Energy Accumulating Actuator

Abstract

A device for storing and converting chemical energy into controlled mechanical motion requires that chemical energy is released through ignition and stored in an accumulator. When a release valve is activated the stored energy is used to move a piston and push-rod arrangement, which can be used to actuate certain power tools.

1 . A device for storing and converting chemical energy into controlled mechanical motion comprising:
 a barrel with two end to end chambers with a release valve between the chambers, one chamber is the chemical chamber the other is the accumulator chamber.   a sealed piston arrangement in the chemical chamber.   a sealed cap arrangement at the chemical chamber end of the barrel allows for ingress of chemical, ignition of chemical and egress of spent chemical.   a sealed piston and push-rod arrangement in the accumulator chamber.   a sealed cap at the accumulator chamber end of the barrel allows for ingress and egress of a push-rod actuator.   a elastically compressible and expansible gas filling the void between the piston and push-rod piston separated by the release valve.   a method for operating the release valve.   ignition of the chemical in the chemical chamber causes a force on the piston to compress the gas separating the piston from the release valve.   when the release valve is opened this allows the transfer of energy, stored in the compressed gas, to the piston and push-rod arrangement.