An emergency power unit method and apparatus with means for inhibiting vibration of the catalyst bed while permitting spring loading thereof, and for automatically compensating for movement of the catalyst bed caused by the spring loading.
대표청구항▼
1. A gas generator comprising: a housing having an inlet adapted to receive pressurized liquid fluid flow and an outlet for discharging a motive gas flow; a porous bed of granular catalyst material disposed within said housing for reacting with the liquid fluid flow to generate the motive gas flo
1. A gas generator comprising: a housing having an inlet adapted to receive pressurized liquid fluid flow and an outlet for discharging a motive gas flow; a porous bed of granular catalyst material disposed within said housing for reacting with the liquid fluid flow to generate the motive gas flow; wall means in said housing for containing said bed within a confined space; biasing means operably engaging said wall means for exerting a biasing force in one direction tending to compact said bed of granular material; and locking means operably engaging said wall means for preventing movement of said bed in a second direction opposite said first direction, said locking means being automatically extensible in length in response to movement of said wall means in said one direction to follow the latter and remain in locking engagement therewith to prevent movement of said bed in said second direction. 2. In a gas generator having a porous bed of granular catalyst material adapted to react with a pressurized, liquid flow to generate a higher energy motive gas exhaust flow, said liquid flow tending to induce vibration of said porous bed: porous wall means for holding said porous bed within a confined space; biasing means for exerting a force tending to compact said granular material of the porous bed; and locking means operably engaging said wall means for preventing movement of said bed in a direction opposing said force to inhibit said vibration of the porous bed, said locking means being automatically extensible in length in response to movement of said wall means created by said force of the biasing means to automatically follow said wall means and remain in locking engagement therewith to prevent movement of said bed in said opposing direction. 3. In an emergency power unit having a pressurized fluid feed flow, a gas generator for producing a motive gas discharge flow, comprising: a housing having an internal cavity bounded by axially spaced, transverse walls, an inlet for receiving said feed flow, and an outlet for said gas discharge flow, said inlet and outlet opening into said cavity; a porous bed of granular catalyst material disposed in said cavity and operable to chemically react with said feed flow passing axially therethrough to generate said gas discharge flow; transverse, rigid, container walls for containing said granular catalyst material; a plurality of biasing springs operably extending between one of said walls of the housing and one of said container walls for exerting a biasing force tending to compact said granular material and for urging the other of said container walls axially into operably supporting contact with the other of said walls of the housing; and means secured to said housing and contacting said one container wall for holding the latter from moving axially relative to said housing in a direction increasing the axial width of said confined space, without impairing the action of said biasing force of the springs in urging said bed to move axially toward said other wall of the housing to reduce said axial width, said means being automatically extensible in length in response to movement of said bed toward said other wall of the housing to remain in holding contact with said one container wall to continue prevention of movement of said one container wall in said direction increasing the axial width. 4. A method of generating a controlled, emergency flow of motive gas, comprising: producing a pressurized, liquid feed flow; reacting said feed flow with a confined bed of granular catalyst material to generate said emergency flow of motive gas, said feed flow tending to induce vibration of said bed of granular material; and spring loading a container holding the bed in a confined space in one direction toward a fixed support, the spring loading tending to enhance vibration of said bed; inhibiting vibration of said bed induced by said feed flow by securing said container against motion in a direction opposing said one direction without impairing said spring loading in said one direction; and automatically compensating for movement of said container in said one direction to continue prevention of motion of said container in said opposing direction. 5. An emergency power unit, comprising: a source of pressurized liquid; a control for developing a pressurized flow of said liquid; a housing having an internal cavity bounded by first and second, axially spaced transverse walls, said housing having an inlet for receiving said pressurized flow extending through said first wall to said cavity, and an outlet extending from said cavity through said second wall for carrying a motive gas discharge flow; a porous bed of granular catalyst material in said cavity for reacting with said pressured flow passing axially therethrough to generate said motive gas discharge flow, said pressurized flow tending to impart axial vibration to said bed; transverse, rigid filter screens on opposing sides of said bed; first and second, porous, rigid support plates disposed between said filter screens and said first and second transverse walls respectively; a plurality of coil springs extending from said first transverse wall to said first support plate for urging said bed axially in the direction of said flow therethrough to urge said second support plate into supporting contact with said second transvese wall; and locking means disposed centrally within at least one of said coil springs and extending between said first transverse wall and said support cover for preventing axial movement of said bed and said first support cover toward said first transverse wall in a direction opposing said direction of flow. 6. An emergency power unit as set forth in claim 5, wherein said locking means comprise a pin extending axially within the center of said one of the coil springs with a flange at one end of said pin disposed between said one of the coil springs and said first support cover, and a tapered surface at an opposite end of said pin; a sleeve concentrically surrounding said opposite end of the pin with a flange disposed between said first transverse wall and said one of the coil springs; and an element in locking engagement with the interior surface of said sleeve and said tapered surface of said pin. 7. An emergency power unit as set forth in claim 6, wherein said locking means further comprises a biasing spring extending between said first transverse wall and said locking element for urging the latter axially in said direction of flow into said locking engagement. 8. An emergency power unit as set forth in claim 7, wherein said element comprises a plurality of balls disposed around said tapered surface in wedged, locked contact with said internal surface of the sleeve. 9. An emergency power unit as set forth in claim 8, wherein said locking means further includes a retainer disposed between said plurality of balls and said biasing spring, said biasing spring urging said balls to follow said pin and remain in said locking engagement upon axial movement of said bed and said first support cover in said direction of flow. 10. An emergency power unit as set forth in claim 9, wherein said locking means are automatically extensible in length upon movement of said bed in said direction of flow to remain in contact with said first support wall to continue prevention of movement of said bed in said opposing direction. 11. An emergency power unit as set forth in claim 10, wherein said locking means include a sleeve disposed within said one coil spring and biased thereby into engagement with said first transverse wall, said sleeve having an internal through bore; a pin slidably received within said internal bore and biased by said one coil spring into engagement with and movement with said first support cover, said pin having a tapered surface located within said internal bore, and a locking element disposed in locking frictional engagement with said internal bore and said tapered surface. 12. An emergency power unit as set forth in claim 11, wherein said locking means further comprises a biasing spring extending between said first transverse wall and said locking element for urging the latter axially in said direction of flow into said locking engagement. 13. An emergency power unit as set forth in claim 12, wherein said element comprises a plurality of balls disposed around said tapered surface in wedged, locked contact with said internal bore of the sleeve. 14. An emergency power unit as set forth in claim 13, wherein said locking means further includes a retainer disposed between said plurality of balls and said biasing spring, said biasing spring urging said balls to follow said pin and remain in said locking engagement upon axial movement of said bed and said first support cover in said direction of flow.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (2)
Daly James M. (Kirkland WA), Catalytic gas generator.
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