Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Computer Regulated and Controlled Ignition and Combustion Pyrotechnic Display
2 Apparatus and Method
3 SPECIFICATION
4
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
6 Be it known that I, Peter Greenwald, a citizen of the United States,
have invented
7 new and useful improvements in a computer regulated and controlled
ignition and
8 combustion pyrotechnic display apparatus and a method for enabling
regulated
9 controlled ignition and combustion of a pressurized fuel for a
programmable pyrotechnic
display as described in this specification.
11
12 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
13
14 Various types of pyrotechnic apparatuses are known in the prior art.
However,
what is needed is a computer regulated and controlled ignition and combustion
16 pyrotechnic display apparatus that includes a graticulate array of flue
members oriented
17 with an igntion end disposed in a common plane, each flue member having a
thermal
18 potential effective by introduction of combustible fuel thereinto, said
thermal potential
19 variable according to mechanical manipulation of at least one variable
aperture
dispositional between a minimum and a maximum opening and a pressure of said
fuel
21 introducible therethrough, wherein a sparking nexus, disposed at the
ignition end of
22 each flue member, is selectively productive of a spark when an
electrical current is
23 passed therethrough to ignite fuel delivered into said flue member,
whereby each flue
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member is ignitable as a luminous and feiry picture element appropriate for
rendering
2 figures in fire in synchrony to the production of signals generated at a
performance.
3
4 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
6 The present invention relates to a computer regulated and controlled
ignition and
7 combustion pyrotechnic display apparatus, and more particularly, to a
computer
8 regulated and controlled ignition and combustion pyrotechnic display
apparatus that
9 includes a graticulate array of flue members oriented with an igntion end
disposed in a
io common plane, each flue member having a thermal potential effective by
introduction of
ii combustible fuel thereinto, said thermal potential variable according to
mechanical
12 manipulation of at least one variable aperture dispositional between a
minimum and a
13 maximum opening and a pressure of said fuel introducible therethrough,
wherein a
14 sparking nexus, disposed at the ignition end of each flue member, is
selectively
productive of a spark when an electrical current is passed therethrough to
ignite fuel
16 delivered into said flue member, whereby each flue member is ignitable
as a luminous
17 and feiry picture element appropriate for rendering figures in fire in
synchrony to the
18 production of signals generated at a performance.
19
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
21
22 The general purpose of the computer regulated and controlled ignition
and
23 combustion pyrotechnic display apparatus, described subsequently in
greater detail, is
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1 to provide a computer regulated and controlled ignition and combustion
pyrotechnic
2 display apparatus which has many novel features that result in a computer
regulated
3 and controlled ignition and combustion pyrotechnic display apparatus
which is not
4 anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art,
either alone or in
combination thereof.
6 The present computer regulated and controlled ignition and combustion
7 pyrotechnic display apparatus has been devised to enable pyrotechnic
displays
8 coordinated intimately with digitized signals generated from a
performance and input
9 through a computing apparatus. A plurality of flue members is disposed in
a graticulate
io array whereby each flue member is ignitable as a flaming picture element
("pixel")
ii whereby animation, words, letters, icons, logos, and other figures are
displayable in
12 flame upon said graticulate array, synchronized with a performance by
input of digital
13 signals and thereby controllable by a computing apparatus.
14 The term "performance", as used herein throughout, is taken to include
any
performance whereat audio and/or video data signals are capturable for input
into a
16 computing apparatus to drive the present computer regulated and
controlled ignition
17 and combustion pyrotechnic display apparatus in programmable sequence and
18 response thereto.
19 The present computer regulated and controlled ignition and combustion
pyrotechnic display apparatus, therefore, includes two mechanisms by which to
21 modulate a thermal potential of each of a plurality of flue members. The
term "thermal
22 potential", as used herein throughout, is taken to mean chemical energy
releasable by
23 selective ignition of combustible or flammable fuel introducible into
each of the plurality
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of flue members at a range of rates, whereby a greater or lesser volume of
said fuel is
2 selectively ignitable and respectively greater or lesser energy is
releasable thereby.
3 Modulation of the thermal potential by controlling the volume of fuel
introduced into each
4 flue member and the moment of ignition thus enables a range of thermal
potential
between a minimum thermal potential and a maximum thermal potential.
6 Selective ignition at each flue member is effective by means of a
sparking nexus
7 disposed at an ignition end of each of the plurality of flue members. The
sparking nexus
8 produces a spark when an electrical current is activated therein. Any
fuel interior to the
9 flue member will ignite when the sparking nexus is activated. Each
sparking nexus is
io controlled by a computing apparatus running at least one processor
disposed to drive
ii the computer regulated and controlled ignition and combustion apparatus.
Thus
12 oscillations of electrical current through each sparking nexus enable
selective ignition at
13 each flue member whereby flaming pixels are producible, as desired, in
synchrony with
14 signals generated during a performance, or programmable by an operator,
as desired.
