Method and apparatus for creating pyrotechnic effects
US5739462A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 27, 1995 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 27, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF42B4/00
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A pyrotechnic device includes a launcher for launching and igniting a plurality of pyrotechnic stars for creating an aerial fireworks display. The launcher comprises a launching tube having an igniter that ignites the pyrotechnic stars as they are being expelled from the launching tube under the force of pressurized air. The igniter may comprise a section of the launching tube having a locally reduced diameter so that the pyrotechnic star frictionally engages it during launch, causing a striker composition on the interior of the launching tube to ignite a prime composition on the exterior surface of the pyrotechnic star. Alternatively, the igniter may comprise a flame within the launching tube to ignite the prime composition on the star. Various feeding mechanisms are provided to rapidly feed a large number of pyrotechnic stars for launching from the launching tube. The launcher utilizes pressurized air to launch the pyrotechnic stars and, thus, minimizes adverse environmental impact.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.