GB903198A - Improved rescue appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

903,198. Life-saving equipment. SCHERMULY PISTON ROCKET APPARATUS Ltd. June 1, 1961 [June 14, 1960], No. 20797/60. Class 77. [Also in Group XXVIII] A life-saving appliance comprises in combination, a sectional container, an inflatable member adapted when deflated to be stored within the container, inflation means directly connected to the member and actuable in response to contact with water, and a rocket attached to the container and adapted to propel the container through the air. A life-belt 50, Fig. 4, inflated by a bottle 12 of compressed gas attached thereto which is released by an initiator 13 responsive to contact with water, is carried in a deflated state in a water-permeable nylon bag within a container 2, Fig. 1, formed of sections 3, 4, pivoted at 6, 7 on a base plug 5, the container being propelled through the air by a conventional line-throwing rocket 1 attached thereto. In the inoperative condition the sections 3, 4 of the container are retained in position by adhesive tape 10 of a type suffering a marked reduction of adhesive property on contact with water, and a removable plug 8 with an orifice closes the top of the container. A length of cord 14 connects the life-belt with the plug 5 so that the rocket and container act as a stabilizer in the water and a flaked line 46 is attached to the pivoted end 47 of a yoke 48 of the rocket, which line may be buoyant. The initiator 13 comprises a a three-part casing 18, 19, 20, Fig. 3. The part 18 engages the screw-threaded end 21 of a gas bottle 21 and has a stem 22 for connection to the life-belt. The part 19 houses a slidable spring-urged tool 27 for fracturing a frangible diaphragm 26 of the bottle, which tool is retained in position by a ring 34. The spring 29 also urges balls 32 which engage an inclined face 33 of the ring 34 radially inwardly through apertures in a sleeved end 30 of the tool to engage a shaft 35 projecting thereinto. The cup-shaped part 20 of the casing houses the end of the shaft 35 which is secured to a disc 43 and surrounded by a washer 44 of compressed and treated sponge. Absorbtion of liquid entering the part 20 through apertures 39 and a perforated disc 40 therein causes sufficient swelling of the washer to move the disc 43 from the part 19 and remove the shaft 35 from the sleeved end of the tool 27. When a shoulder 37 of the shaft is drawn past the balls 32 they move radially inwards to free the tool from retention by the ring 34 to puncture the diaphragm 26. Specification 854,003 is referred to.