Automatic inflator with bobbin using electronic pill

Abstract

A pill for use in an automatic inflator having a bobbin, the bobbin having at least one pivoting arm that holds a spring-loaded actuator pin in a cocked position, the pill having a main portion that holds the bobbin's pivoting arm in the cocked position and a minor portion having a meltable portion, and a heater wire, the heater wire being disposed contiguous with the minor portion and melting the minor portion when electrical energy is supplied to the heater wire, thereby allowing the bobbin's pivoting arm to move from the cocked position to a fired position.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] (Reference to Related Application) This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application, Ser. No. 63 / 302,209, filed Jan. 24, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] This disclosure relates to automatic inflators for inflatable articles such as lifeboats, life jackets, etc. More particularly, this disclosure relates to inflators that are automatically activated in the event of an emergency, such as submersion. [Background technology]

[0003] Currently, there are many types of inflators designed to inflate inflatable articles such as personal flotation devices (life jackets, life jackets, horseshoe floats), lifeboats, buoys, emergency signaling equipment, and the like. A manually operated inflator typically includes a body for receiving the neck of a cartridge of compressed gas, such as carbon dioxide. A reciprocating piercing pin is disposed within the inflator body such that the piercing pin pierces a frangible seal in the cartridge, allowing compressed gas to flow into the inflator's manifold assembly and into the article to be inflated. Typically, a manually operable firing lever is operatively connected to the piercing pin such that when a ball lanyard is pulled, the piercing pin pierces the frangible seal in the gas cartridge. U.S. Pat. No. 3,809,288, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, illustrates one embodiment of a manually operated inflator.

[0004] While the manual inflators functioned adequately, it was discovered early on that in an emergency, a crashed pilot, an injured person, a person falling overboard, or anyone needing assistance from an inflatable device would fail or be unable to activate the inflator manually. It was therefore felt that there should be a means to automatically activate the inflator in such an emergency.

[0005] To address the shortcomings of such prior art manual inflators, automatic water-actuated inflators have been developed in which the pierce pin of the inflator automatically activates when immersed in water to inflate an inflatable device. A typical water-actuated automatic inflator is comprised of a water-actuated actuator that includes a water-destructible or dissolvable element, often referred to as a bobbin, that holds a spring-loaded actuator pin in a cocked position aligned with the pierce pin. When the bobbin is exposed to water, the pill inside the bobbin immediately begins to dissolve and eventually breaks completely, losing its ability to hold the spring-loaded actuator pin in the cocked position. The spring-loaded actuator pin is then forced to move from the cocked position to an actuated position, striking the pierce pin either directly or indirectly through an intermediate transfer pin. By striking the pierce pin, the pierce pin breaks the seal of the cartridge, allowing gas trapped within the cartridge to flow into the interior of the inflatable device, thereby inflating the device.

[0006] U.S. Patent Nos. 3,059,814, 3,091,782, 3,426,942, 3,579,964, 3,702,014, 3,757,371, 3,910,457, 3,997,079, 4,223,805, 4,267,944, 4,260,075, 4,382,231, 4,436,159, 4,513,24 Representative automatic actuators for inflators are disclosed in US Pat. Nos. 4,627,823, 5,076,468, 5,601,124, 5,685,455, 5,562,233, 5,370,567, 5,333,756, 4,488,546, and 5,694,986, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0007] A drawback of automatic inflators with dissolvable pills is the tendency of the pill to be destroyed prematurely in non-emergency situations by exposure to excess atmospheric moisture. Bobbin pills of various designs and chemical compositions have been used to minimize the bobbin pill's sensitive response to humidity.

[0008] For example, U.S. Patent No. 10,994,818, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses an improved bobbin construction in which portions of adjacent arms on the interior of the bobbin that hold the pill are interconnected by a web to improve performance in reducing premature activation of the bobbin due to humidity. U.S. Patent Nos. 6,705,488 and 7,572,161, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, disclose various configurations of pills for use in automatic inflator bobbins that attempt to reduce sensitive reactions to moisture that can result in unintended or premature activation, while maintaining sufficient solubility so that the pills will dissolve when submerged in water.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art devices and to provide an improvement which represents a significant contribution to the advancement of inflator technology.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic pill mounted on an inflator bobbin, the electronic pill including a major portion for restraining a spring-loaded actuator pin in a cocked position aligned with the pierce pin.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic pill that is incorporated into an inflator bobbin, the electronic pill having a minor portion wound with heater wire, which when exposed to water will allow current to flow through the minor portion, causing it to become brittle and thus lose its ability to hold the spring-loaded actuator pin in the cocked position.

[0012] These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed invention in another manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of this disclosure. Thus, other objects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention can be obtained by reference to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment, along with the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying drawings and claims. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The invention is defined by the appended claims, along with specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In summary, the invention comprises an automatic inflator having a bobbin with an electrically activated pill instead of a dissolvable pill.

