Electrically-activated pressure vessels for fracturing frangible structures
AssigneePalo Alto Research Center Incorporated
InventorsChristopher L. Chua, Norine Chang, Erica Ronchetto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus includes a pressure device bonded to the surface of a structure at a bonding location. The vessel comprises an interior space within the vessel and a bonding surface. A bonding agent bonds the bonding surface of the vessel to a surface of the structure. A gas-emitting material is disposed within the interior space of the vessel and an initiator is arranged to activate the gas-emitting material. Upon activation of the gas-emitting material by the initiator, the pressure device produces a localized force that breaks the structure.
Claims38
An apparatus comprising:
- a structure;
- a pressure device comprising:
- a vessel bonded to a surface of the structure at a bonding location, the vessel having an interior space within the vessel and a bonding surface;
- a gas-emitting material disposed within the interior space;
- and
- an initiator arranged to activate the gas-emitting material;
- and
- a bonding agent that bonds the bonding surface of the vessel to a surface of the structure, wherein upon activation of the gas-emitting material by the initiator, the pressure device is configured to produce a localized force that breaks the structure.
A pressure device comprising:
- a vessel having an interior space and a bonding surface configured to provide for bonding of the vessel to a surface of a structure;
- a gas-emitting material disposed within the space;
- and
- an initiator arranged to activate the gas-emitting material, wherein when bonded to the structure, the pressure device is configured to produce a localized force that breaks the structure in response to activation of the gas-emitting material by the initiator.
A method comprising:
- bonding a pressure device to a bonding location on a surface of a structure, the pressure device comprising:
- a vessel including an interior space and a bonding surface
- a gas-emitting material disposed within the interior space;
- and
- an initiator arranged to activate the gas-emitting material;
- energizing the initiator;
- and
- activating the gas-emitting material in response to energizing the initiator, activation of the gas-emitting material producing a localized force that causes the structure to break.
A method of fabricating an apparatus, comprising:
- arranging an initiator in proximity to the gas-emitting material;
- filling an interior space of a vessel with a gas-emitting material;
- bonding the vessel having the gas-emitting material and initiator disposed within the interior space to a surface of a structure with a bonding force sufficient to withstand pressure generated in response to activation of the gas-emitting material by the initiator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.