APPARATUS FOR THE CONTROLLED GENERATION OF NON-PYROTHECNIC SMOKE AND CARTRIDGE MADE OF MATERIAL FOR GENERATING NON-PYROTHECNIC SMOKE

Abstract

 An apparatus for the controlled generation of non-pyrotechnic smoke is described, comprising a supply of smoke-generating material (1), means for directing a combustive gas or air (2) towards the supply of smoke-generating material (1) in order to reach the smoke-generating material, heating means (3) at a temperature sufficient to trigger and maintain the reaction capable of generating smoke in the vicinity of the smoke-generating material;, a controller (4) of the directing means of a gas or air (2) and of the heating means (3) allows controlling the generation of smoke. Furthermore, a cartridge of non-pyrotechnic smoke-generating material is described, suitable for providing the supply of smoke-generating material (1) of a non-pyrotechnic controlled smoke generation apparatus.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for the controlled generation of non-pyrotechnic smoke and a cartridge made of material for generating non-pyrotechnic smoke.

[0002] Generally, the present invention relates to the smoke generation.

[0003] In particular, the present invention relates to smoke generation apparatuses and devices for creating smoke effects.

[0004] US-A-5,220,637 relating to a gas heater incorporated in gas displacement means, such as a fan, is known. The heater can be an electric, superheated steam, or infrared heater. The gas displacement means can be a conventional blower, the fan speed and the power to the electric heaters controlled by conventional controllers to provide the temperature necessary for the ignition of combustion.

[0005] DE-A1-10 215 159 is also known and concerns compositions for the production of smoke that do not self-initiate or polymerize, and in which the frontal polymerization reaction is self-sufficient once the reaction has started.

[0006] Smoke bombs are mainly pyrotechnic articles containing substances that contain within them, in the right stoichiometric ratios, both the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent and which therefore, once triggered, cannot be extinguished except by the exhaustion of one of the two agents. This combination of substances is typical of explosives or explosive mixtures of substances intended to produce at least one of a calorific, light, sound, gaseous, smoke effect or a combination of these effects thanks to self-maintained exothermic chemical reactions.

[0007] Pyrotechnic articles have severe limitations in transport, storage and authorizations for production, import, export.

[0008] A problem present in the production of smoke products, mainly but not limited to, in the field of security systems, is that of being able to classify smoke products as non-pyrotechnic, of free and easy production, sale, storage and transport.

[0009] A further problem is that of being able to produce smoke products that do not require an exothermic chemical reaction that is self-maintained internally or of explosive substances or a mixture of these substances to activate and generate the smoke of the apparatus.

[0010] The main object of the present invention is solving the aforementioned prior art problems by producing smoke products, in the field of security systems, which are not classifiable as pyrotechnic and which therefore are free and easy to manufacture, sale, store and transport.

[0011] A further object is producing smoke products which do not require an internally self-maintained exothermic chemical reaction, or of explosive substances, or of a mixture of explosive substances to activate and generate smoke.

[0012] A further object is providing a cartridge containing material which, following the initiation and forced maintenance of a chemical reaction, e.g. combustion, generates smoke.

[0013] A further object is providing a cartridge equipped inside with an appropriate disposable resistor or a reusable multipurpose resistor for several shots of smoke, connected to the main body of the smoke bomb, or even more resistors, to possible electronic control units and related wiring and containers for the product.

[0014] The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will emerge from the following description, are achieved with a controlled non-pyrotechnic smoke generation apparatus and with a cartridge made of material for generating non-pyrotechnic smoke as claimed in the respective independent claims.

[0015] Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variants of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0016] It is understood that all enclosed claims form an integral part of the present description.

[0017] It will be immediately obvious that innumerable variations and modifications (for example relating to shape, dimensions, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to what has been described without departing from the scope of the invention as appears from the attached claims.

[0018] The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a functional diagram of the controlled apparatus for generating non-pyrotechnic smoke according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, it is possible to note that a controlled apparatus for generating non-pyrotechnic smoke comprises a stock of smoke generating material, reducing agent or fuel 1, means 4' for directing a combustive gas or air, oxidizing gas or oxidizing agent, towards the stock of smoke-generating material 1 to be able to touch the smoke-generating material, heating means 3 at a temperature sufficient to trigger and possibly sustain the chemical reaction capable of generating smoke in the vicinity of the smoke-generating material, a controller 4 of the directing means of a gas or air 4' and of the heating means 3 to allow obtaining a generation of smoke.

