GB2201128A - Unsinkable enhancement to self inflatable & manual inflatable marine liferafts - Google Patents

Abstract

An unsinkable enhancement to liferafts presently invented, which either entails a modification kit to adapt existing designs presently invented or new design to this invention specification which has a main feature of utilising an expanded product fill of polyurethene, polymer, rubber, polystyrene or similar buoyant hydrocarbon product base to prevent chamber rupture on obstacles or material fatigue after abandonment of vessel. The design may utilise inclusion of a product activating agent in a pressurised bottle. The system has pressure and flow controls to enable correctly ratioed product/ agent fill of chamber(s). Pressure relief valves are included to prevent over-pressure. Liferaft is inflated/injected by either a painter terminated to trip/release device or by manual over-ride valve. An emergency manually operated air pump is also included.

Description

UNSINKABLE ENHANCEMENT TO SELF INFLATABLE & MANUAL INFLATABLE MARINE LIFERAFTS This invention relates to purpose built liferafts with an unsinkable design feature. It also relates to modification kits to add an unsinkable safety enhancement to existing presently invented shipping inflatable liferafts.

Inflatable liferafts (including C.C.A., I.O.R., NAYRU, R.O.R.C. 1 S.O.L.A.S.

approved types) are used extesively world wide, but are not unsinkable when all tubes or chambers are ruptureed.

Many accidents have, & still will occour due to tube/chamber rupture on obstacles or material fatigue after, or during abandonment of vessels.

According to the present invention there are only manual or self inflating liferafts designed with one or more buoyancy tubes, arch & floor which are inflated with either: - CO pressurised bottle - Nitrogen pressurised bottle - Air pressurised bottle - Hand operated air pump "This design is not unsinkable" A specific embodiment of the invention is described as follows:1.0 Purpose built liferaft with unsinkable design feature as follows:1.1 Basic liferaft which may bye similar in fabricated construction to present invention, but with specially designed connections to suit this specifically invented filling system, control system & pressure relief system as described in paragraphs 1.2 through to 1.7 incl below.

1.2 A expanded polyurathene, polymer, rubber, polystyrene or low density hydrocarbon based product fill of the liferaft tube(s). The product before release will be stored in a pressurised bottle. A second pressurised bottle may also be required containing a activating agent which will be released simultaneously & blended with the main product.

The release control & blending system design is as described below in paras 1.3 to 1.7 incl.

1.3 A nitrogen (or alternative gas/air) bottle with a pressure control regulator, pressure relief valve, pressure indicator & isolation valves, all tubed up to inject product & activating agent into liferaft tubes.

Two Two restriction orifices, one downstream of the product bottle & the other downstream of the activating agent bottle to control both flow rates & BR< ratios of blending.

1.5 A pressure safety relief valve on each liferaft tube/chamber as a secondary pressure relief due to thermal expansion (located at opposite side from fill point).

1.6 Rope trip (release) valve(s) with manual over-ride.

1.7 Emergency or optional air fill facility by means of a hand operated air pump should operator prefer re-use of liferaft a second time.

2.0 Modification kit to add a unsinkable safety enhancement to existing inflatable liferafts, with design features as follows:2.1 Tubing & adaptor modification kit to connect up & store all components/ control devices as listed below in paragraph 2.2.

2.2 All component & control devices as listed above in paragraphs 1.2 through to 1.7 incl above.

DETAIL DESIGN NOTES: i) Items in paragraph 1.3 above can be an integral feature with the product bottle & activating agent bottle.

ii) A suitable product could be used that would not require an activating agent bottle.

iii) The selected product shall not cause temperatures too high for the liferaft material when expanded at the fill point or within the tube(s).

iv) For comfort against tube(s) either a soft cushion or a soft product (after expansion) can be included or featured.

v) A product with extended safety-flame retardent properties (after - expansion) can be used.

vi) Only the bottom tube can be filled with expanded product & present invention inflatable system can be retained or featured for remainding compartments (paragraphs 1.0 & 2.0 above refer).

Claims (5)

1 An unsinkable enhancement to self inflatable & manual inflatable marine liferafts by means of using a expanded product fill of either a polyurathene, polymer, rubber, polystyrene or low density hydrocarbon base product within the liferaft tube(s) by manual or automatic rope trip release.

2 An unsinkable enhancement to liferaft as claimed in Claim 1 but with or without an activating agent simultaneously released with the product & blended to activate expansion.

3 An unsinkable enhancement to liferaft as claimed in Claims 1 or 2 wherein a nitrogen (or alternative gas/air) bottle with pressure controls is used to inject the product or activating agent into the liferaft tubes.

An unsinkable enhancement to liferaft as claimed in Claims 1, 2 or 3 but furnished as a modification kit for adapting to present invention liferafts.

5 An unsinkable enhancement to liferafts as claimed in any preceding claim above wherein only expanded product fill in the bottom tube & retain inflatable system also as per present invention.