LOW ENERGY EXPLOSIVE TRANSFER ADAPTER

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a low energy explosive transfer adapter. The low energy explosive transfer adapter may comprise an adapter housing comprising a firing pin chamber situated within the adapter housing comprising an inlet and a stopping surface opposite the inlet. The low energy explosive transfer adapter may further comprise a primer chamber connected to the firing pin chamber and an output tube connected to the primer chamber.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to low energy explosive transfer adapters and methods, and more particularly, to low energy explosive transfer adapters in aircraft egress systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Modern aircraft egress systems typically utilize deflagrating input signals from low energy explosive transfer lines to directly ignite energetic materials in downstream components. However, input signals from low energy explosive transfer lines can often be inconsistent, affecting the performance of components receiving the input signal.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

A low energy explosive transfer adapter may comprise an adapter housing comprising a firing pin chamber situated within the adapter housing comprising an inlet and a stopping surface opposite the inlet, a primer chamber connected to the firing pin chamber, and an output tube connected to the primer chamber.

In various embodiments, the firing pin chamber may be configured to contain a firing pin. The adapter housing may comprise an adapter aperture for receiving a shear pin configured to be inserted into a shear pin groove of the firing pin and position the firing pin in the firing pin chamber. The low energy explosive transfer adapter may be configured to be directly inserted into an existing explosive signal transfer system. The low energy explosive transfer adapter may be configured to generate a consistent output signal regardless of variability of an input signal provided by a low energy explosive transfer line. The shear pin may be configured to mechanically fail at a threshold force.

An explosive transfer assembly may comprise a low energy input component, a low energy explosive transfer adapter coupled to the low energy input component, and an initiator component coupled to the low energy explosive transfer adapter.

In various embodiments, the low energy input component may comprise an input component housing comprising a first frusto-conical area, an input tube, a second frusto-conical area, a transition tube, and an open volume chamber. The low energy explosive transfer adapter may comprise an adapter housing comprising a firing pin chamber comprising an inlet, a primer chamber extending from the firing pin chamber, and an output tube extending from the primer chamber. The first frusto-conical area, the input tube, the second frusto-conical area, and the transition tube may be configured to receive a low energy explosive transfer line. The open volume chamber may be configured to contain expanding gases resulting from the low energy explosive transfer line igniting. The firing pin chamber may contain a firing pin. The firing pin may be configured to impact a primer in the primer chamber. The primer may be configured to ignite and transfer an explosive signal to the initiator component through the output tube. The low energy explosive transfer adapter may further comprise an adapter aperture for receiving a shear pin configured to be inserted into a shear pin groove of the firing pin and position the firing pin in the firing pin chamber. The low energy explosive transfer adapter may be configured to be threaded to the low energy input component and the initiator component.

A method of transferring a low energy explosive signal may comprise inserting a firing pin into a low energy explosive transfer adapter, coupling the low energy explosive transfer adapter to a low energy input component, coupling the low energy explosive transfer adapter to an initiator component, and inserting a low energy explosive transfer line into the low energy input component.

In various embodiments, the method may comprise igniting the low energy explosive transfer line and impacting a primer with the firing pin. The method may comprise placing an O-ring into an O-ring groove on the firing pin. The method may comprise inserting a primer into a primer chamber of the low energy explosive transfer adapter.

The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, the following description and drawings are intended to be exemplary in nature and non-limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in, and constitute a part of, this specification, illustrate various embodiments, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a firing pin in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a low energy explosive transfer adapter in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a low energy explosive transfer adapter comprising a firing pin, an O-ring, and a shear pin in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a low energy explosive transfer adapter coupled to a low energy input component in accordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an explosive transfer assembly in accordance with various embodiments; and

FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart illustrating a method of transferring a low energy explosive signal in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description of various embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various embodiments by way of illustration. While these various embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical, chemical, electrical, and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation.

For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected, or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full, and/or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact.

For example, in the context of the present disclosure, methods, systems, and articles may find particular use in connection with aircraft egress systems. However, various aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be adapted for optimized performance in a variety of other systems. As such, numerous applications of the present disclosure may be realized.

