US3027903A - Explosively actuated valves - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1962 J, THORP, JR 3,027,903

EXPLOSIVELY ACTUATED VALVES Filed Oct. 51, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 43 23 38 22 33 25 3O 24 I 2 IO ll w I 9 36 I 4O 39 32 34 3l IB IQ 24' 26 20 27/16 4 5 6 INVENTO JAMES T. THORP, JR.

ATT'Y.

FIG. 3

April 3, 1962 J. T. THORP, JR 3,027,903

EXPLOSIVELY ACTUATED VALVES Filed Oct. 31, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAMES T. THORR JR.

ATT Y.

FIG.

April 3, 1962 J. T. THORP, JR 3,027,903

EXPLOSIVELYACTUATED VALVES Filed Oct. 31, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet :s

76 FIG. 9 63 INVENTOR.

68 JAMES T. THORP,JR. 48 /5a BY FIG.H

ATT Y.

3,tl27,9il3 EXPLQSKVELY ACTUATED VALVES James T. Tharp, lax, Webster Groves, Mo, assignor to Universal Match Corporation, St. Louis (Dounty, Mo, a corporation of Delaware Filed Get. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 771,649 Claims. (Cl. 137-68) This invention relates in general to valves and, more particularly, to valves of the explosively actuated type.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a one-time operating, normally closed valve which can be explosively actuated to permit opening thereof.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an explosively actuated valve of the type stated in which the valve is positively locked and retained in the open position once said valve has been opened. I

it is a further object of the present invention to provide an explosively actuated valve of the type stated including inlet and outlet ports separated by a diaphragm which is integral with the valve body and, therefore, guarantees against leakage of fluid between the two ports prior to opening of the valve.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a valve of the type stated embodying an explosively actuated diaphragm cutter which shears the diaphragm and traps the latter in such a position that it can never interfere with the flow of fluid through the valve.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an explosively actuated valve of the type stated which prevents leakage of fluid or contamination of the fluid by the gaseous products of combustion resulting from ignition of the explosive cartridge therein.

it is still another object of the present invention to provide an explosively actuated valve of the type stated having an explosive cartridge which is fully potted within the valve opener so that there is no volume or head space between the cartridge and opener, thereby insuring rapid pressure buildup and reliable operation when the cartridge is fired.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

in the accompanying drawings MG. 1 is a perspective view of an explosively actuated valve constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

MG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and showing the valve just after the cartridge has been ignited;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 and showing the valve in its opened position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional View taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and showing a modified form of an explosively actuated valve;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and showing still another modified form of explosively actuated valves;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 7 and showing the valve of FIG. 7 just after the cartridge has been ignited;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and showing still another modified form of explosively actuated valve;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 9 and showing the valve of FIG. 9 in the opened position; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 are fragmentary sectional views taken along lines 11-11 and 1212, respectively, of FIG. 10.

Referring now in more'detail and by reference charac- 3,927,993 Patented Apr. 3, 1962 ters to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodi ments of the present invention, A designates an explosively actuate-d valve comprising an elongated rectilinear valve body 1 provided with an axially extending cylindrical bore 2 which terminates at one end in a thin walled diaphragm 3 integrally connected at its outer periphery to the valve body 1. Also formed in the valve body 1, coaxial with the bore 2 and separated therefrom by the diaphragm 3, is a cavity 4 which terminates in a diametrally enlarged coaxial end hole 5, the latter being suitably provided with threads 6. Threaded into the end hole 5 is a closure plug 7 which is provided on its inner end with an integrally formed frusto-conical abutment or anvil 3 having a flat surface 9 disposed in slightly spaced relation to the cavity 4. The end hole 5 is also provided with a counterbore 10 for receiving a lead sealing ring 11 so as to provide a high-pressure fluid seal between the end plug 7 and end hole 5. Integrally formed on, and projecting outwardly from, one surface of the valve body 1 is a boss 12 having a central passageway 13 which communicates with the cavity 4, and, at its upper end, the passageway 13 is provided with threads 14 for suitably receiving a fluid inlet line (not shown). Also integrally formed on the valve body 1 and extending at right angles to the boss 12 is-an outlet boss 15 having a passageway 16 which communicates with the central bore 2 and is also provided at its outer end with threads 17 for suitably receiving a discharge line (not shown).

