Patent ID: 6250388
Filing Date: 2001-06-26
Classification: B08B,E21B

Abstract:
A gas impulse device which includes:a housing having a longitudinal axis, a gas inlet port, and at least one gas discharge port;an inlet chamber, arranged for gas communication with a source of compressed gas via said inlet port and operative to receive compressed gas therefrom;a pressurization chamber arranged for gas communication with said inlet chamber thereby to facilitate a build-up of pressurized gas therein, and arranged for selectable gas communication with said at least one discharge port;a piston unit arranged along said longitudinal axis of said housing between said inlet chamber and said pressurization chamber, and selectably movable between a first operative position and a second operative position, whereat in said first operative position said piston unit prevents gas communication between said pressurization chamber and said at least one discharge port, and whereat in said second operative position said piston unit is retracted so as to facilitate gas communication between said pressurization chamber and said at least one discharge port; anda sealing arrangement arranged between said pressurization chamber and said at least one discharge port,wherein, when said piston unit is in said first operative position, at least a portion of said piston unit is operative to enter into mating engagement with at least a portion of said sealing arrangement, and wherein, when said piston unit is in mating engagement with said sealing arrangement, said piston unit and said sealing arrangement cooperate so as to prevent gas communication between said pressurization chamber and said at least one discharge port,and wherein said piston unit is operative to move between said first and said second operative positions in response to a force differential across said piston unit in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, such that when said piston unit is in said first operative position and the gas pressure in said pressurization chamber is of at least a predetermined magnitude, said piston unit is operative to move towards said second operative position in response to an at least predetermined minimum force differential thereby to facilitate a paid high pressure exhaustion of gas in said pressurization chamber to the exterior of said housing via said at least one discharge port.