Nov. 6, 1962 c. o.

WILLIAMS ETAL 3,062,146

PRIMER
Original Filed March 15, 1956

FIG. 2

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INVENTORS.’
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 United States Patent O?lice 3,062,146
Patented Nov. 6, 1962

1
3,062,146 by the primer and having an end closure which is moisture
PRllViER proof at high altitudes of up to 50,000 feet or more is
Charles 0. Williams, Alton, Victor W. Drexelius, Ed particularly advantageous for ejecting stores, fuel tanks
wardsville, and Robert D. Smith, Alton, 111., assignors and the like from a moving airplane. The closure is in
to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, East Alton, the form of a ?anged wad set upon an annular ring or
Ill., a corporation of Virginia indentation formed adjacent the end of the case. The
Original application Mar. 15, 1956, Ser. No. 572,177, now crimp must contain a suitable sealer against moisture be
Patent No. 2,974,592, dated Mar. 14, 1961. Divided tween the shoulder of the annular ring and the base of the
and this application Sept. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 64,673
3 Claims. (Cl. 102—46) Wad, and must also have a sealer along the juncture of
the folded-over portion of the cartridge case with the
This invention relates generally to cartridges contain ?anged wad in order to prevent moisture from entering
ing a smokeless powder fuel and more particularly to a the cartridge and deleteriously effecting the fuel. The
cartridge of this type adapted for the operation of ejec primer must be provided with a means for heating a re
tion mechanisms on airplanes or for use as a power unit sistance wire embedded in a suitable priming mix without
in other apparatus. This application is a division of co 15 short circuiting of the current to the wall of the cartridge
pending patent application Serial No. 572,177, ?led March case and must be sealed in the pocket of the cartridge case
15, 1956, now Patent No. 2,974,592. head to prevent gas leakage as the fuel is burned. The
It is often desirable and sometimes necessary to eject priming composition must be ignitable by a resistance
certain articles such as fuel tanks, ordnance stores and wire heated with an electric current at the voltage avail
the like from an airplane while in ?ight. Such expulsion 20 able on airplanes; usually not more than 25 volts.
is ordinarily achieved by actuating the releasing mecha The primer must be adapted to be ignited electrically
nism by means of ?uid pressure. One of the more suc and must ?t in the cartridge case in such a way that gases
cessful means of developing the fluid pressure is to ?re developed as the fuel in the cartridge burns cannot escape
a suitable cartridge containing smokeless powder in a between the primer and the wall of the pocket. In order
con?ned chamber and use the ?uid pressure developed 25 to achieve a seal between the primer and cartridge case,
to activate the piston or other mechanism. a coating of a suitable resinous material is applied either
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide to the wall of the primer or to the wall of the cartridge
an improved smokeless powder cartridge adapted for use case pocket, or both, before the primer is inserted into
as a power unit to. perform mechanical work. A further the pocket. The primer is seated in the pocket while the
object of the invention is to provide a novel chamber and 30 resinous material is still Wet with solvent and the solvent
cartridge combination which insures ejection of surplus is then removed by air drying at room temperature or by
articles from the plane while in ?ight. Another object heating the assembled cartridge to evaporate the solvent‘.
of the invention is to provide a cartridge adapted to be The temperature, of course, to which the cartridge can be
ignited and to more reliably develop ?uid pressure capable heated safely is dependent upon the heat stability of the
of activating ejection mechanisms in an airplane at various 35 priming explosives so care must be taken not to heat to
altitudes up to 50,000 feet or more and at temperatures a temperature where the explosives will be adversely
varying from as low as minus 65” F. or lower and as affected or will be initiated. Any suitable resin such as
high as 165° F. or more. A more speci?c object of the polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, ethyl cellulose, or
invention is to provide a cartridge for use as a power the like, in a suitable liquid carrier may be used to seal
source that is moistureproof and is adapted to be ?red 40 the joint between the primer and primer pocket but it is
without substantial gas leakage from the cartridge into preferred to use an epichlorhydronbisphenol A polymer
the mechanism used to initiate the explosive fuels in the because it has been found particularly advantageous as a
cartridge. sealant against gas leakage about the primer when the
Other objects will become apparent from the following cartridge is ?red. The resin is dispersed in a suitable
description with reference to the accompanying drawing 45 liquid, and is preferably dissolved in a solvent such as
in which acetone, ethyl acetate or the like to prepare it for applica
FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an em tion to the primer or primer pocket. As will become more
bodiment of the cartridge provided by this invention; apparent hereinafter, the primer may be either cup
FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of an embodiment of shaped or rivet-shaped.
