Power booster bushing

• US 5,005,485 A
• Filed: 02/22/1990
• Issued: 04/09/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Burndy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Burndy Corporation
• Inventors: Woo, Kenneth J., Annan, Robert K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tudor, Harold J.
• Application Number:
  US07/483,904
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 102/469-472, 102/447, 102/531, 102/530, 102/466, 102/467, 102/532
• US Class Current: 102/531
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/0085 explosive-powered
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/28 positioning or withdrawing resilient bushings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/08 effected by an explosion
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/0275 by using explosive force

Abstract

A power booster bushing for obturating powder gases in a cartridge case employed by power actuated tools used for connecting power cables. The power booster bushing supports an explosive power cell and is slidably positioned in the cartridge case bore and has a series of ribs defined by grooves engaging the cartridge case bore. The interface between the cartridge case bore and the bushing is sealed during detonation of the power cell by means of the circumferential ribs. The bushing undergoes an "accordion effect" during detonation characterized by axial compression of the bushing and resulting in the prevention of powder gas escape through the open breech end of the cartridge case.

Claims

1. A power booster for power activated tools comprising a cartridge case having a tubular wall with open muzzle and breech ends, a booster bushing and a power cell with a firing rim subassembly slidably fitted into the cartridge case, and a power piston in the cartridge case ahead of the subassembly, the cartridge case having a generally cylindrical inner surface divided by a radially extending shoulder into a forward cartridge chamber and a rear cartridge chamber, the booster bushing being generally cylindrical and having an outer surface of greater and lesser diameters defined by a radially extending shoulder, the bushing having an axial bore for receiving the power cell, the bushing being slidably fitted into the cartridge case with its lesser diameter portion received by the rear cartridge chamber positioning the power cell rim at the open breech end of the cartridge case, and with the greater diameter portion of the bushing fitted in the forward cartridge chamber with radial shoulders of cartridge case and bushing in abutting relation and with the front end of the power cell in confronting relationship with the power piston, the greater diameter portion of the bushing having a plurality of grooves on its outer surface defining a forward series of ribs thereon having annular flat surfaces and a rear rib wider than forward ribs for accommodating axial collapse of the greater diameter portion of of the bushing against the cartridge case shoulder for obturating power cell gases tending to flow past the outer surface of the bushing and out the open breech end when the cartridge case is fired.

2. A power booster bushing as defined in claim 1 in which the rear cartridge chamber inner surface and the booster bushing lesser diameter outer surface are smooth.

3. A power booster bushing as defined in claim 1 in which the forward ribs are approximately 0.05 inches wide and the rear rib is approximately 0.082 inches wide.