Hand-held firing device comprising several cartridges

Abstract

The inventive firing device ( 1 ) comprises a cartridge reception unit ( 11 ) in which each of several cartridges ( 3 a to 3 d ) is provided with one propellant ( 132 ) and is interchangeably disposed in one reception chamber ( 9 ), and a cover part ( 7 ) closing the rear section of the device by means of which cartridges can be replaced. A fluid and/or powdered substance ( 14 ) that can be propelled by means of the triggered propellant ( 132 ) is stored in each cartridge. Triggering units for the cartridges ( 3 a - 3 d ) which can be activated sequentially by a trigger element ( 21 ) are disposed in the cover part ( 7 ). In order not to harm the user when replacing cartridges, the cartridge reception unit ( 11 ) and the top part of each cartridge are aligned with each other so as to seal the cartridge area ( 9 ) at least following the firing of the cartridge, thereby leaving no substantial quantity of the substance ( 14 ) in the firing device ( 1 ) outside the cartridges ( 3 a - 3 d ).

1 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . A firing device ( 1 ) having two or more cartridges and a cartridge holding unit ( 11 ), 
 the cartridge holding unit ( 11 ) has two or more holding areas ( 9 ) for a respective cartridge ( 3   a - 3   d ), with    each holding area having a wall,    each cartridge has a cartridge propellant charge ( 15 ,  132 ) and a fluidic and/or powdery active substance ( 14 ), in which case the active substance ( 14 ) can be driven out by means of the propellant charge as means to be ejected,    the firing device ( 1 ) has initiation units for the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ),    the initiation units have an initiation element ( 21 ) for sequential activation of the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ),    characterized by    an outlet nozzle ( 13   a - 13   d ) which matches the respective cartridge ( 3   a - 3   d ), through which the active substance which is stored in the respective cartridge can be ejected after ignition of the cartridge propellant charge,    each outlet nozzle ( 13   a - 13   d ) has a part which governs the jet formation of the active substance which can be ejected,    a free area which is arranged in front of the significant part of the outlet nozzle,    a rear part of the firing device and a cover part, with    the cover part having the initiation units and closing the rear part of the firing device,    the cartridge holding unit is designed such that it can be folded away, unfolded or removed with respect to the cover part for replacement of the cartridges,    the closing device has sealing means and each cartridge has a head area as well as an external contour, in which case    the cartridge holding unit and the head area of each cartridge can be sealed with respect to one another in a fluid-tight manner by means of one of the sealing means, or    the cartridge holding unit ( 11 ) and the head area of each cartridge have a geometric configuration with a tolerance, and    the tolerance is of such a magnitude that expansion of the external contour of the relevant cartridge in its head area during firing is obtained such that the head area of each cartridge is sealed in a fluid-tight manner with respect to the wall of the holding area or the nozzle front area, such that    no active substance can be forced away from the nozzle to the rear in the direction of the propellant charge during firing.    
   
   
       11 . The firing device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 10 ,  
     characterized by 
 an external contour which is similar to a bar, in order  
 that the firing device can be held in the operating state, in the fist, with the arm bent upwards,  
 the cover part has a rear end-face external contour, in which  
 the initiation element ( 21 ) is arranged in order that it can be operated with the thumb of the fist holding it.  
 
   
   
       12 . The firing device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 10 ,  
     characterized in that 
 each holding area ( 9 ) widens conically towards the cover part ( 7 ), in order  
 to make it easier to replace the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ), and  
 the cover part ( 7 ) and the cartridge holding part ( 11 ) are designed such that they can be unfolded or folded up with respect to one another for cartridge replacement.  
 
   
   
       13 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 10 ,  
     characterized in that 
 the free area ( 123 ) which is arranged in front of each part of the nozzle ( 13   a - 13   d ) which governs the jet formation is designed such that  
 this allows the head area ( 125 ) of the cartridge ( 3   a - 3   d ) to be opened correctly into the free area during firing.  
 
   
   
       14 . The firing device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized by 
 a loading unit for arming the initiation unit, with    the loading unit being designed such that arming is allowed only when the cover part ( 7 ) is closed, and    the loading unit has a loading element ( 27 ).    
   
   
       15 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 14 ,  
     characterized in that 
 the cartridge holding unit ( 11 ) has a front end face, from which the loading element can be operated.  
 
