A gas-driven fluid launching device

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of fluid launch technology and discloses a gas-driven fluid launch device, comprising: a housing, wherein a piston capable of reciprocating along its axial direction is disposed within the housing, the piston dividing the internal space of the housing into a power gas chamber and a working medium chamber; a locking assembly disposed on the housing and cooperating with the piston, the locking assembly including a locking element and a preload adjusting element; the locking element is used to cooperate with the piston to form a locking state when the piston is in a preset initial position, thereby restricting the axial movement of the piston; the preload adjusting element is used to adjust the locking preload applied to the piston by the locking element; and a reset drive element disposed on the housing and tractively connected to the piston; the reset drive element responds to an external driving force to drive the piston back to the preset initial position; wherein, the combustion and expansion of gas in the power gas chamber propels the piston to move.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of fluid launch technology, specifically relating to a gas-driven fluid launch device. Background Technology

[0002] In gas-driven fluid launching devices, the high pressure generated by gas combustion or expansion typically drives a piston, thereby propelling the fluid in the working medium chamber at high speed. For example, water cannons utilize pressure energy to rapidly propel water and create an impact jet, which can be used for impact, dispersion, experimental simulation, cleanup, and specific engineering operations.

[0003] For water cannon devices that use gas-driven or gas expansion-driven systems, it is usually necessary to complete steps such as gas charging, piston positioning, water injection, and sealing before firing. If the piston lacks a reliable initial locking structure when it is charging or ready to fire, pressure changes in the ignition chamber or gas chamber may cause the piston to move prematurely, thereby affecting the stability of gas charging, the water filling status of the water chamber, and the consistency of firing.

[0004] In addition, the piston after launch usually needs to return to the preset initial position in order to carry out the next inflation, water injection and launch; if the reset structure is complicated, the reset resistance is large or the venting is insufficient, it will reduce the reuse efficiency of the device and may cause problems such as piston jamming, seal wear or inconvenience in operation.

[0005] Existing water cannon devices suffer from low integration in areas such as gas charging, ignition sealing, exhaust reset, piston locking, and piston end buffering, resulting in complex overall structures, difficult maintenance, or insufficient firing stability. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a gas-driven water cannon device that is compact, reliably ignited, and features a stable piston lock and easy reset, to improve the safety of the water cannon device before firing, its stability during firing, and the ease of reset after firing. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, in order to solve the problems mentioned in the background art regarding the unreliable locking of the piston in the ready-to-fire state, inconvenient reset operation, insufficient firing consistency, and low structural integration of existing launching devices, the purpose of this invention is to provide a gas-driven fluid launching device.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0008] A gas-driven fluid launching device, comprising:

[0009] A housing, wherein a piston capable of reciprocating along its axial direction is disposed within the housing, the piston dividing the internal space of the housing into a power gas chamber and a working medium chamber;

[0010] A locking assembly is disposed on the housing and cooperates with the piston. The locking assembly includes a locking member and a preload adjustment member. The locking member is used to cooperate with the piston to form a locking state when the piston is in a preset initial position, so as to restrict the axial movement of the piston. The preload adjustment member is used to adjust the locking preload applied to the piston by the locking member.

[0011] A reset drive is disposed on the housing and drivenly connected to the piston; the reset drive responds to an external driving force to drive the piston back to the preset initial position;

[0012] The combustion and expansion of the gas in the power chamber pushes the piston to overcome the locking preload force, causing the piston to move from the preset initial position toward the working medium chamber, thereby pushing the medium out of the working medium chamber.

[0013] Preferably, the piston has a locking engagement portion on its outer periphery; the locking assembly further includes an elastic element that applies an elastic force toward the piston to the locking member; the locking member extends partially into the locking engagement portion in the locked state to form a disengageable engagement; the preload adjusting member adjusts the locking preload applied to the piston by changing the deformation of the elastic element.

[0014] Preferably, the locking element is a rolling element, and the locking engagement part is an annular groove disposed on the outer periphery of the piston; the rolling element is partially engaged in the annular groove under the action of the elastic element, and converts sliding friction into rolling friction when the piston disengages from the lock.

