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US 8,616,131 B2Granted
Rupturing devices
AssigneeQinetiq Limited
InventorsAbdul-Salam Kaddour, John Cook
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AssigneeQinetiq Limited
InventorsAbdul-Salam Kaddour, John Cook
Estimating the term…
The invention provides rupturing devices for mitigating the explosive reaction of a casing (121), hollow tubular body or container, particularly a munition, when it is subject to an external thermal hazard threat. The devices are based on the use of shape memory alloys. The device comprises an element of shape memory alloy (123) which is joined together by a connector (122) to form an annulus, which may be located on an exterior surface of a munitions casing (121) or launch such that upon heating through its transition temperature range will cause the annulus to contract radially inwardly, thereby rupturing the munition (121), allowing any build up of pressure to be released quickly. Advantageously, the connector (122) is. reversible such that the device will be capable of being retro-fitted or removed during normal servicing of the munition (121).
Equipment comprising a casing, hollow tubular body or container and a rupturing device suitable for rupturing the casing, hollow tubular body or container, the rupturing device comprising at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) element which is connectable by at least one connector to form an annulus, wherein said shape memory alloy has been subjected to a combination of mechanical and thermal treatments and has a selected composition such that upon subsequent heating, in use, to a predetermined temperature, said annulus contracts along its length to provide a rupturing function, wherein the device is mounted around a periphery of said casing, hollow tubular body or container, and is connected to form said annulus and is adapted such that upon subsequent heating, in use, said annulus contracts inwardly to rupture said casing, hollow tubular body or container, wherein the SMA element is itself a loop or coil of a plurality of shape memory alloy wire windings having two loop ends, which are connectable by said connector disposed between the two loop ends.
A rupturing device suitable for rupturing a casing, hollow tubular body or container, comprising at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) element which is connectable by at least one connector to form an annulus, wherein said shape memory alloy has been subjected to a combination of mechanical and thermal treatments and has a resulting composition such that upon subsequent heating, in use, to a predetermined temperature, said annulus contracts a predetermined amount along its length to provide a rupturing function, wherein the SMA element is itself a loop or coil of a plurality of shape memory alloy wire windings having two loop ends, which are connectable by said connector disposed between the two loop ends.
A rupturing device suitable for rupturing a casing, hollow tubular body or container, comprising at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) element which is connectable by at least one connector to form an annulus, wherein said shape memory alloy has been subjected to a combination of mechanical and thermal treatments and has a resulting composition such that upon subsequent heating, in use, to a predetermined temperature, said annulus contracts a predetermined amount along its length to provide a rupturing function, wherein there are at least two respective SMA elements which are connectable by a single elongate connector at two respective spaced positions along said connector's length to form two respective annuli spaced from one another.
Equipment comprising a casing, hollow tubular body or container and a rupturing device suitable for rupturing the casing, hollow tubular body or container, the rupturing device comprising at least one shape memory alloy (SMA) element which is connectable by at least one connector to form an annulus, wherein said shape memory alloy has been subjected to a combination of mechanical and thermal treatments and has a selected composition such that upon subsequent heating, in use, to a predetermined temperature, said annulus contracts along its length to provide a rupturing function, wherein the device is mounted around a periphery of said casing, hollow tubular body or container, and is connected to form said annulus and is adapted such that upon subsequent heating, in use, said annulus contracts inwardly to rupture said casing, hollow tubular body or container, wherein there are at least two respective SMA elements which are connectable by a single elongate connector at two respective spaced positions along said connector's length to form two respective annuli spaced from one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.