Water activated inflator for inflatable device and method of air deployment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water activated inflator and a method of air deployment of a water activated inflatable device. A gas cylinder opening device for opening a sealing mechanism of the gas cylinder is disposed in the housing movable along a first axis having a first orientation between a cocked position and a fired position. A tension mechanism provides tension acting along the first axis for moving the gas cylinder opening device from the cocked position to the fired position. A plunger is holding the gas cylinder opening mechanism in the cocked position. The plunger is movable along a second axis having a different second orientation between a first position and a second position. A water soluble element is holding the plunger in the first position. A first interacting surface of the gas cylinder opening device is disposed at a predetermined angle to the first axis. A second interacting surface of the plunger is in contact with the first interacting surface at the predetermined angle. The angle is determined such that a component along the second axis of a component of the tension acting onto the second interacting surface is within a predetermined range for ensuring structural integrity of the water soluble element in the cocked position and for ensuring movement of the plunger when at least a portion of the water soluble element is dissolved. Using the water activated inflator in a rescue kit is highly beneficial for air rescue operations over a body of water by providing proper timing of the inflation shortly after impact.

1 . A water activated inflator comprising: 
 a housing having a connecting mechanism for mating with a neck of a gas cylinder;    a gas cylinder opening device for opening a sealing mechanism of the gas cylinder, the gas cylinder opening device being disposed in the housing movable along a first axis having a first orientation between a cocked position and a fired position;    a tension mechanism in mechanical communication with the housing and the gas cylinder opening device for providing tension acting along the first axis for moving the gas cylinder opening device from the cocked position to the fired position;    a plunger for holding the gas cylinder opening device in the cocked position, the plunger being disposed in the housing movable along a second axis having a different second orientation between a first position and a second position;    a water soluble element for holding the plunger in the first position through mechanical communication along the second axis with the plunger and the housing;    a conduit for providing water to the water soluble element;    a first interacting element in mechanical communication with the gas cylinder opening device having a first interacting surface, wherein at least a portion of the first interacting surface is disposed at a predetermined angle other than 90 or 180 degrees to the first axis; and,    a second interacting element in mechanical communication with the plunger having a second interacting surface for interacting with the first interacting surface at the predetermined angle when the plunger is in the first position for holding the gas cylinder opening device in the cocked position, wherein the predetermined angle is determined such that a component along the second axis of a component of the tension acting onto the second interacting surface is within a predetermined range for ensuring structural integrity of the water soluble element in the cocked position and for ensuring movement of the plunger when at least a portion of the water soluble element is dissolved.    
   
   
       2 . A water activated inflator as defined in  claim 1  wherein the second axis is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first axis.  
   
   
       3 . A water activated inflator as defined in  claim 2  wherein the first interacting element comprises a frusto cone.  
   
   
       4 . A water activated inflator as defined in  claim 3  wherein the second interacting element comprises a half sphere.  
   
   
       5 . A water activated inflator as defined in  claim 4  wherein the tension mechanism comprises a compression spring.  
   
   
       6 . A water activated inflator as defined in  claim 5  wherein the gas cylinder opening device comprises a cable for being attached to the sealing mechanism of the gas cylinder.  
   
   
       7 . A water activated inflator as defined in  claim 6  comprising a tube affixed to the housing along the first axis for accommodating the compression spring.  
   
   
       8 . A water activated inflator as defined in  claim 6  comprising a plug for holding the plunger and the water soluble element in the first position.  
   
   
       9 . A water activated inflator as defined in  claim 8  wherein the plug is screwed into a threaded bore of the housing along the second axis.  
   
   
       10 . A water activated inflator as defined in  claim 8  wherein the plug comprises the conduit.  
   
   
       11 . A water activated inflator as defined in  claim 1  comprising a safety pin in mechanical communication with the plunger and the housing for locking the plunger in the first position.  
   
