GB2029951A

GB2029951A - Automatic inflator for life vests

Info

Publication number: GB2029951A
Application number: GB7925305A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MACKEL G
Current assignee: MACKEL G
Priority date: 1978-08-01
Filing date: 1979-07-20
Publication date: 1980-03-26
Also published as: FR2432629B1; DE2930858A1; GB2029951B; DE2930858C2; FR2432629A1

Abstract

In an inflator for the inflation of inflatable articles such as life vests and the like, such inflator being operated automatically upon being subject to water as upon the ditching or parachuting of an aviator wearing a life vest provided with such inflator, the automatically operating portion (21) of it is embodied as an attachment to a known manually operated inflator (10), the resulting inflator being capable of operation both manually and automatically. The automatically operating portion of the inflator incorporates a latching means (65) which holds a plunger (57) operated by a coil compression spring (66) in cocked condition until the latching means releases the plunger, which thereafter thrusts a piercing pin (37) against and through the sealing diaphragm (39) of a gas-containing capsule (14). The latching means is provided with a water-destructible member (80) which retains the latching means in plunger cocking position until the water- destructible member (80) is subjected to water in an amount sufficient to weaken it so that the latching means releases the plunger. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Automatic inflator This application relates to an automatic inflator for inflatable articles such as life vests and the like. In the disclosed embodiments thereof, the inflator is capable of operation both manually and automatically, the automatically operating portion of the apparatus being preferably embodied as an attachment to a previously known manually operated inflator, the resulting combined device retaining its ability to be operated manually while adding the capability of being operated automatically upon its subjection to water as being submerged therein when employed with a life vest worn by a ditching or parachuting aviator.

Automatic inflators have been previously proposed. Among such prior disclosed automatic inflators are the following: Muller, No. 1,329,990; Spidy, No.2,894,658; Waters, No. 3,242,514; Fujimoto, No. 3,494,506; and Niemann, No. 3,997,079 (all United States Patent specificatons). Of these, only Fujimoto and Niemann disclose automatic inflators which are also capable of operation manually. In Fujimoto a lever-operated cam, an automatic water-responsive mechanism, and a gas capsule which is moved toward a stationary piercing pin are arranged in that order. The operation of the inflator manually by the leveroperated cam may well cause operation of the automatic inflator portion of the device, a result which is neither necessary nor desirable.In Niemann, although the automatically operating portion of the device is disposed in series in that order with the manually operating portion thereof and the piercing pin, a part of the automatically operating mechanism is disposed in a first, removable part of the housing and another part of the automatically operating mechanism is disposed in a second part of the housing, and remains therein when the first part of the housing is removed and the inflator is operated only manually. Further, the removal of the first housing part leaves the second housing part in open condition, vulnerable to its being fouled both by physical and atmospheric agencies.

It is among the objects of the present invention tq overcome the outlined disadvantages of the prior art and to provide an automatically operated mechanism, responsive to being immersed in water, to effect the piercing of a gas-containing capsule, which in a preferred embodimentthereof may be easily attached to and held securely as a part of a complete manually operable inflator which by itself is complete and presents a substantially closed outline. The automatic inflator of the invention may be either supplied to the trade as a separate item, which can be easily attached to existing manually operated inflators, or the combined automatic mechanism and the manually operated inflator may be assembled and sold as a unit.

The invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa view in elevation of a first embodiment of the automatic inflator of the invention, such inflator being shown attached by a fitting to a portion of the wall of an inflatable article, the inflator shown including a prior, manually operable inflator to which there has been added a mechanism for rendering the inflator automatically operable upon being immersed in water; Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the body of the automatic mechanism added to the manual inflator, the view being taken along the line 2-2 in Figure 8 in the direction of the arrow;; Figure 3 is a view in end elevation of the manually operated inflator taken in the direction from left to right in Figure 1, and depicting the end of the manual inflator upon which the end of the automatic mechanism shown in Figures 2 and 4 is mounted; Figure 4 is a view in end elevation of the device shown in Figure 1, the view being taken in the direction from left to right in that figure; Figure 5 is a view in end elevation of a doubleslotted intermediate pin which coacts with the piercing pin of the manual inflator and which constitutes a part ofthe automatic inflation mechanism of the invention; Figure 6 is a view in vertical axial section through the device shown in Figures 1 and 4, the section being taken along the line 6-6 in Figure 4, the automatic inflation mechanism being shown in its unfired, or cocked condition;; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but with the parts shown in the positions which they occupy after the device has been fired or discharged in order to pierce the sealing means of the gas capsule mounted thereon; Figure 8 is an exploded view of the automatic inflation mechanism; Figure 9 is a view in end elevation of the means in the automatic inflation mechanism which latches the mechanism in its cocked condition, the view being taken in the direction for left to right in Figure 8; Figure 10 is a view in end elevation of the latching means of Figure 9, the view being taken in the direction from right to left in Figure 8; Figure 11 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing a part of the latching means of Figure 9 with a moisture responsive element mounted therein whereby the latching means is held in its operative, latching condition;; Figure 12 is a view in elevation of a second embodiment of the automatic inflator of the invention, such inflator being shown attached by a fitting to a portion of the wall of an inflatable article, the inflator shown including a prior, manually operable inflator to which there has been added a mechanism for rendering the inflator automatically operable upon being immersed in water; Figure 13 is a view in vertical axial section, taken along the plane 13-13 in Figure 14, through the automatically operable portion of the inflator shown in Figure 12, the plunger and latching means of the automatic inflator being shown in cocked condition with the spring thereof compressed; Figure 14 is a view in transverse section through the automatically operated portion of the inflator, the section being taken along the line 14-14 of Figure 13;; Figure 15 is a view in end elevation of the automatically operated portion of the inflator of the invention, the view being taken in the direction from right to left in Figure 16; Figure 16 is a fragmentary view, partially in side elevation and partially in vertical axial section through the combined manually operated and auto maticallyoperated inflator shown in Figure 12; the parts thereof being shown in the position which they occupy after the manually operated portion of the inflator has been actuated; Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 16, but with the parts of the inflator in the position which they occupy after the automatically operated portion of the inflator has been actuated.

Figure 18 is a view in side elevation of a third embodiment of the automatic inflator of the invention, such inflator being shown by a fitting to a portion of the wall of an inflatable article, the inflator shown including a prior, manually operable inflator to which there has been added a mechanism for rendering the inflator automatically operable upon being immersed in water; Figure 19 is a view in longitudinal axial section through the mechanism for rendering the inflator automatically operable; Figure 20 is a fragmentary view in axial section through the inflator of Figure 18 and partly in elevation the mechanism for rendering the inflator automatically operable being shown in cocked condition; Figure 21 is a view similar to Figure 20 but showing the inflator after the manually operated portion thereof has been operated to pierce the sealing diaphragm of a gas-containing capsule;; and Figure 22 is a view similar to Figure 20 but with manual inflator in unoperated condition, and with the mechanism for rendering the inflator automatically operable having been operated to pierce the sealing diaphragm of the gas-containing capsule.

