Electronic PFD Inflation Trigger to Prevent Humidity False Activation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional personal flotation devices (PFDs) face safety risks and spontaneous inflation issues due to pyrotechnic or soluble components, which can be triggered unintentionally by humidity or time, leading to unreliable automatic inflation mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The use of electrical circuitry with a sensor-activated mechanism that includes a plunger arm, plunger arm stop, and a piercing pin to initiate inflation without pyrotechnic or soluble components, ensuring a watertight seal and reduced likelihood of unintended activation, featuring a housing with a manual release and automatic inflation mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If pyrotechnic or soluble components are used for automatic inflation, then inflation can be triggered automatically upon water contact, but the device risks spontaneous inflation during storage due to humidity or time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pyrotechnic and soluble mechanical triggering systems with an electrical circuit system. The sensor detects water contact and sends an electrical signal through a circuit to activate the inflation mechanism, eliminating the chemical instability and spontaneous activation risks associated with pyrotechnic materials and soluble components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electrical circuit as an intermediary between the water detection sensor and the inflation mechanism. This intermediary system provides controlled, reliable activation by requiring both water detection and electrical circuit completion, preventing false activation from humidity alone while maintaining automatic inflation capability.
2Speed
If pyrotechnic components are used for inflation, then rapid inflation can be achieved, but safety risks increase due to potential unintended activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pyrotechnic components with an electrical triggering system that achieves rapid inflation through an electrical circuit-activated mechanism. This substitution eliminates the safety hazards of pyrotechnic materials while maintaining the speed requirement through efficient electrical signal transmission and rapid gas release.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a disposable electrical circuit system with a battery and sensor that is replaced after use. This approach eliminates the need for complex, dangerous pyrotechnic systems while providing reliable, rapid activation through simple electrical components that can be safely disposed of after a single use.
3Extent of automation
If soluble components like salt bobbin are used for triggering, then automatic activation upon water contact is achieved, but the device becomes unreliable in humid conditions during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces soluble chemical components with an electrical sensor and circuit system. The sensor detects water contact and triggers inflation through an electrical signal, eliminating the gradual degradation and false activation issues that occur with soluble materials like salt bobbin in humid storage conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electrical circuit as an intermediary that requires active water detection to activate inflation. This intermediary system prevents false activation during humid storage because the circuit remains inactive until the sensor detects actual water contact, providing both automatic activation and storage stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a safer and more reliable automatic inflation system for PFDs, reducing the risk of spontaneous inflation and ensuring accurate activation only when submerged in water, while maintaining a watertight seal and preventing false positives in humid conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor that is attached to the circuit board extends outside of the housing and is capable of detecting the presence of an aqueous medium (e.g. water)
Implementation Method 2
The plunger arm spring has a first end engaged with the far end of the plunger arm and tension is applied by the plunger arm spring to the plunger arm to cause the plunger arm to rotate
Implementation Method 3
a piercing pin capable of penetrating an aperture of a gas cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to improved personal flotation devices and their methods of use. Advantageously, the devices and methods of the invention eliminate the need for a pyrotechnical firing mechanism, and compared to current devices, are less apt to be spontaneously activated by deterioration that is caused by storage in a humid environment or the passage of time. Instead, the devices and methods of use of the present invention incorporate electronic circuitry to activate automatic operation.