Incendiary machine

An incendiary machine (10) comprises a feed and dispensing system (12), a priming system (20) and a control system. The feed and dispensing system (12) feeds a belt (14) of incendiary capsules (16) to a region at which individual capsules are separated from the belt and dispensed from the machine (10). The priming system (20) primes the capsule (16) prior to being dispensed from the machine (10) with a priming liquid which, when delivered into a capsule, facilitates an exothermic reaction. The control system controls the feed and dispensing system (12), and the priming system (20) independently of each other so that the belt (14) can be fed into and indeed thought the machine (10) with the priming liquid being injected into the capsules.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage entry of PCT/AU2011/000232, filed Mar. 2, 2011, which claims priority to AU Application No. 2010900875, filed Mar. 2, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an incendiary machine, in particular, but not exclusively, for aerial dispensing of incendiary capsules.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to drop incendiaries from aircraft including helicopters, light planes and unmanned or remote controlled air craft. One known incendiary is in the form of a small ball (approximately 32 mm in diameter) filled with a quantity of potassium permanganate powder or granules. A semi-automatic dispenser is available having a hopper which holds a supply of balls and feeds the balls sequentially to a chute where they are injected with a volume of glycol. The potassium permanganate and glycol react exothermically to generate a flame. Applicant has previously developed an alternate apparatus for initiating and dispensing incendiaries. This apparatus is described in International publication no. WO 2004/041365. Following extensive research and experimentation, Applicant has made further developments in the area of aerial incendiary delivery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the invention provides an incendiary machine comprising:a feed and dispensing system capable of feeding a belt of incendiary capsules to a region at which individual capsules are separated from the belt and dispensed from the machine;a priming system capable of priming the capsules prior to being dispensed from the machine, the priming system having a pump for pumping a priming liquid which, when delivered into a capsule, facilitates an exothermic reaction; and,a control system capable of controlling the feed and dispensing system, and the priming system independently of each other.

The control system may be configured to selectively enable an operator to dispense primed incendiaries either: automatically at a user defined rate; or, manually on each manual operation of a control button or switch.

The control system may comprise a user interface enabling a user to set a rate of automatically dispensing primed incendiaries.

The control system may comprise at least one incendiary sensor for detecting the presence of an incendiary belt in the machine.

The control system may be configured to prevent operation of the priming system when the at least one incendiary sensor fails to detect the presence of an incendiary belt in the machine.

The control system may be operable to perform a LOAD function wherein the control system operates the feed and dispensing system to load a belt of incendiaries to a position where priming system is capable of priming the capsules.

The control system may be operable to perform a PRIME function which primes the priming system with priming fluid prior to feeding of the belt to the region.

The priming system may comprise an injection device capable of piercing the capsules to deliver the priming liquid to the capsules.

The feed and dispensing system may comprise a blade commonly mounted with the injection device and arranged to separate a capsule from the belt substantially simultaneously with the injection device injecting the priming liquid into the capsule.

The feed and dispensing may comprise a carousel provided with a plurality of recesses for seating respective capsules in the belt.

The feed and dispensing may comprise a channel extending from an inlet for the belt to the carousel and a biased plate arranged to bias a capsule into a recess of the carousel.

The incendiary machine may comprise a drive system arranged to drive the feed and dispensing system, the drive system comprising a first motor under the control of the control system.

The drive system may comprise a plurality of cogs mounted on respective shafts and operatively coupled together where torque imparted by the first motor to one of the cogs drives the operatively coupled cogs.

A first cog may be coupled with the carousel and a second cog may be coupled to the blade and injection device, and the drive system may further comprise an endless belt coupling the first cog to the second cog wherein torque from the first motor drives both the carousel and the blade and injection device.

The incendiary machine may comprise a pump motor operable to drive the pump, wherein the control system is operable to control the first motor and pump motor independently of each other.

The incendiary machine may comprise a housing in which the feed and dispensing system and the priming system are housed and a frame arranged to demountably support the housing and to support an incendiary belt feed.

