US3221932A - Inflating device for flotation gear - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 7, 1965 G. A. ANDERSON INFLATING DEVICE FOR FLOTATION GEAR Filed April 4, 1962 l l l 2 Sheets-She eil \ /wml 20 1 ll k R /A/l/ENTo/z @usr/1F A. AA/DE/aso/v Arroz/Jens /40 /zab 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /M/EA/Toz GUSTAF A. AA/Dszso/J 770,40, Kde/mma, Hai/@www4 Wgu.

Armen/5v5 G A ANDERSON INFLATING DEVICE FOR FLOTATION GEAR Dec. 7, 1965 Flled Aprll 4 1962 United States Patent O 3,221,932 INFLATNG DEVICE FR FLGTATION GEAR Gustaf A. Anderson, 3333 Pachappa Drive, Riverside, Calif. Filed Apr. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 185,098 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-5) This invention relates to an inllating device for inflating flotation gear such as life preservers, life rafts and the like, and more particularly it relates to an inilating device of the type that is automatically actuated upon being immersed in water.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved inilating device of the type having a cartridge or container of inllating fluid under pressure and provided with a water soluble pellet or plug which dissolves when the device is immersed in water and thus allows the inilation iluid to escape from the cartridge and inllate a life preserver, life raft or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved inllating device which is simple in operation, economical in construction and relatively small in size.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved inating device which utilizes the pressure of the intlating lluid to operate a piston valve to release the fluid when the water soluble pellet dissolves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved intlating device in which the cartridge containing the inflating fluid can be easily and simply replaced and the device can be used again after such replacement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved inilating device which can be constructed mainly of plastic material and does not require operating parts to be held to close dimensional tolerances yet still prevents the inilating fluid from gradually leaking out if the device is not used for a long period of time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved inflating device of the type described in the previous paragraph in which the inilating fluid cannot escape to the atmosphere when the device is actuated but is directed entirely into the article to be inflated.

The `foregoing' and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by providing an inilating device having a cylinder with a port in the side wall and a cartridge containing inilating lluid under pressures positioned adjacent one end of the cylinder. Means are provided in the cylinder for puncturing the cartridge to allow the fluid to be released into said cylinder. A piston is provided in the cylinder and is movable therein between a port closing and a port opening position. A soluble pellet is provided in the `cylinder to normally maintain the piston in a port closing position and passageways are provided in the cylinder to permit the entry of water to dissolve the pellet and allow the piston to be moved to a port opening position by the pressure of the iluid in the cartridge.

For better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of an inllating device as characterized by the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the inilating device taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing the operating parts of the device in one of their operating positions;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the upper end of the inilating device taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1 and showing the operating parts in another of their operating positions;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the inilating device of FIG. l showing the individual parts;

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FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken -along line 6-6 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View of another embodiment of an inllating device as characterized by the features of the present invention.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGS. l to 6 of the drawings, there is illustrated aninflating device 10 `which is connected to a life preserver, life raft or the like 12 by means of a duct ortube 14. Thelife preserver 12 is preferably constructed of rubber, plastic or other material which can be folded into a small space and is adapted to be intl-ated with fluid to provide flotation support for the wearer or occupant in water.

The inflating device .10 is provided with a generallycylindrical body 16 having external threads 16a at the upper end thereof andexternal threads 16b at the lower end thereof. Thebody 16 is provided with a centralaxial bore 18 having a cylindrical upper portion which defines a cylinder or piston chamber 2t). The lower end of the -bore 1S is provided with an enlarged and internally threadedsection 22 in order to accommodate a threadedplug 24.

Theplug 24 is generally cylindrical in form and the upper portion thereof is provided with an annular recess for accommodating an O-ring 27 which seats against a shoulder formed between thecylinder 20 and the threadedsection 22 to provide a seal therebetween. The lower face of theplug 24 is provided with an axially positioned, downwardly depending conically shaped point or spike 26. Theplug 24 is also provided with a central bore 23 the upper end of which communicates with thecylinder 20 and the lower end of which emerges. on the conical side of thespike 26 above the lower point thereof. A washer shapedgasket 30 is also provided on the lower llat surface of theplug 24 to provide a seal between the plug and the top end of an inilatingiluid containing cartridge 32. Thecartridge 32 is preferably of the type commercially available having metal walls and containing fluid such as CO2 under a high pressure.

