention is not limited by the following example. In an exemplary fuze 10 embodiment, forward fuze housing 100 may have an overall diameter of 7,937cm (3.125 inches) and an axial length of 5.08cm (2.00 inches). Aft fuze housing 200 may have an overall a diameter of 7.62cm (3.00 inches) and an axial length of 4.064cm (1.6 inches). Cavity 120 and 130 are axially aligned and bored so that the barrier member 140 may have a central thickness of 0.1 cm (.040 inches) with the diameter of each cavity being 2.337 cm (.092 inches) and the longitudinal lengths of cavity 120 and 130 being 0.488 and 0.267 cm (.190 and .105 inches) respectively. Bore hole 180 may have a diameter of 0.889cm (.350 inches)and length of 0.635cm (.250 inches) sufficient to contain a secondary explosive pellet of like dimensions. With the foregoing choice of material and barrier member 140 minimum thickness between the bottom surfaces 122 and 132 of bore holes 120 and 130, a well functioning initiator was produced where the explosive donor charge was PBXN-5, a well-known plastic bonded explosive, and the explosive acceptor charge was HNS-II. HNS-II (recrystallized production hexanitrostilbene, C 14 H 6 N 6 O 12 ) is well known to those skilled in the art. The aforementioned explosive acceptor charge was satisfactory for igniting a rocket motor ignitor charge comprised of a pellet of BKNO 3 employed as the secondary explosive 185. BKNO 3 (boron potassium nitrate) is a well-known ignitor. The foregoing description of the invention is necessarily detailed so as to provide understanding of the invention's best mode of practice. For example other forms of hexanitrostilbene (HNS) or equivalent materials may be used in place of HNS-II for the explosive acceptor charge.

Claims: A through bulkhead initiator (10) comprising: an explosive donor charge (125); an explosive acceptor charge (13); an initiator body (100) constructed of substantially an age-hardened nickel-base alloy, said initiator body (100) including first (120) and second (130) cavities separated by a barrier member (140) integral with said initiator body, said first cavity substantially filled with said explosive donor charge, said second cavity substantially filled with said explosive acceptor charge, and wherein the composition of said age-hardened nickel-base alloy includes nickel in the range of 50-55% by weight; and said explosive acceptor charge (135) so that a shock wave initiated by detonating said explosive donor charge (125) transferred through said barrier member (140) to impact said explosive acceptor charge (135) so as to cause detonation of said explosive acceptor charge (125), and wherein said barrier member (140) has a central thickness of 1 mm (0.04 inches) or less. The through bulkhead initiator of claim 1, wherein said explosive donor charge is comprised of PBXN-5, and/or wherein said explosive acceptor charge is comprised of hexanitrostilbene, in particular recrystallized production hexanitrostilbene. The through bulkhead initiator of claim I or 2, wherein said explosive donor charge is press-loaded into said first cavity and/or wherein said explosive acceptor charge is press-loaded into said second cavity so as to enhance establishment of said shock wave and enhance transfer of said shock wave to said explosive acceptor charge. A projectile fuse comprising: an aft housing (200) threadably engaged with an initiator body for forming an inner chamber (210) bounded by said aft housing (200) and said initiator body (100); said initiator body (100) constructed of substantially an age-hardened nickel-base alloy, wherein the composition of said age-hardened nickel-base alloy includes nickel in the range of 50-55% by weight, said initiator body having an aft end member (134) in communication with said inner chamber (210), and a forward end member (124), a first cavity (120) inwardly extending into said initiator body (100) ending at a first bottom end surface (122), a second cavity (130) inwardly extending into said initiator body (100) ending at a second bottom end surface (132) in juxtaposition with said first bottom end surface (122), where the first bottom end surface (122) and the second bottom end surface (132) are separated by a barrier member (140) integral with said forward housing, an explosive donor charge (125) filling said first cavity, an explosive acceptor charge (135) filling said second cavity, and wherein said barrier member (140) separates said first and second cavities, wherein said barrier member (140) has a central thickness of 0.04 inches (1 mm) or less, so that a shock wave initiated by detonating said explosive donor charge (125) is transferred through said barrier member (140) to impact said explosive acceptor charge (135) so as to cause detonation of said explosive acceptor charge (135). The projectile fuse of claim 4, wherein said explosive donor charge is comprised of PBXN-5, and said explosive acceptor charge is comprised of hexanitrostilbene. The projectile fuse of claim 5, wherein said explosive donor charge is press-loaded into said first cavity and said explosive acceptor charge is press-loaded into said second cavity. The projectile fuse of claim 4, wherein said explosive donor charge is press-loaded into said first cavity and said explosive acceptor charge is press-loaded into said second cavity. An initiator body for use in a projectile fuse, said initiator body comprising an age-hardened nickel-base alloy, said initiator body including first (120) and second cavities (130) separated by a barrier member (140) integral with said initiator body, said first cavity substantially filled with said explosive donor charge (125), and said second cavity substantially filled with said explosive acceptor charge (135), and wherein the composition of said age hardened nickel-base alloy includes nickel in the range of 50-55% by weight, and wherein said barrier member (140) has a central thickness of 1 mm (0.04 inches) or less. The initiator body of claim 8, wherein said explosive donor charge is comprised of PBXN-5, and/or wherein said explosive acceptor charge is comprised of hexanitrostilbene. The initiator body of claim 9, wherein said explosive donor charge is press-loaded into said first cavity and/or wherein said explosive acceptor charge is press-loaded into said second cavity.

Inventors: HUNGERFORD TIMOTHY C, SMITH DAVID A, HUNGERFORD, TIMOTHY C., SMITH, DAVID A.
Applicants: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC, ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: F42C19
IPC codes: F42C19