Pyrotechnic devices
AssigneePains-Wessex Limited
InventorsColin M. King, Michael R. Goddard, Dudley C. Murray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hand-operated pyrotechnic device has a tubular handle and, slidable telescopically therein, a tubular striker supporting a firing pin. The striker is rotatable from a `Safe` position to an `Armed` position, and movable axially, by impact, from the `Armed` position to a `Fire` position. A resilient detent prevents movement from the `Armed` to the `Fire` position unless the applied impact force exceeds a predetermined value. Further resilient detents prevent unintentional arming of the device.
Claims9
A hand-operable pyrotechnic device for containing a charge of pyrotechnic material, the device having
- a firing mechanism provided with a safety device and operable to detonate a primer thereby to ignite the pyrotechnic material,
- the firing mechanism comprising two members which are movable relatively to one another in a rotational sense from a `Safe` to an `Armed` position when located in a predetermined relative axial position, and in an axial sense from an `Armed` to a `Fire` position when located in a predetermined relative rotational position,
- the mechanism also including a resilient detent which is effective to oppose said axial movement into the `Fire` position until the force applied to cause said relative axial movement exceeds a predetermined value,
- the firing mechanism further comprising a firing pin secured to one of said members and being movable, by the relative axial movement of the said two members, to contact a primer when said primer has been located in position in the other said member.
A hand-operable pyrotechnic device comprising
- a first tubular member for containing a charge of pyrotechnic material,
- a second tubular member which supports and/or forms an extension of said first tubular member and
- a third member fitted telescopically to said second tubular member,
- means defining a location for a primer for igniting the pyrotechnic material,
- a firing pin movable towards the primer location for actuating a primer when located therein and
- a safety device comprising
- an L shaped guide portion and
- a follower portion engaging in said guide portion,
- said portions of the safety device being provided respectively on the second and third members,
- the L shaped guide portion having
- an axial arm which extends parallel to the axis of the members and
- a circumferential arm which extends circumferentially of the members to define a restricted path for relative movement of the second and third members which extends circumferentially from a `Safe` position to an `Armed` position, and axially from said `Armed` position to a `Fire` position,
- the firing pin being secured to one of said second and third members for movement therewith relative to a primer location fixed with respect to the other of said members in response to said axial relative movement of the second and third members from said `Armed` to said `Fire` position, and
- a detent associated with the axial arm of said guide portion which provides a resilient obstruction to relative axial movement of the second and third members and of the firing pin relative to the primer and hence prevents ignition of the primer if the force applied to the firing pin is below a predetermined minimum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.