The incendiary machine according may comprise a tray pivotally coupled to the frame and on which the incendiary belt feed is supported.

A second aspect of the invention provides an incendiary machine comprising:a feed and dispensing system capable of feeding a belt of incendiary capsules to a region at which individual capsules are separated from the belt and subsequently dispensed from the machine;a first motor which drives the feed and dispensing system;a priming system capable of priming capsules prior to being dispensed from the machine, the priming system having a pump for pumping a priming liquid, and an injection device capable of piercing the capsule to deliver the priming liquid to the capsule;a second motor which drives the pump; and,a control system capable of independently controlling the first and second motors enabling control of flow of the priming liquid independent of operation of the feed and dispensing system.

The control system may be configured to selectively enable an operator to dispense primed incendiaries either: automatically at a user defined rate; or, manually on each manual operation of a control button or switch.

The control system may comprise a user interface enabling a user to set a rate of automatically dispensing primed incendiaries.

The control system may comprise at least one incendiary sensor for detecting the presence of an incendiary belt in the machine.

The control system may be configured to prevent operation of the priming system when the at least one incendiary sensor fails to detect the presence of an incendiary belt in the machine.

The control system may be operable to perform a LOAD function wherein the control system operates the feed and dispensing system to load a belt of incendiaries to a position where priming system is capable of priming the capsules.

The control system may be operable to perform a PRIME function which primes the priming system with priming fluid prior to feeding of the belt to the region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the accompanying drawings and in particularFIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of an incendiary machine10in accordance with the invention comprises a feed and dispensing system12capable of feeding a belt14of incendiary capsules16to a region18where individual capsules which are separated from the belt and dispensed from the machine10. The machine10also has a priming system20capable of priming the capsules16prior to being dispensed from the machine10. The priming system20includes a pump22for pumping a priming liquid, such as ethylene glycol, and an injection device24which can pierce a capsule16to deliver the priming liquid to the capsule16. The machine10also includes a control system which is capable of individually controlling the feed and dispensing system12and the priming system20. This allows for example the feed and dispensing system12to operate to feed the belt14of incendiaries16, separated individual incendiary capsules16from the belt14and deliver them to a dispensing chute28from which they can be dispensed without supplying the priming liquid to the priming system20. Additionally, the control system enables the pumping system20to be primed irrespective of whether or not the feed and dispensing system12is in operation. The belt14and capsules16can be of a type described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,877,433. In brief each capsule may comprise a small container of a thin walled plastics material and hold a volume of potassium permanganate.

Referring to FIGS.1and3-6the machine10is seen as comprising a dispenser housing30which houses the feed and dispensing system12, the priming system20, and the control system; and a frame32on which the dispenser housing30is disposed. The frame is also configured to support a box34holding an incendiary feed supply of one or more incendiary belts14. The frame32has a step configuration having a first portion36on which the housing30is demountably supported and a second portion38which lies in a parallel plane to the portion36but is off set below the portion36and on which the box34is supported. A tilting tray40is pivotally coupled to the frame portion38. Tray40is provided with upstanding walls42a,42b,42cand42d(hereinafter referred to in general as “walls42”) within which the box34is seated on the tray40. The walls42aand42bare relatively low in height and contiguous with each other extending about adjacent edges of the tray40. The wall42cextends along another edge of the tray40between the walls42band42dand is on a side of the tray40adjacent the housing30. The wall42cis convexly curved when viewed in a direction from wall42ato wall42c. The curvature of the wall42cis such that an upper edge44of the wall42clies in close proximity to though slightly spaced from the first frame portion36. The spacing is arranged so as to minimise the likelihood of the belt14getting caught between the tray40and the frame32.