[0015] Preferably, a mounting base is installed on the housing; the locking member and the elastic member are accommodated within the mounting base; the preload adjustment member includes a threaded adjustment member, which is threadedly connected to the mounting base, so that the elastic member is pre-compressed between the locking member and the threaded adjustment member.

[0016] Preferably, the reset drive is disposed on the side wall of the housing and can move along the axial direction of the housing. The inner end of the reset drive is in contact with or connected to the piston, and the outer end is used to receive the external driving force.

[0017] Preferably, the housing is further provided with a buffer ring and an axial limiting ring; the buffer ring is located at the end of the piston's stroke towards the working medium chamber to decelerate and buffer the piston; the axial limiting ring cooperates with the buffer ring to limit the maximum axial displacement of the piston.

[0018] Preferably, a combustion ignition device is provided at one end of the power gas chamber; the combustion ignition device includes a gas filling component and an electronic igniter; the gas filling component is used to fill the power gas chamber with the gas to be burned, and the electronic igniter is used to ignite the gas when the gas pressure in the power gas chamber exceeds a threshold.

[0019] Preferably, the inflation assembly includes a valve push rod, a valve seat, and a resilient reset member; the valve push rod is configured to move relative to the valve seat under the action of an external force to open an inflation channel communicating with the power chamber; after the external force is released, the resilient reset member drives it to return to a position against the valve seat to block the inflation channel; the inflation channel is configured as a one-way channel that only allows gas to enter the power chamber.

[0020] Preferably, an exhaust valve is also provided at one end of the power chamber; the exhaust valve is configured to open before or during the piston reset to discharge residual gases after combustion in the power chamber.

[0021] Preferably, one end of the working medium chamber is provided with a filling inlet and a spray outlet; the filling inlet is provided with a removable seal for sealing the filling inlet after the medium is filled; the spray outlet is provided with a sealing element configured to keep the spray outlet closed during medium filling; when the piston compresses the medium in the working medium chamber, it is passively opened by the medium pressure to form a spray channel for the medium to be ejected.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0023] (1) The present invention provides a gas-driven fluid launching device. By setting a locking assembly including a locking component and a preload adjustment component, the piston obtains an adjustable locking preload at a preset initial position, thereby adapting to the pressure holding requirements under different inflation pressures. At the same time, the reset drive component can pull the piston back to the initial position in response to external driving force after launch. Combined with the preload adjustment function, the consistency of the locking state and the reliability of the reset operation in each launch cycle are ensured, thereby improving the launch stability and reuse efficiency of the overall device.

[0024] (2) In this invention, the locking preload applied to the piston by the locking element is provided by the elastic element, and the deformation of the elastic element is directly controlled by the preload adjustment element to achieve precise adjustment of the locking preload; the locking element and the locking engagement part can be disengaged and engaged, which not only ensures the axial constraint in the ready state, but also allows automatic disengagement when the gas thrust exceeds the threshold, avoiding the risk of release impact or jamming caused by rigid locking.

[0025] (3) In this invention, the locking element is a rolling element, and the cooperation between the rolling element and the annular groove enables the piston to convert the traditional sliding friction into rolling friction at the moment of start-up, thereby significantly reducing the disengagement resistance and improving the sensitivity and consistency of the ignition response; at the same time, the annular groove provides circumferential uniform limiting to avoid piston off-center loading, thereby extending the service life of the locking assembly.

[0026] (4) In this invention, the inflation and ignition functions are integrated at the end of the power chamber, resulting in a compact structure; the electronic igniter is triggered based on the air pressure threshold to ensure that the ignition timing matches the inflation state, thereby improving the controllability and safety of energy release. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 This is an overall cross-sectional view of the gas-driven fluid launching device of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a partially enlarged view of the locking component in this invention;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a partially enlarged view of the inflation component in this invention;

