US2944268A

US2944268A - Actuating mechanism for expanding an inflatable article

Info

Publication number: US2944268A
Application number: US809580A
Authority: US
Inventors: Adel J Fruendt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-04-28
Filing date: 1959-04-28
Publication date: 1960-07-12
Anticipated expiration: 1977-07-12

Description

July 12, 1960 A. J. FRUENDT 2,944,263

ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR EXPANDING AN INFLATABLE ARTICLE Filed April ze, 195e Ffa. 1

INVENTOR, ADEL J- FRuENoT AGENT .QCTUATI'NG Fon EXPANDING I The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States nit-ed States Patent l actuating mechanism, embodying the invention, is indiof America for governmental purposes with'outrthe pay- .A

ment of any royalties thereonor therefor.

The present invention relates to actuating mechanisms and more particularly to explosion operated `actuator mechanisms especially adapted for use with sea markers of the flotation type.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved explosion operated actuating mechamsm.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved explosion operated actuating mechanism in combination with a valve.

Another object of the invention is the provision Aof an actuating mechanism, referred to in the preceding object, having the characteristics of being of simple construction, of having aminimum number of parts, and o'f being easily operated. i i Y A still further `object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved explosion operated actuating mechanism especially adapted to open an end closure cap or valve in a compressed Huid container, such as a carbon dioxide capsule. i

' still further :object ofthe invention is the provision of a compact explosion actuated linear actuating mechanism comprising an electrically triggered explosive charge, aprimary driver piston fwhichopens 4valve means, and

cated generally by the reference numeral 10. The mechanism 10 is embodied in a otation bladder assembly unit comprising a flotation bladder device 11 packed in a cylindrical casing 12 and adapted to be ejected and in ilated with a buoyant pressure fluid, such as carbon dioxide, from a capsule 13 via Vthe mechanism 10V and a Vtubular conduit 14 coupled to the mechanism 10 andthe casing 12. A rubber cap 15 encloses an outer end of thel casing 12. Details of the structure and operation of the bladder device 11 is shown and described in applicants copending patent application Serial No. 809,579 for Flotation Bladder Assembly Unit, filed April 28, 1959, in the U.S. Patent Oice. The reference numeral 16 indicates generally a housing or container for the above described assembly.

More particularly, the mechanism 10 comprises a generally cylindrical housing 20 having a relatively large coaxial cylindrical bo're opening 21 in one end and a smaller cylindrical opening 22 having a parallel, eccentric axis in an opposite end. The opening 21 communicates with a concentric cylindrical bore 23. A small cylindrical guide passage 24 connects the openings 23 and 22 and is coaxial with the opening 22. A relatively large cylindrical primary driver piston 25 is slidably disposed in the opening 21 and is adapted to drive a juxtaposed coaxial smaller secondary shuttle pisto'n 26,-slidably disposed in the bore 23, against valve opening means 27, slidably guided in the guide passage 24, by igniting an explosive charge 28. The explosive charge is in the form ofa cylindrical squib.

means for limitingthe forward movement o'f the piston and locking the piston in place for lassuring that the valve menas will be held open. i

Yet `another object of the invention is the provision of a compact explosionactuated linear actuating mechanism, as set forth in the preceding object, which mechanismhas a portion functioning as a valving apparatus for metering the passage of pressure uid therepast.

The invention further resides in certain novel features of construction, combinations andarrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art to which it pertains from the following description of the present preferred embodiment thereof described with reference to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and wherein the same reference characters represent corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which: Y .Y Fig.4 l is a plan view of a device embo'dying a preferred -form of the invention, a portion of the device being broken away and in section for showing details thereof; and t v Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. l, the portion being partially inV sectio'n for illustrating certain details thereof. A i Y It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to thej details .of construction and arrangement of parts shown inthe drawing and hereinafter described in detail,

Put is Sarabia-abres Otherwise embalisd andvfbins The valve opening means 27 is adapted to unseat a conventional closure cap or valve in the necked end of the capsule 13, the necked end being threaded'into and sealed with a packing ring 29 in a counterbore 30fin the opening 22. It is to be understood that the valve opening means 27 canbe a puncture pin for puncturing closure caps in capsules which must be punctured to. be opened. l

The squibVV 28, which is partially carried by and eneloseduin an outer end of the driver piston 25, is secured in placejand enclosed by means of a coaxial hollow stud duct 35 in the endof the container 16 adjacent the bat.

Small tery 33 permits the entrance of the salt water. drill holes 36 permit the egress of any trapped fluid, such as atmospheric air. Y

Ignition of thesquib 28 causesthe instantaneous generation of burned gases which expand Within a generally cylindrical combustion chamber 40 and against a coaxial conical pent head portion 41 for driving the primary piston 25 to the right. An annular shoulder or end portion 42 ofthe bore opening 21 serves asta stop for limiting the travel of the piston 25. The portion 42 terminates in an annular lletof arcuate section at the junction thereof with the wall of the opening 211 for the purpose of relieving the concentration of stresses.

