Methods and apparatus for a gas outlet port clog inhibitor

Abstract

A projectile in accordance with one embodiment includes a combustible material structure (e.g., a base burn assembly or rocket motor assembly) having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, wherein the longitudinal bore defines a gas outlet port on a first end of the combustible material structure. An igniter is provided adjacent to a second end of the longitudinal bore. A clog inhibitor provided within the longitudinal bore, the clog inhibitor including a plurality of openings. The openings are be selected to block extraneous portions of the combustible material structure that are greater than a predetermined size.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A projectile comprising:
 a combustible material structure having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, the longitudinal bore defining a gas outlet port on a first end of the combustible material structure;   an igniter adjacent to a second end of the longitudinal bore; and   a clog inhibitor provided within the longitudinal bore, the clog inhibitor including a plurality of openings.   
     
     
         2 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the combustible material structure comprises a base burn structure. 
     
     
         3 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the combustible material structure comprises a rocket motor structure. 
     
     
         4 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the clog inhibitor is generally cylindrical. 
     
     
         5 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are circular. 
     
     
         6 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the clog inhibitor comprises an ablative material selected to be consumed after launch of the projectile. 
     
     
         7 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the clog inhibitor comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, ceramic, titanium, and magnesium. 
     
     
         8 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the openings are configured to block extraneous portions of the combustible material that are greater than a predetermined size. 
     
     
         9 . The projectile of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined size is based on a dimension of the gas outlet port. 
     
     
         10 . The projectile of  claim 1 , further including one or more internal struts coupled to an interior surface of the clog inhibitor. 
     
     
         11 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the gas outlet port has a diameter of approximately 0.25″ to 1.5″. 
     
     
         12 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the clog inhibitor is bonded within the longitudinal bore. 
     
     
         13 . The projectile of  claim 1 , wherein the clog inhibitor has a wall thickness of approximately 0.125″ to 0.25″. 
     
     
         14 . A clog inhibitor for insertion within a combustible material structure having an opening therein, the clog inhibitor comprising:
 a body configured to be inserted within the opening of the combustible material structure, thereby defining a gas outlet port at a first end of the body; and   a plurality of openings within the body.   
     
     
         15 . The clog inhibitor of  claim 14 , wherein the clog inhibitor body is generally cylindrical. 
     
     
         16 . The clog inhibitor of  claim 14 , wherein the openings are circular. 
     
     
         17 . The clog inhibitor of  claim 14 , wherein the clog inhibitor body comprises an ablative material. 
     
     
         18 . The clog inhibitor of  claim 14 , wherein the clog inhibitor comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, ceramic, titanium, and magnesium. 
     
     
         19 . A method for preventing the clogging of a combustible material structure having an opening therein that defines a gas outlet port, the method comprising;
 forming a clog inhibitor body configured to be inserted within the combustible material structure;   forming a plurality of openings within the clog inhibitor body; and   inserting the clog inhibitor body within the opening of the combustible material structure.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein forming the clog inhibitor body includes forming a generally tube-shaped structure, and forming the plurality of openings includes forming a plurality of holes whose geometry is selected to prevent fragments greater than a predetermined size from moving through the openings.