In various embodiments, it may be desired that a signal from a low energy explosive be transferred to a high energy explosive. Low energy explosives, at times, may experience inconsistent explosive and/or deflagrating input energies which may affect transfer of energy to the high energy explosive. Thus, in various embodiments, low energy explosive transfer systems are provided that may transfer a signal from a low energy explosive to a high energy explosive in a manner than tends to be consistent.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cross-sectional view of a firing pin 100 is depicted in accordance with various embodiments. Firing pin 100 may comprise a substantially cylinder shape and may be configured to be projected through firing pin chamber 204 (with momentary reference to FIG. 2). Firing pin 100 may comprise first face 102 and second face 104 opposite first face 102. Nub 106 may extend from second face 104 and be configured to impact a primer, such as primer 300 (with momentary reference to FIG. 3). Firing pin 100 may further comprise an O-ring groove 108 and a shear pin groove 110. Firing pin 100 may be made from various materials, including but not limited to, steel, aluminum, titanium, alloys of the aforementioned or other materials capable of withstanding impact with primer 300 (with momentary reference to FIG. 3) with limited deformation.

Referring to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of a low energy explosive transfer adapter 200 is depicted. Low energy explosive transfer adapter 200 may form a portion of an egress system for an aircraft, however, low energy explosive transfer adapter 200 is not limited in this regard. Low energy explosive transfer adapter 200 may be configured to transfer an explosive signal in the direction depicted by the arrow in FIG. 2. Low energy explosive transfer adapter 200 may comprise an adapter housing 202. In various embodiments, adapter housing 202 may comprise firing pin chamber 204 configured to contain firing pin 100. Firing pin chamber 204 may comprise an inlet 206 and a stopping surface 208 opposite inlet 206. Stopping surface 208 may be configured to stop forward momentum of firing pin 100 in firing pin chamber 204. Adapter housing 202 may further comprise a primer chamber 210 connected to firing pin chamber 204 and an output tube 212 connected to primer chamber 210. Primer chamber 210 may be configured to contain a primer, such as primer 300, with additional reference to FIG. 3. Primer 300 may be in the form of a percussion primer, such as a percussion primer available under the trademark M42C1 from Olin Corporation, however, primer 300 is not limited in this regard. Adapter housing 202 may further comprise an adapter aperture 214 configured to receive shear pin 304. As will be discussed with reference to FIG. 3, low energy explosive transfer adapter 200 may be configured to be coupled to other components of the egress system. As a result, an exterior surface of adapter housing 202 may be at least partially threaded or otherwise designed for interfacing with other components, such as for example, low energy input component 400 (FIG. 4) and/or initiator component 500 (FIG. 5). Adapter housing 202 may comprise any material capable of withstanding pressure forces resulting from combusting gases in adapter housing 202 and impact of firing pin 100 on primer 300. For example, adapter housing 202 may comprise steel, aluminum, titanium, alloys of the aforementioned and/or other materials.

Referring to FIG. 3, low energy explosive transfer adapter 200 may be configured to contain firing pin 100 in firing pin chamber 204 and primer 300 in primer chamber 210. Firing pin 100 may comprise an O-ring 302 situated within O-ring groove 108 and shear pin 304 extending through adapter aperture 214 and into shear pin groove 110. O-ring 302 may be configured to seal gases between primer 300 and firing pin 100 as firing pin 100 is projected in firing pin chamber 204. O-ring 302 may further guide firing pin 100 along an interior of firing pin chamber 204. Shear pin 304 may be configured to position firing pin 100 in a predetermined position relative to firing pin chamber 204 and mechanically inhibit movement of firing pin 100 relative to adapter housing 202.

