Inflation system with electric propellant for inflatable safety device

Abstract

Described are inflation systems having an electric propellant device and an inflatable safety device. The electric propellant device may be configured to generate gas for the inflatable safety device, and the electric propellant device may include an electric propellant that is configured to be converted to gas by the electric propellant device using an electric current. The inflatable safety device may be positioned to receive the gas from the electric propellant device.

Description

Atorney Docket 037514-1524034Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application INFLATION SYSTEM WITH ELECTRIC PROPELLANT FOR INFLATABLESAFETY DEVICEFIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The field of the invention relates generally to passenger vehicles, and, more specifically, though not necessarily exclusively, to an inflation system that may use electric propellant to provide gas to an inflatable safety device at least for inflating the inflatable safety device.BACKGROUND

[0002] Passenger vehicles often include equipment that may be used in case of emergency. For example, the passenger vehicles may include inflatable slides, slides / rafts, ramps, life rafts, inflatable rafts, inflatable life jackets, helicopter floats, and the like. Passenger vehicles may also be limited with respect to weight, for example due to regulations, due to fuel efficiency, due to operational limitations, and the like. Minimizing the weight or payload of the passenger vehicles may be difficult, and providing functional safety equipment with the foregoing limitations may be difficult. Additionally, or alternatively, transporting a charged gas cylinder may be difficult and subject to additional compliance with respect to regulations and licensing requirements. Additionally or alternatively, it may be difficult to control reactions for providing gas to an inflatable safety device.SUMMARY

[0003] The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject mater of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood1US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application not to limit the subject mater described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject mater, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject mater. The subject mater should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim.

[0004] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, an inflation system may include an electric propellant device and an inflatable safety device. The electric propellant device may be configured to generate gas for the inflatable safety device, and the electric propellant device may include an electric propellant that may be configured to be converted to gas by the electric propellant device using an electric current. The inflatable safety device may be positioned to receive the gas from the electric propellant device.

[0005] In some embodiments, the inflatable safety device may have a melting point that is a first temperature, and the gas may have a temperature that does not exceed the first temperature.

[0006] In certain embodiments, the electric propellant device may be further configured to control a rate of a reaction for converting the electric propellant to the gas based at least in part on a temperature of the gas or based at least in part on a pressure associated with the inflatable safety device.

[0007] In various embodiments, and in response to determining that the temperature of the gas exceeds a threshold temperature, the reaction may be controlled via the electric current to reduce the rate of the reaction. Additionally or alternatively, the threshold2US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application temperature may be less than a first temperature of a melting point of the inflatable safety device.

[0008] In some embodiments, and in response to determining that the pressure associated with the inflatable safety device does not exceed a threshold pressure, the reaction may be controlled via the electric current to increase the rate of the reaction.

[0009] In certain embodiments, and in response to determining that the pressure associated with the inflatable safety device exceeds a threshold pressure, the reaction may be controlled to be stopped by seting the electric current to zero. Additionally or alternatively, subsequent to stopping the reaction, and in response to determining that the pressure associated with the inflatable safety device drops below the threshold pressure, the reaction may be controlled to be restarted by increasing the electric current above zero.

[0010] In various embodiments, the electric propellant device may be located on an exterior surface of the inflatable safety device, and the electric propellant device may be directly connected to the inflatable safety device such that the gas may be transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device without a conduit.

[0011] In some embodiments, the inflation system may additionally include a conduit that may extend from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device. Additionally or alternatively, the conduit may be configured to condition the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device.

[0012] In certain embodiments, the conduit may be configured to cool the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device. Additionally or alternatively, the conduit may be configured to accumulate the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device. Additionally or alternatively, the conduit may be configured to throtle the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device.3US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application

[0013] In various embodiments, the conduit may include a vortex cooler, a gascooling hose, an aspirator, or a turbine.

[0014] In some embodiments, the inflatable safety device may include one or more tubes configured to hold gas for inflating the inflatable safety device, and the electric propellant device may be positioned within the one or more tubes of the inflatable safety device.

[0015] In certain embodiments, the electric propellant device may include a set of different electric propellants, and each electric propellant of the set of different electric propellants may be located in a different tube of the one or more tubes.

[0016] In various embodiments, the inflatable safety device may additionally include an electric power source coupled with the electric propellant device and configured to provide the electric current for converting the electric propellant to the gas.