As is best seen inFIG. 4, the tray40is pivotally coupled to the frame32by a pivot bar46which runs centrally beneath the tray40and is coupled at opposite ends to the frame32as well as being coupled to the platform40by three spaced apart brackets48. With reference toFIGS. 1 and 3, the coupling of the tray40to the frame32enables the tray40to pivot or swing forward or backward. This is shown more specifically inFIGS. 5 and 6.FIG. 5illustrates the platform40supporting the box34where the platform40and thus the box34is pivoted backwards andFIG. 6which shows the tray40and box34pivoted in a forward direction. The pivoting tray40enables the belt14to be fed to the feed and dispensing system12with minimal twist and/or bend. This will be explained in greater detail below.

The upper portion36is a rectangular frame comprising bars50a,50b,50c(shown inFIG. 4) and 50d(best seen inFIG. 3). The bar50dis parallel to and opposite the bar50band extends between the bars50aand50c. Frame36also comprises a cross bar52that extends between bars50aand50c, and a cross bar54which extends between the bars50dand52. A tube56depends from and is connected to the frame32between the bars50band cross bar52. An end of the tube56that lies adjacent the housing30is provided with a radially extending flange60which seats beneath a hole in the housing30which is aligned with the chute28. A transition frame portion62couples, and extends perpendicularly between the frame portions36and38. The transition frame portion62includes a bar64awhich is common to or shared with the frame portion38and in which one end of the pivot bar46is journalled. The frame portion38also includes bars64b,64cand64dwhich together with the bar64aare joined together to form a rectangular shape. The bar64cis parallel to and opposite the bar64a. An end of the pivot bar46opposite the bar44ais journalled in the bar46c.

A pair of curved bars66aand66blie on opposite sides of the frame32and extend between the frame portions36and38. The bar66aextends from an end of the bar64bto the bar50aat a location in board of the cross bar52. The curved bar66bextends from an end of the bar64bto the bar50cin board of the cross bar52. The curved bars66aand66bare of a shape arranged to seat in a door way of a Bell 206 Jet Ranger or Bell 206L Long Ranger aircraft.

However, when the machine10is being used in a different type of aircraft such a Eurocopter AS350 or other helicopter with a flat floor in order to ensure proper seating of the frame32an adapter plate68(seeFIG. 3) which is of a generally rectangular configuration is attached on one side of the frame32and lying over a corresponding curved bar66. The plate68is detachably coupled to the frame32by pip pins70.

An upstanding and bent handling frame portion72is attached to the frame portion38from a location adjacent the bar64c. The frame72initially extends generally upwardly in a direction of the tray40and thereafter extends at an obtuse angle away from the tray40.

A drop tube74is demountably coupled by a pin76to the tube56and extends downwardly to a location outside of the aircraft which carries the machine10.

The box34is held on the tray40by a strap78and holds a drum or roller on which the belt14is wound. It is envisaged that the belt14is a continuous belt wound about the roller and may comprise for example1000end to end joined incendiary capsules16.

With reference toFIGS. 1-3,6and7, the feed and dispensing system12comprises a carousel80having an outer rim82in which is formed a plurality of recesses84for receiving respective capsules16. The outer rim82is connected by a plurality of spokes86to a central hub88which couples to a shaft that passes through a fire proof plate90(typically a plate made from a metal). The plate90in effect divides the housing30into a front portion in which the carousel80and the pump22reside, and a rear portion which, as described later, houses an ethylene glycol tank, a water tank, and electronic components of the control system. Respective longitudinal slots92are formed in the outer rim82between adjacent recesses84.

The feed and dispensing system12also includes a cutting blade94which is able to separate individual capsules16from the belt14in the region18prior to the separated capsules16entering the chute28. The blade94is eccentrically supported on a rotating wheel96so that as the wheel96rotates the blade94undergoes a reciprocating up and down motion. The wheel96is located so that the cutting blade94when at the top of its reciprocating motion coincides with the location of and extends into a slot92and thereby cuts a leading capsule16from the belt14. As explained herein after, a belt and cog system ensures synchronisation between the rotation of the carousel80and the wheel96and thus the reciprocation of the blade94to ensure that the blade94reaches a top of its travel when in alignment with a slot92.

