US3908373A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High energy rate actuator
Assignee: Vencore Services and Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1972-05-01
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1992-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A high energy linear actuator includes an enclosed cylinder with a sleeve slideable within the cylinder to define a compression chamber and a liquid chamber on opposite sides of the sleeve. A piston ram extends slideably through the liquid end of the cylinder and the other internal end of the ram is slideable within the central bore in the sleeve to expose the inner end of the ram to the compression chamber. The actuator includes a special sealing arrangement and porting arrangements, which may be controlled by a variety of valve systems. The actuator is operated by pumping a pressurized liquid into the liquid chamber to urge the sleeve and piston in unison toward the opposite end of the cylinder and compressing the gas in the compression chamber. The seal between the sleeve and piston then is broken to relieve the advancing force of the pressurized liquid on the piston. The force of the compressed gas then acts immediately on the exposed inner end of the piston to drive the piston at high velocity and with substantial force.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl R Peterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:00
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01L; F01L21/00; F01L21/04; F01B; F01B11/00; F01L25/00; F01L25/02; F01L25/04; F01L25/06; F01L27/00; F01L27/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
407 words
A high energy linear actuator comprising: a cylinder having first and second ends; a member having first and second ends and being movable reciprocably within said cylinder and defining in cooperation with the cylinder a first chamber adjacent the first end of said cylinder; a piston reciprocable along the axis of said cylinder and having a first end extending outwardly of the first enD of said cylinder defining the first chamber and having a second end within a bore in said member for reciprocating movement both relative to and in unison with said member, said first end of said piston which extends outwardly of the first end of the cylinder passing through the first chamber; means connected to said cylinder for developing a pressure in said first chamber, said piston and said member having surfaces exposed in said first chamber and adapted to receive a component of said pressure in an axial direction away from said first chamber to move the piston and member in a compression stroke toward the second end of the cylinder, a collar secured to said piston intermediate its ends and extending radially from and about said piston, said collar being exposed within said first chamber and having a sealing surface engageable with a seating surface formed on the first end of said member, said collar having a first surface facing said first chamber, said first surface comprising said surface adapted to receive a component of said pressure in an axial direction within said first chamber; and means for maintaining the pressure on said sealing surface of said collar at a level which is lower than that acting on the first surface of said collar during said compression stroke, the pressure differential between the lower pressure on the sealing surface and the higher pressure on the first surface maintaining a seal between the piston and member causing unitary movement of the piston and member during the compression stroke; energy storage means connected to said piston for storing energy developed by said unitary movement of said member and said piston and for exerting a component of force on said piston in an axial direction toward said first chamber; and means for equalizing substantially all forces acting on said piston within said cylinder except for the force of said energy storage means whereby said stored energy may urge said piston at a high velocity toward said first end of said cylinder in a power stroke.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
407 words
A high energy linear actuator comprising: a cylinder having first and second ends; a member having first and second ends and being movable reciprocably within said cylinder and defining in cooperation with the cylinder a first chamber adjacent the first end of said cylinder; a piston reciprocable along the axis of said cylinder and having a first end extending outwardly of the first enD of said cylinder defining the first chamber and having a second end within a bore in said member for reciprocating movement both relative to and in unison with said member, said first end of said piston which extends outwardly of the first end of the cylinder passing through the first chamber; means connected to said cylinder for developing a pressure in said first chamber, said piston and said member having surfaces exposed in said first chamber and adapted to receive a component of said pressure in an axial direction away from said first chamber to move the piston and member in a compression stroke toward the second end of the cylinder, a collar secured to said piston intermediate its ends and extending radially from and about said piston, said collar being exposed within said first chamber and having a sealing surface engageable with a seating surface formed on the first end of said member, said collar having a first surface facing said first chamber, said first surface comprising said surface adapted to receive a component of said pressure in an axial direction within said first chamber; and means for maintaining the pressure on said sealing surface of said collar at a level which is lower than that acting on the first surface of said collar during said compression stroke, the pressure differential between the lower pressure on the sealing surface and the higher pressure on the first surface maintaining a seal between the piston and member causing unitary movement of the piston and member during the compression stroke; energy storage means connected to said piston for storing energy developed by said unitary movement of said member and said piston and for exerting a component of force on said piston in an axial direction toward said first chamber; and means for equalizing substantially all forces acting on said piston within said cylinder except for the force of said energy storage means whereby said stored energy may urge said piston at a high velocity toward said first end of said cylinder in a power stroke.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for equalizing said forces acting on said piston comprises: means for equalaizing the magnitude of pressure acting on said sealing and first surfaces of said collar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining said pressure differential on the surfaces of said collar comprises: vent means for communicating at least a portion of the sealing surface of said collar to a source of lower pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
An actuator as defined in claim 3 wherein said vent means comprises: means forming an undercut region at the first surface of said member inwardly of said sealing surface to define a void in cooperation with said sealing surface of said mated collar; said member having a passage formed therethrough in communication with said void; and means connecting said passage with said source of low pressure during said compression stroke.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
