Pyrotechnic actuator
View Patent ↗A novel actuator contains a housing having a first end, a second end, and an inner wall. A piston rod assembly is contained within the housing, wherein the assembly contains a piston rod, a first end cap fixed at one end of the piston rod, and a second end cap fixed at an opposing end of the piston rod. An energy management device is constrained about an outer diameter of the first end cap, wherein upon actuation of the actuator, the energy management device may under predetermined conditions be deformed upon movement of said piston rod.
1. An actuator comprising:
a housing having a first end and a second end;
a piston rod assembly comprising a piston rod, a first end cap disposed adjacent a first end of the piston rod, and a second end cap disposed adjacent a second end of the piston rod, said piston rod assembly having a pre-actuation length defined from a surface of the first end cap to a surface of the second end cap, wherein prior to actuation, the first end cap and the first end of the piston rod are disposed within the housing and adjacent the first end of the housing; and
an energy management device disposed about a portion of an outer wall of said first end cap,
wherein upon actuation of said actuator, the second end cap translates axially in a first direction from the first end of the housing and from the second end of the housing, said energy management device is compressible upon movement of said piston rod axially away from the surface of the first end cap in the first direction, and upon compression of said energy management device, said piston rod assembly has a post-actuation length, defined from the surface of the first end cap to the surface of the second end cap, wherein the post-actuation length is greater than said pre-actuation length, wherein said portion of said outer wall of said first end cap is a second portion having a second outer diameter, and said first end cap comprises a first portion having a first outer diameter and a third portion having a third outer diameter, said energy management device being disposed about the second portion, and said piston rod is crimped about said second portion to form a crimp, and said first and third portions have a greater outer diameter than said second outer diameter, whereby said energy management device is disposed between said crimp and said third portion, and said second portion is axially between the first portion and the third portion.
2. The actuator of claim 1 wherein said energy management device has a pre-operative length greater than a post-operative length of said energy management device.
3. The actuator of claim 1 wherein said energy management device is a deformable sleeve.
4. The actuator of claim 1 wherein said energy management device is loosely disposed about said portion of said outer wall of said first end cap.
5. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein said actuator is a pyrotechnic actuator.
6. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein said actuator is a hybrid actuator.
7. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein said actuator is a pressurized gas actuator.
8. An actuator comprising:
a housing having a first end and a second end;
a piston rod assembly comprising a piston rod, a first end cap disposed adjacent a first end of the piston rod, and a second end cap disposed adjacent a second end of the piston rod, said piston rod assembly having a pre-actuation length defined from a surface of the first end cap to a surface of the second end cap, wherein prior to actuation, the first end cap and the first end of the piston rod are disposed within the housing and adjacent the first end of the housing; and
an energy management device disposed about a portion of an outer wall of said first end cap,
wherein upon actuation of said actuator, the second end cap translates axially in a first direction from the first end of the housing and from the second end of the housing, said energy management device is compressible upon movement of said first end of the piston rod axially away from the surface of the first end cap in the first direction, and upon compression of said energy management device, said piston rod assembly has a post-actuation length, defined from the surface of the first end cap to the surface of the second end cap, wherein the post-actuation length is greater than said pre-actuation length, and
wherein said energy management device is loosely disposed within a plenum defined by the outer wall of the first end cap and an inner wall of the piston rod.
9. The actuator of claim 8 , wherein said actuator is a pyrotechnic actuator.
10. The actuator of claim 8 , wherein said actuator is a hybrid actuator.
11. The actuator of claim 8 , wherein said actuator is a pressurized gas actuator.