With reference toFIGS. 2 and 3, an automatic feeder98enables the belt14to be automatically fed onto the carousel80. The automatic feeder98comprises a channel100and a biased plate110. The channel100extends from an opening102in the housing30to the carousel80and comprises two parallel spaced apart curved plates104aand104bbetween which the incendiary belt14is guided toward the carousel90. The channel100has a mouth106adjacent the outer rim82of the carousel90. The biased plate110lies beneath the mouth106and near the lower curved plate104b. The plate110has a wave or elongated “S” shaped profile. An upper or upstream end114of plate110is radially spaced from mouth106by a distance no less than, and preferably greater than, the radial spacing of the mouth106and in particular the curved plate104bof the mouth106from the carousel80. This ensures that as the belt14travels through the channel100and onto the plate110, a leading end of the belt14can not catch on the end114. A portion116of the plate110downstream of the end114is spaced radially closer to, and follows the contour of, the carousel80. The plate110has a downstream end117that is located between the carousel80and a separate guide plate119. Guide plate119follows the contour of the carousel80and has an integral extension121which forms or defines the chute28. An opposite end123of the guide plate119is bent away from the carouse80to provide room for the plate110to move radially backwards and forwards in response to the passage of the belt14and action of the bias on the plate110.

The plate110is biased radially toward carousel80by a spring (not shown) which extends about a portion of a circular bar118which in turn is coupled to a slide block120. The bar118passes through a lug122and is formed with a flange124at an end distant the slide block120. The spring which biases the shoe110is retained between the lug122and the flange124. The slide block120is able to slide linearly in a track (not shown) which also extends in the radial direction of a carousel80.

Priming system20comprises the pump22and the injection device24which may take the form of a hypodermic needle. Injection device24is mounted on the same rotating wheel96as the cutting blade94. The pump22pumps glycol from a glycol tank held within the housing30on a side of the plate90opposite the pump22to the injection device94. To this end, a first conduit1provides fluid communication between the pump22and glycol tank, while a second conduit128provides fluid communication with the injection device24. The injection device24is located relative to the blade94so that when the blade94is received within a slot92to cut the leading capsule16from the belt14, the injection device24pierces the separated capsule16to allow an injection of ethylene glycol into the capsule.

FIGS. 9 and 10illustrate a drive system130for the machine10. The drive system130comprises a first motor132which drives the feed and dispensing system12, and a second motor134which drives or operates the pump22. The control system26independently operates the motors132and134.

Motor132drives a main drive shaft136which is supported at spaced apart locations by bearings138aand138b. A cog140is mounted on the drive shaft136between the bearings138aand138b. A second shaft144(seeFIGS. 10 and 11) is supported at opposite ends by bearings146aand146band has mounted thereon, cogs148and150. InFIG. 10, the cog148is clearly visible however the cog150is behind the cog148and therefore not visible inFIG. 10but shown inFIG. 11. An endless drive toothed belt152represented by phantom line, extends about and engages the cogs140and148. Thus, drive or torque imparted by the motor132to the shaft136is in turn imparted to the shaft144. The cogs140and148have a gear ratio of 1:2 so that two turns of the cog140produces a single turn of the cog148. A relatively large diameter cog154is provided with a shaft156to which the hub88of the carousel80is connected on an opposite side of the plate90. Respective bearings158aand158bsupport the shaft156on opposite sides of the cog154. An idler shaft160is supported at opposite ends by respective bearings, only one of which162bis illustrated. An idler cog164is mounted on the shaft160between its respective bearings.

