Rocket motor driven model racing vehicle

Claim 2

In a model racing vehicle comprising a vehicle body, front and rear free running wheels supported by said body, said body having a cylindrical reaction engine mount with a rear facing cylindrical orifice into which a model cartridge reaction engine is inserted, means for retaining said engine comprising an internal cylindrical annular section, of lesser overall diameter than the aforementioned cylindrical engine mount, as a forward fixed stop to transfer thrust from the aforementioned model cartridge reaction engine in the forward acceleration mode attained after ignition, and a fixed retaining means extended beyond the rear cylindrical orifice as a rear recoil stop, the aforementioned cylindrical reaction type engine mount having a gas seal forward of the annular cylindrical section, the forward section comprising at least one fourth or more the total length of cylindrical reaction engine mount having a gas seal and being secured to a front bulkhead, said forward section comprising a plenum, said plenum containing a heat absorbing screen covered port, said screen covered port allowing relatively high pressure and hot gases to enter a second chamber, said second chamber being gas sealed to the aforementioned bulkhead and gas sealed around the screen covered port entrance of the first chamber, said second chamber comprising a fastening means forward of the screen covered port entrance to which is secured a short length of bungee cord, said cord being tied to shroud lines, said shroud lines terminating in a sheet plastic parachute, said parachute having means for creating memory, said means allowing immediate billowed deployment rearward upon ejection from the aforementioned second chamber, said means for immediate deployment being enhanced by the method of insertion, geometry of the second chamber and the packing of the parachute, in the second chamber, said method of insertion being further comprised of a small piece of wadding inserted into the second chamber prior to insertion of the parachute, secured by the shroud lines and bungee cord to the aforementioned bulkhead, said wadding filling the second chamber width and height and pushed forward to a point rearwardly of the aforementioned heat absorbing screened port said parachute being gathered longitudinally, in the direction of the memory means used for deployment, as one long pleated gathering with shroud line and inserted first following and pushing the wadding forward until only the apex of the parachute can be seen rear ward in the second chamber, said second chamber being rectangular in shape or a geometry allowing a loose but compact insertion of said parachute.

Claim 3

In a model racing vehicle as set forth in claim 1, means for attaching said model racing vehicle to a guidance line embodied as a monofilament plastic line, said means being eye fasteners attached to the vehicle body on either vertically formed side, said monofilament plastic line passing through the eye fasteners and being attached to a guy post at the start end and tensioned to a second guy post at some distance straight in line of sight remote from the first guy post to provide guidance for the model racing vehicle.

Claim 4

In a model racing vehicle as set forth in claim 1, means for attaching said model racing vehicle to a guidance line embodied as a monofilament plastic line, said means being eye fasteners secured to the vehicle body, on either vertically formed side, said guidance line passing through the eye fasteners, said monofilament plastic line being multiplied in number to provide guidance and direction for a multiplicity of model racing vehicles each on its individual monofilament plastic line as attached in the first said model racing vehicle, said guidance lines beIng individually attached in parallel to a horizontial boom at the starting end and terminated at some distance in a similar configuration boom at the finish end of the racing course, said boom being secured to a guy post, under tension to maintain the multiplicity of parallel guidance lines taut over the distance the competing model racing vehicles will traverse, said tautness assuring wheel to surface bearing contact and equalization to allow freedom of motion of the model racing vehicle vertically for portions of an inch equalizing any small irregularities in the road bed.

Claim 5

In a model racing vehicle as set forth in claim 1, a solid fuel rocket cartridge comprised of nozzle, casing, and end seal, said casing containing a percussion charge forward of a thrust charge, said percussion charge to be activated immediately upon termination of said thrust charge, said percussion charge to deploy the parachute with no time delay at the end of combustion of the thrust charge, said solid fuel rocket cartridge to develop thrust, said percussion charge to be capable at igniting a time delay fuse when said fuse is inserted in the forward section of the percussion ruptured end seal, said solid fuel rocket cartridge being capable of use as a single stage cartridge or a sequential prime mover for ignition of multiple staging.

Claim 6

In a model racing vehicle as set forth in claim 1, said wheels being molded plastic, said plastic molding to be recessed on the circumferential surface, said surface recessed to accept molded rubber treads, said rubber treads of low durometer, and molded in one piece as an annular ring, said annular ring to be treaded in a manner to be compatible on the road bed of the racing course used, said annular treading to range from a slick to a deep dirt tread, on the external surface of the annular ring, said annular ring interface surface to be smaller in diameter than the aforementioned molded plastic wheel, to assure compression when installed, and means to prevent dismemberment at high velocity, said means to be in the preferred embodiment molded internal projections, four to six in number and ball ended cylinders, said projections to key into the recessed molded plastic wheels wherein holes have been provided to accept the spherical ball ends securely retaining the annular rubber ring over the circumference of the surface of the wheel while in motion, said annular rubber ring being easily interchanged when desired for racing conditions.

Claim 7

In a model racing vehicle as set forth in claim 1, a parachute, said parachute to be comprised of one to two mil thickness sheet plastic, said sheet plastic to be polyethelene or Mylar hexagonal in shape, six inches length per side and twelve inches over all diameter in the preferred emobdiment of the canopy, said canopy to have six light shroud lines, said shroud lines to be attached to the six points of the canopy with adhesive backed paper discs or tabs, said canopy to have three plastic memory staves and staves to be a nominal width, a preferred length and a preferred thickness, said length, width, thickness and plastic material determining the memory, said staves being attached in the center of the canopy by means of an adhesive backed paper disc, and each extremity to be attached toward a shroud line point for six points with an adhesive backed paper disc, said stave ends terminating one inch inside the canopy from the shroud line point of attachment, said staves being spread wide and retaining an open canopy, said shroud lines being gathered to a point and tied, said tied point being attached to a short length of compliance shock cord, said canopy being folded longitudinally from apex to shroud line end maintaining the folded mode by restrictive means, said means in this embodiment being the parachute chamber of the aforementioned vehicle and returning to a billowed geometry as soon as the restriction is removed producing the function known as drogue.

