Burst Chamber Black Powder Pyrotechnic Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pyrotechnic systems using black powder as a propellant face inefficiencies due to high smoke production, high pressure requirements, and difficulties in igniting time fuses and primes, leading to increased costs and safety concerns, while alternative propellants either require expensive materials or complex setups.
Innovation Solution
A pyrotechnic device employing a burst chamber to encapsulate black powder, which ignites the propellant efficiently by spooling the combustion process and releasing hot gases at a controlled pressure, utilizing finer particle sizes of black powder to maximize power output and reduce the amount of propellant needed, while maintaining effective ignition of fuses and primes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If black powder is used as propellant in traditional open configuration, then ignition of time fuses and primes is reliable, but propellant efficiency is low and smoke production is high
Solution Approach 1:
The propellant system is segmented into two distinct components: a burst chamber containing confined black powder for efficient combustion, and an open space for smoke dissipation. This segmentation allows the propellant to function efficiently while reducing harmful smoke effects on the pyrotechnic effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The burst chamber acts as an intermediary device that confines the black powder combustion process. This intermediary structure enables efficient ignition and combustion while containing the smoke and hot gases, thereby improving propellant efficiency and reducing smoke production simultaneously.
2Power
If black powder is confined to increase burn rate and pressure, then propellant power output increases, but pressure may exceed safe operating limits and damage the mortar or projectile
Solution Approach 1:
The burst chamber is designed with dynamic pressure management capabilities, allowing the confined black powder to generate high pressure for power output while the chamber structure and free space work together to attenuate pressure spikes and maintain pressures within safe operating limits, preventing damage to the mortar or projectile.
Solution Approach 2:
Free space is provided between the burst chamber and the projectile, acting as a cushioning buffer. This beforehand cushioning arrangement allows the high-pressure combustion gases to expand into the free space, attenuating pressure spikes before they reach the projectile, thereby preventing pressure damage while maintaining power output.
3Power
If finer particle size black powder is used, then burn rate and power output increase, but the amount of propellant needed decreases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The particle size parameter of the black powder is changed to a finer size range, which fundamentally alters the combustion characteristics. This parameter change increases the surface area to volume ratio, enabling faster burn rates and higher power output from a smaller quantity of propellant, thereby resolving the contradiction between power output and propellant quantity.
4Speed
If more black powder is used to ensure sufficient propulsion, then apex height is achieved, but smoke production increases and propellant efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using large quantities of traditional open-configured black powder, the invention uses a scaled-down, optimized version confined in a burst chamber. This 'copy' of the propellant system achieves the same propulsion effect with much less material, improving propellant efficiency while maintaining the required projectile velocity for achieving apex height.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method significantly increases the efficiency of black powder as a propellant, reducing the required amount by up to 81% without compromising ignition, achieving reliable propulsion and ignition of pyrotechnic effects while minimizing smoke and pressure-related damages.
Implementation Method 1
black powder burns rapidly at relatively low pressures when ignited, producing the necessary hot, and burning gases to propel the projectiles
Implementation Method 2
the combustion chamber is adapted to burst at a predetermined pressure caused by combustion of the combustible powder
Implementation Method 3
black powder will typically combust at a rate resembling an explosion, completely burning within milliseconds
Implementation Method 4
attenuating the initial pressure pulse generated by the burst chamber with tree space or village
Data Source
AI summary
A pyrotechnic device including a combustion chamber including a wall, the combustion chamber containing combustible powder; an ignition source adapted to ignite said combustible powder within said combustion chamber; wherein the wall of the combustion chamber is adapted to burst at a predetermined pressure caused by combustion of the combustible powder; wherein the combustion chamber is disposed within a launch structure beneath a projectile and wherein a preselected amount of free space volume is disposed between said combustion chamber and said projectile.