Fluid pressure intensifier

Claim 2

Apparatus for efficient utilization of a compressed gas supply comprising a pressure vessel having a generally cylindrical sealed chamber therein, a cup-shaped plunger contained within said chamber dividing the chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment and forming a seal therebetween, said first compartment containing a compressed working gas under high pressure, said first compartment having an outlet, means to seal said outlet to generally maintain said high pressure under static conditions, the peripheral wall of said plunger having an annular reduced section designed to fail upon the imposition of a predetermined stress, means to fixedly secure said plunger to said vessel, means to increase the temperature and pressure in said second compartment for imposing a pressure differential across said plunger sufficient to cause failure of said reduced section, whereby upon failure of said reduced section said plunger may move within said chamber to reduce the volume of said first compartment.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressure vessel comprises means to release said compressed working gas to a gas using device.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressure vessel comprises two casings sealingly secured together by an annular weld.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said plunger is secured to said weld.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressure vessel comprises means to activate said temperature and pressure increasing means.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said activating means comprise an igniter.

Claim 8

Apparatus for efficient utilization of a compressed gas supply comprising a sealed pressure vessel having a generally cylindrical chamber therein, a cup-shaped plunger made of a thermally conductive material contained within said chamber sealingly dividing said chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, said plunger having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface respectively defining said second and first compartments, the periphery of said plunger closely conforming to the shape of said chambers transverse cross section so that it is capable of axial sliding movement within said chamber, said concave and convex surface defining a wall thickness which is small compared to the diameter of said chamber so that a temperature increase in said second compartment will cause a transfer of heat to saiD first compartment, said plunger having an annular reduced section formed adjacent its periphery, said reduced section being adapted to fail upon the imposition of a predetermined stress, means to fixedly secure said plunger to said vessel, an annular solid fuel charge mounted within said second compartment, a working gas contained within said first compartment under a high pressure at least of the order of a 1, 000 pounds per square inch, said first compartment having an outlet, means to seal said outlet to generally maintain said high pressure under static conditions, whereby ignition of said charge will increase the temperature and pressure in said second compartment causing failure of said reduced section, reduction of the residual volume of said second compartment, and heating of the working gas by compression and heat transfer across the wall of said plunger.

Claim 9

Apparatus for efficient utilization of a compressed gas supply comprising a sealed pressure vessel having a generally cylindrical chamber therein, a cup-shaped plunger made of a thermally conductive material contained within said chamber sealingly dividing said chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, said plunger having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface respectively defining said second and first compartments, the periphery of said plunger closely conforming to the shape of said chambers transverse cross section so that it is capable of axial sliding movement within said chamber, said concave and convex surface defining a wall thickness which is small compared to the diameter of said chamber so that a temperature increase in said second compartment will cause a transfer of heat to saiD first compartment, said plunger having an annular reduced section formed adjacent its periphery, said reduced section being adapted to fail upon the imposition of a predetermined stress, means to fixedly secure said plunger to said vessel, an annular solid fuel charge mounted within said second compartment, a working gas contained within said first compartment under a high pressure at least of the order of a 1, 000 pounds per square inch, said first compartment having an outlet, means to seal said outlet to generally maintain said high pressure under static conditions, whereby ignition of said charge will increase the temperature and pressure in said second compartment causing failure of said reduced section, reduction of the residual volume of said second compartment, and heating of the working gas by compression and heat transfer across the wall of said plunger.

Claim 10

Apparatus for efficient utilization of a compressed gas supply comprising two casings, an annular weld sealingly securing said casings together, said casings forming a sealed pressure vessel having a cylindrical chamber therein, a thermally conductive plunger contained within said chamber and secured to said weld, said plunger sealingly dividing said chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, said plunger being adapted for axial sliding movement in said chamber, means to prevent movement of said plunger within said chamber until a predetermined pressure differential between said first and second compartments is effected, a compressed working gas under high pressure contained within said first compartment, said first compartment having an outlet, means to seal said outlet to generally maintain said high pressure under static conditions, means to increase the temperature and pressure in said second compartment, said plunger having a wall thickness which is small compared to the diameter of said chamber so that a temperature increase in said second compartment will cause a transfer of heat to said first compartment, whereby a temperature and pressure increase in said second compartment will drive said plunger in said vessel reducing the residual volume of said second compartment and heat the working gas therein by heat transfer across said plunger.

