US3046694A - Jet propelled toy arrangement - Google Patents

Description

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 20, 1957 all. 7

IN V EN T 0R.

z D 3% C M, 3/ B July 31, 1962 o. c. HOLDERER JET PROPELLED TOY ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1957 INVENTOR. OSCAR C. 22/5/1E'Rfl4r By I United States Patent" This invention relates to jet propelled toys and more particularly to a jet propelled toy rocket, missile or projectile and-launcher.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a et propelled toy object, particularly a rocket type missile or projectile, and a launcher therefor, in which the launcher serves both to retain the missile or projectile until a predetermined launching pressure is reached inside the body thereof and to seal the connection between the nozzle ,of the rocket or missile against loss of pressure through the connecting joint of the nozzle and launcher prior to release and actual launching of the missile from the launcher.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of a jet propelled toy in which a capsule or pellet of watersoluble gas generating material is inserted into the body of the propelled section by the launcher section of the toy, the launcher section cooperating with the nozzle of the propelledsection to seal and hold the propelled section thereon and against release therefrom prior to buildup of a predetermined pressure inside the propelled section, the propelled section then being self-released from the launcher section and self-propelled under power of the internal pressure and the jet of fluid material caused to be emitted from a nozzle on the propelled section due to the internal pressure.

Still a further feature of the invention is the provision of a jet propelled toy employing a self-releasing launching arrangement which insures against excessive buildup of pressure Within the body of the propelled unit and thus prevents destruction of the toy due to explosions or body splitting, and the like, resulting from excessive internal pressure. I

It is still a further feature to provide a novel selfpropelled toy arrangement having a launcher section and a propelled section, in which the propelled section is motivated by jet action, and which employs a self-sealing and self-releasing connection between the launcher unit and the propelled unit.

Still another feature is the provision of a reaction toy having a launcher unit and a self-propelled unit and ema ploying a self-sealing connection between the launcher unit and self-propelled unit whereby close tolerances are not required for the interfitting connecting elements.

Still further features and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of several physical embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention in the form of a rocket or missile, taken partially in diametral section,.with the propelled unit being in retained launching position on the launching unit.

FIGURE 2 illustrates in side elevation a modified form of the invention, partially in section.

FIGURE 3 shows in side elevation a further modifica- Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a selfpropelled missile arrangement including a propelled unit in the form of a hollow body it having a generally ogive (as shown) or other suitable missile shape, and formed of plastic, or other suitable material, secured therein, as by any suitable bodying material or means, depending on the material or materials employed in the 'body 10 and plug 13. V

Formed or secured on the outer surface of body 10 for guidance and/0r stability thereof during flight are fins 16, such being preferably formed at the rear thereof, as shown, for most'stable flight in accordance with conventional practice. Obviously, however, the fins 16 may be otherwise disposed or otherwise shaped, if desired, or may be replaced by other stabilizing or guidance means in the event such are desired, or may be eliminated if so desired, although such elimination is not preferable in most instances.

. In this embodiment the hollow interior 11 of body 10 forms the fuel and pressure chamber of the missile, while nodule 24 formed on a launcher 2i Launcher 20 has a base 22 and a stem 23, with nodule 24 formed on the stern in spaced apart relation to base 22. Nodule 24 is spaced apart from the adjacent surface of base 22 a sufiicient distance to permit thenodule to engage recess or groove 14 when the stem 23 is inserted into nozzle orifice 12.

Base 22 may be in any desired shape, such as being shaped with a Wide flat bottom or lower end for surface mounting and support, or pistol grip shaped or otherwise adapted for hand support. In the illustrated example thebase 22 has a wide flat bottom surface 25, and stem 23 is connected to the base through a ball-andsocket swivel connection 26 for directionally controlled launching; I

The stem 23 is preferably substantially complementary in peripheral shape to the nozzle orifice 12; however, the employment of the unique nodule and recess arrangement-permits a wide latitude of substantially large tolerances (is. loose fit) between the Walls of orifice 12 and 14 whenunder pressure, the sealing characteristics of this connection improving as the pressure within chamber 11 builds .up, this action being somewhat similar in this respect to the self-sealing action of an O-ring seal. In

order to obtain the most advantageous effect nodule 24,

or preferably plug 13, should be formed of resilient material such as a moderately resilient rubber or plastic,

with the complementary element (i.e. either plug 13 or i nodule 24, preferably nodule 13) being preferably formed of a morerigid material such as a hard plastic, hard rubber, or other suitable material. It will be apparent,

construction is conhowever, that while this preferred sidered most advantageous, other combinations of materials might be employed if desired (e.g. both nodule 24 and plug 13 of sameor similar material).

The nodule 24 is preferably tear-drop shaped, as illustrated in FIGURE 1, as it has been found that this shape gives very strong missile-holding resistance and sudden release, while permitting ease of insertion of the 3 stem 23 and nodule 24 into orifice 12. It is further preferable that the recess 14 be formed intermediate the ends of orifice i2, and most preferably near the exit end thereof, in order to yield the most effective sealing action while also yielding most sudden release action.