As will be apparent from the above, a first embodiment of the automatic inflator of the invention is shown in Figures 1-11, inclusive, a second embodiment is shown in Figures 12-17, inclusive, and a third embodiment is shown in Figures 18-22, inclusive.

Turning now to Figure 1 to 11, there is there shown a manually operated inflator 10 which is that shown in Mackal U.S. Patent Specification No. 3,809,288, issued on May 7, 1974. Inflator 10 is attached by a fitting generally designated 11 to an inflatable article, a part of the wall of which is shown at 12. A capsule 14 containing gas such as CO2 under pressure is screwed onto the body 20 of the inflator 10 and sealed thereto. When a sealing means which spans the neck of the capsule 14 is pierced, gas is released from the capsule and flows into a chamber therein from which it is discharged through the fitting 11, which is mounted and sealed in an opening 13 in the body 20.The piercing of the capsule 14 by the manually operated inflator 10 is effected by the turning of a lever 15 by a lanyard 17 about a pivot which is mounted on the body 20, thereby to cause a cam 16 integral with the lever to advance a piercing pin 31,37, against and through the seal of the capsule. The lanyard 17 is provided with a handle 19 by which the lanyard may be pulled.

The automatic inflator mechanism, which is added to inflator 10, is generally designated 21. The mechanism 21 has a circular cylindrical portion 22 from which there project to the right (Figure 1) two wings 24,24' which are mirror images of each other and which are spaced apart a distance which only slightly exceeds the thickness of the body 20 of the inflator 21, that is, the horizontal dimension thereof as such body 20 is shown in Figure 3. The automatic inflator 21 is secured to the body 20 of the manual inflator 10 by a pin 18 which replaces the original shorter pivot pin 18' (Figure 3) of the manually operated inflator 10, pin 18 passing through holes 26 in the wings 24,24' and through the holes in the body 20 which were designed to receive the shorter pivot pin 18'.When thus mounted and held on the body 20, the members 20 and 21 are firmly and securely held together without movement between them since the flat root surface 25 between the wings 24, 24' on the body 22 is firmly in engagement with the flat rear end surface 27 of the body 20 of the manual inflator 10.

The body 22 further has similar diametrically oppositely disposed slots 29, 29', whichever one of such slots being disposed lower (Figures 1 and 6) when the bodies 20 and 22 are assembled receiving the lever 15 as it is swung clockwise from its position as there shown into a position somewhat past the vertical when it has advanced the piercing pin to form a hole in the sealing means of the capsule 14.

The lower edge 30 of the slot 29' (Figure 6) forms a stop for the lever 15 in its fully swung-out position.

As shown in Figure 6, the inflator 10 has a piercing pin which is designated generally by the reference character 31, pin 31 having a larger diametered rear end portion 32 with a rounded rear end surface 33 which coacts with the surface of the cam 16. An O-ring 34 disposed in the groove in portion 32 of the pin seals the pin to the longitudinal bore in which it reciprocates between the position shown in Figure 6 and that shown in Figure 7. A coil compression spring 35, acting between a shoulder at the forward end of portion 32 of the piercing pin and annular shoulder in the passage through the body 20 constantly urges the piercing pin toward the positon thereof shown in Figure 6. Telescoped within the spring 35 is a smallerdiametered portion 36 of the piercing pin, forwardly of which there is disposed the outer, active piercing portion 37 of the piercing pin. Portion 37 of the pin confronts and is spaced from (Figure 6) the central portion 39 of a sealing diaphragm spanning the neck ofthe capsule 14. When the piercing pin is moved to the right as shown in Figure 7, whether by manual operation of the inflator 10, or by automatic operation by the mechanism 21, the portion 37 of the piercing pin pierces a hole in the sealing means 39 and remains protruding through such hole as shown in Figure 7 whether it has been moved to such position by the lever 15 or by the automatic inflation mechanism 21.

Because the lever is stopped in its clockwise movement by the edge 30 of the slot 29' when the manual inflator 10 is operated, the cam 16 may remain of the configuration shown in Mackal/Patent U. S. Specification No.3,809,288, rather than being of circular configuration beyond the high point of the cam.

The automatic inflation mechanism 21 includes a cross-slotted intermediate pin 40 having a forward circular cylindrical portion 41, a flange 42 rearwardly of portion 41, and a rear end portion 49. Portion 41 of pin 40 is of such diameter as to be guidingly received within the bore 45 (Figures 3 and 6) of the body 20. In order that the pin 40 can extend inwardly within bore 45 far enough so that its forward end 50 engages the rear end 33 of the piercing pin, and also so that the pin 40 can reciprocate with respect to both the pivot pin 18 and the cam-carrying end of the lever 15 the pin 40 is cross-slotted as shown, a first, axially shoter slot 46 being located in the forward portion 41 of pin 40 and terminating at its rear end somewhat short of the flange 41, slot 46 receiving the pivot pin 18.The second slot 47, which is disposed at right angles to the slot 46, extends lengthwise of the pin 40 from its forward end though the flange 41 to a point near its rear end leaving, however, an unslotted portion 49 at its rear end. The slot 47 receives the rear end of the lever 15 and the cam 16 carried thereby. As noted, the intermediate pin 40 is guided at its forward end by the bore 45 in the body 20. The rear end portion 49 of pin 40 is received within a central bore 43 in a flange 38 in the body 22 of the automatic inflator 21.

The flange 42 on the pin 40, by its engagement with the flange 38, prevents the pin 40 from travelling rearwardly past the position thereof shown in Figure 6.

Rearwardly of the portion 22 of the body of the automatic inflator 21 is provided with a thin-walled skirt 51 provided with external screw thread 52.

Coacting with skirt 51 is a cap 54 having an elongated skirt 55 bearing internal screw threads 56 which cooperate with threads 52. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the cap 54 is externally longitudinally and radially fluted, to aid in gripping the cap when screwing it home on the skirt 51.

Disposed within the housing formed by the parts 51 and 54 is a longitudinally centrally extending plunger having a central stem 57 and a disc-like head 59 secured to the forward end of the stem. In the cocked position of the plunger 57, 59 shown in Figure 6, the outer end of the stem extends into a guiding loosely fitting opening 60 in the end of the cap 54, there being further semi-circular openings 61 in the surface of the hole 60, so that access is provided through the openings 60 and 61 to the interior of the housing 51, 54. The outer end surface 58 of the stem 57 may be distinctively coloured so that it may readily be determined when the automatic inflator is cocked (Figure 6), in which condition surface 58 lies near to flush with the outer end surface of the cap 54, and the fired or discharged condition of the automatic inflator (Figure 7) in which the outer end surface 58 of the stem 57 of the plunger lies markedly inwardly of the openings 60 and 61 in the end of the cap 54. It is to be noted that when the plunger 57,59 is in the cocked position of Figure 6, a substantial space 62 exists between the forward end of the head 59 of the plunger and the rear end surface of part 49 of the intermediate pin.

This permits the plunger, under the impetus of spring mechanism now to be described, to gain substantial speed in a forward direction, after it has become uncocked, before the head 59 of the plunger impacts upon the rear end portion of the intermedi ate pin 40.