[0017] In some embodiments, the inflatable safety device may additionally include conductive fabric that may be woven into the inflatable safety device and that may be connected to the electric propellant device to facilitate the electric current.

[0018] In certain embodiments, the inflatable safety device may be an inflatable slide, slide / raft, ramp, slide / ramp, or inflatable raft positionable on an aircraft, and the electric propellant device may be coupled with an aspirator or a turbine that may be configured to combine the gas with ambient air prior to providing a combination of the gas and the ambient air to the inflatable safety device.

[0019] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, an inflation system may include an electric propellant device and a conduit. The electric propellant device may be configured to generate gas for an inflatable safety device, and the electric propellant device may include an electric propellant that may be configured to be converted to gas by the electric propellant using an electric current. The conduit may connect the electric4US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034 Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application propellant device with the inflatable safety device, and the conduit may be configured to provide conditioning for the gas while the gas is transported from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device.

[0020] In some embodiments, the conduit may be configured to cool the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device. Additionally or alternatively, the conduit may be configured to accumulate the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device. Additionally or alternatively, the conduit may be configured to throtle the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device.

[0021] In certain embodiments, the electric propellant device may be further configured to control a rate of a reaction for converting the electric propellant to the gas based at least in part on a temperature of the gas or based at least in part on a pressure associated with the inflatable safety device.

[0022] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, an inflation system may include an inflatable safety device. The inflatable safety device may include an electric propellant device that may be configured to generate gas for the inflatable safety device. The electric propellant device may include an electric propellant that may be configured to be converted to gas by the electric propellant device using an electric current. The inflatable safety device may be positioned to receive the gas from the electric propellant device.

[0023] In various embodiments, the electric propellant device may be further configured to control a rate of a reaction for converting the electric propellant to the gas based at least in part on a temperature of the gas or based at least in part on a pressure associated with the inflatable safety device.5US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034 Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inflation system according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 2 is a simplified block diagram of an example of an electric propellant device of the inflation system of Figure 1.

[0026] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an inflatable safety device that includes the inflation system of Figure 1.

[0027] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a process for using the inflation system of Figure 1.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The subject mater of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject mater may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described.

[0029] The described embodiments of the invention provide inflation systems for passenger vehicles. While the inflation systems are discussed for use with inflatable safety devices, they are by no means so limited. Rather, embodiments of the inflation systems may be used in passenger vehicles of any type or otherwise as desired.

[0030] In some embodiments, an electric propellant may differ from traditional solid or liquid pyrotechnic propellants like those used in airbag inflators or propulsion thrusters. For example, the electric propellant may only capable of being activated through contact with a significant electric current and may be resistant to flame and shock. Once the current is6US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034 Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application taken away the reaction stops. Additionally or alternatively, the reaction that produces gas in electric propellant activation may not be an oxidation reaction, which is common in airbag inflators and proposition thrusters. The electric propellant reaction may be an pyroelectric reaction that generates gas and heat. In some embodiments, a “propellant”, as used herein, may refer to any material that may be used to generate a gas.

[0031] According to certain embodiments of the present invention, and as illustrated in Figures 1-3, an inflation system 100 comprises an inflatable safety device 102 and an electric propellant device 104. The electric propellant device 104 may be configured to generate gas for the inflatable safety device 102, and the electric propellant device 104 may include an electric propellant that may be configured to be converted to gas by the electric propellant device 104 using an electric current. The inflatable safety device 102 may be positioned to receive the gas from the electric propellant device 104. In some embodiments, the electric propellant device 104 may be coupled with an aspirator or a turbine that may be configured to combine the gas with ambient air prior to providing a combination of the gas and the ambient air to the inflatable safety device 102. In some embodiments, the inflatable safety device 102 may be or include an inflatable slide, an inflatable raft, one or more inflatable life vests, and the like. For example, the inflatable safety device 102 may be or include an inflatable slide, slide / raft, ramp, slide / ramp, or inflatable raft that may be positioned on an aircraft.

[0032] In some embodiments, the inflation system 100, or any subset thereof (e.g., the electric propellant device 104 or other suitable subcomponents, etc.), may be positioned on a door of an aircraft, may be integrated into the inflatable safety device 102, may be positioned on the aircraft, may be adjacent to the inflatable safety device 102, may be positioned on another component of the inflation system 100, etc. In some embodiments, an aircraft may include or otherwise use the inflation system 100.7US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034 Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application

[0033] As best illustrated with respect to Figure 1, the inflatable safety device 102 may be coupled with a conduit 106 that may be configured to provide conditioning for the gas as the gas travels from the electric propellant device 104. In some embodiments, the conduit 106 may be or include a gas-cooling device that may receive gas from the electric propellant device 104 and that may cool the received gas. Additionally or alternatively, the conduit 106 may be configured to accumulate the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device 104 to the inflatable safety device 102. Additionally or alternatively, the conduit 106 may be configured to throtle the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device 104 to the inflatable safety device 102. In some embodiments, the conduit 106 may be or include a vortex cooler, a gas-cooling hose, an aspirator, a turbine, or any combination thereof.

[0034] In some embodiments, the electric propellant device 104 may be or include a gas generator that may generate gas for the inflatable safety device 102. Additionally or alternatively, the inflatable safety device 102 may have a melting point that is a first temperature, and the gas may have a temperature that does not exceed the first temperature. For example, the gas may have the temperature that does not exceed a threshold temperature that may be approximately less than or equal to a melting point of materials, such as a substrate, a fabric, a flexible composite, a textile, an inflation hose, an aspirator, a relief valve, or the entirety of the inflatable safety device 102, included in, or otherwise associated with, the inflatable safety device 102. As used herein, approximately indicates that a recited value may vary, such as above or below, by 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, from 5% to 10%, from 10% to 20%, and the like.

[0035] As best illustrated with respect to Figure 2, the electric propellant device 104 may include electric propellant 200. The electric propellant 200 may be or include a solid electric propellant, a liquid electric propellant, a fluid electric propellant, or any suitable8US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034 Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application combination thereof. The electric propellant 200 may facilitate a reaction that may convert the electric propellant 200 to the gas for inflating the inflatable safety device 102. For example, electric current may be applied to a conductor 202, which may be in contact with the electric propellant 200, that may transfer the electric current to the electric propellant 200 to convert the electric propellant 200 to the gas. In some embodiments, the electric propellant device 104 may be further configured to control a rate of the reaction for converting the electric propellant 200 to the gas based at least in part on a temperature of the gas or based at least in part on a pressure associated with the inflatable safety device 102.

[0036] In some embodiments, and in response to determining that the temperature of the gas exceeds a threshold temperature, the reaction may be controlled via the electric current to reduce the rate of the reaction. The threshold temperature may be less than a first temperature of a melting point of the inflatable safety device 102. Controlling the reaction may involve increasing the electric current to increase a rate of the reaction to produce more gas from more electric current, or vice versa. In some embodiments, and in response to determining that the pressure associated with the inflatable safety device 102 does not exceed a threshold pressure, the reaction may be controlled via the electric current to increase the rate of the reaction. Additionally or alternatively, and in response to determining that the pressure associated with the inflatable safety device 102 exceeds a threshold pressure, the reaction may be controlled to be stopped by seting the electric current to zero. Subsequent to stopping the reaction, and in response to determining that the pressure associated with the inflatable safety device 102 drops below the threshold pressure, the reaction may be controlled to be restarted by increasing the electric current above zero.

[0037] As best illustrated with respect to Figure 3, the electric propellant device 104 may be located on an exterior surface 300 of the inflatable safety device 102. As illustrated in Figure 3, the inflatable safety device may be an inflatable raft that includes the electric9US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034 Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application propellant device 104 mounted on the exterior surface 300. In some embodiments, the electric propellant device 104 may be directly connected to the inflatable safety device 102 such that the gas generated by the electric propellant device 104 may be transferred from the electric propellant device 104 to the inflatable safety device 102 without a conduit.

[0038] In some embodiments, the inflatable safety device 102 may include one or more tubes that may be configured to hold gas for inflating the inflatable safety device 102. Additionally or alternatively the electric propellant device 104 may be positioned within the one or more tubes of the inflatable safety device 102. The electric propellant device 104 may include a set of different electric propellants such as one or more distinct electric propellants or one or more identical but separate electric propellants. Each electric propellant of the set of different electric propellants may be located in a different tube of the one or more tubes.

[0039] In some embodiments, the inflatable safety device 102 may additionally include an electric power source coupled with the electric propellant device 104. The electric power source may be or include a batery, a capacitor, or other suitable electric power source, and the electric power source may be configured to be activated with radiofrequency signals or other suitable signals. The electric power source may be configured to provide the electric current for converting the electric propellant 200 to the gas. In some embodiments, the inflatable safety device 102 may additionally include a conductive fabric that may be woven into the inflatable safety device 102 and that may be connected to the electric propellant device 104 to facilitate, such as conduct, the electric current.

[0040] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a process 400 for using the inflation system 100. At block 402, gas is generated by an electric propellant device such as the electric propellant device 104. The electric propellant device 104 may use an electricity-activated propellant such as the electric propellant 200. The electric propellant 200 may be solid, liquid, or a combination thereof. An electric current, such as the electric current, may be applied to the10US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034 Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application electric propellant 200 to cause the electric propellant 200 to convert to the gas. In some embodiments, the gas may have a temperature that does not exceed a temperature of a melting point of an inflatable safety device, such as the inflatable safety device 102, or any component or material thereof.

[0041] At block 404, the gas generated by the electric propellant device 104 is provided to the inflatable safety device 102. In examples in which the electric propellant device 104 is mounted directly on the inflatable safety device 102, the gas may be provided directly from electric propellant device 104 to the inflatable safety device 102 without using a conduit such as the conduit 106. In other examples, the electric propellant device 104 may be connected to the inflatable safety device 102 via the conduit 106, which may provide conditioning for the gas as the gas travels from the electric propellant device 104 to the inflatable safety device. Conditioning for the gas may include cooling, accumulation, throtling, other suitable conditioning for the gas, or any combination thereof. In other embodiments, the electric propellant device 104 may be positioned within, such as within one or more tubes of, the inflatable safety device 102 and may be configured to convert the electric propellant 200 into gas within the inflatable safety device 102. In some embodiments, the inflation system 100, or any component thereof, may inflate the inflatable safety device 102 with the gas within a predetermined amount of time (e.g., within approximately six seconds) and within a predetermined environmental temperature range such as from approximately -40 °F to approximately 160 °F.

[0042] At block 406, a reaction involving converting the electric propellant 200 to the gas is controlled. Controlling the reaction may involve adjusting a rate at which the electric propellant 200 is converted into the gas. Adjusting the rate may involve increasing the rate, decreasing the rate, or maintaining a constant rate. In some embodiments, the reaction may be slowed, for example by reducing the electric current, if a temperature of the gas produced by11US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034 Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application the electric propellant device 104 gets too high or if a pressure within the inflatable safety device 102 exceeds a threshold or target pressure. Additionally or alternatively, the reaction may be sped up, for example by increasing the electric current, if a pressure within the inflatable safety device 102 falls below the threshold or target pressure. The reaction may otherwise suitably be controlled based on a temperature of the gas, a pressure associated with the inflatable safety device 102, or other suitable measures.

[0043] In some embodiments, the inflation system 100 may additionally include an aspirator that may entrain ambient air into the inflatable safety device 102. Additionally or alternatively, the inflation system 100 may be coupled with or otherwise include a compressor that may be used to inflate the inflatable safety device 102. In some embodiments, the inflation system 100 may be coupled with or otherwise include a turbine that may receive the gas from the electric propellant device 104 and may use the gas to cause ambient air to flow into the inflatable safety device 102 for inflating the inflatable safety device 102.

[0044] In some embodiments, the inflation system 100 may include at least one vortex cooler that may be coupled with at least one heat exchanger that is configured to cool gas having an elevated temperature from the electric propellant device 104. Cooled gas from the at least one heat exchanger may be used to inflate the inflatable safety device 102. Additionally or alternatively, the cooled gas from the at least one heat exchanger may be directed to an aspirator that may be configured to mix the cooled gas with ambient air to inflate the inflatable safety device 102.

[0045] In the following, further examples are described to facilitate the understanding of the invention:

[0046] Example 1. An inflation system comprising: an electric propellant device configured to generate gas for an inflatable safety device, the electric propellant device12US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034 Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application comprising an electric propellant that is configured to be converted to gas by the electric propellant device using an electric current; and the inflatable safety device positionable to receive the gas from the electric propellant device.

[0047] Example 2. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the inflatable safety device has a melting point that is a first temperature, and wherein the gas has a temperature that does not exceed the first temperature.

[0048] Example 3. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the electric propellant device is further configured to control a rate of a reaction for converting the electric propellant to the gas based at least in part on a temperature of the gas or based at least in part on a pressure associated with the inflatable safety device.

