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WO1992019344A1 - Appareil generateur de fumee - Google Patents

Appareil generateur de fumee Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1992019344A1
WO1992019344A1 PCT/GB1991/002170 GB9102170W WO9219344A1 WO 1992019344 A1 WO1992019344 A1 WO 1992019344A1 GB 9102170 W GB9102170 W GB 9102170W WO 9219344 A1 WO9219344 A1 WO 9219344A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fluid
conduit
fluid conduit
inlet
thermal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB1991/002170
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Ian David Roffey
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LE MAITRE FIREWORKS Ltd
Original Assignee
LE MAITRE FIREWORKS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB9109721A external-priority patent/GB2245962B/en
Application filed by LE MAITRE FIREWORKS Ltd filed Critical LE MAITRE FIREWORKS Ltd
Publication of WO1992019344A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992019344A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
    • F41H9/00—Equipment for attack or defence by spreading flame, gas or smoke or leurres; Chemical warfare equipment
    • F41H9/06—Apparatus for generating artificial fog or smoke screens
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63J—DEVICES FOR THEATRES, CIRCUSES, OR THE LIKE; CONJURING APPLIANCES OR THE LIKE
    • A63J5/00—Auxiliaries for producing special effects on stages, or in circuses or arenas
    • A63J5/02—Arrangements for making stage effects; Auxiliary stage appliances
    • A63J5/025—Devices for making mist or smoke effects, e.g. with liquid air

