GB1595074A

GB1595074A - Pyrotechnic signalling devices

Info

Publication number: GB1595074A
Application number: GB2418477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
Current assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
Priority date: 1978-05-22
Filing date: 1978-05-22
Publication date: 1981-08-05

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PYROTECHNIC SIGNALLING DEVICES (71) I, THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, Whitehall, London SW1A 2HB, a British Corporation Sole, do hereby declare this invention to be described in the following statement: The present invention relates to pyrotechnic signalling devices. Such devices are commonly carried e.g. by sailors, aircrew, mountaineers and others engaged in pursuits wherein a need may arise to signal to persons a considerable distance away, for the purpose of summoning assistance to an isolated location or otherwise.

A form of pyrotechnic signalling device is known which comprises a plurality of signal cartridges stored in a common magazine, and a projector for firing the cartridges one at a time. The cartridges and projector have complementary screw threads and whenever it is desired to fire a cartridge it must first be screwed on to the projector. Thereafter the case of the spent cartridge must be unscrewed from the projector and a fresh cartridge screwed on in its place before another signal can be discharged.

The present invention seeks in particular to provide a pyrotechnic signalling device which permits a number of separate signals to be discharged in succession but without requiring the same degree of manual effort and dexterity required to achieve this with the above mentioned known device.

Accordingly the invention resides in a pyrotechnic signalling device comprising a detachable magazine bearing a plurality of signal cartridges and a projector for firing the cartridges one at a time, wherein in the operational condition the magazine is borne rotatably by the projector so that upon rotation of the magazine relative to the projector each cartridge can be brought in turn into a position for firing by the projector.

The invention also resides respectively in a projector and in a magazine per se, both for use as component parts of a signalling device as above defined.

Preferably the magazine when detached from the projector may normally be stowed in an inoperative position on the projector. In one form the projector is provided with a tapered spindle which can be received within a complementary central bore in the magazine to provide for the rotary support of the latter. The magazine may advantageously be of polygonal planform with the projector having a complementary stowage cavity within which the magazine can be received with a "snap" action.

The projector is preferably adapted to be held in one hand for firing, and may comprise a handle with a trigger so disposed as to be pressed by the thumb of the operator. The firing mechanism may comprise a spring loaded striker pin reciprocable within a bore in e.g. the handle of the projector and connected to a member extending from the bore which, when withdrawn and subsequently released by the operator, serves to "cock" the mechanism preparatory to firing, with the striker pin or a member rigid therewith detained on the trigger. The trigger may advantageously be a plastics moulding employing the natural resilience of its material to bias it towards a position in which such detention occurs or it may be spring-loaded to give the same effect.

The invention will now be more particularly described by way of example, with reference to the schematic drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification, in which: Figure 1 is a pictorial view of a signalling device according to the invention, with the cartridge magazine in its operational position on the projector; Figure 2 is a pictorial view of the signalling device of Figure 1 with the cartridge magazine in its stowed position on the projector; Figure 3 shows the device of Figures 1 and 2 partly in section; Figure 4 shows the cartridge magazine of Figures 1 to 3 in section; and Figure 5 shows an alternative trigger arrangement for the device of Figures 1 to 3.

Referring to the Figures, the illustrated signalling device comprises a hand held projector 1 and a detachable magazine 2 housing eight signal cartridges 3 in the operational con dition of the device (Figure 1), the magazine being borne rotatably by the projector so that the cartridges can be brought one at a time into a position for firing by the projector, the striker pin of which is indicated at 4. The location of the magazine on the projector is achieved by means of a spindle 5 extending from the body of the projector, (both the spindle and the projector body advantageously being moulded from high strength plastics), the spindle being received within a.complementary central bore 6 of the magazine. The spindle and bore are axially tapered to ensure that the magazine can only be fitted to the projector one way around.The spindle has a head 5A for retaining the magazine on the projector, and is formed in a number of resilient segments 5B which can be flexed radially inwards by the action of passing the magazine over the head when it is fitted to the projector, the segments thereafter springing back into position to retain the magazine. For releasing the magazine from the projector after use a hollow plastics release button 7 is provided which can be pressed onto the head SA of the projector spindle, as indicated in broken line in Figure 4, to flex the segments 5B radially inwards thereby allowing the magazine to be pulled over the spindle head and away from the projector.

A spring-loaded captive ball 8 is provided on the projector which can co-operate with each one of eight depressions 9 (Figure 4) on the underside of the magazine, when fitted to the projector, for correctly locating a respective signal cartridge relative to the striker pin 4 prior to firing.

The firing mechanism of the projector is more fully shown in Figure 3. The striker pin 4 is carried by a piston 10 which is slidable in a bore 11 within the handle of the projector and urged upwardly to the sense of the figure by means of a coil spring 12 compressed between the piston and an insert 13 threaded into the lower end of the bore 11. Attached to the piston is a rod 14 extending out of the lower end of the bore 11 and bearing a ring 15 to which the magazine release button 7 is conveniently secured by way of a lanyard 16.

