Separation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10577134-B2
Application number	US-201515539802-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 24, 2015
Priority date	Dec 26, 2014
Publication date	Mar 3, 2020
Grant date	Mar 3, 2020

Abstract

A separation device includes: an outer case; a pillar-shaped separation member including an engaging portion; a support member including a swinging portion and an engageable portion, the swinging portion being swingably supported by the outer case, the engageable portion supporting the separation member; an inner case including a fitting hole restricting swinging of the support member; and an operation-enabling element, which supports the inner case and which is fusion-cut when an electric current is applied thereto. When the operation-enabling element is fusion-cut, the inner case is displaced, such that: the engageable portion of the support member detaches from the fitting hole; the swinging portion swings; and the engageable portion moves away from the engaging portion to release the separation member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A separation device comprising:
an outer case;
a separation member accommodated in the outer case and including one of: (i) a protruding portion that protrudes in a radial direction or (ii) a recessed portion that is recessed in the radial direction, the separation member receiving a load exerted in a central axis direction;
a support member including a swinging portion and an engageable portion, the swinging portion being swingably supported by the outer case, the engageable portion contacting the one of the protruding portion or the recessed portion to support the separation member;
an inner case including a fitting hole in which the engageable portion is fitted, the fitting hole restricting swinging of the support member; and
an operation-enabling element that supports the inner case in the outer case and that is fusion-cut when an electric current is applied thereto, wherein
when the operation-enabling element is fusion-cut, the inner case is displaced in the central axis direction, such that:
the engageable portion of the support member detaches from the fitting hole;
the swinging portion swings; and
the engageable portion moves away from the one of the protruding portion or the recessed portion to release the separation member.

2. The separation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the operation-enabling element is made of a material having a tensile strength of 2000 to 3000 MPa and an electrical resistivity of 1 to 10×10 −6 Ω·m.

3. The separation device according to claim 1 , wherein
an elastic member is disposed between the inner case and the support member, the elastic member pressing the inner case and the support member such that the inner case and the support member are spaced apart from each other in the central axis direction.

4. The separation device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a frame member disposed in a manner to surround the inner case when seen in the central axis direction, wherein
the operation-enabling element is a first operation-enabling element, and the separation device further comprises a second operation-enabling element,
the frame member is suspended from the outer case via the first operation-enabling element at a first position and a second operation-enabling element at a second position, the first and second positions being opposite to each other with the inner case positioned therebetween, and
the frame member supports the inner case at a third position and a fourth position such that the inner case is swingable, the third and fourth positions being opposite to each other in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first and second positions are opposite to each other.

5. The separation device according to claim 4 , wherein
the frame member includes a pair of plate-shaped first members and a pair of plate-shaped second members, which are swingably disposed on the inner case such that the first members are opposite to each other and the second members are opposite to each other,
the second members are suspended from the outer case via the operation-enabling elements, and
both ends of each of the first members are placed on the pair of respective second members.

6. The separation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the engageable portion of the support member includes:
a semi-cylindrical portion surrounding at least part of the separation member; and
an arc-shaped flange portion protruding inward from an inner surface of the semi-cylindrical portion and contacting the one of the protruding portion or the recessed portion of the separation member, wherein

notches are formed at ends of an inner peripheral surface of the flange portion.

7. The separation device according to claim 1 , wherein
the operation-enabling element includes a fusion cutting portion whose cross-sectional area is less than that of other portions of the operation-enabling element.

8. The separation device according to claim 7 , wherein
a third member having a higher thermal insulation capacity than that of the operation-enabling element is disposed near the fusion cutting portion of the operation-enabling element.

9. The separation device according to claim 1 , wherein the separation member is a rod.

Assignees

• Kawasaki Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Horie Yoichi

Classifications

• B64G1/645 Primary

  Separators · CPC title

• E05B17/0062

  with destructive disengagement · CPC title

• F42B15/36

  Means for interconnecting rocket-motor and body section; Multi-stage connectors; Disconnecting means · CPC title

• B64G1/64 Primary

  Systems for coupling or separating cosmonautic vehicles or parts thereof, e.g. docking arrangements · CPC title

• B64G1/222

  for deploying structures between a stowed and deployed state · CPC title