AU2006201922B2 - Improvements in Pyrotechnic Battle Effect Simulators - Google Patents

Description

P/00/009 Regulation 3.10

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: IMPROVEMENTS IN PYROTECHNIC BATTLE EFFECT SIMULATORS The invention is described in the following statement, including the best method of performing it known to us: Our Ref: 062009 2 kO IND e Improvements in Pyrotechnic Battle Effect Simulators This invention relates to improvements in the visual and auditory signature and apparent realism of pyrotechnic items designed to simulate the functioning of improvised p, explosive devices (IED's), and other exploding battlefield

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ordnance items such as artillery shells and mortar rounds.

ND The invention has particular but not exclusive application in the training of members of the armed forces in preparation for combat duties. A variation of this invention has application as a pyrotechnic "distraction" device for special forces and tactical response police unit use in hostage rescue situations and the like.

However as will be apparent from the following the present invention can have application in the civil arena, particularly in film and television special effects and also live events such as military tattoos and stunt shows.

BACKGROUND

Pyrotechnic battle effects simulators and related pyrotechnic maroons and noisemakers are well known in prior pyrotechnic art. The use of "Thunderflashes", "Stage Maroons" and many varieties of noise, flash and smoke producing devices in the training of military personnel, fireworks displays, rock music concerts, film industry special effects is ubiquitous and historical.

3 The basic principle of any pyrotechnic noise, flash and smoke producing device is broadly the same. It is that an energetic, gas producing pyrotechnic compound is confined in a sealed container, which may be tubular or any other shape, and ignited by fuse, electric match or other means.

The ignition input starts a chemical reaction in the pyrotechnic compound that produces a large amount of heat, light and gas very rapidly and under conditions of confinement.

This results in an explosive bursting of the containment, which, to prevent injury to persons, is usually of fibreboard, papier-mAch6 or other suitable, soft fragmenting, dispersible material. The explosive bursting of the containment is accompanied by a loud bang, a flash of light and a puff of smoke.

Typical compositions used in these devices are gunpowder (an intimate ground milled and corned mixture of potassium nitrate, sulphur and carbon) or flash powder (of which a typical formulation among many would be an intimate mixture of powdered potassium perchlorate and aluminium or magnesium metal powder).

4 Both the size of the device and quantity of reactive compound vary depending on intended use. By way of example, the United States and Australian Military M115A2 Simulator, Projectile, Groundburst (FIG 1 now obsolete) was of fibreboard construction and of a tubular shape about 55 mm diameter and 180 mm length, contained 60 grams of Potassium Perchlorate/Magnesium mix, and was ignited by pull fuse initiated time fuse. By way of further example, the modern Singapore Technologies Thunderflash, Electric (FIG 2) contains less than 7 grams grams of Flash Powder and is of tubular fibreboard construction about 24 mm diameter and mm length, ignited by electric squib igniter. The M115A2 was designed to be hand thrown, the Singapore Technologies Thunderflash Electric designed to be remotely electrically fired.

Also known in the art are battlefield simulation devices designed to simulate the audible and visual effects of bursting artillery shells and other common items of military ordnance. Frequently they will be sealed soft plastic jars or sealed fibreboard cylindrical containers containing an axiocentrically mounted central burster similar to a thunderflash, ie. A fibreboard tubular container, sealed at both ends (usually by means of a glued in cork) with an electric match igniter and a quantity 5 usually not exceeding 15 grams of either gunpowder or flash powder.

Surrounding this central burster and contained by the exterior cylindrical, closed ended container may be a powdered fireball producing compound such as naphthalene/gunpowder, or a semi inert organic dust, such as peat or coal dust, or a powdered reactive compound, such as "slow red fire mix" (a mixture of an alkali metal nitrate, an alkali metal carbonate, aluminium or magnesium powder and organic fuel such as fine sawdust or wheat flour) Many other powdered mixtures are known in the art and will produce different effects when dispersed explosively. A representative drawing of this type of item is depicted in FIG 3.

When stood upright on the ground and fired by means of applying electric current to the electric match via means of it's leadwires, the axiocentrically mounted thunderflash (maroon) bursts violently and disperses, explosively mixes with surrounding air, and ignites (or disperses only, in the case of a relatively non flammable dust) the annularly disposed powder previously described, producing a loud report, and either an annular, low spreading fireball FIG 4, an annular low spreading puff of brown or black dust FIG or a brilliant pyrotechnic flash and smoke puff FIG 6, 6 depending on the nature of the previously described annular fill and how energetic it is.

