Explosion simulator and system for generating audio and visual effects

Abstract

An explosion simulator generates bang, smoke and flash cues. Pressurized gas is released into a shock tube to generate a shock wave and, thereby produce the bang cue. The pressurized gas is released from a gas reservoir into the shock tube through a diaphragm which is broken by a firing pin in response to a control circuit. A smoke powder packet containing a smoke powder is positioned in the shock tube. The pressurized gas travelling in the shock tube bursts the smoke powder packet and the smoke powder is dispersed to produce a smoke cue, or cloud. A flashtube generates the flash cue to illuminate the smoke cloud. An audio/visual explosion simulation system is also disclosed for generating multiple bang, smoke and flash cues from a single shock tube. Immediately prior to generating a bang cue, a gas supply fills a gas reservoir with pressurized gas. A reusable valve opens to release the pressurized gas from the reservoir into the shock tube and closes to seal the reservoir for refilling by the gas supply. A smoke generator repeatedly releases smoke powder into the shock tube to generate smoke clouds for each successive smoke cue.