[0020] Advantageously, the controller 4 allows inhibiting the operation of at least one medium selected between the directing means of a combustive gas or air 4' and the heating means 3, consequently causing the cessation of any exothermic chemical reaction present therein and the generation of smoke.

[0021] The supply of smoke-generating material 1 consists of a mixture, possibly added, of conductive and/or oxidizing materials combined in such a way as not to be able to self-maintain a chemical reaction without at least the directing of an oxidizing gas or air towards the smoke generating material supply 1 and/or a heater of the smoke generating material supply 1.

[0022] The means for directing a gas or air 4' towards the supply of smoke-generating material 1 belong to a forced ventilation and/or introduction system.

[0023] The heating means 3 are constituted, as a non-limiting example, of at least one low-power electrical resistance.

[0024] A cartridge made of material for generating non-pyrotechnic smoke, suitable for making the supply of smoke-generating material 1 of a non-pyrotechnic smoke-generating apparatus, can be of a type chosen from solid, granular, compact, porous, channelled, containing materials such as resins, fibres, waxes, and substances used for the generation of smoke, such as materials of vegetable origin or in any case with a lower environmental impact and without particular problems relating to storage.

[0025] The cartridge may be equipped with at least one disposable consumable or mixture.

[0026] Furthermore, the cartridge can be provided with at least one electrical resistance belonging to the heating means 3.

[0027] According to a first embodiment, the cartridge comprises corn cobs, ground and with a grain size of between 1.5 and 6.0 millimetres.

[0028] According to a further embodiment, the cartridge comprises a fibrous and dried Luffa component, such as Luffa cylindrica.

[0029] According to a third embodiment, the cartridge comprises a raw jute fabric, combined with untreated cardboard in sheets or shredded, in an amount equal to about 20-30% with respect to jute.

[0030] According to a further embodiment, the cartridge comprises bark mulch, such as maritime pine or spruce, preferably combined with shredded untreated cardboard, in an amount equal to about 15-25% with respect to the bark.

[0031] According to a further embodiment, the cartridge comprises dehydrated alfalfa pellets, preferably combined with shredded and de-fibrated straw, chopping from 30 to 100 millimetres, in an amount equal to about 15-25% with respect to the pellet.

[0032] According to a further embodiment, the cartridge comprises granular incense resin, preferably combined with shredded and brittle straw, shredding from 30 to 100 millimetres, in an amount equal to about 10-15% of the pellet.

[0033] According to a further embodiment, the cartridge comprises corn cobs mixed with chopped and brittle straw, or bark mulch combined with alfalfa pellets and chopped cardboard, in variable ratios ranging from 90:10 to 60:40.

[0034] The apparatus for the controlled generation of non-pyrotechnic smoke and the cartridge of smoke generator material, object of the present invention, allow achieving the intended purposes.

[0035] The innovation consists in the fact that the generation of smoke stops in the absence of the supply of air or gas through the forced entry/ventilation system and/or in the absence of heating means.

[0036] The ignition of the compound that generates the smoke can take place by means of a simple electrical resistance of suitable power and positioned in suitable ways. The amount of energy required is typically higher than that used on pyrotechnic systems. The material that generates smoke inside the cartridge is suitably arranged to allow the passage of air or gas through a ventilation system and/or forced entry.

[0037] A possible embodiment of the system, as shown in FIG. 2 and 3, consists in a casing 6 made of non-flammable material (for example a metal cylinder), whose function is containing the active material 7, which is crossed by a network of channels 8 which allow the passage of air suitably circulated by a fan 4' actuated by a motor 3' . Inserted inside the active material 7 there is an electric resistance 5 whose purpose is triggering and keeping an oxidation reaction whose fumes, pushed out by the fan 4', will limit the visibility of people present in the environment in which the fog-generating device is placed.

[0038] The active material 7 is composed of a mixture of one or more combustible substances and one or more oxidizing substances (which generate/give away oxygen), these latter ones however in lower amounts than the correct stoichiometric ratio, in order to prevent the reaction from self-supporting if external air does not enter any more in the environment, inserted in the system through a fan. The system thus composed is intrinsically safe because it is enough to turn off the fan and the reaction stops automatically.