If the previously described device is lain on its side on the ground, the dispersal effect is deleteriously affected when the device is functioned, as a substantial portion of the annularly disposed dispersant is cast onto the ground and fails to disperse in air, the resultant visual effect being severely impaired (FIG 7).

It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention there is provided a pyrotechnic battle effects simulator comprising a outer thin-walled outer cylinder sealed at each end; said cylinder substantially filled with a dispersable powdered composition; said cylinder enclosing a cylindrical burster maroon comprising a cylindrical casing; said maroon extending for a portion of the length of said cylinder; said maroon located adjacent an internal wall of said cylinder and parallel to an axis of said cylinder Preferably, said cylindrical casing of said maroon comprises a relatively thick walled, convolute wound fibreboard tube; said tube sealed at both ends with cork and glue; said maroon containing a pyrotechnic mixture.

7 Preferably, said maroon is provided with a trench milled into a topmost longitudinal surface of said cylindrical casing; said trench extending for at least a portion of the length of said cylindrical casing and milled to a depth of approximately half the thickness of said cylindrical casing.

Preferably, a portion of said wall of said outer cylinder is provided with at least one line of impressed perforations; said at least one line parallel to said axis of said outer cylinder; said at least one line located diametrically opposite said maroon.

Preferably, said outer cylinder is composed of spiral wrapped fibreboard.

Preferably, said maroon is provided with ignition means.

Preferably, said powdered composition is of a nonreactive nature.

Preferably, said powdered composition of said nonreactive nature includes slate dust.

Preferably, said powdered composition of said nonreactive nature is a mixture of peat and slate dust; proportions of said peat and slate dust of a dispersable nature adapted to suit visual signature requirements.

Preferably, said composition of said non-reactive nature includes fluorescent coloured chalk powder or any suitable non toxic, highly coloured, non reactive 8 substance suitable for explosive dispersal for signalling or marking purposes.

Preferably, said powdered composition is of a reactive nature providing a dispersable substance suitable for visual signal requirements.

Preferably, said powdered composition of said reactive nature includes cork dust.

Preferably, said powdered composition of said reactive nature includes peat dust.

Preferably, said powdered composition of said reactive nature includes aluminium powder.

Preferably, said powdered composition of said reactive nature includes any suitable reactive metal or metalloid powder, grits or turnings.

Preferably, said metal or metalloid powder or grits or turnings includes Aluminium, Magnesium, Aluminium/Magnesium alloys, Magnesium/Lithium alloys, Titanium, Ferrotitanium alloys, Zirconium, Zinc, Iron metal powders, grits or turnings and the powders and grits of the metalloids Boron and Silicon and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, said powdered or pelletised composition of a reactive nature further includes smokeless powder, powdered or pelletised pyrotechnic mixtures, powdered or pelletised red phosphorous, dry cork dust, dry lycopodium dust, dry peat dust, coal dust, rubber dust, resin dust, 9 wood dust or Aluminium, Magnesium, Aluminium/Magnesium alloys, Magnesium/Lithium alloys, Titanium, Ferrotitanium alloys, Zirconium, Zinc, Iron metal powders, grits or turnings and the powders and grits of the metalloids Boron and Silicon or any mixtures thereof.

Preferably, said simulator in use is placed on a supporting surface such that said axis of said outer cylinder is substantially parallel to said surface and said maroon is closest to said surface.

Preferably, said simulator provides an explosively propelled powder burst when said maroon is exploded by said ignition means.

Preferably, said trench is adapted to a bursting of said maroon in a predefined direction when said pyrotechnic mixture is ignited; bursting composition explosionproducts being vented upward and through said outer cylinder.

Preferably, said bursting composition explosion products are dispersed throughout expanding explosively driven said powdered composition.

Preferably, said simulator is a self-mortaring device; intrinsic arrangements of parts and said powdered composition predicating a characteristic columnar fan shape of said explosively propelled powder burst.

10 Preferably, said explosively propelled powder burst occurs without reaction with surrounding air when said powdered composition is non-reactive.

Preferably, said explosively propelled powder burst occurs with reaction with surrounding air when said powdered material composition is reactive.

Preferably, said outer cylinder is pressurised when said maroon is detonated; said outer cylinder initially failing along said at least one line of impressed perforations.