An endless toothed belt166shown in phantom line inFIG. 10engages the cogs150,154, and164. In particular, the belt166engages a left hand side of the cog150when viewed inFIG. 10, i.e. the belt166engages a side of the cog150which at any one time is located between the shafts136and144. By virtue of this arrangement, remembering that the shaft144is driven by the shaft136, the cogs144and154rotate in opposite directions. The wheel96upon which both the cutting blade94and the injection device24are mounted is attached to the shaft136. Accordingly as the carousel80is connected to the cog154via the shaft156, the carousel80and the wheel96rotate in opposite directions. Further, in this particular embodiment, there is an eight to one gear ratio between the cog154and the cog164. As a consequence of this, there is in total a 1:16 gear ratio between the cog140and the cog154. This means that the shaft136completes sixteen revolutions or rotations for every one revolution or rotation of the shaft156. Accordingly the cutting blade94and injection device26reciprocate up and down sixteen times for every single rotation of the carousel80. There are also sixteen recesses82in the carousel80. Thus for every single rotation or revolution of the carousel80, sixteen capsules16can be separated from the belt14, initiated and dropped from the machine10.

As previously mentioned, the machine10has a tank for storing a supply of ethylene glycol and a tank for holding a supply of water. Although the tanks are not shown in the accompanying drawings, openings170and172for the glycol and water tanks respectively are depicted inFIGS. 7 and 8, and removable caps174and176for opening and sealing the openings170and172are depicted inFIG. 1. The openings170and172are formed on an upper planar surface178of the housing30and lead to corresponding tanks which are disposed in the housing30on a side of the plate90opposite the carousel80. A hand pump180is also provided in the machine10to enable pumping of water from the water tank into other areas of the machine10, and in particular into the housing30on the side of the plate90having the carousel80. The hand pump180is operated in the event of a fire occurring within the housing30. The pump180has a handle182that projects upwardly from the surface178of the housing30and is preprimed so that the pump180will pump water into the housing30immediately upon depression of the handle182.

A belt insertion guide184is formed on a side wall186of the housing30to assist in guiding the belt14of incendiaries16into the automatic feeder98and in particular the channel100. The guide184is in the form of a hemispherical block where an outer circumferential surface188is relieved or recessed to have a progressively reduced radius for an arc of approximately 90° thereby forming a rebated surface190which leads to the opening102.

The housing30is also provided with a door192shown best inFIG. 1which can be opened and closed to access the internals of the machine10. The door192is provided with a glass or other fire resistant and transparent panel194to facilitate visual inspection of the operation of the machine10and in particular the feeding, priming and dispensing of the capsules16.

The control system26comprises a processor (not shown) which controls the motors132and134and is responsive to inputs from various sensors and switches of the machine10. Power for operation of the control system26and the motors132and134is provided by an external power supply, typically from the aircraft on which the machine10is carried. A power supply socket196is provided on the top surface178of the housing30to facilitate connection with the power supply.

The sensors incorporated in the control system26include level sensors (not shown) for the glycol tank and water tank; a door sensor (not shown) which senses whether the door192is opened or shut; a torque or load sensor (not shown) for the motor132; and a pair of incendiary belt sensors19aand198b(seeFIGS. 3 and 8). The sensor198ais located near the mouth106of the channel100while the sensor198bis located on the plate119between the shoe110and the chute28. Some of the buttons and switches for the controller26are mounted on the top surface178of the housing30, while others are provided on a hand held pendant200which is coupled by a cable202and socket204to communicate with the processor of the controller26.

A master power switch206is in the form of an aviation two way switch. This provides power to the controller26and motors132and134upon activation, assuming of course that a cable for supplying power is connected via the socket196to the machine10. On activation of the master switch206, the pendant200will light, indicating that the machine10is powered. Directly below the master power switch208there is provided a glycol stop switch208. When the switch208is depressed, the feed and dispensing system12, and the priming system20are immediately stopped rendering the capsules16harmless. If the glycol stop switch208has been depressed, the machine10will not operate until the switch208is reset. The switch208is a rotary type push switch and in order to,reset must be turned until it pops back up.

Beneath the glycol switch208there is provided input devices in the form of a load button210, an unload button212, and in between a prime button214(seeFIG. 1). Pressing or activating the load button210will drawn an incendiary belt14toward the injection device24without activating the glycol pump22. This is useful for travelling to an operation, or during pre-flight checks. The button210is configured to only be active if the glycol stop button208has been activated and the pendant200is blank (i.e. is not illuminated).