The central bore 2 is provided with a threaded end 18 which terminates at its inner end in a conically tapered clearance portion 19, the latter, in turn, merging with a cylindrical wall section 20. Mounted in the threaded end 18 is a valve opener or ram 21 integrally including a nut 22 and a threaded extension 23 projecting axially therefrom. Adjacent the nut 22, the valve body 1 is chamfered for receiving a lead sealing ring s which forms a fluid tight seal between the opener 21 and valve body 1. The ram 21 also integrally includes a piston member 24 disposed within the cylindrical wall section 20, and a thin walled zone of weakness 24' formed with a peripheral groove 25, the latter lying within the tapered clearance portion 19. At its forward end, the piston member 24 is integrally provided with a diametrally reduced forwardly extending rod 26 which terminates in an integrally formed diaphragm cutter 27 provided with a cylindrical surface 28 which snugly, but slida'bly, fits Within the cylindrical Wall portion 20. The diaphragm cutter 27 is, furthermore, provided with a plurality of converging annularly disposed somewhat triangularly shaped prongs 29, the ends of which are located in spaced relation to the diaphragm 3 when the valve A is in the closed position.

Internally thereof, the ram 21 is provided with a cartridge chamber 30 for receiving an explosive cartridge 31 which is potted in place by a suitable sealing compound 32. Soldered to the terminals 33, 34, of the cartridge 31 are lead wires 35, 36, which are suitably insulated and encased in a plastic cover 37. Encircling the wires 35, 3d, and disposed against a shoulder 38 within the cartridge chamber 30 is a washer 39, which also covers the potting compound 32. Similarly disposed over the wires 35, 36, adjacent the washer 39 is a clamping sleeve 49, and disposed around the plastic cover 37 in spaced relation to the sleeve 40 is a second clamping sleeve 41. Also disposed over the plastic cover 37 between the sleeve 40, 41, is a rubber bushing 42, and threaded onto the extension 23 is a cable clamp 43. In connection with the present invention, it should be noted that the potting compound 32 completely surrounds the cartridge 31 and also fills up the cartridge chamber 30, thereby eliminating any free volume or head space .between the cartridge 31 and ram 21. Furthermore, the potting compound 32 protects the soldered connections between the terminals 33, 34, and wires 35, 36, against deterioration due to moisture or other corrosive elements.

In use, suitable conduits (not shown) may be connected to the inlet and outlet bosses 12, 1.5, respectively. The cavity 4 and passageway 13 will become filled with the fluid, but the presence of the diaphragm 3 will prevent the fluid from flowing through the passageway 16. When it is desired to open the valve A, current is supplied to the cartridge 31 through the wires 35, 36, and, upon explosion of the cartridge 31, the zone of weakness 24' will rupture at the groove 25 and form a flared piston skirt 44 which will expand into contact with the wall of the tapered portion 19. The resulting pressure created by the explosion of the cartridge 31 then drives the piston member 24 and its associated diaphragm cutter 27 to the position shown in FIG. 4, so as to shear a clean chipfree hole through the diaphragm 3 and seat the slug i5 so removed against the anvil 8, whereupon fluid can flow from the inlet bore 13 outwardly through the outlet bore 16. The clearance spaced formed by the tapered portion 19 allows expansion of the piston skirt 44, and, as the piston 24 and associated cutter 27 move toward the diaphragm 3, the piston skirt 44- is radially constricted and thus forms a highly etficient metal-to-metal seal against the cylindrical wall portion 2%. This seal is maintained after the diaphragm 3 has been punched, as shown in FIG. 4, with the result that fiuid will not escape past the piston member 24 and cause leakage in the valve A.