[0030] In the diagram: 1. Housing; 2. Piston; 3. Locking element; 4. Preload adjusting element; 5. Reset drive element; 6. Locking mating part; 7. Elastic element; 8. Mounting seat; 9. Buffer ring; 10. Axial limiting ring; 11. Electronic igniter; 12. Valve pushrod; 13. Valve seat; 14. Elastic reset element; 15. Inflation channel; 16. Exhaust valve; 17. Filling inlet; 18. Injection outlet. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To further understand the content of this invention, a detailed description of the invention is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. The structures, proportions, sizes, etc., depicted in the accompanying drawings are merely for illustrative purposes and to aid those skilled in the art, and are not intended to limit the implementation conditions of the invention. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in proportions, or adjustments to size, without affecting the effects and objectives of the invention, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in this invention. Furthermore, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and "middle" used in this specification are merely for clarity and not intended to limit the scope of implementation. Changes or adjustments to their relative relationships, without substantially altering the technical content, should also be considered within the scope of the invention. It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of this application described herein.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] Please see Figures 1-3 As shown, the gas-driven fluid launching device provided by the present invention includes a housing 1, a piston 2, a locking assembly, and a reset drive 5.

[0034] The housing 1 serves as the main load-bearing structure of the equipment. Inside, a piston 2 capable of axial reciprocating movement is installed. The piston 2 divides the internal space of the housing 1 into a power gas chamber and a working medium chamber. Specifically, the power gas chamber contains a power source such as high-pressure gas or a combustible mixture, while the working medium chamber contains water, fire extinguishing dry powder, or other fluid media to be launched. The piston 2 acts as a dynamic seal and energy transfer mechanism between the two chambers, and its axial movement directly determines the volume change of the two chambers. It should be understood that... Figure 1 Although the structure shown is that the housing 1 is cylindrical and the piston 2 is cylindrical, in other embodiments, the housing 1 and piston 2 may also be square, elliptical or other suitable cross-sectional shapes.

[0035] A locking assembly is disposed on the housing 1 and cooperates with the piston 2. The locking assembly includes a locking member 3 and a preload adjusting member 4. The locking member 3 is used to cooperate with the piston 2 to form a locking state when the piston 2 is in a preset initial position, thereby restricting the axial movement of the piston 2. The preload adjusting member 4 is used to adjust the locking preload applied to the piston 2 by the locking member 3. In this embodiment, the cooperation between the locking member 3 and the piston 2 is a detachable mechanical cooperation. When the piston 2 is in the preset initial position (i.e., the ready-to-fire position), the locking member 3 prevents the piston 2 from moving towards the working medium chamber through mechanical interference, frictional engagement, or elastic locking, thereby ensuring that the piston 2 will not be mis-displaced due to pressure fluctuations in the power gas chamber during the inflation or pressure holding stages. The preload adjustment component 4 achieves continuous or graded adjustment of the locking preload by changing the interaction between the locking component 3 and the piston 2. For example, the preload adjustment component 4 can change the locking preload through mechanical compression, hydraulic back pressure, air pressure balance, or electromagnetic field strength adjustment, thereby enabling the overall equipment to flexibly adapt to different inflation pressures and operating conditions. The locking preload is lowered during low-pressure filling to reduce reset difficulty, and the locking preload is increased during high-pressure pre-launch preparation to ensure positional stability.

[0036] A reset drive 5 is mounted on the housing 1 and is connected to the piston 2 via a transmission mechanism. The reset drive 5 responds to an external driving force, driving the piston 2 back to the preset initial position. Specifically, the external driving force can be in various forms, such as manual pulling force, electric push rod thrust, pneumatic motor torque, or hydraulic cylinder pressure. The reset drive 5 converts these external driving forces into axial movement of the piston 2, allowing the piston 2 to return to the preset initial position locked by the locking assembly after completing one firing operation, preparing for the next cycle. It should be understood that the connection between the reset drive 5 and the piston 2 can be direct contact, hooking, threaded engagement, or magnetic coupling, etc.

[0037] In this embodiment of the gas-driven fluid launching device, during operation, the combustion and expansion of the gas in the power chamber pushes the piston 2 to overcome the locking preload force, causing the piston 2 to move from the preset initial position toward the working medium chamber, thereby pushing the medium out of the working medium chamber. Since the locking preload force is precisely set by the preload adjustment component 4, it ensures both the stability of the ready-to-launch state and avoids starting delays or energy loss due to excessive locking preload force, thus significantly improving launch consistency and response speed.

[0038] Example 2

[0039] This embodiment provides a detailed description of a gas-driven fluid launching device based on Embodiment 1 described above. This embodiment provides a gas-driven fluid launching device, including a housing 1, a piston 2, a locking assembly, and a reset drive component 5.

