Sleeve valve arrangement

Claim 2

In a sleeve valve for containing fluid under pressure comprising a shell having a plurality of ports therein, a closure across said shell, a hollow sleeve slidable in said shell into separate positions in which said ports are covered and uncovered, a piston in said shell separable from said sleeve and positioned between said sleeve and said closure, and means for exerting pressure between said closure and said piston so as to slide said sleeve, wherein said sleeve opposite said piston is provided with a thin leading edge, said shell is provided with means for flaring said leading edge upon being moved by said piston to lock said sleeve in the open position and which when said ports are uncovered permits fluid to flow thrOugh said ports and out through said sleeve.

Claim 3

A sleeve in accordance with claim 1 in which said means for exerting pressure is an explosive squib positioned in said closure.

Claim 4

A sleeve valve in accordance with claim 2 in which the trailing end of said piston is provided with a thin flange in contact with the walls of said shell.

Claim 5

A valve assembly of claim 1 adapted for mounting within the mouth of a container used for holding fluid under pressure wherein: a. a thrust arrestor cap is attached to the port end of said shell, said thrust arrestor having outlet ports arranged such that pressurized fluid passing through said valve and exiting from said cap is directed at right angles to the direction of flow into said cap and wherein the net resultant directional thrust forces imparted to the container are neutralized; b. said slidable sleeve is hermetically sealed to said shell by frangible sleeve ring seals on each side of said ports in said shell; c. said piston within said shell is locked into non-rotating alignment with said sleeve; d. said closure across said shell has means to permit fluid within said pressure container to pass into said shell between said piston and said closure when means for asserting pressure between said closure and said piston fails to slide said sleeve; and e. a heater mount is attached to the closure end of said shell having means to hold an electrically activated pyrotechnic gas generator, said heater mount provided with passageways to permit hot gases from said pyrotechnic gas generator to pass into said container.

Claim 6

An assembly of claim 4 wherein said piston has conduit means to equalize the pressure on both sides of said piston.

Claim 7

An assembly of claim 4 wherein the means to permit fluid within said pressure container to pass into said shell between said piston and said closure is a rupture disc which breaks at a pressure lower than said container holding said fluid under pressure.

Claim 8

An assembly of claim 6 wherein said rupture disc is mounted in a well in said closure end located between said piston and means for asserting pressure between said closure and said piston.

Claim 9

An assembly of claim 4 wherein said closure end is sealed to said shell by frangible means.