   
   
       16 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 10 ,  
     characterized by 
 a firing-device longitudinal axis ( 95 ) with respect to which the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ) are arranged coaxially at the same radial distance, except for a tolerance.  
 
   
   
       17 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 14 ,  
     characterized by 
 a firing-device longitudinal axis ( 95 ) and a longitudinal axis of the loading element ( 27 ), with the two longitudinal axes coinciding except for a tolerance.  
 
   
   
       18 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 14 ,  
     characterized in that 
 each cartridge ( 3   a - 3   d ) has a cartridge casing,  
 a latching element ( 49 ) is arranged on the cartridge casing, and  
 the loading unit has a sprung rod ( 31 ) with a mating latching element ( 45 ) which matches the latching element ( 49 ),  
 in which case the two latching elements ( 45 ,  49 ) interact while the loading element ( 27 ) is being pushed in, and the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ) can be moved into a gripping position when the cover part ( 7 ) is unfolded, by further insertion of the loading element ( 27 ), as a result of the interaction which still exists.  
 
   
   
       19 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 18 ,  
     characterized in that 
 each cartridge has a lower area, which holds a propellant means, and the latching element is arranged in the lower area on the cartridge casing.  
 
   
   
       20 . The firing device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 10 ,  
     characterized by 
 only a single safety unit ( 100 ) having one safety element ( 102 ) and one control element ( 99 ), which  
 protects all of the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ) against inadvertent initiation,  
 the firing device has a casing base with a rear subarea, and  
 the control element ( 99 ) is arranged in this rear subarea, and  
 the control element ( 99 ) can be operated by a finger ( 22 ) of the hand ( 5 ) which is holding the firing device ( 1 ),  
 the control element ( 99 ) has a control direction (S), and the initiation element ( 21 ) has an initiation direction (E), and  
 the control direction (S) and the initiation direction (E) are at right angles to one another, in order  
 to make inadvertant initiation impossible even if the firing device ( 1 ) is dropped, and to ensure that a propellant charge ( 15 ) can be initiated only when the control element ( 99 ) and the initiation element ( 99 ,  21 ) are operated at the same time and together by two fingers.  
 
   
   
       21 . The firing device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 20 ,  
     characterized in that the initiation element ( 21 ) is protected by the safety element ( 102 ) against being pushed in by a movement block.  
   
   
       22 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 10 ,  
     characterized by 
 a unit which locks the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ) which are located in the cartridge holding unit ( 11 ) by means of the cover part ( 7 ), such that  
 it is impossible for the recoil during firing of in each case one cartridge ( 3   a - 3   d ) to open the cover part ( 7 ).  
 
   
   
       23 . A firing device ( 1 ) having two or more cartridges and a cartridge holding unit ( 11 ), 
 the cartridge holding unit ( 11 ) has two or more holding areas ( 9 ) for a respective cartridge ( 3   a - 3   d ), with    each holding area having a wall,    each cartridge has a propellant charge ( 132 ) and a fluidic and/or powdery active substance,    in which case the active substance ( 14 ) can be driven out by means of the propellant charge as means to be ejected,    the firing device has initiation units for the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ), and    the initiation units have an initiation element ( 21 ) for sequential activation of the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ),    characterized by    a rear part of the firing device and a cover part, with    the cover part ( 7 ) closing the rear part of the firing device,    in which case the cover part ( 7 ) is designed such that it can be folded away, unfolded or removed from the cartridge holding unit ( 11 ) for replacement of the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ), and    the initiation units are arranged in the cover part ( 7 ),    an external contour which is similar to a bar, in order that    the firing device can be held in the fist, with the arm bent upwards, in the operating state,    the cover part has a rear end-face external contour in which the initiation element ( 21 ) is arranged, in order that it can be operated by the thumb of the fist holding it.    
   
