Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C9/00—Life-saving in water
  • B63C9/08—Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like
  • B63C9/18—Inflatable equipment characterised by the gas-generating or inflation device
  • B63C9/19—Arrangements for puncturing gas-generating cartridges
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C9/00—Life-saving in water
  • B63C9/24—Arrangements of inflating valves or of controls thereof
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C9/00—Life-saving in water
  • B63C2009/0023—Particular features common to inflatable life-saving equipment
  • B63C2009/0029—Inflation devices comprising automatic activation means, e.g. for puncturing gas-generating cartridges
  • B63C2009/0041—Inflation devices comprising automatic activation means, e.g. for puncturing gas-generating cartridges activated by presence of water
  • B63C2009/0058—Inflation devices comprising automatic activation means, e.g. for puncturing gas-generating cartridges activated by presence of water using means soluble in water, or weakening when wet

Definitions

• This invention relates to automatic inflators for inflatable articles such as life rafts, life vests, and the like. More particularly, this invention relates to inflators that are actuated automatically upon immersion in water.
• inflators designed to inflate inflatable articles such as personal floatation devices (life vests, rings and horseshoes), life rafts, buoys and emergency signahng equipment.
• Manual inflators typically comprise a body for receiving the neck of a cartridge of compressed gas such as carbon dioxide.
• a reciprocating pierce pin is disposed within the body of the inflator for piercing the frangible seal of the cartridge to permit compressed gas therein to flow into a manifold assembly of the inflator and then into the article to be inflated.
• a manually movable firing lever is operatively connected to the pierce pin such that the pierce pin pierces the frangible seal of the gas cartridge upon jerking of a ball lanyard.
• water-activated automatic inflators were developed which automatically actuate the pierce pin of the inflator when immersed in water thereby causing inflation of the inflatable device.
• Typical water-activated automatic inflators comprise a water activated actuator including a water destructible or dissolvable element, often referred to as a“bobbin”, which retains a spring-loaded actuator pin in a cocked position in alignment with the pierce pin.
• a“bobbin” water destructible or dissolvable element
• the spring-loaded actuator pin is thus released to forcibly move from its cocked position to an actuated position to strike the pierce pin, either directly or indirectly by means of an intermediate transfer pin.
• the pin fractures the seal of the cartridge thereby allowing the gas contained therein to flow into the inflatable device to inflate the same.
• a disadvantage to automatic inflators employing a dissolvable pill is the tendency to prematurely destruct in non-emergency situations by exposure of the pill to excessive humidity in the air.
• Bobbin pills of various designs and chemical compositions have been used to minimize their susceptibihty to humidity.
• U.S. Patents 6,705,488 and 7,572, 161 disclose various configurations for pills for bobbins of automatic inflators that seek to reduce susceptibility to humidity resulting in unintended or premature actuation while maintaining sufficient dissolvabihty in water so that the pill dissolves upon being submerged in water.
• Another object of this invention is to provide a humidity- resistant bobbin for an automatic inflator that is less susceptible to humid weather conditions that may undesirably prematurely activate the automatic inflator in non-emergency situations due to humidity.
• Another object of this invention is to provide a cold-weather bobbin for an automatic inflator that actuates quickly after being submerged in freezing cold water.
• the invention comprises a humidity-resistant, cold-weather bobbin for a water-activated automatic inflator that is less susceptible to humid weather conditions that may otherwise prematurely activate the automatic inflator while minimizing the amount of time it takes for the bobbin’s pill to dissolve in freezing cold water.
• Prior art bobbins comprise a circular housing having internally a collapsible annular ring of individually pivotal arms (e.g., eight arms) extending generally parallel to the axis of the bobbin.
• a toroidal, dissolvable pill is positioned about the ring of individually pivotal arms to retain them in their un-collapsed, generally-parallel position and to prevent them from collapsing outwardly.
• the individually pivotal arms each include an inwardly extending radial step, which collectively form an annular seat to retain a spring-loaded actuator in its cocked position.
• each of the individually pivotal arms and their steps are allowed to individually pivot outwardly under the constant pressure of the actuator to a position no longer parallel to the axis of the bobbin.
• their respective steps hkewise move outwardly to expand the diameter of the annular seat until such seat in no longer able to retain the actuator, thereby releasing (i.e., firing) the spring-loaded actuator to force a pierce pin into the frangible seal of a gas cartridge.
• the pill of prior art bobbins comprise microcrystalline cellulose (e.g., Avicel® PH-102 manufactured by FMC Corporation, 1735 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103) and an accelerant (e.g., AcDiSol accelerant) that is compressed into the desired configurations.
