Remote activated water self rescue system

A watercraft personal rescue device ensuring reliable deployment comprising:

• an inflatable body;
• a compressed gas canister containing compressed gas and connected to the inflatable body;
• an inflation valve for releasing compressed gas from the gas canister to the inflatable body, the valve having a fuse comprising a fusible material;
• means of applying an electrical current through the fuse such that the inflation valve is activated upon applying an electrical current through the fuse;
• and
• a deployment canister having a cavity;
• the inflatable body and inflation valve removably retained within the cavity;
• a deployment canister cover;
• the cover removably sealing the cavity;
• and wherein:
• the inflatable body is of sufficient size and the compressed gas canister contains sufficient gas such that activation of the inflation valve causes the inflatable body to be inflated, thereby forcing the cover from the deployment canister and allowing the inflatable body to exit from the canister.

A watercraft personal rescue system comprising:

• a deployment canister having a cavity;
• an inflatable rescue device and a compressed gas canister retained within the cavity;
• a deployment canister cover;
• the cover removably sealing the cavity;
• an inflation valve for releasing gas from the compressed gas canister to the rescue device, the inflation valve having a fuse separable by application of an electrical current through the fuse;
• separation of the fuse initiating the inflation valve to release gas;
• and
• a remote activation system for activating the inflation valve from a location distant from the deployment canister, the remote activation system capable of applying an electric current through the fuse;
• such that upon application of electrical current through the fuse, the inflation valve releases compressed gas to the rescue device causing it to inflate and remove the cover from the deployment canister.

An inflatable watercraft rescue device ensuring reliable inflation comprising:

• a deployment canister having a cavity;
• a canister cover;
• the cover removably sealing the cavity;
• an inflatable rescue device;
• a first compressed gas canister and a first inflation valve, both connected to the rescue device, the first inflation valve capable, upon contact with water, of inflating the rescue device;
• an inflatable deployment pillow retained in the deployment canister cavity;
• a second compressed gas canister and second inflation valve for inflating the deployment pillow, the second inflation valve having a fusible element for activating the second inflation valve upon application of an electrical current through the fusible element;
• and
• the rescue device disposed in the cavity substantially between the deployment pillow and the cover;
• such that upon application of an electrical current through the fusible element the second inflation valve inflates the deployment pillow to push the cover and rescue device from the deployment canister.

In a rescue device inflation valve having a penetrator for opening a compressed gas canister to allow release of compressed gas into an inflatable rescue, the improvement comprising:

• a plunger for causing the penetrator to penetrate the gas canister;
• a plurality of resilient retaining elements encircling the plunger;
• a fusible element encircling the retaining elements and which is separable upon application of an electrical current through the fusible element;
• such that separation of the fusible element causes the penetrator to penetrate the gas canister.