Preferably, said explosively propelled powder burst extruded from said at least one line forms a columnar fan for an extensive vertical distance and an extensive horizontal distance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1, is a side view of an improvised explosive device according to the prior art, Figure 2, is a perspective view of a further example of an improvised explosive device according to the prior art, 11 INO Figure 3, is a perspective view of a yet a further example of an improvised explosive device according to the t prior art, C Figures 4 to 7, are representations of typical explosive effects of the devices of Figures 1 to 3, Figure 8, is a representation of an explosive effect of an improvised explosive device according to a preferred INO embodiment of the invention, Figure 9, is a further representation of an explosive effect of an improvised explosive device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figures 10 and 11, and 12 and 13 are representations of explosive effects of in service devices and embodiments of the present invention, Figures 14 and 14a are representations of the internal structure of in service devices, Figures 15 and 15a are representations of the internal structure of devices according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With particular reference to the training of military personnel prior to engagement in combat operations, it is vital that the simulated combat environment matches as closely as possible the real combat environment that the troops will shortly encounter.

12 A common complaint from military training organisations is that some of the existing simulators (1 gram Thunderflashes and relatively non flammable dust loaded simulators) do not make a loud enough noise and fail to produce an adequate visual signature when compared with real ordnance effects on the one hand, or are too powerful or flame producing in the case of the powdered reactive compound type and fireball producing compound filled items respectively. The powdered reactive compound and fireball type producing items are also prone to starting bushfires.

Because none of the existing in service simulators are entirely suitable for effective combat training, instructors resort to using service explosives such as RDX/TNT slabs and sticks or portions of sticks of plastic explosive or primers, initiated by electric detonators, for simulation effect. The problem with using service explosives is that the blast, noise and propensity to project stones and pebbles at high velocities and for long distances limit the use of these items to relatively long distances away from the trainees, in inaccessible positions at least 50 to 100 metres away from the immediate training venue.

The current invention aims to alleviate the disadvantages inherent in the current range of service simulators and 13 ameliorate the hazards presented by the use of service high explosives for simulation.

With the foregoing in view, this invention introduces a number of novel principles in the design of the improved battle effects simulator and its variations.

In one aspect of the invention, an outer cylinder comprising a, relatively thin walled spiral wound fibreboard tube, more or less by way of example 70 to 90 mm diameter and 200 to 260 mm length, is provided with a lacquer sealed perforation line or lines run linearly from end to end in a narrow segment of circumferential arc, and is sealed by a compound cork disc glued into one end of the cylinder.

The exterior of this tube may be entirely lacquer dipped for waterproofing purposes.

A flat rectangular thin section cork or fibreboard piece may be glued onto the exterior of the cylinder on the side opposite to the above described linear perforation line or lines, to aid correct placement of the device prior to use.

A relatively thick walled, convolute wound fibreboard tube, more or less by way of example, 20 to 25 mm diameter 14 and 120 to 150 mm length, cork and glue sealed at both ends, containing a pyrotechnic mixture described below, and an ignition means, also described below, is glued to the interior wall of the above described thin walled, spiral wound fibreboard tube. The position of this interior cylindrical, sealed tubular body, hereinafter referred to as the "burster maroon" is more or less equidistant to the ends of the exterior cylindrical tube and diametrically opposite to the aforementioned perforation line or lines.

The "burster maroon" may or may not itself have a slot or trench milled into the topmost longitudinal surface relative to its placement within the simulator interior as previously described. This slot or trench is preferably no more than 2.5 mm wide and preferably removing about half the thickness of the maroon casing within the aforesaid width. The slot or trench is particularly useful for projection of flash and sparks when the maroon bursting formula is adjusted for that purpose, and when a particular reactive fill in the exterior simulator casing may need enhanced ignition assistance when combining with air. This is because the slot or trench will assist the maroon.casing to burst in a particular direction, with a majority of the bursting composition explosion products being vented upward and through the simulator casing, to in turn, be dispersed 15 throughout the expanding, explosively driven non reactive or reactive fill.

The outer cylinder, is then filled with a powdered mixture, either non reactive or reactive depending on application.

