The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 02, 1995
Filed:
Jul. 26, 1993
Robert G Lannon, Austin, TX (US);
William F Weldon, Austin, TX (US);
Other;
Abstract
A non-pyrotechnic reusable cartridge for ejecting countermeasures, such as chaff, flares, or other payloads. The cartridge comprises a gas chamber storing a compressed gas and including an ejection mechanism and a countermeasure storage section storing a countermeasure. In one embodiment, the ejection mechanism is a solenoid valve. When an ejection signal is transmitted by the pilot, the solenoid valve opens to allow the compressed, non-flammable gas to be released from the gas chamber and push the countermeasure out of the cartridge at a high rate of speed. Other embodiments use a rupture disk positioned between the ejection section and the countermeasure storage section. When an eject signal is received, the rupture disk is either punctured or melted to allow the compressed gas into the storage section, thus ejecting the countermeasure. A non-pyrotechnic ejection mechanism allows safer handling, flashless dispensing, reuse of the cartridge, varied ejection force, and economical reloading with a variety of payloads.