An arrangement for exhausting the burned `gases as wellY as limiting the travel of the piston 25 and reducing It is to be furthe impact thereof against the stop 42, comprises an ex haust port or vent hole 43 connecting the opening 21 with the exterior of the housing 29. The combustion chamber 40' communicates `with the vent 4S by means of a-n annular groove 45 of rectangular cross section in the periphery of the piston 25 'and two I.communicating exhaust ducts 46. Each of the `ducts 46 is obliquely outwardly extending and has .one end 'terminating in the conical wall `portion 41 in juxtaposition with the .cylindrical wall portion .of the combusiton chamber 4t). The other or outer ends of the ducts .46 terminate in a transverse .side wall portion kof the groove 45. As many ducts 45 may be provided as :are necessary lalthough `only are shown v180" apart.

As the piston 25 abuts against the stop 42, .a :cylindrical lock pin 48, 'which is slidably guided in a similarlyshaped transverse opening in the wall of the housing 20, is urged into locking position in an annular lock receiving groove 49 formed in the piston 2S. A leaf spring 5), secured with a screw 5l Ito the outside of the housing 20, biases the lock 48 into place. The groove 49 also functions to reduce the sliding friction between the piston 25 andthe wall of the opening 21. v

The secondary or shuttle piston 26 has a vcylindrical body portion with a driver head 52 on its right hand end, Fig. 2. The head 52 4is adapted to engage an adjacent coaxial anvil portion 53 of the valve opening means 27 under the impact of the driver piston 25 at the larger butt end of the secondary piston 26. Preferably', a peripheral groove is formed inthe larger body portion of the piston 26 for the purpose of retaining a rubber O-ring type of seal 54. The seal 54 helps to prevent the transgression of pressure fluids therepast in either direction.

The valve opening means 27 has an annular shoulder portion S6 which serves as a poppet type of closure valve, Fig. 2, and seats upon a circular coaxial valve seat 57 embossed in the bottom of the opening 22 and formed as a part of the housing 2i). The anvil portion S3 of the valve opening means 27 is cylindrical and terminates in a frusto-conical butt-end anvil portion.

The cylindrical anvil portion -53 of the valve opening means 27 is very loosely slidably guided in the correspondingly shaped passage 24, there being sufficient axial spacing between the anvil portion 53 of thervalve opening means '27 and the head 52 'of the secondary piston 27, or the piston 25 and the shuttle 26, to permit the proper seating of the valve portion 56 of the valve opening means 27 upon the valve seat 57.

The travel of the shuttle or secondary piston'Z against the valve opening means 27 is suflicient to cause an axially projecting cylindrical shaft portion ed of the' means 27 'to unseat the closure valve of the capsule 13, and unseat the valve 53. The unseating of the valve 53 permits pressure fluid to flow from the capsule 13 into the passage 24, through a latetial passage means 61 and the duct i4 into the casing 12 for ejecting and inflating the bladder 11.

Preferably, the passage means 61 terminates in a cylindrical embossment 62 capable of `having the duet 14 coupled thereto `in a conventional manner. The other end -of the duct 14 is also coupled 'to the casing 12 in a suitable manner. Packing rings v63 are provided in the couplings to hermetically seal the same. Also, 'it is preferred that the lateral passage means 61 terminate in a counterbore 64. v

It is the intention to hereby cover 'not only the preferred construction shown and described lherein, but to also cover all adaptions, modifications, and uses thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l` In an explosion-operated actuating mechanism, housing means, a first, second, third, and Vfourth, cylindrical-opening Aformed in said-housing, rst piston means 4 slidably disposed in said first cylindrical opening, Second piston means slidably disposed in said second cylindrical opening, third piston means loosely and slidably disposed in said third cylindrical opening, said rst piston means being adapted to be explosively actuated towards said second piston means and driving said second piston means against yand axially displacing said third piston means, means for limiting the travel of said first piston means, means for venting the burned gases from said irst cylindrical opening as said rst piston means `approaches the end of its travel, .sealing means disposed about Asaid second piston means for preventing the transgression of pressure fluid therepast, valve seat means at the mouth of said third cylindrical opening and projecting into said fourth cylindrical opening, said third piston means having annular valve means adapted to seat upon said valve seat means and partition said lthird and fourth cylindrical openings, lateral duct means communicating with said third cylindrical opening means between said sealing means and said valve seat means, said fourth cylindrical opening being adapted to have a pressure fluid capsule secured therein in such a manner that the axial displacement of said third piston means causes the unseating of said valve means and the release -of pressure fluid from the capsule into said lateral duct means via said fourth and third cylindrical openings, respectively.

