Abstract: A hydrostatic release mechanism is provided which comprises a sealed housing having an interior volume and a tunnel adapted to receive a tether extending therethrough. A depth sensor is mounted to the sealed housing and has a diaphragm covering an opening between the interior volume and the ambient conditions. A trigger is contained within the sealed housing and is operably connected to the diaphragm and a firing mechanism. The firing mechanism is actuated by movement of the trigger in response to inward movement of the diaphragm when the pressure on the diaphragm exceeds a predetermined force. The firing mechanism includes a piston having a blade which moves in response to the expanding gases from a pyrotechnic cartridge and passes through the tunnel thereby severing the tether extending therethrough.

Abstract: A non-reciprocating Stirling-cycle machine which overcomes problems associated with high drive mechanism forces and vibration that seriously hamper reciprocating Stirling-cycle machines. The design employs Wankel rotors instead of the reciprocating pistons used in prior Stirling machines for effecting the compression and expansion cycles. Key innovations are the use of thermodynamic symmetry to allow coupling of the rotating compression and expansion spaces through simple stationary regenerators, and the coordination of thermodynamic and inertial phasing to allow complete balancing with one simple passive counterweight, which is not possible in reciprocating machines. The design can be scaled over a wide range of temperatures and capacities for use as a cryogenic or utilitarian refrigerator or to function as an external heat powered engine.

Abstract: A valve controls the flow of an inflation substance such as carbon dioxide from a pressurized container when the valve is actuated. The valve comprises a valve body having an inflow bore, inlet conduit, chamber, interior chamber and interior passage connected to each other and with the pressurized container. The valve is connected to an inflatable apparatus such as an emergency slide or raft by an outlet conduit connected to the valve body and with the interior passage. The valve is closed by a piston assembly which is balanced. The piston assembly includes a guidance collar and a first piston rod connected to the guidance collar. The first piston rod has an O-ring seal, and the piston rod is attached to the valve body by a fitting. The second end of the piston rod extends through the piston fitting and has a valve actuation receiving means.

Abstract: A refrigerant expansion device such as a Joule-Thomson expander has a surface with grooves or recesses which capture contaminants that condense from the refrigerant flow in the device, thereby avoiding blockage of the device by the condensed contaminants.

Abstract: A self-regulated Joule-Thomson expansion valve and cryostat useful in miniaturized cryogenic gas liquefaction systems include a substantially frustroconical valve member having a base portion supported at the end of first means such as an elongate shaft and a tapered valve seat generally complementary to the valve member and supported circumferentially adjacent a lengthwise portion of the valve member by second means such as a sheath slidably received upon the shaft. The valve member and valve seat taper down toward a free extremity of the valve member, whereby opposing peripheral surfaces of the valve member and valve seat define a converging annular passageway terminating at an annular expansion opening.

Abstract: In a system for inflating airslides and the like, the pressure of the primary gas supplied to an ejector is controlled so as to maintain a constant mass flow rate into the airslide over its inflation cycle. A controller for controlling the primary gas pressure may be integrated into the ejector. A novel ejector employs flow shaping of an expanding primary gas stream within a draft tube to create a flow potential that produces entrainment of a secondary fluid. The draft tube may comprise telescoping sections to provide an ejector having a compact structure but which is capable of affording a substantial mixing length for the primary gas and secondary fluid when operated. The draft tube may be biased into engagement with flapper valves that close the secondary fluid openings in the ejector to afford positive closure of the openings. An argon and carbon dioxide primary gas mixture enables entrainment of a given quantity of secondary fluid within a smaller quantity of primary gas.

Abstract: A miniaturized high efficiency closed cycle cryogenic cooling system employs an integral electrically-actuated diaphragm compressor and expander arranged to enable the work of expansion of a portion of compressed gas to be applied to the compressor via a fluid coupling to reduce the external input power requirements of the compressor. Another portion of compressed gas is expanded through an expansion valve and liquefied at the cryogenic temperature. The expanded gas from the expander and the expansion valve is returned to the compressor through a heat exchanger to pre cool the portions of compressed gas prior to expansion.

Abstract: An improved poppet valve is provided which includes a piston having a stem and a disk-shaped head attached to the stem. The piston is mounted to reciprocate in a cylinder, the internal wall of which has a seat formed therein to define a flow orifice between the cylinder seat and the disk-shaped head. The piston head includes a flat face on one side thereof and a working surface on the opposite face which is adapted to define the flow orifice with the cylinder seat. The working surface includes an annular face having a specifically defined shape and a portion connecting the annular face to the stem. The shape of the annular face significantly decreases the operating time of the valve to discharge the cylinder via the flow orifice. In one embodiment, the surface of the annular face has a conical shape and forms an angle in the range of 20.degree. to 60.degree. with the longitudinal axis of the stem.

Abstract: An improved poppet valve is provided which includes a piston having a stem and a disk-shaped head attached to the stem. The piston is mounted to reciprocate in a cylinder, the internal wall of which has a seat formed therein to define a flow orifice between the cylinder seat and the disk-shaped head. The piston head includes a flat face on one side thereof and a working surface on the opposite face which is adapted to define the flaw orifice with the cylinder seat. The working surface includes an annular face having a specifically defined shape and a portion connecting the annular face to the stem. The shape of the annular face significantly decreases the operating time of the valve to discharge the cylinder via the flow orifice. In one embodiment, the surface of the annular face has a conical shape and forms an angle in the range of 20.degree. to 60.degree. with the longitudinal axis of the stem.