Manual Inflator Single-Point Status Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual inflators lack a reliable single-point status indicator to show their operating condition, leading to potential misuse due to confusion with separate indicators for gas cylinder and automatic actuator status, and there is a need for an indicator that ensures proper installation and charged condition of the gas cylinder in both manual and automatic inflators.
Innovation Solution
A manual inflator design featuring a single-point status indicator window that uses a permanently installed collar with a break-ring on the gas cylinder, which changes color to indicate the ready or not-ready condition based on the gas cylinder's presence and charge, preventing improper servicing and ensuring correct operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate indicators for gas cylinder status and automatic actuator status are used, then each component's status can be indicated, but the operator may be confused and fail to recognize the overall ready condition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the gas cylinder status indicator and automatic actuator status indicator into a single integrated status indicator system. The indicator window displays a unified visual signal that reflects the overall ready condition of the inflator, eliminating the confusion of multiple separate indicators while maintaining comprehensive status monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The single status indicator serves multiple functions by simultaneously indicating both the gas cylinder charged condition and the automatic actuator ready condition. This multi-functional indicator provides a comprehensive operational status display through a unified visual interface, reducing complexity while enhancing reliability.
2Ease of operation
If a single-point status indicator is implemented, then operator confusion is eliminated, but the indicator must reliably detect multiple conditions (cylinder presence, cylinder charge, actuator readiness)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanical linkage system that translates multiple condition states (cylinder presence, cylinder charge, actuator readiness) into a single unified indicator position. The indicator mechanism acts as a mediator that processes multiple input conditions and produces a single clear visual output, simplifying operator interpretation while maintaining comprehensive detection capability.
3Reliability
If manual inflators are stored for long periods without specialized maintenance, then they remain ready for emergency use, but improper servicing may occur leading to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through the single-point status indicator that provides continuous visual confirmation of the inflator's ready condition. This feedback system allows untrained operators to verify proper installation and charged status without specialized knowledge, preventing improper servicing while maintaining long-term storage readiness.
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
The solution provides a clear, single-point indication of the inflator's readiness, preventing misuse by ensuring that the operator recognizes a spent or improperly installed gas cylinder, thus enhancing safety and reliability in emergency situations.
Implementation Method 1
A manual inflator design featuring a single-point status indicator window that uses a permanently installed collar with a break-ring on the gas cylinder, which changes color to indicate the ready or not-ready condition
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2A
AI summary
A manual inflator having a status indicator that indicates whether a fully-charged, unspent gas cylinder has been installed on the inflator. The status indicator comprises a "single point" indicator having an indicator window that displays the color "green" when the automatic inflator is fully operational or the color "red" when the inflator is at least partially inoperable automatically due to the removal of the gas cylinder or due to the firing of the inflator resulting in a spent gas cylinder.