Bottle rocket launcher

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6315629
  • Patent Number
    6,315,629
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, January 11, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 13, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A bottle rocket launcher is provided for rockets constructed for educational and entertainment purposes out of synthetic resin bottles used primarily for soft drinks. The rocket launcher includes a bottle plug for filling the bottle rocket with compressed gas such as air and guiding it as it exits the launcher, a release mechanism for initially retaining and then selectively releasing the rocket adjacent its nozzle, and a base. The release mechanism provides multiple hooks which grab a rim adjacent the nozzle, and selectively and simultaneously releases each of the hooks, whereby the upward force applied by the compressed gas against the liquid causes the hooks to slide off of the rim and permits the rocket to lift off of the launcher. The bottle plug is releasably connected to the release mechanism, while a gas delivery conduit remains connected to the bottle plug for inhibiting spillage of liquid from the bottle rocket until the bottle rocket is secured to the release mechanism and filled with compressed gas prior to launch.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention broadly concerns an apparatus for holding and selectively releasing compressed air model rockets. More particularly, it is concerned with a model rocket launcher which is able to hold, pressurize, and launch rockets made from plastic bottles using water and air or an inert gas as a propulsion source.




2. Description of the Prior Art




Increased focus is being provided to hands-on experimentation and practice in the education of elementary and secondary students. Students are being provided with increased opportunities to use their imagination for development of projects in the field of science, and to complement classroom study with measurement of actual results.




One such project which has enjoyed wide acceptance involves the building and launching of so-called bottle rockets. As used herein, “bottle rockets” refers to rockets made from a bottle and which uses liquid such as water and a compressed gas as the propulsion source, and not to a fireworks rocket or other combustion device. Students use standard sized plastic (usually polyethylene terphthalate) bottles as a starting point for the rocket. Such bottles are commonly sold containing carbonated soft drinks in 16 oz, 20 oz, 24 oz, 1 liter, 2 liter and 3 liter sizes. Such used soft drink bottles are especially desirable because they are of a common, predetermined volume capable of handling moderate pressurization, are inexpensive, have a threaded neck of a common, standard size and configuration. Students typically glue or otherwise attach stabilizing fins to the bottle adjacent the threaded neck which serves as a nozzle and is pointed down during launching. The bottle is made more aerodynamic by the addition of a nose cone to the base, and a parachute or similar device may be deployed from the nose cone to retard descent. The bottle rocket thus created is at least partially filled with water, and air or a relatively inert gas such as carbon dioxide is used as a propellant. The bottle rocket is released from a launcher whereupon the compressed gas bears against the water, expelling it from the threaded neck and lifting the bottle rocket by the impulse force applied in the opposite direction.




One problem associated with existing bottle rocket launchers is that the attachment between the launcher for releasing the bottle rocket may only be at one side, causing only a single point of connection and possibly causing the bottle rocket to prematurely launch or launch in an undesired launch angle. Another problem with existing launchers is that they interfere with stabilizing fins which extend far below the nozzle. In addition, large or multistage bottle rockets may tip or fall out of the launcher while being pressurized. Another problem is leakage of the liquid propellant, typically water, past the seals during pressurization and while waiting the launch. Another problem is that bottle rockets must be pressurized while on the launcher. A further problem arises when the launch is prematurely triggered by an anxious student or other accident, which may result in an unsafe situation.




As a result, there has arisen the need for an improved bottle rocket launcher which can be safely and easily used in the field.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




These problems have largely been overcome by the bottle rocket launcher of the present invention. That is to say, the bottle rocket launcher hereof provides improved multiple gripping around the nozzle of the bottle rocket, improved release characteristics at launch, allows the use of fins that extend far below the nozzle so that students enjoy greater freedom in their designs, minimizes leakage prior to launch, avoids the need for anchoring the launcher because of the smooth release characteristics, permits the bottle plug with the gas supply conduit attached to be removed from the release mechanism of the launcher and inserted into the nozzle of the rocket while the rocket is held with the nose cone lower than the nozzle for preventing the water therein from spilling out, and in preferred embodiments includes a safety lock to prevent accidental launches.




