GB2268572A

GB2268572A - Devices for triggering inflation valves

Info

Publication number: GB2268572A
Application number: GB9214287A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Raeburn
Original assignee: MULTIFABS Ltd
Current assignee: MULTIFABS Ltd
Priority date: 1992-07-04
Filing date: 1992-07-04
Publication date: 1994-01-12
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-04
Also published as: GB9214287D0; GB2268572B

Abstract

A device for triggering an inflation valve comprises an abutment (20) and a piston (18) adapted to be attached to the inflation valve. A handle (28) is movable relative to the abutment (20) between first and second positions, and urging means (22) for urging the piston (18) towards the abutment (20) is connected between the piston (18) and the handle (28) and applies insufficient forces to the piston (18) to trigger the valve when the handle (28) is in the first position. A collapsible member (16), which collapses on contact with water, is arranged between the piston (18) and the abutment (20). Movement of the handle (28) to the second position increases the urging force of the urging means (22) on the piston (18) to move the piston (18) towards the abutment (20) upon collapse of the collapsible member (16). <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in or Relating to Devices for Triggering Inflation Valves This invention relates to devices for triggering inflation valves.

Inflation of life jackets can either be carried out manually or automatically. In both cases, inflation of the jacket involves triggering a valve to release compressed gas into the jacket.

Automatic inflation of life jackets is required where the wearer is likely to be rendered unconscious on contacting the water, for example when jumping from burning oil rigs.

Manual inflation of life jackets is required where the wearer has to escape from a confined space, for example a crashed helicopter or aeroplane which may be under water. If the life jacket were to inflate automatically on contact with the water, then it would hinder the escape of the wearer'.

Life jackets which are to be inflated automatically are provided with a trigger mechanism which reacts with the water. Life jackets which are to be inflated manually possess only a valve to be operated by the wearer. This has the disadvantage that it is necessary to set up life jackets with these two different mechanisms, which increases the cost.

It is an object of this invention to obviate and/or mitigate this and other disadvantages of the prior art.

According to this invention there is provided a device for triggering an inflation valve, said device comprising: an abutment; a piston adapted to be attached to the inflation valve to trigger inflation, said piston being movable towards the abutment; a handle movable relative to the abutment between first and second positions; urging means for urging the piston towards the abutment, said urging means being connected between said piston and said handle and said urging means applying insufficient force to said piston to trigger said valve when the handle is in the first position; and a collapsible member adapted to collapse on contact with water, said collapsible member being arranged between said piston and said abutment and being adapted to prevent movement of said piston until collapse thereof, whereby movement of said handle relative to the abutment to the second position increases the urging force of the urging means on the piston to move said piston towards said abutment when said collapsible member has collapsed.

Preferably, the urging means applies negligible force to said piston when the handle is in the first position.

Preferably, the device further includes a first outer member, a second outer member movable relative to the first outer member between first and second positions and being lockable in the second position.

The piston is preferably movable relative to the first outer member towards one end portion of said first outer member, said abutment being provided at said one end portion.

Preferably, the first and second outer members are elongate and the first outer member may extend lengthwise within the second outer member. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second outer members comprise first and second sleeves respectively. The second outer member may be slidable relative to the first outer member between said first and second position.

The piston may be arranged to be slidable relative to the first outer member towards said one end portion of the first outer member.

The first outer member may be formed with a shoulder at said one end portion to engage one end of the collapsible member. The other end of the collapsible member may engage the piston.

The urging means may extend lengthwise within the first outer member, and preferably within the collapsible member. One end of the urging means may be connected to said one end portion of the second outer member and the other end of the urging means may be connected to the piston. The urging means may comprise a tension spring.

The first and second outer members may be provided with detent means adapted to lock said second outer member in the second position. Preferably, the detent means comprises at least one resiliently deformable arm, conveniently two resiliently deformable arms, provided on the first outer member, the or each arm having a projection thereon. The detent means may further include at least one first recess or aperture, conveniently two first recesses or apertures, in the second outer member, to receive the or each projection therein to lock the second outer member in the second position. The or each projection may be in the form of a lug.

Preferably, the second outer member is further provided with at least one second recess or aperture, conveniently two second recesses or apertures, to receive said projections when said second outer member is in the first position. The or each second recess or aperture may be provided with sloping sides to facilitate release of the projections from the or each second recess or aperture.