[0014] More specifically, prior art bobbins typically have a circular housing with an internal foldable annular ring having individually pivoting arms (e.g., eight arms) that extend generally parallel to the axis of the bobbin. An annular pill is disposed around the ring of individually pivoting arms to hold the arms in an unfolded, generally parallel position and prevent the arms from folding outward. Each of the individually pivoting arms includes an inwardly extending radial step that forms an annular seat that holds a spring-loaded actuator in a cocked position.

[0015] The electronic pill of the present invention has an annular structure (a surface of revolution with a hole in the center) and is substantially similar to the annular structure of the prior art pills, so that the electronic pill can be used on the bobbin (instead of the dissolvable pill). For certain bobbin designs, the electronic pill can be attached to the bobbin in the form of a dissolvable pill, without modification of the bobbin itself.

[0016] The electronic pill of the present invention has a major portion that is the majority of its circumference (e.g., about 350 degrees) and a minor portion that is the remaining portion (e.g., about 10 degrees). The major portion serves to hold the loops of the individually pivoting arms in an unfolded, generally parallel position and to prevent the loops of the arms from folding outward. The minor portion functions as a fusible portion that is melted by the heater wire. In one configuration, the heater wire is wrapped or glued one or more times around the minor portion, making the heater wire continuous with the minor portion, and the heater wire is heated to structurally weaken (e.g., melt) the minor portion. In another configuration, the minor portion may have one or more wire holes through which the heater wire passes.

[0017] When the inflator is submerged in water, electronic circuitry within the inflator detects and provides current from a power source (e.g., a lithium battery) to the heater wire to heat it. When the heat melts the small section, the force exerted on the pill by each of the individually pivoting arms and their bases pivoting outward individually under the constant pressure of the actuator first stretches the cracks in the small section, then completely cracks the small section, thereby breaking the electronic pill and opening the annular structure to a larger diameter and allowing the restrained arms to pivot outward. As the arms pivot outward under the force of the actuator, their respective bases move outward as well, expanding the annular base until it can no longer hold the actuator, thereby releasing (i.e., firing) the spring-loaded actuator to push the piercing pin into the frangible seal of the gas cartridge.

[0018] In the most preferred mode of carrying out the invention, the heater wire and the applied voltages and currents are considered as follows.

[0019] [Table 1]

[0020] The above has outlined, rather broadly, the more pertinent and salient features of the present invention. In order that the present contribution to the art may be more fully understood, the following detailed description of the invention is provided. Additional features of the present invention will now be described, which form the scope of the claims of the present invention. It is to be understood that the conception of the present invention and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized by those skilled in the art as a basis for modifying and designing other methods and structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It is also to be understood that equivalent constructions may be conceived by those skilled in the art which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the claims.

[0021] For a more clear understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an electronic pill with a bobbin assembled in a typical automatic inflator assembly, showing various internal components and their relative positions to each other with respect to the electronic pill. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a prior art bobbin (without electronic pill attached) having a circular base with a foldable annular ring of individually pivoting arms (e.g., eight arms) extending generally parallel to the axis of the bobbin. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the electronic pill of the present invention attached to the annular pivoting arms of a bobbin to hold the individual pivoting arms in a generally parallel position to prevent them from folding outward. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diametric cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of an electronic bobbin of the present invention mounted within a bobbin. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view showing a first embodiment of an electronic pill of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing a second embodiment of the electronic pill of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a second embodiment of the electronic pill of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view showing a third embodiment of the electronic pill of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a top perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the electronic pill of the present invention. [Figure 11A] FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

[0024] 1 shows a typical automatic inflator 10 including an inflator body 12, an actuator body assembly 14, and a cylindrical cap assembly 16. The inflator body 12 has a central longitudinally extending bore, generally designated 18, which is dimensioned to accommodate a pierce pin assembly 20 for reciprocal positioning therein. A gas-containing cartridge 22 is threadably mounted into the inflator body in alignment with the pierce pin assembly 20.

[0025] The pierce pin assembly 20 includes a pierce pin 24 having an end 26, a seal gasket 28, and a small compressed spring 30. A typical metal insert 32 having internal threads 34 and a gasket 36 is formed within the inflator body 12. A gas-containing cartridge 22 threads into the metal insert 32. When the pierce pin assembly 20 is forced toward the cartridge 22, the frangible seal of the gas cartridge 22 is pierced.

[0026] The automatic inflator 10 may be actuated automatically upon flooding or may be actuated manually. The manual actuation means includes a generally L-shaped lever 38 attached by a pivot pin 40 that passes through the inflator body 12, a bore 42 located in a distal portion of the lever 38, and a second slot 44 in an intermediate transfer pin 46. The pivot pin 40 also serves to secure the actuator body assembly 14 to the inflator body 12.