Referring to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of low energy explosive transfer adapter 200 is depicted coupled to low energy input component 400 in accordance with various embodiments. Low energy transfer adapter 200 may be coupled to low energy input component 400 in any manner. For example, low energy transfer adapter 200 may be threaded to low energy input component 400 by a threaded portion of an exterior surface of adapter housing 202. Low energy transfer adapter 200 may also be press fit, welded, brazed or otherwise coupled to low energy input component 400 such that expanding gases cannot escape between low energy explosive transfer adapter 200 and low energy input component 400. Low energy input component 400 may comprise an input component housing 402 comprising first frusto-conical area 404, input tube 406, second frusto-conical area 408, transition tube 410, and open volume chamber 412. Input tube 406 may be configured to receive and contain a low energy explosive transfer line 414 (indicated by the dashed lines). First frusto-conical area 404 and second frusto-conical area 408 may act as guides as the low energy explosive transfer line 414 is inserted into low energy input component 400. The low energy explosive transfer line 414 may be configured to terminate in transition tube 410 and transfer expanding gases into open volume chamber 412 as the low energy explosive transfer line 414 deflagrates.

Referring to FIG. 5, a cross-sectional view of an explosive transfer assembly is depicted with low energy explosive transfer adapter 200 coupled to low energy input component 400 and an initiator component 500. Initiator component 500 may comprise initiator component output 502 in fluid communication with output tube 212 of low energy transfer adapter 200. Low energy transfer adapter 200, low energy input component 400, and initiator component 500 may be configured such that low energy input component 400 and initiator component 500 do not include structural modification to be coupled with low energy transfer adapter 200. In other words, low energy transfer adapter 200 may be designed such that low energy transfer adapter 200 may be inserted between a preexisting connection between low energy input component 400 and initiator component 500. For example, low energy transfer adapter 200 may be threaded or otherwise coupled to low energy input component 400 and/or transfer adapter 200.

With further reference to FIG. 5, multiple arrows depict the transfer of an explosive signal through low energy input component 400, low energy explosive transfer adapter 200, and initiator component 500. Proceeding in the direction as indicated by the arrow, low energy explosive transfer line 414 may be inserted into first frusto-conical area 404, input tube 406, second frusto-conical area 408, and terminates in transition tube 410. Firing pin 100 may be positioned and mechanically constrained within firing pin chamber 204 by shear pin 304. Primer 300 may be positioned in primer chamber 210.

Upon ignition, low energy explosive transfer line 414 may deflagrate through first frusto-conical area 404, input tube 406, second frusto-conical area 408, and transition tube 410. Deflagration of the low energy explosive transfer line 414 in transition tube 410 may expel heated gases into open volume chamber 412. As the gases expand due to the temperature increase, pressure in open volume chamber 412 may increase and exert a force on first face 102 of firing pin 100. In turn, firing pin 100 may exert a shear force on shear pin 304. Upon reaching a threshold force (for example, approximately 35 lbf (˜155 N) for a single-shear shear pin or 70 lbf (˜310 N) for a double-shear shear pin), shear pin 304 may mechanically fail and firing pin 100 may be released. Pressure in open volume chamber 412 may project firing pin 100 toward primer 300 and nub 106 may impact primer 300. Momentum of firing pin 100 may be stopped by impact of second face 104 on stopping surface 208. Primer 300 may ignite as a result of the impact with nub 106, thereby transferring sparks through output tube 212 and initiator component output 502 to transfer an explosive signal to an output pyrotechnic material or high explosive device or the like.

As previously stated with reference to FIG. 5, low energy transfer adapter 200, low energy input component 400, and initiator component 500 may be configured such that low energy input component 400 and initiator component 500 do not include structural modification to be coupled with low energy transfer adapter 200. This allows low energy adapter 200 to be directly inserted into existing explosive signal transfer systems, such as those in aircraft egress systems. Primers, such as primer 300, are known, in part, for their consistent output signals. In contrast, output signals of low energy explosive transfer lines can be inconsistent, resulting in variable performance of downstream components in the egress system. Accordingly, various embodiments of low energy transfer adapter 200 may increase consistency in explosive signal transfer systems utilizing low energy explosive inputs without the need for modification of existing components.

A block diagram illustrating a method 600 for transferring a low energy explosive signal is depicted in FIG. 6 in accordance with various embodiments. Method 600 may comprise placing an O-ring into an O-ring groove on a firing pin. The method may further comprise inserting a primer into a primer chamber of the low energy explosive transfer adapter. The method may further comprise inserting the firing pin into a low energy explosive transfer adapter. The method may further comprise coupling the low energy explosive transfer adapter to a low energy input component. The method may further comprise coupling the low energy explosive transfer adapter to an initiator component. The method may further comprise inserting a shear pin through an adapter aperture into a shear pin groove on the firing pin. The method may further comprise inserting a low energy explosive transfer line into the low energy input component. The method may further comprise igniting the low energy explosive transfer line. The method may further comprise impacting a primer with the firing pin. Method 600 is not limited in this regard. For example, method 600 may include more or less steps than the steps listed above or may perform the steps in a different order.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Different cross-hatching is used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials.

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “various embodiments”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments.

Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

Claims

1. A low energy explosive transfer adapter, comprising:

an adapter housing comprising; a firing pin chamber situated within the adapter housing comprising an inlet and a stopping surface opposite the inlet; a primer chamber connected to the firing pin chamber; and an output tube connected to the primer chamber.

2. The low energy explosive transfer adapter of claim 1, wherein the firing pin chamber is configured to contain a firing pin.

3. The low energy explosive transfer adapter of claim 2, wherein the adapter housing comprises an adapter aperture for receiving a shear pin configured to be inserted into a shear pin groove of the firing pin and position the firing pin in the firing pin chamber.

4. The low energy explosive transfer adapter of claim 1, wherein the low energy explosive transfer adapter is configured to be directly inserted into an existing explosive signal transfer system.

5. The low energy explosive transfer adapter of claim 1, wherein the low energy explosive transfer adapter is configured to generate a consistent output signal regardless of variability of an input signal provided by a low energy explosive transfer line.

6. The low energy explosive transfer adapter of claim 3, wherein the shear pin is configured to mechanically fail at a threshold force.

7. An explosive transfer assembly, comprising:

a low energy input component,

a low energy explosive transfer adapter coupled to the low energy input component, and

an initiator component coupled to the low energy explosive transfer adapter.

8. The explosive transfer assembly of claim 7, wherein the low energy input component comprises an input component housing comprising a first frusto-conical area, an input tube, a second frusto-conical area, a transition tube, and an open volume chamber.

9. The explosive transfer assembly of claim 7, wherein the low energy explosive transfer adapter comprises an adapter housing comprising a firing pin chamber comprising an inlet, a primer chamber extending from the firing pin chamber, and an output tube extending from the primer chamber.

10. The explosive transfer assembly of claim 8, wherein the first frusto-conical area, the input tube, the second frusto-conical area, and the transition tube are configured to receive a low energy explosive transfer line.

11. The explosive transfer assembly of claim 10, wherein the open volume chamber is configured to contain expanding gases resulting from the low energy explosive transfer line igniting.

12. The explosive transfer assembly of claim 9, wherein the firing pin chamber contains a firing pin.

13. The explosive transfer assembly of claim 12, wherein the firing pin is configured to impact a primer in the primer chamber.

14. The explosive transfer assembly of claim 13, wherein the primer is configured to ignite and transfer an explosive signal to the initiator component through the output tube.

15. The explosive transfer assembly of claim 12, wherein the low energy explosive transfer adapter further comprises an adapter aperture for receiving a shear pin configured to be inserted into a shear pin groove of the firing pin and position the firing pin in the firing pin chamber.

16. The explosive transfer assembly of claim 7, wherein the low energy explosive transfer adapter is configured to be threaded to the low energy input component and the initiator component.

17. A method of transferring a low energy explosive signal, comprising:

inserting a firing pin into a low energy explosive transfer adapter;

coupling the low energy explosive transfer adapter to a low energy input component;

coupling the low energy explosive transfer adapter to an initiator component; and

inserting a low energy explosive transfer line into the low energy input component.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising igniting the low energy explosive transfer line and impacting a primer with the firing pin.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising placing an O-ring into an O-ring groove on the firing pin.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising inserting a primer into a primer chamber of the low energy explosive transfer adapter.