Patent Publication Number: US-7900621-B2

Title: Water rocket launch system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to toy rockets, and more particularly to a water rocket launch system for a plurality of water rocket toys. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A water rocket is a type of model rocket using water as its reaction mass. The “pressure vessel” (i.e., the engine of the rocket) is a chamber which receives water held under pressure, and may be a finely machined vessel or, as is quite common in water rocketry, may be a used plastic soft drink bottle or the like. The water is forced out by a pressurized gas, typically compressed air. The pressure vessel, which is internal to the rocket, has a lower opening or nozzle for expelling the water. The pressure vessel is mostly filled with water and sealed. The vessel is then pressurized with a gas, typically air compressed from a bicycle pump, air compressor, pressurized air cylinder or the like, up to approximately 125 psi. Other gases, such as CO 2  or nitrogen, may also be used. The water and gas are used in combination, with the gas providing a means to store potential energy, as it is easily compressed, and the water increasing the mass fraction and providing greater momentum when ejected from the rocket&#39;s nozzle. 
     The seal on the nozzle of the rocket is then released and rapid expulsion of water occurs at high speeds until the propellant has been used up and the air pressure inside the rocket drops to atmospheric pressure. There is a net force created on the rocket in accordance with Newton&#39;s third law. The expulsion of the water can cause the rocket to fly a considerable distance into the air. 
     Simple water rockets, however, do not provide a great deal of visual entertainment. Other than the plume of water that is generated as the rocket is thrust upward, there is little to engage the senses of observers. It would be desirable to provide a water rocket system providing a wide array of entertainment and sensory input. Thus, a water rocket launch system solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The water rocket launch system is an automated system for launching multiple water rocket toys simultaneously with additional visual and auditory effects. The water rocket launch system includes a platform having opposed upper and lower surfaces, with at least one launching base slidably mounted on the upper surface of the platform. The at least one launching base is selectively and controllably driven to slide on the platform. 
     At least one water rocket storage chamber is mounted on the upper surface of the platform, with the at least one water rocket storage chamber having an open interior region for receiving and storing a plurality of water rockets, and further having an open bottom end. A plurality of launching assemblies are mounted on an upper surface of the at least one launching base, such that the plurality of water rockets stored within the at least one water rocket storage chamber may be released onto the at least one launching base, with each launching assembly engaging and releasably supporting a respective one of the water rockets. The water rockets are selectively and controllably filled with water and pressurized gas for selective launching thereof. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is perspective view of a water rocket launch system according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view of the water rocket launch system according to the present invention, showing further details thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an individual rocket launch assembly of the water rocket launch system according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a water rocket launch system  10  is shown. System  10  includes a pair of rocket storage chambers  12 ,  14  mounted on a platform  17 . Preferably, as best shown in  FIG. 2 , each of storage chambers  12 ,  14  includes an inner wall  13 , dividing each chamber into an upper region and a lower region. The inner wall  13  is segmented to support and hold a plurality of water rockets  26  in a selectable array pattern, both in the upper chamber and in the lower chamber. As shown, the lower, nozzle portions of each water rocket  26  are supported by, and releasably secured to, the upper surface of inner wall  13  in the upper chamber, and the upper nose portions of water rockets  26  are releasably held by the lower surface of inner wall  13 . Any suitable type of support or clamping mechanism may be used to support water rockets  26  within storage chambers  12 ,  14 . It should be understood that the contouring and relative dimensions of chambers  12 ,  14  are shown in the drawings for exemplary purposes only, and may be varied depending upon the number, type and configuration of the water rockets to be stored therein. The water rockets  26  stored within chambers  12 ,  14  are empty, i.e., their pressure vessels have not yet been filled with water or pressurized gas. 
     The platform  17  is a support having opposed upper and lower surfaces. The lower surface is adapted for resting on the ground or any other suitable support surface. A pair of sliding launching bases  16  are slidably mounted on the upper surface of platform  17 . Each launching base  16  includes a plurality of launcher assemblies  12  mounted on an upper surface thereof, as best shown in  FIG. 2 . Two pairs of rails  20 ,  22 , corresponding to each of the rocket storage chambers  14 ,  16 , respectively, are mounted on the upper surface of platform  17 , and each launching base  16  includes at least a pair of mounts  24  for slidably engaging the respective pair of rails  20 ,  22 . 