A trigger 17 is pivoted to the handle of the projector by means of a pin 18. The trigger is a one-piece plastics moulding having a resilient arm 17A bearing on a fixed part of the projector body, the action of which is to urge the trigger anti-clockwise about pin 18 in the sense of the figure. The trigger also has a nose 17B which, when the piston 10 is drawn downwardly in the bore by the operator pulling on the ring 15, lanyard 16 or button 7, is urged by the action of arm 17A to protrude into the bore and detain the piston against the spring 12 when the operator releases the ring, lanyard or button; (this is the condition illustrated in Figure 3).The projector is now "cocked" and the piston can be released to cause the striker pin 4 to fire a cartridge by pressing the trigger clockwise in the sense of Figure 3 against the action of the resilient arm 17A, thereby withdrawing the nose 17B from the bore 11.

In an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of the invention illustrated in Figure 5, the trigger is biased towards its detaining position by means of a coil spring 27A, which replaces the resilient arm 17A of Figure 3. The coil spring is compressed between the trigger 27 and an adjacent part of the projector body and so urges the trigger towards the position where its nose 27B protrudes into the bore 11.

As shown in the figures the body of the magazine 2, which may be a plastics moulding or a diecasting, is of octagonal planform with a flange 2A at each axial end. The eight signal cartridges are disposed in a circular array, each one in a chamber 2B formed on a radius from the central bore 6 to an apex of the octagon.

When not in use the magazine is stowed on the projector in the position indicated in Figures 2 and 3. To this end the projector defines a cavity 1A (Figures 1 and 3) complementary to five adjacent sides of the octagonal portion of the magazine between the flanges 2A, into which that portion of the magazine can be inserted with a "snap" action and retained by a pair of opposed ridges 1B on the projector, the flanges 2A flanking the ends of the cavity 1A in the stowed condition.

Referring to Figure 4, each signal cartridge comprises a flare blank 19 and a pellet 20 comprising a shaped gunpowder charge 20A and a "star" composition 20B pressed into a thin-walled aluminium cup 20C frictionally retained in the chamber 2B and sealed at 21.

It will be noted that the cartridges are unconventional in that they have no separate case. When a blank 19 is struck by the pin 4 it fires, ejecting the associated pellet 20 from the chamber 2B and igniting the charge 20A.

After the charge 20A has burnt for, say, two seconds, the "star" composition ignites, by which time the pellet may have reached an elevation of, say, 200 feet; the "star" thereafter burns at height for, say, five seconds. The entire pellet is designed to burn out before it can reach the ground.

Cartridges producing "stars" of different colours, e.g. red, green and yellow, may be provided in the same magazine and a patch of luminous paint indicating the colour of each "star" will be applied to the magazine at the apex adjacent to the respective cartridge in order that the operator may readily choose and identify the colour of the "star" to be fired.

There may also be provision for the discharge of white and/or audible signals.

It will be appreciated that the operational procedure which is involved in discharging signals with the illustrated device is consider ably simplified in comparison with that involved with the previously mentioned known signal- ling device. Furthermore the design of the illustrated device is such as to be particularly amenable to operation with heavily gloved hands. Thus the projector is provided with a relatively large and easily grippable handle with plenty of room for a heavily gloved hand provided by the cavity 1A in the operational condition of the device. The polygonal nature of the cartridge magazine means also that this item can easily be gripped and manipulated with a heavily gloved hand.Preparatory to discharging a signal all that is required is to unclip the magazine from its stowage position, push it on to the projector spindle 5 - a positive "click" occurs when the magazine locates and the spindle segments spring outwards - if more than one "star" colour is provided to rotate the magazine until the required colour marking on the magazine lines up with the trigger 17 - again, positive angular location of the magazine relative to the projector occurs by virtue of the captive ball 8 engaging in depressions 9 on the magazine -- and finally to "cock" the projector by pulling on any of the accessible components 15, 16 or 7, the trigger snapping into position on the piston 10 to give a definite indication of readiness to fire.Firing is achieved simply by pressing the trigger with the thumb, the trigger being mounted flush with the surface of the projector body to guard against accidental firing. Thereafter if a further signal is to be discharged the magazine is rotated to the apropriate position and the stages of "cocking" and firing repeated. To return the magazine to its stowed position the release button 7 is simply pressed on to the head 5A of the projector spindle and the magazine lifted off and snapped back into position in the cavity 1A.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A pyrotechnic signalling device comprising a detachable magazine bearing a plurality of signal cartridges and a projector for firing the cartridges one at a time, wherein in the operational condition the magazine is borne rotatably by the projector so that upon rotation of the magazine relative to the projector each cartridge can be brought in turn into a position for firing by the projector.

2. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 1, wherein the projector has a stowage cavity within which the magazine can be stored when detached from its operational position.

3. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 2, wherein the projector has two arms defining therebetween said stowage cavity and adapted to engage said magazine and retain it therein.

4. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 3, wherein one of said arms comprises a handle for said projector.

5. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said projector has a spindle and said magazine has a complementary central bore whereby the magazine can be rotatably borne on the spindle.

6. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 5, wherein said spindle and said bore are tapered.

7. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said spindle comprises a plurality of resilient segments having projections thereon, the segments being resiliently biased apart so that the projections can retain a magazine on the spindle when fully engaged therewith in the operational condition.

8. A pyrotechnic signalling device according said projector has a striker pin adapted to fire to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a cartridge from said magazine when said magazine and projector are in operational condition, said striker pin being biased towards the firing position and capable of being detained in a cocked condition by releasable detent means.

9. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 8, wherein said releasable detent means comprises a pivotable element biased towards a position in which it detains said striker pin.

10. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 9, wherein said pivotable element includes a trigger on said projector which can be actuated to effect rotation of said element and thereby release said striker pin.

11. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 9, wherein said trigger is provided on a handle for said device.

12. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein said striker pin is carried on an element which extends outside of the projector to enable the pin to be drawn back into its cocked position after firing of a cartridge.

13. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 12, wherein said element passes through a bore in said projector and is con nected to a piston adapted to slide longitudi nally within said bore and to engage with said releasable detent means for detention of said striker pin.

14. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 13 and including a coil spring accommodated within said bore and bearing at one end on a fixed annular surface within said bore and at the other end against said piston to urge said piston towards the firing position of the striker pin.

15. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 9 wherein the pivotable element is biased by a spring.

16. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 9 wherein the pivotable element has a resilient arm bearing against a fixed part of said projector to provide biasing of said element.

17. A pyrotechnic signalling device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the magazine and the projector are substan

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. illustrated device is such as to be particularly amenable to operation with heavily gloved hands. Thus the projector is provided with a relatively large and easily grippable handle with plenty of room for a heavily gloved hand provided by the cavity 1A in the operational condition of the device. The polygonal nature of the cartridge magazine means also that this item can easily be gripped and manipulated with a heavily gloved hand.Preparatory to discharging a signal all that is required is to unclip the magazine from its stowage position, push it on to the projector spindle 5 - a positive "click" occurs when the magazine locates and the spindle segments spring outwards - if more than one "star" colour is provided to rotate the magazine until the required colour marking on the magazine lines up with the trigger 17 - again, positive angular location of the magazine relative to the projector occurs by virtue of the captive ball 8 engaging in depressions 9 on the magazine -- and finally to "cock" the projector by pulling on any of the accessible components 15, 16 or 7, the trigger snapping into position on the piston 10 to give a definite indication of readiness to fire.Firing is achieved simply by pressing the trigger with the thumb, the trigger being mounted flush with the surface of the projector body to guard against accidental firing. Thereafter if a further signal is to be discharged the magazine is rotated to the apropriate position and the stages of "cocking" and firing repeated. To return the magazine to its stowed position the release button 7 is simply pressed on to the head 5A of the projector spindle and the magazine lifted off and snapped back into position in the cavity 1A. WHAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. A pyrotechnic signalling device comprising a detachable magazine bearing a plurality of signal cartridges and a projector for firing the cartridges one at a time, wherein in the operational condition the magazine is borne rotatably by the projector so that upon rotation of the magazine relative to the projector each cartridge can be brought in turn into a position for firing by the projector.

tially entirely formed from high strength plastics material.

18. A pyrotechnic signalling device substantially as hereinbefore described and with particular reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.

19. A projector for use in a pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 1 comprising means for rotatably bearing a detachable magazine bearing a plurality of signal cartridges and means for firing said cartridges one at a time from said magazine when borne on said projector, said projector having a storage cavity within which a magazine can be stored when detached from its operational position.

20. A projector according to claim 19, wherein said means for bearing a magazine comprises a spindle on which the magazine can be rotatably borne.

21. A projector according to claim 19, wherein said means for firing said cartridges comprises a spring-loaded firing pin which can be detained against the spring-loading in a cocked condition by a detent means which is releasable by actuation of a trigger.

22. A projector for use in firing signal cartridges from a pyrotechnic signalling device substantially as hereinbefore described and with particular reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.

23. A magazine adapted for use as part of the pyrotechnic signalling device according to claim 1, comprising a body having an axial bore, and a series of chambers arranged at equal radial distances from said bore, each chamber bearing a signal cartridge.

24. A magazine according to claim 23 wherein the body of the magazine is substantially cylindrical and is provided with terminal flanges, each of which define a polygon having a number of sides corresponding to the number of chambers in the magazine.

25. A magazine according to claim 23 or 24 wherein each signal cartridge comprises a flare blank, an area of a surface of which is exposed for striking by a firing device, and a pellet, said pellet comprising a shaped gunpowder charge situated adjacent said flare blank, and adjacent said charge, a pyrotechnic signal composition.

26. A magazine according to claim 25, wherein said pellet is produced by pressing said charge and subsequently said composition into a thin-walled aluminium cup which is adapted to be frictionally retained in a chamber in the magazine.

27. A magazine substantially as hereinbefore described and with particular reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.