[0039] In addition to the two materials described above, one or more substances, inert or not, can be added to the active material 7, acting as catalyst, stabilizer, retarder, accelerator, dye, in any proportion of the total mass of the block.

[0040] The electric resistance 5 has the purpose of bringing the active material 7 to a temperature such as to allow it to be ignited in the presence of sufficient oxygen supply from the outside.

[0041] An example of practical realization of the resistance can be a wire of an alloy containing, in proportions varying from 0% to 100%, iron, nickel, chromium, copper, aluminum or other metallic elements or not. The wire can be buried during construction in a block of active material 7 in order to heat it by thermal conduction and the power of the igniter can be included, by way of example, between 5 W and 200 W depending on the materials and configuration chosen.

[0042] The system is fully electrically controllable by means of first terminals 1' connected to the motor 3' that sets the fan 4' in motion, and second terminals 2' connected to the electrical resistance 5. Furthermore, scattered throughout the system, there may be one or more sensors (not shown) of different types to effectively control the combustion process.

[0043] The object of the present invention consists in the realization of a device capable of generating the ignition of the compound that generates the smoke by means of a simple electrical resistance, of suitable power, positioned in suitable ways, combined with a material or mixture of materials to generate smoke inside a cartridge. This cartridge is placed so that it can be crossed and/or lapped by forced air/gas by a forced ventilation and/or intake system. By way of example but not limited to, the material is equipped with channels to facilitate the flow of air/gas that passes through it.

[0044] The chemical reaction underlying the operation of the device is a reaction that does not sustain itself in the absence of the operation of the ventilation system and/or of the thermal energy supplied, by way of example and not limited to, by at least one electrical resistance. The device can integrate one or more ventilation and/or air/gas systems.

[0045] The material contained inside the cartridge can be solid, granular, compact, porous, channelled.

[0046] The material may comprise a smoke-generating mixture, optionally added with conductive material, a fluid. Also the material can comprise a compound containing oxidants or a combination of them so as not to self-maintain the reaction in the absence of forced entry of air/gas and/or of thermal energy from the outside. Furthermore, there may be components that moderate this reaction, always in order to generate a reaction that is not self-maintained.

[0047] By way of non-limiting example, the materials contained in the cartridge can be resins, fibres, waxes, etc.

[0048] With regard to the substances used for the generation of smoke, materials of vegetable origin or in any case with a lower environmental impact and without particular problems relating to storage are preferred, but not exclusive.

[0049] According to a first preferred preparation procedure, the material used is represented by maize cobs, ground and with a particle size between 1500 and 6000 micrometres. The material is heated with resistance with power values, illustrative and not limiting, of 50-200 W; the smoke generated is conveyed with a forced ventilation system.

[0050] According to a second preferred preparation procedure, the material used is represented by the fibrous and dried component of Luffa, for example Luffa cylindrica. The material is heated with resistance with power values, illustrative and not limiting, of 50-200 W; the smoke generated is conveyed with a forced ventilation system.

[0051] According to a third preferred preparation procedure, the material used is represented by raw jute fabric, combined with untreated cardboard in sheets or shredded, in an amount equal to about 20-30% with respect to jute. The material is heated with resistance with power values, illustrative and not limiting, of 50-200 W; the smoke generated is conveyed with a forced ventilation system.

[0052] According to a fourth preferred preparation procedure, the material used is represented by bark mulch, such as maritime pine or spruce, preferably combined with shredded untreated cardboard, in an amount equal to about 15-25% with respect to the bark. The material is heated with resistance with power values, illustrative and not limiting, of 50-200 W; the smoke generated is conveyed with a forced ventilation system.

[0053] According to a fifth preferred preparation procedure, the material used is represented by dehydrated alfalfa pellets, preferably combined with chopped and de-fibrated straw, 3-10 cm shredded, in an amount equal to about 15-25% with respect to the pellet. The material is heated with resistance with power values, illustrative and not limiting, of 50-200 W; the smoke generated is conveyed with a forced ventilation system.

