A method of rapidly inflating an inflatable boat

Abstract

This invention provides a method for rapidly inflating an inflatable boat, relating to the field of inflatable boat technology. The rapid inflating method of this invention involves simultaneously triggering a shut-off valve to open the first air supply line while the inflatable boat is being launched onto the sea surface. High-pressure gas from the high-pressure cylinder is instantly released and transported to the air chamber of the inflatable boat's hull via the first air supply line, the first air inlet of the diverter valve, the air outlet of the diverter valve, and the inflation line. This allows for rapid inflation of the inflatable boat's hull, significantly reducing time and improving rescue efficiency. Since the inflatable boat is essentially floating on the sea surface after launch, the requirements for the watertightness and air intake design of the electric air replenishment pump are relatively low. A pressure transmitter monitors the gas pressure in real time. When the pressure in the air chamber of the inflatable boat's hull falls below a set value, the control unit triggers the electric air replenishment pump to start, replenishing the air chamber of the inflatable boat's hull via the second air supply line, the second air inlet of the diverter valve, the air outlet of the diverter valve, and the inflation line.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of inflatable boat technology, and more specifically to a method for rapidly inflating an inflatable boat. Background Technology

[0002] When a ship is sailing at sea, if a person falls overboard or if someone is found in need of rescue, it is necessary to urgently dispatch rescue vehicles to the sea to provide timely assistance. Inflatable boats are a commonly used rescue vehicle. In their deflatable state, multiple inflatable boats can be folded and stacked in the ship's hold, allowing for a large number of boats to be stored in a limited space. They are then put into normal use by inflating the hull, making them convenient to operate. Therefore, inflatable boats are widely used.

[0003] Currently, inflatable boats are typically inflated using either a foot-operated or electric air pump before being launched into the sea. Foot-operated pumps are slow, delaying rescue efforts, and improper operation or uneven pressure can affect inflation or even damage the pump or boat. Electric air pumps inflate relatively quickly, but the hull still needs to be inflated first, which takes longer given the urgency of maritime rescues. If the hull could be inflated simultaneously with launching the boat, time would be significantly reduced, improving rescue efficiency. Existing inflatable boats often house the electric air pump within the electronic compartment, requiring excellent watertightness while also allowing air intake, which negatively impacts both watertightness and inflation efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a method for rapidly inflating an inflatable boat, which allows for the rapid inflation of the boat's hull during the process of launching the boat onto the sea surface.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0006] A method for rapidly inflating an inflatable boat includes a high-pressure rapid inflation system on the inflatable boat. The high-pressure rapid inflation system comprises a diverter valve, a high-pressure gas cylinder, a first gas supply line, an inflation line, a shut-off valve, and a one-way valve. The diverter valve has a first inlet port and several outlet ports. The high-pressure gas cylinder is filled with high-pressure gas. The gas supply end of the high-pressure gas cylinder is connected to the first inlet port of the diverter valve via the first gas supply line. Each outlet port is connected to one end of the inflation line, and the other end of the inflation line is used to connect to an air chamber in the hull of the inflatable boat. The shut-off valve is installed on the first gas supply line to open or close the first gas supply line. The one-way valve is installed on the inflation line, allowing unidirectional flow from one end of the inflation line to the other. The hull of the inflatable boat is divided into several air chambers, the number of which is the same as the number of inflation lines, with each air chamber connected to one inflation line.

[0007] The method includes the following steps:

[0008] During the process of launching the inflatable boat onto the sea surface, the shut-off valve is simultaneously triggered to open the first air supply line. The high-pressure gas in the high-pressure cylinder is released instantly and transported to the air chamber of the inflatable boat's hull through the first air supply line, the first air inlet of the diverter valve, the air outlet of the diverter valve, and the inflation line.

[0009] Preferably, the high-pressure rapid inflation system further includes a pressure transmitter, an electric air replenishment pump, a control unit, and a second air supply line; the pressure transmitter is connected to the diversion valve, and the sensing end of the pressure transmitter is used to monitor the gas pressure at the diversion valve; the diversion valve is also provided with a second air inlet; the air supply end of the electric air replenishment pump is connected to the second air inlet of the diversion valve via the second air supply line; the control unit is connected to the control ends of the pressure transmitter and the electric air replenishment pump respectively via signal cables;

[0010] The method further includes the following steps:

[0011] The pressure transmitter monitors the gas pressure in real time. When the pressure in the air chamber of the inflatable boat is lower than the set value, the control unit triggers the electric air replenishment pump to start and replenish the air chamber of the inflatable boat through the second air supply line, the second air inlet of the diverter valve, the air outlet of the diverter valve, and the inflation line.

[0012] Preferably, the high-pressure rapid inflation system further includes a pull rope, one end of which is connected to the trigger end of the shut-off valve. An external force pulls the other end of the pull rope to drive the shut-off valve to open the first air supply pipeline.

[0013] The process of "triggering the shut-off valve to open the first gas supply line" in the method steps is as follows:

[0014] When the inflatable boat is launched into the sea, a rope is connected to an object on the ship. As the inflatable boat descends from the ship into the sea, the rope actuates the trigger end of the shut-off valve, causing the shut-off valve to open the first air supply line.

[0015] Preferably, the high-pressure gas in the high-pressure cylinder is a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

[0016] The beneficial technical effects of this invention are:

[0017] The rapid inflation method for inflatable boats of this invention involves simultaneously triggering a shut-off valve to open the first air supply line while the inflatable boat is being launched onto the sea surface. This instantly releases high-pressure gas from the high-pressure cylinder, which is then transported to the air chambers of the inflatable boat's hull via the first air supply line, the first air inlet of the diverter valve, the air outlet of the diverter valve, and the inflation line. This allows for rapid inflation of the inflatable boat's hull, significantly reducing time and improving rescue efficiency. Since the inflatable boat is essentially floating on the sea surface after launch, the requirements for the watertightness and air intake design of the electric air pump are relatively low. A pressure transmitter monitors the gas pressure in real time. When the pressure in the air chambers of the inflatable boat's hull falls below a set value, the control unit triggers the electric air pump to start, replenishing the air chambers of the inflatable boat's hull via the second air supply line, the second air inlet of the diverter valve, the air outlet of the diverter valve, and the inflation line. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the rapid inflation method for an inflatable boat according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the high-pressure rapid inflation system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the inflation principle of the high-pressure rapid inflation system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an inflatable boat according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and the accompanying drawings. Certain embodiments of the invention will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, and some, but not all, of these embodiments will be shown. In fact, various embodiments of the invention can be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to enable the invention to meet applicable legal requirements.

[0023] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "inner," "outer," "upper," "lower," "front," and "rear," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0024] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4 As shown, a method for rapidly inflating an inflatable boat is provided. The inflatable boat is equipped with a high-pressure rapid inflation system, which includes a diversion valve 1, a high-pressure gas cylinder 21, a first gas supply line 31, an inflation line 4, a shut-off valve 5, and a one-way valve 6.

[0025] The diversion valve 1 is provided with a first air inlet port 11 and four air outlet ports.

[0026] The high-pressure gas cylinder 21 is filled with a high-pressure gas mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The carbon dioxide is liquid inside the cylinder. When the shut-off valve 5 is opened, the liquid carbon dioxide instantly vaporizes and releases a large amount of gas into the inflation pipeline 4, which then flows to the four independent air chambers 91 of the hull 9. This allows the inflatable boat to quickly inflate and float on the water. The nitrogen is used because when the ambient temperature is below -30℃, the pressure in the high-pressure cylinder containing carbon dioxide decreases, and some of the carbon dioxide vaporizes, causing a "snowflake"-like substance to appear at the mouth of the cylinder 21, resulting in slow inflation. Nitrogen can dispel this "snowflake"-like substance in low-temperature environments, improving inflation efficiency and meeting the inflatable boat's inflation time requirements.

[0027] The gas supply end of the high-pressure gas cylinder 21 is connected to the first air inlet 11 of the diversion valve 1 via the first gas supply pipeline 31. Each air outlet is connected to one end of the inflation pipeline 4. The other end of the inflation pipeline 4 is used to connect to the air chamber 91 of the hull 9 of the inflatable boat.

[0028] A shut-off valve 5 is installed on the first air supply line 31. The shut-off valve 5 is used to open or close the first air supply line 31. One end of the pull rope 7 is connected to the trigger end of the shut-off valve 5. When the pull rope 7 is pulled, the other end of the pull rope 7 is activated to open the first air supply line. When the inflatable boat is launched from the ship onto the sea surface, the pull rope 7 is connected to an object on the ship (such as the bow cable). During the process of the inflatable boat descending from the ship to the sea surface, the pull rope 7 activates the trigger end of the shut-off valve 5, which in turn activates the shut-off valve 5 to open the first air supply line. This allows the high-pressure gas in the high-pressure gas cylinder 21 to quickly inflate the hull 9 of the inflatable boat.

[0029] A one-way valve 6 is installed on the inflation line 4. The one-way valve 6 allows one-way flow from one end of the inflation line 4 to the other to prevent gas backflow inside the hull 9.

[0030] Pressure transmitter 8 is connected to diversion valve 1. The sensing end of pressure transmitter 8 is used to monitor the gas pressure at diversion valve 1 to monitor in real time whether the gas pressure in air chamber 91 of hull 9 is lower than the set value. Diversion valve 1 is also provided with a second air inlet 12. The air supply end of electric air pump 22 is connected to the second air inlet 12 of diversion valve 1 via second air supply pipeline 32. Control unit is arranged inside hull 9. Control unit is connected to the control ends of pressure transmitter 8 and electric air pump 22 via signal cables.

[0031] The pressure transmitter 8 monitors the gas pressure in real time. When the pressure in the air chamber 91 of the inflatable boat hull 9 is lower than the set value, the control unit triggers the electric air replenishment pump 22 to start replenishing air to the air chamber 91 of the inflatable boat hull 9 through the second air supply pipeline 32, the second air inlet 12 of the diversion valve 1, the air outlet of the diversion valve 1, and the inflation pipeline 4.

[0032] The hull 9 of the inflatable boat is divided into four air chambers 91 (front air chamber, bottom plate air chamber, left rear air chamber, and right rear air chamber). Each air chamber 91 is connected to an inflation pipe 4 to simultaneously inflate the four air chambers 91, thereby further improving the inflation efficiency of the hull 9.

[0033] The rapid inflation method for inflatable boats of the present invention includes the following steps:

[0034] S1, the inflatable boat is thrown onto the sea surface, triggering the instantaneous inflation of the high-pressure gas cylinder 21.

[0035] During the process of launching the inflatable boat onto the sea surface, the shut-off valve 5 is triggered to open the first air supply line 31, and the high-pressure gas in the high-pressure gas cylinder 21 is released instantly. The gas is then transported to the air chamber 91 of the hull 9 of the inflatable boat through the first air supply line 31, the first air inlet 11 of the diversion valve 1, the air outlet of the diversion valve 1, and the inflation line 4.

[0036] The process of "triggering shut-off valve 5 to open the first gas supply line 31" is as follows:

[0037] When the inflatable boat is launched into the sea, the pull rope 7 is connected to an object on the ship. As the inflatable boat descends from the ship to the sea, the pull rope 7 actuates the trigger end of the shut-off valve 5, causing the shut-off valve 5 to open the first air supply line 31. In this way, the shut-off valve 5 can open the first air supply line 31 at the same time as the inflatable boat is launched into the sea, further shortening the inflation time and improving rescue efficiency.

[0038] S2, Electric Air Pump 22 Air Injection

[0039] The pressure transmitter 8 monitors the gas pressure in real time. When the pressure in the air chamber 91 of the inflatable boat hull 9 is lower than the set value, the control unit triggers the electric air replenishment pump 22 to start replenishing air to the air chamber 91 of the inflatable boat hull 9 through the second air supply pipeline 32, the second air inlet 12 of the diversion valve 1, the air outlet of the diversion valve 1, and the inflation pipeline 4.

