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of holding the system in firm bolted engagement as seen the specific embodiment illustrated, two opposite seg-
in FIGURE 2, while converting to a nested released ments 31 .and 32 are provided with longitudinal keyways
position as seen in FIGURE 3, when sufficient longi- 81 and 82 at the lower or release ends. Upstanding longi-
tudinal movement of piston 44 relative to threaded seg- tudinal keys 83 and 84 on locking ring 45 mate with these
ment assembly 30 takes place. 5 keyways ,and lock the segmented assembly against
However, it will also be seen that the longitudinal rotation.
movement which takes place between FIGURE 2 and It will be seen from the illustrations of FIGURES 2
FIGURE 3 merely makes possible, but not certain, the · and 3 that in the preferred specific embodiment the nest-
radially outward movement necessary to achieve the nest- ing structure of the annular shoulders 51 and 52 with 53
ing position of FIGURE 3, except for the fact that 10 and 54 serves the additional purpose of imparting a posi-
there is provided in the device of the invention the tive downward movement to the threaded segment assem-
conical telescoping system which positively achieves said bly 30 during the last part, and the last part only, of the
outward movement to nesting position. releasing movement of piston 44.
It will be seen from the perspective view of FIGURE While the foregoing description has set forth in great
5 that the segments 31 to 34 are outwardly flared at 15 detail one specific embodiment comprising substantially
each end to provide pressure in the conical surfaces 61 all of the best features of the invention, it will be under-
and release end conical surfaces 62, respectively. Cor- stood that the invention in its most generic form may
respondingly, the upstream or pressure side of the ring embody in a great variety of structmes which depart
45 is provided with a mating converging conical sur- materially from the particular forms and operations illus-
face 64. · 20 trated. It is therefore my intention to include ,all such vari-
An opposing and opposite mating conical surface 65 ations in design which are comprehended within the scope
is provided at the pressure end of segment assembly 30 of the following claims.
by a ring 70 which may be identified as the timing ring Having thus described my invention, what I claim as
since it controls the timing of the sequence of steps of new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:
release, in the preferred embodiment shown, and de- 25 1. A releasable nut device for releasably holding in as-
scribed hereinafter. sembly a bolted structure comprised of a bolt-head part, a
It will be seen that timing ring 70 is provided with nut-held part, and a bolt for holding said parts in assem-
an external annular shear flange 71, as seen in FIGURE bly, which device comprises:
2, the shear flange 71 seats under a shearing shoulder a body having an internal chamber aligned with said
or step 72 formed in the pressure end of the interior of 30 bolt, said chamber extending longitudinally from a
piston 44. Accidental release of the bolt 13 is thus release end having an opening for the reception of
avoided, as the piston 44 cannot move downward to the the threaded shank of said bolt, to a pressure end
released position of FIGURE 3 until it has been sub- enclosing a pressure chamber, and having a location
jected to sufficient pressure and pressure chamber 40 for the admission of fluid under pressure;
to shear away the external shear flange 71 as seen in 35 a set of internally threaded segments forming, in as-
71a in FIGURE 3. sembly, a threaded sleeve mating with the threads of
Moreover, it is important to note that the pressure said bolt, said sleeve assembly having surfaces at at
in 43 is spaced longitudinally downstream toward the least ,one end, which diverge from the axis of said
release end 16 from contact with the pressure end 46 assembly;
of piston 44. This provides for the timing of the first 40 a piston closely received in said chamber and reciproca-
step in the sequence of release. It is necessary for piston ble between a bolt-engaging position near the pres-
44 to travel this space distance shearing flange 71, and sure end of said cylindrical chamber and a bolt-
displacing the mating annular shoulders 53 and 54 below releasing position near the release end of said cham-
the annular shoulders 51 and 52 to permit the nesting ber, said piston being comprised of a pressure head
seen in FIGURE 3. Only after this initial longitudinal 45 at the pressure end and a depending sleeve opening
displacement occurs, can the next step in the sequence toward the release end, said sleeve enclosing said
of release take place. segment assembly;
The second sequence in release of the bolt 14 is the a converging surface structure mating with the diverg-
radially outward displacement of the segments 31 to 34 ing surfaces of said segments;
from the bottom position of FIGURE 2 to the release 50 a nestable structure between said threaded segment as-
position of FIGURE 3 by the telescoping action of sembly and the interior of said piston sleeve includ-
timing ring 70 downward towards locking ring 45. The ing ,an annular shoulder on one of said parts mating
cam movement between the mating of conical surfaces at with an adjacent annular groove on the other, said
each end of the threaded segment assembly 30, as illus- nested structure being held in an abutting position
trated in FIGURE 5, converts this telescoping action to 55 with said segments in engagement with the threads of
positive outward radial movement, and once telescoping said bolt, as long as said piston remains in said bolt-
has occurred, the retention of pressure in chamber 40a,
engaging position in the pressure end of said cham-
by virtue of its secure sealing, holds the lockout condi- ber, but being adapted to nest radially outward from
tion of FIGURE 3 for a perceptible time, much more longitudinal movement of said piston toward said
than is required to release bolt 13. 60 release position;
It is optional as to whether or not bolt 13 will be forci-
and means for discharging propulsion fluid into said
bly expelled in the direction of the arrows •80, as indicated pressure chamber within the pressure end of said
in FIGURE 3, by a blow from the understructure of tim- cylindrical chamber.
ing ring 70, or piston 44, or whether no such blow will be 2. An explosive nut device for releasably holding in as-
employed, but only release of threaded segment assembly 65 sembly a bolted structure comprised of a bolt-head part, a
30. nut-held part, and a bolt for holding said parts in assembly,
It will be understood that it is much preferred to design which device comprises:
the device to avoid any deformation so as to make it re-
usable, and to avoid ,any possible jamming. However, the a body having an internal cylindrical chamber axially
segments 31 may be driven to deformation (in the position 70 aligned with said bolt, said chamber extending longi-
of FIGURE 3) if a particular application makes that de- tudinally from a release end having an opening for
the reception of the threaded shank of said bolt, to a
sirable.
An important role of locking ring 45 is to provide some pressure end enclosing ,a pressure chamber, and hav-
method of keying so that the bolt 13 may be tightened into ing a location for the admission of fluid under pres-
the segment assembly 30 with good torquing force. In 75 sure;