GB2237839A

GB2237839A - Powered release of connectors

Info

Publication number: GB2237839A
Application number: GB8919535A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Anthony Manser
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-08-29
Filing date: 1989-08-29
Publication date: 1991-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 2009-08-29
Also published as: GB8919535D0; GB2237839B

Abstract

The powered release of any equipment having either overlapping, butted, or tennoned type of jointing, connected by means of a retractable pin. An activator, powered by explosive, hydraulic, or pnematic force, has a ram body and a piston with an end turned over for the purpose of locking the pin head. A slot in the piston clears the pin sides in its forward travel and a tapered section on the piston engaging under the pin head in its forward travel extracts the pin out of its hole in the joint. The piston is biassed to retract but a reset pin can be employed to hold the piston extended. <IMAGE>

Description

Powered Release Of Connectors This invention relates to the powered release of any connected equipment, either jointed or overlapped or butted together. The connection by means of a pin through the connected parts.

The powered release of the connection is made by the removal of the pin by force from the connection parts.

The release of the connection may just be a part release of equipment to allow a particular movement or total release of two or more parts, allowing full seperation.

The system is operated by means of a ram piston and body powered by, explosive, pnematic, or hydraulic force.

The piston has a special shaped end that allows for the locking of the pin head, for connected apperatus, and a taperd section, that when activated, mechanically extrudes the pin from the hole, with mechanical advantage, thus disconnecting apperatus that may be under great load at the time.

The activating of the ram, can be manual, or automatic depending on each circumstance. emergency systems may have both.

Examples of the system, are the emergency release of cariages on a train that has started to de-rail. The release of perimiter fences, or barriers if crowd movements are dangerous. The release of towling loads, suspended loads, or compression loads. The release of any connected apperatus that is overloaded or unsafe to hold together at a particular time.

With reference to the drawing, the system for a powered removal of a connector pin is shown utilizing an explosive charge A section through the centre of the pin connection, with it normal connected state locking the pin is shown. Assembly of the connection is made by pulling the piston ram against the spring a short way, to a point where the pin head lock cover is clear of the head of the pin. The pin is inserted into the joint holes and the ram spring pulls the cover over the pin, on letting it go back. If in emergency the joint has to be seperated, the piston is fired forward. The taper is forced under the pin head as the lock cover clears, and forces the pin to be extracted.

Assuming a pinned tennon joint of basic fixing allowing a radial movement about pin. One side a female type fixture joint and the other male type.

The drawing shows the male and female ends of apperatus, engaged and pinned. A piston having a turned over end and special clearance slot round pin. The turned over end of the piston is kept over the pin head by the piston having a return spring allways pulling it back for normal use, thus locking the pin by the pin head.

In normal operation the piston may be pulled forward and the turned over end just clearing the pin head so that the pin can be inserted or removed.

In the event of emergency or whatever., it is required that the pin is removed under power so that mating parts of the apperatus being connected can come free.

In this event, the charge in the charge behind the piston either explosive, hydraulic, or pnematic, forces the piston forward so that the tapered part of the piston, engages under the pin head.

The slot in the piston clears the pin sides, as the piston traves forward, and the taper forces the pin out of it connection by extruding it by the head of the pin. When the piston has traveled its full length a pressure release hole is met that also has a sprung loaded pin for non return of the piston, that springs up behind the piston,thus leaving the joint open until reset.

Claims

Claims.

A ram body and piston activator, where the piston has a special shape end. The piston end has a turned over end for the locking a pin by the head, a slot for clearing the pin sides in its forward movement, and a tapered section for the engaging of the pin head and by mechanical advantage forcing the pin to disengage from the connection, when activated.
2 As in 1, but also having a return spring on the piston, so that normal pull out of the piston to clear head of pin, will allow assembly of joint with the pin, or removal of pin.
3 As in 1, and 2, but having also a pressure release hole at the end of the piston stroke. At this piont a sprung loaded pin shoots behind the piston and locks it out, until reset. (This is not necessary on all types.)
4 As in 1,2,3, having independent manual or automatic means of activating the piston force, by explosive, hydraulic, or pnematic systems.
5 For use on joints either overlapped, butted, or tennoned, where a pin connects the apperatus together, and the removal of the pin allows partial or full disengagement of the joint parts.