Water activated inflator for inflatable device and method of air deployment

A water activated inflatable device comprising:

• an inflatable device body;
• a gas cylinder connected to the inflatable device body;
• and,
• a water activated inflator for opening a sealing mechanism of the gas cylinder, the water activated inflator comprising:
• a gas cylinder opening device for opening a sealing mechanism of a gas cylinder, the gas cylinder opening device being disposed at least partially within a housing and being movable between a cocked position and a fired position along a first axis having a first orientation relative to the housing;
• a tension mechanism in mechanical communication with the housing and the gas cylinder opening device for providing tension acting along the first axis for moving the gas cylinder opening device from the cocked position to the fired position;
• a plunger for holding the gas cylinder opening device in the cocked position, the plunger being disposed in the housing and movable between a first position and a second position along a second axis having a second orientation relative to the housing that is different than the first orientation;
• a water soluble element for holding the plunger in the first position through mechanical communication along the second axis with the plunger and the housing;
• a conduit for providing water to the water soluble element;
• a first interacting element in mechanical communication with the gas cylinder opening device having a first interacting surface, wherein a portion of the first interacting surface is disposed at a predetermined angle other than 0 or 90 degrees to the first axis;
• and,
• a second interacting element in mechanical communication with the plunger having a second interacting surface for interacting with the first interacting surface at the predetermined angle when the plunger is in the first position for holding the gas cylinder opening device in the cocked position, wherein the predetermined angle is determined such that a component along the second axis of a component of the tension acting onto the second interacting surface is within a predetermined range for ensuring structural integrity of the water soluble element in the cocked position and for ensuring movement of the plunger when a portion of the water soluble element is dissolved.

A water activated inflatable device for air deployment over a body of water comprising:

• an inflatable device body;
• a gas cylinder connected to the inflatable device body;
• a water activated inflator for opening a sealing mechanism of the gas cylinder, the water activated inflator comprising a gas cylinder opening device attached to the sealing mechanism of the gas cylinder for opening the gas cylinder by pulling the sealing mechanism;
• a deployment container containing the inflatable device body, the gas cylinder and the water activated inflator, the deployment container comprising a conduit for enabling provision of water to the water activated inflator after impact of the deployment container on the body of water;
• and,
• a parachute attached to the deployment container for aerodynamically braking the descent of the deployment container and for providing a predetermined orientation of the deployment container at impact on the body of water.