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US 9,067,659 B2Granted
Actuation systems principally for inflatable emergency equipment
AssigneeAir Cruisers Company
InventorAndrew Mahlon Harlow
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Actuations systems in which pulley systems may be used as redundant (back-up) mechanisms are described. The systems provide mechanical advantage, especially useful when manual input is required to deploy a back-up mechanism. A pulley may be integrated into a clevis, a cable routed about the pulley, and one end of the cable made stationary, causing the pulley to counterbalance approximately twice the input force provided.
Claims5
A method of manually inflating an inflatable object, comprising:
- a. accessing an actuator of the inflatable object, the actuator comprising a cable (i) having an anchored first end portion and (ii) being received by a pulley system;
- and
- b. tensioning a second end portion of the cable so as to displace the pulley system linearly and thereby displace a piston and cause inflation of the inflatable object.
An actuation system for inflating an inflatable object, comprising:
- a. a cable having (i) an anchored first end portion and (ii) a second end portion configured to be grasped manually and moved linearly;
- b. a pulley system comprising (i) a wheel having a periphery configured to receive a portion of the cable and (ii) configured to be moved linearly when the second end portion is moved linearly;
- c. a connector (i) configured to be moved linearly when the pulley system moves linearly and (ii) connected directly or indirectly to a source of inflation fluid;
- and
- d. a piston (i) connected to the pulley system and (ii) configured to be displaced when the pulley system moves linearly.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.