Abstract
An apparatus for launching incendiary spheres for prescribed burning is provided. This apparatus receives charged, or injected, spherical incendiaries, then launches them in a controlled direction at a controlled distance. The charged incendiaries are first emitted from a conventional Plastic Sphere Dispenser (PSD) into the intake of the apparatus whereupon they are moved along a lower pathway by a delivering wheel to a launching point relative to a spinning wheel or a plurality of spinning wheels. These spinning wheels convey velocity to each incendiary sphere, which is thereby launched in a trajectory that is determined by the azimuth of orientation, and the rotational velocity, of the spinning wheels.
Claims
1. An apparatus for launching incendiary spheres comprising: (a) a sphere processing machine that processes incendiary spheres therefrom, wherein the sphere processing machine includes mechanisms to inject the incendiary spheres with a reactant, and (b) a launching device for launching incendiary spheres that are received from the sphere processing machine, said launching device comprising: (i) a plurality of spinning wheels which are used to convey velocity to said incendiary spheres by contacting said incendiary spheres; (ii) a delivering wheel which moves said incendiary spheres to a desired launching point relative to said plurality of spinning wheels; and (iii) means to provide rotational velocity to said plurality of spinning wheels; and (iv) means to provide rotational velocity to said delivering wheel; (v) a pathway connected to the processing machine and the plurality of spinning wheels for receiving incendiary spheres from the processing machine and for delivering the received incendiary spheres to the plurality of spinning wheels.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said incendiary spheres are in a charged condition when launched by said apparatus.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the launching device includes a lower rail or lower surface that said incendiary spheres move upon.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said lower rail or lower surface has an upper surface, and whereby the upper surface of said lower rail or lower surface defines the pathway, and wherein the pathway terminates at the said launching point.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, whereby said lower rail or lower surface is spring mounted.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said lower rail or lower surface is abounded on both sides by sidewalls.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said delivering wheel is a circular disc having an outer circumference.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the outer circumference of said circular disc has a rough or high friction outer surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 5, whereby said incendiary sphere is pressed between said delivering wheel and said lower rail or lower surface as it is moved to said desired launching point.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of spinning wheels includes a concave groove.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said concave groove has a constant radius.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said constant radius is approximately equal to the spherical radius of said incendiary sphere.
13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means to provide rotational velocity to the plurality of spinning wheels comprises a motor.
14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means to provide rotational velocity to the delivering wheel comprises a motor.
15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of spinning wheels used to convey velocity to said incendiary spheres are arranged to control the azimuth and the distance the spheres are launched.
16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of spinning wheels have a circumference, and wherein said circumference is used to convey velocity to said incendiary spheres.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The drawings which show by way of example the preferred embodiment of the invention are as follows:
(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top of the Main Base Plate Assembly;
(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the top of the Spinner Base Plate;
(4) FIG. 3a is an exploded perspective view of the right forward side of the Feeder Tube Assembly;
(5) FIG. 3b is a perspective view of the right forward side of the Feeder Tube Assembly in an assembled condition;
(6) FIG. 4a is an exploded perspective view of the right forward side of the Delivering Wheel Assembly;
(7) FIG. 4b is a perspective view of the right forward side of the Delivering Wheel Assembly in an assembled condition;
(8) FIG. 5a is a perspective view of the left forward side of the Feeder Assembly which further includes an incendiary sphere;
(9) FIG. 5b is a perspective view of the forward end of the Feeder Assembly which further includes an incendiary sphere;
(10) FIG. 6a is a top view of the Feeder-Head assembly which further includes an incendiary sphere;
(11) FIG. 6b is a perspective lower forward view of the Feeder-Head Assembly which further includes an incendiary sphere;
(12) FIG. 6c is a perspective lower rear view of the Feeder-Head Assembly;
(13) FIG. 7a is a perspective above view of the Rotating Top Assembly;
(14) FIG. 7b is a perspective lower view of the Rotating Top Assembly;
(15) FIG. 8 is a perspective left view of the Rotation Assembly;
(16) FIG. 9 is a perspective right lower view which shows certain detail below the main base plate which was not previously shown;
(17) FIG. 10a is a perspective right lower view of the Ball-Thrower Assembly;
(18) FIG. 10b is a perspective right upper view of the Ball-Thrower Assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
(19) The preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 10b. NOTE: part numbers that are indicated in brackets, for example (99), are parts that are shown elsewhere than on the drawing being referenced, part numbers for the drawing being referenced are in italics. The Back/Front/Right/Left orientation indicated in FIG. 1 is consistent to the orientation used in all drawings for all parts or assemblies.
