Methods for delayed dispersion of chaff within countermeasure expendables

Abstract

Various countermeasure expendables and methods of using said countermeasure expendables are provided herein. A countermeasure expendable comprising a canister. The countermeasure expendable includes at least one countermeasure payload operably engaged inside the canister, the at least one countermeasure payload having a volume of countermeasure material. The countermeasure expendable includes a squib operably engaged inside of the canister, wherein the squib is configured to propel the at least one countermeasure payload outside of the canister. The countermeasure expendable includes at least one time delaying assembly operably engaged with the at least one countermeasure payload, wherein the time delaying assembly is configured to dispense the volume of countermeasure material from the at least one countermeasure payload at a predetermined time interval.

1 . A countermeasure expendable, comprising:
 a canister;   at least one countermeasure payload operably engaged inside the canister, the at least one countermeasure payload having a volume of countermeasure material;   a squib operably engaged inside of the canister, wherein the squib is configured to propel the at least one countermeasure payload outside of the canister; and   at least one time delaying assembly operably engaged with the at least one countermeasure payload, wherein the time delaying assembly is configured to dispense the volume of countermeasure material from the at least one countermeasure payload at a predetermined time interval.   
     
     
         2 . The countermeasure expendable of the  claim 1 , wherein the at least one time delaying assembly further comprises:
 a case configured to hold the at least one countermeasure payload;   a sequencing igniter device operatively engaged with the case, wherein the sequencing igniter device is moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration;   an energy pellet operably engaged with the sequencing igniter device, wherein the energy pellet is ignitable via the squib;   a time delay fuse operably engaged inside of the case, wherein the time delay fuse is configured to be ignitable via the energy pellet; and   a bursting charge operably engaged with the time delay fuse inside of the case, wherein the bursting charge is configured to be ignitable via the time delay fuse.   
     
     
         3 . The countermeasure expendable of  claim 2 , wherein the volume of countermeasure payload remains inside of the case when the sequencing igniter device is provided in the first configuration inside of the canister. 
     
     
         4 . The countermeasure expendable of  claim 3 , wherein the volume of countermeasure payload is dispensed from the case when the sequencing igniter device is provided in the second configuration outside of the canister; and
 wherein the energy pellet ignites the time delay fuse and the bursting charge.   
     
     
         5 . The countermeasure expendable of  claim 1 , wherein the time delaying assembly further comprises:
 a case configured to hold the at least one countermeasure payload, wherein the case has a clamshell configuration configured to be moveable between a closed position to an opened position;   a sequencing igniter device operatively engaged with the case, wherein the sequencing igniter device is moveable between a first configuration and a second configuration;   an energy pellet operably engaged with the sequencing igniter device, wherein the energy pellet is ignitable via the squib;   a time delay fuse operably engaged inside of the case, wherein the time delay fuse is configured to be ignitable via the squib;   a retaining member operably engaged with the time delay fuse and the case, wherein the retaining member is configured to be ignitable via the time delay fuse; and   a biaser provided inside of the case, wherein the biaser is moveable between a collapsed position and an expanded position.   
     
     
         6 . The countermeasure expendable of  claim 5 , wherein the volume of countermeasure payload remains inside of the case when the sequencing igniter device is provided in the first configuration inside of the canister and the retaining member is operably engaged with the time delay fuse; and
 wherein the biaser is provided in the collapsed position.   
     
     
         7 . The countermeasure expendable of  claim 6 , wherein the volume of countermeasure payload is ejected from the case when the sequencing igniter device is provided in the second configuration outside of the canister and the energy pellet collectively ignites the time delay fuse and the retaining member; and
 wherein the biaser is provided in the expanded position.   
     
     
         8 . The countermeasure expendable of  claim 1 , wherein the time delay assembly further comprises:
 a case configured to hold the at least one countermeasure payload, wherein the case has a clamshell configuration configured to be moveable between a closed position to an opened position;   a cap operably engaged to a first end of the case, wherein the cap is configured to provide a hinge mechanism to move said case between the closed position to the opened position;   a threaded shaft extending from an opposing second end of the case;   a wingnut operably engaged with the threaded shaft between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and   a biaser provided inside of the case, wherein the biaser is moveable between a collapsed position and an expanded position.   
     
     
         9 . The countermeasure expendable of  claim 8 , wherein the volume of countermeasure payload remains inside of the case when provided in the closed position;
 wherein the wingnut is provided in the engaged position with the threaded shaft; and   wherein the biaser is provided in the collapsed position.   
     