[0027] The distal end portion 48 of the lever 38 has a cam extension 50. A lanyard handle 52 is connected to the lever 38. When the lanyard handle 52 is pulled, the cam extension 50 forcibly engages the end 26 of the pierce pin assembly 20, thereby piercing the gas-containing cartridge 22.

[0028] Typically, the actuator body assembly 14 typically includes an actuator body 54, an actuator pin 55, an intermediate transfer pin 46, a typical O-ring 56, and a bobbin 58. A stiff spring 57 forcibly biases the head 55H of the actuator pin 55 against the bobbin 58.

[0029] 2, a typical bobbin 58 includes a generally cylindrical wall 66. A plurality of arms 68 are arranged in parallel annular configuration about the longitudinal axis of the bobbin 58 and are individually pivotally connected to edges of the cylindrical wall 66 by living hinges 70.

[0030] Each arm 68 has a radial seat 72 relative to an axis extending toward the longitudinal axis of the bobbin 58. Collectively, the individual radial seats 72 form an annular seat that holds against the head 55H of the spring-loaded actuator pin 55, thereby holding the spring-loaded actuator pin 55 in a “cocked” position against the force of the spring 57.

[0031] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cyclic electronic pill 60 of the present invention is disposed between the bore of the cylindrical wall 66 and the annular arm 68, which holds the arm 68 in a position centered and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bobbin 58 such that the annular seat formed by the radial seats 72 maintains a diameter that presses against and holds the head 55H of the spring-loaded actuator pin 55 in a "cocked" position against the biasing force of the spring 57.

[0032] It should be noted that each arm 68 may include a buttress 76 extending from the living hinge end of the arm 68 along the length of the arm 68. The buttress 76 serves to provide additional rigidity to the arm 68 and to limit the distance that the pill 60 is forced down the length of the annular arm 68 upon assembly. It should also be noted that each of the arms 68 may include a chamfered end 68CC to facilitate automatic centering and pressing of the pill 60 onto the annular arm 68.

[0033] As best shown in Figures 5 to 10, the e-pill 60 of the present invention comprises a main portion 100 and a minor portion 102. The main portion extends approximately 350 degrees of the annular e-pill 60, and the minor portion 102 extends the remaining 10 degrees. A first embodiment is shown in Figures 5 to 7, a second embodiment in Figures 8 to 9, and a third embodiment in Figure 10.

[0034] In each embodiment, at least one heater wire 108 is disposed in series with the sub-portion 102 in heat exchange relationship. The heater wire 108 is operatively connected to an electronic circuit 112 powered by a battery 114. An electronic water sensor 116 is activatably connected to the circuit 112. Upon sensing submersion in water, the sensor 116 activates the circuit 112 to provide current from the battery 114 to the heater wire 108, melting the sub-portion 102. Once the sub-portion 102 is melted, the diameter of the electronic pill 60 expands to allow the annular arms 68 to move outwardly of the radial seat 72 and no longer hold the head 55H of the spring-loaded actuator pin 55 against it, thereby releasing the spring-loaded actuator pin 55 to "fire" the inflator 10. The sub-portion 102 may thus be considered to function as a fusible link.

[0035] In each embodiment, main portion 100 has an outer wall 104 and an inner wall 106 that extend generally parallel to each other and to the axis of the wall and to the ring, thereby preferably defining a ring having a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration (see FIG. 6). As shown in the figures, the upper and lower ends of walls 104 and 106 may be chamfered to facilitate assembly onto bobbin 58.

[0036] In each embodiment, the distance between the outer wall 104 and the inner wall 106 is substantially equal to the distance between the bore of the cylindrical wall 66 and the annular arms 68 of the bobbin 58, thereby holding the arms 68 in a parallel position about the longitudinal axis of the bobbin 58. In this parallel position, the annular seats formed by the radial seats 72 of the radial arms 68 maintain a diameter large enough to hold down and hold the head 55H of the spring-loaded actuator pin 55, thereby holding the spring-loaded actuator pin 55 in the “cocked” position against the biasing force of the spring 57.

[0037] In each embodiment, preferably, the minor portion 102 has a cross-sectional area that is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the main portion 100. The actual area of ​​the cross-section of the minor portion 102 may be selected based on the material composition of the injection molded e-pill, the dimensions of the heater wire 108, and the voltage and amperage supplied to the heater wire.

[0038] The currently contemplated parameters required to melt a small injection molded polycarbonate or ABS plastic section 102 having a cross-sectional area of ​​0.006 square inches are as follows:

[0039] [Table 2]

[0040] In a first embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7, the heater wire 108 is threaded through holes 110 in the sub-portion 102. The heater wire 108 is threaded through one of the holes 110, optionally wrapped around the sub-portion 102 one or more times, and then threaded back through the other hole into the sub-portion 102, so that the outer surface of the sub-portion 102 is continuous with the inner lumen of the hole 110, thereby ensuring good heat transfer from the heater wire 108 to the sub-portion 102. Alternatively, the heater wire 108 may be inserted into the hole 110 in the sub-portion 102 and sealed with a thermally conductive adhesive or the like (see, for example, the third embodiment below). As a further alternative, the heater wire 108 may be molded into the sub-portion 102 while the sub-portion 102 is being molded.

[0041] In a second embodiment, shown in Figures 8 and 9, the minor portion 102 has at least one, and preferably two, notches 120, which are V-shaped notches extending inwardly from the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the walls 104 and 106 that extend generally parallel to the axis of the major portion 100, thereby defining a cross-sectional area that is significantly smaller than that of the major portion 100. In a third embodiment, shown in Figure 10, one or more, and preferably one, V-shaped notch 120 can extend inwardly from the outer surface 104 of the major portion 100, thereby defining a cross-sectional area that is significantly smaller than that of the major portion 100.

[0042] In both the third and fourth embodiments, the heater wire 108 is wrapped around the sub-portion 102 one or more times, however, the heater wire 108 may alternatively be threaded through one or more holes formed in the sub-portion 102 in the manner described in connection with the first embodiment.

[0043] 11, the heater wire 108 is attached by an adhesive 150, which is preferably thermally conductive or the like. It should be understood that attaching the heater wire 108 by an adhesive may alternatively be employed in connection with other embodiments of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0044] Once the subportion 102 melts during firing, the structural integrity of the pill 60 is compromised, causing the annular arms 68 to individually deflect radially outwardly through their respective living hinges 70 under the pressure of the spring-loaded actuator pin head 55H. Upon deflection outward, the annular seat 72 expands until it can no longer form an annular seat for the actuator pin head 55H, at which point the spring-loaded actuator pin 55 head 55H is released and forced to move under the biasing force of the spring 57 to actuate the pierce pin 20 via the transfer pin 46 (i.e., the actuator 10 is automatically "fired").

[0045] The present invention includes what is described in the foregoing specification as well as what is set forth in the appended claims. Although this specification has described preferred embodiments having a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that this disclosure of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary and that numerous changes in details of construction, combination, or arrangement of parts thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0046] This describes the present invention.

Claims

1. 1. A pill for an automatic inflator using a bobbin having at least one pivotal arm for retaining a spring-loaded actuator pin in a cocked position, comprising: Pills and A heater wire, Combining these, the pill having a major portion for holding the pivoting arm of the bobbin in a cocked position and a minor portion having a meltable portion; the heater wire is disposed contiguous with the sub-portion and, when electrical energy is supplied to the heater wire, melts the sub-portion, thereby allowing the pivoting arm of the bobbin to move from a cocked position to a fired position. pill.

2. The heater wire is wrapped around the small portion at least once. The pill of claim 1.

3. The heater wire is passed through at least one hole of the small portion. The pill of claim 1.

4. the heater wire is attached to the small portion; The pill of claim 1.

5. the heater wire is contained in the subsection and molded in situ; The pill of claim 1.

6. The cross-sectional area of ​​the minor portion is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the major portion. The pill of claim 1.

7. the minor portion having a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration smaller than a cross-sectional area of ​​the major portion; The pill of claim 1.

8. The minor portion includes a notch. The pill of claim 1.

9. The cutout comprises a generally V-shaped cutout. The pill of claim 8.

10. the notches extend inwardly from respective upper and lower ends of the pill wall extending generally parallel to the axis of the major portion, thereby defining a cross-sectional area of ​​the minor portion smaller than a cross-sectional area of ​​the major portion; The pill of claim 8.

11. the notch extends from an outer surface to an inner surface of the major portion, thereby defining a cross-sectional area of ​​the minor portion that is smaller than a cross-sectional area of ​​the major portion; The pill of claim 8.

12. An automatic inflator, a bobbin having an annular base with a collapsible annular ring therein having independently pivotable arms extending generally parallel to an axis of the bobbin; an annular pill disposed about the ring having the individually pivoting arms to hold the arms in an unfolded, generally parallel position and prevent the arms from folding outward, the individually pivotable arms each having an inwardly extending radial seat which collectively form an annular seat to hold a spring-loaded actuator in a cocked position, the pill having a major portion and a minor portion, the major portion holding the individually pivoting arms in an unfolded, generally parallel position and preventing the arms from folding outward; a heater wire disposed in continuity with the small portion of the annular pill so as to be melted by electrical energy flowing through the heater wire when the automatic actuator detects water; Combined with Automatic inflator.

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