[0040] Based on the above embodiment 1, this embodiment further describes in detail the management, safety protection and exhaust reset mechanism of the power chamber.

[0041] In one embodiment, a buffer ring 9 and an axial limiting ring 10 are also provided inside the housing 1; the buffer ring 9 is located at the end of the piston 2's stroke towards the working medium chamber to decelerate and buffer the piston 2; the axial limiting ring 10 cooperates with the buffer ring 9 to limit the maximum axial displacement of the piston 2. Specifically, as... Figure 1 As shown, the buffer ring 9 is typically made of polyurethane, rubber, or other elastic materials with high damping properties and is installed on the inner wall of the housing 1 near the working medium chamber. When the piston 2 moves at high speed to the end of its stroke under the drive of high-pressure gas, the buffer ring 9 absorbs the remaining kinetic energy of the piston 2 through its own elastic deformation, converting the rigid collision into gentle damping dissipation, thereby effectively protecting the end face of the piston 2 and the housing 1 from impact damage. The axial limiting ring 10, as a rigid limiting structure, is located behind the buffer ring 9 or integrated with the buffer ring 9. It is used to limit the extreme position of the piston 2, preventing the piston 2 from over-stroke or even detaching from the housing 1 due to abnormally high charging pressure or failure of the buffer ring 9. This effectively ensures the structural integrity and service life of the equipment under high-frequency, high-intensity firing conditions.

[0042] It should be noted that, for example Figure 1 As shown, the piston 2 includes a connecting part in the middle and ends located at both ends of the connecting part. The buffer ring 9 and the axial limiting ring 10 are respectively disposed between the ends and sleeved on the outside of the connecting part in the middle.

[0043] In one implementation, a combustion ignition device and an exhaust valve 16 are provided at one end of the power chamber. Specifically, the combustion ignition device includes a gas filling assembly and an electronic igniter 11; the gas filling assembly is used to fill the power chamber with the gas to be burned, and the electronic igniter 11 is used to ignite the gas when the gas pressure in the power chamber exceeds a threshold; the exhaust valve 16 is used to open before or during the reset of the piston 2 to discharge the residual gas after combustion in the power chamber. It should be understood that the exhaust valve 16 can be a manual rotary valve, a solenoid valve, or a mechanical valve linked by the reset action; before or during the reset operation, opening the exhaust valve 16 allows the residual gas to be quickly released to the atmosphere or the recovery system, thereby eliminating the pneumatic resistance when the piston 2 moves back and preventing the reset from being stuck or not in place due to excessive back pressure. At the same time, timely discharge of high-temperature exhaust gas can also reduce its thermal aging erosion on the internal structures such as the piston 2, thereby ensuring the reliability and circulation efficiency of continuous operation of the equipment.

[0044] For example, the inflation assembly includes a valve push rod 12, a valve seat 13, and a resilient reset member 14. The valve push rod 12 is configured to move relative to the valve seat 13 under external force to open an inflation passage 15 communicating with the power chamber; after the external force is released, it is driven by the resilient reset member 14 to return to its original position against the valve seat 13, thereby sealing the inflation passage 15. Figure 3 As shown, the valve push rod 12 passes through the end cap of the power chamber, and its head forms a sealing pair with the valve seat 13. When the external charging equipment presses against the valve push rod 12, the elastic reset member 14 is compressed, the valve push rod 12 leaves the valve seat 13, the charging passage 15 opens, and the gas can be injected into the power chamber. Once the external force is removed, the elastic reset member 14 (such as a coil spring or disc spring) immediately pushes the valve push rod 12 back to its original position, so that it fits tightly against the valve seat 13 to achieve automatic sealing.

[0045] It should be noted that the inflation channel 15 extends through the end cap of the power chamber and is Y-shaped, comprising two branch pipes. The valve lifter 12 passes through the first branch pipe, the valve seat 13 is located at the inner end of the first branch pipe, and the elastic reset member 14 is connected to the outer end of the first branch pipe. A sealing ring, fitted around the valve lifter 12, is also provided within the first branch pipe. The second branch pipe connects to the first branch pipe, with the connection point located between the sealing ring and the valve seat 13. Thus, when the inflation assembly is opened, external gas flows through the second branch pipe to the valve seat 13 and then enters the power chamber. The first branch pipe serves only as the mounting base for the various structures of the inflation assembly.

