Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Including supply holder for material – To be mixed – dissolved or entrained in a flowing liquid...
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-27
2004-11-30
Hwu, Davis (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Including supply holder for material
To be mixed, dissolved or entrained in a flowing liquid...
C239S067000, C239S068000, C239S069000, C239S569000, C239S574000, C169S046000, C169S047000, C169S062000, C169S063000, C169S064000, C169S065000, C169S066000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06824076
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to water cannons and, in particular, to a pneumatic control system for a water cannon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The typical water cannon comprises a barrel assembly that has an opening or nozzle through which a body of water is driven by the application of a mechanical force. There are at least two types of barrel assemblies employed in water cannons. The first type includes a piston that is located within a barrel and used to apply a mechanical to a body of water located in the barrel. To elaborate, the operation of the piston involves: (a) positioning the piston at a location within the barrel that will allow the piston to be displaced such that water is forced through the opening; and (b) displacing the piston such that a mechanical force is applied to a body of water located between the piston and the opening so that the water is driven through the opening. An example of such a barrel assembly is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,955, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The second type of barrel assembly utilizes a barrel with a nozzle through which a body of water is driven (i.e., the opening) and a second end that is in communication with a channel that extends towards the nozzle. Typically, the barrel, channel and communication path between the second end of the barrel and the channel have a U-shape. An example of such a barrel assembly is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,819, which is incorporated herein by reference. In operation, the channel is used to carry a pressurized gas (typically, air) that is used to drive a body of water held in the barrel out of the nozzle.
The typical water cannon also comprises a control system that interfaces with the barrel assembly and operates: (a) to place the barrel assembly in a condition or state so a mechanical force can be applied to a body of water in the barrel of the cannon; and (b) to cause a mechanical force to be applied to the body of water that forces the body of water out of the opening of the barrel assembly. In many such control systems, electrical components are employed that are in the immediate vicinity of the water cannon and, as such, are subject to coming into contact with water. Such systems must typically employ a number of measures to prevent the electrical components of the control system from coming into contact with water and either becoming disabled or presenting a safety hazard to individuals in the vicinity of the water cannon.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a pneumatic control system for a water cannon that substantially avoids the need for electrical circuitry in the immediate vicinity of the cannon.
Generally, the pneumatic control system is applicable to water cannons whose operation involves at least two steps, the first step being the priming of the cannon, which at least includes the loading of a body of water into the barrel of the cannon, and the second step involving the “firing” of the cannon such that the body of water is expelled from the barrel. One example of this type of water cannon is a cannon that employs a barrel assembly with a piston that is used to push a body of water out of the barrel of the cannon. With a piston-type of water cannon, the first step involves not only the loading of a body of water into the barrel of the cannon but also the positioning of the piston so that the piston can subsequently push the body of the water out of the cannon. The second step, with a piston-type of water cannon, involves moving the piston such that the body is pushed out of the barrel. Typically, the second step occurs in response to the actuation of a trigger. Another example of a water cannon whose operation involves at least two steps is the piston-less water cannon, an embodiment of which is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,722,819.
In one embodiment, the pneumatic control system comprises a valve that interfaces with the barrel assembly and is used to apply a fluid-related force to a body of water in the barrel in response to a pneumatic “fire” signal. In the case of a pistonless water cannon, the fluid-related force is applied directly to the body of water and the fluid-related force is typically in the form of a gas (e.g., air). For a piston-type water cannon, the fluid-related force is indirectly applied to the body of water. Namely, the fluid-related force is applied to the piston and then the piston transmits the force to the body of water. In this case, the fluid-related force can take either the form of a gas (e.g., air) or a liquid (e.g., water).
The control system further comprises a pneumatic trigger for producing the pneumatic “fire” signal that is applied to the valve. The pneumatic trigger is subject to a pneumatic enable/disable signal. To elaborate, when the pneumatic enable/disable signal is in the disable state, actuation of the pneumatic trigger does not cause the pneumatic “fire” signal to be produced. If, however, the enable/disable signal is in the enable state, actuation of the pneumatic trigger results in the production of the “fire” signal.
The pneumatic control system further includes pneumatic logic that operates to: (a) produce a disable/enable signal in the disable state so that the pneumatic trigger cannot be fired by actuation of the pneumatic trigger when the cannon is being fired or when the cannon is being primed; (b) produce a disable/enable signal in the enable state so that the pneumatic trigger can be fired when the cannon is not already in the act of being fired and the cannon is primed to fire; and (c) cause the valve to transition from the “primed” state to the “fire” state in response to a “fire” signal from the pneumatic trigger.
In one embodiment, the pneumatic logic includes at least three pneumatic devices that each have at least one input for receiving a pneumatic signal (i.e., a gas signal) and at least one output for providing a pneumatic signal. The first pneumatic device receives a pneumatic signal from a third pneumatic device that is indicative of the state of the water cannon, i.e., the cannon is either in the act of firing or in the act of being primed. The first pneumatic device provides a first “prime” signal a predetermined amount of time after receiving the signal from the third pneumatic device that indicates that the water cannon is in the act of firing. The predetermined amount of time being an amount of time for the cannon to sufficiently complete a firing. As a consequence, the first “prime” signal is an indication that priming of the water cannon can commence.
The second pneumatic device receives a second “prime” signal that is produced by the third pneumatic device in response to the first “prime” signal. The second pneumatic device provides a pneumatic signal that is used to enable or disable the pneumatic trigger. The second pneumatic device operates so as to provide the pneumatic signal that shifts the trigger from a disabled state to an enabled state a predetermined amount of time after the second “prime” signal is received. Consequently, the second pneumatic device operates to produce a pneumatic signal that disables the trigger during priming of the water cannon and enables the trigger after priming of the water cannon is sufficiently complete.
The third pneumatic device receives a stream of gas that is distributed throughout the pneumatic logic and provides the basis for each of the pneumatic signals produced by the pneumatic logic. Further, the third pneumatic device receives the first “prime” signal provided by the first pneumatic device and the “fire” signal provided by the pneumatic trigger. Operation of the third pneumatic device is according to exclusive-or logic, i.e., the device is only capable of responding to one of the first “prime” signal and the “fire” signal at any point in time. Stated differently, the third pneumatic device is not capable of responding to the first “prime” signal and the “fire” signal at the same time. In operation, the third pneumatic device responds to the first “prime” signal produced by the fi
Holland & Hart LLP
Kulish, Esq. Christopher J.
Technifex, Inc.
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