• microcrystalline cellulose e.g., Avicel® PH-102 manufactured by FMC Corporation, 1735 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
• an accelerant e.g., AcDiSol accelerant
• This composition is selected for its characteristics of being resistant to moisture from humid weather conditions while maximizing compressive strength.
• the method of compressing the powder into the pill often produces an outer surface that resembles a thin skin that enhances the pill's resistance to humid weather conditions. Indeed, chemical additives may be combined with the cellulose powder to enhance the pill's resistance to humidity and increase its compressed forces.
• the bobbin of the present invention similarly includes a collapsible annular ring of pivotal arms (e.g., eight arms), held in position by a dissolvable pill, to retain the spring-loaded actuator in its cocked position.
• a collapsible annular ring of pivotal arms e.g., eight arms
• every other pair of adjacent pivotal arms are connected together by an interconnecting web so that they may only pivot outwardly in adjacent pairs instead of individually as in the case of the prior art.
• arms 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6 and 7 & 8 are respectively interconnected via a web to form 4 pairs of
• interconnected pivotal arms Upon being submerged in water to dissolve the pill, because the paired, interconnected pivotal arms are interconnected via their respective web, they pivot outwardly together in paired unison under the pressure of the spring-loaded actuator, thereby firing the spring-loaded actuator.
• arms 1 & 2 and 5 & 6 may be interconnected via a web, allowing unwebbed arms 3 and 6 free to pivot individually.
• arms 1 & 2 and 5 & 6 may be webbed together, allowing unwebbed arms 3, 4,
• FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an exemplary automatic inflator assembly showing the various internal parts and their relative position to one another;
• FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of a prior art bobbin comprising a circular housing with a collapsible annular ring of individually pivotal arms (e.g., eight arms) extending generally parallel to the axis of the bobbin;
• Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 2 along lines 2-2 showing the toroidal, dissolvable pill (e.g., U.S. Patent 7,572, 161) positioned about the ring of pivotal arms to retain the individually pivotal arms in their un collapsed, generally-parallel position and to prevent them from collapsing outwardly;
• the toroidal, dissolvable pill e.g., U.S. Patent 7,572, 161
• FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the bobbin of the invention in which every other pair of adjacent pivotal arms are connected together by an interconnecting web;
• FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the bobbin of the invention.
• Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the bobbin of the invention without the pill installed;
• Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the bobbin of the invention with the toroidal, dissolvable pill installed about the ring of pivotal arms to retain the webbed arms in their un-collapsed, generally-parallel position and to prevent them from collapsing outwardly;
• Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 7 along lines 8-8;
• FIG. 9 is a partial view of the bobbin of the invention showing adjacent webbed arms.
• FIG. 1 copied from U.S. Patent 5,601, 124, illustrates an exemplary prior art automatic inflator 10 as comprising an inflator body 12, an actuator body assembly 14, and a cylindrical cap assembly 16.
• the inflator body 12 has a longitudinal central bore, generally indicated by numeral 18, which is sized to receive a pierce pin assembly 20 reciprocatably positioned therein.
• a gas-containing cartridge 22 is threadably coupled to the inflator body in alignment with the pierce pin assembly 20.
• the pierce pin assembly 20 comprises a pierce pin 24 having an end portion 26, a sealing gasket 28, and a small compression spring 30.
• a conventional metal insert 32 having interior threads 34 and gasket 36, is molded in situ within the inflator body 12.
• the gas-containing cartridge 22 is threaded into the metal insert 32.
• the frangible seal of the gas cartridge 22 is pierced when the pierce pin assembly 20 is forcibly moved towards the cartridge 22.
• the automatic inflator 10 may be fired automatically upon immersion in water or manually.
• the manual actuator means includes a generally L-shaped lever 38 pivotally mounted to the inflator body 12 by a pivot pin 40 which passes through the inflator body 12, a hole 42 located in the distal portion of the lever 38, and a second slot portion 44 of an intermediate transfer pin 46.
• the pivot pin 40 also serves to fixedly secure the actuator body assembly 14 to the inflator body 12.
• the distal end portion 48 of the lever 38 has a cam extension 50.
• a lanyard handle 52 is tethered to the lever 38. When the lanyard handle 52 is pulled, the cam extension 50 forcibly engages the end 26 of the pierce pin assembly 20, thereby causing the gas-containing cartridge 22 to be pierced.
• the actuator body assembly 14 is generally comprised of an actuator body 54, an actuator pin 55, the intermediate transfer pin 46, a conventional O-ring 56, and a bobbin 58.
• a heavy spring 57 forcibly urges the head 55H of the actuator pin 55 against the bobbin 58.
• an exemplary prior art bobbin 58 includes a dissolvable pill 60.