[0046] Furthermore, the inflation channel 15 is configured as a one-way channel that only allows gas to enter the power gas chamber. Specifically, this one-way channel can be achieved by installing a one-way valve core within the channel, for example, by installing a one-way valve core inside the second branch pipe. This effectively ensures that even after the pressure inside the power gas chamber increases, the gas cannot leak back to the external inflation source side, thus ensuring the convenience of inflation operation and avoiding safety hazards and metering errors caused by high-pressure gas backflow.

[0047] Based on the above embodiment 1, this embodiment further describes in detail the encapsulation and passive spraying of the working medium chamber.

[0048] In one embodiment, one end of the working medium chamber is provided with a filling inlet 17 and a spray outlet 18; the filling inlet 17 is provided with a removable seal for sealing the filling inlet 17 after the medium is filled; the spray outlet 18 is provided with a sealing element configured to keep the spray outlet 18 closed during medium filling; when the piston 2 compresses the medium in the working medium chamber, it is passively opened by the medium pressure to form a spray channel for the medium to be ejected.

[0049] Specifically, combined Figure 1 As shown, the filling inlet 17 is typically located on the wall or end cap of the housing 1 at the end of the working medium chamber. Its location should facilitate media injection by operators or automated equipment. The removable seal can be in various forms, such as a threaded plug, a quick-release cap, a flange blind plate, or a magnetic sealing plug. Taking a threaded plug as an example, it engages with the internal thread of the filling inlet 17, allowing for quick installation and removal by rotation. This ensures convenient filling operations and provides a reliable static seal after filling, preventing leakage of the working medium during pressure holding or transportation. It should be understood that although the figure shows the filling inlet 17 located on the side wall of the working medium chamber, in other embodiments, the filling inlet 17 can also be located at the center of the working medium chamber end cap or other easily accessible locations.

[0050] The core feature of the sealing element at the injection outlet 18 is its passive opening; this means that the opening and closing action of the sealing element is entirely driven by the fluid pressure within the working medium chamber, without the intervention of any external sensors, controllers, or actuators. In this embodiment, the sealing element can be an elastic diaphragm with adjustable preload, a constant-pressure rupture disc, a spring-loaded one-way valve core, or a gravity / magnetic balanced baffle, etc. For example, when an elastic diaphragm is used as the sealing element, the material thickness and preload of the diaphragm are precisely calibrated so that it only ruptures or undergoes significant deformation when the pressure within the working medium chamber reaches a predetermined firing threshold, thereby opening the injection outlet 18; if a spring-loaded valve core is used, the opening pressure point is set by adjusting the spring preload. Based on this, it is effectively ensured that the medium within the working medium chamber is released only after accumulating sufficient compressive potential energy during each firing, thus ensuring a high degree of consistency between the initial velocity and the firing range.

[0051] Based on the above embodiment 1, this embodiment further defines the specific implementation structure and coordination mechanism of the locking component and the reset drive component.

[0052] In one embodiment, a locking engagement portion 6 is provided on the outer periphery of the piston 2; the locking assembly also includes an elastic element 7, which applies an elastic force toward the piston 2 to the locking member 3; the locking member 3, in the locked state, partially extends into the locking engagement portion 6 to form a detachable engaging fit; the preload adjusting member 4 adjusts the locking preload applied to the piston 2 by changing the deformation of the elastic element 7. Specifically, the elastic element 7, as an energy storage unit for the locking preload, can be in the form of a helical compression spring, a disc spring assembly, or an elastic metal sheet, etc. When the piston 2 is in a preset initial position, the elastic element 7 is in a compressed energy storage state, transmitting the elastic force to the locking member 3, forcing the locking member 3 to embed into the locking engagement portion 6 on the surface of the piston 2; when the gas expansion thrust in the power chamber exceeds the threshold set by the elastic element 7, the locking member 3 can be forcibly squeezed out of the locking engagement portion 6, thereby achieving automatic unlocking of the piston 2. Among them, the preload adjustment component 4 changes the initial compression amount or stiffness coefficient of the elastic component 7 by directly acting on it, thereby achieving precise adjustment of the locking preload.

