GB2117327A

GB2117327A - Inflatable vessel canopy

Info

Publication number: GB2117327A
Application number: GB08209082A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Thomas Risk; Peter Egerton
Original assignee: BTR PLC
Current assignee: BTR PLC
Priority date: 1982-03-27
Filing date: 1982-03-27
Publication date: 1983-10-12
Also published as: GB2117327B; FR2523917B1; DK102383D0; FR2523917A1; DE3301721A1; DK102383A

Abstract

A vessel (10) such as a liferaft has a body (11, 12) inflatable by means of a compressed-gas cylinder (16) and an over-pressure valve (17) to prevent over-inflation. A canopy (15) of the vessel has double skins (20, 21) and an outlet of the valve (17) is connected, e.g. by tube (18), to the interior (19) of the canopy (15) so that excess gas from inflation of the body can help to inflate the canopy to improve its thermal insulating characteristics. A valve (22) allows mouth or pump inflation of the canopy and also gas release for packing. The canopy has an overpressure valve (23). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Canopy This invention relates to a canopy on an inflatable liferaft, boat or similar vessel.

Inflatable vessels are usually stored in a folded condition and when required for use are inflated by release of pressurised gas from a cylinder. To avoid any possibility of under-inflation, even after leakage from the cylinder it is usual to ensure that the cylinder contains more gas than is necessary to inflate the vessel, excess gas being vented from the vessel via an overpressure valve, It is further usual to provide a canopy which in the inflated condition of the vessel forms a protective cover for occupants thereof. To increase the thermal insulation properties of the canopy it is known to make the canopy of the double skin construction.

We have appreciated that the efficiency of a double-skinned canopy can be greatly increased at little extra cost and with little extra compiication.

According to the present invention there is provided a vessel having an inflatable body, a double-skinned canopy of air-impermeable material, a store of compressed gas for inflation of the body and an overpressure valve for releasing excess gas from the body upon inflation, the outer of the overpressure valve being in fluid flow connection with the interior of the canopy so that excess gas released from the valve serves to inflate the canopy to enhance its thermal insulation properties.

Preferably the canopy has an inlet valve and means enabling the canopy to be additionally inflated or "topped-up" by mouth pressure or by a pump operated by occupants of the vessel. Such means can include an inlet valve and tubing which may also allow deflation of the canopy when desired. The canopy can also have an overpressure valve to prevent over inflation thereof.

When the vessel is to be packed, it is essential that the canopy be completely evacuated. To achieve this the topping-up valve can be used and means is preferably provided to provide a gas flow passage from the distant parts of the canopy to the valve. Such means can be a cord or the like disposed inside the canopy so as to define a gas channel when the canopy lies flat.

The invention wili be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective front view of a preferred inflatable vessel of the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line Il-Il of Fig.

1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section on line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating an alternative construction.

A preferred vessel 10 of the invention is a liferaft having a body composed of a pair of hollow, united annulae 11, 12 around the periphery of a floor 1 3. A semi-circular inflatable arch 14 supports a canopy 15. The annule 11, 12 and arch 14 are in gas-flow communication and can be inflated by gas released from a cylinder 1 6.

Excess gas from the annulae 11, 12, can escape via an overpressure valve 1 7 and passes via a tube 1 8 to the space 1 9 between the two skins 20, 21 of the canopy 1 5 which is thereby inflated and has an enhanced thermal insulation capacity. The canopy can be additionally inflated or "topped-up" via a valve 22 which can also be actuated to release gas from the canopy 1 5.

An overpressure valve 23 can be provided to prevent over-inflation of the canopy 1 5, which has an entrance 24 closable by a door 25 shown in a folded and tied-back condition.

When the vessel 10 is folded and packed for storage, for example as a liferaft on a ship, the canopy must be totally evacuated to reduce its volume to a minimum. The vale 22 is used to allow gas escape for this purpose and to allow gas to escape from distant parts of the canopy cords or the like 26 can be disposed inside the canopy 1 5 to define gas passages 27 when the canopy 1 5 is folded flat. (Fig. 3).

The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto. For example, instead of tube there can be a direct communication between annulus 11 and the interior of canopy 1 5. (Fig. 4).

The body need not be circular in plan and can be polygonal, e.g. hexagonal, if desired. Many variations are possible.

