Kevin Jon Wilcock

US Patent:

56718691, Sep 30, 1997

Filed:

Dec 4, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/566742

Inventors:

Mark L. G. Althouse - Bel Air MD
Kevin J. Wilcock - Tooele UT

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01F 1100

US Classification:

222 1

Abstract:

A chaff disseminator for uniformly distributing short fibers into the air r disrupt enemy radar tracking in an air combat situation. Such fibers are typically 3 to 25 microns in diameter and cut to 1/8 to 1/2 inch in length. Fiber concentration and output are regulated by changing the air flow direction in a hopper while keeping the total air flow volume constant. A load of fibers in the hopper is raised by an upward airflow causing the load to tumble and reducing the packing density of the fibers at the edge of the load. The reduced packing density permits lower speed horizontal airflows to pull off fibers for dissemination. A fluid bed is created depending by a series of small holes drilled in the bottom of the hopper, by regulation of the airflow along the lid of the hopper and by air jets mounted along the bottom front edge of the hopper. A baffle which the load compressed and directs the cross load airflow.