The thermal potential of each flue member is variable by means of at least one
16 variable aperture disposed therein, said at least one variable aperture
dispositional
17 between a minimum opening and a maximum opening. When the variable aperture
is
18 at the minimum opening no fuel is introducible into the respective flue
member. When
19 the variable aperture is disposed at the maximum opening, a maximum
volume of fuel is
introducible into the respective flue member at a maximum rate.
21 The computing apparatus is disposed in communicative control of each of
the at
22 least one variable apertures, whereby each of the plurality of flue
members' thermal
23 potential is drivable by the computing apparatus in response to input
signals generated
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from a performance or programmed by an operator. The computing apparatus may,
2 therefore, selectively increase or decrease the thermal potential of each
of the plurality
3 of flue members, thereby setting selective pixels for ignition or
extinction whereby
4 animations, icons, words, figures, characters, pictures, logos, glyphs,
and other fiery
figures and displays are effective, coordinated in synchrony to a performance
or
6 programmed by an operator, as desired. The computer may be disposed in
wireless
7 communication with the device, for remote operation thereof.
8 The rate of fuel introduction into each flue member is further variable
in
9 proportion to the pressure of fuel releasable into each flue member.
Thus, a maximum
io thermal potential for any particular flue member is a function of the
rate of fuel
ii introduced thereinto (and thus the pressure at the fuel source) and the
diameter of the
12 at least one variable aperture. A maximum thermal potential of any
particular flue
13 member is therefore obtainable when a maximum pressure introduces a maximum
14 volume of fuel into the flue member under the shortest time interval.
For the purposes of this specification, the term "relative maximum thermal
16 potential" will be applied to a maximum volume of fuel introducible into
a flue member at
17 a particular pressure when the at least one variable aperture is
disposed at the
18 maximum opening. Therefore, the term "relative maximum thermal
potential" is
19 applicable to the maximum opening of the at least one variable aperture
at a certain
pressure of fuel. The term "maximum thermal potential", as used hereinafter,
applies to
21 the introduction of fuel into a flue member at a maximum rate as a
function of a
22 maximum pressure in addition to the maximum opening of the at least one
variable
23 aperture.
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1 Thus, a user is enabled to modulate signals to control flaming pixel
elements
2 across a graticulate array of flue members, each of said flue members
having an
3 ignition end disposed in a common plane. Flames are producible at each
ignition end
4 selectively and in programmable synchrony with a performance. Flame size
is variable
as a function of thermal potential, whereby larger or smaller flames are
producible in
6 synchrony to a performance.
7 It is further contemplated as part of this invention that flame color
may also be
8 variable, by introduction of combustible elements into each flue member,
whereby flame
9 color may change when combusting said combustible elements. For example, an
io increase of oxygen into the flue member may engender bluer flames.
Introduction of
ii co-solvents into specific fuels (such as chlorine donors, for example)
may further
12 modulate flame color, as desired.
13 Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the
present
14 computer regulated and controlled ignition and combustion pyrotechnic
display
apparatus so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better
understood
16 and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated.
17 Objects of the present computer regulated and controlled ignition and
18 combustion pyrotechnic display apparatus, along with various novel
features that
19 characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims
forming a part of this
disclosure. For better understanding of the computer regulated and controlled
ignition
21 and combustion pyrotechnic display apparatus, its operating advantages
and specific
22 objects attained by its uses, refer to the accompanying drawings and
description.
23
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
2
3 FIGURES
4 Figure 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment.
Figure 2 is an top view of an embodiment.
6 Figure 3 is a cross-section view of a flue member.
7 Figure 4 is a block diagram view of an embodiment.
8 Figure 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment illustrating control of a
thermal
9 potential between in minimum thermal potential and a relative maximum
thermal
potential.
11 Figure 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment illustrating control of a
thermal
12 potential between in minimum thermal potential and a maximum thermal
potential.
13 Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of an alternate embodiment of a single
flue
14 member.
16 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
17
18 With reference now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 through 7
thereof,
19 example of the instant computer regulated and controlled ignition and
combustion
pyrotechnic display apparatus employing the principles and concepts of the
present
21 computer regulated and controlled ignition and combustion pyrotechnic
display
22 apparatus and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be
described.
23 Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7 a preferred embodiment of the present
computer
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1 regulated and controlled ignition and combustion pyrotechnic display
apparatus 10 is
2 illustrated.
3 The present invention 10 has been devised to enable coordinated
pyrotechnical
4 displays in conjunction with a performance. Input signals are digitized
and a computing
apparatus 70 running at least one processor drives the present invention 10 to
ignite
6 controllable volumes of combustible fuel, whereby position and size of
flame is
7 controllable in time with the production of input signals.
8 It is contemplated as part of this invention 10 that words and images
will be
9 effected by the device 10, rendered in flame, and animated in response to
input signals
io produced onsite.
ii The present computer regulated and controlled ignition and combustion
12 pyrotechnic display apparatus 10, therefore, includes a graticulate
arrangement of flue
13 members 20 disposed to align an ignition end 22 congruent within a
common plane.