[0049] Example 4. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein, in response to determining that the temperature of the gas exceeds a threshold temperature, the reaction is controllable via the electric current to reduce the rate of the reaction, and wherein the threshold temperature is less than a first temperature of a melting point of the inflatable safety device.

[0050] Example 5. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein, in response to determining that the pressure associated with the inflatable safety device does not exceed a threshold pressure, the reaction is controllable via the electric current to increase the rate of the reaction.

[0051] Example 6. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein: in response to determining that the pressure associated with the inflatable safety device exceeds a threshold pressure, the reaction is controllable to be stopped by seting the electric current to zero; and subsequent to stopping the reaction, and in response to determining that the pressure associated with the inflatable safety device drops below the13US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application threshold pressure, the reaction is controllable to be restarted by increasing the electric current above zero.

[0052] Example 7. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the electric propellant device is located on an exterior surface of the inflatable safety device, and wherein the electric propellant device is directly connected to the inflatable safety device such that the gas is transferable from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device without a conduit.

[0053] Example 8. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, further comprising a conduit that extends from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device, wherein the conduit is configured to condition the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device.

[0054] Example 9. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the conduit is configured to cool the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device, or wherein the conduit is configured to accumulate the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device, or wherein the conduit is configured to throtle the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device.

[0055] Example 10. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the conduit comprises a vortex cooler, a gas-cooling hose, an aspirator, or a turbine.

[0056] Example 11. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the inflatable safety device comprises one or more tubes configured to hold gas for inflating the inflatable safety device, and wherein the electric propellant device is positioned within the one or more tubes of the inflatable safety device.14US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034 Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application

[0057] Example 12. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the electric propellant device comprises a set of different electric propellants, and wherein each electric propellant of the set of different electric propellants is located in a different tube of the one or more tubes.

[0058] Example 13. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the inflatable safety device further comprises an electric power source coupled with the electric propellant device and configured to provide the electric current for converting the electric propellant to the gas.

[0059] Example 14. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the inflatable safety device further comprises conductive fabric woven into the inflatable safety device and connected to the electric propellant device to facilitate the electric current.

[0060] Example 15. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the inflatable safety device is an inflatable slide, slide / raft, ramp, slide / ramp, or inflatable raft positionable on an aircraft, and wherein the electric propellant device is coupled with an aspirator or a turbine that is configured to combine the gas with ambient air prior to providing a combination of the gas and the ambient air to the inflatable safety device.

[0061] Example 16. An inflation system comprising: an electric propellant device configured to generate gas for an inflatable safety device, the electric propellant device comprising an electric propellant that is configured to be converted to gas by the electric propellant using an electric current; and a conduit connecting the electric propellant device with the inflatable safety device, wherein the conduit is configured to provide conditioning for the gas while the gas is transported from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device.15US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application

[0062] Example 17. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the conduit is configured to cool the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device, or wherein the conduit is configured to accumulate the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device, or wherein the conduit is configured to throtle the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device.

[0063] Example 18. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the electric propellant device is further configured to control a rate of a reaction for converting the electric propellant to the gas based at least in part on a temperature of the gas or based at least in part on a pressure associated with the inflatable safety device.

[0064] Example 19. An inflation system comprising: an inflatable safety device that comprises an electric propellant device, the electric propellant device configured to generate gas for the inflatable safety device, the electric propellant device comprising an electric propellant that is configured to be converted to gas by the electric propellant device using an electric current, wherein the inflatable safety device is positionable to receive the gas from the electric propellant device.

[0065] Example 20. The inflation system of any of the preceding or subsequent examples, wherein the electric propellant device is further configured to control a rate of a reaction for converting the electric propellant to the gas based at least in part on a temperature of the gas or based at least in part on a pressure associated with the inflatable safety device.

[0066] Different arrangements of the components depicted in the drawings or described above, as well as components and steps not shown or described are possible. Similarly, some features and sub-combinations are useful and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, and alternative embodiments will16US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application become apparent to readers of this patent. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or depicted in the drawings, and various embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims below.17US2008 31998368 1

Claims

Atorney Docket 037514-1524034Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02Patent ApplicationCLAIMSThat which is claimed is:

1. An inflation system comprising: an electric propellant device configured to generate gas for an inflatable safety device, the electric propellant device comprising an electric propellant that is configured to be converted to gas by the electric propellant device using an electric current; and the inflatable safety device positionable to receive the gas from the electric propellant device.

