Devices, systems, and methods for catching projectiles
AssigneeNott Company
InventorsRobert Cornish, Mathew McConkey, Dusten Carl O'Konek, Jr., Justin D. York
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The disclosure relates to a system for visually detecting projectiles to thereby confirm that the projectiles are not trapped in a conduit. The system includes a housing defining an inlet. A trap is positioned within the housing. The trap is moveable about and between a catching configuration and a releasing configuration. An actuator is configured to move the trap about and between the catching configuration and the releasing configuration. The housing has a window that permits visual detection of the trap from a position outside of the housing.
Claims19
A system comprising:
- a housing defining an inlet;
- a trap positioned within the housing, the trap moveable about and between a catching configuration and a releasing configuration, wherein:
- in the catching configuration, the trap is configured to inhibit passage of a projectile thereby;
- and
- in the releasing configuration, the trap is configured to permit passage of the projectile thereby;
- and
- an actuator that is configured to move the trap about and between the catching configuration and the releasing configuration, wherein the actuator comprises a knob coupled to the trap,
- wherein the housing comprises a window that permits visual detection of the projectile being caught in the trap from a position outside of the housing.
A system comprising:
- a housing defining an inlet;
- a trap positioned within the housing, the trap moveable about and between a catching configuration and a releasing configuration, wherein:
- in the catching configuration, the trap is configured to inhibit passage of a projectile thereby;
- and
- in the releasing configuration, the trap is configured to permit passage of the projectile thereby;
- and
- an actuator that is configured to move the trap about and between the catching configuration and the releasing configuration,
- wherein the housing comprises a window that permits visual detection of the projectile being caught in the trap from a position outside of the housing,
- wherein the housing comprises a tubular structure, and
- wherein the window comprises a transparent tube.
A system comprising:
- a housing defining an inlet;
- a trap positioned within the housing, the trap moveable about and between a catching configuration and a releasing configuration, wherein:
- in the catching configuration, the trap is configured to inhibit passage of a projectile thereby;
- and
- in the releasing configuration, the trap is configured to permit passage of the projectile thereby, wherein the housing comprises a window that permits visual detection of the projectile being caught in the trap from a position outside of the housing;
- an actuator that is configured to move the trap about and between the catching configuration and the releasing configuration;
- an optical sensor positioned to detect, through the window, the presence or absence of the projectile trapped in the trap;
- and
- a computing device in communication with the optical sensor and the actuator, wherein the computing device is configured to cause, upon receipt of a signal from the optical detector detecting the presence of the projectile trapped in the trap, the actuator to move the trap to the releasing configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.