U.S. patent number 3,661,083 [Application Number 04/496,742] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-09 for device for rapidly mixing and agitating chemicals in sealed containers.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy. Invention is credited to James E. Weimholt.
United States Patent |
3,661,083 |
Weimholt |
May 9, 1972 |
DEVICE FOR RAPIDLY MIXING AND AGITATING CHEMICALS IN SEALED
CONTAINERS
Abstract
The invention comprises an apparatus for maintaining liquid and
dry chemis safely separate in hermetically sealed containers and
for rapidly mixing and agitating the chemicals in flight just prior
to launch of the munition.
Inventors: |
Weimholt; James E. (China Lake,
CA) |
Assignee: |
The United States of America as
represented by the Secretary of the Navy (N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
23973933 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/496,742 |
Filed: |
October 12, 1965 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/369;
366/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B
12/50 (20130101); B01F 33/00 (20220101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01F
13/00 (20060101); F42B 12/02 (20060101); F42B
12/50 (20060101); F42b 025/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;102/1,2,6,57,58,66
;259/21-26,48,49.50 ;89/1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Engle; Samuel W.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An apparatus comprising:
a container adapted to receive a first chemical;
a receptacle disposed within said container and adapted to receive
a second chemical;
means for forcing said second chemical through the walls of said
receptacle and rupturing the same;
structure interconnecting said container and receptacle and
including a part with a reduced portion preventing said
rotation;
means for rupturing said part at the reduced portion thereof for
releasing said receptacle for rotation; and
means for imparting rotation to said receptacle.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said last-named means include
gas-expandable means.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the walls of the receptacle
are scored and rupture along predetermined lines for providing
agitating means.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said gas-expandable means
include a tubular member collapsed inwardly for providing pockets
which receive said second chemical.
5. An apparatus for rapidly mixing and agitating chemicals in a
sealed container comprising:
an elongated container for receiving a first chemical;
a tubular member disposed within said container and having one end
thereof closed and journaled for rotation;
structure connecting the other end of said tubular member to said
container in sealed relation, said structure including a part
journaling said other end for rotation and a part with a reduced
portion preventing such rotation;
gas-expandable means within said tubular member having a collapsed
form providing pockets for receiving a second chemical;
gas-forming means connected to said gas-expandable means; and
means journaling said gas-forming means for rotation and having an
explosive charge at said reduced portion for rupturing the same and
releasing said tubular member for rotation.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said tubular member includes a
grid-like structure having longitudinally extending strips and
circumferential bands, the walls of said tubular member being
scored along lines between said strips and adjacent said bands,
expansion of said gas-expandable means serving to force said second
chemical through the walls of said tubular member and through the
spaces between the strips and bands of said grid-like structure for
rupturing the walls of the tubular member along the scored lines
and forming agitating blades.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising means for imparting
rotation to said tubular member; said last-named means, said
gas-forming means and the explosion of said charge all being
initiated simultaneously for forcing said second chemical into the
first chemical and mixing and agitating the same.
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
therefore.
The present invention relates to a mixing and agitating system and
more particularly to a method and device for rapidly mixing and
agitating chemicals separately stored in a sealed container to
obtain a homogenous solution. The chemicals are of a nature that
when rapidly brought together an exothermic addition reaction and
isomerization result in a highly toxic chemical agent, the purity
of the agent depending upon the homogeneity of the solution and the
rapidity with which the homogeneity is achieved.
In a prior art system, one of the chemicals, a powdered solid, is
housed in a tube within a container containing a liquid chemical,
the powdered chemical being forced into the liquid by pressurizing
and rupture of the tube, agitation of the mixture being provided by
impeller blades on shafts that extend through the container wall
and are powered from external sources. Only localized agitation was
accomplished and numerous seal problems around the shafts were
encountered, which rendered the system a contamination hazard to
the aircraft, the pilot and the personnel loading and servicing the
aircraft and therefore proved inadequate for airborne toxic
chemical munitions.
It is therefore a purpose and object of this invention to provide a
system which overcomes the disadvantages of prior art systems.
A further object is the provision of a system which accomplishes
rapid mixing and agitation of chemicals within a sealed
container.
