CD3 - Carbon Dioxide Deployment Device Released

01/16/03 00:00:00    

By Michael Mealling

p.

_San Jose, CA (ROL Newswire) – _  

Rouse-Tech of San Jose, California has developed a carbon dioxide recovery deployment mechanism for rocketry applications. CD3 is a linear pyrotechnic release mechanism for piercing stock, off-the-shelf CO2 cartridges and using the expanding gas to perform parachute deployment. p. The cold gas takes the place of a .25 to 10 gram Black Powder charge and eliminates the scorching, burning, and dangers of BP in recovery systems. CD3, for Carbon Dioxide Deployment Device (patent pending) is the result of numerous observations at the launch site of failed high altitude flights. So very often these high flyers would return dramatically with their electric matches partially burned and BP charge missing, but without parachute deployment. A year of research using fixtures capable of simulating near space vacuum, consultation with engineers and scientists, and hundreds of tests determined that current methods of deployment were lacking. The fact that matches and powder charges both needed to be within a contained system in order to work properly was well known to aerospace engineers but largely ignored by the hobby rocket community. The natural outgrowth of this experimentation was the utilization of this contained system to do work and open a CO2 cartridge which would provide the necessary deployment gasses.

p. Once the system was perfected Rouse-Tech came to the conclusion that the system designed for high altitude recoveries was perfect for altitudes generally seen by the hobby rocket community. Since the smokeless, Pyrodex, or Black Powder charge utilized by the unit was minimal it was determined that the interior of airframes would not get fouled by combustion byproducts. The heat usually encountered using a black powder charge was also not present resulting in nylon and kevlar bridles remaining undamaged. Most importantly, the need for Kevlar shields and/or cellulose wadding was eliminated.

p. The CD3 is exclusively distributed by Aerocon Systems and all units are in stock and ready for immediate delivery.

p. For more info: www.aeroconsystems.com.