Systems to prevent water ingestion during use of an electrically powered inflation system for an inflatable device in order to ensure that the inflatable device remains either upright in the water during the inflation process, or that prevents water from entering the inflation system air intake during the inflation process, or combinations thereof.

An inflator including in combination an inflator body having at one end an input for receiving the neck of a gas cartridge, a manifold assembly intended to be fluidly connected to an inflatable, a combination automatic and manual actuator assembly including a spring-loaded actuator including a pierce pin for fracturing a frangible seal of the gas cartridge, a bobbin with a dissolvable pill that retains the spring-loaded actuator in a cocked position and a hood connected onto the end of the inflator body, said hood including an inwardly-extending tab that engages the actuator to securely retain the hood onto the end of the inflator body by means of the inwardly-extending tab being grasped by the forked end of the actuator.

An inflation control system for an inflatable is disclosed. In various embodiments, the inflation control system includes a source of a pressurized gas; a valve module connected to the source of the pressurized gas and configured to control a flow of the pressurized gas to the inflatable; a stretch sensor configured for mounting to the inflatable and to provide a real-time stretch data of an elastic deformation of the inflatable; and a controller configured to receive the real-time stretch data and to transmit a control signal to the valve module to control the flow of the pressurized gas to the inflatable.

A solenoid valve assembly with a manual override is provided that includes a solenoid valve housing that is supportive of a valve seat, a plunger-type armature valve element fluidly communicative with a fluid source and initially pressure balanced to remain in a closed position relative to the valve seat and an electromagnet configured to generate a magnetic flux to move the plunger-type armature-valve element into an open position relative to the valve seat. The solenoid valve assembly with a manual override also includes a manual actuation assembly configured to generate an applied force to move the plunger-type armature valve element into the open position relative to the valve seat.

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.

A life raft may comprise a border tube and a canopy support tube coupled to an outer portion of the border tube. A first orifice defined by the canopy support tube is aligned with a second orifice defined by the border tube. A diameter of the first orifice is less than a diameter of the second orifice.

A valve assembly is provided and includes a valve housing, an actuator housing coupled to the valve housing and configured when actuated to open a normally-closed valve element in the valve housing whereby pressurized fluid is permitted to flow through the valve housing and a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve includes an armature-valve element balanced to remain in a closed position and an electromagnet. The electromagnet generates magnetic flux that moves the armature-valve element into an open position such that at least a portion of the pressurized fluid flows into the actuator housing to actuate the actuator housing.

An inflation device is provided including a shell, a pin, a restraining element, and a barrier. The shell may be coupled to an inflation canister. The pin is positioned within the shell in order to open a seal of the inflation canister. The restraining element is positioned within the shell and is positioned to prevent the pin from opening the seal of the inflation canister. The restraining element is dissolvable. The barrier is positioned within the shell. The barrier includes a fluid resistant skin and a heating element coupled to the fluid resistant skin. The heating element may open a portion of the barrier responsive to an electrical current running through the heating element.

A life raft may comprise a border tube and a canopy support tube coupled to an outer portion of the border tube. A first orifice defined by the canopy support tube is aligned with a second orifice defined by the border tube. A diameter of the first orifice is less than a diameter of the second orifice.

A device is constituted by an inflatable neck float (1), with a U shape placed around the neck and closed by a safety closure (2) to allow perfect fitting around the neck, inside said neck float (1) there is a flexible tube (3) that carries a gas (11), introduced in liquid state and which, upon being released suddenly, will expand and inflate the lifesaving neck float.