A pop-up apparatus is provided. The pop-up apparatus includes a base unit arranged on a reference surface and having a hollow portion formed therein, a pop-up unit formed to surround the base unit and reciprocating with respect to the base unit, a connection unit arranged on an upper end of the pop-up unit, a holder unit connected to the pop-up unit by the connection unit and configured to hold an object, and a gas generation unit arranged inside the base unit and configured to generate gas, wherein internal pressure of the base unit may increase due to the gas generated from the gas generation unit and the pop-up unit may be lifted.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

One or more embodiments relate to a pop-up apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

In sled tests in which a weight is exposed to a high-speed dynamic environment, an experimenter uses a pop-up apparatus to pop up the weight to a certain height that matches experimental conditions, thereby generating vertical dynamic motion of the weight. A conventional pop-up apparatus uses a spring incorporated inside the pop-up apparatus and uses the principle of instantly pushing out and popping up the weight by using a compressed force of the spring. However, since a conventional pop-up apparatus uses a spring, there is a risk to working environments due to spring elasticity when installing the pop-up apparatus and there is an issue that a lot of time and human resources are required during installation and disassembly processes. In addition, as the weight of a pop-up object increases, it is difficult to achieve the purpose of the pop-up apparatus due to physical limitations of spring elasticity coefficients and workability during a compression process. As the weight of pop-up objects increases, there is a need to develop a pop-up apparatus that may easily control pop-up propulsion forces without being driven only by spring elasticity.

Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0139944 (publication date Dec. 8, 2014) discloses an air rocket launcher for training purposes.

The above description is information the inventor(s) acquired during the course of conceiving the present disclosure, or already possessed at the time, and is not necessarily art publicly known before the present application was filed.

SUMMARY

Problems to be Solved

According to an embodiment, a pop-up apparatus that may perform a function of popping up an object using combustion pressure of a propellant may be provided.

According to an embodiment, a pop-up apparatus that is convenient for a test operation may be provided since compressive force of an elastic body is not used to pop up an object.

Means to Solve the Problem

According to an aspect, there is provided a pop-up apparatus including a base unit arranged on a reference surface and having a hollow portion formed therein, a pop-up unit formed to surround the base unit and reciprocating with respect to the base unit, a connection unit arranged on an upper end of the pop-up unit, a holder unit connected to the pop-up unit by the connection unit and configured to hold an object, and a gas generation unit arranged inside the base unit and configured to generate gas, wherein internal pressure of the base unit may increase due to the gas generated from the gas generation unit and the pop-up unit may be lifted.

The base unit may include a stopper configured to limit a range of motion of the pop-up unit and an exhaust hole formed through a side wall of the base unit.

The gas generation unit may include a housing and an ignition element configured to ignite a propellant, wherein, by using combustion pressure of the propellant, pressure inside the base unit may be increased and the pop-up unit may be pushed up.

A surface of the ignition element may be formed with a perforation structure so that the ignition element releases gas generated by combustion of the propellant.

The housing may include a mounting portion mounted on a lower end of the base unit, a pillar portion extending from the mounting portion and having the ignition element arranged inside the pillar portion, and a diffusion hole formed through a side wall of the pillar portion.

The pop-up apparatus may further include an ignition control unit connected to the ignition element inside the gas generation unit with an ignition line.

The exhaust hole may be arranged at a lower portion of the base unit.

A plurality of exhaust holes may be formed and a number of exhaust holes arranged may change depending on a height of the base unit.

One side of the stopper may be provided with an elastic body so that the pop-up unit and the base unit collide elastically.

A lower end of the pop-up unit may have a curved shape so that a range of motion of the pop-up unit is limited by physically interfering with the stopper.

The exhaust hole may include a structure in which the exhaust hole is manually opened or closed according to test conditions.

Advantageous Effects

According to embodiments, a pop-up apparatus may perform a function of popping up an object using combustion pressure of a propellant.

According to embodiments, a pop-up apparatus may facilitate a test operation since compressive force of an elastic body is not used to pop up an object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Regarding the reference numerals assigned to the components in the drawings, it should be noted that the same components are designated by the same reference numerals, wherever possible, even though they are shown in different drawings. Also, in the description of the embodiments, detailed description of well-known related structures or functions is omitted when it is deemed that such description will cause ambiguous interpretation of the present disclosure.

In addition, in the description of the components of the embodiments, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like may be used. These terms are used only for the purpose of discriminating one component from another component, and the nature, the sequences, or the orders of the components are not limited by the terms. When one component is described as being “connected”, “coupled”, or “attached” to another component, it should be understood that one component may be connected or attached directly to another component, and an intervening component may also be “connected”, “coupled”, or “attached” to the components.

The same name may be used to describe an element included in the embodiments described above and an element having a common function. Unless otherwise mentioned, the descriptions on the embodiments may be applicable to the following embodiments and thus, duplicated descriptions will be omitted for conciseness.