• the bobbin 58 comprises a generally cylindrical wall 66.
• a plurahty of arms 68 positioned in a ring centered about and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bobbin 58, are individually pivotably connected to the rim of the cylindrical wall 66 by a living hinge 70.
• Each of the arms 68 individually include a radial seat 72 extending toward the longitudinal axis of the bobbin 58. Collectively, the individual radial seats 72 form an annular seat having a diameter sized to capture and retain the head 55H of the spring-loaded actuator pin 55, thereby holding the spring-loaded actuator pin 55 back against the force of the spring 57 in a“cocked” position.
• the toroidal pill 60 is positioned between the lumen of the cylindrical wall 66 and the ringed arms 68 to retain the arms 68 in position centered about and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bobbin 58 such that the annular seat formed by their radial seats 72 maintain the diameter sized to capture and retain the head 55H of the spring-loaded actuator pin 55, thereby holding the spring-loaded actuator pin 55 back against the force of the spring 57 in a“cocked” position.
• each arm 68 may include a buttress 76 extending from the living-hinge end of the arm 68 along a length of the arm 68.
• the buttress 76 provides additional rigidity to the arm 68 and, during assembly, serves to limit the distance the pill 60 is pushed onto the length of the ringed arms 68.
• each of the arms 68 may include a chamfered end 68CC to facilitate automatic centering and pushing of the pill 60 onto the ringed arms 68.
• the ringed arms 68 are allowed to flex radially outwardly individually via their respective living hinge 70 under the pressure of the spring-loaded actuator pin head 55H. As they flex outwardly, their radial seats 72 spread apart until they reach an increased diameter that they no longer form an annular seat for the head 55H of the actuator pin 55, whereupon the head 55H of the spring-loaded actuator pin 55 is released and moves forcibly under the force of the spring 57 to actuate the pierce pin 20 via the transfer pin 46 (i.e., the actuator 10 is automatically“fired”).
• the pill 60 must have sufficient strength to hold the arms 68 in their parallel position to hold-back spring- loaded actuator pin 55 and yet must be dissolvable once exposed to water to allow the arms 68 to flex radially outwardly and allow the actuator pin 55 to fire.
• the bobbin 82 of the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 4-9.
• the bobbin 82 of the present invention includes components similar to those of the prior art bobbin 58. Accordingly, for uniformity and clarity, in Figs. 4-9, the same reference numerals used in connection with the prior art bobbin 58 are used when describing the bobbin 82 of the present invention.
• the bobbin 82 of the present invention comprises a generally cylindrical wall 66 having a plurality of arms 68 pivotably connected to the rim of the cylindrical wall 66 by a hving hinge 70 to extend into the cylindrical wall 66 and positioned in a ring centered about and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bobbin 58 such that their respective radial seats 72 form an annular seat having a diameter sized to capture and retain the head 55H of the spring-loaded actuator pin 55, thereby holding the spring-loaded actuator pin 55 back against the force of the spring 57 in a“cocked” position.
• the arms 68 are grouped in pairs and the two arms 68 of each pair are interconnected to each other by a web 84.
• the paired arms 68 interconnected by the web 84 pivot outwardly via their respective living hinges 70 in unison, rather than individually as in the case of the prior art.
• adjacent arms 68A & 68B, 68C & 68D, 68E & 68F and 68G & 68H are paired and interconnected by their respective webs 84AB, 84CD, 84EF and 84GH.
• other pairing arrangements may be desired as noted above in the summary of the invention.
• Each of the interconnecting webs (e.g., shown in Fig 9 as 84AB) preferably extends integrally between adjacent arms (e.g., shown in Fig 9 as 68A & 68B) approximately equal to the height of the buttresses 76.
• Each interconnecting web 84 is also preferably thin in structure but arcuately curved to match the outward curvature of the ringed arms 68.
• all of the components of the bobbin 82 including the interconnecting webs 84 are preferably integrally molded.
• the webbed, interconnected arms 68 of the present invention have significantly increased the ability of the pill 60 to be humidity resistant yet quickly dissolvable in cold water.
• the present invention includes that contained in the appended claims as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this description has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
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Priority Applications (5)

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• 2019
  • 2019-04-04 US US16/375,256 patent/US10994818B2/en active Active
  • 2019-04-05 WO PCT/US2019/025928 patent/WO2019195642A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2019-04-05 AU AU2019247846A patent/AU2019247846B2/en active Active
  • 2019-04-05 JP JP2020554454A patent/JP7416714B2/ja active Active
  • 2019-04-05 CA CA3096269A patent/CA3096269A1/en active Pending
  • 2019-04-05 EP EP19782052.5A patent/EP3774520B1/en active Active

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