(20) FIG. 1 shows the Main Base Plate Assembly 8. Plate 1 is engraved with identical slots 2a and 2b which are designed for the sliding engagement of a reversed T-shaped tab (T-shaped tab not shown). Clevis bracket 3 is used for engagement of a quick-release pin (pin not shown). These three features, 2a, 2b and 3, are the means by which a conventional PSD (Plastic Sphere Dispenser) machine, for instance the Spitfire, is connected to the Ball-Thrower. The four bolt holes 4 are for mounting rotating hub (50) which forms the vertical axis around which the entire Rotating-Top Assembly (14), including the PSD mounted on top of it, is rotated for the purpose of adjusting the direction, or azimuth, in which the incendiary sphere is launched. Identical arms 5a and 5b are used to attach and align the Feeder-Head Assembly (13). Incendiaries enter the feeder head through tubular intake piece 7 which is attached by bolts through three bolt holes 6. This intake piece will align with the discharge tube of the PSD when the PSD is installed.
(21) FIG. 2 shows Spinner Base Plate 9. Large thru-hole 17 is where motor (44b) is mounted. The four smaller holes in a square pattern that are closest to hole 17, of which 17a is one, are the bolt holes through which the motor is mounted. Likewise, hole 19, with four bolt holes which 19a is one of, is where motor (44a) is mounted. It is seen that hole 19 is elongated while hole 17 is a circle. This is because one motor (44b) is fixed while the other motor (44a) is slightly adjustable for the purpose of fine tuning the distance between the two motors, thus the distance between the two spinners that are attached to those motors. It is also seen that the bolt holes that correspond to hole 19, of which 19a is one of, are also accordingly elongated. The holes 18a and 18b on the right side of the plate and 20a and 20b on the left side, are the bolt holes through which the support arms (5a and 5b) are attached. The large cut-out 21 is to allow space to mount the Feeder Assembly shown in upcoming drawings FIGS. 5a and 5b. The two holes 22a and 22b are to mount the Delivery Wheel Assembly of FIGS. 4a and 4b. The space 23 is a hand hold. The four recessed bolt holes 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d are to mount the Feeder Tube Assembly shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b.
(22) FIG. 3a is an exploded view of the Feeder Tube Assembly 10. Bushing 30a is pressed in to hole 61a and bushing 30b is pressed in to hole 61b. The two sidewalls 25a, right side, and 25b, left side, are bolted together through the intersession of back piece 26 and front piece 27, thus forming, roughly speaking, a square tube. There are two pins that run through lower rail 28, upper pin 29 goes in hole 60a of the rail with identical spacers 32a and 32b on either side of the rail, the pin is inserted in to bushings 30a and 30b and set-screwed in place. Lower pin 31 goes through hole 60b of rail 28 and is also set-screwed in place, O-rings 33a and 33b are placed in the grooves of pin 31. Identical springs 37a and 37b are installed, one end of each spring is placed in the end groove of pin 31 and the other end of each spring is held by screws 34a and 34b, these screws also include stand-offs 35a and 35b to position the springs. The purpose for trigger 62 is to provide a finger-hold whereby lower rail 28 can be rotated downward for maintenance or cleaning purposes. When connecting tabs 36a and 36b are bolted to the sidewalls, the Feeder Tube Assembly is fully assembled and ready for attachment.