2, In an explosion-operated actuating mechanism, housing means, a rst, second, third, and fourth cylindrical opening formed in said housing, first piston means slidably disposed in said rst cylindrical opening, second piston means slidably disposed in said second cylindrical opening, third piston means loosely and slidably disposed in 'said third cylindrical opening, said first and second cylindrical openings being coaxial and communicating with each other, said third and fourth cylindrical openings being coaxial with each other and eccentric yto said first and second cylindrical openings, said first piston means being adapted to be explosively actuated towards said second piston means and driving said second'piston means against and axially displacing said third 'piston means, means for stopping and limiting the travel of said first piston means, means `for locking said first piston means in place after said stop means has stopped the same, means for venting vburned gases from said `iirst cylindrical opening after said first piston means has been stopped by said stop means, sealing means disposed about said second piston means for preventing the transgression of pressure iluid therepast, embossed annular valve seat means formed at the mouth of said third cylindrical opening and projecting into said fourth cylindrical opening, said third piston means being enlarged at a midportion thereof and having annular valve means adapted to seat upon said valve seat means and partition said third ,and fourth cylindrical openings, lateral duct means communieating with said third cylindrical opening means at a vpoint between said sealing means and said valve seat means, said fourth cylindrical opening being adapted to have a pressure fluid capsule .secured therein in such a manner that the axial displacement of said third piston means causes the unseating of said valve means and the release of pressure fluid from `the capsule into said laterad duct I means via said fourth and third cylindrical openings,

about said second piston means for preventing the transgression of pressure liuid therepast, saidfourth cylindrical opening in said housing means communicating with said third cylindrical opening, said housing means having valve seat means formed therein about one end of said third cylindrical opening and protruding into said fourth cylindrical opening, said third piston means being adapted to seat against said seat means and prevent the transgression of luid from said fourth cylindrical opening into said third cylindrical opening before said rst piston means isexplosively actuated, lateral duct means communicating with said third cylindrical opening between said sealing means and said valve seat means, said fourth piston means, meansfor ventingthe burned gases from I said first cylindrical opening, sealing means disposed cylindrical opening being adapted to have a pressure iiuid t capsule secured therein in such a manner that the axial displacement of said third piston means causes thegrelease ofpressure iiuid from the capsule into said lateral duct means via said fourth and third cylindrical openings,

-, respectively.

4. In `an explosiomoperated actuating mechanism,

means loosely and slidably disposed in said Vsecond cylindrical opening, said second andthird cylindrical openings being coaxial with each other and eccentric to said first cylindrical opening, said first piston means being adapted to be explosively actuated towards and axially displace said second piston means, means for limiting the travel of said lirst and second piston means, sealing lmeans disposed about said lirst piston means for preventing the transgression of pressurejuid therepast, valve seat means formedv at the mouth of said second cylindrical opening and projecting into saidthird cylindrical opening, said second piston means being enlarged at a midportion thereof and having annular valve means adapted to seat upon said valve seat means and partition said second and third cylindrical openings, lateral duct means communicating with said second cylindrical opening means between 5. In a device ofthe character described having an inatable iiotation bladder, a buoyant fluid capsule, an explosive charge, and electrical means for ring the explosive charge, the improvement comprising'in combination, housing means, a iirst, second, third and fourth i Vtiring of the explosive charge and driving said second piston means against and axially displacing said third piston means, means for limiting the travel of said first piston means, means for venting the b urned gases from said 4iirst cylindrical opening, sealing means disposedV t about said second piston'means for preventing the trans` f gression of pressure uid therepast, said fourth cylindrical opening in said housing means being larger than said thirdrcylindrical openingY and communicating with said third cylindrical opening, valve seat means formed at said sealing means and said valve seat means, said third cylindrical opening being adapted to have a pressure fluid capsule secured therein in such a manner that the axial displacement ofsaid second piston means causes the unseating of said valve means -and the release of pressure uid from the capsule into said lateral duct means via said third and second cylindrical openings, respectively.

the mouth of said third cylindrical opening and projecting into said fourth cylindrical opening, saidV third piston means being enlarged at a midportion thereof and having annular valve means adapted to seat upon saidl valve seat means and partition said third and fourth cylindrical openings, lateral duct means communicating with the bladder and said third cylindrical opening means between said sealing means and said valve seat means, said fourth cylindrical opening having the capsule secured therein in such a manner that the axial displacement of said third'piston means causes the unseating of said valve means and the release of pressure iluid from the capsule into said lateral duct means via said fourth and third cylindrical openings, respectively, for iniiating said bladder.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATESl PATENTS 2,422,853 Reising June 24, 1947 2,515,068 Young July 1l, 1950 2,780,389 Sandgren Feb. 5, 1957 2,840,833 Freundt July l, 1958