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an apparatus for making smoke, particularly for the production of smoke or mist for use in theatrical effects but which may be used in ventilation systems and fumigation.
  • So called "water-based" glycol smoke generating machines usually rely on a heating chamber through which the fluid is forced under pressure to produce smoke/mist.
  • This chamber can be made of a variety of metals, although it is usually made of aluminium. In construction the chamber either comprises a housing into which is cast a metal tubing or separate galleries welded together to form a single unit.
  • a heating means is used to raise the chamber to the required temperature so that the fluid therein will produce smoke or mist.
  • metal used for the tubing is important.
  • the most successful metal from which to make coiled tubing is mild steel. It is, however, not ideal for this particular purpose due to its low thermal conductivity. There is also the possibility of rust developing due to the presence of water in the fluid. Stainless steel as an alternative does not conduct heat fast enough to produce a good dry smoke.
  • the tubing for this purpose is ideally made from copper. This however has the disterio that it cannot be cast into aluminium or other metals as the copper becomes “plastic", the result of which is that the copper tubing either splits or collapses.
  • Cast heating chambers also have a tendency to spit hot fluid from the outlet of the machine during heating of the fluid.
  • Copper tubing can be used in an alternatively designed heating chamber.
  • a circular length of copper tubing is sandwiched between two aluminium plates. While this design of a heating chamber enables copper tubing to be used, the resulting smoke output is low because the small contact area between the plates and the tubing only allows for a limited rate of heat transfer.
  • a specific length of the tubing is used in order to ensure that the fluid reaches the correct temperature as it passes through the tube. Additionally the flow rate must be reduced by means of a low pressure pump or a restrictive needle tube.
  • the present invention provides a smoke making apparatus comprising a flat-sided tubular fluid conduit having an inlet for the fluid to be heated and an outlet for the heated fluid, the fluid conduit being in thermal contact, along the flat sides thereof, with at least one thermal store means and a heating means.
  • the flat-sided fluid conduit is in thermal contact between two thermal store means.
  • the flat sided fluid conduit is arranged in a snake-like fashion between the two thermal store means.
  • the present invention also provides an improvement for removing excess hot fluid from smoke or mist produced by a smoke generating machine comprising an expansion chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet interposed between the inlet and the outlet of the fluid conduit of a machine.
  • the present invention further provides a method for making smoke comprising passing a smoke-generating fluid through an apparatus for heating fluids as described in the above four paragraphs, the apparatus having been pre-heated to a suitable temperature.
  • the use of a flat-sided conduit greatly increases the area of contact between the conduit and the thermal store means. This increases the rate of thermal transfer and allows for an increase in the throughput of fluid. Additionally the amount by which the conduit is compressed may act to aid control of the fluid flow rate. This arrangement therefore enables a high pressure to be used due to the ability of the system to accomodate a high flow rate and results in a high output of smoke/mist.
  • the thermal store means generally comprises a block of a thermally conductive material such as aluminium of a shape suitable to heat fluid in the conduit thermally coupled therewith.
  • a cylinder through which the conduit passes or around which it is wound.
  • the fluid conduit By placing the fluid conduit between two thermal store means the fluid conduit can be heated from both sides thus increasing the rate of heat transfer between the conduit and the thermal store means.
  • the thermal store means are planar the conduit can be arranged along and across the surfaces of the two thermal store means, in a snake-like fashion. This arrangement of the conduit produces close thermal coupling between the thermal store means and the fluid conduit.
  • the fluid conduit is closely folded in the snake-like fashion between the two thermal store means so that adjacent "coils" are touching.
  • an expansion chamber of increased internal dimensions may be fitted to the outlet of a smoke generating machine. This chamber collects the excess hot fluid to be retained until it boils off.
  • the chamber may be. separately attached to or integral with the conduit. If attached it must form an airtight seal with the conduit.
  • the fluid conduit and the expansion chamber may be formed of any material that can withstand the high temperatures required to vaporise the fluid. They do not necessarily have to be made of the same metal but preferably are and are preferably both made of copper. As the machine has to be able to cope with the various requirements of different liquids, fluid conduits with various dimensions, may be used. However the diameter of the expansion chamber must always be greater than that of the conduits. The dimensions used are to optimise the residence time for a given fluid at a particular temperature of the heating means.
  • the heating means may be of any suitable form, but preferably takes the form of an electrical heater embedded into the or each thermal store means.
  • Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic plan view through a smoke generating machine without its upper plate.
  • Figure 2 shows a section through Figure 1 along the line, II-II and including its upper plate.
  • Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the machine of Fig. 1, and
  • Figure 4 shows part of a second embodiment of the machine of Fig. 1.
  • the smoke generating machine 1 comprises a single pipe 2, two plates 4, an expansion chamber 5, a heating means 20 embedded in the plates and means 21 for controlling the fluid flow and the heating means.
  • a variable expansion chamber 22 is coupled to the inlet of pipe 2.
  • the pipe 2 consists of a small bore copper tube typically 60 inches (152 cm) long which has been compressed in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis along its length thereby reducing its diameter from 0.125 in (3.18 mm) to 0.095 in (2.41 mm).
  • the pipe 2 has an inlet 7 and an outlet 8 and is arranged between the inlet 7 and outlet 8 in a snake-like fashion with the flattened sides 6 in touching contact with the inner surfaces 3 of the plates 4.
  • the plates 4 consist of slabs of aluminium and act as a thermal store for the heating means embedded therein.
  • the heating means comprises an electrical heater element and is connected to the plates 4 enabling sufficient heat to be produced and transferred to the plates 4 to vaporise fluid passing through the pe 2.
  • the expansion chamber 5 is made of copper and carries a first tube 14 between its inlet and the pipe outlet 8 and a second tube 16 between its outlet and the apparatus's smoke outlet 12.
  • the first tube 14 has an attachment means (not shown) by which an airtight seal is made with the pipe 2.
  • the expansion chamber 5 is welded to the tubes 14 and 16.
  • the expansion chamber 5 has a sideways diameter greater than those of the first and second tube 14 and 16 respectively, but the depth is the same so that the chamber can fit between the plates 4.
  • the enlarged diameter of the chamber 5 enables the excess fluid to collect within the chamber 5 and to be retained until it boils off. As there is generally only a small amount of excess fluid the chamber 5 does not have to have a very large capacity but the precise dimension required may be varied according to the smoke generating fluid used.
  • This expansion chamber 5 may be used with any smoke generating machine wherein the tubing is formed by a separate casting process and is attached as herein described or cast as an integral unit with the tubing.
  • the machine is operated in accordance with standard practice.
  • the heater 20 is switched on to preheat the pipe 2 before the fluid enters the machine 1.
  • the fluid is forced under pressure from the inlet 7 along the pipe 2 and to the outlet 8 collecting heat as it moves along from the plates 4.
  • the flat sides enable a greater transfer of heat than otherwise could occur.
  • the pipe 2 is arranged in a snake-like fashion with the coils 9 being separate from each other.
  • the pipe 2 with the coil can however be folded with the coils 9 close together, preferably in touching contact.
  • the pipe may be a flattened pipe formed from 28 mm round tubing flattened to 2.5 mm and about 47 mm wide as shown at 2' in Fig. 4.
  • the fluid or resultant smoke or mist will thus be moving in opposite directions for each successive journey across the plates 4.
  • FIG. 3 Details of the machine of Fig. 1 are shown in Fig. 3.
  • pipe 2 is located between heat sink aluminium plates 4 these being 6 mm thick.
  • Either side of plates 4 are 1 mm thick steel pressure plates 24 and 25.
  • a further plate 26 acting as a support plate of 1.2 mm thick steel secures the heater 20 on top of plate 25.
  • Bolts 27 are inserted through plates 24, 4, 4, 25 and 26 to be secured by nuts 28.
  • the steel plates are assembled "oily" to blue at temperature.
  • Variable expansion chamber 22 which acts to smooth out back pressure indicated by broken lines 30 is connected between inlet 7 of pipe 2 and a pump 31 which pumps up the smoke generating fluid at a rate of about 4 cc/sec. from a 5 litre reservoir 32.
  • the pump and reservoir can be replaced by an aerosol container 33 shown in broken lines.
  • the variable expansion chamber 22 is formed as a cylinder with a sealed air chamber 34 in which a free piston 35 can move under the influence of a pressure of about 80 psi (550 kN/m *2 ) at inlet 36 from the pump or aerosol container or back pressure at outlet 37.
  • the piston can be a freely movable membrane. The effect of a sudden increase in system pressure to say 150-160 psi (1030-1100 kN/m 2 ) will be to force the piston or membrane in a direction to equalise the pressure. This prevents back pressure from slowing the flow rate through pipe 2.
  • the expansion chamber 5 is designed to overcome the problem of "spitting" small amounts of hot fluid on heat up. This chamber catches the small amounts of fluid and allows it to be harmlessly boiled off. As far as is known this is a novel feature of the machine according to the invention.
  • a first notch 38 carries a thermostat 39 connected to control unit 21 and a second notch 40 is provided to carry an excess heat heat fuse 41 comprising a zinc melting element, the fuse is electrically connected to control unit 21 so that on heat overload, power to heater 20 and pump 31 is cut off.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Instantaneous Water Boilers, Portable Hot-Water Supply Apparatuses, And Control Of Portable Hot-Water Supply Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