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 is a perspective schematic view of the chemical munition to
which the instant invention is applied with portions broken away to
show the relationship of the parts;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of portions of FIG. 1 on a larger
scale with parts broken away and partly in vertical section to show
the relationship of the parts;
FIG. 3 is a vertical section, on a still larger scale, of the
left-hand portion of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a side view of the tri-lobed ballonet or trefoil to which
bags of powdered chemical are taped;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view along lines 5 -- 5 of FIG. 2, on a
larger scale, showing the lobes of the ballonet;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view along lines 6 -- 6 of FIG. 3 with
portions broken away to show the relation of the lobes to other
parts; and
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the mixer and agitator
assembly after rotation thereof has begun.
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown schematically in FIG.
1 a chemical munition designated generally by reference numeral 10
and comprising a casing or container 11, a folding fin assembly 12,
nose fairing 13 and lugs 14 by which the munition may be supported
from the launcher on an aircraft in a conventional manner.
The fins of assembly 12 may be of the type described and claimed in
copending application Ser. No. 490,143, filed Sept. 24, 1965, now
U.S. Pat. No. 3,304,030, by James E. Weimholt et al., and the fins
may be canted to provide spin to the munition 10 after release. The
nose fairing 13 contains an air-armed fuze 15 of conventional type
which may be employed to actuate means of the type described and
claimed in copending application Ser. No. 493,286, filed Oct. 5,
1965, by applicant, for disseminating liquid chemical from the
container 11. Fuze 15 is initiated by withdrawal of an arming wire
16 suitably connected to the aircraft, arming wire 17 serving to
initiate release of the folded fins in fin assembly 12 after launch
of the munition.
Disposed within container 11 is a mixer and agitator assembly 18
shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2 - 5.
Turning now to FIG. 2, container 11 is shown as comprising a
half-global rear portion 19 circumferentially welded to a
cylindrical portion 21 as at 22. Supported within portion 19 by
means of a plurality of radial legs 23 is a circular journal member
24 carrying a ring 25 of low friction material, such as Teflon or
the like.
Journaled in ring 25 is a cup-like member 26 which forms part of
the mixer and agitator assembly 18. Secured to member 26 and
extending forwardly therefrom is an open lattice work structure or
basket 27 in the form of a cylindrical grid and comprising
longitudinally extending strips 28 spaced 120 degrees apart and
circumferential bands 29. Disposed within the basket 27, and
contiguous thereto, is a cylindrical tube 31 soldered or welded at
its rear end to member 26 which serves as an end cap for the
tube.
Basket 27 and tube 31 are soldered or welded at their forward ends
to multi-bore member 32 having an annular flange 33 which is
circumferentially welded to the front end of cylindrical portion 21
as at 34. Container 11 is provided with a filling fixture 35 welded
to the container as at 36 and formed with a filling opening 37 and
bore 38, the latter being adapted to receive a close-fitting filler
plug 39 which, after filling of the container with liquid chemical
to 10 - 15 percent ullage, is adapted to be welded to the fixture
as at 41. Thus, there is provided a leakproof container of welded
construction.
Associated with multi-bore member 32, for reasons hereinafter
appearing, is a support member 42 formed with a cylindrical portion
43 and a journal flange 44, portion 43 being circumferentially
welded to flange 33 as at 45, FIGS. 2 and 3. Flange 44 carries a
ring 46 of low friction material, such as Teflon or the like, which
is received in a journal notch 47 formed in member 32. Also formed
in member 32 is an annular channel 48, thereby providing a reduced
portion in the member, and three radial performations spaced
120.degree. apart and aligned with each of the sets of strips 28,
respectively, each perforation receiving a pin or stud 49 welded to
member 32 as at 51, FIGS. 3 and 6. For attaching fairing 13, a
plurality of attaching elements 52 are arranged around the
periphery of flange 33 and suitably secured thereto.
Container 11 and associated parts contained therein thus far
described are, for reasons of safety, stored separately from parts
later assembled into tube 31 and member 32 upon assembly of the
munition for a mission. Tube 31 is adapted to receive a tri-lobed
ballonet or trefoil 53 to which plastic bags 54 containing a dry
powdered chemical 55 are secured by plastic straps or tapes 56,
FIGS. 2 - 5.