the primer of the cartridge shown in FIGURE 1; 50 By “easily ignitable fuel” as used herein and in the ap
FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of a chamber having pended claims is meant a kindling composition or booster
cartridges therein adapted to be associated with mecha ignitable by a priming composition similar to those used
nism adapted to expel articles from a moving airplane; in conventional ammunition cartridges and adaped to
FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of ‘another embodiment ignite the larger main fuel. By “main fuel” as used here
of a primer; and 55 in is meant the larger fuel charge which develops the main‘
FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary section of the cartridge portion of the ?uid pressure when the cartridge is ?red.
case head. . Referring now to the accompanying drawing for a de
In accordance with this invention, the foregoing ob~ scription of embodiments thereof, the embodiment of
jects and others are achieved generally speaking by pro FIGURE 1 has an aluminum cartridge case 1 having a
viding a cartridge containing a fuel, a smaller charge of 60 thickened head portion 2 and a primer assembly 3 charged,
a kindling composition separated from the fuel, a moisture with an easily ignitable fuel 8. Immediately above fuel
proof end closure, and a primer to ignite the kindling charge 8 is a combustible ?anged cup-shaped wad 6 hav
composition so constructed that, upon ?ring, the ?uid ings its ?ange engaging the wall of cartridge case 1. A
pressure from the cartridge is exerted only through a main fuel charge 7 which is not ignitable by primer 3 sub
rupturable sidewall and upon opening of the end closure. 65 stantially ?lls that portion of the cartridge case above
Ordinarily, cartridges are designed so that the ?uid pres wad 6. An annular inwardly extending ring 26 is formed
sure escapes through the end closure or about the primer, in the wallet cartridge case 1 a short distance from the
or both. More speci?cally, it has been found that a mouth thereof and a combustible ?anged plastic wad 5 is
cartridge embodying the combination of an electrically inserted in the mouth of the cartridge case and pressed
ignitable primer with an easily ignitable fuel that is 70 against the shoulder of ring 26. The Wad 5 is inserted
adapted to ignite a slower burning powder not ignltable with its ?ange extending outwardly and its base resting
 3,062,146
3
against ring 26. Top wad 5 is coated with cellulose ace or enter through wad 5 and thus ignite the fuel charge
tate butyrate containing about 0.5 percent para?’in wax or even though the primer in that cartridge has not been ig
other suitable wax to improve its moisture resistance. nited. Such an assembly of two cartridges thus provides
The cellulose acetate butyrate coating is applied to the a safety factor not available if only one cartridge is uti
wad as a lacquer prepared by dissolving it and the wax lized. The ?uid developed by the burning of the fuels in
in a solvent such as ethyl acetate, acetone, methyl ethyl the two cartridges passes through port 25 to tubular mem
ketone, toluene, or the like. Any other suitable moisture ber 22.
proo?ng lacquer may be utilized instead of the cellulose The embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 4 is a rivet
butyrate lacquer, if desired. Examples of other suitable head type primer having bottom 32 inserted through an
moisture proof coatings for top wad 5 include polyvinyl opening in the bottom of cup 34. This type of primer
chloride, polyvinyl acetate, nitrocellulose base lacquers, may be used instead of the type shown in FIGURE 2
either containing small amounts of Wax or Without de and, indeed, this type is preferred in cartridges for some
pending upon the moisture resistant properties of the par purposes. A dielectric washer 33 lies between the shoul
ticular resin utilized. A layer of moisture proo?ng sealer der of button 32 and base of cup 34 preventing electrical
30 is placed between the shoulder of the ring or annular 15 contact therebetween. A metal washer 36, which may be
indentation 26 and the base of Wad 5. That portion of brass, copper, or the like lies inside cup 34 and is sepa
the cartridge case extending above Wad 5 is turned over rated from the base of cup 34 by a dielectric washer 35.