In its cocked position shown in Figure 6, the plunger 57, 59 is constantly urged in a direction from left to right by a compressed coil compression spring 66. A latching mechanism 65 coacting with an annular groove 64 in the stem 57 of the plunger retains the plunger in its cocked position. The latching mechanism 65, which is shown more specifically in Figures 8-11, inclusive, is mounted in an annular seat 67 in the cap 54, the mechanism 65 being telescoped over the stem 57 of the plunger as shown in Figure 6.

Turning now to Figures 8, 9, 10, ad 11, the latching mechanism 65, which in a preferred embodiment it is made of plastics material such as "Delrin" (R.T.M.) (acrylic resin) has an axially short sleeve 69 from the front (Figure 10) end of which there project inwardly a plurality of equally angularly spaced axially short radial posts 70 integral with sleeve 69. Extend ingrearwardly from each post 70 is a circumferentially thin radial blade 71, blade 71 extending rearwardly to terminate with the rearward edge of the sleeve 69.

A plurality of separate axially extending segments 72 which are spaced circumferentially from each other but which approximate an axially split inner sleeve coaxial of sleeve 69 are integrally connected at their front ends and lie between successive posts 70. The points of attachment of the front ends of the segments 72 to the posts 70 are designated 74. Each segment 72 has a radially inwardly extending lug or tooth 75 integral therewith, the teeth 75 being spaced a substantial distance axially rearwardly of the points of attachment 74. The annular groove 64 in the stem 57 of the plunger has diverging bevelled end walls, the lugs or teeth 75 having a configuration generally conforming to that of the section of the groove 64 so that they fit there-within when the plunger is cocked, as shown in Figure 6.

The rearward ends 76 of the segments 72 extend substantially axially rearwardly of the rear edges of the sleeve 69 and the blades 71 as shown in Figure 8.

The rear ends 76 of the segments have their rear radially outer edges bevelled at 77 as shown, the outer edges 78 of the segments, forwardly of the bevelled portion 77, being straight and lying along the surface of a circular cylinder in the position of the segments shown in Figures 6 and 8-11, inclusive.

There is thus presented an annular space 79 between the edges 78 of the segments 72 and the radially inner edges of the blades or fingers 71.

Into such annular space 79 there is thrust a thin sleeve-like coil 80 of water-soluble paper which when dry and backed-up by blades 71 between the radialy outer edges 78 of the segments 72, has sufficient strength to retain the segments in the position shown in Figure 6 against the outwardly directed force exerted upon them by the interaction between the rear bevelled wall of the groove 64 on .the stem 57 of the plunger and the correspondingly bevelled rear edge of each of lugs 75 when the automatic inflator is cocked. It will be seen that the coil of paper 80 is under both tension and compression, the tension arising by reason of its engagement with the edges 78 of the segments 72, and the compression arising by reason of its being jammed between the radially inner edges of the blade 71 and the two immediately adjacent segments 72.

Upon the immersion of the inflator 10,21 in water, as by reason of the ditching of an aviator provided with a Mae West lifesaving vest, water seeps into the interior ofthe housing 51, 54 and weakens or dissolves the paper coil 80 to such extent that the compressive force of spring 66 drives the plunger 57, 59 forwardly so that it in turn drives the intermediate pin 40 forwardly and such pin drives the piercing pin 32 into the position of Figure 7. As the plunger 57, 59 moves forwardly, the lugs 75 move out of the annular groove 64 and distort the inner ring or sleeve formed by the segments 72 as shown in Figure 7, the outer end of the step 57 then sliding freely past the narrow pried-apart lugs 75 of the segments 72.

A second embodiment of the automatic inflator of the present invention is shown in Figures 12-17, inclusive.

The inflator of the second embodiment employs a longer threaded engagement between the body of the automatic inflator and the skirt of the cap than in the first embodiment, permitting the threads to be caught so that the cap is installed on the body before subjecting the coil compression spring of the automatic inflator to any appreciable compression. This permits the device to be stored without subjecting the wound paper coil to any appreciable stresses before use, and allowing the user of the device himself to cock the automatic inflator rather than requiring it to be cocked at the factory.

The latching means employed in the second embodiment is reversed in location as compared to the first embodiment. The latching means no longer abuts against the closed end of the cap as in the first embodiment, but is now disposed at the axially inner end of the skirt of the cap.

The latching means with the water-destructible ring therein of the second embodiment is replaceable. In fact, it is the only thing which needs to be replaced after the automatic inflator has been used.

There is provided at least one set of mating polarizing ribs and grooves on the latching mass and the body of the automatic inflator which prevents and upside-down mounting of the latching means in the body of the automatic inflator.

The cap, plunger, and spring are secured together as a unit by snapping a plastics cap on the outer end of the stem of the plunger. Thus, when the cap is removed from the body of the automatic inflator, all of such parts remain together and are not lost during the operation of removing the used latching means and installed a new one in the body of the inflator.

The reduced diameter inner end portion of the inner end of the plunger takes the place of the groove in the stem which is employed in the first embodiment. The use of what is in effect a one-sided groove permits the ready removal of the latching means and its replacement in the body of the automatic inflator.

Turning now to Figures 12 to 17 there is there shown a manually operated inflator 110 which is that shown in Mackal U. S. Patent Specification No.

3,809,288, issued on May 7, 1974. Inflator 110 is attached by a fitting generally designated 111 to an inflatable article, a part of the wall of which is shown at 112. A capsule 114 containing gas such as C02 under pressure has its threaded neck 130 screwed onto the body 120 of the inflator 110 and sealed thereto. When a sealing means which spans the neck of the capsule 114 is pierced, gas is released from the capsule and flows into a chamber therein from which it is discharged through the fitting 111, which is mounted and sealed in an opening 113 in the body 120.The piercing of the capsule 114 by the manually operated inflator 110 is effected by the turning of a lever 115 by a lanyard 117 about a pivot pin 118 upon which is mounted on the body 120, thereby to cause a cam 116 integral with the leverto advance a piercing pin against and through the seal of the capsule. The lanyard 117 is provided with a handle 119 by which the lanyard may be pulled.

The automatic inflator mechanism, which is added to inflator 110, is generally designated 121; it has a circular cylindrical portion 122 from which there project to the left (Figure 12) two parallel wings of which one is shown at 124, which are mirror images of each other and which are spaced apart a distance which only slightly exceeds the thickness of the body 120 of the inflator 110. The automatic inflator 121 is secured to the body 120 of the manual inflator 110 by the pivot pin 118 passing through holes (one shown at 126) in the wings and through aligned holes in the body 120.When member 121 is thus mounted and held on the body 120, the members 120 and 121 are firmly and securely held together without movement between them since the flat root surface between the wings of the body 122 is firmly in engagement with the flat rear end surface of the body 120 of the manual inflator 110.

The portion 122 of the body 120 further has similar diametrically disposed slots 123, 123', the slot 123' being disposed uppermost (Figures 13, 16 and 17) when the bodies 120 and 121 are assembled receiving the lever 115 as it is swung clockwise from its Figure 12 position shown into a position somewhat past the vertical (Figure 16) when it has advanced the piercing pin to form a hole in the sealing means of the capsule 114. The upper right-hand edge of the slot 123' (Figure 16) forms a stop for the lever 15 in its fully swung-out position.