Claim 11

Apparatus for efficient utilization of a compressed gas supply comprising two casings, an annular weld sealingly securing said casings together, said casings forming a sealed pressure vessel having a cylindrical chamber therein, a thermally conductive plunger contained within said chamber and secured to said weld, said plunger sealingly dividing said chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, said plunger being adapted for axial sliding movement in said chamber, means to prevent movement of said plunger within said chamber until a predetermined pressure differential between said first and second compartments is effected, a compressed working gas under high pressure contained within said first compartment, said first compartment having an outlet, means to seal said outlet to generally maintain said high pressure under static conditions, means to increase the temperature and pressure in said second compartment, said plunger having a wall thickness which is small compared to the diameter of said chamber so that a temperature increase in said second compartment will cause a transfer of heat to said first compartment, whereby a temperature and pressure increase in said second compartment will drive said plunger in said vessel reducing the residual volume of said second compartment and heat the working gas therein by heat transfer across said plunger.

Claim 12

Apparatus for efficient utilization of a compressed gas supply comprising a pressure vessel having a generally cylindrical chamber therein, a plunger made of a thermally conductive material contained within said chamber sealingly dividing said chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, said plunger having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface respectively defining said first and second compartments, the periphery of said plunger closely conforming to the shape of said chamber''s transverse cross section so that it is capable of sliding movement within said chamber, a compressed working gas under high pressure contained within said first compartment, said first compartment having an outlet, means to seal said outlet to generally maintain said high pressure under static conditions, means, including a reduced section of said plunger and a seal weld connected to said plunger, to secure said plunger to said vessel and to prevent movement of said plunger in said chamber until a predetermined pressure differential between said compartments is established and means to increase the temperature and pressure in the second compartment.

Claim 13

Apparatus for efficient utilization of a compressed gas supply comprising a pressure vessel having a generally cylindrical chamber therein, a plunger made of a thermally conductive material contained within said chamber sealingly dividing said chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, said plunger having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface respectively defining said first and second compartments, the periphery of said plunger closely conforming to the shape of said chamber''s transverse cross section so that it is capable of sliding movement within said chamber, a compressed working gas under high pressure contained within said first compartment, said first compartment having an outlet, means to seal said outlet to generally maintain said high pressure under static conditions, means, including a reduced section of said plunger and a seal weld connected to said plunger, to secure said plunger to said vessel and to prevent movement of said plunger in said chamber until a predetermined pressure differential between said compartments is established and means to increase the temperature and pressure in the second compartment.

Claim 14

Apparatus for efficient utilization of a compressed gas supply comprising two casings, an annular weld sealingly securing said casings together, said casings forming a pressure vessel having a generally cylindrical chamber therein, a plunger made of a thermally conductive material contained within said chamber and secured to said weld, said plunger sealingly dividing said chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, said plunger having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface respectively defining said first and second compartments, the periphery of said plungeR closely conforming to the shape of said chamber''s transverse cross section so that it is capable of sliding movement within said chamber, a compressed working gas under high pressure contained within said first compartment, said first compartment having an outlet, means to seal said outlet to generally maintain said high pressure under static conditions, means to secure said plunger to said vessel and to prevent movement of said plunger in said chamber until a predetermined pressure differential between said compartments is established and means to increase the temperature and pressure in the second compartment.

Claim 15

Apparatus for efficient utilization of a compressed gas supply comprising two casings, an annular weld sealingly securing said casings together, said casings forming a pressure vessel having a generally cylindrical chamber therein, a plunger made of a thermally conductive material contained within said chamber and secured to said weld, said plunger sealingly dividing said chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, said plunger having a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface respectively defining said first and second compartments, the periphery of said plungeR closely conforming to the shape of said chamber''s transverse cross section so that it is capable of sliding movement within said chamber, a compressed working gas under high pressure contained within said first compartment, said first compartment having an outlet, means to seal said outlet to generally maintain said high pressure under static conditions, means to secure said plunger to said vessel and to prevent movement of said plunger in said chamber until a predetermined pressure differential between said compartments is established and means to increase the temperature and pressure in the second compartment.