Membrane type stopper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10029827-B2
Application number	US-201514870130-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2015
Priority date	Oct 10, 2014
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A stopper for a tank having an opening includes a body which is provided to be fixed in the opening and which has a hole, a membrane which is fixed to the body and of which a portion completely blocks the hole, a core which is fixed to the portion of the membrane which blocks the hole, and stop means which are provided to permit a movement of the core between a blocking position which corresponds to the non-broken membrane which blocks the hole, and an open position which corresponds to the broken membrane which is spaced apart from the hole, and to keep the core fixedly joined to the body in an open position. The knowledge of the characteristics of the membrane enables the force from which the stopper opens to be known.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A stopper for a tank comprising an opening, the stopper comprising:
a body configured to be fixed in the opening and having a hole, wherein the body further comprises:
a membrane fixed to the body and having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the membrane having a non-broken state in which a portion of the membrane completely blocks the hole and a broken state in which the portion is separated from rest of the membrane fixed to the body, thereby unblocking the hole;
a core fixed to the portion of the membrane on the first surface and the second surface, and
a core stopper configured to permit a movement of the core between a blocking position which corresponds to the non-broken state of the membrane, and an open position which corresponds to the broken state of the membrane with the portion spaced apart from the hole, and to keep the core fixedly joined to the body in an open position,
wherein the core stopper comprises at least one arm and, for the at least one arm, an aperture in the body, and
wherein one end of the at least one arm is fixedly joined to the core and another end of the at least one arm is inserted into the aperture.

2. The stopper as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the core corresponds to the shape of the hole.

3. The stopper as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the body has a seat, wherein the core has an edge and wherein the body has a core return configured to urge the core into an abutment position in which the edge is in abutment with the seat.

4. The stopper as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the core return comprises an annular member and a compression spring, wherein the annular member is configured to be moved parallel with the movement direction of the core and is in abutment with the ends of the at least one arm which is inserted into the apertures and wherein the spring is placed between a fixed portion of the body and the annular member.

5. The stopper as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the core comprises a first portion carrying the edge and fixed to the face of the membrane configured to be orientated toward the inner side of the tank, and a second portion carrying the at least one arm and fixed to the face of the membrane configured to be orientated toward the outer side of the tank.

6. The stopper as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the body comprises:
a first ring comprising a first annular member and a first disc extending toward the inner side of the first annular member, and recessed at the center and forming the seat,
a second ring comprising a second annular member and a second disc extending toward the inner side of the second annular member and recessed at the center, and
pressing means to keep the first disc and the second disc pressed against each other, and
wherein the membrane is sandwiched between the first disc in contact with the face of the membrane configured to be orientated toward the inner side of the tank and the second disc in contact with the face of the membrane configured to be orientated toward the outer side of the tank.

7. The stopper as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the pressing means comprises a counter-nut comprising an annular counter-member configured to be screwed against the inner surface of the first annular member and one end of which is configured to be in abutment against the second disc.

8. A tank comprising an opening and a stopper comprising:
a body configured to be fixed in the opening and having a hole, wherein the body further comprises:
a membrane fixed to the body and having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the membrane having a non-broken state in which a portion of the membrane completely blocks the hole and a broken state in which the portion is separated from rest of the membrane fixed to the body, thereby unblocking the hole;
a core fixed to the portion of the membrane on the first surface and the second surface, and
a core stopper configured to permit a movement of the core between a blocking position which corresponds to the non-broken state of the membrane, and an open position which corresponds to the broken state of the membrane with the portion spaced apart from the hole, and to keep the core fixedly joined to the body in an open position,

wherein the core stopper comprises at least one arm and, for the at least one arm, an aperture in the body, and
wherein one end of the at least one arm is fixedly joined to the core and another end of the at least one arm is inserted into the aperture,
wherein the body is fixed in the opening.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Sas

Inventors

• Fabre Christian
• Bignolais Alain

Classifications

• A62C3/08

  in aircraft {(A62C3/0207 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A62C13/22

  with incendiary substances producing pressure gas · CPC title

• B65D2539/006

  provided with separate sealing rings · CPC title

• A62C35/08

  Containers destroyed or opened by bursting charge · CPC title

• B65D39/0052 Primary

  made in more than one piece (B65D39/02, B65D39/04, B65D39/06, B65D39/08 take precedence) · CPC title