     As indicated by the directional arrows in  FIG. 2 , each mount  24  allows the corresponding launching base  16  to be selectively and controllably linearly translated along the sliding rails, and each mount  24  is also preferably pivotal, allowing each launching base  16  to be selectively rotated with respect to platform  17 . A drive system  58  is in communication with mounts  24  and selectively drives mounts  24  to linearly translate and pivot. Drive system  58  may be any suitable type of drive system capable of causing controllable linear translation of mounts  24  within rails  20 ,  22 , such as a linear actuator, and further causing controllable rotation of mounts  24  with respect to platform  17 , such as an additional electrical or pneumatic motor. Drive system  58  is in communication with a controller  44  (via line  60 ). Controller  44  may be any suitable type of computer, programmable logic controller or the like which allows the user to selectively actuate and control the drive system  58 . 
     Controller  44  is further in communication with a release mechanism  15 . In use, one or both of the launching bases  16  are driven by drive system  58 , under control of controller  44 , to slide beneath the open rocket storage chambers  12 . Release mechanism then causes a selected number of water rockets  26 , in a selected array pattern, to fall onto the corresponding base  16  such that nozzles of each rocket  26  (as will be described in greater detail below) land on, and are connected to, corresponding launch assemblies  18  which, as shown, are preferably arrayed in a grid pattern. Once all of the water rockets  26  stored in the lower portions of chambers  12 ,  14  have been used, the release mechanism can selectively release the inner wall  13 , thus causing the water rockets  26  stored in the upper chambers to also fall. 
     Once each water rocket  26  is mounted in position and held by the corresponding launch assemblies  18 , the launching bases  16 , under the control of drive system  58  and controller  44 , slides back to the central, open launching area, as shown in  FIG. 1 . As noted above, each launching base  16  is rotatable with respect to platform  17 , allowing the user (via controller  44 ) to selectively direct the rockets  26  to a desired launch angle. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , when a rocket  26  is lowered onto a respective launch assembly  18 , the lower nozzle  28  is received within a hollow launch mount  30 . Each launch mount  30  is supported by a base  36 , which rests on the upper surface of the launching base  16 . Preferably, an annular flange  34  is formed about each nozzle  28 , as shown, so that hooks or clamps  32 , secured to launch mount  30 , releasably engage the annular flange  34  to hold the water rocket  26  in place (and in the upright position) until time of launch. 
     Launch mount  30  may include an internal gasket or other seal such that a fluid-tight seal is formed when nozzle  28  is received therein. Launch mounts  30  are in fluid communication with a conduit  38 , which is in communication with a pump  40  and an air compressor  42 . Controller  44  is in communication with pump  40  and air compressor  42  (via line  56 ) to selectively control the pumping of water from water reservoir  46 , via pump  40 , through conduit  38  and into the pressure vessels of water rockets  26 . Similarly, controller  44  selectively controls the transmission, at the same time, of pressurized air, via air compressor  42 , through conduit  38 , and into the water rockets  26 . 
     Once fully pressurized, water rockets  26  are ready for launch. In order to enhance the sensory experience of the audience, each water rocket  26  preferably includes a whistle  50  mounted on the nose thereof, such that sounds are generated as the each rocket  26  flies through the air. Additionally, each rocket  26  is preferably coated with a phosphorescent material  52  to generate visual effects, particularly at night. Further, light projectors  48 , which may be lasers, spotlights or the like, are in communication with controller  44  (via line  54 ), for illuminating the rockets  26  when they are flying in the air. 
     Under control of controller  44 , once water rockets  26  are filled with water and pressurized air and are ready for launch, the hooks or clamps  32  are released by any suitable type of actuator mechanism in communication with controller  44 , and the water rockets  26  launch. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.