     
         10 . The countermeasure expendable of  claim 9 , wherein the volume of countermeasure payload is ejected from the case when provided in the opened position;
 wherein the wingnut is provided in the disengaged position with the threaded shaft via airstream loosening the wingnut from the threaded shaft; and   wherein the biaser is provided in the expanded position.   
     
     
         11 . The countermeasure expendable of  claim 1 , wherein the time delay assembly further comprises:
 a first endcap operably engaging a first end of the at least one countermeasure payload;   an opposing second endcap operably engaging an opposing second end of the at least one countermeasure payload; and   a film material circumferentially disposed about the at least one countermeasure payload between the first endcap and the second endcap, wherein one end of the film material is engaged with the at least one countermeasure payload.   
     
     
         12 . The countermeasure expendable of  claim 1 , wherein the time delay assembly further comprises:
 a packet loaded with at least one countermeasure payload;   a logic controller operably connected to the squib, wherein the logic controller is configured to retain a charge of electrical energy via an on-board electrical device; and   a bursting charge operably connected to the logic controller, wherein the bursting charge is configured to detonate at a predetermined time period upon receiving an electrical signal from the logic controller for dispensing the at least one countermeasure payload from the packet.   
     
     
         13 . The countermeasure expendable of  claim 1 , wherein the time delay assembly further comprises:
 a packet loaded with at least one countermeasure payload;   a spool operably engaged inside of the canister;   a rip cord wound about the spool, the rip cord having a first end operably engaged with the canister and an opposing second end remote from the spool;   a cutting member operably engaged with the second end of the rip cord, wherein the cutting member is configured to cut the packet for dispensing the at least one countermeasure payload when the rip cord reaches maximum length; and   a plunger disposed between the spool and the at least one countermeasure payload, wherein the plunger is configured to contain a pressure created by the squib behind the packet.   
     
     
         14 . The countermeasure expendable of  claim 1 , wherein the time delay assembly further comprises:
 a packet loaded with at least one countermeasure payload;   a rip cord;   a drogue parachute operably engaged with a first end of the rip cord;   a cutting member operably engaged with the second end of the rip cord, wherein the cutting member is configured to cut the packet for dispensing the at least one countermeasure payload as the drogue parachute transitions from a closed state to an open state and the rip cord reaches maximum length; and   a plunger disposed between the spool and the at least one countermeasure payload, wherein the plunger is configured to contain pressure created by the squib behind the packet.   
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising:
 loading at least one countermeasure payload into a countermeasure expendable of a plurality of countermeasure expendables;   effecting the plurality of countermeasure expendables to be loaded on to a platform;   effecting a countermeasure dispensing system to initiate;   effecting the at least one countermeasure payload from the countermeasure expendable to be ejected via a squib;   effecting a time delay assembly of the at least one countermeasure payload to be initiated; and   effecting the time delay assembly of the at least one countermeasure payload to dispense a volume of countermeasure material from the at least one countermeasure payload at a predetermined time delay.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 effecting a sequencing igniter device of the time delay assembly to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration;   effecting an energy pellet of the time delay assembly to be ignited, via the squib, at a first time interval;   effecting a time delay fuse of the time delay assembly to be ignited, via the energy pellet, at a second time interval; and   effecting a bursting charge of the time delay assembly to be ignited, via the time delay fuse, at a third time interval.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 effecting a sequencing igniter device of the time delay assembly to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration;   effecting an energy pellet of the time delay assembly to be ignited, via the squib, at a first time interval;   effecting a time delay fuse of the time delay assembly to ignite, via the squib, at a second time interval;   effecting a retaining member of the time delay assembly to be ignite, via the time delay fuse, at a third time interval;   effecting a biaser of the time delay assembly to transition from a collapsed position to an expanded position; and   effecting a case of the time delay assembly to transition, via the biaser and the retaining member, from a closed position to an open position.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 effecting a wingnut of the time delay assembly to loosen from a threaded shaft of said time delay assembly of a clamshell case of said time delay assembly, via an airstream, from an engaged position to a disengaged position;   effecting a biaser of the time delay assembly to transition from a collapsed position to an expanded position; and   effecting a case of the time delay assembly to transition, via the biaser and the wingnut, from a closed position to an open position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 effecting a logic controller of the time delay assembly to be electrically charged, via an on-board power source of the platform, at a first time interval; and   effecting a bursting charge of the time delay assembly to detonate, via the logic controller, at a second time interval.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 effecting a plunger of the time delay assembly to assist in moving the at least one countermeasure payload away from the platform via the squib;   effecting a rip cord of the time delay assembly to unwind from a spool of the time delay assembly as the at least one countermeasure payload travels away from the platform; and   effecting a cutting member of the time delay assembly to cut a packet of the time delay assembly via the rip cord.