SUMMARY LETTER REPORT ON WORK ORDER NO. IX, TASK ORDER NO. CC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03639A001300130001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 20, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 26, 1959
• Content Type: REPORT

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SUP~TARY LETTER REPORT
ON
WORK ORDER NO. IX,
TASK ORDER NO. CC
July 26, 1959
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July 26, 1959
ar Sir:
This letter report describes the work done under Work Order No. IX,
Task Order No. CC, during the period March 27 through July 26, 1959?
Bacound Information
During the past several years, a search by many organizations for
a cheap, reliable, and seasonally accurate time-delay mechanism led to the
consideration of silicone fluid as a timing medium. Under Task Order No. J,
basic design criteria were established for an experimental time-delay unit
using silicone fluid. The effort under that Task Order was directed toward
the development of an experimental unit for use in providing time-delay
periods ranging from 15 minutes to 2 months, at temperatures varying from
-20 to +120 F; the desired accuracy was such that the flow of silicone fluid
could not vary more than ?10 per cent over this range of temperatures. In
the research performed under Task Order No. J, it was found necessary to
incorporate in the experimental unit a device designed to provide temperature
compensation, so that changes in the viscosity of the fluid that were brought
about by temperature variations would not cause the flow to vary beyond the
specified limits.
Subsequently, you described to us a need for another time-delay
unit, namely,
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2-inexpensive., reliable, and relatively small. There appeared to be a good
possibility that some of the data obtained under Task Order No. J could be
used advantageously in connection with a development study of a device of
this kind. The deep water in which such a device would be operating under
service conditions would not suffer major fluctuations in temperature. In
view of this and on the basis of preliminary calculations, it appeared that
a study directed toward the development of a device which would use silicone
fluid and would be suitable for the application of interest would not have
to include consideration of means for temperature compensation.
On March 27, 1959, Work Order No. IX, Task Order No. CC, was under-
taken to design, fabricate, and conduct a preliminary evaluation of a device
to fulfill the above-outlined requirements. The details of the effort
performed are described in the following.
S
Specifications for the Time-Delay Device of Interest
On the basis of discussions with you, a series of specifications
was formulated. Titus, under service conditions in sea water at a temperature
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within either of two ranges, namely, 30 to 50 F, and 50 to 70 F, it would
be desirable for the device of interest to:
(1)
(2)
Have neutral buoyancy.
Remain watertight for at least 1-1/2 years
at a maximum depth of 200 feet.
(4) Be self-contained, i.e., emit no silicone
fluid to the ambient water.
(5) Have outer dimensions of up to about 1-1/2
inches in diameter or maximum thickness, and
a length as short as possible.
(6) Be capable of attachment to a receptacle,
the dimensions of which would be provided.
Design of a Proposed Time-Delay Device
The results obtained on two previous programs were used as a basis
for the design of a proposed time-delay device. Under one of these programs,
Task Order Ito. G, the effort was directed toward the development of experi-
mental containers which would remain watertight during immersion in sea
water for periods up to 5 years. In this research, it has been demonstrated
that certain aluminum alloys can be immersed in sea water for more than
1-1/2 years without being damaged seriously; and rubber 0-rings have been
used successfully to seal the closures. On the basis of these results, it
was decided that the outer case of the time-delay device of interest should
be made of wrought 5052 or cast 356 aluminum alloy and sealed by an 0-ring.
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From the data obtained under Task Order No. J, we originally
calculated that a tube about 10 inches long with an inside diameter of about
0.007 inch would serve to control satisfactorily the flow of about 1-1/2
cubic inches of Viscasil 500,000 for the time-delay period of interest.
Subsequent work showed that this Viscasil would not reliably flow through
a 0.007-inch-diameter tube, while it would flow satisfactorily through a
0.010-inch-diameter tube. Further calculations showed that a volume of about
2 cubic inches of Viscasil 500,000 should be adequate when used with the
larger sized tubing. Further information from Task Order No. J allowed
us to determine that the force needed to extrude this fluid through the
tube could be supplied by a helical, steel compression spring, and that the
force could be transmitted to the fluid through a rubber Bellofram piston
seal.
Figure 1 is a layout which was prepared for a proposed time-delay
device. The silicone fluid was to be contained in a chamber formed by the
end cap and the Bellofram piston seal. Pressure would be applied to the
fluid by means of a spring-loaded piston, and the fluid would be forced to
flow through the regulating tube, through the opened spool valve, and into
the volume partially occupied by the spring.
Flow in the proposed unit would be initiated by means of a simple
spool valve located at one end of the regulating tube. In Figure 1 the valve
is shown closed. To permit flow, the spool would be pulled out; the
valve would then be open, and the fluid could flow through the valve and into
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One internal safety interlock was provided to prevent the use of
a timer of this type that might have lost fluid and thus might be subject to
premature actuation. This interlock was achieved by permitting the inner
end of the spool to extend into a hole in the piston; this hole was shaped
so as to prevent the spool from being pulled out if considerable leakage
had occurred (and the piston had moved a corresponding distance), and also
to restrain the piston from movement after a small amount of leaking.
It was visualized that in a production model of such a timer, two
more external pin-type safeties would be desirable. One of these could pass
through the spool to prevent accidental actuation, and the other could be
located behind the firing pin to prevent premature firing.
