JP2002503592A - Life raft - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] The life raft has a floor (21) and a roof (22) separated by inflatable structures (13a to 13f). When inflated, the floor (21) and the roof (22) are substantially parallel, providing a reversible liferaft. A drain (28) is provided and extends between the floor (21) and the roof (22) before inflation, and drains water from the roof (22) through the floor (21) during inflation. A boarding ramp (19) is provided and has an inflatable tube (33) connected to the inflatable structure (13a-13f) of the life raft. Typically, the riding ramp (19) is deflated and packaged and held in an inflatable structure (13a-13f), and upon release, air from the inflatable structure (13a-13f) is released. The tube (33) is inflated, and the boarding lamp (19) is deployed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a life raft.

A known life raft consists of two members connected in an inflatable structure. The inflatable structure separates the members when inflated, with one member forming a substantially flat floor and the other member forming a substantially flat roof to form an enclosure. An example of this type of life raft is US Pat.
037218.

One problem with this type of life raft occurs during inflation, and is particularly noticeable when inflated in water. When the inflatable structure expands, the floor and roof members first unfold in a planar manner. The components that make up the roof can be covered by a significant volume of water,
Depending on the weight of the water, the inflatable structure may not expand properly or the life raft may not deploy.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a life raft comprising two members connected by an inflatable structure. The members separate when inflated to form an enclosure. One flat member forms a substantially flat floor, and the other flat member forms a substantially flat roof to form an enclosed space. A passage is provided between the first and second members, the passage being open when the inflatable structure is inflated to drain water from the surface of the flat member.

Another problem common to life raft of the type shown in US Pat. No. 3,037,218 and other life raft is that evacuees need assistance to board the life raft. Previously, it has been proposed to have a boarding ramp that protrudes from the life raft and allows evacuees to climb up to get on the life raft. Protrusion of such a boarding ramp from a life raft can be problematic. Many boarding ramps are unnecessarily used, as they may hinder the deployment of nearby life raft and some of the entrances may not be used where there is more than one entrance. This is because it is possible.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a life raft comprising a boarding ramp having an inflatable structure and at least one inflatable member. The inflatable member is in communication with the inflatable structure, and the riding ramp is held in a folded state and can be released from the folded state. Upon release, the inflatable member expands with the gas from the inflatable structure to deploy the riding ramp.

Next, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring first to FIGS. 1-4, the life raft is generally octagonal in plan view and has two opposing side walls 10, two opposing end walls 11, and four interconnecting side walls and end walls.
It has two corner walls 12. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the wall consists of an inflatable structure with six stacked inflatable tubes 13a-13f. The upper two 13a and 13b and the lower two 13e and 13f are continuous with the entire life raft. Accordingly, each of these tubes 13a, 13b, 13e, 13f has eight corners 14. All tubes 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d,
The corners of 13e and 13f are arranged in a line in the vertical direction. The remaining two tubes 13c
, 13d are separated at the side wall 10 and the end wall 11 to form an opposing side wall entrance 15 and an opposing end wall entrance 16, respectively.

[0008] The tubes 13a to 13f are manufactured from a rubberized textile material by a known method. Therefore, their structure will not be described in detail here. Each entry has an entry and exit formed by a sheet 17 of rubberized textile material with a rewindable security cover 18 as shown in FIGS. Each side wall entrance 15 is connected to a pair of boarding lamps 19 respectively. The structure and operation of these boarding lamps 19 will be described in detail below.

[0009] The uppermost tube 13a and the lowermost tube 13f are connected to the related tubes 13a.
a, a series of water pockets 20 extending over the entire circumference of 13f. As shown, each of the tubes 13a, 13f has 32 water pockets 20, which are of a conventional design.

The life raft also has a floor 21 and a roof 22. The floor 21 and the roof 22
Both are formed from a rubberized textile material having suitable strength. Therefore, it is needless to say that the life raft can be used upside down based on the description of the drawings and the drawings themselves. The floor 21 can also be used as a roof,
Can also be used as a floor.

The periphery of the roof 22 is sandwiched between the uppermost tube 13a and the tube 13b below it. The periphery of the floor 22 is sandwiched between the lowermost tube 16f and the tube 16e thereon.

As shown in FIG. 4, the roof 22 and the floor 21 in the life raft are separated by an inflatable internal structure including two sets of cross members 23. Each set of crosspieces 23 is separated by three spaced vertical columns 24. The cross members 23 and the struts 24 are made of inflatable tubes of a well-known design. As shown in FIG. 4, one cross member 23 of each set
Extends between the side walls 10 across the floor 21 and the other cross member 23 of each set extends between the side walls 10 across the roof 22. The two sets of cross members 23 are installed at intervals according to the length of the life raft. The roof 22 and the floor 21 have round entrances 25 aligned with each other. These inlets 25 are interconnected by tubes with inclined turning devices (not shown). The tube can be opened to allow access to the interior of the life raft. The entrance 25 on the roof 22 is connected to our PCT application publication no.
It is designed to connect to an escape chute of the kind shown in 7/22514. Therefore, it will not be described in detail here.