Claim 8

In a model racing vehicle comprising a guidance system, a vehicle body, front and rear free running wheels supported by said body, said free running wheels having interchangeable rubber treads, said body having a cylindrical chamber sufficient in length to receive two disposable cartridge rocket engines and containing a compression spring, said compression spring being in the forward section of the aforementioned cylindrical chamber, said chamber front end being gas sealed and secured to a bulkhead and the front end of said compressor spring being fastened coaxially to the bulkhead, internal to said cylindrical chamber, said chamber having a forward section which is equal to at least fifty percent the length of one disposable cartridge, acting as a plenum with a heat absorbing screen port passing into a second rectangular chamber being gas sealed and integral part of the first cylindrical chamber, said area acting as a storage area for the compression spring under compression and also as a plenum when the compression spring is expanded to allow hot gases to flow with force into the second chamber, said compression spring to have attached to the rear unanchored end an annular C-shaped ring movable with contraction and expansion of the compression spring acting as a thrust ring when the cylindrical chamber has two cartridge rocket engines inserted, and as a moving piston during staging, and as a port after expansion at the compression spring at final stage deployment of wadding end a parachute, allowing hot gases to pass into the forward plenum through the aforementioned screened port into the second rectangular chamber, said compression spring to be fully compressed and retained in compression by two cartridge rocket engines inserted and held in place by a spring loaded rear retention plate secured to the rear of the body of the vehicle in a manner to exert a counter balancing force equal to the opposing force of the compression spring located forward at the first inserted cartridge rocket engine in the aforementioned cylindrical mount, thereby holding both cartridge engines in the cylinder until the first ignited engine activates its percussion charge whereupon the first ignited engine will recoil out of the cylindrical chamber, and at the same time having means to delay ignition, the first inserted model rocket engine which by action of the compression spring being unloaded will move to the first occupied most rear position and by means of said delay, ignition will take place, means being provided to contain the second ignited cartridge rocket engine during thrusting from going forward against the C-shaped plunger and compression spring, said means being a flat key shaped plunger attached to and thru the side of the model racing vehicle body resting with force against a slotted section of the cylindrical motor mount said force being applied by a coaxial compression spring around the shaft of the flat key portion that is released when the end of the second model rocket engine passes the key slot in the cylindrical mount passing into the chamber at the point that is the open segment of the C thrust ring, said flat key acting as a stop for the final cartridge rocket engine while activated with forward directing thrust, continuing to transfer thrust to the vehicle body and at the time of activation of percussion charge in the aforementioned second model rocket engine allowing hot gases to pass by said flat key C thrust ring and opened compression spring into the aforementioned plenum port chamber and into the parachute chamber ejecting and deploying both the aforementioned wadding and parachute out of the rear of the model racing vehicle.

Claim 9

In a model racing vehicle comprising a guidance system, a vehicle body, front and rear free running wheels supported by said body, said free running wheels having interchangeable rubber treads, said body having a cylindrical chamber sufficient in length to receive two disposable cartridge rocket engines and containing a compression spring, said compression spring being in the forward section of the aforementioned cylindrical chamber, said chamber front end being gas sealed and secured to a bulkhead and the front end of said compressor spring being fastened coaxially to the bulkhead, internal to said cylindrical chamber, said chamber having a forward section which is equal to at least fifty percent the length of one disposable cartridge, acting as a plenum with a heat absorbing screen port passing into a second rectangular chamber being gas sealed and integral part of the first cylindrical chamber, said area acting as a storage area for the compression spring under compression and also as a plenum when the compression spring is expanded to allow hot gases to flow with force into the second chamber, said compression spring to have attached to the rear unanchored end an annular C-shaped ring movable with contraction and expansion of the compression spring acting as a thrust ring when the cylindrical chamber has two cartridge rocket engines inserted, and as a moving piston during staging, and as a port after expansion at the compression spring at final stage deployment of wadding end a parachute, allowing hot gases to pass into the forward plenum through the aforementioned screened port into the second rectangular chamber, said compression spring to be fully compressed and retained in compression by two cartridge rocket engines inserted and held in place by a spring loaded rear retention plate secured to the rear of the body of the vehicle in a manner to exert a counter balancing force equal to the opposing force of the compression spring located forward at the first inserted cartridge rocket engine in the aforementioned cylindrical mount, thereby holding both cartridge engines in the cylinder until the first ignited engine activates its percussion charge whereupon the first ignited engine will recoil out of the cylindrical chamber, and at the same time having means to delay ignition, the first inserted model rocket engine which by action of the compression spring being unloaded will move to the first occupied most rear position and by means of said delay, ignition will take place, means being provided to contain the second ignited cartridge rocket engine during thrusting from going forward against the C-shaped plunger and compression spring, said means being a flat key shaped plunger attached to and thru the side of the model racing vehicle body resting with force against a slotted section of the cylindrical motor mount said force being applied by a coaxial compression spring around the shaft of the flat key portion that is released when the end of the second model rocket engine passes the key slot in the cylindrical mount passing into the chamber at the point that is the open segment of the C thrust ring, said flat key acting as a stop for the final cartridge rocket engine while activated with forward directing thrust, continuing to transfer thrust to the vehicle body and at the time of activation of percussion charge in the aforementioned second model rocket engine allowing hot gases to pass by said flat key C thrust ring and opened compression spring into the aforementioned plenum port chamber and into the parachute chamber ejecting and deploying both the aforementioned wadding and parachute out of the rear of the model racing vehicle.