The Ensign-Bickford Company

Steven L Olson

James E Fritz

Jon E Rydberg

John A Graham

A flat-form separation device (12) is made of two half-section members (22, 22') which are fastened together by a series of fasteners (38) to define therebetween a receiving channel within which an expansion device (40) is received. Aside from the receiving channel and any apertures which are to receive mechanical fasteners, the separation device (12) is solid throughout and free of other channels or cavities. The device (12) includes a pair of joinder flanges formed by mating half-flange segments (28a and 28b), which contain apertures (32 and 34) by which the flat-form separation device (12) may be secured to structures (48, 50) which are to be temporarily joined by the device (12). Because of the cross-sectional profile of the half-section members (22, 22'), they may be made by manufacturing techniques, such as machining, which enable the use of alloys or metals which are much tougher and stronger than those which can be extraded to form prior art hollow-form separation devices (14). Several embodiments of the flat-form separation device (12) are disclosed. Both flat-form separation devices (12) and hollow-form separation devices (14) may be combined in a segmented separation structure (10).

Flat-form separation devices

A manifold (130) is configured to have a body portion (131) having at least one initiation port (132) for receiving an initiation device and at least one tapered boss (138) mounted on the body portion (131). The boss (138) has an elliptical cross-sectional configuration and a boss bore (140) for receiving a fuse or linear explosive charge (16) and it communicates with the initiation port (132). There is a clamp member (160) having an aperture (164) dimensioned and configured to generally conform to the boss (138), and tension means such as a set of bolts (166) for urging the clamp member (160) towards the manifold (130). There may be a bushing material (121) on the boss. The manifold (130) may be coupled to a separation device (23) that includes a frangible joint (24) through which is disposed an expansion member (110). The expansion member (110) may have a containment tube (120) and a linear explosive charge (16) within the tube (120), wherein the tube (120) and the charge (16) protrude from the frangible joint (24). The charge (16) is disposed within the boss bore (140) and the tube is clamped between the boss (138) and the clamp member (160).

Manifold for coupling with a tube and method thereof

A sealing device (30) is provided for sealing the interior of a pressure vessel such as the containment tube (20) of a separation device (8). The sealing device may comprises a detonation manifold (130, 230 or 330) having a body portion (31) having at least one initiation port (32) for receiving a secondary device such as initiation devices (15a, 15b) and at least one mounting boss (138 or 238) having an annular locking channel (162 or 262) along the side surface (138b or 238b) of the mounting boss. A locking collar (150 or 250) having an integral crimping band (158 or 258) which extends along and protrudes from an inner circumferential contact surface (151 or 251) of locking collar (150 or 250).

Growing community of inventors

West Hartford, CT, United States of America

Steven L Olson