US1935123A - Firing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

R. P. LANSING FIRING MECHANISM Nav. 14, 1933.

Filed Sept. 23, 1952' INVENTOR. Raymond F Lays/n7 Away Y Li.

Patented Nov. 14, 1933 STATES ATEN FIRING IVIECHANISM of New Jersey Application September 23, 1932 Serial No. 634,617

4 Claims. (CL -44) This invention relates to firing mechanism, and more particularly to firing mechanism of the type adapted to fire in sequence a plurality of cartridges containing slow-burning powder, or other medium. such as compressed carbon dioxide, convertible into a gas which can be used as a motive fluid.

An object of the invention is to provide novel firing mechanism of the foregoing character embodying features of construction which render the device readily applicable to the work of starting an internal combustion engine, either by direct action upon one or more of the pistons of such an engine. or through an intermediate starting motor of the expansible chamber type. The invention, however, is not to be regarded as limited to such a use alone, in view of its obviously wide range of usefulness as a servo-mot tor actuating means.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel control means for a cartridge firing mechanism of the foregoing character, including means for insuring the attainment of a predetermined pressure prior to the release of the motor fluid generated upon firing one of the cartridges, said control means further functioning to fire a second cartridge whenever necessary in order to insure the maintenance of a predetermined minimum pressure at all times in a pressure fluid reservoir.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a mechanism of the foregoing character, novel means for preventing a premature admission of pressure fluid to the starter or other fluid motor to be operated. In this connection, a feature of the invention is the provision of a pair of sequentially operating valves, one of which is manually controlled and the other of which is pressure controlled whereby the latter renders the former ineffective until the development of a predetermined pressure in the reservoir.

In the preferred embodiment, as herein shown, the cartridge container takes the form of a multi-chambered barrel, rotatable automatically, step-by-step, to bring the cartridges successively into position for release of the pressure generating medium therein. It is to be understood however that the drawings are for the purpose of iilustration only, both with respect to this particu lar feature, and others, and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention. Reference will accordingly be had to the appended claims for a definition of such limits, and to the following specification for an understanding of other objects of the invention. The description is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, with certain parts in section, of the system embodying the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a transverse view of one of the elements, partly in section, taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and j Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of a second embodiment. f

Heretofore in fluid pressure operated engine starters of the type in which the fluid premure is attained by the generation of gases created by the firing of a cartridge, it has been proposed to interpose a reservoir between the starter and the cartridge firing means so as to permit a building up of pressure in said reservoir before the release of pressure fluid to the starter, and thus insure against the possibility of a premature delivery to the starter of a charge insufficient to produce effective starting of the engine to be cranked, and also to afiord an opportunity forfiring a second cartridge to augment the first; the delivery of the combined charge to the starter thereafter following such pressure increment. The present invention adds to a system of the foregoing character the provision of means for automatically firing such additional cartridge or cartridges (or actuating any other type of pressure releasing means, in the event that capsules containing compressed carbon dioxide or other suitable substances are employed instead of cartridges containing combustible powder) to bring the pressure in the reservoir above the predetermined minimum prior to delivery of a charge to the engine starting mechanism. In addition to provision of the means just referred to for maintaining a predetermined minimum pressure in the reservoir, the invention also discloses a. multiple valve control which may be used, if desired, to make it impossible for the operator to cause a premature application of pressure to the starting mechanism.

Referring to the drawing, the invention is shown embodied in a unitary structure in which the major parts include a cartridge holding magazine or barrel 6, a firing mechanism 7, a pressure receiving chamber or reservoir 8, and a link mechanism 9 for actuating the mechanism 7 in response to a decrease in pressure in the reservoir 8. 3

The parts just described are suitably located with respect to the motor to be actuated, a portion of the housing of which is indicated at 12 as containing a piston 13 connecting with the crankshaft or equivalent member of the engine to be started in the usual manner, and forming no part of the present invention; the piston being movable in the cylinder 12 in response to pressure admitted thereto through the conduit 14 upon operation of rod 15 connected to the valve 16, the latter being normally held in the closed position indicated, by the action of a tension spring 20 anchored at one end to the valve casing and connecting at its opposite end with the rod 15 by suitable means 25, the pressure fluid thus admitted being exhausted by suitable means, such as indicated at 17 when the piston approaches the end of its working stroke, and prior to return of the piston to its normal position by suitable means, such as the usual return spring (not shown).

