Low shock anti-friction release device
US6119984A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16B21/16
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A pin puller combines a metal alloy actuator with an anti-friction release mechanism, according to a bilaterally symmetric geometry. The actuator operates based on a metal alloy that has a relatively low melting temperature. The anti-friction tension release mechanism ensures that only negligible friction forces need to be overcome to operate the tension release mechanism. Thus, the metal alloy actuator is isolated from the large tension force that bears on the tension release mechanism. The bilateral symmetric aspect of the structure provides for mechanical redundancy, so that, in the event that one half of the pin puller fails, it is sufficient that the other half operate properly for the tension to be successfully released. This pin puller avoids premature release because it is not susceptible to static electricity, electromagnetic radiation, or high ambient temperatures. The melting point of the metal alloy in the actuator is arbitrarily selectable so as to be higher than the highest foreseeable ambient temperature. The pin puller also avoids generation of large shock waves due to its slow speed of operation and because of the gradual release interaction of mechanical parts wit…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.