FIG.1is a perspective view of a pop-up apparatus on which an object is placed, according to an embodiment,FIG.2is a perspective view of the pop-up apparatus according to an embodiment, andFIG.3is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the pop-up apparatus according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIGS.1to3, a pop-up apparatus1according to an embodiment may perform a function of popping up an object10by using combustion pressure of a propellant. That is, since compressive force of an elastic body is not used to pop up the object10, a test operation may be facilitated. According to a conventional spring pop-up system, safety of working environments is compromised by using high-elasticity springs, and a lot of time and equipment are required for system installation. The pop-up apparatus1may solve such issues since the pop-up apparatus1uses a propellant and has an advantage of performing tests to pop up the object10under various test conditions by changing the amount of the propellant. For example, the pop-up apparatus1may raise internal pressure of a base unit11by gas generated from a gas generation unit12and may lift a pop-up unit13. By raising the pop-up unit13, a holder unit15may rise and the object10may be popped up in a short period of time. When the object10pops up, the object10may be released and pop out from the holder unit15by inertia, and the pop-up unit13may descend as the pressure inside the base unit11decreases. Here, the operating time of the pop-up apparatus 1 may be 100 milliseconds (ms) or less, and the pop-up speed may be 7.67 meters per second (m/s) to 8.86 m/s. That is, the object10may be popped up at high speed by combustion of the propellant. As described below, the pressure inside the base unit11may be controlled by an exhaust hole112(seeFIG.5). For example, the pop-up apparatus1may include the base unit11, the pop-up unit13, a connection unit14, the gas generation unit12, the holder unit15, and an ignition control unit (not shown).

The base unit11may be arranged on a reference surface and may have a hollow portion formed therein. The base unit11may be formed with a bottom and a side, and an upper portion may be formed in an open state. The base unit11may function as a chamber for propellant combustion and gas pressure may be generated inside. Since the pop-up unit13is arranged to slide by coupling to surround the outside of the base unit11, as the pressure inside the base unit11rises, the pop-up unit13may slide and vertical movement may be implemented on the object10. After the vertical movement, the object10may be separated from the holder unit15and may move dynamically due to inertia of the object10. Here, the pop-up height of the object10may be 2 meters (m) to 4 m, and the weight of the object10may be 150 kilograms (kg) to 200 kg. The base unit11may be formed into a cylindrical shape with an inner radius of about 150 millimeters (mm) and the thickness of a side wall may be formed to be 15.75 mm. However, the base unit11is not limited thereto and may be configured to suit experimental conditions.

The gas generation unit12may be arranged inside the base unit11and may generate gas. For example, the gas generation unit12may be arranged at the center of the lower end portion of the base unit11to facilitate gas diffusion. The gas generation unit12may increase the pressure inside the base unit11by using gas generated by burning the propellant.

The pop-up unit13may be formed to surround the base unit11and may reciprocate with respect to the base unit11. According to this structure, the pop-up unit13may slide vertically along the side surface of the base unit11as the pressure inside the base unit11increases. The lower end of the pop-up unit13may have an inwardly curved shape to physically interfere with a stopper111(seeFIG.4) to limit a range of motion of the pop-up unit13. That is, the inwardly curved shape at the lower end of the pop-up unit13and the stopper111protruding at the upper end of the base unit11may prevent the pop-up unit13from being completely separated from the base unit11by combustion pressure due to the interlocking phenomenon. For example, the inner radius of the pop-up unit13may be 177.3 mm and the thickness of the side wall may be formed to be 5.5 mm. However, the pop-up unit13is not limited thereto and may be configured to suit experimental conditions.

The connection unit14may be arranged on the upper end of the pop-up unit13. The connection unit14may connect the pop-up unit13to the holder unit15while sealing an open portion of the pop-up unit13. According to this structure, when the pressure inside the base unit11increases, the pressure is also applied to the inner side surface of the connection unit14, and the connection unit14and the pop-up unit13may be moved together away from the base unit11. The connection unit14may be formed integrally with the pop-up unit13to form a single structure and does not necessarily have to be formed as a separate structure to be connected with the pop-up unit13, as shown inFIG.3. A seal may be formed at a connection portion between the connection unit14and the pop-up unit13to prevent gas from flowing. The thickness of the connection unit14may be formed to be about 14 mm.

The holder unit15may be connected to the pop-up unit13by the connection unit14and may hold the object10. The holder unit15may have a depressed middle portion to prevent the object10having curvature from rolling off. The holder unit15may be formed to have a sufficient width and length to stably hold the object10, and may also be formed in a shape that becomes more depressed toward the center. When the holder unit15is excessively heavy, the pop-up function due to combustion of the propellant may not be sufficiently embodied, so the holder unit15may be formed of a lightweight and robust material with little shape deformation.

The ignition control unit may be connected to an ignition element122inside the gas generation unit12by an ignition line. The exhaust hole112may include a structure in which the exhaust hole112is manually opened or closed according to test conditions. For example, the exhaust hole112may be manually opened or closed in advance depending on the weight of the object10, a pre-targeted height, and the amount of propellant included in the ignition element122.

FIG.4is a perspective view of a base unit according to an embodiment, andFIG.5is a cross-sectional view of the base unit according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIGS.4and5, the base unit11may include the stopper111and the exhaust hole112.

The stopper111may be formed to limit a range of motion of the pop-up unit13. The stopper111may be formed to protrude from the upper portion of the base unit11and may physically interfere with the pop-up unit13to prevent the pop-up unit13from being completely separated from the base unit11. For example, an elastic body may be provided on one side of the stopper111to make the pop-up unit13and the base unit11elastically collide.

Here, a function of the elastic body may be not to make the pop-up unit13pop up with the propellant combustion pressure, but to induce the pop-up unit13that has reached the stopper111to elastically collide, thereby increasing the amount of change in momentum of the object10and facilitating the object10to pop up.

The exhaust hole112may be formed through the side wall of the base unit11. The exhaust hole112may easily discharge the pressure of gas generated inside the base unit11. The exhaust hole112may have a size of about 6 mm in diameter, a plurality of exhaust holes112may be provided, and “8 to 12” exhaust holes112may be arranged, but embodiments are not limited thereto. Due to the exhaust hole112, the remaining gas of the base unit11may be released after the vertical movement of the pop-up unit13. Here, the total area of the exhaust hole112may be about 0.07 percent (%) of the outer surface area of the base unit11excluding the area of the exhaust hole112. For example, the exhaust hole112may be arranged at the lower portion of the base unit11. Although not shown in the drawing, the diagram shows an example of the arrangement of the exhaust holes112, and the plurality of exhaust holes112may be arranged in different numbers depending on the height of the base unit11. For example, more exhaust holes112may be arranged at the upper end of the base unit11than at the lower end of the base unit11. According to this structure, pressure leakage that may occur during the vertical movement of the pop-up unit13may be minimized and the pressure inside the base unit11after the vertical movement may be easily discharged. On the contrary, depending on experimental conditions, more exhaust holes112may be arranged at the lower end rather than the upper end of the base unit11.

FIG.6is a perspective view of a gas generation unit according to an embodiment.

Referring toFIG.6, the gas generation unit12may be arranged inside the base unit11to generate gas. For example, the gas generation unit12may include a housing121and the ignition element122.

The housing121may be formed to surround the ignition element122and may diffuse gas emitted from the ignition element122. A removable cap may be provided on the upper surface of the housing121. The housing121may include a mounting portion1211, a pillar portion1212, and a diffusion hole1213.

The mounting portion1211may be mounted on the lower end of the base unit11. The mounting portion1211may have screw threads so that the mounting portion1211may be easily mounted on and removed from the base unit11by turning the mounting portion1211. According to this structure, through a simple operation, the gas generation unit12may be separated from the base unit11to add the propellant or may be replaced. A seal may be formed on the screw threads of the mounting portion1211to prevent gas pressure from escaping through a gap between the gas generation unit12and the base unit11.

The pillar portion1212may extend from the mounting portion1211and the ignition element122may be arranged inside the pillar portion1212. The pillar portion1212may extend vertically from the mounting portion1211and may induce gas generated by the ignition element122to easily diffuse into the inside of the base unit11.

The diffusion hole1213may be formed by penetrating a side wall of the pillar portion1212. There may be a plurality of diffusion holes1213, and the diffusion holes1213may be evenly arranged 360 degrees on the outer wall of the pillar portion1212. The diffusion holes1213may be formed with a diameter of about 15 mm and “24” diffusion holes1213may be formed. The total area of the diffusion holes1213may be approximately 34% of the area of the pillar portion1212in which the diffusion holes1213are not formed. The diameters of the diffusion holes1213may not all be the same, and the diffusion holes1213with larger diameters may be arranged toward the upper end of the pillar portion1212. In addition, the number of diffusion holes1213may be increased towards the upper end of the pillar portion1212. According to this structure, since the gas is induced to diffuse from the upper portion of the pillar portion1212, the pressure difference between the lower portion of the housing121, where the gas pressure is formed high, and the upper portion of the housing121, where the gas pressure is formed relatively low, may be reduced.

The ignition element122may combust the propellant. Due to the ignition element122, combustion pressure of the propellant may be generated, and the combustion pressure may increase the pressure within the base unit11and may push up the pop-up unit13. Here, it is confirmed that 10 grams (g) to 16 g of propellant is used to lift the object10weighing about 170 kg about 3 m to 4 m. As the amount of propellant increases, the height at which the object10is popped up tends to increase. That is, by controlling the amount of propellant, the internal pressure of the base unit11may be increased, thereby controlling the pop-up height of the object10. The ignition element122may have a surface formed with a perforated structure and may release gas generated by combustion of the propellant. The diameter of perforations may be formed to be approximately 2.49 mm, and “24” perforations may be formed. The total area of the perforations may be about 6% of the area of the ignition element122in which no perforations are formed.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMBERS