Parachute line cutting device
AssigneeStresau Laboratory, Inc.
InventorJeffery R. Norton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An explosive line cutting device is provided with a frictional igniter assembly permitting actuation throughout a broad range of positional attitudes. An insulating sleeve is provided around a pyrotechnic delay charge which substantially reduces deviations of the burning time. Explosive forces are concentrated behind the cutting blade by introducing a flow restriction that impedes release of pressure energy to non-useful parts of the device.
Claims18
A line severing device operable to cut a line of indefinite length into at least two shorter portions, comprising:
- a housing containing a movable blade and an anvil spaced therefrom by a distance preselected to accommodate a line to be severed;
- pyrotechnic means contained in the housing positioned at an end of the blade remote from the anvil and having an output charge operable to generate an explosive force to drive the blade toward the anvil;
- and
- an igniter contained in the housing comprising a flexible sear element, an igniter charge and a flexible seal, said sear element being withdrawable through said igniter charge and said flexible seal, said igniter charge being ignited by friction between said charge and said sear element, said flexible seal environmentally sealing said housing before and after said sear element is withdrawn, said igniter being operable to ignite the pyrotechnic means when the flexible sear element is withdrawn.
A line severing device operable to cut a line of indefinite length into at least two shorter positions, comprising:
- a housing containing a movable blade and an anvil spaced therefrom by a distance preselected to accommodate a line to be severed;
- pyrotechnic means contained in the housing at an end of the blade remote from the anvil, having an output charge and a delay charge and being operable to generate an explosive force to drive the blade toward the anvil;
- ignition means contained in the housing and operable to ignite the pyrotechnic means;
- and
- means for creating an insulating means around the delay charge to impede heat transfer from the exothermic reaction as the delay charge burns.
A method of severing a line which passes through a housing comprising the steps of:
- frictionally igniting an ignition charge to generate hot gases within the housing;
- allowing the hot gases to ignite a starter charge spaced from the ignition charge;
- delaying detonation of an explosive charge by burning a delay charge between the starter charge and the explosive charge;
- insulating the delay charge to impede heat transfer away from that charge;
- and
- detonating the explosive charge to drive a knife toward an anvil with the line to be severed therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.