Design of a Laboratory Model
To permit the testing of the principles shown in Figure 1, a
laboratory model of the time-delay device was designed and this embodied
several differences. Figure 2 is a drawing of the laboratory model. It will
be noted that for the laboratory model, the end cap was made thicker to permit
the addition of a refilling fitting, the firing-pin mechanism was eliminated,
a rod was added to permit the measurement of the piston travel from outside
the device, and the flange portion of the rubber Bellofram piston seal was
used as a flat-gasket type of seal between the end cap and the housing.
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FIGURE 2. DESIGN OF THE LABORATORY MODEL OF THE TIME-DELAY DEVICE
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The regulating tube to be used was stainless steel seamless capillary tubing,
0.075 inch in OD, 0.010 inch in ID, and 2 inches in length.
Evaluation of the Laboratory Model
Upon ccanpletion of the parts of the laboratory model, the unit was
partially assembled and then filled with Viscasil 500,000 fluid using the
following procedure. As shown in Figure 2, the Bellofram seal formed one part
of the fluid storage chamber, while the flanged end cap provided the other
part. Both parts of the chamber were filled to slightly above full and allowed
to sit for 24 hours to allow any trapped air to escape; the end cap was then
bolted to the housing. An exterior valve, inserted in the flanged end cap
for experimental purposes (not shown in Figure 2), was opened to allow any
other trapped air to escape. The piston was permitted to move slightly, and
a small amount of the Viscasil was allowed to escape through the open valve.
The valve was then closed and the device was set up for the operating test at
ambient (room) temperature. A direct-reading dial indicator was placed
against the piston rod and set to a zero reading. Also attached to the test
stand was an accurate thermometer for indicating the ambient temperature. The
unit was allowed to sit for an additional 24 hours and was then actuated.
Daily readings of the movement of the piston were taken. As the
test data began to accumulate, it became apparent that the device was operating
at a speed at least 50 per cent greater than that originally calculated.
The first thought was that leakage of the Viscasil from the device might be
causing the high readings; consequently, "C" clamps were applied to provide
additional clamping at the flanges. To obviate the possibility of leaks in
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the filling piping, the exterior valve was removed and a pipe plug was
inserted in the flanged end cap.
The tests were then continued, but the data obtained indicated no
reduction in the rate of piston travel. It appeared that only one area
remained as a source of leakage - the seal at the regulating tube and the
regulating tube itself; the regulating tube was sealed in position by means
of one small 0-ring.
In an effort to determine whether there was leakage at the regulating-
tube 0-ring, the test unit was disassembled and cleaned, and the 0-ring and
regulating tube were removed. Inspection of the regulating tube revealed
small lathe collet or chuck marks (or grooves) on the outside surface of the
tube; it appeared that these grooves might have permitted leakage of the fluid
past the tube and the 0-ring. Suosequently, the unit was re-assembled using
a new regulating tube and three 0-rings stacked together, with liquid-gasket-
seal material applied to the stacked 0-rings, to the outside of the tube, and
to the inside of the hole which housed the tube and the 0-rings.
The measurement of the diameter of the new regulating tube was
accomplished as follows. The tube was cut to the proper length with great
care exercised by the machinist; every effort was made to insure that the
hole was neither burred nor tapered enough to influence the subsequent
measurement of the tube-end diameters. A precision microscope was then used
to measure each tube-end diameter, first, across the tube in one direction
and second, after the tube was rotated axially through 90 degrees. These two
readings for each end were averaged, and then the two end values were
averaged, to obtain a value for the diameter of the tube orifice.
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After re-assembly of the unit, the test at room temperature was
resumed. The data obtained indicated that the flow was only about 16 per cent
higher than the calculated value. Thus, it appeared that the new-regulating-
tube inner diameter was closer to the appropriate size than had been the
original-regulating-tube inner diameter, and/or the original single 0-ring
seal had not been satisfactory.
It was realized that the tube inner diameter could vary somewhat
throughout any given length of tube, and also that the flow rate would vary
as the fourth power of the inner diameter-M-. Consequently, it appeared that
calibration of the regulating tube was necessary.
With this thought in mind, the regulating tube was removed from
the laboratory model and attached to a source of constant air pressure.
The silicone fluid was allowed to extrude into a closed container which was
accurately weighed every 24+ hours, to determine the actual flow without the
effects of unknown variables, such as leakage, being a factor in the final
results.
The results of this final test demonstrated the consistency with
which the silicone fluid would extrude through an orifice tube; the flow was
only 2.6 per cent higher than the flow through the tube when assembled in
the laboratory model of the timer. All of the tests were run at room
temperature, which fluctuated daily. It is considered likely that, under more
constant temperature conditions, the difference between the flow obtained in
the tube calibration tests and the actual flow through the tube incorporated
in the timer can be decreased to less than 2.6 per cent.
*This was discussed in the "Second Summary Report on Task Order No. J"
dated February 26, 1959?
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Future Work
On the basis of the information obtained from this research, it
appeared that finalization of a time-delay device could be forthcoming with
a small amount of additional work. There was, however, the necessity for:
(1) determining the best method of calibrating the regulating tube,
(2) investigating the use of a Bellofram piston seal provided with an 0-ring
seal, to minimize the chance of fluid leakage at the piston seal, and
(3) streamlining the exterior of the device to obtain improved underwater-
flow characteristics.
In accordance with your subsequent request, a proposed program of
research dated August 13, 1959, was submitted that was directed toward
accomplishing the above-described efforts, and preparing and evaluating four
units of this type so that the problems which might be encountered in
production could be explored. (~1'his program was subsequently undertaken under
Task Order No. LL-)
We would appreciate any comments which you or your associates
might care to make with regard to our efforts under this Work Order.
Sincerely,
In Triplicate
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