Smoke pot dispenser control circuit

Abstract

A control system is provided for igniting and dispensing a smoke pot for ense of a hulled vehicle. The system utilizes a command circuit located inside the vehicle for using the vehicles power source to select smoke pot operations. A user can select an operation to ignite a desired smoke pot or an operation to ignite and release the smoke pot. Two power lines are arranged from the command circuit inside the vehicle to a control circuit located at the exterior of the hull for operating the smoke pot control system. A minimum number of apertures are required in leading the power lines to the control circuit. The control circuit activates the selected operations of the smoke pots.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A control system for igniting and releasing a smoke pot on a vehicle having a hull and a power source, the hull having an aperture therethrough, the control system comprising: a command circuit located at an inner side of the hull, the command circuit for emitting a plurality of signals by drawing power from the power source;   a control circuit located at an exterior side of the hull, the control circuit for receiving the signals emitted by the command circuit and controlling the smoke pot, the smoke pot located at the exterior of the hull, the smoke pot having an igniter and a release mechanism, the igniter for igniting the smoke pot, the release mechanism for releasing the smoke pot from the exterior side of the hull;   a selection switch located within the command circuit, the selection switch having a first position and a second position, the first position for sending a first signal along a first power line, the first signal to ignite the smoke pot, the first power line connected to the command circuit at one end and extending through the aperture of the hull and connected to the control circuit at an opposite end for carrying the first signal to the control circuit, the second position for sending a second signal along a second power line, the second signal to ignite and release the smoke pot, the second power line connected to the command circuit at one end and extending through the aperture of the hull and connected to the control circuit at an opposite end for carrying the second signal to the control circuit;   a pot selection mechanism located within the command circuit and connected to the first power line for sending a pot selection signal to the control circuit along the first power line, the pot selection signal for designating a selected smoke pot for activation at the exterior side of the hull;   a pot selection receiver located within the control circuit and connected to the first power line for receiving the pot selection signal sent by the pot selection mechanism along the first power line and activating the selected smoke pot;   a plurality of relay circuits located within the control circuit and connected to the pot selection receiver and the first and second power lines, each relay circuit connected to a corresponding smoke pot by a first relay contact and a second relay contact, the first relay contact extending from each relay circuit to the igniter of the corresponding smoke pot, the second relay contact extending from each relay circuit to the release mechanism of the corresponding smoke pot, the first and second relay contacts being oriented in an open position at each relay circuit, the first relay contact being activated and closed when the selection switch is moved to the first position sending the first signal along the first power line to the relay circuit allowing the first signal to reach the igniter causing the igniter to ignite the smoke pot, the second relay contact being activated and closed when the selection switch is moved to the second position, the first signal is sent along the first power line and the second signal is sent along the second power line to the relay circuit so that both the first and second relay contacts close allowing both the first signal to reach the igniter causing the igniter to ignite the smoke pot and the second signal to reach the release mechanism causing the smoke pot to be released from the exterior side of the hull, the relay circuits being activated to relay the first and second signals received from the first and second power lines to the selected smoke pot upon command by the pot selection receiver along the first and second contacts to the igniter and the release mechanism of the selected smoke pot.   
     
     
       2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the pot selection mechanism is a key pad having a plurality of keys representing a corresponding smoke pot. 
     
     
       3. The control system according to claim 3, wherein each key of the key pad emits a distinct tone when depressed. 
     
     
       4. The control system according to claim 4, wherein the pot selection receiver comprises a tone decoder chip which decodes the tone and activates the relay circuit which corresponds to the tone. 
     
     
       5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is contained within a control box mounted to the exterior side of the hull. 
     
     
       6. The control system according to claim 1, wherein a ground line connected at one end to the command circuit is passed through the aperture of the hull and is connected to the exterior side of the hull at an opposite end of the ground line to serve as a ground.