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US 6,298,767 B1Granted
Undersea control and actuation system
AssigneeDelaware Capital Formation, Inc.
InventorDon B. Porter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for remotely controlling an undersea device. The system employs a gas-pressurized liquid reservoir that can be recharged from at least one replaceable gas bottle. A pressure-regulating valve is employed to control the pressure of the liquid leaving the reservoir. A number of one-shot units, each in the form of a squib-actuated valve coupled with a piston accumulator, are employed to create a hydraulic pilot for a hydraulic direction control valve. The control valve functions to direct pressurized liquid from the reservoir to a hydraulic actuator or other type of hydraulic device.
Claims21
A system for remotely-controlling a device, said system comprising:
- a pressurized fluid reservoir;
- a main control valve operatively connected to said reservoir;
- a hydraulic pilot operatively connected to a source of pressurized fluid and to said main control valve, wherein said hydraulic pilot comprises at least one one-shot unit, wherein said one-shot unit comprises a squib-actuated valve;
- an electrically-powered controller, wherein said controller is operatively connected to a receiver capable of receiving a signal transmitted to said receiver from a remote location, wherein said controller is electrically-connected to a squib that forms a part of said squib-actuated valve;
- and
- a device operatively connected to said main control valve, wherein said device is actuated by a flow of fluid, wherein when said receiver receives a predetermined signal, the controller will cause the detonation of said squib and thereby enable fluid flow through said squib-actuated valve, thereby causing a change in said main control valve that enables fluid to flow from said reservoir to said device and cause a portion of said device to move in a first direction.
3 more elements
A system for remotely-controlling an undersea-located device, said system comprising:
- a pressurized fluid reservoir;
- a main control valve operatively connected to said reservoir;
- a hydraulic pilot operatively connected to a source of pressurized fluid and to said main control valve, wherein said hydraulic pilot comprises a first fluid path and a second fluid path, wherein a first squib-actuated valve is located in said first fluid path and a second squib-actuated valve is located in said second fluid path, wherein said first fluid path connects to said main control valve and can receive pressurized fluid from said source of pressurized fluid, wherein said second fluid path connects to said main control valve and can direct liquid into a fluid sump, wherein when said first and second squib-actuated valves are open, pressurized fluid from said first fluid path can apply pressure in a first direction to a movable portion of said control valve while fluid can be displaced from said control valve and flow into said second fluid path;
- an electrically-powered controller, wherein said controller is operatively connected to a receiver capable of receiving a signal transmitted to said receiver from a remote location, wherein said controller is electrically-connected to a first squib that forms a part of said first squib-actuated valve and to a second squib that forms a part of the second squib-actuated valve;
- and
- a device operatively connected to said main control valve, wherein said device is actuated by a flow of fluid, wherein when said receiver receives a predetermined signal, the controller will cause the detonation of said first and second squibs and thereby open said first and second squib-actuated valves, thereby causing the movable portion of said main control valve to move in a first direction to thereby enable fluid to flow from said reservoir to said device and cause a movable portion of said device to move.
3 more elements
A system for remotely-controlling an undersea-located device, said system comprising:
- a pressurized fluid reservoir;
- a main control valve operatively connected to said reservoir;
- a hydraulic pilot operatively connected to a source of pressurized fluid and to said main control valve, wherein said hydraulic pilot comprises a first fluid path and a second fluid path, wherein each of said fluid paths includes a one-shot unit that comprises a squib-actuated valve and a piston accumulator, wherein said first fluid path connects to said main control valve and can receive pressurized fluid from said source of pressurized fluid, wherein said second fluid path connects to said main control valve and can direct liquid into a fluid sump, wherein when said squib-actuated valves are open, fluid will flow into the piston accumulator in the first fluid path and push a piston of said accumulator a predetermined distance, whereby once said piston has moved said distance, the piston will then stop and no further fluid will be able to flow into said first fluid path, and wherein movement of said piston will cause fluid from said first fluid path to apply pressure in a first direction to a movable portion of said control valve while fluid can be displaced from said control valve and flow into said second fluid path;
- an electrically-powered controller, wherein said controller is operatively connected to a receiver capable of receiving a signal transmitted to said receiver from a remote location, wherein said controller is electrically-connected to a squib in each of said squib-actuated valves;
- and
- a device operatively connected to said main control valve, wherein said device is actuated by a flow of fluid, wherein when said receiver receives a predetermined signal, the controller will cause the detonation of said squibs and thereby open said squib-actuated valves, thereby causing the movable portion of said main control valve to move in a first direction to thereby enable fluid to flow from said reservoir to said device and cause a movable portion of said device to move.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.