Stop means may be provided to stop the second outer member moving beyond the second position. The stop means may comprise a slot of appropriate length in the second outer member and an upstanding member on the first outer member extending through the slot. The upstanding member may comprise a screw threadably received in the first outer member.

A handle may be provided on the second outer member to facilitate moving the second outer member to the second position.

Attachment means may be provided on the first outer member to attach the device to an article to be inflated. The attachment means may comprise at least one bracket which may be provided with apertures.

The collapsible member may comprise a tube of paper or other appropriate material possessing structural integrity when dry but losing said structural integrity when wet.

The first outer member may be provided with flood holes to allow water to enter therein to wet said collapsible member.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a sectional side view of a device for triggering an inflation valve; Fig. 2 shows a view along the line II-II of Fig.

1; Fig. 3 shows a top view of the second outer member having a portion cut away; Fig. 4 shows a side view of the second outer member; Fig. 5 shows a side view of the first outer member; and Fig. 6 shows a top view of the second outer member having a portion cut away.

A device for triggering an inflation valve is shown in the drawings and is generally designated 10.

The device 10 comprises first and second sleeves 12,14 respectively, the first sleeve 12 being slidable within the second sleeve 14. The device 10 also comprises a tube 16 and a piston 18. The tube 16 is formed of a material which has structural integrity .when dry but which loses its structural integrity when wet, for example rigid paper or card. The piston 18 is adapted to be connected to the inflation valve (not shown) in any manner known in the art.

The first sleeve 12 is provided with shoulders 20 against which the tube 16 engages. A spring 22 extends lengthwise through the tube 16 and is attached at one end thereof to a first pin 24 fixed to the piston 18, and at the other end thereof to a second pin 26 fixed to the second sleeve 14. In Fig. 1, only the opposite ends of the spring 22 are shown for clarity, the middle part of the spring 22 being represented by a broken line.

A handle 28 extends from the second sleeve 14 at one end of the device as shown, and mounting brackets 30 extend from the first sleeve 12 at the opposite end of the device 10, also as shown. The mounting brackets 30 are provided with apertures 31 to receive screws or rivets to attach the device to an article to be inflated, for example a life jacket or dinghy.

The second sleeve 14 is provided with first and second pairs of diametrically opposed apertures 32,34 respectively, as shown. Each of the second pair of apertures 34 has a sloping side 36, the purpose of which will be explained below.

The first sleeve 12 is provided with resiliently deformable arms 38, the arms 38 being substantially flush with the outer surface of the first sleeve 12.

Each arm 38 has a lug 40 projecting therefrom, above the outer surface of the first sleeve 12.

The lugs 40 are adapted to be received in the apertures 32 or 34. When the device 10 is to be used on a life jacket where automatic inflation on contact with water is important, the device 10 must initially be primed. With the first and second sleeves 12,14 and the handle 28 arranged in a first position as shown in Fig.

1, the projections 40 are received in the second pair of apertures 34. In order to prime the device, the wearer of the life jacket pulls the handle 28 in the direction indicated by the arrow A. The lugs 40 slide against the sloping sides 36, thereby causing the arms 38 to be deformed inwardly. Further pulling on the handle 28 causes the second sleeve 14 to slide relative to the first sleeve 12 in the direction of arrow A until the first pair of apertures 32 reaches the lugs 40. The arms 38 then snap back to their non-deformed position such that the lugs 40 are received in the first pair of apertures 32. The second sleeve 14 and the handle 28 are in a second position.

The second sleeve 14 is provided with an elongate slot 33. A screw 35 extends from the first sleeve 12 through the slot 33, the slot 33 and the screw 35 thereby act as a stop to prevent the second sleeve 14 from being pulled too far.

The first pair of apertures 32 are not provided with sloping sides and so the second sleeve 14 is locked in this position. Thus, the second sleeve 14 cannot be accidentally released from the second position. A positive action in the part of the wearer is required to release the second sleeve 14 by.pushing the lugs 40 inwardly. As will be appreciated, when the sleeve 14 is in the second position, the spring 22 is under tension.

The structural integrity of the tube 16 prevents the pin 18 from sliding down the first sleeve 12 under the force of the spring 22.

The first sleeve 12 is provided with a plurality of flood holes 41 to allow water to enter therein to wet the tube 16. The handle 28 is provided with a bore 43 to allow water to enter herein.

When the wearer enters the water, the flood holes 41 allow the first sleeve to be inundated thereby causing the tube 16 to become wet. The tube 16 loses its structural integrity and the force of the spring 22 on the piston 18 causes the tube 16 to collapse, pulling the piston 18 in the direction of arrow A, triggering the inflation valve to inflate the life jacket.

In the event that manual operation of the device 10 is required, the device 10 is not initially primed as described above before the wearer enters the water.

Instead, the first and second sleeves 12,14 remain in the first position as shown in Fig. 1. When the wearer enters the water, the flood holes 41 allow water to inundate the first sleeve 12, thereby wetting the tube 16 and causing it to lose its structural integrity.

Thus, when the wearer pulls the handle 28 in the direction indicated by the arrow A, the piston 18 is also pulled in the direction of arrow A, causing the tube 16 to collapse, thereby triggering the valve to inflate the life jacket. It will be appreciated that the spring 22 should not apply sufficient force to the piston 18 when the sleeves 12,14 are in the first position. In the embodiment shown, the spring 22 applies a negligible force to the piston 18 when the sleeves 12,14 are in the first position.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the number of resiliently deformable arms 38, and the corresponding apertures 32,34 could be varied as desired. Also, the number of flood holes 41 could be varied.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

Claims:

1. A device for triggering an inflation valve, said device comprising: an abutment; a piston adapted to be attached to the inflation valve to trigger. inflation, said piston being movable towards the abutment; a handle movable relative to the abutment between first and second positions; urging means for urging the piston towards the abutment, said urging means being connected between said piston and said handle and said urging means applying insufficient force to said piston to trigger said valve when the handle is in the first position; and a collapsible member adapted to collapse on contact with water, said collapsible member being arranged between said piston and said abutment and being adapted to prevent movement of said piston until collapse thereof, whereby movement of said handle relative to the abutment to the second position increases the urging force of the urging means on the piston to move said piston towards said abutment when said collapsible member has collapsed.

2. A device according to Claim 1, further including a first outer member, a second outer member connected to the handle and movable relative to the first outer member between said first and second positions and being lockable in the second position, wherein the piston is movable relative to the first outer member towards one end portion of said first outer member, said abutment being provided at said one end portion.

3. A device according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the first and second outer members are elongate and the first outer member extends lengthwise within the second outer member.

4. A device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the first and second outer members comprise first and second sleeves respectively, the second sleeve being slidable relative to the first sleeve between said first and second position.

5. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the piston is arranged to be slidable relative to the first outer member towards said one end portion of the first outer member.

6. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the first outer member is formed with a shoulder at said one end portion to engage one end of the collapsible member, the other end of the collapsible member engaging the piston.

7. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the urging means extends lengthwise within the first outer member and within the collapsible member, one end of the urging means being connected to one end of the second outer member and the other end of the urging means being connected to the piston.

8. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the urging means comprises a tension spring.

9. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the first and second outer members may be provided with detent means adapted to lock said second outer member in the second position.

10. A device according to Claim 9 wherein the detent means comprises at least one resiliently deformable arm on the first outer member, the or each arm having a projection thereon, and at least one first recess or aperture is provided in the second outer member, the or each first recess or aperture being adapted to receive the or each projection therein to lock the second outer member in the second position.

11. A device according to Claim 10 wherein the second outer member is further provided with at least one second recess or aperture, to receive said projections when said second outer member is in the first position, the or each second recess or aperture being provided with sloping sides to facilitate release of the projections from the or each second recess or aperture.

12. A device according to any preceding'claim wherein stop means is provided to stop the second outer member moving beyond the second position.

13. A device according to Claim 12 wherein the stop means may comprise a slot of appropriate length in the second outer member and an upstanding member on the first outer member extending through the slot.

14. A device according to any preceding claim wherein a handle is provided on the second outer member to facilitate moving the second outer member to the second position.

15. A device according to any preceding claim wherein attachment means is provided on the first outer member to attach the device to an article to be inflated.

16. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the collapsible member comprises a tube of paper or other appropriate material possessing structural integrity when dry but losing said structural integrity when wet.

17. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the first outer member may be provided with flood holes to allow water to enter therein to wet said collapsible member.

18. A device for triggering an inflation substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

19. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed in the foregoing specification or claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.