USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Amos J Diede

James Michael Schaff

William H McCune

A non-electrical intermetallic thermal sensor with trigger temperatures in a range of 360&#xb0; F. to about 430&#xb0; F., comprising, a hermetically sealed housing including at least one layer of electronegative metal disposed in the housing, wherein the electronegative metal comprises tin (Sn), and at least one layer of active lithium/magnesium alloy disposed in the housing, wherein each layer(s) of active lithium/magnesium alloy is disposed in abutting interface with each layer(s) of electronegative metal. The intermetallic thermal sensors of the present invention further include at least one diffusion barrier means for inhibiting the diffusion of the active lithium/magnesium alloy layer into the electronegative layer.

High trigger temperature lithium intermetallic thermal sensors

The reduced toxicity hypergolic bipropellant fuels of the present invention contain a hypergolic fuel and rocket grade hydrogen peroxide oxidizer, preferably HTP. The hypergolic fuel may be a reactive fuel or a catalytic fuel. The rocket grade hydrogen peroxide oxidizer consists of about 90 weight % to about 99 weight % H O , more preferably about 94 weight % to 99 weight % H O . However, hypergolic ignition may be attained with a H O content as low as 70 weight % for some reactive fuels. The reactive fuel comprises about 6 weight % to 10 weight % reducing agent in a solvent. The catalytic fuel comprises about 6 weight % to 10 weight % catalytic agent in a solvent. The reactive fuels contain ingredients that are intrinsically reactive with rocket grade hydrogen peroxide. Upon contact with rocket grade hydrogen peroxide oxidizer, reactive fuels react vigorously with the hydrogen peroxide resulting in ignition. The catalytic fuels are produced by dissolving a catalytic agent in a solvent. The catalized fuels contain a catalyst, which, upon contact/mixing with the hydrogen peroxide, promotes rapid catalytic decomposition of the rocket grade hydrogen peroxide liberating a highly reactive form of oxygen and heat and thus resulting in subsequent ignition.

Reduced toxicity hypergolic bipropellant fuels

An intermetallic thermal sensor comprised of a hermetically sealed housing containing alternating layers of electronegative and active metals or their alloys in intimate contact. The layers may be wafer or washer-shaped. If washer-shaped, the holes in the wafers are aligned with each other to create a well within the housing and any extension thereof. A tubular-shaped liner extends into the well and may contain an energetic composition such as BKNO.sub.3. In one embodiment a thermite charge in the sensor can be ignited for venting applications. The active metal and electronegative metal and their alloys are selected so that when the melting point of one or both metals, alloys, or metal and alloy pairs has reached its or their melting point in response to external heat within a design range of the sensor, a vigorous exothermic reaction occurs to initiate a gas-producing reaction in the well or to ignite the thermite for operation of a cook-off mitigation system.

Intermetallic thermal sensor

An electrically controllable pyrofuze pin device for ordnance device actiion which functionally replaces the mechanical barrier and arming wire or other rigid and removable means used to provide ordnance device activation. The device includes a pyrofuze pin, a connecting ignitor transfer charge, and ignitor, and electrical terminals to provide power from an external power supply, and a weatherproof housing. When electrically activated the pyrofuze pin is reduced to molten by-products which functionally eliminate the mechanical barrier and permits the activation of the ordnance device.

Pyrofuze pin for ordnance activation

An electrically controllable 'Pyrofuze' pin device for ordnance device acation which functionally replaces the mechanical barrier and arming wire or other rigid and removable means used to provide ordnance device activation. The device includes a 'Pyrofuze' pin, a connecting ignitor transfer charge, and ignitor, and electrical terminals to provide power from an external power supply, and a weatherproof housing. When electrically activated the 'Pyrofuze' pin is reduced to molten by-products which functionally eliminate the mechanical barrier and permits the activation of the ordnance device.

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Ridgecrest, CA, United States of America

Amos J Diede