The piercing pin assembly of the manually operated inflator 110 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the inflator 110 has a piercing pin which is designated generally by the reference character 125, pin 125 having a larger diametered rear (right) end portion 131 with a rounded rear end surface 134 which coacts with the surface of the cam 116. An O-ring (not shown) disposed in the groove in the pin seals the pin to the longitudinal bore in which it reciprocates between its inoperative (right-hand) position and that shown in Figures 16 and 17. A coil compresion spring 126, acting on the piercing pin 125 and an annular shoulder in the passage through the body 120, constantly urges the piercing pin away from the position thereof shown in Figure 16.

Telescoped within the spring 126 is a smallerdiametered portion of the piercing pin, forwardly of which there is disposed the outer, active piercing portion 127 of the piercing pin. The cutting end of portion 127 of the piercing pin confronts and is spaced from the central portion 129 of a sealing diaphragm spanning the neck of the capsule 114 when the piercing pin is in its right-hand position.

When the piercing pin is moved to the left, whether by manual operation (Figure 16) of the inflator 110 or by automatic operaton (Figure 17) by the mechanism 121,the portion 127 of the piercing pin pierces a hole in the sealing means 129 and remains protruding through such hole as shown in Figures 16 and 17 whether it has been moved to such position by the lever 115 or by the automatic inflation mechanism 121. Because the lever is stopped in its clockwise movement by the upper right-hand edge of the slot 123' when the manual inflator 110 is operated, the cam 116 may remain of the configuration shown in Mackal U. S. Patent Specification No. 3,809,288 ratherthan being of circular configuration beyond the high point of the cam.

The automatic inflation mechanism 121 includes a cross-slotted intermediate pin 132 having a forward (left) circular cylindrical portion 134', a flange or collar 136 rearwardly of portion 134' and a rear (right) end portion 135. Portion 134' of pin 132 is of such diameter as to be guidingly received within the longitudinal bore of the body 120 within which the piercing pin 125 reciprocates.In order that the pin 132 can extend inwrdlywithin such bore far enough so that its forward end portion 134' can engage the rear end of the piercing pin, and also so that the pin 132 can reciprocate with respect to both the pivot pin 118 and the cam carrying end of the lever 115, the pin 132 is cross-slotted as shown, a first, axially shorter slot being located in the forward portion of pin 132 and terminating at its rear end somewhat short of the flange 136, the shorter shot receiving the pivot pin 118. The second, longer slot, which is disposed at right angles to the shorter slot, extends lengthwise of the pin 132 from its forward end through the flange 136 to a point near its rear end leaving, however, an unslotted portion at its rear end. The longer slot receives the rear end of the lever 115 and the cam 116 carried thereby.As noted, the intermediate pin 132 is guided at its forward end by th longitudinal bore in the body 120. The rear end portion of pin 132 is received within a central bore in a flange 137 in the body of the automatic inflator 121.

The flange or collar 136 on the pin 132, by its engagement with the flange 137, prevents the pin 132 from travelling rearwardly past the position thereof shown in Figure 16.

Rearwardly of the portion 122 the body-ofthe automatic inflator 121 is provided with a thin-walled sleeve 139 which is externally screw-theaded at 140.

Coacting with sleeve 139 is a cap 156 having an elongated circular cylindrical skirt 157 bearing internal screw threads 159 which mate with the threads 140 en the sleeve 139. As shown in Figure 12, the cap 156 is externally longitudinally fluted, to aid in gripping the cap when it is screwed home on the sleeve 139.

Disposed within the housing formed by the sleeve 139 and the skirt 157 is a longitudinally centrally extending plunger 165 having (Figure 13) a large diametered portion 166 and a smaller diametered inner end portion 167, portions 166 and 167 of the plunger being joined by a sharply inclined frusto conical shoulder 169. The portion 167 and the shoulder 169 on the plunger cooperate with a latching mechanism 141 which, in the embodiment shown, is of substantially similar construction as that of the first embodiment apart from the polariz ing formations thereon, to be described. Latching mechanism 141 is disposed in a seat 142, the bottom of which is defined by the flange 137 on the body 121 and the periphery of which is formed by the inner wall of the sleeve 139 adjacent such flange.

Latching mechanism 141 has an outer annular bodyorrim 144 to the left-hand end (Figure 13) to which there is attached a plurality of segments 145 which form an inner sleeve. Each of segments 145 bears a tooth 146, the teeth on the segments being aligned transversely of the latching mechanism and selectively cooperating with the shoulder 169 on the plunger. The segments 145 are attached at 147 to the outer annular body of the latching mechanism, the attachments 147 and the construction of the seg ments 145 being such that when the plunger 165 is moved to the left (Figure 17) by the coil compression spring 171, the teeth 146 on the segments are forced radially outwardly and the larger portion 166 of the plunger is permitted to slide therethrough.

As shown in Figure 13 and 14, between the segments forming each successive pair thereof there is disposed a thin axially and radially inwardly projecting blade orwing 149. Awound water disintegrable band 150 is disposed between the radially inner ends of the wings 149 and the outer ends of the segments 145 within a narrow annular groove presented in the outer annular body 144 of the latching mechanism.

The wound paper band 150 maintains the seg ments 145 of the latching mechanism in the position thereof shown in Figure 13 until the inflator is immersed in water, whereupon the paper band 150 disintegrates thereby permitting the segments 145 to be forced apart and the plunger to travel to the left (Figure 17) as described above.

The cap 156 is provided with a transversely extending end or cover portion 160 at its axially outer end. Portion 160 of the cap is provided with a central opening 161 therethrough, opening 161 communicating with a centrally disposed axially inwardly extending sleeve 162 integral with the cap.

A coil compression spring 171 is telescoped about the tubular portion 162 of the cap and extends between a spring seat 170 on the plunger including an-enlargement thereon and the inner surface of the transverse cover portion of the cap.

The plunger 166 has an axially outer end portion 172 of reduced diameter, portion 172 extending through a central opening in a radially inwardly extending annular flange on the axially inner end af sleeve 172 and slidingly and guidingly cooperating therewith. The axially outer end of stem portion 172 is provided with a snap-on member 174 which slidingly and guidingly cooperates with the inner surface of a sleeve 162 and also functions to maintain the plunger, the spring, and the cap together as a unit when the cap is removed from the body of the automatic inflator. To this end, the member 174 has an outer diameter which markedly exceeds the stem portion 172 and thus the diameter of the hole in the flange on the axially inner end of the sleeve 162.Member 171 may be made of a material having a colour which is distinctively different from that of the cap 156, so that the difference in position of the plunger, as seen in Figures 13 and 17, may be readily ascertained by external inspection of the automatic inflator.

In order to prevent the mounting ofthe latching mechanism 141 in other than the position thereof shown herein, there is provided at least one set of interfitting polarizing formations on the periphery of the annular body 144 of the latching mechanism and the internal surface of the sleeve 139. In the embodiment shown herein two such sets of polarizing formations, disposed diametrically opposite each other, are provided so that the latching mechanism may be correctly assembled in the sleeve by turning such mechanism through at most 180 with respect to the sleeve.In each set of polarizing formation there is a narrow groove 151 and a wide groove 152 in the periphery of the outer annular body 144 of the latching mechanism, and a narrow land 154 and a wide land 155 on the inner wall of the sleeve 139, the narrow land 154 being received in the narrow groove 151 and the wide land 154 being received within the wide groove 152.

The axial lengths of the threads on the sleeve 139 and the skirt 157 of the cap are such that the cap can be initially screwed upon the skirt without subjecting the spring 171 to appreciable compression and thus without subjecting the water-destructible member 150 to any appreciable stess. The coil compression spring 171 has a thrusting force when fully or substantially compressed to place the plunger 166 in cocked condition such that the automatic inflator can be readily cocked manually by a person by screwing the cap 156 further upon the body of the inflator to a position such as that shown in Figure 13.

It will be seen that, after the automatic inflator has been operated, as shown in Figure 17, the used latching mechanism 141 can be removed from the automatic inflator simply by unscrewing the cap from the body thereof, the cap, the plunger, and the coil compression spring then being removable as aunit from the body of the automatic inflator. All that need be replaced is the latching mechanism 141,the cap, plunger, and coil compression spring then being reapplied as a unit by screwing the cap onto the sleeve of the body to an extent necessary only to catch the mating threads thereon. As above explained, the spring 171 need be compressed only before the automatic inflator is to be placed in use.

Turning now to Figures 18-22, inclusive, there is there shown a manually operated inflator 210 which issubstantiallyshown in Mackal U.S. PatentSpecification No.3,809,288 issued on May 7,1974. Inflator 210 is attached by a fitting generally designated 211 to an inflatable article, a part of the wall of which is shown at 212. A capsule 214 containing gas such as CO2 under pressure is mounted within the hollow main body 224 of a housing, the housing being secured and sealed to the body 220 of the manual inflator 210 in a manner two be described. When a sealing means such as a diaphragm which spans the neck of the capsule 214 is pierced, gas is released from the capsule and flows into a chamber within the body 220 from which it is discharged through the fitting 211,which is mounted and sealed in an opening 213 in the body 220.The piercing of the seal of the capsule 214 by the manually operated inflator 210 is effected by the turning of a lever 215 buy a lanyard 217 about a pivot pin 218 upon which it is mounted on the body 220, thereby to cause a cam 216 integral with the lever 215 to advance a piercing pin against and through a seal such as a diaphragm on the neck of the capsule. The lanyard 217 is provided with a handle 219 by which the lanyard may be pulled to fracture a frangible pin 221 which passes through aligned openings in the body 220 and through the lever 215, as shown. The manual operation of the inflator 220 is illustrated in Figure 21, which shows the lever 215 as having been swung clockwise, the automatic mechanism for thrusting the capsule toward the piercing pin then remaining cocked and inoperative.

The automatic inflating mechanism, which is generally designated by the reference character 222, is composed generally of the hollow main body 224 which is circular cylindrical throughout its main extent, but has a frusto-conical portion 225 at its axially inner end, portion 225 terminating in an externally threaded neck 226. The capsule 214 has an outer diameter somewhat less than the inner diameter of the main body 224 of the housing, so that the capsule may slide freely axially therewithin. In Figure 19 the capsule 214 is shown in the position which it assumes after it has been mounted in the mechanism 222 but before mechanism 222 has been screwed onto the body 220 of the manual inflator 210.As shown in Figure 19, the inner generally frusto-conical neck portion of the capsule rests upon a series of radially inwardly projecting lugs 223 on the portion 225 of the body 224 the externally threaded neck 227 of the capsule then lying fully within the threaded neck 226 of the body 224.

As shown in Figures 20,21 and 22, the body 220 of the manual inflator 210 has an internally threaded opening 229 therein which threadedly receives the neck 26 of the main body 224 of the housing. A single gasket generally designated 238 is employed to seal the neck 226 to the body 220 of the inflator, to seal the transverse inner end of the neck 227 of the capsule 214 to the body 220 but to permit the capsule 214 to be thrust in the direction from right to left when the inflator is automatically operated to move the capsule 214 against the piercing pin of the inflator. To fulfil such functions, the gasket 238 has a radially outer, axially thinner annular portion 233 which is interposed between the transverse axially inner face of the neck 226 of the housing portion 224 when the housing is screwed home into the threaded opening 229 in body 220 of the inflator 210.

The gasket 238 has a radially inner, axially thicker annularportionwhich is disposed in alignment with the transverse annular surface of the neck 227 of the capsule 214 and extends axially toward it from portion 233 of the gasket and is telescoped within the neck 226 of part 224. It will be seen that when the gas capsule 214 has been thrust to the left into the position shown in Figure 22 the gasket 238 seals both the housing portion 224 and the gas capsule 214 to the body 220 of the inflator 210, thereby preventing the leakage of gas from the connections therebetween.

The diaphragm-like sealing member 234 across the neck of the capsule has a thinner central portion which is pierced by the active axially outer end 241 of the piercing pin. The piercing pin, which is gnerally designated by the reference character 235, has an enlarged axially inner end which is slidingly received in a bore 236 in the body 220 of the inflator, the piercing pin being sealed therein by an O-ring 237. A coil compression spring 239 telescoped over the shank 240 of the piercing pin constantly urges the enlarged axially inner end of the pin into contact with the cam 216. The active, forward end 241 of the piercing pin is of frusto-conical shape, and has an angularly disposed outer or forward cutting edge.

The cam 216 has a circular configuration past its high point, so that upon the swinging of the lever 215 into the position shown in Figure 21, the active outer end 241 of the piercing pin remains within the neckofthe capsule 214, gas escaping from the capsule through the annular space presented between the inner edge of the hole cut in the diaphragm 234 and the side surfaces of the portion 241 ofthe piercing pin. As shown in Figure 22, the same gas escape path is presented between the inner edge of the hole cut in the seal 234 and the side surfaces of the portion 241 of the piercing pin.

The automatic inflator mechanism The automatic inflator mechanism 222 includes a piston-like member 244 which has a flared, yieldable axially inner sealing edge 245 which sealingly engages the circular cylindrical inner surface 242 of the main body 224 of the housing. The housing is completed by a cap 246 which has a plurality of axially extending evenly-spaced grooves 248 therein, the axially inner ends of the grooves 248 terminating in openings 247 which lie axially outwardly of a continuous circular cylindrical skirt 254 on the cap.

The piston-like member 244 has an outwardly extending central stem having a smooth circular cylindrical portion 249 axially inwardly thereof and an axially fluted outer end portion 250. Portion 250 extends through an opening presented beween three equally-spaced axially outwardly extending guides 251 when the automatic inflator mechanism is cocked as shown in Figures 20 and 21. The stem 249,250 may be of a colour which is readily distinguished from that of the cap 246, so that the cocked condition of the automatic inflator mechanism may be readly discerned.

The cap 246 is retained upon the main body 224 of the housing by the snapping of hook-like radially outwardly extending projections 252 on the outer end of the body 224 through the openings 247 in the skirt of the cap, the hooks 252 being securely engaged with the shoulders at the axially inner ends of the openings 247 in the cap. The skirt 254 loosely fits over the outer end of the main body 224 of the housing so as to permit the ingress of water therebetween, there being provided an axial extension (not shown) in the gap between successive members 252 on the body 224 so as to prevent the ingress of foreign bodies into the interior of the housing. The axially inner surface of the piston-like member 244 is of part-spherical shape, so as to receive there-within the rounded outer end of the capsule 214.As shown in Figure 19, the rounded outer end of the capsule is spaced somewhat axially from the cocked spherical inner surface of the member 244 when the automatic inflator mechanism is cocked and the combination of the housing and capsule 214 have not as yet been mounted upon the manual inflator 210.

It is to be noted that when the piston-like member 244 is in the cocked position shown in Figure 20, a substantial space exists between the sealing means 234 of the gas capsule and the forward cutting end of the active portion 241 of the piercing pin. This permits the member 244 and the gas capsule 214, underthe impetus of spring mechanism nowto be described, tp gain substantial speed in its movement toward the piercing pin, after it has become uncocked, before the sealing means 234 engages the portion 241 of the piercing pin.

In its cocked position shown in Figure 20, the member 244 is constantly urged in a direction from right to left by a compressed coil compression spring 262 which acts between a spring seat 264 on member 244 and a spring seat 265 on a latching mechanism 261. The latching mechanism 261 coacts with an annular groove 259 on the stem 249 of member 244 to retain the member 244 in its cocked position with the spring 262 under compression. The latching mechanism 261, which is essentially the same as that of the above-described first two embodiments, is mounted in an annular seat 269 in the cap 246, the outer edge of the main portion 266 of the latching mechanism 261 abutting an annular shoulder 270 in the cap. The latching mechanism 261 is telescoped over the stem 250, 249 of the plunger 244 as shown in Figure 20.

- The latching mechanism 261, which in a preferred embodiment is made of plastic material such as "Delrin" ("Delrin" is the registered trade-markfor an acetal resin made and sold by DuPont) has an axially short sleeve 271 from the rear (right, Figure 21) end of which there project inwardly a plurality of equally -angularly spaced axially short radial posts integral with sleeve 271 and with the body 266 of the latching mechanism 271. Flutes or cutout portions 267 in body 266 facilitate the flow of water inwardly to the water-sensitive member of the latching mechanism 261.

Extending forwardly from each post is a circumferentially thin radial blade 272, blade 272 extending forwardly to terminate in the same transverse plane as the forward edge of the sleeve 271. A plurality of separate, axially extending segments 275 which are spaced circumferentially from each other or which approximate an axially split inner sleeve coaxial of sleeve or skirt 271 are integrally connected at their rear ends and lie between successive posts. The rear ends of the segments 275 are attached to the posts.

Each segment 275 has a radially inwardly inwardly extending lug or tooth 277 integral therewith, the teeth 277 being spaced a substantial distance axially forwardly of the points of attachment of the segments to the posts. The annular groove 259 in the stem 249 of the plunger 244 has diverging bevelled end walls, the lugs or teeth 277 having a configuration generally conforming to that of the section of the groove 259 so that they fit therewithin when the plunger is cocked, as shown in Figure 20.

The forward ends of the segments 275 extend substantially axially forwardly of the forward edges of the sleeve or skirt 271 and the blades 272, as shown in Figure 21. The forward ends of the segments have their forward, radially outer edges beveled the radially outer edges of the segments, rearwardly of the bevelled portion, being straight and lying along the surface of a circular cylinder in the relaxed position of the segments. There is thus presented an annular space between the radially outer edges of the segments 275 and the radially inner edges of the blades 272.

Into such annular space there is thus a thin, sleeve-like coil 284 of water-soluble paper which, when dry, is backed up between the radially outer edges of the segments 275 by the radially inner edges of the blades 272 has sufficient strength to retain the segments in the position shown in Figure 20 against the outwardly directed force exerted upon them in the interaction between the rear bevelled wall of the groove 259 in the stem 249 of the plunger and the correspondingly bevelled rear edge of the lugs or teeth 277. It will be seen that the coil of paper 284 is under both tension and compression, the tension arising by reason of its engagement with the edges of the segements 275, and the compression arising by reason of its being jammed between the radially inner edges of the blade 272 and the immediately adjacent two segments 275.

Upon the immersion of the inflator 210,222 in water, as by reason of the ditching of an aviator provided with a Mae West life-saving vest, water seeps into the interior of the housing 224, 246 and weakens or dissolves the paper coil 284 to such an extent that the expansive force of spring 262 drives the plunger 244, 249 forwardly so that it in turn drives the gas capsule 214 against the piercing pin 241 and into the position shown in Figure 22. As the plunger 244, 249 moves forwardly, the lugs 277 move out of the annular groove 259 and distort the inner ring or sleeve formed by the segments 275 as shown in Figure 22, the outer end of the stem 250 then sliding freely past the now pried-apart lugs 277 of the segments 275.

Although the invention is illustrated and described with reference to a plurality of preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be expressly understood that it is in no way limited so the disclosure of such preferred embodiments, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended

Claims

claims. CLAIMS

1. An automatic inflator for gas-inflatable articles, said inflator having a body, a gas capsuleholding means on the body, a capsule-piercing pin, a plunger for advancing the piercing pin and capsule relatively toward each other to pierce the capsule, the plunger having a stem, a transverse surface on the stem, resilient means constantly urging the piercing pin and capsule toward each other, and a latching means cooperating with the transverse surface on the stem for holding the piercing pin and capsule-holding means in spaced-apart, cocked position, latching means which comprises a sleeve telescoped about the plunger, the sleeve being made up of a plurality of axially extending segments having teeth on the inner surface thereof in engagement with the transverse surface on the plunger when the plunger and piercing pin are in the cocked position relative to each other, the segments of the sleeve being mounted for being swung radially outwardly to free the teeth from engagement with the transverse surface, a water-destructible ring disposed around the segments to hold the teeth thereon in engagement with the transverse surface on the plunger, and means engaging the outer surface of the ring in locations between the segments of the sleeve to hold the ring in compression in the spans thereof between such means and successive segments of the sleeve.

2. The apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the latching means has an annular body, means mounting the segments of the sleeve on the annualr body adjacent a first end of such segments, and wherein the teeth on the segments are disposed intermediate their axial length, and the ring engages the segments at least adjacent the other, second end thereof.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the means engaging the outer surface of the ring comprises a plurality of axially extending radial blades on the body of the latching means, said blades being disposed between successive segments of the sleeve.

4. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein the latching means, including the body, the segments of the sleeve, the teeth on the segments, and the blades are made as an integral member.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the latching means is integrally moulded of plastics material.

