U.S. patent number 3,744,718 [Application Number 05/048,591] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-10 for luminescent aerosol marker.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy. Invention is credited to Carl H. Morley.
United States Patent |
3,744,718 |
Morley |
July 10, 1973 |
LUMINESCENT AEROSOL MARKER
Abstract
A method for forming a 3-dimensional marker for long range
detection which omprises releasing an aerosol spray into the
atmosphere consisting of a mixture of compounds whereby the
reaction of the mixture produces a marker of light visible from any
angle.
Inventors: |
Morley; Carl H. (Ridgecrest,
CA) |
Assignee: |
The United States of America as
represented by the Secretary of the Navy (Washington,
DC)
|
Family
ID: |
21955387 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/048,591 |
Filed: |
May 20, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/8; 40/213;
252/700; 516/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C09K
3/30 (20130101); C09K 11/07 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C09K
11/07 (20060101); C09K 3/30 (20060101); A01n
017/02 (); 4 (0) |
Field of
Search: |
;239/8
;252/305,188.3CL |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Quarforth; Carl D.
Assistant Examiner: Tate; R. L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for forming an aerosol cloud marker which comprises
blending in a mixer, provided with a nozzle adapted to spray liquid
into the atmosphere, liquid components from two separate vessels,
one vessel containing a mixture of an oxalate ester selected from
the group consisting of bis (2, 4, 6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate,
bis(2, 4, 5-trichloro-6-carbolutoxy-phenyl) oxalate and bis(2, 4,
5-trichloro -6-carbopentoxyphenyl) oxalate and a compatible solvent
and the other vessel containing a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and
a compatible solvent; and
spraying said blended mixture into the atmosphere;
whereby the reaction between said oxalate ester and hydrogen
peroxide produces a 3-dimensional light marker.
2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein a catalyst is
added to said mixture containing hydrogen peroxide.
3. The method in accordance with claim 2 wherein the catalyst is a
member selected from the group consisting of sodium salicylate and
t-butyl ammonium salicylate.
4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the solvent in the
mixture containing hydrogen peroxide is a member selected from the
group consisting of t-butyl alcohol, 3 methyl-3-pentanol and
mixtures thereof.
5. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the solvent for
the mixture containing the oxalate ester is dibutylphthalate.
6. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cloud contains
essentially from 2 to 10 parts oxalate ester to 1 part hydrogen
peroxide.
7. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein a fluorescer
selected from the group consisting of 9,10-diphenylanthracene,
9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene, 4,6,11,12-tetraphenylnaphthacene
and 16,17-dihexyloxyviolanthrone is added to said mixture
containing the oxalate ester.
Description
GOVERNMENT INTEREST
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.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for forming a 3-dimensional
chemiluminescent aerosol marker for long range detection.
In the search for long range detection by airborne observers many
methods have been developed. Such chemical sources as
tetrakis-(dimethylamino)ethylene are not suitable as aerosols due
to long lived intermediates which limit maximum intensities to low
orders. Chemiluminescent clouds have been made for simulated
fallout studies; however, large particles (larger than aerosol) are
required and are not adaptable to form markers. When these
chemiluminescent materials are used as markers, they are primarily
limited to two-dimension disseminated materials lying on the ground
or on vegetation. The present invention produces a 3-dimensional
signal easily detected at any viewing angle for longer duration per
payload than any other known chemiluminescent marker.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention a luminescent aerosol
cloud was formed by spraying into the atmosphere a liquid mixture
of a solution containing oxalate ester selected from the group
consisting of bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate,
bis(2,4,5-trichloro-6-carbobutoxyphenyl)oxalate and
bis(2,4,5-trichloro-6-carbopentoxyphenyl) oxalate and a solution
containing hydrogen peroxide in a ratio ranging from 2 - 10 parts
oxalate to 1 part peroxide whereby the reaction between the oxalate
and the peroxide produces a 3-dimensional light marker readily
visible from any viewing angle.
In operation two storage tanks were provided, one containing 250 cc
oxalate ester in the solvent, dibutylphthalate, and the other
containing 80 cc of hydrogen peroxide in the solvent,
3-methyl-3-pentanol. The tanks were connected by a common tube to a
pressurized nitrogen gas system which was provided with a pressure
regulator. The storage tanks were both connected to a mixer by
outlet tubes each of which was provided with metering devices for
measuring the quantity of oxalate and peroxide transferred to the
mixer. A nozzle was attached to the mixer for spraying the
materials into the atmosphere. These materials are kept in separate
containers until the desired cloud is to be formed because they
begin to react with each other upon contact to form light.
Catalysts may be added to the mixture to speed up the reaction.
Sodium salicylate and t-butyl ammonium salicylate are two examples
of successful catalysts. The oxalate esters used are solids and are
dissolved in a compatible liquid solvent for use in one tank in
accordance with this invention. Also, t-butyl alcohol,
3-methyl-3-pentanol and mixtures thereof are excellent solvents
with hydrogen peroxide for use in the other tank. The cloud formed
allows personnel to make the initial acquisition and the viewing
angle is not limited by Lamberts law as in 2-dimensional markers.
In time, the aerosol droplets which form the cloud marker gradually
settle to the ground thereby creating an extension of the marker
which provides for longer duration of light in essentially the same
area. The present invention, therefore, provides a 3-dimensional
chemiluminescent marker for initial acquisition in ranges from 5 to
10 miles and an extended 2-dimensional marker on the ground or
foliage for about 2 miles for an additional time. Initial
acquisition ranges from about 5 - 10 miles for about 1 minute per
pound of mixed compounds. If the payload is 6 pounds or more, the
two dimensional marker duration ranges from 5 or more additional
minutes, minimum.
The color of the luminescent aerosol cloud marker formed has been
varied with the addition of fluorescers to the oxalate estersolvent
mixture. The fluorescer, 9,10-diphenylanthracene, produces a blue
light; 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene produces a green colored
light, 5,6,11,12-tetraphenylnaphthacene produces an orange light,
and 16,17-dihexyloxyviolanthrone produces an invisible (near-IR)
marker.
Other means of mixing and spraying the mixture of compounds into
the atmosphere to form an aerosol cloud marker may be used.
* * * * *