Cartridge Actuated Devices

We provide a full suite of Cartridge Actuated Devices (CADs) and Propellant Actuated Devices (PADS), which have been a part of every successful launch into space; providing safety while on the launch pad; ensuring vehicle motor start while providing key flight termination capability if needed; providing separation of motor stages in flight and ensuring the payload is delivered as needed. In addition, we deliver critical devices to all branches of service that ensure our freedom is preserved. From strategic deterrent to our warfighters, you can depend on our heritage and demonstrated reliability for success.

All Cartridge Actuated Devices

Separation Bolt

A pyrotechnic separation bolt is a bolt designed to fracture at a specific, pre-determined separation point at precisely the right time. The bolt will experience intentional mechanical failure resulting in the planned separation and with contained debris output. Separation bolts are activated by pyrotechnic inputs, such as initiators or pressure cartridges.

Product Description

A pyrotechnic separation bolt is a bolt designed to fracture at a specific pre-determined separation point at precisely the right time. The bolt will experience intentional mechanical failure resulting in the planned separation and with contained debris output. Separation bolts are activated by pyrotechnic inputs, such as initiators or pressure cartridges.

Designed for missile, spacecraft and marine applications where rapid structure separation is demanded. Piston actuated and hydrodynamic (pressure amplified) pyrotechnic separation bolts are available in a wide range of sizes, configurations and tensile capacities (from as little as 200 pounds to as much as 1,000,000 pounds). Our engineers are here to support you in meeting your structural loading, envelope and environmental requirements and guide you on ways to mitigate shrapnel and products of combustion.

Pyrotechnic Bolt Cutter & Rod Cutter

A pyrotechnic bolt cutter, or rod cutter, is a device with a blade which will precision cut a bolt or rod set against an anvil at a specific time. These usually contain an initiator, a chisel shaped cutter blade, a blade positioning shear pin and an anvil in a cylindrical housing.

Product Description

The Pyrotechnic Bolt Cutter (or Rod Cutter) is a pyrotechnic device engineered to include a blade, which, when initiated, will precision cut the bolt or rod which is set against an anvil. The entire device consists of an initiator (which could be our NSI initiator for space applications), a chisel shaped cutter blade, a blade positioning shear pin and an anvil in a cylindrical housing. The bolt or rod to be cut fits through a clearance hole in the housing, placing it against the anvil. When the initiator functions, the blade is accelerated and impacts the bolt, forcing it to cut through against the anvil. This cutting process completely fractures the high strength steel bolt or rod.

Pyrotechnic Tube Cutter

A Pyrotechnic Tube Cutter opens pressure diaphragms or completely severs and then seals metal tubes of varying diameters and wall thicknesses carrying pressurized fluids. The tubing cutter/sealer is used to cut and seal two stainless steel (which can be Teflon lined) tubes.

Product Description

The tubing cutter/sealer assembly primarily consists of the body, anvil, one electrically fired gas pressure cartridge, four shear pins and cutter assembly. The cutter assembly consists of the piston, crimper and blade. The crimper and blade are attached to the piston by two of the shear pins (sequencing pins). The piston is secured in the body by the other two shear pins (initial lock pins). The body provides for the installation of the cartridge, attachment of the anvil, and housing for the cutter assembly. Lugs, for attaching the tubing cutter/sealer to the releasing structure, are an integral part of the body.

Count on our compact, structurally confined pyrotechnic tube cutter. Built for speed and accuracy. Tailor made for mission-critical wins.

Pyrotechnic Cable Cutter

A pyrotechnic cable cutter uses a blade and anvil to sever the toughest of cables or wires with precision on command. They are designed to cut both solid and multiple stranded wire within 20 milliseconds of initiation. One variant of this device severs a solid 0.033” diameter stainless steel spring wire in less than 20 milliseconds.

Product Description

A pyrotechnic cable cutter uses an initiator to activate a blade and anvil to sever the toughest of cables or wires with precision on command. They are designed to cut both solid and multiple stranded cables or wire within 20 milliseconds of initiation. One variant of this device severs a solid 0.033” diameter stainless steel spring wire in less than 20 milliseconds.

Utilizing gas generators and precision engineered components, our range of electrically initiated cable cutters are designed to be compact and exceptionally reliable. Capable of cutting braided steel wire, armored electrical cabling, including Kevlar, aramid and glass fiber cords. Made from stainless steel, the cutters are suitable for use in almost every environment.

