Life raft launcher
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorThomas A. Apple
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A life raft canister is launched from a below deck doorway. A launcher is activated and pneumatically opens a below deck door, exposing the doorway. The same inflation tank inflates an elongated bladder that forces the life boat canister out of the doorway. The canister drops to the sea where the life boat is deployed from the canister. The life raft auto-inflates. As a result, a life raft is deployed from below-deck.
Claims20
A life raft launching apparatus, in combination with a below-deck ship door, doorway and life raft canister positioned adjacent the doorway, the apparatus comprising:
- (i.) a pneumatic actuator positioned to move the door thereby opening the doorway;
- (ii.) a pneumatic ejection bladder positioned between a support member and the life raft canister and extendable between an uninflated, stowed position and an inflated, extended position and having a length in the extended position sufficient to eject the canister overboard through the doorway;
- (iii.) an air supply valve and air supply connected in flow communication with both the pneumatic actuator and the ejection bladder.
In combination with a below-deck ship hull door and doorway, a life raft launching apparatus comprising:
- (i.) a pneumatically extendable arm connected to a first support member at a first end and the door at a second end and positioned to move the door from a closed position to an open position;
- (ii.) a life raft canister positioned adjacent the doorway;
- (iii.) an elongated pneumatic bladder positioned at one end adjacent a second support member and at a second end adjacent the life raft canister and extendable between an uninflated, retracted position and an inflated, extended position and having a length in the extended position sufficient to push the life raft canister overboard through the doorway;
- (iv.) an air supply valve and air supply connected in fluid communication with both the pneumatically extendable arm and the elongated pneumatic bladder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.