2. The inflation system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable safety device has a melting point that is a first temperature, and wherein the gas has a temperature that does not exceed the first temperature.

3. The inflation system of claim 1, wherein the electric propellant device is further configured to control a rate of a reaction for converting the electric propellant to the gas based at least in part on a temperature of the gas or based at least in part on a pressure associated with the inflatable safety device.

4. The inflation system of claim 3, wherein, in response to determining that the temperature of the gas exceeds a threshold temperature, the reaction is controllable via the electric current to reduce the rate of the reaction, and wherein the threshold temperature is less than a first temperature of a melting point of the inflatable safety device.

5. The inflation system of claim 3, wherein, in response to determining that the pressure associated with the inflatable safety device does not exceed a threshold pressure, the reaction is controllable via the electric current to increase the rate of the reaction.

6. The inflation system of claim 3, wherein: in response to determining that the pressure associated with the inflatable safety device exceeds a threshold pressure, the reaction is controllable to be stopped by seting the electric current to zero; and18US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application subsequent to stopping the reaction, and in response to determining that the pressure associated with the inflatable safety device drops below the threshold pressure, the reaction is controllable to be restarted by increasing the electric current above zero.

7. The inflation system of claim 1, wherein the electric propellant device is located on an exterior surface of the inflatable safety device, and wherein the electric propellant device is directly connected to the inflatable safety device such that the gas is transferable from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device without a conduit.

8. The inflation system of claim 1, further comprising a conduit that extends from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device, wherein the conduit is configured to condition the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device.

9. The inflation system of claim 8, wherein the conduit is configured to cool the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device, or wherein the conduit is configured to accumulate the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device, or wherein the conduit is configured to throtle the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device.

10. The inflation system of claim 8, wherein the conduit comprises a vortex cooler, a gascooling hose, an aspirator, or a turbine.

11. The inflation system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable safety device comprises one or more tubes configured to hold gas for inflating the inflatable safety device, and wherein the electric propellant device is positioned within the one or more tubes of the inflatable safety device.

12. The inflation system of claim 11, wherein the electric propellant device comprises a set of different electric propellants, and wherein each electric propellant of the set of different electric propellants is located in a different tube of the one or more tubes.19US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02 Patent Application13. The inflation system of claim 11, wherein the inflatable safety device further comprises an electric power source coupled with the electric propellant device and configured to provide the electric current for converting the electric propellant to the gas.

14. The inflation system of claim 11, wherein the inflatable safety device further comprises conductive fabric woven into the inflatable safety device and connected to the electric propellant device to facilitate the electric current.

15. The inflation system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable safety device is an inflatable slide, slide / raft, ramp, slide / ramp, or inflatable raft positionable on an aircraft, and wherein the electric propellant device is coupled with an aspirator or a turbine that is configured to combine the gas with ambient air prior to providing a combination of the gas and the ambient air to the inflatable safety device.

16. An inflation system comprising: an electric propellant device configured to generate gas for an inflatable safety device, the electric propellant device comprising an electric propellant that is configured to be converted to gas by the electric propellant using an electric current; and a conduit connecting the electric propellant device with the inflatable safety device, wherein the conduit is configured to provide conditioning for the gas while the gas is transported from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device.

17. The inflation system of claim 16, wherein the conduit is configured to cool the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device, or wherein the conduit is configured to accumulate the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device, or wherein the conduit is configured to throtle the gas as the gas is transferred from the electric propellant device to the inflatable safety device.

18. The inflation system of claim 16, wherein the electric propellant device is further configured to control a rate of a reaction for converting the electric propellant to the gas based at least in part on a temperature of the gas or based at least in part on a pressure associated with the inflatable safety device.20US2008 31998368 1Atorney Docket 037514-1524034Client Ref. No. B-030108PCT02Patent Application19. An inflation system comprising: an inflatable safety device that comprises an electric propellant device, the electric propellant device configured to generate gas for the inflatable safety device, the electric propellant device comprising an electric propellant that is configured to be converted to gas by the electric propellant device using an electric current, wherein the inflatable safety device is positionable to receive the gas from the electric propellant device.

20. The inflation system of claim 19, wherein the electric propellant device is further configured to control a rate of a reaction for converting the electric propellant to the gas based at least in part on a temperature of the gas or based at least in part on a pressure associated with the inflatable safety device.21US2008 31998368 1

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