GB2225627A

GB2225627A - Dye marking system

Info

Publication number: GB2225627A
Application number: GB8824991A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey M Simpson; Martin J Dummer
Original assignee: Haley and Weller Ltd
Current assignee: Haley and Weller Ltd
Priority date: 1988-10-25
Filing date: 1988-10-25
Publication date: 1990-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2008-10-25
Also published as: GB8824991D0; GB2225627B

Abstract

The system comprises a plurality of normally spherical containers 30, 30' which are held in a cartridge 10 and can be fired at a target upon ignition of propellant charge 20. Disc 26 acts as a piston to expel the containers, damage thereto being prevented by shock absorbent pads 28, 34. The charge housing 22 seals against the inside surface of the cartridge 10. The containers are made of thin-walled PVC such that they break easily on contact with clothing so that the dye is dispersed. <IMAGE>

Description

DYE MARKING SYSTEM The present invention relates to dye marking systems and more particularly to systems for marking persons or objects at a distance.

In riot control situations many different means are used to disperse crowds but, once dispersed it is virtually impossible to identify individuals involved in particular incidents. One possible known way is to spray such individuals with a dye, but there are problems in effectively marking such persons at a distance safe enough for the riot control personnel to operate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for marking persons or objects at a distance which can be accurately directed to a specified target.

The present invention provides a dye marking system including a cartridge case, a propellant charge in the case of the cartridge case and including one or more containers held within the cartridge case, the containers being ejectable by the propellant charge on ignition of the charge.

Preferably the cartridge case comprises a cylinder closed at one end, the propellant charge being situated at said closed end and being housed in a charge housing, the charge housing substantially sealing against the inside wall of the cartridge and including at least one generally spherical container containing marking dye, mounted in front of the charge housing.

Preferably the generally spherical container is separated from the charge housing by a shock absorbent pad.

In a prepared embodiment two containers are mounted in a longitudinally displaced manner in the cartridge, the containers being separated by a shock absorbent pad.

Preferably the cartridge is sealed at its end opposite to the closed end by a seal, the seal being constructed to be broken by the force exerted by the propellant charge to thereby allow ejection of the containers.

Preferably each container comprises a thin shell of modified p.v.c. filled with the dye.

The shock absorbent material preferably comprises a felt disc.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows in longitudnal cross section a cartridge for the dye marking system according to the present invention.

The dye marking system comprises a generally cylindrical cartridge 10 with a reinforced closed end portion 12 and a narrower section portion 14 at the opposite end. A percussion cap 16 is positioned centrally in the end 12 of the cartridge and is covered by a water proof membrane 18. A propellant charge 20 is held within the cartridge 10 by a charge housing 22 which is shaped at 24 so that in combination with a disc 26 it substantially seals aginst the inside surface of the cartridge 10. The solid disc 26 preferably made of millboard (a very dense type of cardboard) is positioned in front of the housing 22 and this disc, together with housing 22 acts as a piston to expel the contents of the cartridge when the propellant charge 20 is ignited by cap 16.

In front of disc 26 a shock absorbent pad 28 is mounted. This, in a preferred emhodiment, is a felt disc.

In front of the felt pad 28 a generally spherical shaped container 30 is positioned. Container 30 preferably comprises a thin walled hollow sphere made preferably of modified p.v.c. and contains a marking dye 32. The dye may be of any suitable type but in a preferred embodiment is gentian violet in solution.

In the preferred embodiment shown a further shock absorbent pad 5 is positioned in front of the container 30 and a further identical container 30' is positioned in front of the pad 34. Pad 34 is also preferably a felt disc.

In front of container 30' one of more washers 36 and an end spacer disc 40 {preferably of millboard) are positioned, these acting fo space apart the container 30' from an end closure member 38 which seals the end of the cartridge 10 by the action against the narrower section 14 which is formed after member 38 has been placed in position.

The containers 30,30' need not be spherical, there could for example, be a single container of ellipsoidal shape. Preferably however the containers 30,30' are substantially spherical since this shape is aerodynamic.

In operation the cartridge 10 is placed in a suitable gun or firing tube and a firing pin (not shown) will strike cap 16. Propellant charge 20 will ignite, thus causing disc 26 to move towards end cap 38. Shock absorbent washers 28,34 prevent damage to containers 30,30' at this stage. End cap 38 is forced off by the pressure and containers 30,30' are ejected (or fired) from the cartridge 10 to fly through the air towards an intended target. On hitting the target containers 30,30' shatter and the dye is dispersed over any persons within range.

Following ejection of containers 30,30' felt discs 28,34 being relatively light, fall to ground in a short distance, as do all other internal component parts. Thus only containers 30,30' are projected over any appreciable distance.

Because containers 30,30' are made of very thin walLed p.v.c. material they readily shatter even when striking clothing and the dye is sprayed widely, thereby marking several persons if they are in the immediate area.

Claims

1. A dye marking system including a cartridge case, a propellant charge in the case of the cartridge case and including one or more containers held within the cartridge case, the containers being ejectable by the propellant charge on ignition of the charge.

2. A dye marking system as claimed in claim 1 in which the cartridge case comprises a cylinder closed at one end, the propellant charge being situated at said closed end and being housed in a charge housing, the charge housing substantially sealing against the inside wall of the cartridge and including at least one generally spherical container containing marking dye, mounted in front of the charge housing.

3. A dye marking system as claimed in claim 2 in which the generally spherical container is separated from the charge housing by a shock absorbent pad.

4. A dye marking system as claimed in claim 2 in which there are two containers which are mounted in a longitudinally displaced manner in the cartridge, the containers being separated from each other by a shock absorbent pad.

5. A dye marking system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the cartridge is sealed at its end opposite to the closed end by a seal, the seal being constructed to be broken by the force exerted by the propellant charge to thereby allow ejection of the containers.

6. A dye marking system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 5 in which each container comprises a thin shell of modified p.v.c. filled with the dye.

7. A dye marking system substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

7. A dye marking stystem as claimed in anyone of claims 3 to 6 in which the shock absorbent material comprises a felt disc.

8. A dye marking system substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A dye marking system including a cartridge case, a propellant charge situated within the cartridge case and including one or more thin walled containers held within the cartridge case, the thin walled container or containers being ejectable by the propellant charge on ignition of the charge each thin walled container being shatterable by impact on the target to dispense the dye in which the cartridge case comprises a cylinder closed at one end, the propellant charge being situated at said closed end and being housed in a charge housing, the charge housing substantially sealing against the inside wall of the cartridge and including at least one container containing marking dye, mounted in front of the charge housing.

2. A dye marking system as claimed in claim 1 in which the generally spherical container is separated from the charge housing by a shock absorbent pad.

3. A dye marking system as claimed in claim 1 in which there are two containers which are mounted in a longitudinally displaced manner in the cartridge, the containers being separated from each other by a shock absorbent pad.

4. A dye marking system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the cartridge is sealed at its end opposite to the closed end by a seal, the seal being constructed to be broken by the force exerted by the propellant charge to thereby allow ejection of the containers.

ó. A dye marking system as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 4 in which each container comprises a thin shell of modified p.v.c. filled with the dye.

6. A dye marking stystem as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 5 in which the shock absorbent material comprises a felt disc.