Pressurized Actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017204884-A1
Application number	US-201715474559-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2017
Priority date	Aug 12, 2013
Publication date	Jul 20, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A linear actuator contains a housing having a first end and a second end. A hollow piston is positioned within the housing to slidably engage with an inner wall of the housing. A sealed gas chamber is formed within the hollow piston and contains stored gas for driving the piston upon activation of the actuator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A linear actuator comprising:
a hollow piston rod contained within said linear actuator, said hollow piston rod containing an inner wall; a sealed gas chamber defined by the inner wall of the hollow piston rod; and a pressurized gas contained within the sealed gas chamber prior to activation of the actuator.

2 . The linear actuator of claim 1 further comprising a housing wherein the housing comprises a first end and a second end; and wherein the hollow piston rod comprises a third end and a fourth end, the third end proximate to the first end and the fourth end proximate to the second end.

3 . The linear actuator of claim 2 further comprising:
an initiator fixed at the first end and proximate to the third end for releasing the pressurized gas upon activation of the actuator to thereby drive the piston rod.

4 . The linear actuator of claim 2 further comprising:
a plug fixed on the hollow piston rod at the third end;
a surface area on the plug in operable communication with the pressurized gas upon actuation of the linear actuator, for propelling the hollow piston rod.

5 . The linear actuator of claim 2 further comprising a burst shim fixed to the hollow piston rod at the third end, for sealing the sealed gas chamber.

6 . The linear actuator of claim 2 further comprising:
an inner wall formed on the housing, the inner wall having an inner diameter;
a first flange formed on the third end, the first flange having a first outer diameter slidably engaged with the inner diameter;
a second flange formed on the third end, the second flange positioned closer to the initiator and the second flange having a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter; and
an annular conduit formed between the inner diameter and the second flange.

7 . The linear actuator of claim 6 further comprising:
an outer wall formed between the first flange and the second flange; and
a plenum formed between the first flange and the second flange and the outer wall.

8 . The linear actuator of claim 6 wherein a plug is fixed to the third end and comprises the first and second flanges.

9 . A linear actuator comprising:
a housing having a first end, a second end, and an inner wall having an inner diameter; a hollow piston rod, the hollow piston rod defining an interior and having a third end and a fourth end, the third end proximate to the first end and the fourth end proximate to the second end; a sealed gas chamber defined by the interior; a pressurized gas contained within the sealed gas chamber; a first flange formed on the third end, the first flange having a first outer diameter slidably engaged with the inner wall; a second flange formed on the third end, the second flange having a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter; and a conduit formed between the inner diameter and the second flange for passage of the pressurized gas upon activation of the linear actuator.

10 . The linear actuator of claim 9 wherein a plug fixed to the third end and comprises the first and second flanges.

11 . The linear actuator of claim 9 further comprising an initiator fixed at the first end and proximate the third end for releasing the pressurized gas upon actuation of the actuator.

12 . The linear actuator of claim 9 further comprising:
an outer wall formed between the first flange and the second flange; and
an plenum formed between the first flange and the second flange and the outer wall.

13 . The linear actuator of claim 9 further comprising a burst shim fixed to the hollow piston rod at the third end prior to activation of the linear actuator.

14 . The linear actuator of claim 10 further comprising a burst shim fixed across the plug prior to activation of the linear actuator.

15 . A linear actuator comprising:
a housing; a hollow piston rod contained within the housing, the hollow piston rod defining an interior; a sealed gas chamber formed as the interior of the hollow piston rod; a pressurized gas contained within the sealed gas chamber prior to activation of the actuator; a plug fixed on the hollow piston rod; a surface area on the plug, the surface area in operable communication with the pressurized gas upon actuation of the linear actuator to drive the hollow piston rod.

16 . The linear actuator of claim 15 wherein the housing comprises a first end and a second end; and wherein the hollow piston rod comprises a third end and a fourth end, the third end proximate to the first end and the fourth end proximate to the second end.

17 . The linear actuator of claim 16 further comprising:
an initiator fixed at the first end and proximate to the third end for releasing the pressurized gas upon activation of the actuator to thereby drive the piston rod.

18 . The linear actuator of claim 15 further comprising a burst shim fixed across the plug prior to activation of the linear actuator.

19 . The linear actuator of claim 15 further comprising:
an inner wall formed on the housing, the inner wall having an inner diameter;
a first flange formed on the plug, the first flange having a first outer diameter slidably engaged with the inner diameter;
a second flange formed on the plug, the second flange positioned closer to the initiator and the second flange having a second outer diameter smaller than the first outer diameter; and
a conduit formed between the inner diameter and the second flange.

20 . The linear actuator of claim 19 further comprising:
an outer wall formed between the first flange and the second flange; and
a plenum formed between the first flange and the second flange and the outer wall.

Assignees

• Tk Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Henck Jeremy M

Classifications

• F15B15/19 Primary

  Pyrotechnical actuators · CPC title

• C06D5/00 Primary

  Generation of pressure gas, e.g. for blasting cartridges, starting cartridges, rockets (explosive compositions containing an oxidizer, fuels for rocket engines intended for reaction with an oxidant other than air C06B) · CPC title

• F15B15/1461

  Piston rod sealings · CPC title

• F15B11/06 Primary

  involving features specific to the use of a compressible medium, e.g. air, steam · CPC title

• F15B15/1457

  Piston rods (F15B15/1447 takes precedence) · CPC title