14 Each of the flue members 22, therefore, comprises an illuminable picture
element
("pixel") within the area covered by the graticulate arrangement.
16 An electrical sparking nexus 24 is disposed at the ignition end 22 of
each flue
17 member 20, said electrical sparking nexus 24 engendering production of a
spark when
18 an electrical current is passed therethrough. Thus, control of each
electrical sparking
19 nexus 24 disposed at the ignition end 22 of each flue member 20 is
effective by
oscillation of electrical current therethrough.
21 In order that combustible fuel be routable to each flue member 20, for
ignition as
22 desired, a conduit 26 is disposed connecting each flue member 20 to a
source of
23 pressurized, combustible fuel 72. At least one variable aperture 28 is
disposed at each
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flue member 20, said variable aperture 28 mechanically effective between a
maximum
2 opening and a minimum opening. A computing apparatus 70 having at least one
3 processor and running a driver is disposed in communicative control with
each of the at
4 .. least one variable apertures 28 whereby each said at least one variable
aperture 28 is
controllable to release a desired volume of fuel into the flue member 20 for
ignition
6 .. when an electrical current is applied through the sparking nexus 24.
Thus, variably
7 sized flames are enabled as a greater or lesser volume of combustible
fuel is introduced
8 .. into each flue member 20 for ignition therein when the sparking nexus 24
is engaged.
9 The frequency and amplitude of a flame, therefore, ignited at any
particular flue
member 20 ignition end 22, is producible and controllable by the computing
apparatus
ii 70 in programmable response to digitized signals inputted thereto.
Introduction of
12 .. volumes of combustible fuel into each flue member 20 is said herein to
effect a "thermal
13 potential" of said flue member 20. Disposition of the at least one
variable aperture 28 to
14 a diameter at the maximum opening, therefore, increases said thermal
potential of an
associated flue member 20 to a relative maximum thermal potential, by enabling
a
16 relative maximum rate of introduction of a relative maximum volume of
fuel. A flame
17 ignited at a relative maximum thermal potential will exhibit a relative
maximum
18 amplitude.
19 Conversely, disposition of at least one variable aperture 28 to a
diameter at a
minimum opening, therefore, decreases said thermal potential of an associated
flue
21 member 20 to a minimum thermal potential, by preventing introduction of
combustible
22 fuel into the flue member 20.
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1 A sliding scale of flame amplitude, therefore, is enabled between the
minimum
2 thermal potential and the relative maximum thermal potential of each flue
member 20,
3 whereby controlled emissions and amplitude modulation of flame is enabled
thereat in
4 proportion to the disposition of the at least one variable aperture
between the minimum
opening and the maximum opening. Further, increasing or decreasing the
pressure of
6 .. the combustible fuel at the source of said fuel respectively increases or
decreases the
7 .. rate of introduction of said fuel into each flue member 20, as a function
of the diameter
8 of the at least one variable aperture 28. Thus a second order of flame
amplitude
9 modulation is producible at each flue member 20.
A maximum pressure, corresponding to a maximum rate of introduction of fuel
ii into an associated flue member 20, to introduce a maximum volume of fuel
into the flue
12 member 20 over a minimum time interval, therefore, produces a maximum
thermal
13 .. potential at said flue member 20.
14 Thus digitized signals are translatable to coordinate pyrotechnic
display, wherein
selective ignition of each electrical sparking nexus 24 in conjunction with
controlled
16 .. variance of the diameter of each of the at least one variable apertures
28, dispositional
17 .. between the minimum and maximum opening across a range of pressurized
sources of
18 fuel 72, is effective, and a thermal potential of each flue member 20 is
variable and
19 .. controllable by modulated introduction of combustible fuel thereinto,
whereby controlled
ignition of regulated flows of combustible fuel is enabled at the ignition end
of each flue
21 member 20 and coordinated fiery displays are thereby controllable in
programmable
22 reaction and desired proportion to the production of said digitized
signals.
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Flame color is likewise contemplated for manipulation by introduction of
2 additional combustible elements 74 into a fuel source 72. Moreover, the
at least one
3 variable aperture 28 may be disposed in conjunction with an inlet
aperture 30 to enrich
4 .. oxygen into the associated flue member 20 and thereby burn a more oxygen
rich flame.
An alternative embodiment is depicted in FIG. 7, wherein the flue member 20 is
a
6 self-contained unit that includes the computing apparatus 70 and the
source of fuel 72
7 integrated into said flue member 20. The variable aperture 28 is disposed
at the ignition
8 end 22. A computing interface is connectable to the computing apparatus
70, which in
9 this embodiment is a microprocessor, for driving of the device 10. In
this embodiment,
io each flue member 20 is independently operable as a stand along unit,
which, when
ii assembled into an array of a plurality of such flue members, is operable
to produce the
12 .. same effect as previously described.
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