Patent ID: 6925939

Claim:
An apparatus for low shock detachment comprising: an expandable latch having a plurality of fingers, each said finger having a closed position and a open position, each said finger having a base, each said base being clamped to each adjacent said base, each said finger having an anterior surface and a dorsal surface, said anterior surface defines a segment of a cylindrical shape, said anterior surface having a plurality of evenly spaced circumferential internal detents, each said finger ending in a tip; a recess sized and shaped so that when each said base is clamped to an adjacent said base a closed chamber is formed from the collective of each said recess; an ordnance charge located inside said closed chamber; an ordnance ignition device connected to said ordnance charge; a stud having a first end and a stem, said first end having a head with a bearing surface, said stem having a cylindrical shape, said stem having a plurality of evenly spaced circumferential external detents, said stem having a 2.75 inch diameter; each said circumferential external detent being sized and shaped to interlock with the corresponding said circumferential internal detent of each said finger; a first housing having a first collar sized to slideably receive said stem of said stud with said bearing surface of said head abutting said first collar; a first structure attached to said first housing; a second housing having a second collar sized to slideably receive said stem of said stud with said tip of each said finger abutting against said second collar; a second structure attached to said second housing; a biasing device connected between said head of said stud and said first housing; said first housing being attached to said second housing when said each said circumferential external detent of said stud being interlocked with the corresponding said circumferential internal detent of each said finger when each said finger being in said closed position; and said first housing being unattached to said second housing when each circumferential external detent of said stud is no longer interlocked with the corresponding said circumferential internal detent of each said finger when each said finger being in said open position.