The cartridge containing barrel 6 is preferably housed in a frame 18 having a tubular extension 19 in which there is provided an excess pressure relief valve 21, a one-way ball check valve 22 retained in place by a perforated baflle plate or grid 23, the second function of which is to prevent the passage of any unburned particles entrained with the gases generated on firing of the cartridge, while permitting free passage of the non-solid portion of the charge.

The cartridge containing barrel 6 is provided with any suitable number of chambers 26, all preferably disposed at equal radial distances from the axis of the spindle 2'7 projecting from the end portion 28 of the frame 18, and constituting a supporting pivot about which the barrel is revolved step-by-step. Such feeding is preferably effected by a pawl or finger 31 pivotally mounted at one end of a bell crank 32 having a second arm 33 pivotally connected to the link 9 for a purpose to be further described; the bell crank 32 being in turn pivotally mounted on a suitable pivot pin 34 secured to, or integral with, the frame 18. The pawl or finger 31 is normally held by a suitable spring 37 in engagement with one of the several ratchet teeth 38 formed at equal intervals on the end surface of the projecting portion 39 of the barrel 6, while a second pawl 41, also pivotally mounted at the end of arm 32, normally engages a shoulder 43 on a disc 44 pivotally mounted on a pin 46, secured to frame 18, and having a hammer head 47 adapted to engage and actuate the firing pin '7 previously described.

A spring 49 normally holds the pawl 41 in the position indicated while a third spring 51 normally holds the bell crank 32, 33 in the position indicated. A fourth spring 54 acts to normally hold the member 44 in the position shown, and to return said member to such position after it has been oscillated in a clockwise direction by actuation of the link 9 in the manner to be described. A spring 59 normally holds the firing pin out of contact with the cartridges 61 in the chambers 26, and a spring-pressed detent 62 insures proper registry of the chambers 26 with the conduit 19 and thus offsets the effect of any play in the linkage which actuates the member 6.

The novel means for actuating the feeding and cartridge firing means just described, preferably takes the form of a tubular valve 63 having a head 64, the inner surface of which is of conical formation adapted to register with a correspondingly counterbored conical seat 66 in a tubular plug 6'7 threadedly received in the wall of the reservoir 8, as indicated at 68, and drilled as indicated at 69 to provide a vent from the interior of the valve 63 which houses a coiled compression spring '71 constantly exerting a. pressure to open the valve 64 against the pressure in the reservoir which tends to hold it seated; the size and setting of the spring '71 thus predetermining the minimum pressure which will be sufiicient to prevent an opening of the valve 64. The stem '73 of the valve extends through the plug 6'7 and is turned at its outer end for engagement with the forked arm '76 of the bell crank '77, the latter being pivotally mounted on a pin '78 extending from a bracket '79 depending from the plug 67 and also pivotally connected to the link 9 as indicated at 81 in Fig. 1.

As above suggested, means may be employed for inter-relating the manually operable valve 16 previously described with the valve 64 whereby premature operation of the valve 16 will be of no effect. As shown, such means may take the form of a third valve 83, of smaller effective area than the valve 64, but directly connected with said valve 64 through the intermediate rod 84 shown as integral with the valve head 83 and threaded at its lower end into a correspondingly threaded bore in the upper surface of valve 64, the length of the rod 84 being such that upon movement of the valve 64 to the open position, valve 83 will seat itself in the conical counterbore 86 formed in the lower surface of the centrally bored plug 87 threadedly received in the upper wall of the tank 8, and provided at its upper end with a coupling 89 serving for the attachment of the first section of the conduit 14.

