Patent GB-968625-A (GB)
IPC: F41H9/02
Abstract: 968,625. Flame throwers and cartridges therefor. AEROJET-GENERAL CORPORATION. April 27, 1962, No. 16130/62. Headings F3A and F3C. [Also in Division F1] A flame thrower comprises a tubular U- shaped fuel tank 10, Fig. 2, a spherical piston member 24 mounted initially towards the inlet end of the tank and adapted to move through its length to the outlet end whilst sealing against the wall of the tank, a fuel nozzle 42 mounted on an outlet closure 38 and a gas generator 35 containing a charge of propellant connected to the inlet end of the tank and adapted on ignition to drive the piston 24 towards the outlet end whilst effecting ejection of a stream of fuel through the nozzle 42 and an igniter 48 with operating means therefor for igniting the propellant and the stream of fuel. The inner surface of the closure 38 is curved to the contour of the piston 24 and is provided with flutes 41 faired into the central passage of the nozzle 42. The closure 38 and nozzle 42 are provided with a small diameter passage 43 opening at its inner end in one of the flutes 41 and serving to discharge a supply of fuel into a flame shield 44 and maintaining a flame around the jet of fuel issuing from the nozzle 42. The gas generator 35 is provided with a burst-diaphragm 62, Fig. 16, closing an axial passage 63 leading to radial passages for the escape of gas. The propellant 65 is located in the generator 35 which is connected by a tube 34 to the tank 10 and which is provided with a port exposing the propellant to flame generated by the igniter 48. The igniter comprises a substantially rectangular steel block, Figs. 14, 16, having a first chamber 117 containing a pyrotechnic material together with means for initiating the combustion thereof opening into one face 112 of the block. This acts to ignite the propellant 65. A second chamber 127 containing an incendiary oxidizing combustible mixture opens into an angled face 113 and serves to ignite the jet of fuel sprayed into the flame cone. The material in the first chamber may be ignited by a cartridge 114 fired by a firing pin 16 or alternatively by a glow plug 116. A pellet 125 of powdered aluminium and ammonium chlorate is secured on the end of the cartridge by a nitrocellulose adhesive and the open end of the first chamber covered with a plastic closure 126. The chambers 117 and 127 are connected by a passage 128 and fire hole 130 and the chamber 127 contains an incendiary pellet 131, a starter pellet and paste 132, 133 and black powder 136. The former may comprise cellulose nitrate and black powder in acetone solvent or a pyrotechnic type material. As shown in Fig. 16, the igniter 48 is so positioned that the flame generated in the second chamber 127 enters the rear portion of the flame shield 44 at a point adjacent a transverse passage 312a in the wall of the nozzle 42, the passage connecting with the fuel passage 43. The trigger mechanism for operating the firing pin 16 is located in a housing 210, Figs. 11, 13, in which is located a trigger button 217 urged rearwardly by a spring 218 towards a rubber cap 219 closing the rear end of the housing 210, the button 217 being secured to a tube 222 connecting it to trigger release mechanism mounted on a generally conical hollow member 224 which acts as a pawl spreader. A pair of flat spring-urged pawl members 229, 230 pivoted in pins 231, 232 are formed with angular cam surfaces 235, 236 fitting in cam recesses 227, 228 on the member 224 and with detent shoulders 237, 238 adapted to engage behind a detent shoulder 248 on the firing pin plunger 247. The member 224 is slotted at 239, 240 to receive pawls 229, 230 and enable them to swing about their pivots when member 224 is axially displaced in either direction. A tubular housing 215, Fig. 12 (not shown), projects from the trigger housing and serves to mount a safety-pin and a safety-latch, both trigger and safety-latch requiring to be operated to fire the flame thrower after the safety-pin has first been removed. On pressing the cap 219, the trigger button 217, tube 222 and pawl spreader 224 are moved to the right, thus spreading the pawls and releasing the firing-pin plunger 247 and enabling a spring 259 to throw the firing pin 16 forwardly. Alternatively a pull on a lanyard attached to the button 217 will move the spreader 224 rearwardly to release the firing pin plunger. U.S.A. Specifications 3,026,047, 3,054,351 and 3,058,397 are referred to. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to specification 937,023.