Broadly speaking, the bottle rocket launcher hereof includes a bottle plug, a release mechanism, and a base. The bottle plug is configured to seal the nozzle of the bottle rocket and to receive a source of compressed gas such as air for pressurizing the bottle. The release mechanism is configured to grip the nozzle in a plurality and preferably a multiplicity of circumferentially arrayed sites, with the nozzle positioned radially intermediate the release mechanism and the plug. A base is provided for supporting and preferably elevating the plug and release mechanism whereby a variety of different designs of stabilizing fins may be used without interference by the launcher or the supporting surface.




The bottle plug includes a guide member which extends into the interior of the bottle for initial directional guidance. Advantageously, the bottle plug is releasably connected to the release mechanism and is provided with a flexible gas-filling conduit which is routed through the tubular center opening of the release mechanism. As a result, the gas supply conduit remains connected to the bottle plug and passes through the release mechanism, so that the bottle plug may be easily replaced with the release mechanism grasping the rocket to permit the bottle to be filled with compressed gas apart on launcher prior to launch.




The release mechanism preferably includes three gripping levers which are shiftably mounted to a support block for movement between a first position retaining the rocket on the launcher and a second position releasing the rocket and thereby enabling impulse of the liquid and gas exhausted from the nozzle to lift the rocket off of the launcher. The gripping levers each include a hook at one end for gripping the nozzle and an arm at the other end for engaging a release actuator. The release actuator may be rotatably mounted about the support block in one embodiment, whereby the arms are alternately blocked by stops or permitted to toggle into notches therebetween. Alternatively, the release actuator may be mounted for up and down translation, whereby in an up position the arms engage a shoulder to prevent launching, but in a down position are permitted to shift inwardly and release the hook from engagement with the nozzle. In either embodiment described herein above, the release actuator shifts relative to the support block between a first position block movement of the gripping levers and a second position permitting movement of the gripping levers. The bottle rocket actually disengages itself by simultaneously forcing the hooks out of engagement when the obstruction of the arms by the release actuator is removed, thereby providing a smoother release and a launch direction less likely to be misdirected by the active disengagement of a single hook or where the hooks are not simultaneously disengaged. A safety pin may be inserted through a toggle lever of the release actuator to prevent premature launching.




As a result, the bottle rocket launcher hereof requires less force to actuate than existing rocket launchers, more effectively guides the rocket during the initial phase of the launch, and minimizes leakage from the rocket prior to launch. These and other advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in the art with reference to the drawings and the description which follows.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a first embodiment the bottle rocket launcher hereof shown with a bottle rocket attached and ready for launching;





FIG. 2

is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view thereof showing the bottle rocket mounted on the bottle plug and tipped to the side while positioned remote from the release mechanism to prevent leakage of water from the nozzle prior to placement of the rocket on the release mechanism and filling with compressed gas;





FIG. 3

is a an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view showing the bottle rocket attached to the bottle plug during insertion of the nozzle onto the release mechanism;





FIG. 4

is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view similar to

FIG. 3

, showing the nozzle of the bottle rocket coupled to the gripping levers with the safety pin positioned for insertion or after removal;





FIG. 5

is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view similar to

FIG. 4

showing the release actuator shifted out of engagement with the gripping levers to permit lift-off of the bottle rocket;





FIG. 6

is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the bottle plug connected to the nozzle of the bottle rocket showing the sealing rings and guide member;





FIG. 7

is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view of the bottle plug with the guide tube removed and the release mechanism of the first embodiment shown with the hooks in an open position;





FIG. 8

is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view similar to

FIG. 7

showing the release actuator shifted into blocking engagement with the arms of the gripping levers;





FIG. 9

is an enlarged, fragmentary left side elevational view similar to FIG.


8


and showing the safety pin inserted in the release toggle;





FIG. 10

is an enlarged, fragmentary right side elevational view in partial vertical cross section showing the mounting of the release actuator on the support block of the release mechanism with the safety pin inserted;





FIG. 11

is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken a long line


11





11


of

FIG. 8

showing the tubular support block;





FIG. 12

is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view of a second embodiment of the release mechanism showing the release actuator positioned whereby the stops engage the arms of the gripping levers to maintain the hooks in a closed position;





FIG. 13

is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view similar to

FIG. 12

, showing the release actuator pivoted to permit the hooks to open and the arms received in the notches of the release actuator;





FIG. 14

is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line


14





14


of

FIG. 12

to show the arms engaged by the stops of the release actuator; and





FIG. 15

is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line


15





15


of

FIG. 13

to show the arms received in the notches of the release actuator for opening the hooks to receive or launch the rocket on the release mechanism.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring now to

FIG. 1

of the drawing a bottle rocket launcher


20


in accordance with the present invention broadly includes a bottle plug


22


, a release mechanism


24


and a base


26


. The bottle rocket launcher


20


is configured to receive a bottle rocket


28


thereon, to hold it during pressurization and preparation for launch, and to selectively release the bottle rocket


28


when desired. Typically, the bottle rocket


28


includes a bottle body


30


, a plurality of radially outwardly extending stabilizing fins


32


, and a nose cone


34


, with the bottle body having a threaded neck which serves as a nozzle


36


. The nozzle


36


includes a circumscribing rim


38


held by the release mechanism


24


until launching is desired. As shown in

FIG. 2

, the bottle body


30


presents a hollow chamber


40


which receives therein liquid


42


, preferably water, and a gas


44


, such as air or carbon dioxide, which may be compressed to expel the liquid


42


through the nozzle


36


. The expulsion of the liquid


42


and compressed gas


44


from the nozzle


36


provides an impulse to propel the bottle rocket upwardly and away from the launcher


20


.




In greater detail, the base


26


is shown in FIG.


2


and is provided with three legs


46


, joined by a coupler


48


to form a tripod


50


, although other base configurations are also suitable. A gas supply conduit


52


may be connected to a manual pump such as a bicycle pump by fitting


54


and is connected to optional gauge/release manifold


56


which limits bottle body internal pressure to a predetermined, safe maximum such as about 90 psi. The coupler


48


includes an normally vertically oriented bore for receiving thereon shaft


60


of release mechanism


24


, shown in

FIGS. 3-5

,


7


-


10


and


12


-


13


. The shaft


60


is secured to the base


26


by wingnut


62


. A gas delivery conduit


64


is routed through the release mechanism


24


to fluidically connect the manifold


56


with the bottle plug


22


.




As shown in

FIGS. 2 and 6

, the bottle plug


22


includes a nozzle mount


66


which includes circumscribing channels


68


and


70


for receiving rubber or resilient synthetic resin sealing rings


72


and


74


therein. In addition, the nozzle mount presents a radially outwardly projecting flange


76


for seating against the nozzle


36


, and a neck


78


for receiving guide tube


80


thereon. The nozzle mount


66


has a longitudinally extending passage


82


for receiving nipple


84


at the lowermost end thereof. Air or other compressed gas is thus permitted to pass from the delivery conduit


64


through the nipple


84


, passage


82


and guide tube


80


to chamber


40


. A narrowed extension


85


is provided at the lower end of the bottle plug


22


for fitting into the release mechanism


24


.




The release mechanism


24


includes a support block


86


having a pivot mount


88


coupled at the upper end of the support block


86


. The pivot mount


88


has three outwardly extending brackets


90


each having a pivot pin


92


for pivotally mounting gripping levers


94


thereon. Each of the three gripping levers


94


has a hook


96


at the upper end configured for gripping the rim


38


of the nozzle


36


and an arm


98


at the lower end with a hole therebetween for receiving pivot pin


92


therethrough. The support block


86


is preferably tubular and sized to receive therein extension


85


therein and has an opening


100


in the cylindrical side wall


102


to permit passage of the delivery conduit


64


therethrough as best shown in FIG.


10


. Also as shown in

FIG. 10

, the hooks


96


have an engagement surface


101


which is angled upwardly toward the rim


38


of the bottle rocket


28


received thereon. This angled engagement surface


101


facilitates opening of the hooks


96


and lift-off of the bottle rocket


28


when release actuator


104


is shifted from a first position blocking the arms


98


from inward movement as shown in

FIGS. 1

,


4


,


8


,


9


,


10


,


12


, and


14


to a second position shown in

FIGS. 2

,


3


,


5


,


7


,


13


and


15


permitting inward movement of the arms


98


.




A release actuator


104


is shiftably mounted to the support block for movement into and out of engagement with the gripping levers


94


. The release actuator


104


may be provided in at least two different preferred configurations. As shown in

FIGS. 1 through 11

, the release actuator


104


is provided as a collar


106


having a shoulder


108


which engages each of the arms


98


in an upwardly shifted position as shown in

FIGS. 4

,


8


,


9


and


10


, but which is positioned below the arms in a downwardly shifted position as shown in

FIGS. 2

,


3


,


5


and


7


. A control rod


110


is connected to and extends downwardly from the collar


106


to shift lever


112


which is pivotally mounted by, for example, screws


114


to the support block


86


. The shift lever


112


includes a panel


116


which engages the support block


86


when in a down, engaging position. A hole


118


is provided in the shift lever


112


which is in registry with opening


120


extending transversely through the support block


86


when the shift lever


112


is in the down position. When so positioned, a safety pin


122


may be placed through the shift lever


112


and support block


86


to prevent shifting of the shift lever


112


and thus movement of the release actuator


104


. As shown in

FIGS. 1-5

, a lanyard


124


may be passed through the eye


126


of the safety pin


122


and attached through a hole in the remote, lower end of the shift lever


112


to permit movement of the release actuator


104


from a safe distance.




In a second, alternative embodiment of the release actuator


104


shown in

FIGS. 12 through 15

, a collar


128


is provided which is castellated to include a plurality of upwardly extending stops


130


with notches


132


positioned circumferentially therebetween, corresponding to the circumferential spacing of the arms


98


. The collar


128


is permitted to rotate about the support block


86


but prevented from moving downwardly by support peg


134


. Support peg


134


thus keeps the stops


130


high enough to engage the arms


98


when the collar


128


is rotated so that the notches


132


are out of registry with the arms


98


as shown in FIG.


14


. However, by moving finger


136


connected to the collar


128


to the position shown in

FIG. 15

, the arms


98


are permitted to move inwardly into the notches


132


and the hooks are thus permitted to detach from the rim


38


of the bottle rocket


28


. The finger


136


may be provided with a lanyard, and a safety pin inserted through a hole in the collar


136


and opening in the support block to prevent premature rotation of the collar as described with reference to collar


106


above.




In use, the bottle is first partially filled with the desired amount of liquid


42


and the nozzle


36


is then placed over the bottle plug


22


. The bottle plug


22


may be separated from the release mechanism


24


as shown in

FIG. 2

, but remain connected to a source of pressurized gas by the gas delivery conduit


64


. Because the hollow chamber


40


is then charged with a supply of liquid


42


such as water, the bottle rocket


28


may be placed on the bottle plug


22


and held in a tipped position with its nozzle


36


slightly elevated as shown in

FIG. 2

to inhibit leakage around the bottle plug


22


until the bottle rocket is ready to be pressurized prior to launch.




When ready to pressurize and launch the bottle rocket


28


, the bottle plug


22


with the bottle rocket


28


thereon is reinserted into the support block


86


with the extension


85


inserted into the opening in the top of the support block


86


. As the bottle rocket


86


moves downwardly, the hooks


96


close around the rim


38


and the arms


98


move out. Because the hooks


96


are configured to self-disengage, the release actuator


104


must be positioned in blocking relationship to the arms


98


before the handler may let go of the bottle rocket


28


. The safety pin


122


may be inserted through the opening


120


and hole


118


to prevent undesired movement of the shift lever


112


and thus the collar. As shown in

FIGS. 1 through 11

, the collar


106


is shifted up and the shift lever consequently moved down to hold the arms


98


in position. Alternatively, as shown in

FIGS. 12 through 15

, the collar


128


is rotated until the arms


98


are engaged by stops


130


to spread the arms


98


and maintain the hooks


96


in engagement with the rim


38


. Once the hooks


96


are secured over the circumscribing rim


38


, the chamber


40


may be pressurized with gas


44


. Gas such as air may be provided from, e.g., a bicycle pump connected to the fitting


54


and delivered through gas supply conduit


52


, gauge/release manifold


56


, and gas delivery conduit


64


to bottle plug


52


. Alternatively, a carbon dioxide cartridge may provide a convenient source of suitable pressurized gas.




When it is desired to launch the bottle rocket, the base


26


is preferably placed on substantially level ground. The user may then remove the safety pin


122


, and then pull on the lanyard


124


to lift the shift lever


112


and thus lower the collar


106


, or alternatively to rotate the collar


128


in the second embodiment shown in

FIGS. 12-15

. As the arms


98


are then free to move inwardly toward the support block


86


, the hooks


96


are moved outwardly as the pressure within the bottle rocket


28


causes the rim


38


to act against the hooks


96


. The bottle rocket


28


then moves upwardly as shown in

FIG. 5

, with the guide tube


80


serving not only to direct the course of the bottle rocket


28


, but also to channel and contain the liquid expelled from the nozzle


36


during launch, thereby improving launch performance.




