LED Tracer Element for Projectile Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pyrotechnic tracer compositions in ammunition can ignite surrounding areas upon impact and pose handling, storage, and safety risks due to their hazardous nature.
Innovation Solution
The use of an electrical tracer charge with light-emitting diodes, powered by a launch-proof battery and controlled by an electronic circuit, which focuses light beams using optics to provide a 'cold' tracer solution, eliminating the risk of fire and simplifying handling and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pyrotechnic tracer composition is used, then projectile tracking is achieved, but the area around impact point can be set on fire and handling/storage costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical/pyrotechnic system with an electrical system. Instead of using burning tracer composition, the invention uses electric lamps (preferably light-emitting diodes) powered by a launch-proof battery and controlled by an electronic circuit device, substituting chemical energy conversion with electrical energy conversion to eliminate fire hazards while maintaining projectile tracking capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter of the tracer system from thermal/chemical processes to electrical/optical processes. The tracer composition is transformed from a pyrotechnic mixture that burns at high temperature to an electrical system operating at low temperature, fundamentally changing the energy domain to eliminate the fire hazard while achieving the same tracking function
2Reliability
If pyrotechnic tracer composition is used, then projectile tracking is achieved, but handling, transport and storage costs increase due to Explosives Act classification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical/pyrotechnic system with an electrical system. Instead of using burning tracer composition, the invention uses electric lamps (preferably light-emitting diodes) powered by a launch-proof battery and controlled by an electronic circuit device, substituting chemical energy conversion with electrical energy conversion to eliminate fire hazards while maintaining projectile tracking capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental operating parameter of the tracer system from thermal/chemical processes to electrical/optical processes. The tracer composition is transformed from a pyrotechnic mixture that burns at high temperature to an electrical system operating at low temperature, fundamentally changing the energy domain to eliminate the fire hazard while achieving the same tracking function
3Object-affected harmful factors
If electrical tracer charge with light-emitting diodes is used, then fire hazard is eliminated, but device complexity increases with battery and circuit components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components (battery, circuit device, light-emitting diodes, optics) into an integrated tracer set that is housed within a cup-shaped housing and mounted on the projectile. This consolidation manages the complexity by organizing components into a unified system rather than separate elements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the dangerous pyrotechnic tracer composition from the system entirely and replaces it with separate, non-hazardous electrical components. By removing the hazardous chemical substance and replacing it with inert electrical components (battery, LEDs, circuit board), the system achieves safety while managing complexity through component separation and integration
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 electrical tracer composition prevents unintended heat generation, reduces safety risks, and simplifies logistics by being non-hazardous, while allowing for customizable lighting and extended service life through energy-efficient design.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting diode arrangement (7) that can be supplied with electrical energy by the energy supply device (3, 5) with the aid of the circuit device (6)
Implementation Method 2
a lens (16) for focusing the light generated by the light-emitting diode (14)
Implementation Method 3
an electrical energy supply device (3, 5) arranged on the bottom side in the cup-shaped housing (2)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1a
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a tracer element (1-1'') for tracer ammunition fired from a cannon, comprising a projectile (26) that receives the tracer element (1-1''), wherein the tracer element (1-1'') includes a cup-shaped housing (2-2''). To obtain a tracer element (1-1'') in which significant heat generation is reliably avoided during its intended use, so that the area around a projectile impact cannot be set on fire by the tracer element (1-1''), the invention proposes using an electric tracer element (1-1'') in which the tracer is not generated after the firing of the corresponding projectile (26) by the combustion of a pyrotechnic mixture, but by the illumination of one or more light sources (14), preferably LEDs, and the projectile tracking is thus effected by a "cold" tracer.