Self-righting life raft
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorsTimothy C. Haynes, Michael A. Luzader
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A life raft includes a base and an inflatable canopy. The base has a first side and a second side and the inflatable canopy is coupled to the first side of the base and configured to inflate and extend across the first side of the base to form a first chamber defined between the first side of the base and the inflatable canopy. The inflatable canopy is configured to inflate in response to deploying the life raft. Inflation of the inflatable canopy enables the life raft to self-right. In various embodiments, the base includes an inflatable border tube defining a first inflatable volume. The inflatable canopy may define a second inflatable volume and the first inflatable volume may be in fluidic communication with the second inflatable volume.
Claims18
A life raft comprising:
- a base comprising a first side and a second side;
- and
- an inflatable canopy coupled to the first side of the base and configured to inflate and extend across the first side of the base to form a first chamber defined between the first side of the base and the inflatable canopy;
- wherein the inflatable canopy is configured to inflate in response to deploying the life raft;
- wherein the inflatable canopy is coupled along and extends from at least 50% of a circumference of the base;
- wherein the inflatable canopy comprises a dome having an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein an internal inflatable volume of the inflatable canopy is defined between the inner layer and the outer layer;
- wherein the base comprises an inflatable border tube defining a first inflatable volume;
- wherein the internal inflatable volume of the inflatable canopy is a second inflatable volume;
- and
- wherein the first inflatable volume is in fluidic communication with the second inflatable volume.
A life raft comprising:
- a base comprising an inflatable border tube defining a first inflatable volume, wherein the base comprises a first side and a second side;
- and
- an inflatable canopy defining a second inflatable volume wherein the inflatable canopy is coupled to a top side of the inflatable border tube and configured to inflate and extend across the first side of the base to form a first chamber defined between the first side of the base and the inflatable canopy;
- wherein the first inflatable volume is in fluidic communication with the second inflatable volume and wherein the inflatable canopy is configured to inflate in response to deploying the life raft;
- wherein the inflatable canopy comprises a dome having an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the second inflatable of the inflatable canopy is defined between the inner layer and the outer layer;
- and
- wherein the inflatable canopy initially extends radially outwards, relative to a central location within the first chamber, before bowing back inwards towards a pinnacle of the inflatable canopy.
A method of using a life raft, the method comprising:
- initializing inflation of the life raft;
- and
- deploying the life raft in water, wherein the life raft self-rights in response to inflation of an inflatable canopy coupled to a first side of a base of the life raft;
- wherein:
- the inflatable canopy comprises a dome having an inner layer and an outer layer;
- the inflatable canopy defines an internal inflatable volume;
- the internal inflatable volume of the inflatable canopy is defined between the inner layer and the outer layer;
- the base comprises a diameter when fully inflated;
- and
- a dimension of the inflatable canopy, when the inflatable canopy is fully inflated and parallel to the diameter, is greater than the diameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.