Compressed Gas Cartridge Puncture Apparatus

• US 20080017179A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pepperball Technologies Inc (United Tactical Systems, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Pepperball Technologies Inc (United Tactical Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Wenaas, Eric, Vasel, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/568,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20080017179A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 124/56
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0109 with exteriorly curved end-piece
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/058 portable (<30 l)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/032 pierceable
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/013 Carbone dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/035 High pressure (>10 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0736 Capsules, e.g. CO2
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 7/00 Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied, solidified, or compressed gases from pressure vessels, not covered by another subclass

Abstract

The present embodiments provide apparatus and methods for use in releasing gas from a compressed gas source. Some embodiments provide apparatuses for use in releasing compressed gas from a source that include a source of compressed gas, a puncture pin, a driving mechanism positioned relative to the source of compressed gas, and a trigger mechanism. Upon activation of the trigger mechanism the driving mechanism drives the compressed gas onto the puncture pin releasing the compressed gas from the source. In other embodiments, upon activation of the trigger mechanism the driving mechanism drives the puncture pin into the compressed gas releasing the compressed gas from the source.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in releasing compressed gas from a source, comprising:

a source of compressed gas;

a puncture pin;

a driving mechanism positioned relative to the source of compressed gas; and

a trigger mechanism, wherein upon activation of the trigger mechanism the driving mechanism drives the compressed gas onto the puncture pin releasing the compressed gas from the source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a compressed spring that is released upon activation of the trigger mechanism to force the source of compressed gas onto the puncture pin.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein driving mechanism comprises a wedge device such that upon activation of the trigger mechanism the wedge device forces the gas cartridge onto the puncture pin.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein driving mechanism comprises an explosive material such that upon activation of the trigger mechanism the explosive material is ignited generating an explosive force that forces the gas cartridge onto the puncture pin.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a trigger link mechanism cooperated with the trigger mechanism such that an activation of the trigger link mechanism causes the activation of the trigger mechanism.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a gas source housing within which the source of gas is positioned, and the driving mechanism is positioned to drive the gas source housing to drive the source of gas onto the puncture pin.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger mechanism comprises a retaining member and a recess, where the retaining member maintains a position of the source of gas relative to the puncture pin and upon the activation of the trigger mechanism the recess is at least partially aligned with the retaining member such that the retaining member shifts such that at least a portion of the retaining member enters the recess allowing the driving mechanism to force the source of gas onto the puncture pin.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a trigger link mechanism cooperated with the trigger mechanism such that an activation of the trigger link mechanism cause the at least partial alignment of the recess with the retaining member such that the retaining member shifts releasing the driving mechanism.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger mechanism comprises a trigger lever hinged to pivot about the hinge.

10. An apparatus for use in releasing compressed gas from a source, comprising:

a source of compressed gas;

a puncture pin;

a driving mechanism positioned relative to the source of compressed gas; and

a trigger mechanism, wherein upon activation of the trigger mechanism the driving mechanism drives the puncture pin into the source of gas releasing the compressed gas from the source.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a compressed spring that is released upon activation of the trigger mechanism to force the puncture pin into the source of compressed gas

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein driving mechanism comprises a wedge device such that upon activation of the trigger mechanism the wedge device forces the puncture pin into the gas cartridge.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein driving mechanism comprises and explosive material such that upon activation of the trigger mechanism the explosive material is ignited generating an explosive force that forces the puncture pin into the gas cartridge.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a trigger link mechanism cooperated with the trigger mechanism such that an activation of the trigger link mechanism causes the activation of the trigger mechanism.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the trigger mechanism comprises a retaining member and a recess, where the retaining member maintains a position of the source of gas relative to the puncture pin and upon the activation of the trigger mechanism the recess is at least partially aligned with the retaining member such that the retaining member shifts such that at least a portion of the retaining member enters the recess allowing the driving mechanism to force the puncture pin into the source of gas.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a trigger link mechanism cooperated with the trigger mechanism such that an activation of the trigger link mechanism cause the at least partial alignment of the recess with the retaining member such that the retaining member shifts releasing the driving mechanism.

17. A method for use in releasing compressed gas from a source, comprising:

activating a trigger mechanism;

causing a release of a driving mechanism;

driving a source of compressed gas onto a puncture pin; and

causing a release of the gas from the source.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the activating a trigger mechanism comprises activating a trigger link mechanism and causing the trigger link mechanism to activate the trigger mechanism.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the activating the trigger mechanism comprises forcing trigger lever mechanism from a first position to a second position.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the causing the release of the driving mechanism comprises igniting an explosive material causing an explosion to implement the driving of the source of compressed gas onto the puncture pin.

21. A method for use in releasing compressed gas from a source, comprising:

activating a trigger mechanism;

causing a release of a driving mechanism;

driving a puncture pin into a source of compressed gas; and

causing a release of the gas from the source.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the causing the release of driving mechanism comprising forcing a wedge device against the puncture pin implementing the driving of the puncture pin into the source of compressed gas.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the releasing of the driving mechanism comprises releasing a spring that implements the driving of the puncture pin into the source of compressed gas.