US3150560A

US3150560A - Automatic opening device

Info

Publication number: US3150560A
Application number: US336846A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rosenthal Sidney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-01-09
Filing date: 1964-01-09
Publication date: 1964-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1981-09-29

Description

Sept. 29, 1964 s. ROSENTHAL AUTOMATIC OPENING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheetl Filed Jan. 9, 1964 L W ,Z 0 w T N5 A Wm U &. w% 0 8 Sept. 29, 1964 s. ROSENTHAL 3,150,560

AUTOMATIC OPENING mavxcs 7 Filed Jan. 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR. 3 9 lam/r1944 u/w M 1 Ame/vizi- United States Patent Ofi" 3,ld,56fi Patented Sept; 29, rest 3,150,564! AUTQMATFC GPENEJG DEVECE Sidney Rosenthal, West Newton, Mass, assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed Jan. 1964, Ser. No. 336,346

6 Claims. (Ci. 39-1) (Granted under Title 35, U. 5. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates, generally, to rocket and satellite instrumentation, and more particularly, to an automatic, remote device for opening a pre-evacuated and sealed receptacle after arrival at a predetermined altitude.

Certain scientific tests require that a sealed receptacle be opened after arrival at a predetermined altitude, and furthermore, that the receptacle opening be completely exposed without any obstructing mechanical parts thereabouts.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a remote opening device for a sealed receptacle.

It is a further object of this invention to clear an opened receptacle of obstructions by dispelling the sealing means along with the opening mechanism.

Another object is to provide a remote automatic opening device which is economical to produce and which utilizes conventional, currently available materials that lend themselves to standard mass production manufacturing techniques.

Further and other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with'the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the invented opening device;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along the lines III-III of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top view of the invention of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view representing the device after the firing thereof.

With reference to the drawings, wherein. like numerals refer to like parts, a cylindrical receptacle 5, sealed by a cap 6, is indicated in phantom (FIGURE 5) on the rectangular base 10. As illustrated, a matching surface 12, of arcuate cross-section is provided to securely position the receptacle 5 on the base 19. A spaced pair of squib bores 14 are parallel to surface 12 and have outward openings 15 at one end of block 10. The block corners, at both sides of openings 15 have been cut away to provide the mortises 16 as shown.

The plungers 20 within the squib bores 12 conform a typical piston-cylinder arrangement wherein the outward movement of the pistons 20 may be activated by firing of the squib bores 12. As illustrated, the plungers 29 extend outward from base 19 and have

transverse bores

23, 25, which are aligned for passage therethrough of the connecting rod 28.

Means for fastening the receptacle on the base are provided by the U-shaped strap 30 which is fastened at each end by screws 33 to the block 10. In the manner shown in FIGURE 5, the receptacle 5 is clamped on surface 12 with the cap 6 facing outwardly in the same direction as the plungers 20.

A support member is provided by the yoke 40. The tenons 43 are engaged in the mortises 16 to position the yoke perpendicularly over cap 6, as illustrated.

Retractable means, in this case retractable pins 50, are used to pin yoke 4d at a rigid position on base 10. The pins 50 extend through openings in the tenons 43 and into cavities 13 which are aligned therefore in base 10. The yoke 46 may be easily unpinned by retracting pins 5t) outwardly from base 10. As illustrated, the pins 50 have slots 51 with cam followers 55 pivoted therein.

An anvil member 60 is positioned directly under cap 6 by notches in yoke 40 and is firmly afiixed thereon by screws 63.

The opener lever 70 is pivoted at shaft 71 in yoke 40, as shown. The lever has an edge 73 (see FIGURE 1) which engages cap 6 for removal by an outward swing similar to that of the common bottle-opener. The remaining end of lever 70 fits between plunger-s 20 and has an opening through which passes the connecting rod 23.