[0054] According to a sixth preferred preparation procedure, the material used is represented by granular incense resin, preferably combined with chopped and de-fibrated straw (3-10 cm shredding), in an amount equal to about 10-15% of the pellet. The material is heated with resistance with power values, illustrative and not limiting, of 50-200 W; the smoke generated is conveyed with a forced ventilation system.

[0055] According to a seventh preferred preparation procedure, the material used is represented by calibrated mixtures of the materials described above. By way of example, but not limited to, the component used in the cartridge may be represented by corn cobs mixed with chopped and brittle straw, or bark mulch combined with alfalfa pellets and chopped cardboard, in variable ratios between 90:10 and 60:40. The material is heated with resistance with power values, illustrative and not limiting, of 50-200 W; the smoke generated is conveyed with a forced ventilation system.

Claims

1. Controlled apparatus for generating non-pyrotechnic smoke for security systems, comprising a supply of smoke-generating material (1), means (4') for directing an oxidizing gas or air to the supply of smoke-generating material (1) in order to touch the smoke-generating material, heating means (3) at a temperature sufficient to trigger and maintain a reaction capable of generating smoke in the vicinity of the smoke-generating material, a controller (4) of the directing means of a gas or air (4') and the heating means (3) in order to obtain a generation of smoke, said apparatus being characterized in that:

- said controller (4) allows inhibiting the operation of at least one medium selected between the directing means of a gas or air (4') and the heating means (3), consequently causing the cessation of any exothermic chemical reaction present therein and the generation of smoke;

- the supply of smoke-generating material (1) consists of an added mixture of conductive and/or oxidizing materials, the materials being equipped with channels to facilitate the flow of air/gas that passes through them, combined in such a way as not to be able to drive - maintaining a chemical reaction without at least directing a gas or air towards the supply of smoke-generating material (1) and/or a heating of the supply of smoke-generating material (1);

- the means for directing a gas or air (2) towards the supply of smoke-generating material (1) belong to a forced ventilation and/or introduction system; and

- said heating means (3) consist of at least one electrical resistance.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a casing (6) made of non-flammable material, whose function is containing an active material (7), which is crossed by a network of channels (8) which allow the passage of air suitably circulated by the fan (4') actuated by a motor (3'), inserted inside the active material (7) there being an electric resistance (5) whose purpose is triggering and keeping an oxidation reaction whose fumes, pushed out by the fan (4'), limit the visibility in an environment in which the apparatus is placed, the apparatus being fully electrically controllable by means of first terminals (1') connected to the motor (3') that sets the fan (4') in motion, and second terminals (2') connected to the electrical resistance (5').

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the active material (7) is composed of a mixture of one or more combustible substances and one or more oxidizing substances, these latter ones in lower amounts than the correct stoichiometric ratio.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that one or more substances, inert or not, are added to the active material, acting as catalyst, stabilizer, retarder, accelerator, dye.

3. Apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the electric resistance (5) is a wire of an alloy containing, in proportions varying from 0% to 100%, iron, nickel, chromium, copper or aluminum.

4. Cartridge made of material for generating non-pyrotechnic smoke, suitable for making the supply of smoke-generating material (1) of a non-pyrotechnic smoke-generating apparatus according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that it is of a type selected from solid, granular, compact, porous, channelled, containing materials such as resins, fibres, waxes, and substances used for the generation of smoke, such as materials of vegetable origin.

5. Cartridge according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is provided with at least one electrical resistance belonging to the heating means (3).

6. Cartridge according to any one of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that it comprises ground corn cobs.

7. Cartridge according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a fibrous and dried component of loofah, such as cylindrical loofah.

8. Cartridge according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a raw jute fabric, joined to untreated cardboard in sheets or shredded.

9. Cartridge according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that it comprises bark mulch, such as maritime pine or spruce, preferably joined to shredded untreated cardboard.

10. Cartridge according to any one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that it comprises dehydrated alfalfa pellets, preferably combined with chopped and brittle straw.

11. Cartridge according to any one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that it comprises granular incense resin, preferably combined with chopped and brittle straw.

12. Cartridge according to any one of claims 4 to 11, characterized in that it comprises corn cobs mixed with chopped and brittle straw, or bark mulch combined with alfalfa pellets and chopped cardboard.

Drawing