MECHANICALLY-ACTIVATED INFLATION VALVE ACTUATION APPARATUS

• US 20170130851A1
• Filed: 11/10/2015
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Baglini, JR., James
• Granted Patent: US 9,945,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/14 Inflatable escape chutes
• CPC Class Codes: C06C 7/00 Non-electric detonators; Blasting caps; Primers
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/19 Pyrotechnical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/20 specially designed for inflatable bodies, e.g. tyres connecting valves to inflatable bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/1635 for rotating valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/602 Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided F16K31/605 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/006 Explosive bolts; Explosive actuators explosive valves F16K13/06; explosive cutting B23D15/145; explosive switches H01H39/00; pyrotechnical actuators F15B15/19
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/04 for producing gas under pressure generators of inflation fluid especially adapted for vehicle air bags B60R21/26
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 3/10 Initiators therefor percussion fuzes F42C7/00; percussion caps F42C19/10; electric primers F42C19/12
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 19/10 Percussion caps

Abstract

A valve actuation apparatus is provided. The apparatus may comprise a mechanical activation device, a primer, an explosive cord, and a gas-generating device. The valve actuation apparatus may actuate a valve system, which opens a valve and allows airflow to inflate an inflatable emergency evacuation slide for an aircraft.

Claims

1. A valve actuation apparatus, comprising:

a mechanical activation device;

a primer coupled to the mechanical activation device and configured to deflagrate upon activation by the mechanical activation device;

an explosive cord, comprising an explosive cord first end coupled to the primer, an explosive cord second end, an outer portion, an inner portion, and an explosive cord reactive material, wherein the explosive cord reactive material is configured to detonate upon ignition from the primer and propagate a pressure wave and hot gas through a length of the explosive cord; and

a gas-generating device coupled to the explosive cord second end configured to be activated by the hot gas from the explosive cord and, in response to the hot gas, produce a gas.

2. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a valve coupled to the gas-generating device, wherein the valve is moved from a valve closed position to a valve open position in response to the gas.

3. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanical activation device comprises:

an activation lever;

a hinge coupled to the activation lever; and

a percussion actuator coupled to the hinge.

4. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 3, wherein:

the activation lever is in an unarmed position and configured to move about the hinge in a first direction to an armed position;

the hinge is configured to move in a second direction once the activation lever is in the armed position; and

the percussion actuator is configured to activate the primer.

5. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 4, wherein the percussion actuator comprises:

an outer shell comprising an inbound end and an outbound end;

an outer rod coupled to the inbound end, comprising an outer rod first end coupled to the hinge and an outer rod second end, the outer rod being configured to move in a third direction when the hinge moves in the second direction;

an actuating rod contained within the outer shell, comprising an actuating rod first end removably coupled to the outer rod second end, and an actuating rod second end, the actuating rod being configured to move with the outer rod in the third direction to a sever point, and at the sever point the actuating rod is configured to decouple from the outer rod;

a spring coupled to the actuating rod, the spring being configured to store potential energy as the actuating rod moves in the third direction, and at the sever point, release the stored potential energy into kinetic energy in a fourth direction, which moves the actuating rod in the fourth direction; and

a pin coupled to the actuating rod second end configured to strike and activate the primer.

6. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first direction is a rotational direction.

7. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second direction and the third direction are the same.

8. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 5, wherein the third direction and the fourth direction are opposite each other.

9. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 5, wherein the actuating rod first end comprises an actuating rod hook, and the outer rod second end comprises an outer rod hook complementary to the actuating rod hook, and the actuating rod first end and the outer rod second end are removably coupled by linking of the outer rod hook and the actuating rod hook.

10. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the explosive cord reactive material comprises a mixture of 80% HMX and 20% metallic aluminum by weight.

11. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the valve is a ball valve.

12. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an inflatable emergency evacuation slide for an aircraft coupled to the valve, wherein the inflatable emergency evacuation slide is inflated in response to the valve moving into the valve open position.

13. A valve actuation apparatus, comprising:

a valve system activation apparatus, comprising;

a mechanical activation device; and

a gas-generating device coupled to the mechanical activation device and configured to produce a gas when activated; and

a valve system coupled to the gas-generating device, comprising;

a pressure chamber comprising a pressure chamber first end coupled to the gas-generating device, a pressure chamber second end, and a pressure cavity therebetween configured to receive and hold the gas produced by the gas-generating device, creating a gas pressure;

a piston, configured to translate along an axis in response to the gas pressure in the pressure cavity, comprising a piston first end coupled to the pressure chamber second end, a piston second end, and a piston body therebetween;

a valve lever in a valve lever closed position proximate to the piston, the valve lever being configured to be moved into a valve lever open position by the piston as the piston translates along the axis in response to the gas pressure; and

a valve coupled to the valve lever.

14. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 13, wherein the piston further comprises a shelf portion protruding outwardly from the piston body, wherein the valve lever is pushed from the valve lever closed position to the valve lever open position by the shelf portion.

15. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 13, wherein the explosive cord reactive material comprises a mixture of 80% HMX and 20% metallic aluminum by weight.

16. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 13, wherein the valve is a ball valve.

17. The valve actuation apparatus of claim 13, further comprising an inflatable emergency evacuation slide for an aircraft coupled to the valve, wherein the inflatable emergency evacuation slide is inflated in response to the valve lever moving into the valve lever open position.

18. A method of actuating a valve actuation apparatus, comprising:

rotating an activation lever coupled to a hinge in a first direction from an unarmed position to an armed position; and

translating the hinge in a second direction;

striking a primer with a percussion actuator in response to the hinge translating in the second direction, wherein the primer deflagrates in response to the striking;

actuating an explosive cord in response to the primer deflagration; and

actuating a gas-generating device in response to actuation of the explosive cord.

19. The method of actuating the valve actuation apparatus of claim 18, further comprising;

increasing a gas pressure in a pressure cavity as the gas-generating device produces a gas;

translating a piston along an axis in response to the gas pressure, the piston being coupled to the pressure chamber; and

rotating a valve lever from a valve lever closed position to a valve lever open position in response to the translating.

20. The method of actuating a valve actuation apparatus of claim 19, further comprising inflating an inflatable emergency evacuation slide for an aircraft in response to the valve lever rotation to the open position.