The unload button212when activated enables the incendiary belt14to be extracted from the machine10. Typically the unload button212will be activated when a mission or operation is complete, or in between drop zones. The unload button212is only active if the glycol stop switch208is activated, the remote pendant200is blank, and the belt14is of sufficient length so that its presence is sensed by the sensor198a. Prime button214is located between the buttons210and212and when pressed operates the pump motor134and thus the pump22to pump ethylene glycol to the injection device24. The prime button214is depressed to reprime the pump22and the injection device24in the event that they have been drained of glycol. When these have been primed, and the button214is operated, a flow of ethylene glycol should be evident from the tip of the injection device24.

FIG. 12illustrates the pendant200which is electrically coupled with the control system and provide with a user interface to provide input to the control system as well as display status information regarding the machine10. The interface comprises buttons and/or switches enabling a user to switch the machine between a manual mode by depressing a manual button216on the pendant200, or alternately an automatic mode by depression of the drop rate buttons218dand218i. Pressing the automated switches218dor218ienables a user to increase or decrease the drop rate (ie, number of incendiary capsules16dropped by the machine per minute). Depressing the button218ddecreases the drop rate while depressing the button218iincreases the drop rate. The selected drop rate is displayed on a drop rate display220. The controller26may be programmed to vary the drop rate in units of more than one for each depression of the buttons218dor218i. For example, the drop rate may be increased or decreased by, say, two or five capsules per minute for each depression of the buttons218dor218i.

When the manual button216is depressed, the machine10will drop one primed incendiary capsule16every time a GO button222on the pendant200is pressed. The pendant200is provided with two stop buttons224ror224l(hereinafter referred to in general as “stop buttons224”). The stop button224ris on the right hand side of the pendant200, while the stop button224lis on the left hand side of the pendant200, with the GO button222between the two stop buttons. The controller26is programmed to stop operation of the machine10to the extent that it ceases to drop capsules16when either of the stop buttons224is pressed. Assuming that either of the buttons218i,218dis pressed to select a desired drop rate, pressing the GO button will activate the machine10to drop primed incendiary capsules16at the designated drop rate. If it is desired to switch to manual mode, one of the stop buttons224is depressed and the manual button216is depressed. Now upon each depression the GO button220a single capsule is primed, cut from the belt14and dropped. An indicator light226is associated with the manual button216, and an indicator light228is associated with the drop rate buttons218iand218d. The lights226and228illuminate each time the associated buttons are depressed.

A tally display230is provided on the pendant200to provide an indication of the number of incendiary capsules dropped. The tally display230is associated with a Day button232and a Pack button234. Each of the buttons232and234has a respective associated indicator light236and238. By pressing the Day button232, the tally display230will display a running total of the incendiary capsules dropped before the day or mission. When a user pushes the Day button232, the associated indicator light236is illuminated. Alternately, by pressing the Pack button234, the tally display230will provide a display of the number of incendiary capsules dropped from the current incendiary capsule belt14. Pressing of the Pack button234is acknowledged or indicated by illumination of the indicator lamp238.

The tally display230is also coupled with the control system26to display fault messages to a user. For example, as previously described, the machine10includes a sensor for sensing the torque or load on the motor132. If this torque or load is at abnormal levels, the machine10is stopped and a message “JAM” is displayed in the tally display230. The pendant200is, also provided with a drop indicator lamp240, a fault indicator lamp242, a glycol level indicator lamp244and a water level indicator lamp246. The drop indicator lamp240illuminates whenever an incendiary capsule is dropped. The level indicator lamps224and246illuminate whenever the respective glycol or water tanks are less than one quarter full.

The fault indicator lamp242is illuminated when the control system26and associated sensors detect a fault in the machine10. The nature of the fault is displayed in the tally display230.

