Shock-stabilized firing mechanism for diversionary device

Abstract

A firing mechanism for a diversionary device is provided includes a firing pin movable along a first axis and a hammer in contact with a first end of the firing pin and operable to move the firing pin from a cocked position to a fired position. A rotary solenoid has a shaft rotatable about a second axis parallel; a cam is mounted on a first end of the shaft. A trip lever with a cam follower engaged with the cam is slidable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first and second axes from first to second positions. The mechanism further includes a link arm connecting the trip lever to the firing pin. When the rotary solenoid is activated, the cam causes the trip lever to slide from the first to the second position and release the firing pin to move from the cocked position to the fired position.

1 . A firing mechanism for a diversionary device, comprising:
 a firing pin movable along a first axis;   a hammer in contact with a first end of the firing pin and operable to move the firing pin from a cocked position to a fired position;   a rotary solenoid having a shaft rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis;   a cam mounted on a first end of the shaft;   a trip lever having a cam follower engaged with the cam, the trip lever slidable in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first and second axes from a first position to a second position; and   a link arm connecting the trip lever to the firing pin;   whereby, when the rotary solenoid is activated, the cam causes the trip lever to slide from the first position to the second position and release the firing pin to move from the cocked position to the fired position.   
     
     
         2 . The firing mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising means for conducting power from a power source to the rotary solenoid. 
     
     
         3 . The firing mechanism of  claim 2 , the means for conducting power comprising:
 a timer operable to conduct power to the rotary solenoid at the end of a predetermined period of time; and   a trigger switch which, when released, initiates the timer.   
     
     
         4 . The firing mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the trigger switch is a normally closed switch. 
     
     
         5 . The firing mechanism of  claim 2 , the means for conducting power comprising a cutoff switch which prevents the flow of current when the cutoff switch is in a safe position and permits the flow of current when the diversionary device is cocked. 
     
     
         6 . The firing mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a hammer block operable to prevent the firing pin from moving from the cocked position into the fired position. 
     
     
         7 . The firing mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the hammer block is biased away from the firing pin;   the hammer block is retained in a safe position by a user-operated trigger bar; and   the hammer block is released from the safe position when the trigger bar is slid by the user, thereby allowing the firing pin to move from the cocked position.   
     
     
         8 . The firing mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a splitter secured to a second end of the firing pin and operable to activate a first piston for discharging an ignitable composition from a first cylinder and activate a second piston for discharging an oxidizer from a second cylinder, parallel to the first cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . A diversionary device, comprising:
 a housing comprising first and second dispersion ports formed in alignment with each other on opposite first and second primary surfaces of the housing, the dimensions of the housing being selected such that when the device is thrown or dropped, the device will come to rest only on the first primary surface with the second dispersion port facing upwards or the second primary surface with the first dispersion port facing upwards, the housing further including a cavity into which a removable cartridge may be inserted;   means for blocking the first dispersion port if the device comes to rest on the first primary surface and for blocking the second dispersion port if the device comes to rest on the second primary surface;   a firing mechanism operable to discharge an ignitable composition out of the removable cartridge and through the first or second dispersion port, whereupon the ignitable composition forms a cloud above the device and may be ignited, the firing mechanism comprising:
 a firing pin movable along a first axis; 
 a hammer in contact with a first end of the firing pin and operable to move the firing pin from a cocked position to a fired position; 
 a rotary solenoid having a shaft rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis; 
 a cam mounted on a first end of the shaft; 
 a trip lever having a cam follower engaged with the cam, the trip lever slidable from a first position to a second position in a direction substantially orthogonal to the first and second axes; and 
 a link arm connecting the trip lever to the firing pin; 
 whereby, when the rotary solenoid is activated, the cam causes the trip lever to slide from the first position to the second position and release the firing pin to move from the cocked position to the fired position. 
   
     
     
         10 . The diversionary device of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a timer operable to conduct power to the rotary solenoid at the end of a predetermined period of time; and   a trigger switch which, when released, initiates the timer.   
     
     
         11 . The firing mechanism of  claim 9 , further comprising a hammer block operable to prevent the firing pin from moving from the cocked position into the fired position. 
     
     
         12 . The firing mechanism of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the hammer block is biased away from the firing pin;   the hammer block is retained in a safe position by a user-operated trigger bar; and   the hammer block is released from the safe position when the trigger bar is slid by the user, thereby allowing the firing pin to move from the cocked position.