CONTROLLED OPENING, VARIABLE ORIFICE, EXPLOSIVELY ACTUATED VALVE

• US 3,854,491 A
• Filed: 01/03/1972
• Issued: 12/17/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ETI Explosives Technologies International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Paul J. Bryan, Ronald F. Mcconnell
• Inventors: Bryan, Paul J., McConnell, Ronald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwadron, Martin P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gerard, Richard
• Application Number:
  US05/214,839
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 222/5,85,3 137/68,1 220/47,89A 280/15AB 102/37.7,39
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 137/91 Destructible or deformable element constructed of specific material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1647 Explosive actuation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1744 Specific weakening point

Abstract

A diaphragm that closes the opening of a valve to passage therethrough of a fluid under pressure is perforated by actuation in controlled sequence of two or more electroexplosive devices thereby opening the diaphragm in two or more stages for passage of fluid through said valve.

Claims

1. A valve comprising a body having a passage therethrough which passage provides an inlet and an outlet for fulid under pressure, a fluid-impermeable disphragm closing said passage to the movement of said fluid, a plurality of electrically actuated and explosively operated devices adapted to perforate said diaphragm, means to sequentially activate said devices thereby producing an initial opening of the diaphragm which is smaller than that of the final opening in said diaphragm followed by an enlarged opening to obtain final opening of said diaphragm.

2. the valve of claim 1 wherein said diaphragm has relatively thin sections which define a pattern for rupture of the diaphragm and wherein said devices are arranged to perforate said diaphragm adjacent at least a portion of said relatively thin cross section.

3. The valve of claim 2 wherein said devices are electrically actuated blasting caps.

4. The valve of claim 1 wherein said devices are electrically actuated blasting caps.

5. A method for opening a passageway for fluid which passageway is normally closed by a fluid impermeable diaphragm comprising perforating said diaphragm by sequentially actuating electroexplosive diaphragm-perforating means such that there is produced an initial opening of the diaphragm which is smaller than that of the final opening in said diaphragm followed by an enlarged opening to obtain final opening of said diaphragm.