GB383964A - Improvements relating to emergency flotation equipment for aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

383,964. Fire-extinguishing; storing gases under pressure ; aeronautics. KIDDE & CO., Inc., W., 140, Cedar Street, New York, U.S.A.-(Assignees of Mapes, D. ; Mamaroneck, New York, U.S.A.) May 27, 1931, No. 10605/32. Convention date, June 12, 1930. Divided on 379,348. [Class 47 (ii).] A container for fluid under pressure, adapted for inflating the bags of emergency flotation equipment for aircraft, is provided with means for releasing the fluid intentionally for discharge to the bags through a pipe line, means for releasing the fluid in the event of excessive pressure arising within the container, and means for preventing entry of the fluid into the pipe line when released due to excessive pressure. As shown, the container 6 is sealed by a frangible disc 151 adapted to be ruptured by a tubular cutter 22. The latter has a spindle 23 threaded in a coupling head 16 and operable by a stem 26, pulley 28, and cable 30. The stem is rendered gastight by a shoulder 27 and nut 20. The head 16 is associated with a casing 35 in which is slidable a piston 38 normally raised by a spring 46. The piston carries, at its upper end, a ball socket 43 in engagement with a cam surface 49 on the pulley. When the latter is rotated, to drive down the cutter and release the fluid, the cam surface drives down the piston 38, opening communication between the discharge port 34 and the discharge pipe line 50, If the disc 151 is ruptured by excessive pressure within the container, the piston prevents the passage of the released fluid to the pipe line 50, the fluid escaping through the casing 35 by passages 41, 42. Fig. 2 shows the flotation equipment. The bags are enclosed in envelopes 1, the cover flaps of which are held closed by wires 2 engaging ringlets 3. The wires are connected to a piston within a casing 12. When the pilot opens the fluid container 6 by means of a cable 9, the released fluid first moves the piston to disengage the wires 2 from the ringlets 3, and then passes into the bags through a pipe 5. Specification 379,348 is referred to. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 states that the fluid containers may be used for fire-extinguishing and other purposes. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.