NON-EXPLOSIVE ELECTRICALLY INITIATED HEAT-IGNITABLE ACTUATOR

• US 3,695,116 A
• Filed: 09/30/1970
• Issued: 10/03/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Original Assignee: Robert Baur
• Inventors: Baur, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaufman, Milton
• Application Number:
  US05/076,952
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 74/2 89/1B 337/401,220
• US Class Current: 74/2
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/06 Bomb releasing; Bomb doors
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/32 Construction of quick-release box
• 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: Y10T 74/11 Tripping mechanism

Abstract

A non-explosive, electrically initiated, heat-ignitable actuator constructed and arranged in the form of a biased, collapsible dual piston assembly. When the actuator is in the unactuated condition, the dual piston assembly is prevented from collapsing by an electrically triggerable dual shear pin and associated heat-ignitable wire arrangement. The shear pins and their associated wires are composed of a primarily alluminum and palladium bimetallic composition which when ignited produces a violent but non-explosive reaction which rapidly propagates to all portions of the material. The construction of the dual piston assembly is such that ignition of either or both of the shear pins causes the piston assembly to collapse and thereby bring about actuation of the actuator.

Claims

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said shear pin is in the form of a hollow cylinder and said initiating means includes a heat-ignitable wire passing through said cylinder for causing ignition of said shear pin as a result of said wire being ignited in response to said electrical signal being applied thereto.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said shear pin and wire are of a heat-ignitable material which when brought to ignition temperature produces a violent and rapidly propagating but non-explosive reaction resulting in disintegration of the material.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said heat-ignitable material is a bimetallic composition comprised primarily of aluminum and palladium.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said shear pin is formed by rolling a foil of said heat-ignitable material onto said wire so as to form a cylinder encircling said wire.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said wire is provided with a substantially reduced diameter portion at a predetermined location thereof in order to establish an initial starting point for ignition of the wire in response to the applied electrical signal.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein a second heat-ignitable shear pin is provided cooperating with said collapsible piston assembly so that ignition of either shear pin permits collapsing of said assembly.

8. The invention in acCordance with claim 1, wherein said collapsible piston assembly includes first and second pistons whose movements within said housing are respectively prevented by the shear pins.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 1, wherein said shear pins are of a heat-ignitable material which when brought to ignition temperature produces a violent and rapidly propagating but non-explosive reaction resulting in disintegration of the material, and wherein said initiating means includes a heat-ignitable wire of said material cooperating with each shear pin for causing ignition thereof as a result of said wire being ignited in response to said electrical signal being applied thereto.

10. A non-explosive electrically initiated, heat-ignitable actuator comprising:

a housing, a collapsible dual piston assembly disposed within said housing, first and second heat-ignitable members cooperating with said dual piston assembly in a manner so as to prevent collapse thereof so long as neither member is ignited, and initiating means for igniting said members in response to an applied electrical signal.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 10, wherein said collapsible dual piston assembly includes inner and outer pistons and a body portion, said outer piston being movable with respect to said housing and said inner piston being disposed between said outer piston and said body portion and being relatively movable with respect to both, one of said heat-ignitable members being disposed so as to prevent relative movement between said inner piston and said outer piston and the other of said heat-ignitable members being disposed so as to prevent relative movement between said inner piston and said body portion.

12. The invention in accordance with claim 11, wherein said members are each provided as a shear pin, and said initiating means includes first and second heat-ignitable wires cooperating with respective ones of said shear pins for causing ignition thereof as a result of its respective wire being ignited in response to said electrical signal being applied thereto.

13. The invention in accordance with claim 12, wherein each shear pin is provided in the form of a hollow cylinder through which its respective wire is passed.

14. The invention in accordance with claim 12, wherein said shear pins and wires are of a heat-ignitable material which when brought to ignition temperature produces a violent and rapidly propagating but non-explosive reaction resulting in disintegration of the material.

15. The invention in accordance with claim 11, wherein said outer piston is slidably movable within said housing and said inner piston has its end portions slidably movable in respective bores provided in said outer piston and said body portion, and wherein one of said members is disposed so as to prevent relative movement of said inner piston in the bore of said outer piston and the other of said members is disposed so as to prevent relative movement of said inner piston in the bore of said body portion.

16. The invention in accordance with claim 15, wherein said members are each provided as a shear pin, and said initiating means includes first and second heat-ignitable wires cooperating with respective ones of said shear pins for causing ignition of each as a result of its respective wire being ignited in response to said electrical signal being applied thereto.

17. The invention in accordance with claim 16, wherein said shear pins and wires are of a heat-ignitable material which when brought to ignition temperature produces a violent and rapidly propagating but non-explosive reaction resulting in disintegration of the material.

18. The invention in accordance with claim 16, wherein said heat-ignitable material is a bimetallic composition comprising primarily aluminum and palladium.

19. The invention in accordance with claim 16, wherein said housing also includes means for maintaining the uncollapsed dual piston assembly in a fixed position in said housiNg.

20. The invention in accordance with claim 19, wherein said housing includes means adapted to receive an applied force acting so as to urge the respective ends of said inner piston more deeply into their respective bores against the restraint provided by their respective shear pins, and wherein the ends of said inner piston are each able to move a sufficient distance into their respective bores so as to cause the piston assembly to collapse by at least a predetermined minimum amount in response to an applied force if at least one of said shear pins is ignited.

21. The invention in accordance with claim 20, wherein said initiating means includes lead-in wires fed into said housing and electrically connected to said heat-ignitable wires so as to permit applying an initiating current thereto sufficient to cause ignition thereof.

22. The invention in accordance with claim 21, wherein each heat-ignitable wire has a greatly reduced diameter at a predetermined location for establishing a starting point for ignition thereof in response to an applied initiating current.

23. The invention in accordance with claim 21, wherein said housing also includes means for sealing said piston assembly therein.

24. The invention in accordance with claim 16, wherein means are additionally provided responsive to the collapse of said piston assembly for initiating the performance of a mechanical operation.