FIG. 13graphically depicts the operation of the machine10. In the diagram, box250represents the state of the master switch206. If the master switch206is OFF, then the system10remains unpowered and no incendiary capsules16can be dispensed. If the master switch206is ON, the control system conducts an operation to determine whether or not the glycol stop button208has been activated. In the event that the glycol stop button208has been activated, the controller26enters a state256enabling the activation of either of the load button210or the unload button212. As previously mentioned, pressing the load button enables the incendiary belt14to be drawn towards the injection device24without the glycol pump22being activated. Pressing the unload button212enables the incendiary belt14to be extracted from the machine10safely. The depression of the glycol button208also causes the controller26to conduct an action258where it operates the tally display230to display a specific display or symbol such as a dash for each character position on the tally display230, thereby providing an indication on the pendant200that the glycol button208has been depressed.

If the glycol stop button208has not been depressed, then the control system conducts an operation206to determine whether or not the motor132is under an unusual torque or load. If this is the case, then the control system26conducts an operation262to cause the tally display230to display the message “JAM”, and an operation264to cause the fault lamp242on the pendant200to illuminate.

If there is no unusual torque or load on the motor132, then the pendant200enters an activated state266in which the buttons and switches on the pendant200may be operated and acted upon by the controller26and machine10. In addition, the prime button214which is located on the upper surface178of the housing30also becomes active. Upon pressing the prime button214, the control system26performs an interrogation step268in which it interrogates the sensors198aand198bto determine whether or not an incendiary belt14is loaded into the machine10. If not, the control system26enters a state270in which it prevents the priming system20from priming the pump22and the injection device24. However, if it is determined that there is a belt14in the machine10, the control system26enters a state272where it enables the priming system20to operate the pump22for a limited duration, for example for one quarter of a turn of the pump22, in order to prime the pump22and the injection device24. The prime button214may be held down to effect multiple consecutive quarter turns of the pump in order to fully prime the pump22and the injection device24. This is indicated or can be verified by the visual ejection of glycol from the injection device24.

By depressing the drop rate buttons218iand218d, the control system26enters a state271in which it operates the drop display220to display the selected drop rate for the incendiaries16. The control system also enters the drop rate into a register274.

On depressing the manual button216, the control system26at step275operates the drop rate display220to display a series of dashes in each character location of the display220. Additionally, the controller26conducts an operation276in which it sets the feed and dispensing system12and the priming system20to prime and separate one capsule16from the belt14for each depression of the GO button222. This operating procedure for the feed and dispensing system12and the priming system20is also logged in the register274. The register274will either hold the desired drop rate of capsule, or hold an indication that capsules are to be dropped at a rate of one for each depression of the GO button222.

The register274is linked with the GO button222so that when the GO button222is depressed, the control system26enters a state278where actions stored in register274are acted upon by the machine10. Thus, if the machine10is in the automatic mode where capsules are dropped at a rate set by the drop rate buttons218iand218d, the machine10operates to dispense primed capsules16at the selected drop rate. However if the machine10is in the manual mode, then it operates to dispense one primed capsule16for each depression of the GO button222.

Upon depression of either of the stop buttons224ior224r, the machine enters a stop state280where the control system26functions to complete the current dispensing cycle and then immediately stops operation of the feed and dispensing system12and the priming system20to thereby prevent dispensing of any further capsules16.

When depressing the Day button232, the control system26drives the tally display230to depict the number of capsules16dispensed on that day or for a particular mission. This tally is a tally of drops since the previously reset of the day count. Holding the Day button in a depressed state for five seconds causes the controller at step284to clear the day count shown in the tally display230.

On pressing the Pack button234the controller26performs an operation286where it drives the tally display230to display the number of capsules16used from the box of capsules34. Holding down the Pack button234for an extended period of time such as five seconds causes the controller26to perform an operation288where it clears or resets the PACK count.

