Dual-alloy pyrotechnic-actuated valve assembly
AssigneeGE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC
InventorJoel Patrick Melito
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pyrotechnic-actuated valve assembly may include an insert body having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet. The insert body is formed of a first alloy. A shear structure is bonded to the outlet of the insert body so as to close the flow path. The shear structure is formed of a second alloy. The second alloy of the shear structure is bonded to the first alloy of the insert body so as to form a hermetic seal. The dual-alloy nature of the valve assembly allows a relatively clean shearing of the shear structure during actuation, thus reducing or preventing the occurrence of deformation and/or material fragments in the flow path.
Claims18
A pyrotechnic-actuated valve assembly, comprising:
- an insert body having an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet, the insert body formed of a first alloy;
- and
- a shear structure bonded to the outlet of the insert body so as to close the flow path, the shear structure formed of a second alloy, the second alloy of the shear structure being bonded to the first alloy of the insert body so as to form a hermetic seal along a grain boundary between the shear structure and the insert body, the grain boundary configured to be a fracture interface during an actuation of the pyrotechnic-actuated valve assembly.
A method of fabricating a pyrotechnic-actuated valve assembly, comprising:
- forming an insert body of a first alloy so as to have an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet;
- forming a shear structure of a second alloy;
- and
- bonding the shear structure to the outlet of the insert body so as to close the flow path, the second alloy of the shear structure being bonded to the first alloy of the insert body so as to form a hermetic seal along a grain boundary between the shear structure and the insert body, the grain boundary configured to be a fracture interface during an actuation of the pyrotechnic-actuated valve assembly.
A method of actuating a valve assembly, comprising:
- triggering a pyrotechnic device in response to a control signal;
- and
- striking a shear structure that is bonded to an outlet of an insert body so as to displace the shear structure along a grain boundary between the shear structure and the insert body to open a flow path within the insert body without deforming the insert body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.