At the free end of stem 23 there is formed a chemical pellet holder, preferably in the form of a recess or open end bore 28. The end recess 28 is employed to hold a pellet 30 of material (e.g. carbide) which is water-reactive (or reactive to such other liquid as may be employed) to generate a gas upon contact therewith). In the event that a substantial time delay is desired between stem insertion and take-off of the missile in flight it is preferable to enclose the water reactive gas generation material, preferably in pellet form, in a water soluble capsule. It is further desirable that the gas generating pellet or capsule be lighter than water, if possible, in order that it will rise to the upper surface of the water in chamber 11, whereby the undissolved portion thereof will be less likely to be discharged through nozzle orifice 12 or tend to clog it prior to substantially complete jet ejection of the Water, but will continue to generate gas and thereby tend to maintain or build up the internal jet ejection pressure in chamber 11 during flight. In this connection it Will be apparent that light materials having comparatively little or no gas generating action, either soluble or insoluble, may be mixed with the main gas generating material to from a relatively light pellet, in the event that the major gas generating material is heavier than water. The pellet might also be made to have a lower specific gravity by making it less dense, as by more loose compacting, or when enclosed in a capsule the capsule may contain sufficient empty air space to give it an overall specific gravity to at least initially float itself and the gas generating material therein.

In operation, the operator fills the chamber 11 approximately one-third to one-half full of water, or other suitable liquid, and places a pellet or capsule 30 into recess 28. Stem 23 is then inserted into nozzle orifice 12 with nodule 24 being brought into engaged registry with recess 14 and stem end recess 28. Pellet or capsule 30 then begins to dissolve, and preferably rises to the surface of the water 18, whereupon gas is generated and pressure within chamber 11 builds up to a point beyond the retaining ability of nodule and recess retainer arrangement 24, 14. At this point the missile body and the base and stem 22, 23 will separate with a sudden release action, and water 18 will begin to be ejected under pressure in a jet stream out the rear end of nozzle orifice 12.

This produces a very realistic jet action effect and thereby provides a forward acting thrust on the body 11 dependent upon the mass-velocity product of the ejected material (i.e. water, and initially also the stem and base), with a resultant forward movement of the body at an acceleration and velocity dependent upon the thrust developed.

In FIGURE 2 there is shown a modified embodiment in which the nodule recess retaining and supporting arrangement is employed, but employing externally supplied water under pressure to compress entrapped air in the rocket body and cause the firing of the rocket. In the illustrated embodiment the rocket body 10a is identical to that of FIGURE 1; however, the launcher stem 23a has a recess or bore 28:: extending therethrough and into the base 22a of the launcher 2011, where it connects through a continuation thereof or a further transverse bore 29a with the interior of a conduit 32a, preferably flexible, as through the medium of a threaded coupling 34a. Conduit 32a, which may ideally be a flexible hose or tube, preferably is provided with a manual trigger valve 36a, which may be built in or removably attached thereto. The conduit 32a has a common garden hose coupling 38a, or otherwise as may be desired, for connection to a water faucet outlet. In operation, the body 16a is positioned on the stem as shown, and with the coupling 38a connected to a faucet (not shown) the water under pressure is permitted to flow into the chamber 11a of the body 100, as by opening valve 36a, or, if such a valve is not provided, by merely opening the faucet. The air trapped in the chamber 11a, as well as any air in the conduit 32a and bores 28a, 29a, will be compressed by the water under pressure flowing into the chamber 11a. When the air inside the chamber 11a has been compressed to the point where the axial force resulting from the pressure inside the chamber 11a exceds the retaining force exerted by the nodule and groove arrangement 14a, 24a, then the body lfia will self-eject itself from the launcher stand 29a, and will be self-propelled through the air through the jet action of the water escaping under pressure from the nozzle orifice 12a, and also at take off under the additional propulsive force of the water being ejected under pressure through the bore 28a of stem 23a. It will be readily apparent that a battery or plurality of rockets 10a may be simultaneously or successively fired by employing parallel conduit connections and various different valve arrangements, if so desired.

In FIGURE 3 the rocket body is identical to FIG- URES l and 2, and the launcher 26c modified to provide for pressure build-up in the chamber 110 through the use of a hand pump 43-0. The cylinder, 410 of the hand pump the is iilustrated as formed integrally with the base 22c of launcher 2%, but may be separate and connected by tubing or the like, if desired, particularly if remote control action is desired. An apertured end cap 420 and plunger 44c complete the pump, while a unidirectional ball valve 460 is provided in the air flow path in the base 22c. Aside from pressurizing the chamber 110 through the use of a hand-operated air pump, the operation is similar to that of FIGURES l and 2 in retention and selfreleasing action.

