Membrane puncturing mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11274754-B2
Application number	US-201916715000-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2019
Priority date	Dec 17, 2018
Publication date	Mar 15, 2022
Grant date	Mar 15, 2022

Abstract

A membrane puncturing mechanism comprises a first element and a second element arranged with opposing surfaces. At least one opposing surface comprises a sloping region inclined relative to the other opposing surface. The first element is moveable towards and away from the second element. A pin for puncturing a membrane is coupled to the first element such that movement of one of the pin and first element causes movement of both. A spring is operable to bias the first element towards the second element. An actuator is removably positioned between the opposing surfaces, the actuator being withdrawable from between and moveable along the opposing surfaces such that, as the actuator is withdrawn, the actuator progressively moves the first and second elements apart against the bias of the spring so as to load the spring and such that the actuator being fully withdrawn from between the opposing surfaces.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A membrane puncturing mechanism comprising:
a first element and a second element arranged with opposing surfaces, at least one opposing surface comprising a sloping region inclined relative to the other opposing surface, the first element being moveable towards and away from the second element;
a pin for puncturing a membrane, the pin being coupled to the first element such that movement of one of the pin and first element causes movement of both;
a spring operable to bias the first element towards the second element; and
an actuator removably positioned between the opposing surfaces, the actuator being withdrawable from between and moveable along the opposing surfaces such that, as the actuator is withdrawn, the actuator progressively moves the first and second elements apart against the bias of the spring so as to load the spring and such that the actuator being fully withdrawn from between the opposing surfaces allows the first element to move towards the second element under the load of the spring thereby moving the pin for puncturing the membrane.

2. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 1 , wherein both opposing surfaces comprise a sloping region, each sloping region being inclined relative to the other.

3. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the sloping region has a constant gradient.

4. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the sloping region provides a frustoconical recess in the opposing surface.

5. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 1 , wherein at least one opposing surface is circular.

6. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the second element comprises an opening through which the pin passes.

7. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the pin comprises a narrowed throat portion for accommodating the actuator before the actuator is withdrawn from between the opposing surfaces.

8. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a mount for coupling the membrane puncturing mechanism to a valve, wherein the mount houses the spring and part of the pin.

9. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 8 , further comprising a bushing which couples the mount to the second element to allow the second element to rotate relative to the mount.

10. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a ball.

11. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 2 , wherein each sloping region has a constant gradient.

12. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 2 , wherein each sloping region provides a frustoconical recess in the respective opposing surface.

13. A membrane puncturing mechanism comprising:
a first element and a second element arranged with opposing surfaces, at least one opposing surface comprising a sloping region inclined relative to the other opposing surface, the first element being moveable towards and away from the second element
a pin for puncturing a membrane, the pin being coupled to the first element such that movement of one of the pin and first element causes movement of both;
a spring operable to bias the first element towards the second element, wherein the second element is positioned between the spring and the first element; and
an actuator removably positioned between the opposing surfaces, the actuator being withdrawable from between and moveable along the opposing surfaces such that, as the actuator is withdrawn, the actuator progressively moves the first and second elements apart against the bias of the spring so as to load the spring and such that the actuator being fully withdrawn from between the opposing surfaces allows the first element to move towards the second element under the load of the spring thereby moving the pin for puncturing the membrane.

14. A membrane puncturing mechanism comprising:
a first element and a second element arranged with opposing surfaces, at least one opposing surface comprising a sloping region inclined relative to the other opposing surface, the first element being moveable towards and away from the second element;
a pin for puncturing a membrane, the pin being coupled to the first element such that movement of one of the pin and first element causes movement of both;
a spring operable to bias the first element towards the second element;
an actuator removably positioned between the opposing surfaces, the actuator being withdrawable from between and moveable along the opposing surfaces such that, as the actuator is withdrawn, the actuator progressively moves the first and second elements apart against the bias of the spring so as to load the spring and such that the actuator being fully withdrawn from between the opposing surfaces allows the first element to move towards the second element under the load of the spring thereby moving the pin for puncturing the membrane; and
a locking element moveable between a locked position to prevent removal of the actuator from between the opposing surfaces and an unlocked position to allow removal of the actuator from between the opposing surfaces.

15. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 14 , wherein the locking element comprises a lid which fits over the first element and in its locked position prevents movement of the first element away from the second element, the mechanism further comprising a cam surface and follower arranged such that rotational movement of the locking element lifts the locking element away from the first element, thereby allowing movement of the first element away from the second element in the unlocked position.

16. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the second element comprises an upstanding wall in which the cam surface is defined and the lid comprises the cam follower which is received by the cam surface, the cam surface optionally being formed as a groove.

17. The membrane puncturing mechanism of claim 16 , wherein the groove comprises detents, optionally in the form of narrowed regions, to retain the cam follower in the locked and unlocked positions.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Czechowski Kamil
• Zajac Piotr

Classifications

• F16K17/403 Primary

  with a fracturing valve member · CPC title

• F17C2205/032

  pierceable · CPC title

• Y10T137/1767

  Movable knife or cutter · CPC title

• F17C13/04

  Arrangement or mounting of valves (valves per se F16K {; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00}) · CPC title

• F17C2205/0329

  manually actuated · CPC title