Explosively actuated release device for call buoys and the like

Claim 2

An explosively actuated release device, including in combination: a tongue bar, a clevised member embracing the tongue bar on two of its sides, said bar and said member having at least one edge surface of each aligned on substantially a common plane, each said surface having a recess therein, the recesses being aligned, a retaining block having a lower end portion normally in said recesses and holding said tongue bar and said clevised member against relative longitudinal movement, said block having a stepped opening in and extending beyond said lower end portion, said opening having a lower shoulder, means associated with the tongue bar and the clevised member for preventing relative lateral movement and relative rotational movement of the tongue bar and clevised member, a retaining bolt secured to said tongue bar and extending into said opening and having a shear flange resting on said shoulder and having an enlarged head thereabove, a cartridge extending into the end of said stepped opening distal from said lower end portion and sealed to said block and containing an explosive load and an initiator and having a rupturable end in said stepped opening, explosion of said load resulting in rupture of said rupturable end and the building up of gas pressure in said stepped opening, thereby causing said flange to be sheared off and said block to move away from said tongue bar and said clevised member, so that it is fully retracted from said recesses, said enlarged head thereafter engaging said shoulder to stop movement of said block, so that said bolt holds said block to said tongue bar after separation of said tongue.

Claim 3

The release device of claim 1 wherein said means associated with the tongue bar and the clevised member comprises: both said tongue bar and said clevised member having a notched end and a through opening, the notch of said bar being aligned with said through opening of said clevised member when said recessed portions are aligned and the notch of said clevised member then being aligned with said through opening of said tongue bar, and a pin in each said through opening engaging the notch of the other member.

Claim 4

The release device of claim 1 wherein said block has a vent opening perpendicular to said stepped opening lying just above said shoulder and said bolt carries sealing means for sealing against said stepped opening, said sealing means before separation intervening between said vent opening and said cartridge and after separation being positioned adjacent to the vent opening and the shoulder.

Claim 5

An explosively actuated release device, including in combination: a tongue bar having two flat side walls, at least one edge wall perpendicular to said side walls, and at least one end wall perpendicular to said edge wall and to said side walls having a first notch with straight walls leading into said side walls and terminating in a first semicylindrical surface, said bar having a first cylindrical opening therethrough from one side wall to the other, said one edge wall having a first recessed portion axially in between said notch and said first opening and provided with edges leading into said side walls and terminating at a recessed wall from which a locking opening leads down generally parallel to said end wall into said bar, a clevised member having a pair of arms with flat side walls, one lying on each side of said tongue bar and normally in contact with the side walls of said tongue bar and terminating in end walls that have parallel second and third notches with straight walls leading into said side walls and terminating in second and third semicylindrical surfaces, said clevised member's arms having, respectively, second and third aligned cylindrical openings therethrough, each of said arms having an edge wall having, respectively, second and third recessed portions with straight edges terminating at a recessed wall, said first notch being aligned with said second and third aligned cylindrical openings and a first cylindrical pin extending through them, said second and third notches being aligned with said first cylindrical opening and a second cylindrical pin extending through them, said first, second and third recessed portions all being aligned with each other, a retaining block having a lower end filling said first, second, and third recessed portions and thereby holding said tongue bar and clevised member together against separation otherwise possible, said block having a central opening extending therethrough in line with said locking opening, from said recessed wall through a distal end of said block, said central opening being stepped to provide a lower shoulder, a pressure cartridge having a body extending into said block's central opening and sealed to the distal end of said block and containing an explosive load having an initiator, the end of said body in said central opening being rupturable so that when said load is exploded, the gases therefrom enter said central opening of said block, a retaining bolt in said central opening extending into said tongue bar's locking opening and secured there to said tongue bar, said retaining bolt having a shear flange resting on said shoulder and having means retaining an O-ring seal spaced thereabove, explosion of said load causing a great increase in pressure in said central opening, resulting in movement of said block and body relative to said tongue bar, said clevised member, and said retaining bolt, shearing off said shear flange, and said movement stopping when the shoulder of said block's central opening engages said O-ring seal, the movement of said block carrying it completely out of said recessed opening and releasing the connection between said tongue bar and said clevised member enabling them to move apart from each other.