Thecartridge 32 is positioned in alower cap 34 which is provided with internal threads adjacent its upper end for engaging thethreads 16b of the body. Agasket 36 is provided for sealing between the upper end of thelower cap 34 and a shoulder defined on the -body 16 adjacent the upper end of the threads 16h. Thecartridge 32 is llrst placed in thelower cap 34 and the `cap is then threaded on thethreads 16b of the body until thespike 26 punctures the top surface of the cartridge allowing the iluid therein to enter the cylinder 2t) through the bore 2S in theplug 24. The fluid is prevented from escaping into the lower portion of thebody 16 and then to the atmosphere by thegaskets 30 and 36.

There is provided in the cylinder 20 aslidable piston 38 having two annular grooves defined therein which contain O-rings 40 and 42. Thus, when thespike 26 punctures thecartridge 32 the fluid released into thecylinder 20 exerts a force on the lower end of thepiston 38 tending to force it upward. The iluid is prevented from escaping around the Walls of thepiston 38 by the O-rings 4@ and 42. The upper end of thepiston 38 is provided with a pair ofradial grooves 44. Aport 46 is provided in the wall of the cylinder 2t) to communicate with theduct 14. It should be noted that the location of theport 46 is positioned between the O-rings 40 and 42 when thepiston 38 is in the closed position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Thus, the O-ring 4i) prevents any inilating fluid from the cartridge from entering theport 46 until thepiston 38 is moved upwardly by the force of the fluid to the position shown in FIG. 3.

Thepiston 38 is prevented from upward movement under the force of the fluid pressure by means of a water soluble pellet 43 and anupper cap 50. Theupper cap 50 is threaded onto the threads 16a of thebody 16 and defines a space orwater chamber 52 for accommodating the pellet 4S.Ports 54 are provided in the end and side walls of the upper cap 5d in order that water may enter thechamber 52 and dissolve thepellet 48 when the device is immersed in water. Thegrooves 44 in the upper end of thepiston 38 are provided so that the water can easily move from one side of thechamber 52 to the other and thus effect a rapid dissolution of the pellet 4,8 when the device is immersed in water. The O-ring 42 prevents any water from passing from thechamber 52 through thecylinder 50 andport 46 into thelife preserver 12.

In order to assemble the inllatingdevice 10, theplug 24 with the O-ring 27 and gasket 30 thereon is threaded into the threadedsection 22 at the lower end of thebody 16. The piston 3S with the O-rings 4.0. and 42 is then inserted into thecylinder 20 from the top end of thebody 16. It is to be understood that thebody 16 and piston 3S can be constructed of plastic or the like and that the dimensional tolerances of thepiston 38 and cylinder 2) do not have to be precisely controlled since the O-rings 40 and 42 are slightly larger in external diameter than the internal diameter of thecylinder 20 and thus will be under compression when thepiston 38` is inserted in the cylinder electuating a fluid tight seal therebetween without requiring accurate machining of the interfitting surfaces. Moreover, it has been found that O-ring seals of this type provide very good sealing characteristics, while still allowing the piston to move readily within the cylinder under the effect lof the fluid pressure on the end of the piston.

Thesoluble pellet 48 is then placed on the upper end of thepiston 38 and theupper cap 50 is threaded onto thebody 16 and thus thepiston 38 is prevented from moving upwardly from its position shown in FIG. 2 until thepellet 48 is dissolved. Thecartridge 32 in then placed in thelower cap 34 in the postion shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and thecap 34 is threaded onto thethreads 16b at the lower end of thebody 16. As thecartridge 32 is moved upwardly during this threading operation thespike 26 punctures the top end of thecartridge 32 thus allowing the inflation fluid such as compressed CO2 or the like to enter thecylinder 20 through thebore 28 and exert its pressure on the lower end of thepiston 38. Thepiston 38 cannot move upward under this pressure because of thepellet 48 andupper cap 50 and the inflating fluid cannot escape into the port` 46 or out the top of thecylinder 20 because of the sealing action of the O-rings 40 and 42. Also, the fluid pressure on the O-ring 40 further tends to compress the O-ring thus providing a tighter seal between thepiston 38 andcylinder 20.

The inflatingdevice 10, thus assembled, is now ready for use when attached to a life preserver or the like 12 through thetube 14. When the device is now immersed in water and inflation of the preserver is thus desired, water will enter thewater chamber 52 through the ports S4 in theupper cap 50 causing the watersoluble pellet 48 to dissolve, thus allowing the fluid pressure -on the bottom end of thepiston 38 to move the piston upward to the position shown in FIG. 3. This upward movement of thepiston 38 allows the inflating fluid from thecartridge 32 to enter theport 46 andtube 14 ind inflate the life preserver. The inflation fluid cannot escape out the top of thecylinder 20 because of the O-rings 40 and 42 on thepiston 38 which is prevented from further upward movement because of the top of theupper cap 50. Likewise, water in thechamber 52 cannot enter theport 46 because of the sealing action of the O-rings 40 and 42.

lf, after the device has been actuated it is desired to reuse the apparatus, theupper cap 50 is unscrewed allowing thepiston 38 to move upwardly out of thecylinder 20 thus allowing the inflation fluid to escape and the life preserver to be folded back into a small package, ready 4 for reinflaton. The piston 33 is then reinserted into the cylinder Ztl and a newsoluble pellet 48 is placed on top thereof and the upper cap Sil is screwed in place as before described. Thelower cap 34 is then unscrewed from the body and the spentcartridge 32 is replaced with a fresh cartridge and the lower cap is then assembled as before described and the device is ready for use again.

Thus, the present invention provides a new and improved automatic inflating device for life preservers, life rafts, and the like which is simple, dependable and economical in construction and operation and one which can utilize commercially available compressed fluid cartridges and can be utilized over and over again by simply replacing the old cartridge and providing another soluble pellet.

The novel construction of the piston, cylinder and O- rings provide for a fast actuating mechanism which is' trouble free and will not allow the inflating fluid toI escape even though the device may not be used for years from the date of assembly. Moreover, because of the simple construction of these parts close dimensional tolerances and/ or machining of them is not required and thus the device can be mass produced very economically and material such as plastic and the like which are impervious to water can be utilized rather than steel or other metals which are more costly to work and are susceptible to corrosion and rust.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated another embodiment of an inflating device 11() as characterized by the features of the present invention. The device is adapted to be connected to an inflatable life preserver, life raft or the like 112 by a duct or tube 1 14 which cornmunicates between the interior of the life preserver and the inflating device.

Thedevice 110 is provided with a cylinder or piston chamber which may be formed of a plastic tube and which is provided with a flaredlower end 12 0a in order to accommodate the upper end of an inflatingfluid containing cartridge 132 which may be of the type previously described. Ahousing 134 is provided to contain the various parts of the assembly and the lower end thereof is closed and shaped to closely .accommodate the lower end of thecartridge 132 which is inserted in the housing from the top thereof. A port 134:: is provided in the upper side wall of the housing to accommodate the tube 114 which is inserted therethrough. A port 1.46 is provided in the wall of thecylinder 120 which is in axial alignment and in communication with the tube 114. A circular recess 120a is provided in the outer wall of thecylinder 120 in axial alignment with theport 146 to accommodate the end of the tube 114.

In assembling the device, thecartridge 132 is first placed in the top end of thehousing 134 and then forced downward until the rounded bottoms of these two parts abut. Next thecyilnder 120 is placed in the housing with the lower ilared end portion -120a fitting over the top portion of thecartridge 132. The tube 114 is then inserted through theopening 134b in the housing and is moved inwardly until the inner end of thetube is seated in the circular recess 120a in the outer wall of thecylinder 120. A filler material such as plastic is then forced into the: housing until the top of the filler material reaches the approximate level of the top of thecylinder 120. Thefiller material 125 is then allowed to set or harden and thus secure the tube 114,cylinder 120 andcartridge 132 in the proper intertting relation as shown in FIG. 7.

When thefiller 125 is thus hardened it provides a seal between thecartridge 132 and thecylinder 120 so that no inllating lluid can escape from the top of thecartridge 132 to the interior of the lower portion of the housing when the cartridge is punctured. Thefiller 125 also secures the tube 114 in the proper position and seals the opening 13411 around the tube as well as preventing any inflating fluid in thecylinder 120 from escaping from around the recess 12de in the wall.

Apiston 138 is slidably mounted in thecylinder 120. Thepiston 138 is provided on its lower end with a downwardly depending, axially aligned, conically shaped spike 126 which is adapted to puncture the top end of thecartridge 132 when thepiston 138 is moved downwardly. Thepiston 138 may also be provided with three annular recesses the upper and lower of which are adapted to contain the O-rings 142 and 140 respectively. A middle recess on thepiston 138 is positioned to align with theport 146 in thecylinder 120 when the piston is in its lowermost position as shown in FIG. 7.

After thetiller 125 has hardened as previously described, thepiston 138 is inserted in the cylinder l12.6 and forced downwardly until the spike 126 pierces the top of thecartridge 132, a key 133 is inserted through the tube 114 andport 146 so that the end of the key engages the middle annular recess in thepiston 138 preventing the inating fluid pressure from moving the piston upwardly and allowing the fluid to escape. When thepiston 138 is held in its lower position as shown in FIG. 7 any fluid from thecartridge 132 that escapes through a pierced hole in the top thereof cannot escape past the lower O-ring 140 which acts as a seal.

The top end of thehousing 134 extends upwardly above the upper end of thecylinder 120 andfiller 125 in order to provide awater chamber 152 for containing a watersoluble pellet 148. The side walls of thechamber 152 are provided withports 154 so that water may enter the chamber when the device is immersed. The upper end of thepiston 138 may be provided with radial grooves 144 for allowing water to move more freely within the chamber in order to eifect a rapid dissolution of thepellet 148 upon immersion of the device.

The upper end of thehousing 134 is closed with a disclike upper cap 150 which is provided with a plurality ofports 154 in order that water may enter from the top to dissolve thepellet 148. The upper cap 150 is seated upon a shoulder 134a which is annular in shape and formed on the inner walls of thehousing 134 adjacent the upper end. After the piston 13S is moved downwardly and secured in that position with the key 133 as previously described, thepellet 148 is placed within the housing on the upper end of thepiston 138. The top cap 150 is then placed in the end of thehousing 134 on theshoulder 134@ and the upper ends of the housing are crimped over the top peripheral edge of the top cap 150 to secure it in place. The key 133 can then be removed from the tube 114 and thepiston 138 will remain in its lower position as shown in FIG. 7 since it cannot move upwardly because of thepellet 148 and top cap 150. Thedevice 110 is now ready for operation and is connected to the desired life preserver.

When water enters thechamber 152 upon immersion of thedevice 110, thepellet 148 is dissolved allowing the pressure of the inflating uid in thecartridge 132 to force thepiston 138 upward until the top end thereof abuts the top cap 150. With the piston in this position the intlating uid from thecartridge 132 enters thelife preserver 112 through the cylinder 128,port 146 and tube 114 causing the preserver to inflate. The inating fluid cannot escape into thewater chamber 152 because the O-ring 140 is seated against the portion of the wall of thecylinder 120 which is above theport 146. Likewise water cannot enter into the lower portion of thecylinder 120 because of the sealing action of the O-ring 148.

It is to be noted that by use of theller 125 and by crimping over the upper end of thehousing 134 to secure the cap 150 in place that no threaded parts are needed in the assembly of thedevice 110. For this reason and others it can be readily seen that thedevice 110 can be readily mass produced at a very low cost and, consequently, the item can be expendable after use because of the low cost. Thedevice 110 is simple, reliable and can be kept for a long period of time before use without deterioration of the inating fluid supply because of the novel construction of the piston and cylinder assembly.

While the present invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An inliating device for life preservers and other inflatable apparatus comprising a cylinder provided with a port in its side wall, a cartridge containing inating fluid under pressure having one end thereof extending into one end of said cylinder, means in said cylinder for puncturing said cartridge to release said Huid into said cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder to close and open said port, and water soluble pellet means in said cylinder for normally maintaining said piston in a port closing position, said cylinder being provided with passageways to provide for the entry of water to dissolve said pellet means and permit said piston to be moved in said cylinder by the pressure of said fluid to a port opening position.

2. An inilating device for life preservers and other inilatable apparatus comprising a cylinder provided with a port in its side wall, a cartridge containing intiating iiuid under pressure having one end thereof extending into one end of said cylinder, means in said cylinder for puncturing said cartridge to release said fluid in said cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder to open and close said port, water soluble pellet means in said cylinder for normally maintaining said piston in a port closing position, said cylinder provided with passageways to permit water to enter the cylinder to dissolve said pellet means and allow said piston to be moved to a port opening position by the pressure of said fluid, and sealing means interposed between said piston and cylinder for preventing water from said passageways from entering said port and for preventing said fluid from entering said port when said piston .is in a port closing position.

3. An inating device for life preservers and other inflatable apparatus as provided in claim 2 wherein said first-mentioned means comprises a pointed spike integrally formed on said piston.