The roof is provided with three connection points 26 that allow a gas cylinder to be mounted on the roof to supply gas to the inflatable structure via a conventional (not shown) inflation system.

In addition, four tubes 27 extend between the roof 22 and the floor 21. These are for discharging rainwater from the roof 22 and these tubes 27
Can be fitted with a valve and outlet for collecting rainwater and using it as drinking water.

The roof 22 and the floor 21 have three discharge paths 28. One discharge path 28
Are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Referring to these figures, each passage 28 comprises a tubular sleeve 29 made of a freely bendable material, extending into the interior from an opening 30 in the floor / roof 21/22. The opening 30 is a round mesh 31
Covered with. A drawstring 32 is provided at the end of the sleeve 29 opposite to the mesh 31.

The roof discharge path 28 is aligned with the floor 21 discharge path 28. Prior to inflation of the inflatable structure, the sleeves 29 of all drains 28 have been unwound so as not to block the associated openings. At this time, each discharge path 28 of the roof 22 is connected to the discharge path 28 of the floor 21 which is aligned with a cutting thread 40, and a continuous path is formed between the roof 22 and the floor 21. This purpose is described below together with the deployment of the life raft when inflated.

As shown in FIG. 1, the two discharge passages 28 are installed on the horizontal axis 38 of the roof 22 and are each adjacent to the side wall entrance 15. The third discharge path 28 is the roof 22
, And is adjacent to the intersection of the axis 39 and the horizontal axis 38.

The boarding ramp 19 is adjacent to the side wall entrance 15. Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 8, each of the boarding ramps 19 is composed of a U-shaped inflatable tube 33, and at the bottom of the U-shape, either the uppermost tube 13a or the lowermost tube 13f. Connected to the crab. The bottom of this U-shaped tube is connected to the associated tube 13a / 13
f and a gas passage. The space between the U-shaped arms is covered with a mesh material 34.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, a band string 35 serving as a handle or a footrest is provided between each boarding lamp 19 and the side wall entrance 15 near the boarding lamp 19.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, two riding ramps 19 are connected to each side wall entrance 15. One riding lamp 19 extends radially from the uppermost tube 13a, and the other riding lamp extends radially from the lowermost tube 13f. The boarding ramps 19 are installed on both sides of a vertical plane passing through the center of the side wall entrance 15. Therefore, no matter how the life raft falls, the boarding ramp 1
9 is available.

When deflated as shown in FIG. 5, the U-shaped tube 33 and the mesh material 3
4 is wound up towards the associated tubes 13a, 13f. They are held in this position by a holder consisting of two material sheets 36, 37 connected at a distance to the adjacent tubes 13a, 13f. The first sheet 36 wraps the folded boarding lamp 19 and is connected to the second sheet 37. This connection does not interfere with any releasable retainers, such as the interlocking hooks and clasps sold under the trademark VELCRO. Then, when the sheet is torn by the evacuee and disengaged, the relevant tubes 13a, 1
Air pressure from 3f inflates the U-shaped tube 33 and deploys the boarding ramp 19. Since the volume of the U-shaped tube 33 is extremely small as compared with the related tubes 13a and 13f, there is almost no difference from the hardness of the related tubes 13a and 13f.

In use, the life raft is deflated and packed to prepare for a suitable ship. As mentioned above, the life raft can be connected to an escape chute of the kind described in WO-A-97 / 22514.

When necessary, the life raft is dropped from the side of the ship, and upon landing, the inflation system operates automatically. Then, gas is supplied to the inflatable structure from a cylinder mounted on the connection portion 26 of the roof 22. This process occurs in a very short time. First, the uppermost and lowermost tubes 13a and 13f are formed into an octagon, and the floor 21 and the roof 22 are formed.
Open in an octagon. This is possible even when the life raft is completely or partially underwater, or when encountering high waves. When the roof 22 opens, water collects on the roof 22. The weight of this water may be sufficient to prevent the inflatable structure from expanding.

This problem is solved by the outlet 28. The drain 28 is sized, numbered, and positioned to allow water to pass from the roof 22 to the floor 21 to prevent water from interfering with the expansion of the inflatable structure.