Pyrotechnic Cord Cutter & Wire Cutter

Designed to cut within milliseconds, our pyrotechnic cord cutter is used to sever single wires or simultaneously sever bundles of electrical wires. Not to mention the ability to cut Kevlar™, Vectran™ and Zylon™

Product Description

Time Delay Initiators (TDIs)

Product Description

Time Delay Initiators (TDIs) are used to properly sequence time (from milliseconds to hours) and events in a system. They are used in emergency egress, missile, space and oil and gas systems. Each application may have multiple delay times, inputs, outputs and configuration options.

Pyrotechnic Actuator

Product Description

A pyrotechnic actuator (or explosive piston actuator) can pierce a pressurized vessel (to release gasses), eject flares, unlatch devices, remove devices and push mechanical devices from point A to point B. Achieve your mission-critical goal through an active stroke of an internal rod or piston to induce or control the desired motion. As an innovator in the motion control sector, we have led application advancement to initiate devices by any number of methods.

The power for such devices is provided by pressure cartridges or gas generators. Pressure produced by the cartridge drives a piston creating mechanical motion. Pyrotechnic actuators are used for opening pressure vessels, ejecting flares, unlatching and any other operation where a high energy, relatively short duration, mechanical motion is required.

These powerful stroking devices are designed to pack a lot of punch! Piston Actuators can be initiated electrically with a bridge wire device, or with a FCDCA. Upon initiation, pressure is created causing a piston to stroke. These devices are designed to provide an impulse for a variety of applications both large and small, such as vehicle stage and fairing separation push off, rupturing diaphragms, releasing locking pins, activating latch releases, or activating batteries. Full function typically occurs in milliseconds from the input of the firing signal.

Pyrotechnic Pin Puller

A pyrotechnic pin puller is a device used to activate latch releases, release locking pins or move mechanisms to perform work and a variety of applications. Our compact, pyrotechnic pin puller delivers precision movement on command, securing or releasing a variety of payloads.

Product Description

Consider the pin puller is a ballistic thruster in reverse, it is used to activate latch releases, release locking pins or move mechanisms to perform work and in a variety of applications. Our compact, pyrotechnic pin puller delivers precision movement on command, securing or releasing a variety of payloads. We will customize to meet any mission-critical need, including the controlled release of:

structural fittings
mechanisms
rods
cables
booms
parachutes

Pyrotechnic Delay Sequencing

Product Description

Your Mission-Critical Objectives are Perfectly Timed with a PacSci EMC Pyrotechnic Delay, No Matter How Robust the Environment.

Our pyrotechnic delay is used to provide a controlled delay time from initiation stimulus to the device, to the time the device provides an output. The delays are typically initiated by standard detonating tips, deflagrating lines or hot gas and contain products of combustion. A time delay usually includes a pyrotechnic cartridge within a housing that is hermetically sealed and the Small Column Insulated Delay (SCID) delay element.

The SCID is the pyrotechnic element consisting of a controlled burn rate fuse material within a metal sheath. The housing is the protective container that holds the cartridge and provides the required interfaces for the input and output devices. PacSci EMC pyrotechnic time delays range from 50 milliseconds to 10 minutes. Time tolerances are typically +/- 20% across the operating temperature range. A time delay provides a stand-alone device, but can be packaged with other time delays or devices to meet customer application needs.

Pyrovalve

Product Description

A Pyrovalve is lightweight and reliable. These valves are critical to the liquid and gaseous fluid systems of missiles, launch vehicles, spacecraft and undersea vehicles. Often initiated by a NASA Standard Initiator, such as our Space Standard Initiator, these explosively actuated valves perform the same function as valves by other means. The difference is that the operation of the explosively actuated valve is performed by a pressure cartridge, initiator or detonator. The advantages in the use of explosives as valve operators are twofold: First, the large energy conversion ratio, the long-term storage and the high reliability of the explosive device. Second, the rapid functioning times in milliseconds which are available in no other type of valve. They can be designed in a wide range of sizes, configurations and fluid mediums, including normally-open, normally-closed and multiple valve combinations to successfully support your mission-critical fluid systems from deep sea to deep space. One such example is our Combination Valve.