WO2014006644A1

WO2014006644A1 - A powder nitrocellulose-based firework

Info

Publication number: WO2014006644A1
Application number: PCT/IT2012/000204
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Turini
Original assignee: Pyrogiochi S.R.L.
Priority date: 2012-07-03
Filing date: 2012-07-03
Publication date: 2014-01-09

Abstract

The present invention concerns a firework (1) comprising: • - A tubular element (2) into which one or more decorations can be placed which are to be thrown up into the air; • - A material (4) for triggering the ejection upthrust following its lighting and; characterized in that the material (4) is substantially in the form of ni- trocellulose powder.

Description

TITLE

A POWDER NITROCELLULOSE-BASED FIREWORK

Technical field

The present invention refers to the technical field relative to fireworks.

In particular, the invention refers to an innovative non-exploding firework for the ejection of confetti and streamers placed inside it.

Background art

Non-exploding fireworks that throw up into the air paper decorations, for example confetti, streamers, coloured balls, etc., have long been known.

These fireworks have cylindrical shape, that is they have the shape of a cardboard pipe, inside of which said throwing decorations are placed.

Figure 1 represents schematically a firework 101 in accordance with the background art.

The firework 101 foresees a tubular element, generally of cardboard, which contains inside it the paper decorations that will be ejected.

The conduit is sealed on the upper part by a. plug

106, said plug generally being of cardboard as well, which avoids the exit of the decorations when the firework is turned over, for example during transport.

Always as shown in figure 1, the decorations are put back on a piston 105 of plastic material. The piston 105 rests on a base 103 on which a receiving seat is found on which the nitrocellulose 104 in the form of cotton, in technical jargon "flash cotton", is placed.

A lighting fuse 110, generally of the low combustion type, is inserted through the base until reaching the flash cotton.

Once the lighting has taken place, the cotton gets a combustion that creates a thrust pressure. The thrust pressure acts on the piston 105, which is ejected along the pipe, therefore throwing the decorations up into the air .

Nitrocellulose, known since a long time, is however particularly unstable, and this is why on the basis of EC regulations it is treated with a process that renders it more stable.

The . characteristic of nitrocellulose is that it produces very low combustion temperatures but however creates a discreet pressure thrust.

Ultimately, this type of firework is capable of thrusting the decorations up into the air up to a height of about 1 m or 1,5 metres. The use of the plastic piston preserves completely the paper decorations from any type of risk of burning and therefore flame triggering.

A technical problem relative to this type of traditional fireworks is that the use of nitrocellulose in the form of cotton causes a thrust yield that does not allow exceeding said height of about 1,5 metres and, in case of large pipes with a greater load of decorations, the thrust becomes even lower.

Disclosure of invention

It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide an innovative firework that solves at least in part said technical inconveniences.

In particular, it is the aim of the present invention to provide an innovative firework for throwing decorations up into the air, generally made of paper, which is capable of thrusting the decorations at heights much superior to one metre and even superior to twelve metres.

It is also the aim of the present invention to provide a firework in which there is absolutely no generation of flame, therefore preserving the integrity of the decorations and rendering the firework itself safe for its users.

These and other aims are obtained with the present firework in accordance with claim 1.

The firework (1) comprises:

- A tubular element (2) into which one or more decorations can be placed which are to be thrown up into the air;

A material (4) for triggering the ejection upthrust following its lighting.

In accordance with the invention, the material (4) is substantially in the form of nitrocellulose powder.

Nitrocellulose powder, appropriately deflamed for obvious safety reasons, is capable of generating a cool flame with such thrusts as to eject the decorations also 12 metres high. In this way, this type of firework, though resulting in fact innocuous, allows an optimized visual effect. The production of smoke, above all, is almost null and mainly connected to the combustion of the fuse.

Further advantages can then be deduced from the dependent claims.

Brief description of drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will result clearer with the description that follows of some embodiments, made to illustrate but not to limit, with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 shows in section a firework according to the background art;

- Figure 2 shows in section a firework according to the invention . Description of some preferred embodiments

Figure "2 therefore describes a firework according to the present invention.

The firework comprises a tubular conduit 2, generally made of cardboard, which is blind on one side (in correspondence of the base 2' ) , and is open on the opposite side for allowing the exit of the decorations that are placed inside it.

Alternatively, the tubular conduit could also be open on both sides and sealed on one side with a sort of base plug.

The tubular conduit has preferably a cylindrical shape, that is at circular section, but it is clear that it could be of any other form without for this moving apart from the present inventive concept.