1. A vessel having an inflatable body, a doubleskinned canopy of air-impermeable material, a store of compressed gas for inflation of the body and an overpressure valve for releasing excess gas from the body upon inflation, an outlet of the overpressure valve being in fluid flow connection with the interior of the canopy so that excess gas released from the valve serves to inflate the canopy to enhance its thermal insulation properties.

2. A vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the canopy has an inlet valve and means enabling the canopy to be additionally inflated or "topped-up" by mouth pressure or by a pump.

3. A vessel as claimed in claim 2, wherein such means includes an inlet valve and tubing which allows deflation of the canopy.

4. A vessel as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the canopy has an overpressure valve to prevent over-inflation thereof.

5. A vessel as claimed in claim 2 and required to be substantially evacuated for packing, the topping-up valve being used for this purpose and means being provided to provide one or more gas flow passages from the distant parts of the canopy to the valve.

6. A vessel as claimed in claim 5, wherein such means is a cord or the like disposed inside the canopy so as to define a gas flow channel when

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Canopy This invention relates to a canopy on an inflatable liferaft, boat or similar vessel. Inflatable vessels are usually stored in a folded condition and when required for use are inflated by release of pressurised gas from a cylinder. To avoid any possibility of under-inflation, even after leakage from the cylinder it is usual to ensure that the cylinder contains more gas than is necessary to inflate the vessel, excess gas being vented from the vessel via an overpressure valve, It is further usual to provide a canopy which in the inflated condition of the vessel forms a protective cover for occupants thereof. To increase the thermal insulation properties of the canopy it is known to make the canopy of the double skin construction. We have appreciated that the efficiency of a double-skinned canopy can be greatly increased at little extra cost and with little extra compiication. According to the present invention there is provided a vessel having an inflatable body, a double-skinned canopy of air-impermeable material, a store of compressed gas for inflation of the body and an overpressure valve for releasing excess gas from the body upon inflation, the outer of the overpressure valve being in fluid flow connection with the interior of the canopy so that excess gas released from the valve serves to inflate the canopy to enhance its thermal insulation properties. Preferably the canopy has an inlet valve and means enabling the canopy to be additionally inflated or "topped-up" by mouth pressure or by a pump operated by occupants of the vessel. Such means can include an inlet valve and tubing which may also allow deflation of the canopy when desired. The canopy can also have an overpressure valve to prevent over inflation thereof. When the vessel is to be packed, it is essential that the canopy be completely evacuated. To achieve this the topping-up valve can be used and means is preferably provided to provide a gas flow passage from the distant parts of the canopy to the valve. Such means can be a cord or the like disposed inside the canopy so as to define a gas channel when the canopy lies flat. The invention wili be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective front view of a preferred inflatable vessel of the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line Il-Il of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section on line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating an alternative construction. A preferred vessel 10 of the invention is a liferaft having a body composed of a pair of hollow, united annulae 11, 12 around the periphery of a floor 1 3. A semi-circular inflatable arch 14 supports a canopy 15. The annule 11, 12 and arch 14 are in gas-flow communication and can be inflated by gas released from a cylinder 1 6. Excess gas from the annulae 11, 12, can escape via an overpressure valve 1 7 and passes via a tube 1 8 to the space 1 9 between the two skins 20, 21 of the canopy 1 5 which is thereby inflated and has an enhanced thermal insulation capacity. The canopy can be additionally inflated or "topped-up" via a valve 22 which can also be actuated to release gas from the canopy 1 5. An overpressure valve 23 can be provided to prevent over-inflation of the canopy 1 5, which has an entrance 24 closable by a door 25 shown in a folded and tied-back condition. When the vessel 10 is folded and packed for storage, for example as a liferaft on a ship, the canopy must be totally evacuated to reduce its volume to a minimum. The vale 22 is used to allow gas escape for this purpose and to allow gas to escape from distant parts of the canopy cords or the like 26 can be disposed inside the canopy 1 5 to define gas passages 27 when the canopy 1 5 is folded flat. (Fig. 3). The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto. For example, instead of tube there can be a direct communication between annulus 11 and the interior of canopy 1 5. (Fig. 4). The body need not be circular in plan and can be polygonal, e.g. hexagonal, if desired. Many variations are possible. CLAIMS

6. A vessel as claimed in claim 5, wherein such means is a cord or the like disposed inside the canopy so as to define a gas flow channel when the canopy lies flat.

7. A vessel as claimed in any preceding claim and being a liferaft.

8. A vessel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.