Elongated cam members 89 are pivoted by their ends to connector rod 28, as shown. Spacers 81 assure that the cam members 8% remain at a constant distance from plungers 20. The remaining ends of cam members have cam surfaces 85. As illustrated, the elongated cam members 80 slide within the slots 51 of pins 50 and between the cam followers 55 and the base It).

Squib firing means maybe any conventional mechanical or electrical means .to fire a squib charge 17. The embodiment shown in FIGURE 3 employs an electrical firing by means of the wire leads 90, 91, which extend through the insulating inserts 194. To facilitate placement of the squib charge 17, the insert 94 is placed within the externally threaded sleeves 96, which may then be screwed into a portion of the squib bore, as illustrated. Locknuts 97, 98, aiiix the sleeves 96 in place.

The aforementioned device may be placed in a satellite for firing at a predetermined altitude. Upon firing of the squib charges 17, the plungers 29 will move outward from base 10 to swing opener lever '70 outward to remove cap 6. The anvil member 60 insures a clear break between the cap 6 and receptacle 5. As the plungers travel outward, leaving squib bores 14, the elongated cam members 80 slide therealong within slots 51. Subsequently, the cam surfaces engage the cam followers 55 .to retract pins 51 and unpin yoke 40. The momentum of plungers 2t carry them together with the yoke 40, lever 70, and cams 80 outward away from the receptacle 6.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the invention is capable of a variety of alternative embodiments within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic device for opening a receptacle sealed by a cap, comprising: a base having a squib bore therein; a plunger within said bore and extending outwardly from said base; means for fastening said receptacle on said base; a support member; retractable means to pin said support member on said base; an opener lever pivoted on said support member to engage said cap for removal thereof by swinging outwardly therefrom, said lever engaging said plunger for outward movement thereby; a cam member attached to said plunger and engaged with said retractable means to unpin said support member by an outward movement thereof; and squib firing means to activate outward movement of said plunger, lever, and cam, the momentum thereof carrying them and said sup port member away from said receptacle.

2. An automatic device for opening a receptacle sealed by a cap, comprising: a base having a squib bore therein; a plunger within said bore and extending outwardly from said base; means for fastening said receptacle on said base; a support yoke positioned on said base over said cap; retractable means to pin said yoke rigidly on said base; an opener lever pivoted in said yoke to engage said cap for removal thereof by swinging outwardly therefrom, said lever pivoted to said plunger for out- Ward movement thereby; an elongated cam member pivoted by one end to said plunger and having a cam surface at remaining end, said cam, upon an outward movement thereof, engaging said retractable means with said cam surface to unpin said yoke subsequent to removal of said cap; and squib firing means to activate outward movement of said plunger, lever, and cam, momentum thereof carrying them and said yoke away from said receptacle.

3. An automatic device for opening a receptacle sealed by a cap, comprising: a base having a squib bore therein; a plunger within said bore and extending outwardly from said base; a strap fastened by each end on said base to clamp said receptacle on said base with said cap facing outward as said plunger; a perpendicular support yoke positioned on said base over said cap; retractable means to pin said yoke rigidly on said base; said means including a cam follower; an opener lever pivoted in said yoke to engage said cap for removal thereof by swinging outwardly therefrom, said lever pivoted to said plunger for outward movement thereby; an elongated cam member pivoted by one end to said plunger and having a cam surface at remaining end, said cam, upon an outward movement thereof, engaging said follower of said retractable means with said cam surface .to unpin said yoke subsequent to removal of said cap; and squib firing means to activate outward movement of said plunger, lever, and cam, momentum thereof carrying them and said yoke away from said receptacle.

4. An automatic device for opening a receptacle sealed by a cap, comprising: a base having a pair of squib bores therein; plungers within said bores and extending outwardly from said base; a strap fastened by each end on said base to clamp said receptacle on said base with said cap facing outward as said plungers; a perpendicular support yoke positioned on said base over said cap; retractable pins extending through said yoke and into said base to pin said yoke rigidly thereon, said pins having cam followers; an opener lever pivoted by one end in said yoke to engage said cap for removal thereof by swinging outwardly therefrom, said lever pivoted by remaining end between said plungers for ouwtard movement thereby; elongated cam members with ends pivoted on said plungers and having cam surfaces at remaining ends, said cam members, upon outward movement thereof, engaging said followers with said cam surfaces to unpin said yoke subsequent to removal of said cap; and squib firing means to activate outward movement of said plungers, lever, and cams, with momentum to carry them and said yoke away from said receptacle.

