Igniter

Abstract

An igniter, an ignition method and a method of assembling an ignitor are provided. In one embodiment, the igniter includes a first member having an inner surface. The igniter also includes a second member having an outer surface engaged with the inner surface when in an assembled configuration and forming a space between the inner surface and the outer surface. The igniter further includes an ignition charge disposed in the space. The second member is configured to move with respect to the first member when in the assembled configuration so as to apply a predetermined pressure, which includes a shear force and a compressive force, to the ignition charge to ignite the ignition charge. According to various embodiments, ignition of the ignition charge is improved.

1 . An igniter comprising:
 a first member having an inner surface;   a second member having an outer surface engaged with the inner surface when in an assembled configuration and forming a space between the inner surface and the outer surface; and   an ignition charge disposed in the space,   the second member being configured to move with respect to the first member when in the assembled configuration so as to apply a predetermined pressure, which includes a shear force and a compressive force, to the ignition charge to ignite the ignition charge.   
     
     
         2 . The igniter according to  claim 1 , further comprising an opening communicating the space with an outside of the space. 
     
     
         3 . An ignition method comprising:
 providing an ignitor having a first member and a second member, the first member having an inner surface, the second member having an outer surface engaged with the inner surface and forming a space between the inner surface and the outer surface, an ignition charge being disposed in the space; and   applying a pressure, which includes a shear force and a compressive force, to the ignition charge to ignite the ignition charge.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein applying the pressure comprises rotating one of the first member and the second member relative to the other one of the first member and the second member. 
     
     
         5 . A method of assembling an ignitor, the method comprising:
 providing a first member having an inner surface;   providing a second member having an outer surface;   inserting the second member into the first member so as to form a space between the inner surface and the outer surface; and   pouring an ignition charge when in a slurry form into the space, the ignition charge drying after being poured into the space so as to ignite when a predetermined pressure is applied to the first member.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the first member comprises a first screw thread defining the inner surface, and wherein the second member comprises a second screw thread defining the outer surface, and wherein inserting the second member into the first member comprises engaging the second screw thread with the first screw thread. 
     
     
         7 . An igniter comprising:
 a first member having an inner surface;   a second member having an outer surface engaged with the inner surface and forming a space between the inner surface and the outer surface when in an assembled configuration; and   an ignition charge disposed in the space,   wherein one of the first member and the second member is configured to be moved relative to the other one of the first member and the second member when in the assembled configuration to ignite the ignition charge by applying a predetermined pressure to the ignition charge.   
     
     
         8 . The igniter according to  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined pressure comprises a shear force and a compressive force. 
     
     
         9 . The igniter according to  claim 7 , wherein the outer surface of the second member is screw-engaged with the inner surface of the first member.