4. An iniiating device for life preservers and other inflatable apparatus as provided in claim 2 where said first-mentioned means comprises a plug threadedly engaged in said one end of said cylinder, said plug being provided with a pointed spike depending from its outer face and with a passageway through said plug having its outer end terminating in said spike adjacent its point.

5. An iniiating device for life preservers and other inflatable devices comprising a housing having one end thereof closed, a cartridge containing intlating luid under pressure positioned in said housing adjacent the closed end thereof, a cylinder in said housing having one end adjacent one end of said cartridge and having a port defined in its side wall, a tube extending through said housing and communicating with said port, a piston in said cylinder movable to a port closing and port opening position, said piston including puncturing means for puncturing said cartridge to release said fluid in said cylinder, a water soluble pellet in said housing for normally maintaininf7 said piston in a port closing position, cap means secured adjacent the other end of said housing forming a chamber for retaining said pellet in said housing, said chamber being provided with passageways to permit water to enter the cylinder to dissolve said pellet and allow said piston to be moved to a port opening position by the pressure of said fluid, and sealing means interposed between said piston and said cylinder for preventing water from said chamber from entering said port and for preventing said fluid from entering said port when said piston is in a port closing position.

6. An initiating device for life preservers and other inflatable devices comprising a body having threaded end sections, a cylinder defined in said body having a port in its side wall, a cartridge containing inflating fluid under pressure positioned at one end of said cylinder, cap means threadedly engaged `to one of the threaded end sections of said ybody for housing said cartridge, means for puncturing said cartridge to release said fluid into said cylinder comprising a plug threadedly engaged in said cylinder adjacent said cartridge, said plug having a pointed spike and a bore therethrough, one end of said bore terminating in said spike, a piston movable in said cylinder to a port closing and a port opening position, water soluble pellet means adjacent one end of said piston for movably maintaining said piston in a port closing position, second cap means threadedly engaged to the other threaded end section of said body, said second cap means defining chamber means for housing said pellet means and maintaining said pellet means adjacent said piston, said chamber means being provided with passageways to permit the entry of water to dissolve said pellet and permit said piston to be moved to a port opening position by said uid pressure, and sealing means interposed between said piston and said cylinder for preventing water in said chamber means from entering said port and for preventing said fluid from entering said port when said piston is in a port closing position.

7. An inating device for life preservers and other inflatable apparatus comprising a cylinder provided with a port in its side wall, a cartridge containing intiating Huid under pressure having one end thereof extending into 8 one end of said cylinder, means in said cylinder for puncturing said cartridge to release said tluid in said cylinder, a piston movable in said cylinder to open and close said port, water soluble pellet means in said cylinder for normally maintaining said piston in a port closing position, said cylinder provided with passageways to permit water to enter the cylinder to dissolve said pellet means and allow said piston to be moved to a port opening position by the pressure of said uid, and sealing means including at least one O-ring seal interposed between said piston and cylinder for preventing water from said passageways from entering said port and for preventing said fluid from entering said port when said piston is in a port closing position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,701,886 2/1955 IVie 222-5 X 2,819,820 1/l958 Allen 222-5 FOREIGN PATENTS 792,381 3/1958 Great Britain. 1,234,160 5/ 1960 Great Britain.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, EVERETT W. KIRBY,

Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. AN INFLATING DEVICE FOR LIFE PRESERVES AND OTHER INFLATABLE APPARATUS COMPRISING A CYLINDER PROVIDED WITH A PORT IN ITS SIDE WALL, A CARTRIDGE CONTAINING INFLATING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE HAVING ONE END THEREOF EXTENDING INTO ONE END OF SAID CYLINDER, MEANS IN SAID CYLINDER FOR PUNCTURING SAID CARTRIDGE TO RELEASE SAID FLUID INTO SAID CYLINDER, A PISTON MOVABLE IN SAID CYLINDER TO CLOSE AND OPEN SAID PORT, AND WATER SOLUBLE PELLET MEANS IN SAID CYLINDER FOR NORMALLY MAINTAINING SAID PISTON IN A PORT CLOSING POSITION, SAID CYLINDER BEING PROVIDED WITH PASSAGEWAYS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ENTRY OF WATER TO DISSOLVE SAID PELLET MEANS AND PERMIT SAID PISTON TO BE MOVED IN SAID CYLINDER BY THE PRESSURE OF SAID FLUID TO A PORT OPENING POSITION.

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