and encloses the ?ange of the wad and presses the base Washer 36 is in electrical contact with annular ?ange 44
of the wad against ring 26. A ?llet of sealer 31 lies be of button 32. A priming composition 41 substantially
tween the edge of the turned over portion and the exter 20 ?lls cup 38 lying in cup 34. Bridgewire 39 is soldered to
nal surface of the wad 5 to form a moisture proof juncture post 45 of button 32 and to the ?ange of cup 38 that forms
between the end. of the cartridge case and the wad.’ the partially closed base of that cup. A dielectric washer
Referring to FIGURE 2, an embodiment of the primer lies between the ?ange of cup 38, washer 36 and button
provided by this invention is composed of a brass, sub 32 preventing electrical contact therebetween. This par
stantially cup-shaped cylinder 11 having an open end and 25 ticular type of primer has been found especially advan
an end partially closed by a ?ange integral with and per tageous because of the effective seal against gas leakage
pendicular to the sidewalls. A button 27 having a cylin obtained with such primers, particularly when a layer of
drical protuberance 28 adapted to protrude through the resinous sealer is placed between the pocket wall and
opening in the partially closed end of cup 11 and a smaller primer. In order to further seal the primer and pocket
cylindrical shaped protuberance 16 at the other end is 30 assembly against gas leakage and against the entrance of
separated from the inner wall of cup 11 by means of an moisture into the cartridge, the interstice between the
annular ring or gasket of dielectric material 14-. A Washer pocket wall and the base of cup 34, that is, the opening
12 made from a suitable dielectric material rests on the around the button 32, is ?lled with a suitable resinous
upper surface of button 27 in FIGURE 2 and about the material such as epichlorohydron-bisphenol polymer or
sides of protuberance 16. Protuberance 16 extends 35 one of the other resins used for coating the Wall of the
though the dielectric material and rests against a resist~ pocket 3 as described herein.
ance wire 17. It is preferred to solder Wire 17 to pro FIGURE 5 illustrates pocket 43 of the cartridge case
tuberance 16. The resistance Wire 17 is embedded in a With a coating 42 of resinous material on the sidewalls.
primer composition 10 adapted to ignite the propellent The thickness of ?lm 42 is grossly exaggerated for the
charge 8. The priming composition 10 is housed in a 40 purpose of illustration and ordinarily will not exceed
metallic cylinder 29 having a ?ange about one end thereof about 0.005 to about 0.010 of an inch in thickness. The
partially closing that end. The ?anged portion rests on primer is inserted in the pocket after the coating has been
the dielectric washer 12. This cylinder 29 ?ts snugly in applied to the sidewalls and a seal is obtained against
cup 11 and has its open end resting on the bottom of the any gas leakage between the primer and pocket 43 wall
primer cup thus supporting button 27. when the cartridge is ?red. Film 42 is also advantageous
A ?xture 18 adapted to cooperate with the cartridge in assembling the primer with the cartridge because it acts
provided by this invention is illustrated in FIGURE 3. as a lubricant as the primer is inserted in the pocket.
Actually two chambers are utilized. Each chamber des Cartridge case 1 may be formed from any material
ignated 27 and 28 in the drawing is threaded near the which has properties such that it will rupture adjacent
open end thereof and having sleeves 19 and 29 thread 50 the ports in the sleeve when the cartridge is ?red. An
ably secured therein. Cartridge case 1 is contained in these aluminum alloy or pure aluminum is preferred because it
sleeves with the crimped end located adjacent the closed can be shaped into a cartridge case by cold working such
end of the sleeves and with the head of the cartridge lying as by extrusion or cold drawing and has the necessary
against a suitable electrical means for initiating the primer physical properties to rupture when the cartridge is ?red,
3 of the cartridge lying thereagainst. The two chambers but cartridge cases of magnesium, steel, brass, and other
are connected by port 24 and an annular channel com similar metals may be utilized. The metal, of course,
municates with the port and extends around the chamber. must be sufficiently ductile to be bent over to form the
Sleeves 19 and 29 are provided with a plurality of open crimp without fracturing. The head portion must be rela
ings which communicate with this channel. A channel 25 tively thick as shown in the drawing to adequately support
extends from chamber 28 to the passageway of tubular 60 the primer, or a basewad must be used.
?tting 22. The latter tube is adapted to be threadably or Wad 6 may be formed from paper or any suitable plas
otherwise attached to the mechanism to be actuated by the tice material such as polyethylene, ethyl cellulose and the
?uid pressure developed when the cartridges are ignited. like and it is preferred but not necessarily essential that
Fixture 18 of FIGURE 3 is provided with two cham its ?ange be bound to the wall of the cartridge case with
bers to insure ignition of the cartridges when desired. 65 a suitable adhesive material. End wad 5 is formed from
Two cartridges are utilized in preference to one cartridge a suitable moisture resistant plastic such as nitrocellulose,
twice as large because in this way it is only necessary that polyvinyl chloride, ethyl cellulose or cellulose acetate or
at least one cartridge be ignited by the primer. In other from a metal such as aluminum or magnesium. The wad
words, even though one primer fails to ignite because of should be made of such a material that it will be con
a failure in an electrical connection or for some other rea sumed upon ignition of the cartridge. The main fuel
son the cartridge will be ignited because cartridge case 1 charge 7 may be a smokeless powder having a nitro
is adapted to burst adjacent the plurality of holes in the cellulose base but is preferably a double base powder
sleeves 19 and 29 and hot gases from one cartridge will containing a major amount of nitrocellulose and a minor
pass through port 24 to the other cartridge. These gases amount of nitroglyeerine. A powder particularly well
will burst or burn a hole in the wall of the other cartridge 75 suited as a fuel contains from about 20 to. about 25 per
 3,062,146
5 6
cent nitroglycerine, from about 70 percent to about 75 about 175 'microns. Zirconium of the two granulations
percent nitrocellulose, about 5 percent stabilizer such as is advantageous over zirconium of either granulation
ethyl centralite, diphenylamine and the like, and about alone because the presence of some of the ?ner granula
2 percent of a suitable oxygen bearing salt such as barium tions improves ignition of the priming, but it cannot all
nitrate, potassium nitrate, lead peroxide or a ?fty-?fty be of the ?ner granulation because the resulting compo
mixture of barium nitrate and potassium nitrate or the sition frequently ignites spontaneously when the mix be
like. This powder should have a length of about one-half comes dry. Other priming compositions adapted to be
inch, a diameter of about one-fourth inch and a web of ignited by a heated wire, such as a mixture of about 30
about 0.05 inch. Any other powder having a burning to 40 parts normal lead styphnate, 20 to 40 parts oxidiz
rate substantially equivalent to the powder of this com 10 ing salt such as barium nitrate, lead peroxide, potassium
position and physical measurements may be utilized. In nitrate and the like, about 0 to 6 parts tetracene, about
this preferred powder, each grain has seven perforations 5 to 10 parts aluminum and about 10 to 20 parts anti—
extending longitudinally therethrough. These perfora- ' mony sul?de may be utilized in some embodiments, if
tions have a diameter of about 0.015 inch. desired.
The faster burning powder is preferably a globular 15 As indicated hereinbefore the end closure must be
smokeless powder of the type provided by Schaefer in sealed against moisture at the pressure and temperatures
US. Patent 2,160,626 and coated with nitroglycerine. found at high altitudes. This is achieved by placing a
However, other powders ignitable by the primer and layer of sealer 31 between the end of the cartridge case
capable of igniting the main fuel charge can be utilized and the external surface of the wad. Another layer of
for the purpose. In a preferred embodiment, the globular sealer may be placed between the base of wad and the
powder has a composition of about 20 percent nitro annular ring 26 as shown at 30 in the drawing to fur
glycerine, about 77 percent nitrocellulose, about 1 percent ther insure against moisture entering the cartridge. The
diphenylamine, about 1/2 percent deterrent and the bal— end of the case is turned over and placed against the
ance graphite on the surface thereof. Grains passing wad and thus tightly compresses the base of the wad
through a screen having circular openings 0.028 inch and 25 against ring 26 causing the base to become embedded
remaining on a similar screen having 0.018 inch openings in the sealer 30. The composition used to seal the junc
and of the foregoing composition are preferred. The tures between the wad 5 and cartridge case is preferably
grains are preferably ?attened by rolling or other means. an epichlorhydron-bisphenol A polymer. Such a ma
The primer cups may be made from any suitable metal terial is an adhesive as well as a moisture proo?ng ma
but brass, because of its cold working properties and 30 terial. An adhesive manufactured by the Shell Chemical
electrical conductivity, is preferred. Likewise, the con Corporation is an example of a trade product having this
tact buttons 27 and 32 may be formed from any suitable composition, namely,

Ha
metal but preferably from brass or copper. The di and particularly a liquid type of this resin having a vis
electric washers utilized in the primer may be rubber, cosity of the pure resin at 25° C. of about Z5—Z6 (Gard
synthetic rubber or any suitable plastic material such as 40 nerholdt), or about 100-160 poises, with an epoxide
vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate, a copolymer of vinyl acetate equivalent of 175-210. Any other suitable resin includ
and vinyl chloride, polyamide, vinylidine, and the like. ing nitrocellulose lacquer, cellulose acetate butyrate and
The resistance wire may be of any suitable material which silicone resins and the like may be utilized but the above
will become heated by an electric current. For example, noted resin has been found most resistant to water vapor.