In one example of use of the machine10, the machine10may be fitted to a helicopter with the housing10mounted on the frame portion36, the box34of capsules supported on the frame portion38, and the frame32fixed to the helicopter by use of one or more straps with a machine10orientated so that when the drop tube74is attached to the tube56on the frame32, the drop tube depends vertically down from a location outside of the helicopter. Box34is held on the tray40by the strap78. The glycol and water tanks are filled by removal of the corresponding tank caps174and176. Machine10is supplied with power from the helicopter by coupling of a power cable from a power supply of the helicopter to the power supply socket196. When the helicopter is airborne an operator may then turn on the machine10using the master switch206.

Prior to loading machine10with belt14, the priming system20may itself be primed by pressing of the prime button214to ensure that the pump22and the injection device24are filled with glycol prior to operation of the machine10to dispense capsules16. To initially load the belt14into the machine10, an operator pushes a leading end of the belt14through the opening102and the channel100to the automatic feeder110. Assuming the carousel80is turning, the auto feeder98operates to bias a leading capsule16on the belt14into an adjacent recess82of the carousel80. As the belt is consumed, it unrolls from different locations on the roller held within the box34. Due to the pivotal nature of the tray40, the tray and box are able to tilt to minimise the twist in the belt14as well as the angle at which the belt extends from the opening102to the point of departure from the roller on which the belt14is wound.

An operator may push the drop rate buttons218iand218dto select a drop rate of capsules. On pressing the GO button the motor132will be operated and controlled by the control system26to rotate the carousel80at the required speed in order to provide the selected drop rate. If however the manual button216has been pressed then only a single capsule will be cut, primed and dropped from each pressing of the GO button222. However, the control system26is also sensitive to the inputs of the drop sensors198aand198b. In the event that no capsule is sensed by the sensor198b, the controller26will enable the motor132to operate to rotate the carousel80and indeed also rotate the wheel96causing reciprocating motion of the injection device24and the cutter94, but it will not operate the motor134and therefore no glycol will be pumped by the priming system20.

Now that an embodiment of the invention has been described in detail it will be obvious to those of ordinary shill in the art that numerous modifications and variations may be made without departing form the basic inventive concepts. For example the plate110for biasing capsules in the recesses84is,shown as separate from the channel and movable linearly in a radial direction referenced to the carousel80. However in one variation depicted inFIG. 14a modified plate110amay be used to perform the same function. The plate110ais pivotally coupled to the fire proof plate90immediately beneath and adjacent curved plate104bto in effect form a continuous extension to plate104b. A spring111abiases the plate110ato pivot in a direction toward the rim82of carousel80about a screw113bawhich also mounts the plate110ato the fireproof plate90. An upper surface115aof plate110ais concavely curved to substantially match the curvature of the outer rim82. Downstream end117aof plate110alies adjacent an end123aof modified guide plate119a. Guide plate119ais modified in relation to guide plate119of the first described embodiment by a reshaping of its end123awhich now substantially follows the curvature of the rime82rather than being bent away from carousel80as depicted inFIG. 3. A stop125ais attached to an underside of plate119aat end123ato limit the pivoting motion of plate110a.

FIG. 15illustrates a second embodiment of the machine10ahaving several modifications and variations. Firstly, the pump22of the first embodiment is relocated to be on the same side of the fireproof wall90as the motors132and134, and thus not visible through the192of housing30a. In yet a,further variation a modified frame32ais used in place of frame32. The frame32ais of simpler construction and is of a planar rectangular configuration onto which the housing30ais demountable coupled. Also rather than having a pivotally coupled tray supporting a box to hold an incendiary belt feed, the frame32ais configured to allow coupling of a pair of plates35arotatably supporting a drum37aon which the incendiary belt feed is rolled. A further idler roller39ais rotatably supported between the plates35aand about which the incendiary belt travels prior to entry to the housing30a. Housing30adiffers slightly from housing30by the inclusion of a handle41a.

All such medications and variations together with other that would be obvious to persons of ordinary skill in the art are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined by the above description and the appended claims.