The sheared slug 45 seats against the anvil 3 while, at the same time, the cutter prongs 29 spread or flare outwardly into tight fitting frictional contact with the end hole 5 and firmly lock the slug 45 in position against the anvil 8. Since the slug 4d is sheared in one piece, there are no loose fragments to contaminate the stream of fluid passing through the valve A. Furthermore, the slug 45 is grimly gripped by the cutter 27 and is, therefore, prevented from twisting or turning before it is seated against the anvil 8. Moreover, when the slug 45 is seated against the anvil 8, the frictional engagement of the cutter prongs 29 with the walls of the hole 5 is sufiiciently tight so that there is no danger of the slug 45 becoming dislodged from its position of confinement between the cuter prongs 29 and anvil 8. It should also be noted that since the cutter prongs 2-9 taper inwardly the cylindrical portion 28 will actually size the hole formed by removal of the slug 45 to a reasonably smooth finish, thereby further precluding the possibility of metallic fragments entering the stream of fluid flowing through the valve A.

it is also possible to provide a modified form of valve A as shown in FIG. 6, which is similar in construction and operation to the valve A, previously described, except that the clearance space for expansion and formation of the piston skirt 44 is formed by a diverging tapered portion 46 and a converging tapered portion 47 in the bore 2. Furthermore, the annular groove 25 is located in approximate longitudinal alignment with the insersec tion of the tapered portions 46, 4-7, with the result that a slightly greater clearance space for expansion of the skirt 44 is formed as compared to the clearance space in the valve A.

It is also possible to provide another modified form of explosively actuated valve A as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, which is also similar in construction and operation to the valve A, previously described. However, in this form of the invention, the tapered portion 19 is eliminated and the cylinder member 23 is diametrally smaller than the cylindrical wall section of the bore 2, so that there is a clearance space therebetween. Consequently, when the cartridge 31 is fired, the zone of weakness ruptures at the groove and the piston skirt 44' is urged into contact with the bore 2 to form a metal-to-metal seal therebetween.

It is also possible to provide a further modified form of explosively actuated valve A as shown in FlGS. 9-l2,

which comprises a valve body 48 having a central bore 49 terminating at one end in a tapered shoulder 5%. Integrally formed on the valve body and projecting outwardly from one surface thereof is an outlet boss 51 provided with a threaded passageway 52 which is adapted to receive an outlet conduit (not shown) and forms an extension of a chamber 53, the latter being at right angles to, and communicating with, the central bore 49. Coaxial with the bore 49, the chamber 53 is cut away in the provision of a guide portion 54, and extending across the chamber 5'3 adjacent the guide portion 5- is a thin walled diaphragm 55. Formed on the valve body 48 is a forwardly extending inlet boss 56 having a passageway 5'7 which is of slightly larger diameter than the guide portion 5 and is separated therefrom by means of the diaphragm 55. The passageway 5'7 is also provided with threads 58 for suitably receiving an inlet conduit (not shown).

Threaded into the end of the bore 49 is a valve opener or ram 5? integrally including a nut 2-2 and threaded extension 23', each similar to the corresponding elements in the valve A previously described. Formed in the ram 59 is an annular ii-groove 60, and adjacent the groove 64) the ram 5'9 integrally includes a piston member 61 integrally including a cylindrical collar 62, the latter contacting the Walls of the bore 49. Spaced forwardly from the collar 62. the piston member 61 is formed with an annular shoulder 63 which is shaped to wedge into fluidtight metal-to-rnetal contact with the shoulder 5% when the valve A is opened as will be presently more fully described. Integral with and projecting forwardly from the piston member 1 is a cutter 64 which is provided with two pairs of holes 65, 66, 6'7, 68, the respective pairs of holes being at right angles to each other. As seen by reference to FIG. 9, the cutter 64 projects into, and extends across, the chamber 53 and terminates at its forward and within the guide portion 54. Provided on the cutter is a U-shaped forwardly and downwardly presented cutting edge 69 which includes spaced parallel longitudinally extending edge portions iii, 71, which lie in upwardly spaced relation to the lowermost point of the diaphrgam 55.

Formed in the ram 59 is a cartridge chamber 72 for suitably receiving a cartridge 73 having lead wires 74, 75, soldered thereto, and the cartridge 73 is surrounded by a potting compound '76, all similar to the corresponding elements in the valve A previously described. Similarly, a cable clamp 77 is threaded onto the extension 23, and disposed over the wires 74, 75, is a plastic cover 78, a washer 79, clamping sleeves so, 81, and a rubber bushing 82, all similar to, and for the same purpose as, the corresponding parts in the valve A previously described.

