US 7,574,960 B1
Ignition element
Luther Damian Dockery, Waldorf, Md. (US); and Peter Margiotta, La Plata, Md. (US)
Assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C. (US)
Filed on Nov. 29, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/296,710.
Int. Cl. F42B 3/12 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 102—202.8  [102/202.7; 102/202.9; 102/202.14; 102/472] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ignition element, comprising:
an electrode housing comprising a thread portion and at least one cavity;
an electrode being disposed in the electrode housing,
wherein the electrode comprises a first end disposed in each of said at least one cavity and a second end opposite the first end;
at least one insulator disposed between the electrode and the electrode housing,
wherein each of said at least one insulator comprises polyetheretherketone;
a resistance element disposed between the first end of the electrode and a headstock;
a pyrotechnic ignition charge being disposed in said each of said at least one cavity;
at least one burst disk being in contact with the electrode housing and covering said at least one cavity for separating the pyrotechnic ignition charge from a primer charge,
wherein the pyrotechnic ignition charge ruptures said at least one burst disk upon ignition and ignites the primer charge,
wherein the resistance element is capable of generating a sufficient amount of heat to ignite the pyrotechnic ignition charge upon application of a current to the second end of the electrode, and
wherein the primer charge comprises about 850 grams of black powder disposed in a single booster holder.