DaveHein
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- Feb 19, 2009
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There have been a couple of threads recently on non-pyro ejections systems, so I thought I would start investigating a non-pyro CO2 system.
I ran some tests to determine how much force is needed to puncture a CO2 cartridge. It took about 42 pounds to pierce the cartridge with the point of a #10 metal screw. I used a 16 gram threaded cartridge made by Genuine Innovations. It seems that it would be difficult to produce 42 pounds of force with a non-pyro device. A strong spring would be required, or possibly an electric motor with reduction gears. This would add additional weight. The 16 gram cartridge weighs about 60 grams when full, and 44 grams when empty.
When I get a chance I'm going to sharpen the tip of the screw to see if this reduces the puncturing force. One thing I noticed when I ran my tests was that the tip of the screw would partially seal the opening until I reduced the force on the screw. So the piercing mechanism must puncture the cartridge and then back off so that the CO2 can be released quickly. The Rouse-Tech device was designed to do this.
One solution for using a CO2 cartridge without BP would be to puncture the CO2 cartridge on the ground during flight prep. A rubber seal around the puncturing pin would keep the CO2 from leaking out. At ejection time, the puncturing pin could be released by an actuator allowing the CO2 to come out.
I ran some tests to determine how much force is needed to puncture a CO2 cartridge. It took about 42 pounds to pierce the cartridge with the point of a #10 metal screw. I used a 16 gram threaded cartridge made by Genuine Innovations. It seems that it would be difficult to produce 42 pounds of force with a non-pyro device. A strong spring would be required, or possibly an electric motor with reduction gears. This would add additional weight. The 16 gram cartridge weighs about 60 grams when full, and 44 grams when empty.
When I get a chance I'm going to sharpen the tip of the screw to see if this reduces the puncturing force. One thing I noticed when I ran my tests was that the tip of the screw would partially seal the opening until I reduced the force on the screw. So the piercing mechanism must puncture the cartridge and then back off so that the CO2 can be released quickly. The Rouse-Tech device was designed to do this.
One solution for using a CO2 cartridge without BP would be to puncture the CO2 cartridge on the ground during flight prep. A rubber seal around the puncturing pin would keep the CO2 from leaking out. At ejection time, the puncturing pin could be released by an actuator allowing the CO2 to come out.