[0053] It should be noted that the locking element 3 is a rolling element, and the locking mating part 6 is an annular groove provided on the outer periphery of the piston 2; the rolling element is partially engaged in the annular groove under the action of the elastic element 7, and converts sliding friction into rolling friction when the piston 2 disengages from the lock. Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the rolling element can be a steel ball, ceramic ball, or cylindrical roller, etc. The cross-sectional shape of the annular groove is adapted to the shape of the rolling element. For example, when the rolling element is a sphere, the annular groove adopts a circular arc bottom groove. Specifically, at the instant the piston 2 switches from the locked state to the moving state, a relative displacement occurs between the locking member 3 and the locking mating part 6. During this movement and disengagement, the locking member 3 rolls along the surface of the annular groove to convert the original sliding friction into rolling friction, thereby effectively reducing frictional resistance and reducing the energy loss when the piston 2 starts, improving the utilization rate of gas energy. More importantly, it can also effectively eliminate the abrupt effect between static friction and dynamic friction, making the release action of the piston 2 smoother, thus ensuring the stability of multiple launches. It should be understood that although a single rolling element is shown in the figure, in other embodiments, multiple rolling elements can be evenly arranged along the circumference to provide circumferentially symmetrical locking preload and avoid uneven force on the piston 2.

[0054] Further, a mounting base 8 is installed on the housing 1; the locking member 3 and the elastic member 7 are accommodated within the mounting base 8; the preload adjusting member 4 includes a threaded adjusting member, which is threadedly connected to the mounting base 8, so that the elastic member 7 is pre-compressed between the locking member 3 and the threaded adjusting member. Figure 2 As shown, the mounting base 8, as an independent structure, can be fixed to the pre-drilled holes in the housing 1 by means of bolts, interference fits, or welding. The threaded adjustment component can be an adjusting nut, adjusting screw, or graduated knob, which mates with the threaded hole inside the mounting base 8. When the threaded adjustment component is rotated, its axial displacement directly translates into a change in the compression of the elastic element 7, thereby adjusting the locking preload applied to the piston 2 by the locking element 3. Because the threaded drive has the characteristics of speed reduction, torque amplification, and self-locking, the operator can achieve continuous and precise adjustment of the locking preload through a small rotation angle, and reliably maintain the set value without reversal.

[0055] In one embodiment, the reset drive 5 passes through the side wall of the housing 1 and is movable along the axial direction of the housing 1. The inner end of the reset drive 5 abuts against or is connected to the piston 2, and the outer end is used to receive the external driving force. Figure 1As shown, the reset drive 5 passes vertically through the guide hole in the side wall of the housing 1, and the axis of the guide hole is parallel to the movement axis of the piston 2. Specifically, the inner end of the reset drive 5 can be directly fixed to the side wall of the piston 2, or it can form a separable transmission connection with the piston 2 through a hook, slot, or magnetic structure; the outer end is directly exposed outside the housing 1, serving as an interface for human-machine interaction or automated equipment. In manual operation mode, the outer end can be connected to a handle or pull ring for manual operation; in electric or pneumatic mode, the outer end can be directly connected to the output shaft of a linear motor, cylinder, or hydraulic push rod; regardless of the external drive source used, the reset drive 5 can efficiently transfer the externally input energy to the piston 2, enabling it to overcome residual air pressure and friction to return to the preset initial position, and then be relocked by the locking member 3, thus completing the preparation for the working cycle.

[0056] In summary, the gas-driven fluid launching device of this application will be described using a water cannon as an example:

[0057] Step S100: Reset and lock.

[0058] When the equipment completes its last launch or is in its initial assembly state, the operator or automated actuator applies an external driving force to the reset drive 5, causing it to move axially along the housing 1 and drive the piston 2 back towards the power chamber. When the piston 2 moves to the preset initial position, the locking member 3 in the locking assembly automatically engages with the locking engagement part 6 on the outer periphery of the piston 2 under the action of the elastic member 7, forming a detachable locking state, thereby restricting the axial movement of the piston 2.

