Charles E Goode

US Patent:

43959512, Aug 2, 1983

Filed:

Feb 2, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/230577

Inventors:

Douglas M. Hinely - Rockville MD
Louis J. Montesi - Silver Spring MD
Robert R. Durrell - Columbia MD
Charles W. Goode - Washington DC

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

F42C 300
F42C 500

US Classification:

102223

Abstract:

An improved release apparatus, including an actuator device, a release dee and a firing device, releases the firing device in a water environment and not in an air environment when the actuator device is remotely actuated. When in a water environment, a predetermined gas pressure from the actuator device drives forward a pusher piston and valve sleeve arrangement, disposed in a water chamber of the release device, initially to close off lower entry/exit orifices in the water chamber by action of the valve sleeve, and then to compress an entrapped column of water to a predetermined water pressure sufficiently to cause shearing off of an annular lip of a ball lock piston thereby separating the firing device from the release device. When in an air environment, the pressure from a compressed entrapped air column is not sufficient to cause shearing off or folding down of the annular lip of the ball lock piston, and, accordingly, the release apparatus is safed.