Vortex ring producing gun

Abstract

A gun for producing a ring of fluid is described. The gun comprises a body defining a bore therethrough; a moveable member positioned at least partially within the bore; and a nozzle assembly coupled with the body and positioned at a bore opening. The nozzle assembly defines one or more fluid entrapment regions adjacent an opening of the nozzle assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vortex ring producing gun comprising:
 a body defining a bore therethrough;   a moveable member positioned at least partially within the bore;   a nozzle assembly coupled with the body and positioned at a bore opening, the nozzle assembly defining:   one or more pressure venting slots extending from the interior of the nozzle assembly to the exterior of the nozzle assembly; and   
       the nozzle assembly comprising a blockage positioned adjacent the pressure venting slots and the nozzle assembly arranged to generate a vortex ring of fluid exiting the nozzle assembly. 
     
     
         2 . The gun as claimed in  claim 1 , the pressure venting slots circumferentially disposed about the interior surface of the nozzle assembly and radially extending from the interior surface. 
     
     
         3 . The gun as claimed in  claim 2 , the pressure venting slots extending at an acute angle to the axis of the bore. 
     
     
         4 . A method of producing a ring of fluid using a vortex ring producing gun, the method comprising:
 moving a moveable member of the gun from a first position to a second position in a bore, the first position adjacent a nozzle assembly coupled to the bore and the nozzle assembly having an opening in communication with the bore, the nozzle assembly comprising one or more fluid entrapment regions adjacent the nozzle assembly opening, movement of the moveable member causing movement of a fluid into the bore; and   moving the moveable member from the second position to the first position, movement of the moveable member causing movement of the fluid along the bore toward the nozzle assembly to cause generation of a vortex ring.   
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , the gun comprising one or more pressure venting slots extending from the interior of the gun to the exterior of the gun, and moving the moveable member from the second position to the first position causing expulsion of at least a portion of the fluid from the pressure venting slots during a period of a blocked nozzle assembly opening. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 entrapping a second fluid within the fluid entrapment regions prior to moving the moveable member from the second position to the first position.   
     
     
         7 . A vortex ring producing gun comprising:
 a body defining a bore therethrough;   a moveable member positioned at least partially within the bore;   a nozzle assembly coupled with the body and positioned at a bore opening, the nozzle assembly defining one or more orifices adjacent an interior of the nozzle assembly and the nozzle assembly arranged to generate a vortex ring of fluid exiting the nozzle assembly.   
     
     
         8 . The gun as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a fluid supply connected with one or more of the orifices. 
     
     
         9 . The gun as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the fluid supply comprises at least one of an internal supply positioned at least partially internal to the gun, an external supply positioned at least partially external to the gun, or ambient air. 
     
     
         10 . A manually-powered underwater device for generating a vortex ring, comprising:
 a) a liquid chamber comprising:
 a bore sleeve ( 1210 ), 
 a nozzle ( 1202 ) in fluid communication with the bore sleeve, and 
 a joint ring ( 1208 ) between the bore sleeve and the nozzle; 
   b) a fluid reservoir ( 1204 ) contiguous with said liquid chamber and separated by a partition wall (wall with orifice  1206 );   c) said liquid chamber comprising a rigid section ( 1202 ) and a compressible section ( 1216 , piston can be compressed); and   d) said rigid section including a nozzle opening ( 1222 ) for selectively loading (paragraph 025, tilting the gun up to release air bubbles to fill) said liquid chamber with a liquid and for discharging a vortex ring (paragraph 025).   
     
     
         11 . The manually-powered underwater device of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a plurality of fluid reservoirs circumferentially spaced around the generally rigid section. (paragraph 038) 
     
     
         12 . The manually-powered underwater device of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid reservoir has a cylindrical shape. (paragraph 038) 
     
     
         13 . The manually-powered underwater device of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one pressure venting slot ( 1212 ) located between the rigid section and the compressible section. 
     
     
         14 . The manually-powered underwater device of  claim 10 , further comprising a spring ( 1218 ) configured to bias the compressible section. 
     
     
         15 . The manually-powered underwater device of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one intake slot ( 506 ) in a sidewall of the manually-powered underwater device, the at least one intake slot configured to allow fluid to enter the manually-powered underwater device. 
     
     
         16 . The manually-powered underwater device of  claim 15 , further comprising a shutter ( 1200 ) configured to block at least a portion of the at least one intake slot. 
     
     
         17 . The manually-powered underwater device of  claim 16 , wherein the shutter is configured to move along an interior of the manually-powered underwater device. (paragraph 036) 
     
     
         18 . The manually-powered underwater device of  claim 10 , further comprising a fluid tank in fluid communication with the liquid chamber. (paragraph 040) 
     
     
         19 . The manually-powered underwater device of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid tank is configured to store a colorant or a gas. (paragraph 060) 
     
     
         20 . The manually-powered underwater device of  claim 10 , further comprising a tube in fluid communication with the liquid chamber, wherein the tube is configured to protrude above a surface of the water. (paragraph 040)