[0059] At this stage, based on the range or operating pressure required for this launch mission, the compression of the elastic element 7 is changed by rotating the preload adjustment component 4, thereby precisely setting the locking preload applied to the piston 2 by the locking component 3. Specifically, if the mission requires a higher charging pressure to achieve a longer range, the preload adjustment component 4 should be tightened appropriately to increase the locking preload, preventing the piston 2 from undergoing micro-displacement during high-pressure charging, which could lead to seal failure or launch parameter drift. Conversely, if only a lower pressure is required for close-range operation, the preload adjustment component 4 can be loosened appropriately to reduce the locking preload. This ensures basic pressure holding stability and reduces the disengagement resistance threshold during subsequent ignition and release, allowing the equipment to flexibly adapt to diverse operating conditions.

[0060] Step S200: Inflate and fill with water.

[0061] After piston 2 is reliably locked, the power source is first filled. The inflation assembly is operated, and the valve push rod 12 is pushed away from the valve seat 13 by external force, opening the inflation channel 15 to fill the power chamber with a certain amount of combustible gas; when the inflation reaches the preset value, the external force is removed, and the valve push rod 12 is automatically reset and sealed against the valve seat 13 under the action of the elastic reset member 14, realizing one-way sealing and pressure maintenance of the power chamber.

[0062] Subsequently, the removable seal at the filling inlet 17 is opened, and water or other working medium is injected into the working medium chamber. After filling, the seal is reinstalled to close the filling inlet 17. At this time, the sealing element at the injection outlet 18 remains closed under the static pressure of the medium, ensuring that the working medium chamber is in a sealed, ready-to-launch state.

[0063] During this step, since piston 2 is securely locked by the locking assembly, even if the pressure inside housing 1 changes during inflation and water injection, piston 2 will not move, thus ensuring the accuracy of inflation measurement and the sealing safety of the water injection process.

[0064] Step S300: Launch.

[0065] Once preparations are complete, the electronic igniter 11 is triggered to ignite the combustible gas in the power chamber. The gas rapidly burns and expands, generating high pressure, which pushes the piston 2 to overcome the locking preload of the locking element 3 and move at high speed from the preset initial position toward the working medium chamber. At this instant, relative rolling occurs between the locking element 3, which acts as a rolling element, and the annular groove-shaped locking engagement part 6, thereby significantly reducing the disengagement resistance and energy loss of the piston 2 during startup, ensuring the consistency and sensitivity of each firing response.

[0066] After piston 2 moves and unlocks, it compresses the water in the working medium chamber. When the water pressure rises to a predetermined threshold, the sealing element at the injection outlet 18 is passively opened by the medium pressure, forming an injection channel that allows the water to be ejected at high speed. When piston 2 moves to the end of its stroke, buffer ring 9 absorbs its remaining kinetic energy through elastic deformation, achieving flexible deceleration. At the same time, axial limiting ring 10 restricts the maximum displacement of piston 2, preventing it from hitting the end cover of the working medium chamber or falling out of the housing 1, thereby protecting the structural integrity of the equipment and extending its service life.

[0067] Step S400: Exhaust reset and lock again.

[0068] After launch, high-temperature exhaust gas and unburned products remain in the power gas chamber. At this time, the exhaust valve 16 located at one end of the power gas chamber is opened, and the operator or automated actuator applies an external driving force to the reset drive 5, causing it to move axially along the housing 1 and drive the piston 2 back towards the power gas chamber. During this process, the residual gas in the power gas chamber is quickly discharged to the external environment, and the piston 2 also moves to the preset initial position and is relocked by the locking component (i.e., step S100 is repeated).

[0069] In addition, after exhausting the gas, close the exhaust valve 16 to allow the power chamber to be inflated.

[0070] Of course, this application can also be used for other fluid launching devices that utilize gas expansion to drive a piston to do work, such as fire extinguishing projectile launchers and pneumatic cleaning devices.

