US 11,820,470 B2 · Adaptive force automobile emergency flotation

Abstract

An emergency vehicle flotation system has bladder(s) attached in a compressed state on a vehicle. An inflation initiating component comprising a selected one or more of a submersion sensor attached to the vehicle to detect water pressure indicative of submersion of the vehicle and a user interface device. Selectable force gas generator(s) (SFGGs) have one gas-generating propellant cells that are individually fired. The SFGG(s) have conduit(s) that receive gas from fired gas-generating propellant cells and direct the gas to inflate the bladder(s). A controller is communicatively coupled to the inflation initiating component and the gas-generating propellant cells of the one or more SFGGs. The controller enables the emergency vehicle flotation system to receive an inflation signal from the inflation initiating component, and to fire a selected number of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells to at least partially inflate the bladder(s).

Claims20

Dependent claims

An emergency vehicle flotation system comprising:

one or more bladders attached in a compressed state on a vehicle;
an inflation initiating component comprising a selected one or more of:
(i) a submersion sensor attached to the vehicle to detect water pressure indicative of submersion of the vehicle;
and (ii) a user interface (UI) device;
one or more selectable force gas generators (SFGGs) each comprising more than one gas-generating propellant cells that are individually fired and comprising one or more conduits that receive gas from fired gas-generating propellant cells and direct the gas to inflate at least one of the one or more bladders;
and
a controller communicatively coupled to the inflation initiating component and the more than one gas-generating propellant cells of the one or more SFGGs, the controller enabling the emergency vehicle flotation system to:
receive an inflation signal from the inflation initiating component;
and
fire a selected number of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells to at least partially inflate the one or more bladders.

7 more elements

A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body;
and
an emergency vehicle flotation system comprising:
one or more bladders attached in a compressed state on the vehicle body;
an inflation initiating component comprising a selected one or more of:
(i) a submersion sensor attached to the vehicle to detect water pressure indicative of submersion of the vehicle;
and (ii) a user interface (UI) device;
one or more selectable force gas generators (SFGGs) each comprising more than one gas-generating propellant cells that are individually fired and comprising one or more conduits that receive gas from fired gas-generating propellant cells and direct the gas to inflate at least one of the one or more bladders;
and
a controller communicatively coupled to the inflation initiating component and the more than one gas-generating propellant cells of the one or more SFGGs, the controller enabling the emergency vehicle flotation system to:
receive an inflation signal from the inflation initiating component;
and
fire a selected number of the more than one gas-generating propellant cells to at least partially inflate the one or more bladders.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adaptive force automobile emergency flotation

Life of this patent

Adaptive force automobile emergency flotation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20