Claim 6

An explosively actuated release device, including in combination: a tongue bar having two flat side walls, at least one edge wall perpendicular to said side walls, and at least one end wall perpendicular to said edge wall and to said side walls having a first notch with straight walls leading into said side walls and terminating in a first semicylindrical surface, said bar having a first cylindrical opening therethrough from one side wall to the other, said one edge wall having a first recessed portion axially in between said notch and said first opening and provided with edges leading into said side walls and terminating at a recessed wall from which a locking opening leads down generally parallel to said end wall into said bar, a clevised member having a pair of arms with flat side walls, one lying on each side of said tongue bar and normally in contact with the side walls of said tongue bar and terminating in end walls that have parallel second and third notches with straight walls leading into said side walls and terminating in second and third semicylindrical surfaces, said clevised member's arms having, respectively, second and third aligned cylindrical openings therethrough, each of said arms having an edge wall having, respectively, second and third recessed portions with straight edges terminating at a recessed wall, said first notch being aligned with said second and third aligned cylindrical openings and a first cylindrical pin extending through them, said second and third notches being aligned with said first cylindrical opening and a second cylindrical pin extending through them, said first, second and third recessed portions all being aligned with each other, a retaining block having a lower end filling said first, second, and third recessed portions and thereby holding said tongue bar and clevised member together against separation otherwise possible, said block having a central opening extending therethrough in line with said locking opening, from said recessed wall through a distal end of said block, said central opening being stepped to provide a lower shoulder, a pressure cartridge having a body extending into said block's central opening and sealed to the distal end of said block and containing an explosive load having an initiator, the end of said body in said central opening being rupturable so that when said load is exploded, the gases therefrom enter said central opening of said block, a retaining bolt in said central opening extending into said tongue bar's locking opening and secured there to said tongue bar, said retaining bolt having a shear flange resting on said shoulder and having means retaining an O-ring seal spaced thereabove, explosion of said load causing a great increase in pressure in said central opening, resulting in movement of said block and body relative to said tongue bar, said clevised member, and said retaining bolt, shearing off said shear flange, and said movement stopping when the shoulder of said block's central opening engages said O-ring seal, the movement of said block carrying it completely out of said recessed opening and releasing the connection between said tongue bar and said clevised member enabling them to move apart from each other.

Claim 7

An explosively actuated release device, including in combination: a first connection member having means for attachment to a primary body, a second connection member having means for attachment to a secondary body which is eventually to be removed from proximity to the primary body, means providing a separating force urging said primary and secondary bodies apart, at least in the vicinity of the primary body, said first and second connection members being aligned and longitudinally overlapped through part of their lengths, in side-by-side relationship, and located in between the primary and secondary bodies, means associated with the first and second connection members for preventing relative lateral movement of the two members, and for preventing relative rotational movement of the two members, a retaining block positioned at corresponding adjacent outer edges of the two connection members, and means associated with the retaining block and with said adjacent outer edges for interengaging the block with both edges to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the two connection members, means normally holding the retaining block in the interengaged position, explosively actuated means for driving the retaining block outwardly away from the connection member edges when separation of the primary and secondary bodies is desired, to thereby separate the interengaging means by moving the retaining block to a disengaged position, and means connecting the retaining block, when disengaged, to one of the connection members.

Claim 8

An explosively actuated release device, including in combination: a first connection member having means for attachment to a primary body, a second connection member having means for attachment to a secondary body which is eventually to be removed from proximity to the primary body, means providing a separating force urging said primary and secondary bodies apart, at least in the vicinity of the primary body, said first and second connection members being aligned and longitudinally overlapped through part of their lengths, in side-by-side relationship, and located in between the primary and secondary bodies, means associated with the first and second connection members for preventing relative lateral movement of the two members, and for preventing relative rotational movement of the two members, a retaining block positioned at corresponding adjacent outer edges of the two connection members, and means associated with the retaining block and with said adjacent outer edges for interengaging the block with both edges to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the two connection members, means normally holding the retaining block in the interengaged position, explosively actuated means for driving the retaining block outwardly away from the connection member edges when separation of the primary and secondary bodies is desired, to thereby separate the interengaging means by moving the retaining block to a disengaged position, and means connecting the retaining block, when disengaged, to one of the connection members.

Claim 9

The release device of claim 5 wherein the interengaging means comprises aligned recesses in said corresponding outer edges of the connecting members, and a complementarily shaped end portion on the retaining block, normally held in the aligned recesses to prevent the separation of the members.

Claim 10

The release device of claim 5 wherein the means connecting the retaining block includes a bolt affixed to and extending perpendicularly from said one connection member, and a longitudinal bore extending into the retaining block from the end having the interengaging means, including a shoulder and a larger diameter portion spaced from said end, said bolt extending into the bore and being slidable with respect thereto and including a head within the large diameter portion normally spaced from the shoulder, whereby upon actuation of said explosively actuated means, the bolt head interacts with the bore shoulder to limit movement of the retaining block away from said one connection member.

Claim 11

The release device of claim 7 wherein said means normally holding the retaining block comprises a shear flange normally affixed to the bolt within said larger diameter portion of the bore, adjacent to and in engagement with the bore shoulder, said shear flange being frangible upon actuation of the explosively actuated means.

Claim 12

The release device of claim 7 wherein said explosively actuated means comprises means adjacent to the bolt head sealing the end of the bolt against said larger diameter portion of the bore, a bleed hole connecting the larger diameter portion with the exterior of the retaining block at a position adjacent to the shoulder, and an explosive cartridge assembly at the outer end of the retaining block and having a rupturable end adjacent to the outer end of said bore, whereby an expansible chamber is formed between the cartridge assembly and the bolt head, operable to drive the retaining block outwardly with respect to the bolt head into its disengaged position when the explosive cartridge assembly is actuated to fracture said rupturable end and build up gas pressure in the expansible chamber.

Claim 13

The release device of claim 9 wherein said sealing means comprises an O-ring seated on the bolt adjacent to the head and in engagement with the larger diameter portion of the bore.