a nickel-chromium alloy, platinum, palladium, tungsten 4,5 The resin is applied while dissolved in a suitable solvent
and platinum-tungsten alloys may be utilized to advan such as ethyl acetate, acetone, methylethyl ketone or the
tage. like and air dried to produce the layer or ?llet of sealer.
In assembling the components of the primer shown in The ?xture 18 can be made from steel or any other
FIGURE 2, the button 27 is placed in cup-shaped cylin suitable metal.
der 11 with a dielectric material between it and the case 50 Although the invention has been described in detail in
wall. A washer of dielectric has previously been placed the foregoing in connection with preferred embodiments,
over the button and about the protuberance which will it is to be understood that such detail is solely for the
be in electrical contact with the resistance wire. The purpose of illustration and that variations can be made
?anged cylinder 29 is next inserted in cylinder 11 and in the embodiments by those skilled in the art without
resistance wire 17 is soldered to the ?ange and protuber 55 departing from the spirit of the invention except as lim
ance 16. Priming composition is then placed in the cylin ited by the appended claims.
der 29. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed
The primer must be such that it is adapted to be and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
ignited by the heated resistance wire and will ignite the 1. A primer adapted to be ?red electrically comprising
booster fuel charge. Any such composition is suitable 60 a metal cylinder having an open end and an opposite
but one containing zirconium, a primary explosive and a end partially closed by a ?ange integral with and per
suitable oxygen bearing salt has been found particularly pendicular to the sidewalls of the cylinder, a button
advantageous because it is particularly well suited for formed of an electrical conductor having a cylindrical
igniting the booster charge. The preferred composition protuberance extending into the opening bordered by said
contains from about 15 parts to about 100 parts normal 65 ?ange and on the opposite side thereof a second pro
lead styphnate or similar primary explosive such as basic tuberance, a dielectric material between the button and
lead styphnate, diazodinitrophenol, tetracene, or the like, the walls of said cylinder, a dielectric washer lying on
from about 10 parts to about 40 parts zirconium having
a granulation within the range from about 45 microns to said button and about the second said protuberance, a
about 150 microns, about 3 parts to about 25 parts zir 70 second smaller cylinder having an open end and a par
conium having a particle size of less than about 45 tially closed end having a ?ange integral with the side
microns and from about 20 parts to 50 parts lead per walls thereof and substantially perpendicular thereto, a
oxide, or other oxidizing salt, such as barium nitrate, resistance Wire secured to the ?ange and lying across the
potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate and the like having a opening in said partially closed end, a priming compo
particle size within the range from about 45 microns to 75 sition adapted to be ignited by said resistance wire when
 3,062,146
7 8
heated lying about the resistance wire, said resistance wire about 10 to about 40 parts zirconium having a granula
being in electrical contact With said button. tion of from about 45 microns to about 150 microns and
2. The primer of claim 1 with its priming composition from about 3 parts to about 25 parts zirconium having a
comprising about 15 parts to about 100 parts normal lead granulation of less than about 45 microns.
stypnate, from about 10 parts to about 40 parts zirconium 5
having a granulation of from about 45 microns to about References Cited in the ?le of this patent
150 microns, about 3 parts to about 25 parts zirconium UNITED STATES PATENTS
having a granulation less than about 45 microns and from 2,068,516 Seavey _______________ __ Jan‘ 19, 1937
about 20 parts to about 50 parts inorganic oxidizing salt. 2,473,501 Patterson _____________ __ Aug, 9, 1949
3. The primer of claim 1 with its priming composition 1° 2,649,736 Phillips ______________ __ Aug. 25, 1953
comprising from about 15 to about 100 parts primary eX- 2,685,837 Sage _________________ __ Aug. 10, 1954
plosive, about 20 to about 50 parts oxidizing salt and from 2,696,429 Hart __________________ _.. Dec. 7, 1954