Smoke generating apparatus

• US 4,303,397 A
• Filed: 08/08/1980
• Issued: 12/01/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Swiatosz, Edmund
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US06/176,426
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 434/226, 434/16, 46/9, 272/15, 272/20, 252/359 R, 252/359 A, 252/359 B, 114/15, 116/214, 126/59.5
• US Class Current: 434/226
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 9/06 Apparatus for generating artificial fog or smoke screens for producing special effects on stages A63J5/00; smoke-pot projectors, e.g. arranged on vehicles, F42B5/155
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131

Abstract

A smoke generating apparatus is disclosed for providing a nontoxic smoke sos to simulate the smoke of a fire. The smoke generating apparatus comprises a storage tank, a smoke producing agent stored in the storage tank, and a housing affixed to the top of the storage tank. A centrifugal pump supplies the smoke producing agent to a tubular coil which superheats the smoke producing agent. The superheated smoke producing agent is then released through a solenoid valve into the atmosphere so as to form a vapor.

Claims

1. A nontoxic smoke generating device comprising, in combination:

a storage tank having an aperture extending through the top thereof and a smoke producing agent stored therein;

a base support member mounted upon the top surface of said storage tank, said base support member having extended therethrough an aperture in alignment with the aperture of said storage tank;

a housing fixedly attached to said base support member, and having a top wall;

coil means mounted within said housing, and having first and second terminals for superheating said smoke producing agent to a predetermined temperature;

pumping means mounted upon said base support member, said pumping means having an inlet passing through the aligned apertures of said base support member, and said storage tank, an outlet connected to one end of said coil means, an input, and an output for withdrawing said smoke producing agent from said storage tank so as to supply said smoke producing agent to said coil means;

valve means mounted on the top wall of said housing, said valve means having an inlet connected to the other end of said coil means, an outlet, an input, and an output for releasing said superheated smoke producing agent into the atmosphere as a vapor;

probe means affixed to said coil means and having an output for continuously monitoring the temperature of said coil means;

normally open switching means having an input, and an output connected to the input of said pumping means and the input of said valve means adapted for activating said valve means, and said coil means whenever an operator closes said normally open switching means so as to effect the release of said superheated smoke producing agent into the atmosphere by said valve means, and the withdrawal of said smoke producing agent from said storage tank by said pumping means; and

control circuit means having a first terminal connected to the first terminal of said coil means, a second terminal connected to the second terminal of said coil means, a third terminal connected to the input of said normally open switching means, a fourth terminal connected to the output of said pumping means and the output of said valve means, and a fifth terminal connected to the output of said probe means for providing an alternating current signal so as to effect the superheating of said smoke producing agent to the predetermined temperature by said coil means, and for inhibiting the activation of said coil means, and said pumping means by said normally open switching means whenever the temperature of said coil means is less than the predetermined temperature required to superheat said smoke producing agent.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said smoke producing agent is propylene glycol.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said smoke producing agent is polyethylene glycol 200.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said smoke producing agent is mineral oil.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said pumping means comprises:

a centrifugal pump mounted upon said base support member, said centrifugal pump having an inlet port, a discharge port connected to one end of said coil means, and a shaft;

an intake pipe having one end thereof connected to the intake port of said centrifugal pump, and the opposite end thereof passing through the aligned apertures of said base support member and said storage tank to near the bottom of said storage tank; and

a drive motor having a shaft connected to the shaft of said centrifugal pump, an input connected to the output of said normally open switching means, and an output connected to the fourth terminal of said control circuit means.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said valve means comprises:

a solenoid valve mounted on the top wall of said housing, said solenoid valve having an inlet port connected to the other end of said coil means, a discharge port, an input connected to the output of said normally open switching means and an output connected to the fourth terminal of said control circuit means; and

an orifice connected to the discharge port of said solenoid valve.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said control circuit means comprises:

an alternating current voltage source having first, second, and third terminals, the first terminal of which is connected to the input of said normally open switching means, and the second terminal of which is connected to the output of said pumping means and the output of said valve means;

a temperature controller having first and second inputs connected to the first terminal of said alternating current voltage source, a third input connected to the output of said probe means, a first output connected to the second terminal of said alternating current voltage source, and a second output;

a normally open switch having an input connected to the second output of said temperature controller, and an output;

a relay solenoid having an input connected to the output of said normally open switch, an output connected to the second terminal of said alternating current voltage source, and a mechanical actuation output;

