Assemblies including extendable, reactive charge-containing actuator devices

Abstract

An assembly including a support housing and an actuator device. The actuator device includes an extendable initiator cup including at least one non-random fold and at least in part defining a storage chamber containing a reactive charge reactable to produce reaction products. The extendable initiator cup is folded to form a pocket that contains a portion of a moveable element. The extendable initiator cup longitudinally extends from a first length to a second, greater length upon reaction initiation of the reactive charge. The extendable initiator cup and the moveable element are at least partially disposed within a longitudinally extending bore of the support housing. The extending initiator cup moves the moveable element within the bore. The support housing is effective to limit lateral expansion of the extendable initiator cup upon reaction initiation of the reactive charge.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 729,702, filed on 5 Dec. 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 193,414, filed on 11 Jul. 2002. The co-pending parent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and is made a part hereof, including but not limited to those portions which specifically appear hereinafter.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates generally to an assembly including an actuator device useful for electrically connecting or disconnecting electrical conductive members, such as electrical lines, circuitry and wires, and electrical switches associated with electrical conductive members. More particularly, the invention relates to an assembly including a pyrotechnic-based actuator device, such as for appropriately electrically disconnecting or connecting electrical systems, such as, for example, automotive electrical ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] A general object of the invention is to provide an improved pyrotechnic electrical disconnect assembly having a lightweight actuator device that provides maximal work performance of the actuator device and inhibits rupturing.

[0013] The invention still further comprehends an assembly comprising an actuator device including an extendable initiator cup with a cup end wall at one end of a cup side wall. The extendable initiator cup at least in part defines a storage chamber containing a reactive charge reactable to produce reaction products. The cup side wall includes a fold whereby a first portion of the cup side wall and a second portion of the cup side wall overlap, with both the first and the second portions of the cup side wall disposed parallel a longitudinal axis of the actuator device. The actuator device also includes at least one electrical connector in reaction initiating communication with the reactive charge. The extendable initiator cup has a first length prior to reaction initiation of the reactive charge and, upon reaction initiation of the reactive charge, the extendable initiator cup longitudinally extends to a second length, where the second length is greater than the first length. The assembly also comprises a moveable element including a first end disposed adjacent to the cup end wall, and a support housing including a longitudinally extending bore. Each of the extendable initiator cup and the moveable element are at least partially disposed within the bore. The support housing is effective to limit lateral expansion of the extendable initiator cup upon reaction initiation of the reactive charge.

Problems solved by technology

The prior art generally fails to disclose an assembly that provides maximal work from an actuator device by limiting lateral expansion of a longitudinally expanding actuator device.

The prior art also generally fails to disclose an assembly that controls the stroke length of a longitudinally expanding actuator device, thereby providing maximal performance without rupturing the extendable initiator cup.

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