6. The apparatus of any preceding Claim, wherein the capsule-holding means comprises a housing having a circular cylindrical sleeve secured at one end to the body of the inflator, a cap secured to the other end of the sleeve, the gas capsule being slidably mounted within the housing longitudinally thereof, the plunger being disposed within the sleeve adjacent the cap thereon, the plunger having a piston sealingly engaging the inner surface of the sleeve, the piston being adapted to engage the outer end of the capsule and thrust it toward the piercing pin, the stem extending centrally from the piston in an outward direction through a central opening in the cap, and the latching means cooperates with the stem which passes therethrough, the latching means being disposed in a seat within the cap.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the cap has openings therethrough to permit the passage of water inwardly to the latching means disposed outwardly of the piston in the sleeve.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, comprising means for selectively operating the inflator manually, means for holding the gas capsule from movement relative to the body of the inflator away from the piercing pin when the inflator is operated manually, and manually operated means for thrusting the pin toward the capsule.

9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, comprising means for holding the piercing pin fixed relative to the body when the inflator is in its automatically operating mode, resilient means for constantly urging the gas capsule toward the piercing pin, the latching means being selectively operable to hold the capsule from movement toward the piercing pin, the latching means including means responsive to its subjection to water to release the latching means to move the capsule toward the piercing pin, the manual and automatic modes of operation of the inflator being independent of each other.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 8 or 9 comprising a housing for the capsule, and wherein the body of the inflator is generally in the form of an elongated flat member, the piercing pin is disposed to extend centrally of the body along the length thereof, a cam and lever pivotally mounted adjacent one end of the body and cooperating with the piercing pin to thrust it toward the capsule when the inflator is operating in its manual mode, and the housing is secured to the other end of the body of the inflator coaxial of the piercing pin.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein the cam is circular in configuration about the pivot pin therefor beyond the high point of the cam, the piercing pin remains in the capsule neck following its manual advance toward the capsule neck, and the piercing pin is of such configuration as to permit the passage of gas from the capsule between the shank of the active end of the piercing pin and the edge of the hole cut in the capsule by the piercing pin.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 10 or 11 wherein in the automatic mode of operation of the inflator the cam holds the piercing pin from retraction when the cam and the cam lever are in their retracted, inoperative position, so that the inflator is in readiness for movement of the capsule toward the then-fixed piercing pin in the automatic mode of operation of the inflator.

13. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the forward active end of the piercing pin has a frusto-conical shank, the larger end of such shank being disposed at the outer end of the pin and having a cutting edge thereon, gas from the pierced capsule passing through an annular opening between the inner edge of the hole cut in the capsule and a reduced diameter portion of the frusto-conical shank of the piercing pin.

14. A latching means adapted for use in an automatic inflator for gas-inflatable articles, such inflator having a body, a gas capsule-holding means on the body, a capsule-piercing pin, a plunger for advancing the piercing pin and capsule relatively toward each other to pierce the capsule, the plunger having a stem, a transverse surface on the stem, resilient means constantly urging the piercing pin and capsule toward each other, and a latching means cooperating with the transverse surface on the stem for holding the piercing pin and capsuleholding means in spaced-apart, cocked position, said latching means comprising a sleeve adapted to be telescoped about the plunger, the sleeve being made up of a plurality of axially extending segments having teeth on the inner surface adapted to engage the transverse surface on the plunger when the plunger and piercing pin are in the cocked position relative to each other, the segments of the sleeve being mounted for being swung radially outwardly to free the teeth from engagement with the transverse surface, a water-destructible ring disposed around the segments to hold the teeth thereon in engagement with the transverse surface on the plunger, and means engaging the outer surface of the ring in locations between the segments of the sleeve to hold the ring in compression in the spans thereof between such means and successive segments of the sleeve.

15. A gas inflator for an inflatable article, the inflator being selectively operable either manually or automatically upon its subjection to water, comprising an inflator body, means for attaching a gascontaining capsule to said body, a capsule-piercing pin movable in the body toward the capsule, manually operated means acting directly on an end of the piercing pin to thrust the piercing pin toward the capsule, a second pin aligned with the piercing pin and having an end confronting and adapted selec timely to engage said end of the piercing pin, and automatically operated means responsive to its subjection to water to thrust the second pin axially against the said end of the piercing pin to thrust the piercing pin toward the capsule.

16. The inflator according to Claim 15, wherein the manually operated means for thrusting the piercing pin toward the capsule comprises a rotatable cam directly engaging the said end of the piercing pin, and a pivot pin mounting the cam on the body, and wherein the second pin has a first slot in the end thereof which confronts the said end of the piercing pin, the pivot pin passing through said first slot, the first slot permitting the longitudina! movement of the second pin relative to the pivot pin.

17. The inflator according to Claim 16, comprising a lever attached to the cam for rotating the cam, and wherein the second pin has a second slot therein in the end thereof confronting the said end of the piercin pin, the second slot being disposed at right angles with respect to the first slot and receiving cam therewithin.

18. The inflator according to Claim 17, wherein the cam and lever are coplanar, and the second slot in the second pin receives both the cam and a portion of the cam operating lever.

19. The inflator according to any of Claims 15 to 18 wherein the automatically operated inflating means is contained in a housing secured to the body ofthe inflator, and the second pin is guided partially in the body of the inflator and partially in the housing.

20. The inflator according to any of Claims 15 to 18 wherein the automatic means is contained in a housing secured to the body and aligned with the piercing pin and second pin, and comprising a plunger in the housing aligned with the second pin, resilient means constantly urging the plunger toward the end of the second pin which is remote from the said end of the piercing pin which the second pin confronts, and latching means for holding the plunger cocked with the resilient means in energystoring condition ready to advance the plunger toward the said outer end of the second pin, said latching means releasing the plunger when subjected to water.

21. The inflator according to Claim 20, comprising stop means to prevent the rearward movement ofthe second pin past a predetermined point, and wherein the confronting ends of the plunger and the second pin are substantially spaced from each other when the plunger is in cocked condition, whereby the plunger gains momentum, when released by the latching means, before impinging upon the second pin.

22. The inflator according to any of Claims 19 to 21 wherein the body is generally flat, and the housing containing the automatic inflating mechanism is disposed at one end of the body in general alignment with the plane of the body, and comprising means for attaching the housing to the body, the cam being disposed adjacent one end of the body, the said one end of the body having a third slot to receive the cam and lever, the end of the housing confronting the body having a fourth slot aligned with the third slot, the fourth slot receiving the lever when it is swung in a manual inflating operation to advance the piercing pin in a capsule-piercing stroke.

23. The inflator of Claim 22, wherein the piercing pin has a shank of frusto-conical configuration, a cutting edge on the forward, larger-diametered end of the piercing pin, and wherein the piercing pin remains within the capsule at the end of its capsulepiercing stroke, the fourth slot having a bottom end which functions to stop the lever and thus the cam at the end of the forward piercing stroke of the piercing pin in the manual operation of the inflator.

24. The inflator according to any of Claims 19 to 21 wherein the body of manual inflator is flat with generally parallel opposite sides, the housing is disposed in alignment with the general plane of the body, and the housing has on the end thereof adjacent the body spaced parallel ears, said ears being disposed on opposite sides of the body of the manual inflator, the pivot pin which mounts the cam passing from earto ear of the housing, through the body of the inflator, and though the cam.

