Distributing irritant powder

Abstract

The present embodiments provide apparatuses for use in launching an inhibiting powder. These embodiments comprise a source of impulse pressure that induces a propellant pressure, a barrel cooperated with the source of impulse pressure to receive the propellant pressure, inhibiting powder positioned within an interior of the barrel, a burst diaphragm secured between the source of the impulse pressure and the inhibiting powder, and an actuator that activates the source of impulse pressure to deliver an expanding gas producing an increasing pressure that is applied to the burst diaphragm where the burst diaphragm bursts when the applied pressure exceeding a burst threshold, resulting in a release of the propellant pressure into the barrel to drive the inhibiting powder from the barrel in substantially an aerosol form generating a cloud of inhibiting powder.

1 . A launch system comprising:
 a frame;   a source of impulse pressure cooperated with the frame;   a barrel secured relative to the frame and cooperated with the source of impulse pressure to receive a propellant pressure from the source of impulse pressure;   a particulate load positioned within an interior of the barrel; and   a burst diaphragm secured between the source of the impulse pressure and the particulate load, wherein the burst diaphragm retains the impulse pressure from the source of impulse pressure until a pressure of about equal to a burst threshold of the burst diaphragm such that the burst diaphragm bursts releasing the propellant pressure into the barrel to force the particulate load out of the barrel.   
     
     
         2 . The launch system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an actuator cooperated with the source of impulse pressure, such that upon activation of the actuator the source of impulse pressure releases the impulse pressure and the bursting of the burst diaphragm in response to impulse pressure instantaneously launches substantially all of the particulate load in response to a single actuation of the actuator.   
     
     
         3 . The launch system according to  claim 1 , wherein the source of impulse pressure comprises:
 a compressed gas cartridge storing compressed gas;   a puncture pin positioned relative to the compressed gas cartridge; and   an expansion chamber positioned between said compressed gas cartridge and said burst diaphragm;   wherein said burst diaphragm is positioned between the expansion chamber and the particulate load, such that upon the activation; one of the puncture pin and compressed gas cartridge is moved relative to the other such that the puncture pin punctures the compressed gas cartridge releasing the compressed gas into the expansion chamber, resulting in the increasing pressure applied to the burst diaphragm to burst the burst diaphragm, releasing the compressed gas to expel the particulate load from the barrel.   
     
     
         4 . The launch system according to  claim 3 , wherein said compressed gas cartridge contains carbon dioxide which is stored under pressure in a substantially liquid form which is then sublimated to a gaseous form when released to build up substantial pressure in said expansion chamber before accelerating the particulate load. 
     
     
         5 . The launch system according to  claim 4 , wherein said expansion chamber working in conjunction with said burst diaphragm allows released gas from said compressed gas cartridge to build up substantial pressure within said expansion chamber prior to the rupturing of said burst diaphragm, before accelerating the particulate load. 
     
     
         6 . The launch system according to  claim 1 , wherein said barrel includes quickly removable and reloadable barrels containing varying pre-packaged particulate loads. 
     
     
         7 . The launch system according to  claim 1 , wherein said particulate loads contain a combination of one or more of powders, particulates, and projectiles. 
     
     
         8 . The launch system according to  claim 1 , wherein said compressed gas cartridge contains compressed air. 
     
     
         9 . The launch system according to  claim 1 , wherein said compressed gas cartridge contains compressed nitrogen. 
     
     
         10 . The launch system according to  claim 1 , wherein said particulate load includes an irritant powder. 
     
     
         11 . The launch system according to  claim 10 , wherein said irritant powder comprises a combination of inert powder and irritant powder to produce an irritant cloud. 
     
     
         12 . The launch system according to  claim 11 , wherein said combination of inert and irritant powder further includes a heavy mass powder enabling said particulate load to travel effective distances from said launch system. 
     
     
         13 . The launch system according to  claim 12 , wherein said heavy mass powder includes barium sulfate powder. 
     
     
         14 . The launch system according to  claim 7 , wherein said projectile includes a projectile comprising a frangible membrane projectile containing a non-lethal combination mixture of irritant powder and heavy mass powder. 
     
     
         15 . The launch system according to  claim 14 , wherein said projectile includes a projectile comprising a frangible membrane projectile containing an inert heavy mass powder mixture alone for training purposes. 
     
     
         16 . A projectile for launching using a compressed gas launch system, comprising:
 a frangible plastic projectile containing a non-lethal, heavy mass irritant powder mixture;   wherein said frangible plastic projectile has sufficient mass to reach a distant target once launched, and upon impact with the target produces an irritant cloud that suspends in the air surrounding the target.   
     
     
         17 . The projectile for launching using a compressed gas launch system according to  claim 16 , wherein said non-lethal heavy mass irritant powder mixture includes a combination of one or more irritant powders and one or more heavy mass powders. 
     
     
         18 . The projectile for launching using a compressed gas launch system according to  claim 16 , wherein said heavy mass powders include barium sulfate powder. 
     
     
         19 . The projectile for launching using a compressed gas launch system according to  claim 16 , wherein said frangible plastic projectile bursts upon impact with the target thereby allowing the irritant powder to form a visible cloud surrounding the impacted target. 
     
     
         20 . The projectile for launching using a compressed gas launch system according to  claim 19 , wherein said irritant powder is replaced with an inert powder for training purposes.