   
       12 . A water activated inflatable device comprising: 
 an inflatable device body;    a gas cylinder in fluid communication with the inflatable device body; and,    a water activated inflator comprising:    a housing having a connecting mechanism mated with a neck of the gas cylinder;    a gas cylinder opening device for opening a sealing mechanism of the gas cylinder, the gas cylinder opening device being disposed in the housing movable along a first axis having a first orientation between a cocked position and a fired position;    a tension mechanism in mechanical communication with the housing and the gas cylinder opening device for providing tension acting along the first axis for moving the gas cylinder opening device from the cocked position to the fired position;    a plunger for holding the gas cylinder opening device in the cocked position, the plunger being disposed in the housing movable along a second axis having a different second orientation between a first position and a second position;    a water soluble element for holding the plunger in the first position through mechanical communication along the second axis with the plunger and the housing;    a conduit for providing water to the water soluble element;    a first interacting element in mechanical communication with the gas cylinder opening device having a first interacting surface, wherein at least a portion of the first interacting surface is disposed at a predetermined angle other than 0 or 90 degrees to the first axis; and,    a second interacting element in mechanical communication with the plunger having a second interacting surface for interacting with the first interacting surface at the predetermined angle when the plunger is in the first position for holding the gas cylinder opening device in the cocked position, wherein the predetermined angle is determined such that a component along the second axis of a component of the tension acting onto the second interacting surface is within a predetermined range for ensuring structural integrity of the water soluble element in the cocked position and for ensuring movement of the plunger when at least a portion of the water soluble element is dissolved.    
   
   
       13 . A water activated inflatable device as defined in  claim 12  comprising a safety pin in mechanical communication with the plunger and the housing for locking the plunger in the first position.  
   
   
       14 . A water activated inflatable device as defined in  claim 13  comprising a pull cord affixed to the safety pin at a first end and for being affixed to a vessel carrying the inflatable device at a second end, the pull cord for removing the safety pin after dropping of the inflatable device from the vessel.  
   
   
       15 . A method of air deployment of a water activated inflatable device comprising: 
 dropping from an airplane over a body of water a deployment container comprising an inflatable device body, a gas cylinder in fluid communication with the inflatable device body and a water activated inflator mated to a neck of the gas cylinder;    deploying a parachute attached to the deployment container for aerodynamically braking the descent of the deployment container and for ensuring a predetermined orientation of the deployment container at impact on the body of water;    activating the water activated inflator through contact with water after impact of the deployment container on the body of water;    using the water activated inflator opening a sealing mechanism of the gas cylinder; and,    inflating the inflatable device body.    
   
   
       16 . A method of air deployment of a water activated inflatable device as defined in  claim 15  wherein the parachute is deployed through pull cord action using a pull cord affixed to the airplane after dropping the deployment container from the airplane.  
   
   
       17 . A method of air deployment of a water activated inflatable device as defined in  claim 16  comprising: 
 removing after dropping the deployment container from the airplane through pull cord action using a pull cord affixed to the airplane a safety pin locking the inflator in a cocked position.    
   
   
       18 . A method of air deployment of a water activated inflatable device as defined in  claim 17  comprising: 
 using the water activated inflator releasing an opening mechanism of the deployment container.    
   
   
       19 . A water activated inflatable device for air deployment over a body of water comprising: 
 an inflatable device body;    a gas cylinder in fluid communication with the inflatable device body;    a water activated inflator mated to a neck of the gas cylinder;    a deployment container containing the inflatable device body, the gas cylinder and the water activated inflator, the deployment container comprising a conduit for enabling provision of water to the water activated inflator after impact of the deployment container on the body of water; and,    a parachute attached to the deployment container for aerodynamically braking the descent of the deployment container and for ensuring a predetermined orientation of the deployment container at impact on the body of water.    
   
   
       20 . A water activated inflatable device for air deployment over a body of water as defined in  claim 19  comprising a safety pin for locking the inflator in a cocked position.  
   
   
       21 . A water activated inflatable device for air deployment over a body of water as defined in  claim 20  comprising a pull cord affixed to the safety pin at a first end and for being affixed at a second end to an airplane carrying the inflatable device, the pull cord for removing the safety pin after dropping of the inflatable device from the airplane.  
   
   
       22 . A water activated inflatable device for air deployment over a body of water as defined in  claim 21  comprising a pull cord affixed to the parachute at a first end and for being affixed at a second end to an airplane carrying the inflatable device, the pull cord for deploying the parachute after dropping of the inflatable device from the airplane.  
   
   
       23 . A water activated inflatable device for air deployment over a body of water as defined in  claim 19  wherein the inflator comprises a cable attached to a sealing mechanism of the gas cylinder.  
   
   
       24 . A water activated inflatable device for air deployment over a body of water as defined in  claim 21  comprising a release mechanism operated by the inflator for opening the deployment container.  
   
   
       25 . A water activated inflatable device for air deployment over a body of water as defined in  claim 19  wherein components within the deployment container are distributed such that after impact of the deployment container on the body of water a center of gravity of the deployment container and the components is located below a center of buoyancy of a portion of the deployment container immersed in the body of water.