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US 5,400,922 AGranted
Electric autoinflator
AssigneeHalkey-Roberts Corporation
InventorsJacek M. Weinheimer, Michael T. Taylor, Richard A. Boe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electric autoinflator for inflating inflatable devices such as personal flotation devices, life rafts, buoys and emergency signalling equipment. The electric autoinflator comprises an actuator assembly including a fusible link. A water-sensing electrical circuit and battery supplies electrical current to the fusible link actuator assembly upon immersion in water for a predetermined period of time. Upon fusing of the link, the actuator assembly forcibly causes a firing pin of the inflator to pierce the frangible seal of a compressed gas cartridge. The escaping gas then inflates the inflatable device.
Claims42
An autoinflator for automatically actuating a gas cartridge upon sensing of water, comprising in combination:
- a body including a battery compartment for containing a battery and including a longitudinal bore for receiving the gas cartridge;
- a fusible link actuator assembly positioned within said longitudinal bore of the body and including
- an actuator housing including a blind link hole defining an opened rearward end, an actuator cap positioned over said opened end, and a pair of retaining balls protruding from opposing sides of said actuator housing which engage into corresponding slots in said longitudinal bore to retain said actuator housing in a cocked position,
- a slidable link positioned within said blind link hole, said slidable link including an annular groove positioned about its circumference at a rearward portion thereof and a blind spring hole opening rearwardly,
- a compression link spring positioned within said blind spring hole for urging said slidable link forwardly,
- a fusible link interconnecting said actuator cap and said slidable link for retaining said slidable link rearwardly in a cocked position within said blind link hole, and
- means for fusing said fusible link upon being supplied electrical current thereto;
- water-sensing circuit for sensing water and for supplying electrical current to said fusing means;
- means for electrically connecting the battery to said water-sensing circuit for supplying electrical power thereto;
- a firing pin operatively positioned within the longitudinal bore in alignment with the gas cartridge to pierce the same;
- and
- a high-compression spring for forcibly urging said fusible link actuator assembly toward said firing pin such that, upon fusing of said fusible link, said slidable link moves forwardly within said blind link hole, whereupon said annular groove moves into alignment with said retaining balls allowing said retaining balls to move inwardly and disengage from said slots in said longitudinal bore, whereupon said actuator housing is urged forwardly by said high-compression spring in operative engagement with said firing pin, whereupon Said firing pin pierces the gas cartridge.
9 more elements
An autoinflator for automatically actuating a gas cartridge upon sensing of water, comprising in combination:
- a body including a battery compartment for containing a battery and including a longitudinal bore for receiving the gas cartridge;
- an actuator assembly operatively positioned within the longitudinal bore of said body and including means for retaining said actuator assembly in a cocked position within said longitudinal bore until actuation;
- water-sensing circuit for sensing water and for actuation of said actuator assembly;
- means for electrically connecting the battery to said water-sensing circuit for supplying electrical power thereto;
- a firing pin operatively positioned within the longitudinal bore in alignment with the gas cartridge to pierce the same;
- means for forcibly urging said actuator assembly toward said firing pin such that, upon actuation of said actuator assembly, said firing pin pierces the gas cartridge;
- and
- an ejector lever operatively positioned within said longitudinal bore for ejecting said actuator assembly.
5 more elements
An autoinflator for automatically actuating a gas cartridge upon sensing of water, comprising in combination:
- a body including a battery compartment for containing a battery and including a longitudinal bore for receiving the gas cartridge;
- an actuator assembly operatively positioned within the longitudinal bore of said body and including means for retaining said actuator assembly in a cocked position within said longitudinal bore until actuation;
- water-sensing circuit for sensing water and for actuation of said actuator assembly;
- means for electrically connecting the battery to said water-sensing circuit for supplying electrical power thereto;
- a firing pin operatively positioned within the longitudinal bore in alignment with the gas cartridge to pierce the same;
- spring means for forcibly urging said actuator assembly toward said firing pin such that, upon actuation of said actuator assembly, said firing pin pierces the gas cartridge;
- and
- window means positioned relative to said longitudinal bore to visually indicate when said actuator assembly has been actuated, said window means comprising an opening extending through said body into said longitudinal bore in alignment with only that portion of said longitudinal bore in which said actuator assembly is positioned after actuation, whereby, when said actuator assembly is in said cocked position, said actuator assembly is not visible through said opening.
