US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

John F Crawford

Robert E Betts

Jacqueline C Meador

Robert E McNeill

An aging gauge comprising a container having a fixed or a variable sized t opening with a cap which can be opened to control the sublimation rate of a thermally sublimational material contained within the container. In use, the aging gauge is stored with an item to determine total heat the item is subjected to and also the maximum temperature to which the item has been exposed. The aging gauge container contains a thermally sublimational material such as naphthalene or similar material which has a low sublimation rate over the temperature range from about 70.degree. F. to about 160.degree. F. The aging products determined by analyses of a like item aged along with the aging gauge for which the sublimation amount is determined is employed to establish a calibration curve for future aging evaluation. The aging gauge is provided with a means for determining the maximum temperature exposure (i.e., a thermally indicating material which gives an irreversible color change, Thermocolor pigment). Because of the relationship of doubling reaction rates for increases of 10.degree. C., equivalency of item used in accelerated aging evaluation can be obtained by referring to a calibration curve depicting storage temperature on the abscissa scale and multiplier on the ordinate scale.

Aging gauge

A two piece thru-bulkhead initiator. A first member carried by a rocket mr encloses a pyrotechnic charge and a receptor charge. A second member enclosing a confined detonating fuse and a receptor charge is releasably secured to the first member. The mating surfaces between the two members must not contain air gaps.

Two component thru-bulkhead initiator

A smoke canister used as a spotting charge for locating a point in space re a warhead has been detonated. The canister is provided with a plurality of seals to prevent leakage of the smoke producing chemical in the canister during a very long storage life of the canister in the missile warhead.

Smoke canister

A contoured configured detonating cord and detonator is incorporated into a ember during manufacture thereof. The member may be a rocket motor which is disposed to be broken into small fragments over inhabited areas subsequent to separation of the motor from the warhead. Separation permits the warhead to fly to the target without excessive drag and fragmenting the motor prevents large pieces from falling on the inhabitants. The detonating cord is contoured to the configuration of the motor to prevent stress risers from occurring and thereby weakening the motor structure.

Growing community of inventors

Huntsville, AL, United States of America

John F Crawford