Appareil générateur de fumée à base de glycol et d'eau dans lequel un conduit de fluide de forme aplatie (2) est appliqué contre une cuve à chaleur ou entre deux plaques (4) formant une cuve à chaleur. De préférence, une chambre d'expansion (5, 22) est prévue à l'une ou aux deux extrémités du conduit qui possède de préférence la forme d'un serpentin. Un dispositif de chauffage à thermostat (20) est prévu de manière à élever la température de la cuve à chaleur et une pompe (31) ou une autre source de pression (33) peut être utilisée pour forcer le passage du fluide à travers l'appareil. La forme aplatie du conduit établit un bon contact avec la cuve à chaleur et la ou les chambre(s) d'expansion permet(tent) d'éviter le phénomène de projection ou de refoulement.
PCT/GB1991/002170 1991-05-03 1991-12-06 Appareil generateur de fumee Ceased WO1992019344A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9109721.2 1991-05-03
GB9109721A GB2245962B (en) 1990-05-03 1991-05-03 Smoke making apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992019344A1 true WO1992019344A1 (fr) 1992-11-12

Family

ID=10694482

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1991/002170 Ceased WO1992019344A1 (fr) 1991-05-03 1991-12-06 Appareil generateur de fumee

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU9034691A (fr)
WO (1) WO1992019344A1 (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999012620A1 (fr) 1997-09-05 1999-03-18 Le Maitre Fireworks Limited Generateur de fumee
WO1999033326A1 (fr) * 1997-12-22 1999-07-01 Nigel Morris Element de chauffage electrique
EP1174676A3 (fr) * 2000-11-17 2002-07-17 RUAG Electronics Procédé et dispositif pour la simulation visuelle des objets explosifs
WO2003001140A1 (fr) * 2001-06-22 2003-01-03 Bandit Dispositif de pulverisation
US6814024B2 (en) * 2002-02-11 2004-11-09 Ruag Electronics Method and device for the visual simulation of exploding bodies
EP2096609A1 (fr) * 2008-02-26 2009-09-02 Martin Professional A/S Système de dissuasion d'intrusion
WO2015066945A1 (fr) * 2013-11-06 2015-05-14 徐辉 Brumiseur à étages à arrêt immédiat

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0255232A1 (fr) * 1986-08-01 1988-02-03 Colin Hammond Générateur de brouillard
EP0292076A1 (fr) * 1987-05-22 1988-11-23 Medistad Holland B.V. Dispositif pour chauffer le sang
US4818843A (en) * 1988-02-12 1989-04-04 Edmund Swiatosz Smoke generator

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0255232A1 (fr) * 1986-08-01 1988-02-03 Colin Hammond Générateur de brouillard
EP0292076A1 (fr) * 1987-05-22 1988-11-23 Medistad Holland B.V. Dispositif pour chauffer le sang
US4818843A (en) * 1988-02-12 1989-04-04 Edmund Swiatosz Smoke generator

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999012620A1 (fr) 1997-09-05 1999-03-18 Le Maitre Fireworks Limited Generateur de fumee
US6347188B2 (en) 1997-09-05 2002-02-12 Le Maitre Ltd. Smoke generator
WO1999033326A1 (fr) * 1997-12-22 1999-07-01 Nigel Morris Element de chauffage electrique
EP1174676A3 (fr) * 2000-11-17 2002-07-17 RUAG Electronics Procédé et dispositif pour la simulation visuelle des objets explosifs
WO2003001140A1 (fr) * 2001-06-22 2003-01-03 Bandit Dispositif de pulverisation
US6814024B2 (en) * 2002-02-11 2004-11-09 Ruag Electronics Method and device for the visual simulation of exploding bodies
AU2003200473B2 (en) * 2002-02-11 2008-05-01 Ruag Simulation & Training Ag Method and device for the visual simulation of exploding bodies
EP2096609A1 (fr) * 2008-02-26 2009-09-02 Martin Professional A/S Système de dissuasion d'intrusion
WO2015066945A1 (fr) * 2013-11-06 2015-05-14 徐辉 Brumiseur à étages à arrêt immédiat

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU9034691A (en) 1992-12-21

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