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US 5,245,738 AGranted
Method for securing together and non-explosively separating multiple components
AssigneeTiNi Alloy Company
InventorAlfred D. Johnson
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AssigneeTiNi Alloy Company
InventorAlfred D. Johnson
Estimating the term…
A non-explosive separation device for releasably holding together components of equipment or apparatus which are to be separated under controlled conditions. The separation device and method of operation includes a retaining element having a strain concentrated portion which completely cleaves when strained at a predetermined magnitude. Strain is applied to the retaining element by an actuating element which is comprised of a solid state phase change material having a shape memory. The actuating element is deformed to an armed shape at a temperature below the phase-change transition temperature. The device is activated by heating the actuating element through its transition temperature so that it recovers toward its memory shape. The retaining element is strained beyond its ultimate strength so that it cleaves at the strain concentrated portion. One embodiment of the invention provides a method for the non-destructive testing of the integrity and readiness of the separation device as well as a method of calibrating the release point of the device.
A method for securing together and non-explosively separating multiple components of an apparatus comprising the steps of attaching the components together with a retaining element formed with a strain concentrated portion which cleaves when the element is strained at a predetermined magnitude, connecting with the retaining element an actuating element which is comprised of a solid state phase change material having a shape memory which recovers from an armed shape to a memory shape when heated through a phase-change temperature range, deforming the actuating element while at a temperature below said phase-change temperature range to said armed shape at which said retaining element holds the components together, locking the actuating element in said armed shape, and heating the actuating element to a temperature through said phase-change temperature range for causing recovery of the actuating element toward said memory shape and thereby straining the retaining element to said predetermined magnitude to cause said strain concentrated portion to cleave and separate the retaining element into exactly two pieces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.