Having thus described the parts entering into the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown, the operation thereof will be seen to be as follows:

So long as the pressure in the reservoir 8 exceeds the predetermined minimum, the valve remains in the position indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, and the barrel-turning and cartridge firing parts also remain in the positions indicated in Fig. 1. If it is now desired to actuate the piston 13 to start the engine, the valve 16 is opened and fluid in the reservoir 8 is thus permitted to pass through the conduit 14 to actuate the piston 13. In the event that the amount of pressure fluid thus passing through the conduit 14 prior to the, return of the valve 16 to the closed position depletes the pressure in the reservoir 8 below the predetermined amount, the spring '11 becomes effective to raise the valve 64 into the position indicated in dash lines, thus swinging the bell crank '76, '7'7 and 32, 33 in a counterclockwise direction, whereupon arm 31 is effective to rotate barrel 6 through an arc of substantially degrees, with the arrangement of the cartridge chambers as shown. At the same time the arm 41 swings disc 44 in a clockwise direction thus withdrawing the trigger 47 from contact with pin '7, such oscillation continuing until the disc causes the inclined projection 94 thereon to disengage the arm 41 from the shoulder 43. At this point, the spring 54 becomes effective to snap the disc 44 back to the position indicated in Fig. 1 and at the same time cause the hammer 47 to strike a blow upon the pin '7, which hammer-blow is in turn imparted to the cartridge 51 and is effective to fire the charge therein. The gases thus generated pass through the conduit 19 and raise the pressure in the reservoir, thus reopening valve 83 and closing the valve 64, and returning the linkage to the position shown in Fig. 1; the return oscillation of the bell crank 32, 33 being facilitated by the action of the spring 51. In the event that the pressure in the reservoir 8 again falls short of the predetermined minimum, spring 71 again acts to open the valve 64 and through the linkage above described causes a second cartridge to be brought into firing position and fired, the cycle being repeated whenever the pressure becomes insufiicient to hold the valve 64 closed. As a supplemental firing means, there may be provided a cable 93 connected to the arm 33 of the bell crank 32.

There is thus disclosed a structure which embodies the features of advantage above recited, and attains the objects above specified, as well as possessing considerable practical merit in other obvious respects which persons skilled in the art will recognize as inherent in the mechanism disclosed.

It is to be understood however, that the invention is not to be construed as limited to the precise structure and relationship of parts shown in any respect wherein the appended claims are not specific thereto. Thus, for example, in place of the barrel 6 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a cartridge feeding belt 91 such as that shown in Fig. 3, may be employed. Likewise other changes, substitutions and omissions may be made within the scope of the broadest of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination with an explosion chamber and a pressure fiuid reservoir connected with said explosion chamber, means for firing an explosive charge in said explosion chamber, means synchronized with said firing means for bringing said explosive charge into firing position, and means controlled by the pressure in said reservoir for actuating both said positioning and firing means.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination with an explosion chamber and a pressure fluid reservoir connected with said explosion chamber, means for firing an explosive charge in said explosion chamber, means synchronized with said firing means for bringing said explosive charge into firing position, and means controlled by the pressure in said reservoir for actuating both said positioning and firing means, said last named means comprising an actuating linkage one end of which connects with said firing means and the other end of which extends into said reservoir and is movable by the pressure therein.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a power receiving chamber, a power developing chamber, a reservoir interposed between said chambers, a valve for controlling communication between said first named chamber and said reservoir, means for firing a charge in said power developing chamber, means movable with said valve for actuating said firing means, and means synchronized with said firing means for bringing said power developing chamber into firing position.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a power receiving chamber a power developing chamber, a reservoir interposed between said chambers, pressure responsive means for controlling communication between said first named chamber and said reservoir, means for firing the charge to said power developing chamber, said last named means being actuated by said pressure responsive means, and means synchronized with said firing means for bringing said power developing chamber into firing position.

RAYMOND P. LANSING.

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