5. An automatic device for opening a cylindrical receptacle sealed at one end by a cap, comprising: a base with a surface of arcuate cross-section matching said receptacle and having therein a pair of squib bores paralleling said surface with outward openings at one end, and said base having mortises at both sides of said openings; plungers within said bores and extending outwardly from said base; a U-shaped strap fastened by each end on said base to clamp said receptacle on said surface with said cap facing outward as said plungers; a perpendicular support yoke with tenons engaged in said mortises to position said yoke over said cap; retractable pins extending through said tenons and into said base to pin said yoke rigidly thereon; said pins having cam followers; an opener lever pivoted by one end in said yoke to engage said cap for removal thereof by swinging outwardly therefrom, said lever pivoted by remaining end between said plungers for outward movement thereby; elongated cam members with ends pivoted on said plungers and having cam surfaces at remaining ends, said cam members, upon outward movement thereof, engaging said followers with said cam surfaces to unpin said yoke subsequent to removal of said cap; and squib firing means to activate outward movement of said plungers, lever, and cams with sufiicient momentum to carry them and said yoke away from said receptacle.

6. An automatic device for opening a cylindrical receptacle sealed at one end by a cap, comprising: a rectangular base with a surface of arcuate cross-section matching said receptacle and having therein a pair of squib bores paralleling said surface with outward openings at one end, and said base having mortises at corners on both sides of said openings; plungers within said bores and extending outwardly from said base; a U-shaped strap fastened by each end on said base to clamp said receptacle on said surface with said cap facing outward as said plungers; a perpendicular support yoke with tenons engaged in said mortises to position said yoke over said cap; retractable pins extending through said tenons and into said base to pin said yoke rigidly thereon, said pins having slots with cam followers therein; an anvil member afiixed to said yoke at a position under said cap; an opener lever pivoted by one end in said yoke to engage said cap for removal thereof by swinging outwardly therefrom, said lever pivoted by remaining end between said plungers for outward movement thereby; elongated cam members with ends pivoted on said plungers and having cam surfaces at remaining ends, said cam members in said slots of said retractable pins, between said followers and said base and upon outward movement thereof, engaging said followers with said cam surfaces to unpin said yoke subsequent to removal of said cap; and squib firing means to activate outward movement of said plungers, lever, and earns, with suificient momentum to carry them and said yoke away from said receptacle.

No references cited.

Claims

1. AN AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR OPENING A RECEPTACLE SEALED BY A CAP, COMPRISING: A BASE HAVING A SQUIB BORE THEREIN; A PLUNGER WITHIN SAID BORE AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID BASE; MEANS FOR FASTENING SAID RECEPTACLE ON SAID BASE; A SUPPORT MEMBER; RETRACTABLE MEANS TO PIN SAID SUPPORT MEMBER ON SAID BASE; AN OPENER LEVER PIVOTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEMBER TO ENGAGE SAID CAP FOR REMOVAL THEREOF BY SWINGING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, SAID LEVER ENGAGING SAID PLUNGER FOR OUTWARD MOVEMENT THEREBY; A CAM MEMBER ATTACHED TO SAID PLUNGER AND ENGAGED WITH SAID RETRACTABLE MEANS TO UNPIN SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BY AN OUTWARD MOVEMENT THEREOF; AND SQUIB FIRING MEANS TO ACTIVATE OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID PLUNGER, LEVER, AND CAM, THE MOMENTUM THEREOF CARRYING THEM AND SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AWAY FROM SAID RECEPTACLE.