US3668976A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flight refueling receptacle having pressure-inertia release valve
Assignee: ELLSWORTH E HIEBER
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Filing: 1970-03-23
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Granted: 1972-06-13
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Expires: 1990-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A hydraulic actuator, which is particularly adapted for use with and to automatically release the locking means of an inflight refueling nozzle, and contains a cylinder and piston structure connected with a piston rod, the piston having a piston head with an axial flow passage controlled by a valve normally spring-urged to a closed position, when the piston structure is in a holding position at one end of the cylinder, but adapted to open under a suddenly applied highly accelerating force and permit movement of the piston to the other end of the cylinder.
Inventors
- 👤 Ellsworth E Hieber
- 👤 Thomas P Taquino
- 👤 Frank Edward Hillery
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:12
CPC Classifications
F; F15; F15B; F15B15/00; F15B15/08; F15B15/14; F15B15/149; B; B64; B64D; B64D39/00; B64D39/06; F15B15/1423; F15B15/1447; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2142
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
251 words
In a hydraulic actuator: a. a hydraulic cylinder; b. a fluid conduit to one end of said cylinder and a second fluid conduit to the other end of said cylinder, c. a piston slidably engaged within said cylinder, d. said piston being positionable within said cylinder by means of internal pressure of hydraulic fluid from at least one of said conduits, said fluid forming a column in said cylinder on one side of said piston, and e. external movable means operably connected with said piston by a piston rod for movement thereby from a nonholding position to a holding position. f. extend movable means being operable by said piston rod in accordance with the position of said piston within the cylinder and in accordance with the fluid pressure applied to said piston, g. said external movable means in said holding position being adapted to apply a holding force in accordance with the fluid pressure on said piston, h. the improvement comprising: i. a single valve means defined between said piston and said piston rod, and means cooperating between said piston and piston rod for normally maintaining said valve means in closed position, said valve means being movable to open position to permit rapid emergency release of said external movable means from its holding position and dissipation of its holding force by the application of a lower but highly accelerated external force on said external means than required by a gradually increased applied external force for release of said external movable means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
251 words
In a hydraulic actuator: a. a hydraulic cylinder; b. a fluid conduit to one end of said cylinder and a second fluid conduit to the other end of said cylinder, c. a piston slidably engaged within said cylinder, d. said piston being positionable within said cylinder by means of internal pressure of hydraulic fluid from at least one of said conduits, said fluid forming a column in said cylinder on one side of said piston, and e. external movable means operably connected with said piston by a piston rod for movement thereby from a nonholding position to a holding position. f. extend movable means being operable by said piston rod in accordance with the position of said piston within the cylinder and in accordance with the fluid pressure applied to said piston, g. said external movable means in said holding position being adapted to apply a holding force in accordance with the fluid pressure on said piston, h. the improvement comprising: i. a single valve means defined between said piston and said piston rod, and means cooperating between said piston and piston rod for normally maintaining said valve means in closed position, said valve means being movable to open position to permit rapid emergency release of said external movable means from its holding position and dissipation of its holding force by the application of a lower but highly accelerated external force on said external means than required by a gradually increased applied external force for release of said external movable means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
The invention according to claim 1 in which: a. said valve means comprising a relief valve on said piston rod adapted to open and release said fluid at a predetermined force applied externally in a direction tending to release said external means from its holding position when said latter force is gradually applied and increased, b. and when said highly accelerating force is applied externally in a direction tending to release said external movable means; the inertia forces of the piston and of the column of fluid tend to remain substantially at rest to permit the relief valve to open and release said fluid at said external lower force.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
164 words
The invention according to claim 2 in which: a. said piston is formed of a piston head and of said relief valve when it is closed, b. passage means extending through said head and providing communications from one side of said piston head and cylinder to the other when said relief valve is open; and c. the means normally maintaining said valve in a closed position comprises a spring within said piston head to hold said relief valve closed with an internal predetermined force, d. said fluid column applying said internal pressure in one direction to hold said external movable means in its holding position and to apply an additional force to hold said relief valve closed, e. said internal force within said piston head and the force of said fluid pressure in said one direction providing a total internal predetermined force effectively equivalent to correspond to said required gradually increased external force for said release of said movable means from its holding position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
The invention according to claim 3 in which: a. said relief valve is a poppet seated on said piston head when closed, b. said poppet being connected to an inner end of said piston rod, c. said rod extending through a first end of said cylinder and being slidably and sealingly engaged in said first end, d. said outer end of said rod being connected with said external movable means and being adapted to receive said external forces tending to release said external movable means from its holding position and so as to tend to open said poppet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The invention according to claim 4 in which: a. a second end of said cylinder opposite said first end being connected to a second external movable means, b. said piston being relatively adjacent said second end and said rod being in the farthermost inwardly position in the cylinder when said external movable means is in the holding position, c. said rod and said second end having been moved away from each other in the nonholding position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
The invention according to claim 5 in which: a. said spring biases said poppet to a normally closed position on a seat on said piston head, b. said piston head having an annular portion extending radially outwardly from said seat, c. said annular portion having a radially directed face on said one side upon which said internal pressure in said one direction is applied, d. said poppet having a radially directed annular surface upon which said internal pressure in said one direction is applied; e. said annular face on said piston head having a predetermined area to predetermine the cracking pressure at which the poppet will open relative to the force of said spring and said internal pressure and to the external forces applied to release said external movable means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention according to claim 3, wherein the piston head includes an end wall positioned inwardly of said relief valve, and said passage means includes an orifice in said end wall.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |