Variable pressure washer
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsStanley S. Smeltzer, III, Hector Estrada
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable pressure washer has two interlocking channel rings separated by a channel and retained by a captive set of fasteners. Within the channel between the rings are multiple rows of springs having at least two different spring moduli. The washer is particularly suited for use with a polar boss assembly secured to a bulkhead of a pressure vessel such as of propellent tank dome structure where the washer allows for the substantially uniform deflection of multiple O-rings as affected by the curved structure.
Claims19
A variable pressure washer comprising:
- first and second rings separated by a channel, each of said first and second rings having an inner and an outer radius;
- and
- first and second variable stiffness, deformable members located in the channel between the first and second rings, said first member having a lower spring moduli than the second member.
A washer adapted to transfer a uniform load from a first surface to a linearly varying load on a second surface, said washer comprising:
- first and second rings separated by a channel, said first and second rings having an inner and an outer radius;
- and
- first and second springs located in the channel, said second spring having a greater spring stiffness than the first spring, said first spring located closer to the inner radius of the first ring than the second ring.
A polar boss assembly comprising a first clamping
- surface connected to a shaft;
- a movable clamping surface operably connected to the shaft for movement towards and away from the first clamping surface;
- and
- a variable pressure washer comprising first and second rings separated by a channel, said first and second rings having an inner and an outer radius;
- and
- first and second springs located in the channel, said first spring having a greater spring modulus than the second spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.