Electronically activated, spring-driven initiator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12460776-B2
Application number	US-202318446158-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2023
Priority date	Aug 8, 2023
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

An initiator for opening a pressurized gas cylinder is disclosed herein. The initiator includes a housing having a first end and a second end, a lance disposed within the housing, the lance configured to slide from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing and out through the second end of the housing, a spring disposed within the housing between the first end of the housing and the lance, and a wire coupled to the first end of the housing and to the lance, the wire configured to hold the spring in a compressed state, the wire further configured to break in response to an electric current.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An initiator for opening a pressurized gas cylinder, comprising:
a housing having a first end and a second end; a lance disposed within the housing, the lance configured to slide from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing and out through the second end of the housing; a spring disposed within the housing between the first end of the housing and the lance; a wire coupled to the first end of the housing and to the lance, the wire configured to hold the spring in a compressed state, the wire further configured to break in response to an electric current; a first anchor point coupled to the lance; a second anchor point coupled to the lance; and a third anchor point coupled to the housing, wherein the wire is configured to enter the housing, wrap around the first anchor point, wrap around the third anchor point, wrap around the second anchor point, and exit the housing.

2 . The initiator for opening the pressurized gas cylinder of claim 1 , wherein the lance further comprises:
a lance body configured to stay within the housing, wherein the wire is coupled to the lance body; and a lance end coupled to the lance body and configured to pass through the second end of the housing.

3 . The initiator for opening the pressurized gas cylinder of claim 1 , wherein the lance is hollow and has a first end adjacent the first end of the housing and a second end, wherein the spring is disposed between the first end of the housing and the second end of the lance.

4 . A system, comprising:
a compressed gas cylinder; and an initiator configured to open the compressed gas cylinder, the initiator including:
a housing having a first end and a second end;
a lance disposed within the housing, the lance configured to slide from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing and out through the second end of the housing;
a spring disposed within the housing between the first end of the housing and the lance;
a wire coupled to the first end of the housing and to the lance, the wire configured to hold the spring in a compressed state, the wire further configured to break in response to an electric current;
a first anchor point coupled to the lance;
a second anchor point coupled to the lance; and
a third anchor point coupled to the housing, wherein the wire is configured to enter the housing, wrap around the first anchor point, wrap around the third anchor point, wrap around the second anchor point, and exit the housing.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the lance further comprises:
a lance body configured to stay within the housing, wherein the wire is coupled to the lance body; and a lance end coupled to the lance body and configured to pass through the second end of the housing.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the lance is hollow and has a first end adjacent the first end of the housing and a second end, wherein the spring is disposed between the first end of the housing and the second end of the lance.

7 . A system, comprising:
a pressurized cylinder; a manifold coupled to the pressurized cylinder; and an initiator coupled to the manifold and configured to open the pressurized cylinder, the initiator including:
a housing having a first end and a second end;
a lance disposed within the housing, the lance configured to slide from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing and out through the second end of the housing;
a spring disposed within the housing between the first end of the housing and the lance;
a wire coupled to the first end of the housing and to the lance, the wire configured to hold the spring in a compressed state, the wire further configured to break in response to an electric current;
a first anchor point coupled to the lance;
a second anchor point coupled to the lance; and
a third anchor point coupled to the housing, wherein the wire is configured to enter the housing, wrap around the first anchor point, wrap around the third anchor point, wrap around the second anchor point, and exit the housing.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the lance further comprises:
a lance body configured to stay within the housing, wherein the wire is coupled to the lance body; and a lance end coupled to the lance body and configured to pass through the second end of the housing.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the lance is hollow and has a first end adjacent the first end of the housing and a second end, wherein the spring is disposed between the first end of the
housing and the second end of the lance.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Fredrich Jeremy John

Classifications

• F17C2205/0314

  breakable, e.g. with burst discs · CPC title

• F17C13/04

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

• F16K1/307

  Additional means used in combination with the main valve · CPC title

• F17C2205/0317

  fusing or melting · CPC title

• F17C2270/0772

  Inflation devices, e.g. for rescue vests or tyres · CPC title