By way of example, an equal mass mixture of dry peat dust and dry slate dust may be used to provide a non reactive fill to simulate the smoke and dust of a shell burst, for instance. Equally, a non reactive fill may also be, by way of example, fluorescent, coloured, powdered chalk, or any suitable non toxic, highly coloured substance suitable for explosive dispersal for signalling and marking purposes. By further way of example, smokeless powder, powdered or pelletised pyrotechnic mixtures, powdered or pelletised red phosphorous, dry cork dust, dry lycopodium dust, dry peat dust coal dust, rubber dust, resin dust, wood dust or Aluminium, Magnesium, Aluminium/Magnesium alloys, Magnesium/Lithium alloys, Titanium, Ferrotitanium alloys, Zirconium, Zinc, Iron metal powders grits or turnings and the powders and grits of the metalloids Boron and Silicon or mixtures of the above exemplary materials may be used to provide a reactive fill. 'Reactive' means in this context any finely divided substance that, when explosively dispersed, the powder or grit or turnings or mixture thereof will mix and combust with the oxygen in the surrounding air or, if containing appropriate reactants, 16 combust without the necessity of utilising atmospheric oxygen.

The variety of non reactive and reactive fills possible will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the art.

The unsealed end of the outer cylinder is then sealed with a close fitting, glued compound cork disc. By way of example, many other end seals are well known in the art.

The lead wires or shock tube attached to the ignition means inside the burster maroon and appending from it are passed through a small hole in the end seal above described. The hole/lead arrangement is then glue sealed.

The contents of the burster maroon in the above described exemplary device are more or less as follows:- A quantity not exceeding 12 grams by way of example of nitrocellulose/nitroglycerine or nitrocellulose based smokeless powder and not more than 2 grams by way of example of either a reactive thermit mixture, by way of example copper oxide and aluminium powder in the correct proportions to produce a rapid redox reaction when ignited under confined conditions, or, by way of example, a flash powder composition, potassium perchlorate and aluminium powder mixture, in the correct proportions to produce a 17 rapid explosive reaction when ignited under confined conditions. The use of nitrocellulose/nitroglycerine or nitrocellulose powder ("smokeless powder") as the main constituent is preferred because this material generates a much larger quantity of gas than, for example a thermite mixture or a flash powder alone.

Many variations of burster maroon fill are possible and well known in the art. Particular mention may be made of the addition of various metal powders and grits for example Aluminium, Magnesium, Aluminium/Magnesium alloys, Magnesium/Lithium alloys, Titanium, Ferrotitanium alloys, Zirconium, Zinc, Iron metal powders, grits or turnings and the powders and grits of the metalloids Boron and Silicon or mixtures of the above exemplary materials may be added to the maroon bursting composition to provide enhanced flash and spark effects for both non reactive and reactive dispersed dusty fills depending on application. An ignition means, by way of example an electric squib igniter or a shock tube igniter, well known in the art, is sealed with the above described composition, with either the lead wires or shock tube lead extending from the burster maroon assembly, so it can be passed through the above described outer cylinder end seal.

18 In use the device is placed on the ground or half buried in sand with the perforation line or lines uppermost and the rectangular cork or fibreboard base downmost. In another use position the device may be attached to a vertical or inclined surface, with the perforation line outermost.

The ignition means lead line is attached to an appropriate current or shock donor, and the device is fired at the discretion of an instructor, ensuring trainees are in a safe position relative to the device functioning.

In operation, the central, bottom located burster maroon explodes, pressurising the contents of the exterior cylindrical tube, initially splitting the tube more or less along the perforated line, and projects the powdered contents in a profound columnar fan of, by way of example, 4 to 5 metres high and 2 to 3 metres wide before dilution in the atmosphere. This description is in the case of a non reactive dusty fill, as before described.

If the device is filled with a reactive powder, the same splitting and dispersal occurs, with the difference being that the hot gasses and particles generated by the bursting maroon ignite the dispersed reactive dust and air mixture, which either produce a fireball or profound flash or spray 19 of sparks or smoke puff depending on the nature of the reactive material.

The above described arrangement of the burster maroon in relation to the fill and the outer cylinder are fundamental to the operation of this invention. The arrangement, during explosion, acts as a focussing, frangible mortar, projecting the fill contents into a broad, high and profound columnar fan (FIG 8).

The effect of this dispersal pattern is to, in the case of a non reactive, dusty fill, effectively mimic the signature of a bursting munition, for example, a 105 mm. shellburst, or an improvised explosive device (IED) buried by the side of a road.

With a reactive fill for example cork dust, the device can effectively mimic the flash of a bursting high explosive munition or IED, particularly when fired together with a non reactive dust filled device.

With a small pyrotechnic load and a profound visual and auditory output, this invention simulates a variety of ordnance items, very much more effectively than existing pyrotechnic simulators and very much more safely than service high explosives.