In this regard, it goes without saying that the side wall entrance 15 is less likely to expand than any other part of the life raft. Therefore, the life raft tends to break about a horizontal axis 38 connecting the side wall entrances 15, and the drain 28 close to the side wall entrance 15 carries water from these areas. Further, the interconnection between the drains 28 will serve as a gutter on the roof 22 at the center of the life raft, collecting water near the drains 28.

As the pressure inside the inflatable structure increases, the thread between opposing discharge channels 28 breaks and the inflatable structure continues to expand until it is fully deployed. Thereby, the sleeve 29 is separated, and the passage between the roof 22 and the floor 21 is broken. By this time, all problematic water has been drained from the roof 22, and the drain 28 has been completed.

A rigid structure can be obtained by using a polygonal shape whose corners are aligned with the tubes 13a to 13f. The reason is that the corners are less bent than the other parts of the tubes 13a to 13f.

It is desirable that the evacuees board the life raft from the escape chute entrance 25. However, if evacuees are underwater, they can release the boarding ramp 19 described above and climb using the strap 35 and side wall entrance 15. Side entrance 16
Can also be used.

Once the refugee enters the enclosure formed by the life raft, the refugee can use the drawstring 32 to close the discharge path 28. The discharge path 28 on the floor can also be used as a storage. Tube 27 can be used to collect water.

Of course, there are many variations in the use of the life raft described above with reference to the drawings.

The life raft may be in any form as long as it is convenient. It need not be polygonal, but may be round. There may be some increase or decrease in the number of entrances. The boarding ramp 19 is optional equipment. The number of discharge paths 28 can also be increased or decreased. Discharge path 28
Can always be connected between the roof 23 and the floor 21 even when the life raft is fully deployed. The discharge path 28 can be arranged at a place other than that shown in the figure.

The boarding ramp need not be used in a life raft of the type described above with reference to the drawings, but may be used in any suitable life raft. The boarding ramp can be any shape as desired and need not necessarily be formed by a U-shaped tube or mesh. Whatever type the inflatable tube is, it can be utilized in a structure that receives gas from an adjacent inflatable structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a deployed life raft showing a discharge path and a protruding boarding ramp.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the lifesaving raft as viewed from the direction of arrow X in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the life raft as viewed from the direction of arrow Y in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of one of the discharge paths shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the discharge path of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the tube of the life raft shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, showing that one of the boarding lamps is held by the tube in a folded state with two materials.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the boarding ramp in an unfolded state.

FIG. 9 is a partial side view of the life raft facing in the direction shown in FIG. 2 and shows an expanded riding ramp in an enlarged manner.

[Procedural Amendment] Submission of translation of Article 34 Amendment of the Patent Cooperation Treaty

[Submission date] May 16, 2000 (2000.5.16)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 8

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 18

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 19

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 25

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0019

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, a strap 35 serving as a handle or a footrest is provided between each boarding lamp 19 and a side wall entrance 15 near the boarding ramp 19.

[Procedure amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0021

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

When deflated as shown in FIG. 7, the U-shaped tube 33 and the mesh material 3
4 is wound up towards the associated tubes 13a, 13f. They are held in this position by a holder consisting of two material sheets 36, 37 connected at a distance to the adjacent tubes 13a, 13f. The first sheet 36 wraps the folded boarding lamp 19 and is connected to the second sheet 37. This connection does not interfere with any releasable retainers, such as the interlocking hooks and clasps sold under the trademark VELCRO. Then, when the sheet is torn by the evacuee and disengaged, the relevant tubes 13a, 1
Air pressure from 3f inflates the U-shaped tube 33 and deploys the boarding ramp 19. Since the volume of the U-shaped tube 33 is extremely small as compared with the related tubes 13a and 13f, there is almost no difference from the hardness of the related tubes 13a and 13f.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE ), AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH , GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, U S, UZ, VN, YU, ZW (72) Inventor Maggie Mark UK, Belfast BT179D W, Dunmary, Hornbeam Road 47

Claims (26)