5 more elements
An autoinflator for automatically actuating a gas cartridge upon sensing of water, comprising in combination:
- a body including a longitudinal bore, including an open-ended battery compartment for containing a battery, a battery compartment cap positioned over said opened-end with one side of said cap farthest from the gas cartridge being pivotably connected to said body and with another side of said cap adjacent to the gas cartridge including a releasible latch for releasable connection to said body, said latch including a slot allowing said latch to be opened with a tool when the gas cartridge is removed from the body;
- an actuator assembly operatively positioned within the longitudinal bore of said body;
- water-sensing circuit for sensing water and for actuation of said actuator assembly;
- means for electrically connecting the battery to said water-sensing circuit for supplying electrical power thereto;
- a firing pin operatively positioned within the longitudinal bore in alignment with the gas cartridge to pierce the same;
- and
- means for forcibly urging said actuator assembly toward said firing pin such that, upon actuation of said actuator assembly, said firing pin pierces the gas cartridge.
4 more elements
An autoinflator for automatically actuating a gas cartridge upon sensing of water, comprising in combination:
- a body including a battery compartment for containing a battery and including a longitudinal bore for receiving the gas cartridge;
- an actuator assembly Operatively positioned within the longitudinal bore of said body and including means for retaining said actuator assembly in a cocked position within said longitudinal bore until actuation;
- water-sensing circuit for sensing water between a first and a second water-sensing electrode protruding from a surface of said body and separated by protuberance means to hinder the bridging or pooling of water therebetween and causing unintentional actuation of said actuator assembly, said water-sensing circuit further comprising a test electrode and a light indicator protruding from said body and means for detecting the condition of the battery and wherein said protuberance means comprises a first protuberance positioned between said first water-sensing electrode and said light indicator and a second protuberance positioned between said light indicator and said second water-sensing electrode,
- means for electrically connecting the battery to said water-sensing circuit for supplying electrical power thereto;
- a firing pin operatively positioned within the longitudinal bore in alignment with the gas cartridge to pierce the same;
- and
- means for forcibly urging said actuator assembly toward said firing pin such that, upon actuation of said actuator assembly, said firing pin pierces the gas cartridge.
4 more elements
An autoinflator for automatically actuating a gas cartridge upon sensing of water, comprising in combination:
- a body including a lid closing a battery compartment for containing a battery and including a longitudinal bore for receiving the gas cartridge;
- an actuator assembly operatively positioned within the longitudinal bore of said body by means of a screw cap and including means for retaining said actuator assembly in a cocked position within said longitudinal bore until actuation;
- water-sensing circuit for sensing water and for actuating said actuator assembly, said water-sensing circuit including electrodes and means for displaying proper operation of said water-sensing circuit when said electrodes are shorted together;
- means for electrically connecting the battery to said water-sensing circuit for supplying electrical power thereto;
- a firing pin operatively positioned within the longitudinal bore in alignment with the gas cartridge to pierce the same;
- means for forcibly urging said actuator assembly toward said firing pin such that, upon actuation of said actuator assembly, said firing pin pierces the gas cartridge;
- and
- a pull-ball tethered to said autoinflator, said pull-ball including a blade means positioned removably positioned within a housing having an opening which, when projected outwardly from said opening of said housing, functions as a tool to open said lid of said battery compartment, to unthread said screw cap to remove the actuator assembly and to short said electrodes for testing.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.