Buoys – rafts – and aquatic devices – Water rescue or life protecting apparatus – Personal flotation device
Patent
1988-08-08
1990-01-16
Basinger, Sherman D.
Buoys, rafts, and aquatic devices
Water rescue or life protecting apparatus
Personal flotation device
441 94, B63C 916
Patent
active
048940364
ABSTRACT:
Disclosed is an inflator assembly for life vests which includes a one-piece housing heat sealed to the wall of an associated cell of the vest. Exteriorly of the cell, the housing has an end-to-end bore, in one end of which a carbon dioxide cartridge is mounted, in position to be pierced by a plunger slidable within the bore. The bore is stepped to form communicating chambers. Normally the plunger is in a position in which O-rings thereon sealably engage the walls of both chambers, at opposite sides of a port through which the gases are to flow into the cell when the cartridge is pierced. Springs within the respective chambers exert their force in opposite directions. A lever handle has a cam surface, such that when the handle is thrown the cam surface will act upon the springs to bias the plunger to a cartridge-piercing position. Further movement of the handle permits the other spring to partially withdraw the plunger. With the handle cammed to a final position, the escaping gases now bias the plunger to a position in which both O-rings clear the port, for inflating the cell, after which the force exerted by one of the springs returns the plunger to its initial position to prevent backflow of the gases. The construction has the advantage of permitting initial assembly, installation, and full testing, even with the device heat sealed to the vest.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2463641 (1949-03-01), Podell
patent: 3059814 (1962-10-01), Poncel et al.
patent: 3266668 (1966-08-01), Davis
Avila Stephen P.
Basinger Sherman D.
Switlik Parachute Company, Inc.
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