Modular Powder Launcher Barrel for Easy Single-Use Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-pressure gas container launchers for dispensing irritant powders have limitations and lack features such as ease of use and cost-effective single-use components.
Innovation Solution
A push-button activated, hand-held pneumatic launcher with a reusable body assembly and replaceable barrel assembly, featuring a trigger mechanism, safety mechanism, and a compression spring, which allows for single-use cartridges and barrels, enabling easy and efficient dispensing of irritant powders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high pressure gas containers are used in launchers, then the launcher can dispense irritant powder effectively, but the launcher becomes complex and difficult to replace components
Solution Approach 1:
The launcher is divided into separate modular components: a reusable body assembly containing the trigger mechanism and safety device, and a disposable barrel assembly containing the gas container and powder chamber. This segmentation allows the complex gas container system to be isolated in a replaceable component, simplifying the overall system while maintaining dispensing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrel assembly is designed as a single-use disposable component that contains the high pressure gas container. After use, the entire barrel assembly is discarded and replaced, eliminating the need to service or replace the complex gas container system. This reduces operational complexity while maintaining reliable powder dispensing through the fresh disposable barrel.
2Ease of manufacture
If a reusable launcher system is used, then cost is reduced, but ease of operation and user friendliness deteriorates due to maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable barrel assembly eliminates all maintenance requirements for the user. Instead of maintaining a reusable gas container system, the user simply attaches a fresh disposable barrel to the reusable body and uses it. This dramatically improves ease of operation while the reusable body maintains cost effectiveness through multiple uses.
Solution Approach 2:
All maintenance-related components (gas container, valve, powder chamber) are extracted from the reusable body and placed in the disposable barrel. This separation allows the reusable body to remain simple and inexpensive while the disposable barrel handles all operational complexity, improving user friendliness.
3Ease of operation
If single-use cartridges and barrels are used, then ease of operation improves, but loss of substance increases due to waste
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable barrel assembly is designed to be inexpensive, making the waste acceptable. The barrel contains all consumable components (gas container, powder, valve) in a single disposable unit. While this does create waste, the low cost and ease of replacement make it operationally superior, and the reusable body minimizes overall substance loss by lasting multiple uses.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The launcher provides a user-friendly, cost-effective solution for dispensing irritant powders by allowing for easy replacement of cartridges and barrels, ensuring consistent performance and reducing waste.
Implementation Method 1
a compression spring connected to the end cap and residing in the internal cavity of the handle body
Implementation Method 2
an opening adjacent the first end leading to an internal cavity to house a pneumatic cartridge
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held single-use pneumatic powder launcher having a reusable body assembly and a replaceable barrel assembly. The body assembly has a handle with a cavity to house a replaceable pneumatic cartridge, a puncture tip in the cavity, a trigger movable between a normal position and a launch position, and a safety to prevent the trigger from being accidentally actuated. The barrel assembly removably secures to the body assembly and has a first cavity that houses a burst cap, and an adjacent powder chamber. After the cartridge is pierced, gas builds up until the burst cap bursts, allowing the high-pressure gas to propel the payload out of the barrel.