20 When the device is filled with a reactive powdered or pelletised pyrotechnic mixture as previously described, red phosphorous as previously described,and/or reactive metal and or metalloid powders, grits and turnings or mixtures of the above described, the burster maroon disperses and ignites the exemplary materials or material mixtures with the atmospheric oxygen as described, or, in the case of a pyrotechnic mixture, depending on composition, disperses and ignites the self reacting exemplary material without the neccessity of the composition combining with atmospheric oxygen. The result of such dispersion is a truly awesome burst of intense light, smoke and sparks depending on the exemplary dispersed filling as above described Fig 9) It is in this mode that the invention is particularly useful as a distraction charge for use in special forces or police tactical response hostage rescue operations.

Although the above exemplary uses are primary to the invention, many other applications will be apparent to those skilled in the art, for example in movie special effects or live action stunt shows, by way of illustration.

In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made 21 to the following examples which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention and its intended effect.

Example 1 (see FIGS 10 11) Prototypes of the non reactive fill version of the present invention were exploded and compared with the explosion of an in service simulator of similar mass and non reactive dust fill.

The "small" prototype had the following dimensions and masses.

Length: 170 mm Diameter: 75 mm Gross Mass: 270g Mass of non reactive powder fill: 200g Mass of pyrotechnic composition in burster maroon: 7g The "small" in service simulator had the following dimensions and masses Length: 150mm Diameter: Gross Mass: 150mm Mass of non reactive powder fill: 100g Mass of pyrotechnic composition in burster maroon: 7g The auditory and visual results were as follows: 22 For the prototype: Db peak Db peak Maximum Maximum For the Db peak Db peak Maximum Maximum impulse 10 m: 99.5 impulse 20 m: 91.9 height of burst: width of burst: 3m in service item: impulse 10 m: 90.8 impulse 20 m: 87.5 height of burst: lm width of burst: Example 2 (See FIGS 12 13) The above described trial was repeated using "medium" size prototypes and "medium" service simulators The prototype had the following dimensions and masses.

Length: 200 mm Diameter: 80 mm Gross Mass: 380 g Mass of non reactive powder fill: 310g Mass of pyrotechnic composition in burster maroon: 12g 23 The in service simulator had the following dimensions and masses Length: 190 mm Diameter: 80 mm Gross Mass: 230 g Mass of non reactive powder fill: 150 Mass of pyrotechnic composition in burster maroon: The auditory and visual results were as follows: For the prototype: Db peak impulse 10 m: 102.1 Db peak impulse 20 m: 99.5 Maximum height of burst: 4m Maximum width of burst: 3.2 m For the in service item: Db peak impulse 10 m: 97.0 Db peak impulse 20 m: 82.8 Maximum height of burst: 0.8m Maximum width of burst: In each case it can be seen that the height and width of the burst of the prototype are greater than the height and width of the in service item. Also the peak impulse in 24 decibels is higher for the prototypes compared to the service items.

The present invention, because of its unique design features and its exceptionally gassy bursting charge projects a dust burst outwards and upwards much more effectively than the existing in service charge, and more effectively simulates the ordnance item bursts that present such hazards to service personnel in combat zones.

I0 Referring to the drawings (Figs 14 14A), it can be seen that the present in service simulator has the following design features, wherein 15 is the external fibreboard casing and end caps, 16 is the axiocentrically mounted bursting maroon, 17 is the non reactive or reactive dust fill annularly disposed, 18 is the ignition means and attendant lead wire.

The present invention (Figs 19 19A), referring to the drawings, has the following features:is the exterior cylindrical spiral wrapped case, 21& 22 are the compound cork end seals, 23 is the perforated line or lines, 24 is the burster maroon, 25 is the ignition means and attendant lead wires or shock tube, 26 is the preferred gassy bursting composition, 27 is the exemplary 25 non reactive or reactive fill, 28 is the lacquer exterior coat, 29 is the various glue sections, 30 is the rectangular cork or fibreboard base.

It will of course, be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrated example of this invention, all and other such modifications as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as claimed in the following claims.

Claims (24)

1. A pyrotechnic battle effects simulator comprising a outer thin-walled outer cylinder sealed at each end; said cylinder substantially filled with a dispersable powdered composition; said cylinder enclosing a cylindrical burster maroon comprising a cylindrical casing; said maroon extending for a portion of the length of said cylinder; said maroon located adjacent an internal wall of said cylinder and parallel to an axis of said cylinder

2. The simulator of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical casing of said maroon comprises a relatively thick walled, convolute wound fibreboard tube; said tube sealed at both ends with cork and glue; said maroon containing a pyrotechnic mixture.

3. The simulator of claim 1 or 2 wherein said maroon is provided with a trench milled into a topmost longitudinal surface of said cylindrical casing; said trench extending for at least a portion of the length of said cylindrical casing and milled to a depth of approximately half the thickness of said cylindrical casing.

4. The simulator of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein a portion of said wall of said outer cylinder is 27 provided with at least one line of impressed perforations; said at least one line parallel to said axis of said outer cylinder; said at least one line located diametrically opposite said maroon.

5. The simulator of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said outer cylinder is composed of spiral wrapped fibreboard.

6. The simulator of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said maroon is provided with ignition means.

7. The simulator of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said powdered composition is of a non-reactive nature.

8. The simulator of claim 7 wherein said powdered composition of said non-reactive nature includes slate dust.

9. The simulator of claim 7 or 8 wherein said powdered composition of said non-reactive nature is a mixture of peat and slate dust; proportions of said peat and slate dust of a dispersable nature adapted to suit visual signature requirements. simulator of any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein said composition of said non-reactive nature includes fluorescent coloured chalk powder or any suitable non toxic, highly coloured, non reactive substance suitable for explosive dispersal for signalling or marking purposes. 28

11. The simulator of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said powdered composition is of a reactive nature providing a dispersable substance suitable for visual signal requirements.

12.The simulator of claim 11 wherein said powdered composition of said reactive nature includes cork dust.

13.The simulator of any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein said powdered composition of said reactive nature includes peat dust.

14.The simulator of any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein said powdered composition of said reactive nature includes aluminium powder. simulator of any one of claims 10 to 14 wherein said powdered composition of said reactive nature includes any suitable reactive metal or metalloid powder, grits or turnings.

16. The simulator of claim 15 wherein said metal or metalloid powder or grits or turnings includes Aluminium, Magnesium, Aluminium/Magnesium alloys, Magnesium/Lithium alloys, Titanium, Ferrotitanium alloys, Zirconium, Zinc, Iron metal powders, grits or turnings and the powders and grits of the metalloids Boron and Silicon and mixtures thereof.

17.The simulator of any one of claims 10 to 16 wherein said powdered or pelletised composition of a reactive 29 nature further includes smokeless powder, powdered or pelletised pyrotechnic mixtures, powdered or pelletised red phosphorous, dry cork dust, dry lycopodium dust, dry peat dust, coal dust, rubber dust, resin dust, wood dust or Aluminium, Magnesium, Aluminium/Magnesium alloys, Magnesium/Lithium alloys, Titanium, Ferrotitanium alloys, Zirconium, Zinc, Iron metal powders, grits or turnings and the powders and grits of the metalloids Boron and Silicon or any mixtures thereof.

18.The simulator of any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein said simulator in use is placed on a supporting surface such that said axis of said outer cylinder is substantially parallel to said surface and said maroon is closest to said surface.

19.The simulator of any one of claims 6 to 18 wherein said simulator provides an explosively propelled powder burst when said maroon is exploded by said ignition means.

20. The simulator of any one of claims 3 to 19 wherein said trench is adapted to a bursting of said maroon in a predefined direction when said pyrotechnic mixture is ignited; bursting composition explosion products being vented upward and through said outer cylinder. 30

21.The simulator of claim 20 wherein said bursting composition explosion products are dispersed throughout expanding explosively driven said powdered composition.

22. The simulator of any one of claims 19 to 21 wherein said simulator is a self-mortaring device; intrinsic arrangements of parts and said powdered composition predicating a characteristic columnar fan shape of said explosively propelled powder burst.

23.The simulator of any one of claims 19 to 22 wherein said explosively propelled powder burst occurs without reaction with surrounding air when said powdered composition is non-reactive.

24.The simulator of any one of claims 19 to 22 wherein said explosively propelled powder burst occurs with reaction with surrounding air when said powdered material composition is reactive. simulator of any one of claims 4 to 24 wherein said outer cylinder is pressurised when said maroon is detonated; said outer cylinder initially failing along said at least one line of impressed perforations.

26.The simulator of any one of claims 19 to 25 wherein said explosively propelled powder burst extruded from said at least one line forms a columnar fan for an 31 extensive vertical distance and an extensive horizontal distance.

27.A pyrotechnic battle effects simulator as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 9 May 2006 APPLIED EXPLOSIVES TECHNOLOGY PTY LIMITED by their Patent Attorneys: WALLINGTON-DUMMER