25. The inflator according to any of Claims 19 to 24 wherein the housing comprises a sleeve-like portion and a cap on the end of the sleeve-like portion remote from the inflator body, means to secure the cap to said end of the housing, and wherein the cap has a seat therein for receiving the latching means, the latching means is of annular shape, and the plunger has a central stem passing through the annular latching means and having a transverse surface coacting therewith.

26. The inflator of Claim 25, wherein the resilient means is a coil compression spring interposed between an enlarged head attheforward end of the plunger and the latching means.

27. The inflator according to any of Claims 19 to 26 wherein the housing has openings therethrough to permit the entrance of water to the latching means, and the latching means includes watersensitive means to release the stem of the plunger when the inflator is immersed in water.

28. The inflator of Claim 27, wherein the annular latching means has teeth on its inner surface, said teeth engaging the transverse surface on the stem of the plunger to hold the plunger in cocked condition with the coil compression spring under compression.

29. The inflator of Claim 28, wherein the transverse surface on the stem of the plunger is a steep end wall of an annular groove in the stem intermediate the length thereof.

30. In an inflator for a gas-inflatable article, said inflator having a gas capsule-holding means, a capsule-piercing pin, means including a plunger for advancing the piercing pin and capsule relatively toward each other to pierce the capsule, resilient means urging the plunger and capsule relatively toward each other, and a latching mechanism cooperating with the plunger for holding the plunger in cocked position against the thrust of the resilient means, the improvement which comprises a housing for the plunger and the latching mechanism, the housing having a body with an elongated sleeve in a transverse base portion at an axially inner end thereof, a cap with a transverse cover portion at its axially outer end and an elongated skirt extending axially inwardly from the cover portion, the sleeve and skirt being telescoped and having a threaded connection therebetween, the plunger extending longitudinally within the sleeve and skirt and having a free end terminating adjacent the base portion of the housing, the latching mechanism being in the form of an annular water-responsive unit removably received in a seat within the sleeve adjacent to the base portion of the housing, the latching mechanism receiving the free end of the plunger therewithin, and the resilient means being interposed between a portion of the cap adjacent its axially outer end and a part of the plunger.

31. The apparatus of Claim 30, wherein the capsule is held in fixed position on the inflator and the piercing pin is mounted on the inflator for movement toward the capsule.

32. The apparatus of Claim 30 or 31 wherein the latching mechanism has an annular outer rim, the skirt of the cap is telescoped over the sleeve, and comprising inter-fitting polarizing formation on the rim of the latching mechanism and the inner side wall of the sleeve portion of the housing to permit the latching mechanism to be mounted in the sleeve with only the one correct end of the latching mechanism confronting the base of the housing.

33. The apparatus of Claim 30,31 or 32 wherein the resilient means is a coil compression spring, the sleeve portion, the skirt, and the threaded connection therebetween have such axial lengths that the sleeve and sirt may be initially threadedly connected without subjecting the coil compression spring to appreciable axial compression, and the spring can thereafter be compressed to cock the plunger by manually further screwing the cap on the sleeve portion of the housing.

34. The apparatus of Claim 33, wherein the plunger has a larger-diametered main portion and a reduced-diametered free axailly inner end portion, a transverse shoulder on the plunger located at the junction between the main and free end portions of the plunger, the transverse shoulder cooperating with the latching mechanism selectively to retain the plunger in cocked condition with the spring compressed, and the reduced-diametered free end portion of the plunger is freely insertable within and removable from the latching mechanism in either the operative, cocked or the inoperative, uncocked condition of the latching mechanism.

35. The apparatus of Claim 34, wherein the latching mechanism comprises a sleeve adapted to be telescoped about the free end of the plunger, the sleeve being made up of a plurality of axially extending segments having teeth on the inner surface thereof adapted to engage the transverse shoulder on the plunger when the latching mechanism is in its cocked condition, the segments of the sleeve being mounted for being swung radially outwardly on the plunger, and a water disintegratable ring disposed about the segments to hold the teeth thereon in engagementwith the transverse shoulder on the plunger.

36. The apparatus according to any of Claims 30 to 35 wherein the inflator comprises a first member, the capsule-piercing pin is mounted on the first member, the gas capsule is fixedly mounted on the first member, the piercing pin moves relative to the first member and capsule, and the housing containing the plunger, the resilient means, and the latching mechanism constitutes a separate, second member which is removably attached to the first member.

37. The apparatus of Claim 36, comprising means mounted on the first member for manually advancing the piercing pin, said last-named means being operable independently of the automatic water-responsive inflator means mounted on the second member, the automatic water-responsive inflator means being operable independently of the means for manually advancing the piercing pin.

38. The apparatus according to any of Claims 30 to 37 wherein the plunger has an enlargement thereon, the resilient means is a coil compression spring, the spring is telescoped over the outer end of the plunger and is disposed between the transverse cover portion of the cap and an enlargement on the plunger, and comprising means slidably connecting the plunger to the cap, whereby the plunger, spring, and cap are retained together as a unit when the cap is removed from the body of the inflator.

39. The apparatus of Claim 38, wherein the means slidably connecting the plunger to the cap comprises a centrally axially inwardly extending tubular member secured to the transverse cover porion of the cap, an annular radially inwardly extending flange having a central opening therethrough on the axially inner end of the tubular member, the plunger having an axially outer end slidingly and guidingly received through the central opening in the flange, the axially outer end of the plunger bearing a guide member having an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the opening in the flange end cooperating with the inner surface of the tubular member to guide the plunger, the guide member retaining the plunger, spring, and cap together as a unit when the cap is removed from the body of the inflator.

40. The apparatus of Claim 39, wherein the guide member is made separate from the plunger and is mounted on the plunger after assembly of the plunger, spring, and cap.

41. The apparatus of Claim 39 or 40 wherein the coil compression spring is telescoped over the tubular member which extends axially inwardly from the cover portion of the cap.

42. An automatic inflator adapted to be attached to or combined with a manually operable inflator, for attachment to an inflatable article, the'manually operable inflator including an inflator body, means for attaching a sealed finflating gas container to said body, a seal-rupturing member displaceable towards the said container, and manual actuating means for effecting displacement of said sealrupturing member; the automatic inflator comprising a latch mechanism that includes a watersensitive member operatively connected to an actuating member capable of displacing the sealrupturing member towards the said container when the automatic inflator is attached to or combined with the manually operable inflator, the said watersensitive member normally retaining said actuating member in a position disengaged from the sealrupturing member but on being wetted releasing said actuating member to co-operate with and displace the seal-rupturing member to break the seal of said container and to release the inflating gas therein; and wherein in use operation of the manually operable inflator leave the automatic inflator wholly unaffected.

43. An automatic inflator substantialy as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 11 or Figures 12 to 17 or Figures 18 to 22 of the accompanying drawings.

44. A combined automatic inflator and manually operable inflator substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 11 or Figures 12 to 17 or Figures 18 to 22 of the accompanying drawings.

45. A life vest provided with an inflator assembly according to any preceding Claim.