As will be appreciated from an inspection of FIGS. 4 and 5, the
ballonet 53 comprises a tri-lobed or trefoil portion made up of
lobes 57 extending over the major portion of the length of the
ballonet, end portions 58 and 58' of cylindrical form and
intermediate flaring portions 59 and 59'. The ballonet is
fabricated from a cylindrical metallic tube the major mid-portion
of which is collapsed inwardly, by pressure from three directions
120.degree. apart, to the cross-sectional form shown in FIG. 5. The
ends 58 and 58' of the tube are trimmed and secured about circular
plates 61 and 61', respectively, plate 61' being of solid form and
circumferentially welded, as at 62 (FIG. 4), to one end of the
ballonet, plate 61 having a threaded opening 63 therein and
circumferentially welded, as at 62 (FIG. 4), to one end of the
ballonet, plate 61 having a threaded opening 63 therein and
circumferentially welded, as at 64, to the other end of the
ballonet (FIGS. 3 and 4). The lobes 57 of the trefoil portion and
the flaring portions 59 and 59' together define elongated shallow
pockets which receive the bags 54 of powdered chemical. If desired,
the bags may be made of plastic tubing knotted at the ends.
In the assembly of the munition 10, an annular positioning plate 65
is secured to plate 61 by three screws 66 spaced 120.degree. apart
with the stems of the screws disposed generally in the plane of
each of the lobes 57, respectively, FIGS. 3 and 6. Plate 65 is
formed with three notches 67 in the outer periphery thereof
radially of the screws 66, each notch 67 being adapted to receive a
pin or stud 49, respectively, whereby each set of strips 28 is
radially aligned with each of the lobes 57, respectively, FIG. 5,
for a purpose hereinafter appearing.
Turning now to FIG. 3, threaded into openings 63 is a pyrotechnic
gas generating unit 68 comprising a pyrotechnic composition 69,
held in place by a frangible diaphragm 71 and retainer ring 72, and
an igniter 73 adapted to be initiated electrically through leads 74
and plug 75.
Fitting around pyrotechnic unit 68 is an explosive release and
roller bearing member 76 provided with an annular groove 77 in
which a flexible linear shaped charge 78 is housed, an electric
detonator 79, a set of roller bearings 81 and a low friction
sealing ring 82. Members 76 and 32 are provided with threaded
portions, as at 83, to seat member 76 against a low friction washer
84 of Teflon or the like, seated on plate 65, groove 71 being so
located that the charge 78 is positioned opposite the reduced
portion of member 32 provided by annular groove 48. Initiation of
detonator 79 is through leads 85 and plug 86.
The outer end of pyrotechnic unit 68 is formed with a pair of
parallel shoulders 87 forming a non-circular end which is adapted
to be fit within a non-circular opening in a large gear 88, FIGS.
1, 3 and 7. Gear 88 is placed on unit 68 in meshing engagement with
a small gear 89 secured to a shaft adapted to be driven by a motor
91 previously secured to flange 33 by screws 92 and having leads 93
for powering the same. Gear 88 is held in place by a pair of screws
94.
The several leads are brought together to a receptacle 95, FIG. 1,
to which an umbilical cord, not shown, is adapted to be connected
to a source of power on the aircraft carrying the munition 10.
The purpose of pyrotechnic unit 68 is to provide gas to expand the
ballonet 53 to substantially its original cylindrical form and
force the powdered chemical in bags 54 through the walls of tube 31
which is scored on the inside thereof as at 96, FIGS. 2 and 5, to
rupture along predetermined lines. It is to be noted that the
scoring is midway between strips 28 and adjacent bands 29 and
members 26 and 32.
The explosion of charge 78 provides for rupture of member 32 at the
reduced portion adjacent annular groove 48 and for release for
rotation, on ring 46, of that part of member 32 aft of the groove
48. The other structure fixedly connected to such released part is
also free to rotate, including member 26 journaled in ring 25 and
unit 68 journaled in bearing 81.
In operation, just prior to launch of the munition, power is
provided through the several leads to simultaneously explode charge
78, ignite pyrotechnic composition 69 and start motor 91. Gas from
composition 69 expands ballonet 53 forcing the chemical 55 from
bags 54 outwardly through basket 27, and forming agitator blades or
vanes 97, after rupture of tube 31 along the lines of scoring 96,
FIGS. 5 and 7. Simultaneously, charge 78 releases the rotatable
parts to which rapid rotation is imparted by motor 91, plugs 75 and
86 being pulled away during such rotation. The munition is then
launched and disseminating openings may be formed therein after the
manner described in the aforementioned copending application of
applicant.
There has thus been provided a chemical munition having a system
for maintaining liquid and dry chemicals safely separate in
hermetically sealed containers and for rapidly mixing and agitating
the chemicals in flight just prior to launch of the munition.
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.
* * * * *