Reusable high pressure and high temperature energetic ignition system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10443545-B2
Application number	US-201715426861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2017
Priority date	Feb 7, 2017
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

An energetic ignition arrangement may comprise a pressure vessel arrangement, comprising a pressure vessel, and an ignition system arrangement. The ignition system arrangement may comprise an ignitor housing coupled to the pressure vessel and defining a sealing aperture, a seal disposed in the sealing aperture, and an electric match extending through the ignitor housing, wherein at least the ignitor housing and the pressure vessel are reusable after the energetic ignition arrangement has been employed in an ignition event.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An energetic ignition arrangement, comprising:
a pressure vessel arrangement, comprising:
a pressure vessel; and
an ignition system arrangement, comprising:
an ignitor housing coupled to the pressure vessel and defining a sealing aperture; a seal disposed in the sealing aperture;
a first ceramic isolator:
a second ceramic isolator, wherein the seal is located between the first ceramic isolator and the second ceramic isolator: and
an electric match extending through the ignitor housing,
wherein at least the ignitor housing and the pressure vessel are reusable after the energetic ignition arrangement has been employed in an ignition event;
wherein the electric match extends through the seal; and
wherein the electric match comprises: a heating element;
an energetic compound coupled to the heating element; and
at least one wire lead coupled to the heating element configured to supply electric power to the heating element.

2. The energetic ignition arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the seal hermetically seals to the ignitor housing and to the at least one wire lead.

3. The energetic ignition arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first ceramic isolator and the second ceramic isolator electrically insulate the at least one wire lead.

4. The energetic ignition arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a polymeric material and the first ceramic isolator and the second ceramic isolator comprise a ceramic material.

5. The energetic ignition arrangement of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the seal, the first ceramic isolator, and the second ceramic isolator are reusable after the energetic ignition arrangement has been employed in the ignition event.

6. The energetic ignition arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the ignition system arrangement further comprises:
a jam nut threadably coupled to the ignitor housing; and a follower disposed between the jam nut and the seal,
wherein the seal is configured to be compressed between the follower and the ignitor housing in response to the jam nut being rotated relative to the ignitor housing.

7. The energetic ignition arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the pressure vessel defines a cavity within which the electric match is positionable.

8. The energetic ignition arrangement of claim 7 , wherein the electric match is configured to ignite an energetic disposed in the cavity.

9. An energetic ignition arrangement, comprising:
a pressure vessel arrangement, comprising:
an ignitor pressure vessel defining an energetic cavity;
a propellant pressure vessel defining a propellant cavity,
wherein the ignitor pressure vessel is coupled to the propellant pressure vessel;
an energetic disposed in the energetic cavity; and
a propellant disposed in the propellant pressure vessel; and
an ignition system arrangement, comprising:
an ignitor housing coupled to the ignitor pressure vessel and defining a sealing aperture;
a seal disposed in the sealing aperture configured to hermetically seals the ignitor housing;
a first ceramic isolator:
a second ceramic isolator, wherein the seal is located between the first ceramic isolator and the second ceramic isolator: and
an electric match extending through the ignitor housing, wherein at least the ignitor housing and the ignitor pressure vessel are reusable after the energetic ignition arrangement has been employed in an ignition event;
wherein the electric match extends through the seal; and
wherein the electric match comprises: a heating element;
an energetic compound coupled to the heating element; and
at least one wire lead coupled to the heating element configured to supply electric power to the heating element.

10. The energetic ignition arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the first ceramic isolator and the second ceramic isolator electrically insulate the at least one wire.

11. The energetic ignition arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the ignition event comprises the electric match igniting the energetic and the energetic igniting the propellant in response to the electric match igniting the energetic.

12. The energetic ignition arrangement of claim 9 , wherein the seal comprises a polymeric material and the first ceramic isolator and the second ceramic isolator comprise a ceramic material.

13. The energetic ignition arrangement of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the seal, the first ceramic isolator, and the second ceramic isolator are reusable after the energetic ignition arrangement has been employed in the ignition event.

14. The energetic ignition arrangement of claim 10 , wherein the ignition system arrangement further comprises:
a jam nut coupled to the ignitor housing; and a follower disposed between the jam nut and the seal,
wherein the seal is configured to be compressed between the follower and the ignitor housing in response to the jam nut being tightened.

15. A method of operating an energetic ignition arrangement, comprising:
a pressure vessel arrangement, comprising:
a pressure vessel; and

an ignition system arrangement, comprising:
an ignitor housing coupled to the pressure vessel and defining a sealing aperture;
a seal disposed in the sealing aperture;
a first ceramic isolator;
a second ceramic isolator, wherein the seal is located between the first ceramic isolator and the second ceramic isolator; and

an electric match extending through the ignitor housing;
wherein the electric match extends through the seal; and
wherein the electric match comprises: a heating element;
an energetic compound coupled to the heating element; and
at least one wire lead coupled to the heating element configured to supply electric power to the heating element,

the method comprising:
initiating a first ignition event at a first time, comprising:
igniting the electric match; and igniting, by the electric match, an energetic;
replacing the electric match with a second electric match;
initiating a second ignition event at a second time, comprising:
igniting the second electric match; and igniting, by the second electric match, a second energetic.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the pressure vessel, the ignitor housing, and the seal are used during the first ignition event and the second ignition event.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corproation
• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Salois Matthew
• Wilson Brian
• Mueller Kevin

Classifications

• F02K9/95

  characterised by starting or ignition means or arrangements (safety devices F02K9/38) · CPC title

• F02K9/94 Primary

  Re-ignitable or restartable rocket- engine plants; Intermittently operated rocket-engine plants · CPC title

• F02K9/96

  characterised by specially adapted arrangements for testing or measuring · CPC title

• F05D2260/83

  Testing, e.g. methods, components or tools therefor · CPC title