Conax Florida Corporation

Carlton William Naab

Donald E Nowakowski

Francis M Miller

Paul Schamell

Wayne T Thompson

A contamination-free pyrovalve having first tubing section and a second tubing section. The first and second tubing sections are disposed in spaced-apart relation such that a conveying path between the first and second tubing section is established. An opening is disposed between the first and second tubing sections. A valve body is fixedly attached to the first and second tubing sections. The valve body has a bore. A ram is disposed inside the bore of the valve body. A slug is disposed in the opening between the first tubing section and the second tubing section. The slug is held in position by a frictional fit. A combustion chamber is disposed in operative relation to the ram such that when an explosive material is ignited the pressure inside the chamber causes the ram to move through the bore to strike the slug and to displace it from the opening between the first and second tubing sections such that the valve is opened.

Contamination-free pyrovalve

A water-actuated, pressurized gas release device (10) that automatically actuates to inflate an associated personal flotation device when immersed in an electrically conductive fluid, such as salt or fresh water, is described. The device is comprised of a high strength plastic housing (12) that holds an enclosure tube (62) housing a primer charge (68) in a longitudinal alignment with a piercing pin (44). The primer is connected to a lever (80) and a lead wire (84) that is electrically connected to an electrical circuit means (87) which is in electrical contact with a pair of batteries (118A, 118B). When the device is immersed in water, an electrical circuit is formed between a terminal (122) of the battery pack and the lever and lead wire which serve as an electrical return to the electrical circuit means. This ignites the primer which creates explosive propulsion gases that drive a lance portion (46) of the piercing pin into a puncturable closure member (32) of a gas container (30) to inflate the personal flotation device. A conformal coating prevents the water from short circuiting the electrical circuit means until after the primer has been ignited. The gas container can also be manually punctured by actuating the lever which cams against the enclosure tube which moves against the piercing pin to drive the lance into the puncturable closure.

Water-actuated pressurized gas release device

Water-activated pressurized gas release apparatus which has enhanced protection from the effects of EMI radiation which may inadvertently cause firing thereof. The apparatus is enclosed in a pair of electrically conductive casings to form a Faraday cage. An interface between the casings which may afford an EMI radiation pathway to the circuitry is blocked to the passage of EMI radiation by a portion of one of the casings which overlaps the interface as a skirt. An EMI filter is provided in the passage between the battery bore and a cavity containing electrical circuitry to shunt EMI radiation passing therein through a capacitor to ground.

EMI protected water-activated pressurized gas release apparatus

An expolosively-activated mechanism for releasing a breathing mask from a protective helmet to permit the user to breathe the ambient atmosphere independently of the mask utilizes coacting mechanisms in the form of a bayonet and a bayonet receiver and an explosive charge mounted in the bayonet receiver for explosively separating the bayonet receiver and permitting the bayonet to drop from the helmet upon the occurrence of a predetermined event. The bayonet receiver includes components defining a bayonet-receiving channel which is held in assembled relationship by a plurality of shanked fasteners and a cutting blade interposed between the explosive charge and the shanked fasteners. The cutting blade is adapted to receive the explosive force generated by the explosive charge and sever every shanked fastener of the bayonet receiver upon receipt of the explosive force. The component-holding capacity of the fasteners are thereby destroyed, and the receiver components are permitted to separate from one another and the bayonet is permitted to drop from the receiver. The explosive force of the charge is substantially confined within the bayonet receiver.

Automatic release mechanism for a breathing mask

Apparatus for separating a breathing mask from a helmet automatically upon the occurrence of a predetermined event, the mask having a bayonet connection to a bayonet receiver carried by the helmet. A piston and an explosive cartridge are arranged in an actuator body associated with the bayonet receiver. Upon the occurrence of the predetermined event, as sensed by an activating circuit associated with the receiver, the explosive cartridge generates a shock wave driving the piston against the bayonet in generally right angular relation to the bayonet, thereby forcibly separating the bayonet from the receiver.

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Safety Harbor, FL, United States of America

Carlton William Naab