Pressure vessel with rupturable closure wall
AssigneeTRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
InventorPaul T. Saccone
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure vessel (10) includes a tank (12) and a closure structure (14) with a breakaway part (90) exposed to fluid pressure in the tank (12). The breakaway part (90) is severable from the closure structure (14) for movement outward from the tank (12) under the influence of elevated fluid pressure. The pressure vessel (10) further includes a probe (144) which moves forcefully against and through the closure structure (14) to puncture a hole (210) through the breakaway part (90). The probe (144) guides the breakaway part (90) to move outward from the tank (12) telescopically over the probe (144) under the influence of the elevated fluid pressure.
Claims11
Apparatus comprising:
- a tank;
- a closure structure with a breakaway part exposed to fluid pressure in said tank, said breakaway part being severable from said closure structure for movement outward from said tank under the influence of elevated fluid pressure;
- and
- a probe which is movable forcefully against and through said closure structure so as to puncture a hole through said breakaway part, said probe comprising means for guiding said breakaway part to move outward from said tank telescopically over said probe under the influence of said elevated fluid pressure.
Apparatus comprising:
- a tank containing combustible fluid under pressure;
- an outlet structure defining a conduit for directing fluid outward from said tank;
- a closure structure with a rupturable part and a breakaway part exposed to said pressure, said breakaway part being severable from said rupturable part and movable into said conduit under the influence of elevated fluid pressure;
- and
- an initiator assembly comprising an elongated probe and ignitable material which, when ignited, provides combustion products which propel said probe forcefully against and through said closure structure so as to puncture a hole through said breakaway part, said probe having an internal passage through which said combustion products are movable into said tank to ignite said combustible fluid;
- said probe comprising means for supporting said breakaway part for sliding movement into said conduit telescopically over said probe under the influence of said elevated fluid pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.