FIGURE 4 illustrates an application of the invention as applied to a model boat. In this embodiment the boat body 10d is hollow and has a rear nozzle block 13d formed integrally therewith or suitably secured thereto. The nozzle block 13d has an orifice 12d formed therein, into which is removably fitted a launcher or ejectable piston 26d, including a stem 23d having a tear-shaped nodule 24d formed thereon, and a hollow base 22d. The reason for making base 22d hollow is to make the launcher unit 29d lighter than water so that it will float upon being ejected from the boat nozzle orifice 12d, and thereby provide for easy recovery. However, this may also be attained by forming the launcher 20d of material lighter than water if desired. The end of stem 23d has a pelletreceiving recess 28:! formed therein similar to the embodiment of FIGURE 1. The operation of this embodiment is thus similar to FIGURE 1 except that the propulsive force is substantially horizontal rather than in a vertical or vertically inclined direction as usually utilized in operating the rocket embodiment. Additionally, there is a propulsive force resulting from the Water being displaced from the boat interior into and against the supporting body of Water, as well as the reactive force resulting from the jet effect.

Modified nodule-recess arrangements are illustrated in FIGURES 5-8, showing various alternative constructions which may be of use in some instances, but which for the most part are considerably less preferable than the tear drop arrangement employed in the embodiments of FIG- URES l, 2, 3 and 4. In FIGURE 5 the launcher 20:: has

a tapered shouldered base 22a and an invertedly or downwardly tapered lower surface formed on the nodule Me. The nozzle plug 13c has a nozzle orifice 12:; which is countersunk or flared at both its inner and outer ends 14:; and 152, and thereby receives the launcher or piston member 20c including stem 232, nodule Me, and base 22c, in tight complementary fitting relation as shown. A pellet receiving recess is provided at 28c.

In FIGURE 6 the launcher or piston member 29f has a flat shouldered base 22 the shoulder 21 of which seats against the adjacent outer end of nozzle plug 137. The upper end of the stem has a more or less spherical nodule 24 formed thereon with a pellet-receiving recess 28f formed in the surface thereof. When the stem 23f is fully inserted as shown, the spherical nodule 24f and the shoulder 21f engage respectively the inner and outer surfaces of the nozzle plug.

The modifications of FIGURES 7 and 8 are similar to that of FIGURE 1, except that in FIGURE 7 a diamondshaped nodule 24g (with a complementary groove in nozzle plug 1 3g) is employed, while in FIGURE 8 a nodule 24h of circular or ellipsoidal shape in cross section is utilized.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that many modifications might be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

-I claim:

1. A self-propelled toy arrangement comprising a propelled unit and a launcher unit, said propelled unit comprising a body having a pressure chamber formed therein and a nozzle orifice connecting between said chamber and the outside of said body, the bounding surface forming said orifice having a continuous annular circumferential transverse recess formed therein and spaced from the outer end of said orifice, said launcher unit comprising a stem substantially complementary to said orifice, said stem having a continuous circumferential nodule fonned thereon complementary to and in substantially fluid-sealing relation to said recess, said nodule having on its side extending toward the outer end of said orifice a surface extending at a first average angle of slope with respect to the longitudinal axis of said stem and said orifice, said nodule having on its side extending toward the interior of said pressure chamber a surface extending at a second average angle of slope with respect to the longitudinal axis of said stern and said orifice, said second average angle of slope being substantially smaller than said first average angle of slope.

2. A toy comprising a first jet propellable object having a pressurizable fluid chamber formed therein and a fluid outlet port connecting between said chamber and the exterior of said object, a second object, a fluid pressure responsive connection detachably connecting said second object to said first object in releasable relation to said port, said connection being self-releasable in response to fluid pressure Within said fluid chamber, a liquid-conveying port extending through said second object and connecting between said chamber and the exterior of said second object, and a threaded water hose screw-on connection secured to said second object and in fluid connection with said port for connection to a water faucet or water hose.

3. A toy according to claim 2 wherein said threaded water hose screw-on connection is a freely rotatable female connection having internal threads formed therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 616,410 Crawley Dec. 20, 1898 1,588,040 Moore June 8, 1926 1,612,794 Bender Jan. 4, 1927 2,363,592 Hunter Nov. 28, 1944 2,449,147 Samuels Sept. 14, 1948 2,521,135 Stark et al Sept. 5, 1950 2,526,225 Gronemeyer et a1 Oct. 17, 1950 2,714,269 Charles Aug. 2, 1955 2,725,868 Foster Dec. 6, 1955 2,732,657 Krautkramer Jan. 31, 1956 2,733,699 Krinsky Feb. 7, 1956 2,759,297 Lewis Aug. 21, 1956 2,792,669 Jackson et a1 May '21, 1957 2,820,321 Kuhn Ian. 21, 1958 2,826,001 Presnell Mar.'11, 1958 2,867,153 Hirsch Jan. 6, 1959 2,924,041 Jackson et a1. Feb. 9, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 161,579 Australia Mar. 1, 1955

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