Although preferred forms of the invention have been described above, it is to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as herein above set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.




The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of his/their invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A bottle rocket launcher for retaining and selectively releasing bottle rockets having a nozzle thereon, said launcher comprising:a bottle plug configured for insertion into the nozzle and having a passage for fluidically connecting the rocket to a source of pressurized gas; and a release mechanism configured to mount said bottle plug thereon, said release mechanism including a support block, a plurality of gripping elements circumferentially spaced around and shiftably mounted to said support block for movement between a first bottle rocket retaining position and a second bottle rocket releasing position, and a release actuator shiftably mounted to said support block for movement between a first position blocking movement of said gripping elements from the first bottle rocket retaining position and a second position permitting movement of said gripping elements between said first bottle rocket retaining position and a second bottle rocket retaining position.
  • 2. A bottle rocket launcher as set forth in claim 1, including a base mounting said release mechanism thereon.
  • 3. A bottle rocket launcher as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bottle plug is removably mounted to said support block of said release mechanism.
  • 4. A bottle rocket launcher as set forth in claim 3, wherein said bottle plug includes at least one sealing ring for inhibiting escape of liquid therepast.
  • 5. A bottle rocket launcher as set forth in claim 3, including a gas delivery conduit fluidically connected to said bottle plug.
  • 6. A bottle rocket launcher as set forth in claim 5, wherein said support block is tubular and has a sidewall including an opening and receiving said gas delivery conduit therethrough.
  • 7. A bottle rocket launcher as set forth in claim 1, said support block including a plurality of brackets pivotally mounting said gripping elements thereto.
  • 8. A bottle rocket launcher as set forth in claim 7, including a multiplicity of gripping elements and a corresponding number of brackets evenly circumferentially spaced around said support block.
  • 9. A bottle rocket launcher as set forth in claim 7, wherein said release actuator includes a collar mounted for translational up and down movement on said support block.
  • 10. A bottle rocket launcher as set forth in claim 9, wherein said gripping elements each include an arm engagable by said collar and a hook for holding said rocket in said first bottle rocket retaining position and configured for releasing the rocket when collar is disengaged from the arm in said second position permitting movement of said gripping elements.
  • 11. A bottle rocket launcher as set forth in claim 9, wherein said collar simultaneously disengages from the arm of each of said gripping elements when translated downwardly on said support block.
  • 12. A bottle rocket launcher as set forth in claim 7, wherein said release actuator includes a collar mounted for rotational movement on said support block.
  • 13. A bottle rocket launcher as set forth in claim 12, wherein said gripping elements each include an arm engagable by said collar and a hook for holding said rocket in said first bottle rocket retaining position and configured for releasing the rocket when the collar is disengaged from the arm in said second position permitting movement of said gripping elements.
  • 14. A bottle rocket launcher as set forth in claim 13, wherein said collar includes plurality of circumferentially spaced stops and presents a plurality of circumferentially spaced notches therebetween, whereby when said collar is in said first position said stops are positioned intermediate said support block and the arm of each gripping element, and when said collar is rotated to said second position, said notches are in registry with the arm of each of said arms thereby permitting simultaneous movement of each of said plurality of gripping elements from said first bottle rocket retaining position to said second bottle rocket releasing position.
  • 15. A bottle rocket launcher for retaining and selectively releasing bottle rockets having a nozzle thereon, said launcher comprising:a bottle plug configured for insertion into the nozzle and having a passage for fluidically connecting the rocket to a source of pressurized gas; a release mechanism configured to mount said bottle plug thereon, said release mechanism including a support block releasably receiving said bottle plug therein and a plurality of gripping elements circumferentially spaced around and shiftably mounted to said support block for movement between a first bottle rocket retaining position and a second bottle rocket releasing position; and a gas delivery conduit fluidically connected to the passage of the bottle plug, said conduit passing through said support block for translation therethrough when said bottle plug is removed from said support block.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
2759297 Lewis Aug 1956
2927398 Kaye et al. Mar 1960
3148478 Miller Sep 1964
5839940 Ensmenger Nov 1998
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry
Page from 1998 Pitsco catalog showing Hydrolaunch bottle rocket launcher.
Pages from Pitsco 1995 catalog showing Hydro2launch and bottle rocket (6 pages).