Contamination of sensitive equipment when squibs are fired is prevented by O-rings which retain the debris of squib discharge within the disconnect device

Davis, D. P.

Mc Dougal, A. R.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

Oute 
Housin 
Ball 
Squil 
Pi
quib 
Umbilical Disconnec t
 A 
April 1970	 Brief 70-10170 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical 
Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Division, NASA, Code UT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Umbilical Disconnect Actuator 
The innovation described in this Tech Brief is a 
novel method for protecting sensitive equipment 
when squibs are fired. 
The device illustrated in the figure is capable of 
disconnect by either squib (explosive device), or man-
ually should a non-firing condition exist. A combi-
nation of explosive discharge and spring stored ener-
gies provides positive operation of the disconnect 
actuator for separating connected umbilical cables. 
Contamination of sensitive equipment when the squibs 
are fired is prevented by the use of 0-rings which 
retain the debris of squib discharge within the device. 
As shown in the figure, a pair of squibs are attached 
to the actuator outer housing. The main parts of the 
device are the outer housing, concentric ball guide, 
inner housing and a concentric piston. Either squib 
is capable of producing enough power to release and 
actuate the disconnect device, but two squibs are used 
to provide redundancy. 
Notes: 
I. The information contained in this Tech Brief should 
be of interest to personnel working with explosive 
disconnect devices. 
2. Requests for further information may be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
NASA Pasadena Office 
4800 Oak Grove Drive 
Pasadena, California 91103 
Reference: B70-10170 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial 
use of this invention may be made to NASA, Code 
GP, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Source: Allan R. McDougal and 
Douglas P. Davis, of 
Caltech/JPL 
tinder contract to 
NASA Pasadena Office 
(N P0-11202) 
( 
I his document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States	 will be free from privately owned rights.
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Umbilical disconnect actuator

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