a normally closed relay switch having an input connected to the first terminal of said alternating current voltage source, an output connected to the input of said normally open switching means, and a mechanical actuation input connected to the mechanical actuation output of said relay solenoid;

a normally open relay switch having an input connected to the first terminal of said alternating current voltage source, an output, and a mechanical actuation input connected to the mechanical actuation output of said relay solenoid; and

a voltage step down transformer having a first terminal connected to the output of said normally open relay switch, a second terminal connected to the third terminal of said alternating current voltage source, a third terminal connected to the first terminal of said coil means, and a fourth terminal connected to the second terminal of said coil means.

8. The device of claim 1, further characterized by a relief valve mounted on the top wall of said housing, said relief valve having an inlet effectively connected to the outlet of said pumping means.

9. A smoke generating apparatus comprising, in combination:

a storage tank having an aperture extending through the top thereof;

a liquid stored within said storage tank;

a base support member mounted upon the top surface of said storage tank, said base support member having extended therethrough an aperture in alignment with the aperture of said storage tank;

a housing fixedly attached to said base support member, said housing having a top wall;

an aperture extending through the top wall of said housing;

a centrifugal pump mounted upon said base support member, said centrifugal pump having an inlet port, a discharge port, and a shaft;

an intake pipe having one end thereof connected to the inlet port of said centrifugal pump, with the opposite end thereof passing through the aligned apertures of said base support member and said storage tank to near the bottom of said storage tank;

a tubular coil mounted within said housing, said tubular coil having one end thereof connected to the discharge port of said centrifugal pump, the other end thereof passing through the first aperture of the top wall of said housing, and a pair of terminals, the first of which is located at one end of said tubular coil, and the second of which is located at the other end of said tubular coil;

a solenoid valve mounted on the top wall of said housing, said solenoid valve having an inlet port connected to the other end of said tubular coil, a discharge port, an input, and an output;

an orifice effectively connected to the discharge port of said solenoid valve;

an alternating current voltage source having first, second, and third terminals, the first terminal of which is connected to the output of said solenoid valve.

a temperature controller having first and second inputs connected to the second terminal of said alternating current voltage source, a third input, a first output connected to the first terminal of said alternating current voltage source, and a second output;

a temperature probe affixed to said tubular coil, said temperature probe having an output connected to the third input of said temperature controller;

a normally open switch having an input connected to the second output of said temperature controller, and an output;

a relay solenoid having an input connected to the output of said normally open switch, an output connected to the first terminal of said alternating current voltage source, and a mechanical actuation output;

a normally open relay switch having an input connected to the second terminal of said alternating current voltage source, a mechanical actuation input connected to the mechanical actuation output of said relay solenoid, and an output;

a normally closed relay switch having an input connected to the second terminal of said alternating current voltage source, a mechanical actuation input connected to the mechanical actuation output of said relay solenoid, and an output;

a normally open push button switch having an input connected to the output of said normally closed relay switch and an output connected to the input of said solenoid valve;

a drive motor having a shaft connected to the shaft of said centrifugal pump, an input connected to the output of said normally open push button switch and an output connected to the first terminal of said alternating current voltage source; and

a voltage step down transformer having a first terminal connected to the output of said normally open relay switch, a second terminal connected to the third terminal of said alternating current voltage source, a third terminal connected to the first terminal of said tubular coil, and a fourth terminal connected to the second terminal of said tubular coil.

10. The smoke generating apparatus of claim 9, wherein said liquid is propylene glycol.

11. The smoke generating apparatus of claim 9, wherein said liquid is polyethylene glycol 200.

12. The smoke generating apparatus of claim 9, wherein said liquid is mineral oil;

13. The smoke generating apparatus of claim 9, further characterized by a relief valve mounted on the top wall of said housing, said relief valve having an inlet effectively connected to the discharge port of said centrifugal pump.

14. The smoke generating apparatus of claim 9, further characterized by an inner shell mounted within said housing, said inner shell having a pair of apertures extending therethrough such that one end of said tubular coil passes through the first of said pair of apertures, the opposite end of said tubular coil passes through the second of said pair of apertures, and the remainder of said tubular coil winds around the periphery of said inner shell.

15. The smoke generating apparatus of claim 9, further characterized by an indicator light connected between the third and fourth terminals of said voltage step down transformer.