WO2004041634A1

WO2004041634A1 - Novel inflation system for inflatable life jackets

Info

Publication number: WO2004041634A1
Application number: PCT/SE2003/001612
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Glasa
Original assignee: P & P Utveckling Ab
Priority date: 2002-10-17
Filing date: 2003-10-16
Publication date: 2004-05-21
Also published as: AU2003301860A1; DE20215945U1; EP1551700A1

Abstract

A novel inflation system for inflatable life jackets, comprising a gas reservoir of light metal which stores liquid gas at a low pressure and which is connected to a casing in which the opening mechanism for the gas reservoir is integrated and which has a profile for being attached to a receiving part connected to the inflatable life jacket and having an opening to the inner space of the life jacket, thus inflating the life jacket to the usage size by means of the spontaneous volume expansion of the liquid gas through both openings when the gas flows through a large outlet opening in the casing part, characterized in that the mouth piece of the opening of the metal gas reservoir is fixedly connected to a casing part in which the opening tappet of the gas reservoir is mounted.

Description

Novel inflation system for inflatable life jackets

The invention relates to a novel inflation system for inflatable life jackets, comprising a gas reservoir of light metal which stores liquid gas at a low pressure and which is connected to a casing in which the opening mechanism for the gas reservoir is integrated and which has a profile for being attached to a receiving part connected to the inflatable life jacket and having an opening to the inner space of the life jacket, thus inflating the life jacket to the usage size by means of the spontaneous volume expansion of the liquid gas through both openings when the gas flows through a large outlet opening in the casing part.

Inflation systems for life jackets which use carbon dioxide gas for inflation are known. This gas is inexpensive and inexpensive and basically harmless to humans. It is disadvantageous that the storage of gas of these systems is only possible in the high pressure range of up to approximately 150 bar at 45° C in the form of relatively heavy steel bottles. These bottles are configured in a cartridge-like manner and are welded closed following filling with gas since considerably higher gas pressures occur at a high storage temperature, e.g. at 70° C. In life jackets, the weight of these cartridges is three to five times heavier than the actual gas filling. These cartridges are opened by means of an additional opening mechanism in which a needle-like steel point pierces the welded closure lid of the metal cartridge. Even though only a small opening is attained, a force of approximately 300 N is necessary. The opening mechanisms are therefore correspondingly large and heavy. A further major disadvantage is that the CO₂ gas has a small molecular structure and can diffuse over time through the so-called gas-tight material of the inflated life jacket used. This can lead to major problems if the person to be rescued is unconscious for a long period of time in water which is not too cold. It is furthermore not possible to see whether there is actually any gas in the cartridge. It may therefore occur that owing to a simple mistake, a cartridge which has already been used or a cartridge which has emptied of its own accord owing, for example to rust formation, is assigned to the automatic inflation system. The small opening cross-section of the cartridge opening at low operating temperatures represents a further disadvantage. Icing occurs during use owing to the high pressure difference to the cartridge and the chambers of the automatic opening system, which considerably delays the filling time of the life jacket.

The object of this invention is to eliminate the disadvantages described above and to create a secure and very cost-effective inflation system which is also simple in terms of use and function. The development of new propellant gases which are just as harmless for humans and the environment as conventional gases (e.g. CO₂), results in a completely new system solution for the present invention as compared to known systems. This is due, in part, to the fact that a system which uses gas in the low-pressure range results in much more favorable static requirements for all the components of an automatic inflation system, correspondingly enabling simple and cost-effective manufacture. The inlet openings can be much larger so that inflation of the life jacket is fully functional even at extremely low temperatures. By using a liquid gas in the low-pressure range as the filling, the opening mechanism, be it manual or automatic - i.e. water-activated systems in the case of so-called faint-proof life jackets - is directly integrated in the casing of the gas reservoir. This means that there is no need for a separate opening mechanism. The invention is therefore also to be seen as a so-called single use automatic inflation system.

Fig. 1 shows the floating body (1) of a life jacket including the novel inflation system (2, 3) and a manually operated opening cord having a grip ring (4). In most cases, the jackets are also equipped with an oral inflation device (5), however, this is irrelevant in this case.

Figs. 2, 4 show a sketch of the embodiment. The gas reservoir of light metal (1) is fixedly connected to a plastic casing (2). A kind of resiliently acting locking connection (3) as well as an outlet opening (4) having a sealing ring can be seen. Fig. 3 shows a section (6) of the life jacket with the receiving piece (7) and an opening. It can be seen that the casing part (2) can be safely and fixedly, yet releasably locked in the receptacle such that both openings become congruent and the expanding gas may flow into the life jacket when the gas reservoir is opened.

The full section (fig. 6) clearly shows the configuration of the embodiment. The gas reservoir (1) of light metal is so fixedly connected to the casing (2) that the mouth piece of the gas reservoir with the closure plug (6) protrudes into an antechamber which is sealed from the outside and which has an outlet opening (8), such that the gas may flow out through the outlet opening (8) when the closure plug (6) is pulled out by means of the grip ring (3). Simple rubber seals (4, 5) seal the antechamber from the outside.

In order that the reservoir is not opened too easily or unintentionally, a small shearing pin (7) is provided which enables a defined minimum opening force.

Claims

1. A novel inflation system for inflatable life jackets, comprising a gas reservoir of light metal which stores liquid gas at a low pressure and which is connected to a casing in which the opening mechanism for the gas reservoir is integrated and which has a profile for being attached to a receiving part connected to the inflatable life jacket and having an opening to the inner space of the life jacket, thus inflating the life jacket to the usage size by means of the spontaneous volume expansion of the liquid gas through both openings when the gas flows through a large outlet opening in the casing part, characterized in that the mouth piece of the opening of the metal gas reservoir is fixedly connected to a casing part in which the opening tappet of the gas reservoir is mounted.

2. A novel inflation system for inflatable life jackets, comprising a gas reservoir of light metal according to claim 1 , characterized in that a profile formed on the casing part is disposed on the jacket for connection with an adaptation part.