Explosively-separable fastener with umbilical cord cutter
OwnerJerry L. Gibbsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An explosively-separable fastener that consists of two units held together in spring-loaded fashion by a hollow retaining bolt and adapted for mounting between two joined stages of a rocket. The rocket stages are connected by means of electrical contacts between the units and an umbilical line passed through the retaining bolt. An explosively-actuated cutter operable to sever the retaining bolt and the umbilical line threaded therethrough is mounted on a chamber disposed transversely to the retaining bolt. Upon actuation of the cutter, the hollow bolt and the umbilical line are severed releasing the spring-loaded assembly, thus also interrupting all electrical contacts between the two rocket stages.
Claims19
An explosively-separable fastener for providing a severable electrical connection and for housing a severable umbilical line between rocket stages, comprising:
- (a) lower compression means slideably mounted within a lower support frame;
- (b) spring means for urging said lower compression means downward within said lower support frame;
- (c) upper compression means disposed above said lower support frame in vertical alignment with said lower compression means;
- (d) separable electrical-connector means for providing electrical connection between said rocket stages, said electrical connector means being adapted to provide electrical connection upon mechanical contact of separable parts electrically connected to said rocket stages and being adapted to interrupt said electrical connection upon separation of said parts;
- (e) clamping means for securely sandwiching said separable electrical-connector means between said upper and lower compression means such that said separable parts are in mechanical contact, said lower compression means having been slideably lifted against said spring means in the lower support frame and retained in spring-loaded fashion by said clamping means, and said clamping means containing a hollow passage for housing an umbilical line running between said rocket stages;
- and
- (f) explosively-actuated cutting means adapted to be operable on said the clamping means and responsive to an actuating signal for severing said clamping means and said umbilical line, thereby releasing said spring-loaded lower compression means and separating said parts in mechanical contact in said electrical connector means, thus interrupting the electrical connection between said rocket stages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.