Inside the tubular conduit, in correspondence of the base 2', a supporting disk 3 is foreseen. The supporting disk 3 is, for example, made of compact cardboard, plastic, chalk, etc., and has the function of rendering the firework heavier. In particular, it creates a stiffening of the base on which the material 4 is made to rest that generates the thrust of the decorations, therefore offering a good resistance to the recoil that avoids the breaking of the base 2' itself.

Always as shown in figure 2, above the supporting disk 3 a layer 4 of nitrocellulose is foreseen which, according to the invention, is in the form of powder.

The advantage of the use of a nitrocellulose in the form of powder is that this, though generating a cool flame, creates a very significant thrust that is capable of ejecting the decorations also at heights superior to the 12 metres.

The quantity of powder usable is in the order of between 20 and 30 grams of powder per firework, preferably of 25 grams. Nitrocellulose is then treated with a well- known process of deflaming (a treatment that stabilizes it and avoids accidental fire catching) .

Nitrocellulose in powder, moreover, is compliant with the safety regulations imposed by new legislation 2007/23/CE.

On the basis of the desired performances (for example, in case a thrust not that high wants to be obtained) , it is also possible to mix the nitrocellulose in powder with an appropriate quantity of a partially inerting substance and/or provided with a minor capacity of thrust (for example, a modest quantity of nitrocellulose of the "flash cotton" type) .

Therefore, nitrocellulose in powder is used in an amount from 60% to 100% of weight, preferably from 80% to 100% of weight.

In a preferred embodiment, nitrocellulose in powder is used in an amount from 90% to 100% of weight, preferably of about 100% of weight.

Above the nitrocellulose powder layer 4 a disk 5 with the function of propulsion piston is placed.

Its height, though variable, is preferably in the order of the 5 cm.

The disk, according to the invention, is made of punched wool felt which has the advantage of adapting itself well to the dimensional variations of the pipe due to environmental agents, such as humidity, heat/cold. Moreover, it is of productive low cost. The felt disk has therefore the property of dilating with coefficients similar to the pipe and, in case the pipe shrinks, it flexes well, continuing to slide inside it easily. In the background art, on the contrary, the disk of plastic suffers dimensional variations very different with respect to the cardboard pipe where it is placed, therefore it runs the risk of being clogged into the. conduit if the pipe shrinks excessively due to the heat or dryness of the air and to being too much loose in case of excessive dilation of the pipe.

Always as shown in figure 2, above the felt disk 5, all the decorations normally used in this type of firework, that is streamers, confetti, etc., are arranged. As always shown in figure 2, they are comprised between the felt disk 5 ad an upper sealing plug 6 always in the form of a disk and generally of thin cardboard (about 1 mm or a bit less) . The scope of the upper plug 6 is obviously that of avoiding that the decorations exit accidentally from the tubular conduit if it is turned over. The plug 6 can be inserted by mechanical interference or glued. In any case, it has such a thickness and an adherence to the tubular walls that, following the lighting of the nitrocellulose, is easily ejected. The plug 6 can be placed at any height of the conduit, therefore also at the upper end.

Always figure 2 shows the fuse 10, generally but not necessarily of quick combustion, which terminates in the layer 4 of nitrocellulose in powder, in such a way as to trigger the lighting.

Claims

CLAIMS l.A firework (1) comprising:

- a material (4) for triggering the ejection upthrust following its lighting and;

characterized in that the material (4) is substantially in the form of nitrocellulose powder .

2.A firework (1), according to claim 1, wherein the nitrocellulose powder is set in such a way as to form a layer.

3. A firework (1), according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a propulsion piston (5) is foreseen placed between the nitrocellulose powder layer (4) and the chamber (β') which is meant to contain the decorations to be thrown up into the air, said piston being made of wool felt.

4. firework (1), according to claim 3, wherein the piston is made of punched wool felt.

5. A firework (1), according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the propulsion piston height ( 5) is comprised among 4cm e 6cm, preferably of 5 cm.

6. A firework (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a range in weight of nitrocellulose powder is foreseen comprised from 20 g to 30 g.

7.A firework (1), according to claim 6, wherein 25 g of nitrocellulose powder are foreseen.

8.A firework (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the nitrocellulose powder is present in an amount from 90 to 100% in weight, preferably, of 100%.

9.A firework (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the pipe (2) is blind and a supporting disk is foreseen placed between the pipe sealing base (2' ) and the nitrocellulose powder layer.

10. firework (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the nitrocellulose powder has been deflamed.