(23) FIG. 3b is a view of the fully assembled Feeder Tube Assembly 10. Several of the parts noted in (FIG. 3a) above are repeated here, namely: back piece 26 and front piece 27, right sidewall 25a wherein is noted the lower portion 63 which is sculpted and tapered for maximizing its close fit relative to the grooved spinning wheel. Two connecting tabs 36a and 36b connect the Feeder Tube Assembly to Spinner Base Plate (9) through bolts which screw in to bolt holes (24a, 24b, 24c and 24d of the Spinner Base Plate). On lower rail 28 is shown straight end 64 which is upwardly aligned along the center between, and at an angle parallel to, the also upwardly aligned spinner wheels (58a and 58b).
(24) FIG. 4a is an exploded view of the Delivering Wheel Assembly (11). Delivering wheel 42 is attached, through center mounting hole 65, onto shaft 66 of gear-motor 40. Delivering wheel 42 includes a collar (69) (not shown in this view) through which a set-screw secures it to the motor shaft. The wheel's outer circumference 38 is, in the preferred embodiment, a knurled surface, but it is understood that this could be any surface that will create friction or mechanical interference between the delivering wheel and the incendiary sphere that the wheel is intended to move. Interceding piece 39, which attaches to gear-motor 40, is a mount for a magnetic sensor, the magnet this detects is pressed into hole 43 of the delivering wheel. This magnetic sensor becomes the basis for a possible RPM display feature, which is an optional feature not further discussed in this document. Mount piece 41 bolts to the opposite side of the motor gearbox (meaning the opposite side from piece 39). After mount piece 41 is attached, the Delivering Wheel Assembly is fully assembled. This assembly is then attached to Spinner Base Plate (9) by alignment of bolt holes 67 with (22a) and 68 with (22b).
(25) FIG. 4b is a view of the fully assembled Delivery Wheel Assembly 11.
(26) FIG. 5a is a view of the Feeder Assembly 12. This Feeder Assembly is a combination of Delivery Wheel Assembly 11 and Feeder Tube Assembly 10. Feeder Assembly 12 includes all the mechanisms necessary to receive an incendiary sphere and then to pass it, or feed it, quickly and accurately to the launching point of the spinning wheels (58a and 58b). Although these two assemblies are shown in FIG. 5a and in FIG. 5b as being in conjunction with one another, this is for illustration purposes only. In actuality, Delivery Wheel Assembly 11 and Feeder Tube Assembly 10 are not directly connected to one other; they are both independently connected to Spinner Base Plate (9), but when they are so connected they are in the relationship to each other as depicted. Also shown in this drawing, which is not a component per se of the present invention, is an incendiary sphere. The sphere in this drawing is in the approximate position of first contact with the delivering wheel (42); from this point onward, first, lower rail (28) will spring downward then, upon further rotation of the delivering wheel, the incendiary sphere will be moved along the upper surface of the lower rail until that sphere is delivered to the launching point of the spinning wheels (58a and 58b).
(27) FIG. 5b is the same parts configuration as shown in FIG. 5a, namely that of Feeder Assembly 12 except it has been rotated to provide a better view of the front. Here is seen the collar 69 of delivery wheel (42), which is the collar through which a set screw secures the delivering wheel to the drive shaft of gear motor (40). Also again seen is an incendiary sphere, which is at the approximate position where it first pushes down the lower rail and just before the sphere begins its short journey to the point of launch.
(28) In FIG. 6a, Feeder Assembly 12 is attached to Spinner Base Plate 9. To make that attachment, as previously described, bolt holes in tab (36a) are aligned with holes (24c) and (24d) and those of (36b) with (24a) and (24b), while (67) and (68) are aligned with (22a) and (22b). Motors 44a and 44b are also attached to Spinner Base Plate (9). Right side motor 44b is bolted through four bolt holes in Spinner Base (9), one of which is hole (17a). Left side motor 44a is bolted through four bolt holes in Spinner Base (9), one of which is hole (19a). Finally, after spinner wheel 58a is attached to the drive shaft of motor 44a and spinner wheel 58b is attached to the drive shaft of motor 44b, the Feeder Head Assembly 13 is fully assembled, and in this figure it is viewed from the top. An incendiary sphere is also shown in this figure; as in all other drawings showing this sphere, the sphere is depicted in the position of its initial contact with the delivering wheel.
