Decoy flare

Claim 1

A marine pyrotechnic device having a high infrared output for decoying hostile heat-seeking missiles from seagoing craft comprising: A. a relatively heavy base member; and B. a relatively light forward casing; 1. said base member comprising: a. a cup-shaped housing defining a hollow chamber and closed by a circular end piece; b. at least one sea-water-activated energy cell in said chamber; and c. electrical conductors connected to said energy cell and passing through said end piece into said forward casing; 2. said forward casing comprising: a. an elongated hollow tube fastened to said end piece and defining a cylindrical chamber; b. a cylindrical combustion charge assembly in said chamber; 3. said assembly comprising: a. a cylindrical heat shield coextensive with and spaced from the inner wall of said cylindrical Chamber; b. a flare grain; and c. ignition means of the forward end of said grain; d. said flare grain being fixed within said heat shield at the aft end thereof; e. said ignition means comprising electrical actuating means connected to said energy cell by said conductors; 4. the parts of said device being dimensioned and situated such that the center of gravity of the assembled device is far enough aft so that the device will assume an upright position when deployed in a marine environment; 5. said casing having a forward opening closed by a blowout plug comprising; a. a thin outer plate; b. an inner stopper; c. the forward end of said casing being crimped to present a flat circular area with a smaller circular opening; d. said plug fitting snugly within said opening; and said outer plate being welded to the outer periphery of said circular area by a continuous weld. 6. said opening being less than the diameter of said grain and greater than half the diameter of said grain.