An actuator as defined in claim 4 further comprising means for precluding communication between said passage and said source of low pressure; and means forming a bleed passage between said void and said first chamber to enable the pressure within said void to build up to that of said first chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An actuator as defined in claim 5 wherein said bleed passage is formed through said collar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
194 words
An actuator as defined in claim 5 wherein said member comprises: a sleeve slideably sealed at its ends to the internal surface of said cylinder, said sleeve having a reduced outer diameter at its midportion to define a sleeve chamer between said sleeve and the internal surface of said cylinder, said passage opening into said sleeve chamber; said reduced outer diameter also defining first and second flanges on the sleeve at its first and second ends that slide on the internal surface of the cylinder, said means communicating said source of low pressure with said passage incluDing a port formed in said cylinder in communication with said sleeve chamber during said compression stroke, said port being connected to said low pressure source; and wherein said means for precluding communication of said low pressure to said passage comprises: means locating said port along said cylinder so that at the end of said compression stroke, the first flange of said sleeve will block said port and isolate said sleeve chamber from said low pressure source thereby to enable the pressure within said sleeve chamber passage and void to build up to that of said first chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
105 words
An actuator as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for developing a pressure in the first chamber for the compression stroke comprises a continuously operable fluid pump for pumping liquid under pressure to said first chamber, said actuator including control means further comprising: pressure relief means in communication with the liquid in said first chamber and adapted to preclude build-up of liquid pressure above that level necessary to move the first flange of said sleeve to a position to block said port; and manually operable valve means connected to said port to close said port and isolate the sleeve chamber from said pressure source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
An actuator as defined in claim 8 wherein said control means further comprises: means for precluding closure of the discharge port from said first chamber to restrict the cycle of operation to a single blow, said means being manually resetable to permit closure of said discharge port.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 7 further comprising control means for operating said actuator automatically and repetitively comprising: fluid pump means connected to said first chamber and being constructed and arranged to alternatively pump fluid into said first chamber to increase the pressure therein and to pump fluid out of said chamber to relieve the pressure therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said pump means is connected to said first chamber by a conduit, said apparatus further comprising: means connecting a reservoir to said conduit; and a one way valve interposed along said means connecting said reservoir to said conduit to permit liquid flow only in a direction from said reservoir to said conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
An actuator as defined in claim 5 wherein said energy storage means comprises; means defining a second chamber at the second end of said member, a compression spring disposed within said second chamber and engageable with the second end of said piston, said spring storing energy in response to movement of said piston and member during said compression stroke.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An actuator as defined in claim 5 wherein said energy storage means comprises: means defining a second chamber at the second end of said cylinder; and a compressible gas filling said second chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
An actuator as defined in claim 13 further comprising: reciprocating compressor means having an inlet in communication with the atmosphere and an outlet in communication with said second chamber; and means connecting said reciprocating compressor means to said piston for movement therewith to maintain the gas within said second chamber at a minimum pressure level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
130 words
An actuator as defined in claim 14 wherein said compressor means comprises: the second end of said piston having an extension slideably received within a compressor bore formed in the second end of said cylinder; an inlet passage formed in the second end of said cylinder and extending between said compressor bore and having an end open to the atmosphere, the inner end of said inlet passage being positioned to be in communication with said compressor bore when said piston and extension are at the end of the stroke thereof toward the first chamber; an outlet conduit connecting the end of said compressor bore and said compression chamber; and check valve means in said outlet passaGe for precluding gas flow in a direction that is away from said second chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
An actuator as defined in claim 15 further comprising: means for varying the volume of said compressor bore.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
An actuator as defined in claim 13 wherein said energy storage means further comprises: a flexible diaphragm mounted within said second chamber and defining first and second portions of said second chamber with the second end of the piston being exposed in the first portion, the second portion of said second chamber being filled with a liquid.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
80 words
An actuator as defined in claim 13 further comprising control means for operating said actuator automatically and repetitively comprising: means for relieving the pressure in said first chamber after said power stroke to a level below that of the gas within the second chamber to move the member downwardly toward the collar and to reseal said member to said collar; and means for thereafter closing said pressure relieving means to enable said pressure to build up within said first chamber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
An actuator as defined in claim 18 wherein said means for applying said advancing force comprises: a continuously operable fluid pump for pumping liquid under pressure into said first chamber; said means for relieving said pressure within said first chamber comprising a discharge port; and valve means for opening and closing said discharge port.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
62 words
An actuator as defined in claim 19 wherein said means for maintaining said pressure differential across said collar from the sealing to first surfaces comprises vent means for communicating at least a portion of the sealing surface of said collar to a source of lower pressure and wherein said control means further comprises: means for manually opening and closing said vent means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein both ends of said piston have the same cross-sectional dimensions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
An actuator as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for applying said advancing force comprises: a continuously operable fluid pump for pumping liquid under pressure into said first chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said pressure relieving and pressure initiating means comprises: a fluid pump means connected to said first chamber and being constructed and arranged to alternatively pump fluid into and out of said first chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |