Patent ID: 8677904

Claim:
A signal flare projectile system, comprising: a. a launching cartridge, said launching cartridge including, i. a mass of propellant in a high pressure chamber, ii. a low pressure chamber, said low pressure chamber having an open forward end, iii. at least one vent connecting said high pressure chamber to said low pressure chamber; b. a projectile body, said body including, i. an aft closure, with said aft closure being seated in said open forward end of said low pressure chamber of said launching cartridge, ii. a cylindrical side wall extending forward from said aft closure and defining a hollow interior with an open forward end; c. a delay assembly mounted in said aft closure, with said delay assembly including, i. a delay column, having a forward end and an of end, ii. an ignition hole positioned to ignite said aft end of said delay column using combustion gases within said low pressure chamber; d. a signal igniter, positioned proximate said forward end of said delay column; e. a first illuminant mass having a first burning color, said first illuminant mass being located within said hollow interior of said projectile body forward of said signal igniter; f. a second illuminant mass having a second burning color which is different from said first burning color, said second illuminant mass being located within said hollow interior of said projectile had forward of said first illuminant mass; g. a third illuminant mass having a third burning color which is different from said first and second burning colors, said third illuminant mass being located within said hollow interior of said projectile body forward of said second illuminant mass; h. an ogive connected to said projectile body and lying forward of said third illuminant mass, with said ogive sealing said open forward end of said projectile body; and i. a propagation passage through said first and second illuminant masses, said propagation passage being in communication with said third illuminant mass and with said signal igniter so that hot gasses produced by said signal igniter will ignite said first, second, and third illuminant masses.