Cartridge ejection and data acquisition system

Abstract

An ejection system includes a frame; a controller unit coupled to the frame and adapted to receive a command input; a cartridge ejection unit coupled to the frame and adapted to eject a cartridge in response to the received command input; and a recording unit coupled to the controller unit and adapted to record data when the cartridge is ejected.

1 . An end cap of a smoke cartridge, comprising: 
 a nozzle adapted to be coupled to the end of a smoke cartridge;    an aperture defined within a first surface of the nozzle; and    a channel extending tortuously through the nozzle, the channel being in fluid communication with the aperture and the interior of the smoke cartridge.    
   
   
       2 . The end cap of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle includes thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       3 . The end cap of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle includes thermoset material.  
   
   
       4 . The end cap of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle includes unitary sections.  
   
   
       5 . The end cap of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure-sensitive activation unit fixed within the nozzle.  
   
   
       6 . The end cap of  claim 5 , wherein the pressure-sensitive activation unit and the aperture are coaxially aligned.  
   
   
       7 . The end cap of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is tapered.  
   
   
       8 . A smoke cartridge, comprising: 
 a first tube;    a nozzle coupled to the first tube, the nozzle having a channel extending tortuously therethrough and an aperture in fluid communication with the channel;    a pressure-sensitive activation unit fixed inside the first tube and coaxially aligned with the aperture; and    a smoke capsule inside the first tube and in fluid communication with the channel.    
   
   
       9 . The smoke cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the aperture and the first tube are coaxially aligned.  
   
   
       10 . The smoke cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure-sensitive activation unit is fixed within the nozzle.  
   
   
       11 . The smoke cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the smoke capsule includes: 
 a second tube; and    a smoke generating material within the second tube.    
   
   
       12 . The smoke cartridge of  claim 11 , further comprising an ignition assistor between the pressure-sensitive activation unit and the smoke generating material.  
   
   
       13 . The smoke cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein the ignition assistor includes an ignition-assisting material sandwiched between to rupturable films.  
   
   
       14 . The smoke cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein the ignition assistor includes an ignitable compound.  
   
   
       15 . The smoke cartridge of  claim 8 , further comprising insulating material between the smoke capsule and the interior surface of the first tube.  
   
   
       16 . The smoke cartridge of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a base cap coupled to the first tube; and    ballast material between the base cap and the smoke capsule.    
   
   
       17 . The smoke cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the smoke generating material includes potassium nitrate (KNO 3 ) and sugar.  
   
   
       18 . The smoke cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the smoke generating material includes potassium nitrate (KNO 3 ), sulfur (S), sugar, and charcoal.  
   
   
       19 . The smoke cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the smoke generating material includes potassium chlorate (KClO 3 ), sugar, and pigment.  
   
   
       20 . A cartridge ejection unit, comprising: 
 a magazine housing adapted to contain a plurality of cartridges;    an actuator unit coupled to the magazine housing and adapted to exert a force on a cartridge contained within the magazine housing and eject the cartridge from the magazine housing;    a cartridge moving unit coupled to the magazine housing and adapted to align the plurality of cartridges with the actuator unit; and    an alignment block coupled to an end portion of the magazine housing and adapted to orient a cartridge aligned with the actuator unit.    
   
   
       21 . The cartridge ejection unit of  claim 20 , wherein the cartridge moving unit includes: 
 a ram disposed within the magazine housing; and    a constant force spring connected between the magazine housing and the ram.    
   
   
       22 . The cartridge ejection unit of  claim 20 , wherein the alignment block includes a standoff element having a contact surface that contacts a cartridge aligned with the actuator unit.  
   
   
       23 . The cartridge ejection unit of  claim 22 , further including a catch mechanism coupled to the standoff element and adapted to partially overlap a cartridge aligned with the actuator unit, wherein the aligned cartridge is between the actuator unit and the catch mechanism.  
   
   
       24 . The cartridge ejection unit of  claim 23 , wherein the catch mechanism includes an ejection roller coupled to the standoff element.  
   
   
       25 . An ejection system, comprising: 
 a frame;    a controller unit coupled to the frame and adapted to receive a command input; and    a cartridge ejection unit coupled to the frame and adapted to eject a cartridge in response to the received command input.    
   
   
       26 . The ejection system of  claim 25 , further comprising a recording unit coupled to the controller unit and adapted to record data when the cartridge is ejected.  
   
   
       27 . The ejection system of  claim 25 , wherein the cartridge includes a weather/environmental sensor.  
   
   
       28 . The ejection system of  claim 25 , wherein the cartridge includes a data storage system.  
   
   
       29 . The ejection system of  claim 25 , wherein the cartridge includes a communications device.  
   
   
       30 . The ejection system of  claim 25 , wherein the cartridge includes a descent-assistance device.  
   
   
       31 . The ejection system of  claim 25 , wherein the cartridge includes a discharge system.  
   
   
       32 . The ejection system of  claim 25 , wherein the cartridge ejection unit is adapted to initiate a process within a cartridge upon ejecting the cartridge.  
   
   
       33 . The ejection system of  claim 26 , wherein the recording unit is adapted to record video data representing a video segment generated by a video camera.  
   
   
       34 . The ejection system of  claim 33 , wherein the video camera is adapted to be operated by a user.  
   
   
       35 . The ejection system of  claim 26 , wherein the recording unit is adapted to record navigational data.  
   
   
       36 . The ejection system of  claim 26 , wherein the recording unit is adapted to record meteorological data.  
   
   
       37 . The ejection system of  claim 25 , further comprising a cooling assembly coupled to the frame, the cooling assembly adapted to cool the controller unit.  
   
   
       38 . The ejection system of  claim 25 , wherein the cartridge ejection unit includes: 
 a cartridge retainment unit adapted to contain a plurality of cartridges, the cartridge retainment unit including an ejection opening defined therein through which the cartridges are ejectable; and    an actuator unit coupled to the cartridge retainment unit and adapted to eject cartridges through the ejection opening.    
   
   
       39 . The ejection system of  claim 38 , wherein the cartridge retainment unit is detachably coupled to the frame.  
   
   
       40 . The ejection system of  claim 38 , further comprising circuitry coupled to the frame, the circuitry adapted to communicatively couple the cartridge retainment unit with the controller unit.  
   
   
       41 . The ejection system of  claim 38 , further comprising a gate moveably coupled to the frame and adapted to selectively overlap with the ejection opening.