FIELD: means and methods for controlled ignition of propellent explosives, in particular, electrothermal chemical cartridges for use in guns. SUBSTANCE: a long narrow tube filled with propellent explosive has a fuze on its inner surface with a cross-section, whose area decreases in the direction of the unloading end. The fuze is separated from the grounded cartridge case by a layer of insulation, which is thin enough to be subjected to failure at ignition of propellent explosive by the fuze. The high-voltage electrode, connected near the rear end of the tube, is provided for supply of current pulse of a sufficient density with the aim of controlled heating by electric current or ignition (burst) of the fuze from the unloading end to the rear one. For wide-barrel guns a great number if similar tubes may be combined in a bank in a large case. At manufacture of the cartridge first manufactured are tubes of sheet insulating material, filled with propellent explosive, and the high-voltage electrode is installed. The insulating sheet is laminated on its inner surface by a great number of parallel variable-width metal strips of the fuze. The electrode is connected to the conducting material applied onto the outer surface of the sheet blank. EFFECT: simplified design of the cartridge, reduced cost of its manufacture and enhanced reliability of operation due to effective use of electric current for control of ignition of propellent explosive. 21 cl, 6 dwg