[0040] This concludes the detailed description of this embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. Based on the above description, those skilled in the art should have a clear understanding of the rapid inflation method for inflatable boats of the present invention. The rapid inflation method for inflatable boats of the present invention involves simultaneously triggering the shut-off valve 5 to open the first air supply line 31 during the process of launching the inflatable boat onto the sea surface. The high-pressure gas in the high-pressure gas cylinder 21 is released instantaneously and transported to the air chamber 91 of the hull 9 of the inflatable boat through the first air supply line 31, the first air inlet 11 of the diversion valve 1, the air outlet 1 of the diversion valve 1, and the inflation line 4. This allows the hull 9 of the inflatable boat to be filled with air quickly, greatly shortening the time and improving rescue efficiency. Since the inflatable boat is basically floating on the sea surface after being launched, the watertightness and air intake design requirements of the electric air replenishment pump 22 are relatively low. The pressure transmitter 8 monitors the gas pressure in real time. When the pressure in the air chamber 91 of the inflatable boat hull 9 is lower than the set value, the control unit triggers the electric air replenishment pump 22 to start and replenish the air chamber 91 of the hull 9 of the inflatable boat through the second air supply line 32, the second air inlet 12 of the diversion valve 1, the air outlet 1 of the diversion valve 1, and the inflation line 4.

[0041] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solution, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for rapidly inflating an inflatable boat, characterized in that, The inflatable boat is equipped with a high-pressure rapid inflation system, which includes a diverter valve, a high-pressure gas cylinder, a first gas supply line, an inflation line, a shut-off valve, a check valve, a pressure transmitter, an electric air replenishment pump, a control unit, a second gas supply line, and a pull rope. The diverter valve has a first air inlet and several air outlets. The high-pressure gas cylinder is filled with high-pressure gas. The gas supply end of the high-pressure gas cylinder is connected to the first air inlet of the diverter valve via the first gas supply line. Each air outlet is connected to one end of the inflation line, and the other end of the inflation line is connected to the air chamber of the inflatable boat's hull. The shut-off valve is installed on the first gas supply line to open or close the first gas supply line. The inflation line... The inflatable boat is equipped with a one-way valve that allows unidirectional flow from one end of the inflation line to the other. The hull of the inflatable boat is divided into several air chambers, the number of which is the same as the number of inflation lines. Each air chamber is connected to an inflation line. The pressure transmitter is connected to the diversion valve, and the sensing end of the pressure transmitter is used to monitor the gas pressure at the diversion valve. The diversion valve is also provided with a second air inlet. The air supply end of the electric air pump is connected to the second air inlet of the diversion valve via a second air supply line. The control unit is connected to the control ends of the pressure transmitter and the electric air pump via signal cables. One end of the pull rope is connected to the trigger end of the shut-off valve. Pulling the other end of the pull rope with external force causes the shut-off valve to open the first air supply line. The method includes the following steps: During the process of launching the inflatable boat onto the sea surface, the shut-off valve is triggered to open the first air supply line, and the high-pressure gas in the high-pressure cylinder is released instantly. The gas is then transported to the air chamber of the inflatable boat's hull through the first air supply line, the first air inlet of the diverter valve, the air outlet of the diverter valve, and the inflation line. The process of "triggering the shut-off valve to open the first gas supply line" is as follows: When the inflatable boat is thrown into the sea, the pull rope is connected to an object on the ship. As the inflatable boat descends from the ship to the sea, the pull rope actuates the trigger end of the shut-off valve, causing the shut-off valve to open the first air supply line. The pressure transmitter monitors the gas pressure in real time. When the pressure in the air chamber of the inflatable boat is lower than the set value, the control unit triggers the electric air replenishment pump to start and replenish the air chamber of the inflatable boat through the second air supply line, the second air inlet of the diverter valve, the air outlet of the diverter valve, and the inflation line.

2. The method for rapidly inflating an inflatable boat according to claim 1, characterized in that, The high-pressure gas inside the high-pressure cylinder is a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

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