US2371863A - Air supply means for life preservers - Google Patents

Description

March 20, 1945. H; B. WHITE AIR SUPPLY MEANS FOR LIFE PRESERVERS Original Filed March 27, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor arch 20, 1945.

H. B. WHITE AIR SUPPLY MEANS FOR LIFE PRESERVERS 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 27, 1943 Inventor I Attorney;

Patented Mar. 20, 1945 AIR SUPPLY MEANS FOR LIFE PRESERVERS Harry B. White, Wilmington, N.

Original application March 2'1, 1943, Serial No. 480,821. Divided and this application October 21, 1943, Serial No. 507,138

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in life preservers and more particularly to novel means for supplying air thereto.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a life preserver containing a reservoir or container for air or expansible gas which can be liberated into the preserver proper during an emergency.

Futher, the present application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 480,821, filed March 27, 1943, for Life saving apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view through the life preserver showing the air supply means.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the air containers. I

Figure 5 is an elevational view of one section of the valve.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the other section of the valve.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 denotes an annular body encircling tube which may be constructed as shown in Figure 1. Inside of the annulus 5 at a pair of diametrically opposite points, are horizontal shelves 1 and rising from these shelves 1, which are preferably perforated, are rectangular-shaped wall structures 8, each having a transverse partition 9 adjacent one end to divide the interior of the wall into chambers IE) and II.

The chamber ll contains a receptacle 12 of a form to conform with the curvature of the annulus 5, this receptacle l2 preferably having a threaded neck l3 at one end adapted to be connected by a coupling element M to a gooseneck 15, which extends through the corresponding partition 9 and terminates in the compartment [0 over a valve unit generally referred to by numeral 16, this .valve unit I6 being made up of an upper fixed section I! and a lower rotatable section I8, the upper section ll having a depending lug 19 which rides in a short slot 20 of the lower section 18. These sections I! and I8 are connected by a screw element 2| passing through central openings 22 in the sections and these sections are formed with registrable openings 23, 24.

A control shaft 25 is vertically disposed in the compartment Ill but extends downwardly through It can be seen that underlying each shelf 1 is V a transverse partition 29 supporting a,packing coupling 30, this receiving the lower'valve element l8. With these partitions 29 at diametrically opposite portions of the interior of the annulus 5, the annulus 5 is divided into a pair of air chambers AB, and when the openings 23, 24 of the valve 16 register, air from the air receptacles 12 (or receptacle if only one is being used at a time) is supplied to both chambers AB.

It can be seen that each of the wall structures 8 rises to the perimeter of an Opening 3| in the top of the annulus 5 and a closure plate 36 is provided for each of these openings, the closure plates being disposed over suitable packing element 3'! and provided with suitable hinges 40' and detent means 38.

It should be seen that the packing gland 26 for the valve shaft 25 and for supporting the valve structure l6 and the gooseneck I5 is mounted on a. movable plate 39 secured in lace to the shelf by screws 40.

Thevalve units l6 are normally closed. When it is necessary to do so, air may be supplied to the chambers A, B by rotating any valve section.

18 to align the openings 23, 24 therein with the corresponding openings 23, 24 in the valve section I! so that air in the receptacle [2 controlled by the valve unit l6 thus opened may discharge from said receptacle through. neck I3 and goose-' neck l5 into said chambers through. the thus opened valve unit 16. This opening of a valve unit l6 may be accomplished by opening the closure plate 36 and turning the appropriate shaft 25 in the proper direction.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a life saving device, an air tight annulus, a perforated shelf in said annulus, a rectangular wallstructure on said shell having a partition therein dividing the structure into a pair of relatively large and small chambers, a storage receptacle for compressed air disposed in the large chamber, a valve in the small chamber depending therefrom below the shelf, a detachable connection between the receptacle and valve extending through the partitionand means to operate said valve comprising a controlling shaft in the small chamber.

2. In a life saving device, an air tight annulus, I

a perforated shelf in said annulus, a rectangular wall structure on said shelf having a partition therein dividing the structure into a pair of relatively large and small chambers; a storage receptacle for compressed air disposed in the large chamber, a valve in the small chamber depending therefrom below the shelf, a detachable connection between the receptacle and valve extending through the partition, means to operate said valve comprising a controlling shaft in the small chamber, and a transverse supporting partition in the annulus underlying the shelf and dividing the annulus said valve communicating with the annulus upon both sides of said last partition.

HARRY B. WHITE.

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