   
       24 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 23 ,  
     characterized by 
 an outlet nozzle ( 13   a - 13   d ) which matches the respective cartridge ( 3   a - 3   d ) and closes each holding area ( 9 ),  
 each outlet nozzle ( 13   a - 13   d ) has a part which governs the jet formation of the active substance which can be driven out,  
 a free area which is arranged upstream of the significant part of the outlet nozzle,  
 the firing device has sealing means and each cartridge has a head area as well as an external contour, in which case  
 the cartridge holding unit and the head area of each cartridge can be sealed with respect to one another in a fluid-tight manner by means of one of the sealing means, or  
 the cartridge holding unit ( 11 ) of the head area of each cartridge have a geometry with a tolerance, and  
 the tolerance is of such a magnitude that expansion of the external contour of the relevant cartridge in its head area during firing is obtained such that  
 the head area of each cartridge is sealed in a fluid-tight manner with respect to the wall of the holding area or the nozzle front area, such that  
 no active substance can be forced away from the nozzle to the rear in the direction of the propellant charge during firing.  
 
   
   
       25 . The firing device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 23 ,  
     characterized in that 
 each holding area ( 9 ) widens conically towards the cover part ( 7 ) in order  
 to make it easier to replace the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ), and  
 the cover part ( 7 ) and the cartridge holding unit ( 11 ) are designed such that they can be unfolded and folded up with respect to one another for cartridge replacement.  
 
   
   
       26 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 23 ,  
     characterized in that 
 the free area ( 123 ) which is arranged in front of each part of the nozzle ( 13   a - 13   d ) which governs the jet formation is designed so as  
 to allow the head area ( 125 ) of the cartridge ( 3   a - 3   d ) to open correctly into the free area during firing.  
 
   
   
       27 . The firing device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 23 , characterized by 
 a loading unit for arming the initiation unit, with    the loading unit being designed such that arming is allowed only when the cover part ( 7 ) is closed, and the loading unit has a loading element ( 27 ).    
   
   
       28 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 27 ,  
     characterized in that 
 the cartridge holding unit ( 11 ) has a front end face, from which the loading element can be operated.  
 
   
   
       29 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 23 ,  
     characterized by 
 a firing-device longitudinal axis ( 95 ) with respect to which the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ) are arranged coaxially at the same radial distance, except for a tolerance.  
 
   
   
       30 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 27 ,  
     characterized by 
 a firing-device longitudinal axis ( 95 ) and a longitudinal axis of the loading element ( 27 ), with the two longitudinal axes coinciding except for a tolerance.  
 
   
   
       31 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 27 ,  
     characterized in that 
 each cartridge ( 3   a - 3   d ) has a cartridge casing,  
 a latching element ( 49 ) is arranged on the cartridge casing, and  
 the loading unit has a sprung rod ( 31 ) with a mating latching element ( 45 ) which matches the latching element ( 49 ), in which case  
 the two latching elements ( 45 ,  49 ) interact while the loading element ( 27 ) is being pushed in, and the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ) can be moved to a gripping position when the cover part ( 7 ) is unfolded, by further insertion of the loading element ( 27 ), as a result of the interaction which still exists.  
 
   
   
       32 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 31 ,  
     characterized in that 
 each cartridge has a lower area, which holds a propellant means, and  
 the latching element is arranged in the lower area on the cartridge casing.  
 
   
   
       33 . The firing device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 23 ,  
     characterized by 
 only a single safety unit ( 100 ) with a safety element ( 102 ) and a control element ( 99 ), which  
 protects all of the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ) against inadvertent initiation,  
 the firing device has a casing face with a rear subarea, and  
 the control element ( 99 ) is arranged in this rear subarea, and  
 the control element ( 99 ) can be operated by a finger ( 22 ) on the hand ( 5 ) which is holding the firing device ( 1 ),  
 the control element ( 99 ) has a control direction (S) and the initiation element ( 21 ) has an initiation direction (E), and  
 the operating direction (S) and the initiation direction (E) are at right angles to one another, in order  
 to make inadvertent initiation impossible even if the firing device ( 1 ) is dropped, and in order to ensure that the propellant charge ( 15 ) can be initiated only when the control element ( 99 ) and the initiation element ( 99 ,  21 ) are operated at the same time and together by two fingers.  
 
   
   
       34 . The firing device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 33 ,  
     characterized in that 
 the initiation element ( 21 ) is protected by the safety element ( 102 ) against being pushed in by a movement block.  
 
   
   
       35 . The firing device as claimed in  claim 23 ,  
     characterized by 
 a unit which locks the cartridges ( 3   a - 3   d ) which are located in the cartridge holding unit ( 11 ) via the cover part ( 7 ), such that  
 it is impossible for the recoil during firing of in each case one cartridge ( 3   a - 3   d ) to open the cover part ( 7 ).