[Claims] 1. Two members (2) connected by an inflatable structure (13a to 13f).
1, 22), the inflatable structure separates the members (21, 22) when inflated to form an enclosed space, with one member becoming a substantially flat floor (21) and the other member being substantially flat The roof (22) forms an enclosed space, and the first and second members (21
, 22) is provided with a passage (28) which is inflatable (13a-13).
13f) are open when inflated, forming the roof (21, 22)
) Drain water from the surface. 2. The inflatable structure according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable structure is connected between respective peripheries of the members, and the passage is located inside said perimeter. Such a life raft. 3. Prior to deployment, the members (21, 22) are interconnected near said passage.
40) when the inflatable structure (13a-13f) is inflated, the roof (
A life raft according to claim 2, wherein the member forming (22) provides a depression around the passage (28) for collecting water. 4. The life raft according to claim 3, wherein the interconnect (40) breaks after a predetermined expansion of the inflatable structure (13a-13f). 5. The lifesaving device according to claim 4, wherein the interconnection comprises at least one thread-like member (40) which breaks when the inflatable structure (13a-13f) expands and separates the members (21, 22). Raft. 6. The life raft according to claim 1, wherein the passage becomes discontinuous after a predetermined expansion of the inflatable structure (13a to 13f). 7. The passage has two openings (30) located on each member (21, 22), respectively, and a tube (29) interconnecting the openings.
29) The life raft according to claim 6, wherein the raft is separated at the time of the predetermined inflation. 8. The tube is formed by two tube portions (29) each extending from each opening (30), each tube portion (29) having an end remote from the connected opening. 8. The life raft according to claim 7, wherein both ends are individually connected. 9. The lifesaving device according to claim 8, wherein the tube section (29) is made of a foldable material and is adapted to keep said passage open before inflation of the inflatable structure (13a-13f). Raft. 10. The end of each tube section (29) is connected to the tube section (29).
10. The life raft according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the life raft can be closed after being separated. 11. The member forming the roof (22) has an inflatable structure (13).
When a to 13f) are inflated, they are symmetric about two mutually orthogonal axes in the plane of the member (22), and the passage (28) is provided at or near the intersection of said axes. A life raft according to any one of claims 1 to 10. 12. The passage according to claim 1, wherein the passage is one of two or more passages.
A life raft according to any one of claims 11 to 11. 13. A life raft according to claim 12, wherein at least one passage is disposed along one of said axes. 14. Each of the members (21, 22) has first and second sides, and the inflatable structure includes a plurality of inflatable tubes (23) located in parallel, spaced apart planes when inflated. 13b to 13d), wherein the plane is a roof and floor member (21).
, 22) and the tubes (13a-13f) extend side by side between the first side surfaces of the members (21, 22) at the periphery of the roof and floor members (21, 22). A life raft according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the life raft is provided. 15. Two tubes (13a, 13f) are added, each added tube (13a, 13f) extending on their second side at the periphery of each member (21, 22). The life raft according to claim 14, wherein 16. At least one inlet (15, 16) is provided in said tube (1).
The life raft according to claim 14 or 15 provided in 3b to 13d). 17. Each of the tubes (13a to 13a) has a polygonal shape in plan view.
13f) has at least one corner forming a polygonal corner, the corners of the tubes (13a-13d) being perpendicular to the polygonal corner when the inflatable structure is inflated. The life raft according to any one of claims 14 to 16, which is aligned with the direction. 18. An inflatable structure (13a, 13f) and an inlet ramp (19) having at least one inflatable member (33), wherein the inflatable member (33) is connected to an inflatable structure (13a-13f). In communication therewith, the riding ramp (19) is held in a folded state and is releasable from said folded state, wherein the inflatable member (33) is released by the inflatable structure (13a). A life raft that expands with the gas from 〜13f) to deploy the boarding ramp (19). 19. The life raft according to claim 18, wherein the boarding ramp (19) is provided in an inflatable structure (33). 20. The life raft according to claim 19, wherein the boarding ramp (19) is held in the folded state with respect to the inflatable structure (13a to 13f). 21. The inflatable structure includes an inflatable tube (13a, 13f), and the folded riding lamp (19) includes an inflatable tube (13).
21. The life raft according to claim 20, wherein the life raft is held on the side surface of the tube (13, 13f), and when expanded, the boarding lamp (19) projects outward in the radial direction of the tube (13a, 13f). 22. A releasable retainer (36, 37) is provided on the inflatable structure (13a, 13f) for holding the boarding ramp (19) in a folded state. The life raft according to claim 21. 23. A foldable material connected to the inflatable structure (13a, 13f) and enclosing the riding ramp (19) for holding the riding ramp (19) in a folded state. The life raft according to claim 22, comprising a seat (36). 24. A second sheet of foldable material (37) is attached to the inflatable structure (13a, 13f) with the first sheet of foldable material (36) and the inflatable structure (13a, 13f). ), The two sheets (36, 37) of foldable material are joined together to bring the boarding ramp (19) into a folded state. Hold the connection and the boarding ramp (
24. The life raft according to claim 23, wherein the raft is separable to deploy (19). 25. The connection is made using a plurality of hooks on one sheet (36) that engage a plurality of loops on the other sheet (37).
26. The life raft according to claim 25, wherein the raft is separable by tearing the raft. 26. The inflatable member (33), when inflated, has a material sheet (34).
) Is substantially U-shaped in a state in which is extended between both arm portions of the member.
The life raft according to any one of claims 25.