Release Apparatus and Method Of Manufacturing A Release Apparatus

A release apparatus configured to releasably interconnect two separate tethers and withstand hundreds of thousands of pounds of tension, the apparatus comprising:

• a first mating section;
• and
• a second mating section configured to be releasably secured with the first mating section while the first mating section is in a first state and to disengage from the first mating section when the first mating section is in a second state allowing the first mating section to separate from the second mating section;
• wherein the first mating section comprises a housing and multiple locking shoes movably secured with the housing such that each locking shoe is configured to move at least between a lock position when the first mating section is in the first state and a disengage position when the first mating section is in the second state;
• wherein each of the multiple locking shoes comprises a locking surface;
• wherein the second mating section comprises one or more engagement surfaces each configured to be in contact, when the first mating section and the second mating section are coupled together while the first mating section is in the first state, with the locking surface of at least one of the multiple locking shoes such that each locking surface of each of the locking shoes is in contact with at least one of the one or more engagement surfaces, such that when the first mating section is in the first state the contact between the one or more engagement surfaces of the second mating section and the locking surfaces of the multiple locking shoes secures the first mating section with the second mating section and maintains a relative positioning of the first mating section with the second mating section and withstands opposing separation forces in excess of hundreds of thousands of pounds;
• wherein tonic portions of the locking surface proximate opposing sides of each of the multiple locking shoes comprise tonic geometries.

A method of manufacturing a release mechanism, comprising:

• carburizing a plurality of locking shoes configured to be positioned within a release mechanism intended for use in temperatures that are below 5° C. and cooperatively implemented to withstand forces of at least several hundred thousand pounds, wherein the carburizing comprises exposing the plurality of locking shoes to a carbon-bearing atmosphere and heat treating the plurality of locking shoes while exposed to the carbon-bearing atmosphere;
• austenitizing the plurality of locking shoes at a temperature of greater than 1400° F. following the carburizing;
• performing a first tempering the plurality of locking shoes at a first tempering temperature;
• performing a second tempering of the plurality of locking shoes at a second tempering temperature that is different than the first tempering temperature;
• and
• flame hardening one or more surfaces of each of the plurality of locking shoes.

A release apparatus, comprising:

• a body comprising a first mating section and a second mating section with the first mating section being connected to a first tether and the second mating section being connected to a separate second tether so that separation of the first mating section from the second mating section separates the first and second tethers;
• and
• a plurality of movable locking shoes secured with the first mating section and movable between a first position configured to lock the first mating section and the second mating section together and a second position configured to allow the first mating section and the second mating section to disconnect;
• wherein each of the plurality of locking shoes comprises a locking surface configured to contact an engagement surface of the second mating section and maintain a position of the first mating section with the second mating section when the plurality of locking shoes are in the first position, and wherein the locking surface of each of the plurality of locking shoes is formed at a contact angle between about 18 degrees and 24 degrees from a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the release apparatus.

A release apparatus, comprising:

• a body having a first mating section and a second mating section with each of the first and second mating sections being connected to one of two separate tethers so that separation of the first mating section from the second mating section separates the two separate tethers;
• the first mating section comprising a plurality of movable locking shoes movable between a locked position configured to lock the first mating section with the second mating section while withstanding opposing forces that exceed one hundred thousand pounds and a release position configured to allow the first mating section and the second mating section to disconnect;
• and
• a hydraulic system configured to induce a force in response to a release command to cause movement of the locking shoes between the locked position and the release position, wherein the hydraulic system comprises:
• a hydraulic fluid source;
• a hydraulic conduit coupled with the hydraulic fluid source;
• a hydraulic cylinder coupled with the hydraulic conduit and configured to receive hydraulic fluid;
• and
• a bypass valve coupled upstream along the hydraulic conduit from the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the bypass valve is configured to transition between an open state and a closed state in response to pressure within the hydraulic conduit exceeding a hydraulic threshold and to allow leaked hydraulic fluid to be drained from the conduit while the bypass valve is in the open state.

A method of releasably securing two tethers each extending to different objects, the method comprising:

• maintaining a bypass valve of a hydraulic system of a release apparatus in an open state;
• drawing leaked hydraulic fluid leaked within the hydraulic system through the bypass valve to drain the hydraulic fluid from a conduit with which the bypass valve couples while the bypass valve is in the open state such that pressure within a hydraulic cylinder coupled with the conduit does not exceed a cylinder pressure threshold that is configured to cause movement of one or more of a plurality of locking shoes of the release apparatus from a locked position to a released position allowing a separation of a first mating section of the release apparatus from a second mating section of the release apparatus, wherein each of the first and second mating sections are connected to one of two separate tethers so that separation of the first mating section from the second mating section separates the two separate tethers, wherein the locking shoes when in the locked position maintain a position of the first mating section with the second mating section while withstanding opposing forces that exceed one hundred thousand pounds;
• activating one or more release valves in response to a release command to release hydraulic fluid under pressure into the conduit to flow into the hydraulic cylinder;
• and
• closing the bypass valve in response to a pressure within the conduit exceeding a hydraulic threshold in response the release of the hydraulic fluid into the conduit, wherein the closing the bypass valve prevents subsequent hydraulic fluid from exiting through the bypass valve.