An inflator includes an inflating head and a piercing member. The inflating head has an inlet hole, an insertion hole communicating with the inlet hole, a -24UNF inner thread formed on an inner circumference of the inlet hole, an annular airtight member disposed in the inlet hole and adjacent to the insertion hole, and an outlet hole communicating with the insertion hole. The piercing member is movable between a first position and a second position within the insertion hole and has a conically shaped spiking portion. When the piercing member is in the first position, the spiking portion is distant from the inlet hole. When the piercing member is in the second position, the spiking portion passes through the airtight member and enters the inlet hole.

A disposable cartridge for holding compressed medical gas includes a substantially cylindrical canister. The canister is delivered by an elongate cylindrical body that is tapered to a reduced diameter end portion having a discharge port or opening formed therein. The discharge port is covered by a pierceable tip that seals the canister to hold compressed medical gas with an interior chamber of the canister. The tip is selectively punctured to discharge the medical gas through the opening for use in a medical procedure.

An initiator for opening a pressurized gas cylinder is disclosed herein. The initiator includes a housing having a first end and a second end, a lance disposed within the housing, the lance configured to slide from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing and out through the second end of the housing, a spring disposed within the housing between the first end of the housing and the lance, and a wire coupled to the first end of the housing and to the lance, the wire configured to hold the spring in a compressed state, the wire further configured to break in response to an electric current.

A disposable cartridge for holding compressed medical gas includes a substantially cylindrical canister. The canister is delivered by an elongate cylindrical body that is tapered to a reduced diameter end portion having a discharge port or opening formed therein. The discharge port is covered by a pierceable tip that seals the canister to hold compressed medical gas with an interior chamber of the canister. The tip is selectively punctured to discharge the medical gas through the opening for use in a medical procedure.

This invention discloses an inflator mechanism for rafts and life vests that performs a multitude of functions required for rescue and underwater deployment of personnel and devices. The inner cylinder in this disclosure is actuated by a plethoria of inputs, manual, automatic selectable pressure sensing, or dualled hydrostatic sensors which can each be safely selected by function selection. Since the inflator uses spring discs to drive a penetrator which mechanically punctures a membrane of an inflation gas source and actuated by an electronically controlled solenoid, dissolvable elements, conductivity switches and preset check valve actuators are eliminated increasing the safety and reliability of the actuator. Electronic control further permits user enabling of inflation depth actuation and the multiple water sensors prevent failure of actuation due to splashes and humidity effects on sensors. The actuator mechanism is self cocking, indicates proper installation of gas source enables use of several gas source cylinders and is multiply reusable.

A device for controlling the release of gas from a pressurised container, the device comprising a plug comprising a passage therethrough, a diaphragm within said passage, wherein said diaphragm is configured to initially prevent flow of gas through said passage, and is rupturable or displaceable to allow gas to flow through said passage once said diaphragm is ruptured or displaced. The device further comprises a screw located within said plug and comprising a lance configured to move towards said diaphragm upon rotation of said screw, wherein said lance is configured to rupture or displace said diaphragm so as to allow flow of gas through said passage and out of said plug, once said screw is rotated a predetermined amount.

A method for the management of a gas, the method comprising: providing a plurality of containers, each container comprising a body with an opening, a cap designed to cover the opening, the cap providing a suitable seat for a pierceable septum, and a pierceable septum; creating a vacuum inside the plurality of containers, said vacuum created through the pierceable septum, said pierceable septum configured to maintain a substantially airtight seal before and after a piercing operation; attaching at least one of said plurality of containers to a sampling device; filling said at least one container with a sampling gas provided by the sampling device by means of the pierceable septum.

A multifunction valve for a tank containing high-pressure hydrogen of an automotive fuel cell system is provided. The multifunction valve has a thermal safety device, an auxiliary device adapted to act mechanically on a bulb of the thermal safety device to break the bulb, and a trigger group provided with a heat sensitive element consisting at least in part of a wire made of a shape-memory material.

Canisters are provided that include a cylindrical body and a cap welded to the body to define a cavity filled with carbon dioxide or other fluid. The canisters may be loaded into a medical device, e.g., to provide an energy source for operating the device. Methods for making such canisters are also provided.

There is provided a release valve for releasing fluid from a source of compressed fluid for inflating an inflatable structure, comprising: a housing comprising an inlet for coupling to a source of compressed fluid, and an outlet; a flow chamber disposed within the housing and forming part of a flow path from the inlet to the outlet; a valve member configured to move to a release position to permit fluid to flow from the inlet to the flow chamber; and an actuator and a biasing device, wherein the actuator and the biasing device are disposed in the flow chamber, the actuator configured to move through the flow chamber from an unactuated position to an actuated position to move the valve member to the release position.