In using the valve A a suitable current is applied to the wires 74, 75, so as to fire the cartridge 73, the explosion of which causes the opener 59 to break at the V-groove 60, allowing the resulting pressure created by the exploding cartridge 73 to force the piston member at and associated cutter 64 along the bore 49 from the position shown in FIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 10. As the shoulder 63 strikes the shoulder 59, the shoulder 63 will become wedged into fluid-tight metal-to-metal contact therewith while at the same time the cutting edge 69 will cut away a major portion of the diaphragm 55 and bend the latter to a substantially horizontal position, as shown in FIG. 10. Fluid may then flow from the passageway 57 through the holes 65, 66, 67, 68, and thereafter through the chamber 53 and threaded passageway 52. In connection with the valve A it should be noted that the diaphragm 55 is not completely sheared away, but is merely bent over and held in a substantially horizontal position by the cutter 64. Moreover, since the bore 57 is of slightly larger diameter than the guide portion 54, stress concentrations at the lower portion of the diaphragm 55 are materially reduced, with the result that there is little tendency for the diaphragm 55 to become severed from the valve body 48. Furthermore, even if the diaphragm 55 should accidentally separate completely from the valve body 48, the cutter 64 will confine the diaphragm within the bore 57 and prevent the diaphragm 55 from blocking the flow of fluid through the valve A It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the explosively actuated valve may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A normally closed valve having a body provided with a bore having a terminal section and a fluid transduction section, the latter being provided with inlet and outlet passageways and also being provided with a cap member at one end of said bore, an inwardly presented frusto-conical shaped anvil mounted on said cap member and having an inwardly tapering section, a frangible diaphragm in said fluid transduction section of said bore and interposed as a closure between said passageways, a valve opener including a plug-like element rigidly seated at one end in the terminal section and being internally recessed to povide a walled chamber having a zone of weakness and a portion extending beyond this zone of weakness toward the transduction section, said portion having an external diametral size substantially equal to the internal diametral size of the bore so as to fit snugly but nevertheless slidably therein, a diaphragm cutter mounted on said portion and facing toward said diaphragm, said diaphragm cutter being provided with a plurality of converging annularly disposed triangularly shaped prongs which are in spaced relation to said diaphragm, and pyrotechnical means in the chamber adapted upon detonation for severing said valve opener at said zone of weakness and driving the severed portion of the opener and diaphragm cutter along the bore toward said diaphragm to cut through said diaphragm and form an opening connecting said passageways, whereupon the cut away portion of said diaphragm will be seated against said anvil and the inwardly tapering section will cause said cutter prongs to deform and spread outwardly into tight-fitting frictional contact with said bore upon seating of the cut away portion of the diaphragm.

2. A normally closed valve having a body provided with a bore having a terminal section and a fluid transduction section, the latter being provided with inlet and outlet passageways and also being provided with a cap member at one end of said bore, an inwardly presented frusto-conical shaped anvil mounted on said cap member and having an inwardly tapering section, a frangible diaphragm in the fluid transduction section of said bore and interposed as a closure between said passageways, a valve opener including a plug-like element rigidly seated at one end in the terminal section and being internally recessed to provide a walled chamber having a zone of weakness and a portion extending beyond the zone of weakness toward the transduction section, said chamber terminating in an annular skirt, said portion having an external diametral size substantially equal to the internal diametral size of the bore so as to fit snugly but nevertheless slidably therein, a diaphragm cutter mounted on said portion and facing toward said diaphragm, said diaphragm cutter being provided with a plurality of converging annularly disposed triangularly shaped prongs which are in spaced relation to said diaphragm, a detonable pyrotechnical charge positioned withins said chamber, and potting material completely surrounding said charge and filling said chamber, said pyrotechnical charge being operable upon detonation to flare said annular skirt outwardly in tight seal-forming engagement with said bore, said detonation further causing said plug-like ele ment to break apart and thereby sever a piston-like solid portion from the rigidly seated portion at the zone of weakness and drive the severed portion of the valve opener and cutter along the bore toward said diaphragm to cut through said diaphragm and form an opening connecting said passageways, whereupon the cut away portion of said diaphragm will be seated against said anvil and the inwardly tapering section will cause said cutter prongs to deform and spread outwardly into tight-fitting frictional contact with said bore upon seating of the cut away portion of the diaphragm.