[0071] In the description of this invention, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0072] Note that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the technical principles employed. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, and various obvious changes, readjustments, and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, although the present invention has been described in detail through the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may include many other equivalent embodiments without departing from the concept of the present invention, the scope of which is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A gas-driven fluid launching device, characterized in that, include: A housing (1) is provided inside which a piston (2) is reciprocating along its axial direction. The piston (2) divides the internal space of the housing (1) into a power air chamber and a working medium chamber. A locking assembly is disposed on the housing (1) and cooperates with the piston (2). The locking assembly includes a locking member (3) and a preload adjustment member (4). The locking member (3) is used to cooperate with the piston (2) to form a locking state when the piston (2) is in a preset initial position, so as to restrict the axial movement of the piston (2). The preload adjustment member (4) is used to adjust the locking preload applied to the piston (2) by the locking member (3). A reset drive (5) is disposed on the housing (1) and is connected to the piston (2) in a transmission manner; the reset drive (5) drives the piston (2) to move back to the preset initial position in response to an external driving force; The combustion and expansion of the gas in the power chamber pushes the piston (2) to overcome the locking preload force, causing the piston (2) to move from the preset initial position toward the working medium chamber, so as to push out the medium in the working medium chamber.

2. The gas-driven fluid launching device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The piston (2) is provided with a locking engagement part (6) on its outer periphery; The locking assembly further includes an elastic element (7) that applies an elastic force toward the piston (2) to the locking element (3); the locking element (3) extends partially into the locking engagement portion (6) in the locked state to form a releasable engagement. The preload adjusting member (4) adjusts the locking preload applied to the piston (2) by the locking member (3) by changing the deformation of the elastic member (7).

3. The gas-driven fluid launching device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The locking element (3) is a rolling element, and the locking mating part (6) is an annular groove provided on the outer periphery of the piston (2); The rolling element is partially engaged in the annular groove under the action of the elastic element (7), and the sliding friction is converted into rolling friction when the piston (2) disengages from the lock.

4. A gas-driven fluid launching device according to claim 2, characterized in that: A mounting base (8) is installed on the housing (1); The locking member (3) and the elastic member (7) are housed within the mounting base (8); the preload adjustment member (4) includes a threaded adjustment member, which is threadedly connected to the mounting base (8) so that the elastic member (7) is pre-compressed between the locking member (3) and the threaded adjustment member.

5. A gas-driven fluid launching device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reset drive (5) passes through the side wall of the housing (1) and can move along the axial direction of the housing (1). The inner end of the reset drive (5) abuts or is connected to the piston (2), and the outer end is used to receive the external driving force.

6. The gas-driven fluid launching device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing (1) is also provided with a buffer ring (9) and an axial limiting ring (10). The buffer ring (9) is located at the end of the piston (2)'s movement toward the working medium chamber to decelerate and buffer the piston (2); the axial limiting ring (10) cooperates with the buffer ring (9) to limit the maximum axial displacement of the piston (2).

7. A gas-driven fluid launching device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A combustion ignition device is provided at one end of the power chamber; The combustion ignition device includes a gas filling component and an electronic igniter (11); the gas filling component is used to fill the power gas chamber with the gas to be burned, and the electronic igniter (11) is used to ignite the gas when the gas pressure in the power gas chamber exceeds a threshold.

8. A gas-driven fluid launching device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The inflation assembly includes a valve push rod (12), a valve seat (13), and a resilient reset member (14). The valve push rod (12) is configured to move relative to the valve seat (13) under the action of external force to open the inflation passage (15) connecting to the power chamber; after the external force is released, it is driven by the elastic reset member (14) to reset to fit the valve seat (13) to block the inflation passage (15). The inflation channel (15) is configured as a one-way channel that allows only gas to enter the power chamber.

9. A gas-driven fluid launching device according to claim 7, characterized in that: An exhaust valve (16) is also provided at one end of the power chamber; the exhaust valve (16) is configured to open before or during the reset of the piston (2) to discharge the residual gas after combustion in the power chamber.

10. A gas-driven fluid launching device according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the working medium chamber is provided with a filling inlet (17) and a spray outlet (18). The filling inlet (17) is provided with a removable seal for sealing the filling inlet (17) after the medium is filled. A sealing element is provided at the injection outlet (18), which is configured to keep the injection outlet (18) closed during medium filling; when the piston (2) compresses the medium in the working medium chamber, it is passively opened by the medium pressure to form an injection channel for the medium to be ejected.

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