Method And Means For Dispersing Chemical Agents

Abstract

In a device for dispersing liquid agents: A frangible casing; A burster charge; Means mounting the burster charge within the casing near the center there f; An electrical initiator mounted within said burster charge; Electrical connecting means connected with said initiator and extending from said casing adapted to conduct an electrical current from a given source to said initiator for initiating an activation thereof; A plurality of open containers randomly disposed within said casing and grouped about said burster charge in a self-supporting group in a manner such that a plurality of voids are established between said containers in communication with the interior thereof; A preselected liquid agent filling said casing and containers; and Means sealing said casing to provide a sealed liquid agent disseminator.

Description

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates generally to a method and means for disseminating a liquid agent and more particularly to an explosive method and means for achieving controlled dissemination and persistence of chemical agents in a liquid form.

Heretofore, various techniques have been employed for disseminating cloud-forming chemical agents or liquids over wide areas for many and varied purposes. The conventional techniques normally utilize airborne spray devices, and the like, which prove to be ineffective in instances where the target area is inaccessible, wind conditions are adverse, and the altitude beneath which an aircraft may operate over the target area is restricted. Further, aerial incendiary devices are also well known. However, the primary purpose of these devices is to spread a burning liquid over a given area, the dimensions of which are limited due to the inherent requirements that the liquid remain sufficiently concentrated for igniting combustible materials contacted by the incendiary liquid. Consequently, these devices are deemed inadequate for disseminating cloud-forming chemical agents. Certain explosive devices, such as those disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 410,033 filed Nov. 9, 1964, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,382,800, have been utilized quite successfully for effecting widespread dispersion of cloud-forming chemical agents. However, problems of efficiency, costs and complexity continue to plague those concerned with the development of disseminators for liquid agents.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a method and means for overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages.

An object of the instant invention is to provide a simple and efficient method and means for effecting a widespread dispersion of cloud-forming chemical agents.

Another object is to provide a simple means for effectively disseminating a liquid agent over a wide area, and which may be readily assembled under adverse conditions.

And yet another object is to provide an effective method and means for forming a cloud of dispersed liquid particles and/or vaporized liquids over a wide area.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 comprises a partially sectioned elevation of the device of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 comprises a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate modifications of liquid containers utilized by the device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating an operation of the device of the instant invention.

Turning now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a partially sectioned side elevation of the device of the instant invention. The device includes a casing 10, which may be formed of any suitable frangible material, having a bottom wall 11 sealed to a cylindrical sidewall 12, at a first end thereof, to form an open receptacle. A cover plate 13 is seated and sealed in contiguous engagement with the internal surfaces of the sidewall 12 at the uppermost or second end of the casing 10 and serves to seal the casing 10 as well as to provide a mounting member for a cylindrical explosive or burster charge 14 mounted to extend therethrough.

The burster charge 14 comprises any well-known explosive material 14a, normally a solid material, contained within a tubular housing 14b, sealed at opposite ends by inserts or sealing plugs 15. In order that the burster charge 14 may be selectively activated or detonated, an electrically activated initiator 16, of any well-known design, is seated within the explosive material 14a and connected with an electrical source, not shown, by electrical connecting means or leads 17, which extend from the initiator 16 through the outermost one of the inserts or sealing plug 15. However, it is to be understood that any suitable means, including mechanical fuzes, may be employed for activating the burster charge 14.

In order to secure the housing 14b of the burster charge 14 in operative position, a flanged opening 18 is formed in the cover member 13 for receiving, in mating relationship therewith, an end portion of the housing 14b. The housing 14b and the cover member 13 are secured together in sealing relationship by any suitable conventional means.

A plurality of relatively small open containers 20 are arranged or stacked at random within the casing 10. The containers 20 normally comprise lightweight cylindrical cup-shaped members, FIG. 3, having an opening 20a, the diameter of which is coextensive with the internal diameter of the container 20. The containers 20 are arranged to form a self-supporting group of containers, disposed about the burster charge 14 in a manner such that a plurality of voids are randomly located between the containers and in communication with the internal portions of the containers 20.

A selected liquid chemical agent 21, which is to be dispersed, is introduced into the casing 10 for filling the existing voids, and consequently the containers 20, whereby each container 20 comprises a container filled and supported in a bath of the liquid agent, which is to be dispersed upon activation of the device.

It will be appreciated that the specific composition of the liquid agent 21 may be varied, depending on its usage. However, where the device is to be used as a chemical cloud-forming device, the agent will normally comprise a volatile liquid which may be disseminated as a liquid prior to undergoing a change-in-state, i.e., a change from a liquid to a gas state. It will be further appreciated that the specific materials utilized in constructing the various components of the device must necessarily comprise compatible materials in order to avoid an occurrence of significant chemical reaction therebetween.

In certain instances, it has been found desirable to vary the size of the openings of the containers 20, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in order that the period of time required for discharging the liquid agent 21 contained therein may be selectively varied.

In assembling the device, the selected liquid chemical 21 may, as a practical matter, be introduced into the casing 10, with the containers 20 and burster charge 14 being introduced later. The cover member 13 may then be inserted into a sealing relationship with the burster charge housing 14a and walls 12 of the casing. If desired, openings, not shown, may be provided within the casing wall 12 and/or cover member 13 to be utilized for introducing into the casing 10 the liquid agent 12. Another assembly procedure, which has been found to be particularly desirable, comprises fixing the various structural components or elements in place, then introducing a vacuum within the casing 10 and thereupon adding the liquid 21. Through the use of the vacuumizing step a complete filling of the containers 20 is insured. In any event once the device is assembled, it is in a completely sealed state and may now be stored, dropped from aircraft, and/or activated in fixed positions at ground level.

In operation, an electrical current is selectively passed through the connecting means 17 for activating the initiator 16. The initiator 16 functions to effect a detonation of the burster charge 14. The burster charge 14 serves to establish shock waves which pass outwardly through the liquid 21. As the shock waves progress, the wall 12 is fractured or fragmented and the liquid agent 21 and filled containers 20 are violently accelerated outwardly from the fractured casing 10. As the containers 20 progress from the point of detonation, additional motion is imparted thereto whereby quantities of the liquid agent is caused to be expelled from the containers while they are in the thus initiated flight, FIG. 5. If the agent 21 is of a volatile nature, a gaseous cloud is formed about the outwardly progressing containers 20 as the contents thereof are expelled therefrom.

Consequently it is to be understood that the present invention comprises a very simple, efficient, and economic device which may readily be assembled, stored and/or used under adverse conditions, such as, for example, by troops in the field, and which may be utilized to achieve widespread dispersion of chemical agents.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for dispersing liquid agents:

a frangible casing;

a burster charge

means mounting the burster charge within the casing near the center thereof;

an electrical initiator mounted within said burster charge;

electrical connecting means connected with said initiator and extending from said casing adapted to conduct an electrical current from a given source to said initiator for initiating an activation thereof;

a plurality of open containers randomly disposed within said casing and grouped about said burster charge in a self-supporting group in a manner such that a plurality of voids are established between said containers in communication with the interior thereof; a preselected liquid agent filling said casing and containers; and means sealing said casing to provide a sealed liquid agent disseminator.

2. The device of claim 1, further characterized in that each container of said plurality of containers comprises a cylindrical container having means defining an opening at one end thereof the diameter of which is coextensive with the internal diameter of said container.

3. The device of claim 1, further characterized in that each container of said plurality of containers comprises a cylindrical container having means defining an opening defined therein with the diameter thereof being substantially less than the internal diameter of said container.