3. A normally closed valve having a body provided with a bore having a terminal section and a fluid transduction section, the latter being provided with inlet and outlet passageways and also being provided with a cap member at one end of said bore in said fluid transduction section, an inwardly presented frusto-conical shaped anvil mounted on said cap member and having an inwardly tapering section, a frangible diaphragm in said fluid transduction section of said bore and interposed as a closure between said passageways, a valve opener including a pluglike element rigidly seated at one end in the terminal section and being internally recessed to provide a walled chamber having a zone of weakness and a portion extending beyond the zone of weakness toward the transduction section, said chamber terminating in an annular skirt, said portion having an external diametral size substantially equal to the internal diametral size of the bore so as to fit snugly but nevertheless slidably therein, a diaphragm cutter mounted on said portion and facing toward said diaphragm, said diaphragm cutter being provided with a plurality of converging annularly disposed triangularly shaped prongs which are in spaced relation to said diaphragm, a detonable pyrotechnical charge positioned within said chamber, and potting material completely surrounding said charge and filling said chamber, said pyrotechnical charge being operable upon detonation to flare said annular skirt outwardly in tight sealforming engagement with said bore, said detonation further causing said plug-like element to break apart and thereby sever a piston-like solid portion from the rigidly seated portion at the zone of weakness and drive the severed portion of the valve opener and cutter along the bore toward said diaphragm to cut through said diaphragm and form an opening connecting said passageways, whereupon the cut away portion of said diaphragm will be seated against said anvil and the inwardly tapering section will cause said cutter prongs to deform and spread outwardly into tight-fitting frictional contact with said bore upon seating of the cut away portion of the diaphragm.

4. A normally closed valve having a body provided with a bore, said bore also being provided in its forward end with inlet and outlet passageways, a diaphragm in said bore and interposed between said passageways, said bore having an enlarged tapered clearance portion remote from and converging toward said diaphragm, a frusto-conical abutment located in said bore on the opposite side of one of said passageways with respect to the diaphragm, said abutment having an inwardly tapering section, a valve opener having a piston-like element operatively mounted in said bore rearwardly of the inlet passageway, said piston-like element being integrally provided with a rearwardly extending skirt having an internal chamber, said skirt having a peripheral groove forming an annular zone of weakness, said peripheral groove being located in the clearance portion of the bore, said piston-like element also being provided with a cutter having a plurality of cutting prongs facing said diaphragm, and a pyrotechnical charge located in the chamber of said piston-like element, and upon detonation will drive said opener and cutter toward said diaphragm so that said cutting prongs will cut a slug from said diaphragm and seat the slug against said abutment, said prongs being deformable upon seating of said slug so as to contact firmly the wall of said bore adjacent said abutment and hold the slug rigidly thereagainst.

5. A normally closed valve having a body provided with a bore, said bore also being provided in its forward end with inlet and outlet passageways, a diaphragm in said bore and interposed between said passageways, said bore having an enlarged tapered portion remote from and converging toward said diaphragm, an abutment located in said bore on the opposite side of one of said passageways with respect to the diaphragm, said abutment having an inwardly tapering section, a valve opener having a piston-like element operatively mounted in said bore rearwardly of the inlet passageway, said piston-like element being integrally provided with a rearwardly extending skirt having an internal chamber, said skirt having a peripheral groove forming an annular zone of weakness, said peripheral groove being located in the tapered portion of the bore, said skirt having a slightly smaller diametral size than the bore at the tapered portion forming a clearance space between the wall of the bore and the zone of weakness, said piston-like element also being provided with a cutter having a plurality of cutting prongs tapering inwardly toward said diaphragm, and a pyrotechnical charge located in the chamber of said piston-like element,

and upon detonation will drive said opener and cutter toward said diaphragm so that said cutting prongs will cut a slug from said diaphragm and seat the slug against said abutment, said prongs being deformable upon seating of said slug so as to contact firmly the wall of said bore adjacent said abutment and hold the slug rigidly thereagainst.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Explosive Actuated Valves by Maurice M. Connell, published Sept. 24, 1956, Catalog 5501-KV.

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