(29) FIG. 6b is another view of Feeder Head Assembly 13, this time from the front. Left spinner wheel 58a is attached to the drive shaft of the left motor by use of shaft adapter 59a, and right spinner wheel 58b is attached to the drive shaft of the right motor by use of shaft adapter 59b.
(30) FIG. 6c is a third view of Feeder Head Assembly 13. In this view, a close inspection shows that the lower rail 28 is somewhat elevated relative to the vertical center of the grooves of the spinner wheels, which is where it should be prior to first contact between the sphere and the delivering wheel. It is important to consider that, if a sphere were to roll down the full length of the lower rail while it remained in this depicted position, that sphere would end up above the center of the two grooved wheels, but this is not what happens. What happens is that the delivering wheel first pushes down on the sphere, then the sphere pushes down on the rail. As a result, the rail lowers, while maintaining an upward spring force on the sphere, and, the now lower rail delivers the sphere not above the centerline of the grooved wheels, but at the centerline of the grooved wheels.
(31) FIG. 7a shows Rotating Top Assembly 14. This assembly is formed by the connection of Feeder Head Assembly 13 to Main Base Assembly 8. The connection is made by bolting the left arm 5a of Main Base Assembly 8 to the left side of Spinner Base 9 through bolt holes (20a) and (20b), and also by bolting the right arm 5b of Main Base Assembly 8 to the right side of Spinner Base 9 through bolt holes (18a) and (18b).
(32) FIG. 7b, also showing Rotating Top Assembly 14, is identical to the configuration in the previous figure except that it is rotated to reveal its underside. Note the eight pockets 45 engraved on the bottom of main base plate 1, which are for the purpose of weight reduction.
(33) FIG. 8 shows the further inclusion of Rotation Assembly 15 as attached to Rotating Top Assembly 14. Rotation Assembly 15 includes gear 47 which is attached to the motor shaft of gear motor 46. Gear motor 46 is held by motor mount 48. Motor mount 48 is attached to stationary plate (16) as first shown in upcoming FIG. 9. Rotating hub 50 is bolted to main base plate 1 through four bolt holes (4). Attached to rotating hub 50 is rotation gear 49 which engages with gear 47. The bottom end 51 of rotating hub 50 passes through a center-hole in stationary plate (16) which then acts as a pivot for rotation.
(34) FIG. 9 shows the other features that are located below Main Base Assembly (8), the first of which is stationary base 16, this stationary base serves as a common mounting base for all of the non-rotating components much as main base plate 1 serves for all of the components associated with Rotating Top Assembly 14. Spring, bolt and washer 53 is used to attach main base plate 1 to stationary base 16; the bolt is screwed into the bottom end (51) of rotating hub 50. This bolt does not bottom out however, it merely partially compresses a heavy spring, thus this connection provides a certain amount of give between the two bases. Between the rotating and the stationary bases are four caster wheels, two of which are 54a and 54b, the other two are hidden, or partially hidden. These castor wheels are attached to main base plate 1 on top, and they ride on stationary base 16. Also seen is relay box 52 which contains the relays and other electrical/electronic components as necessary for controlling the Ball Thrower's four motors. There are two hard stops which limit the rotation of Rotating Top Assembly 14, one for clockwise motion and one for anti-clockwise motion; hard stop 55a, which limits clockwise rotation, is shown in this figure.
(35) FIG. 10a shows Ball Thrower Assembly 57 which is a final complete assembly, to which has been added frame 56. This frame, designed with one particular means or vehicle in mind, is an example of a frame that might be used for a particular situation. In this case the frame is a welded tubular assembly that is used to mount the apparatus in the receiver of a ground vehicle. Extension 70 of the frame, which is the part that is placed inside the vehicle's receiver, is placed low so that the apparatus will have sufficient ground clearance, and it is placed rearward so that there is sufficient room for the apparatus to operate clear of the vehicle.
(36) FIG. 10b is an upper right side view of Ball Thrower Assembly 57.
(37) These and other advantages may be obtained through the use of the inventive apparatus and methods disclosed herein. While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, the description is illustrative and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein and as set forth in the appended claims.
