Portable device for inflating a bag

Abstract

A portable device for inflating an inflatable bag (60) comprises at least one inlet (46), for forming a fluid connection to a gas source. The gas source is attached or attachable to the inlet. The device further comprises an air intake chamber (32) which has an opening allowing atmospheric air to be admitted and an outlet intended to be connected to the bag to be inflated. The gas source comprises a first and at least a different second gas component. The first component is stored at least partially in liquid form; preferably, the first component is carbon dioxide. The gas source contains at least 10%, preferably more than 30% and most preferably more than 60% of the first component. The second component is gaseous or supercritical at a temperature of 243K and up to a pressure of 200 bar, preferably, the second component has a critical temperature below 243K.

Claims

1. A portable device for inflating an avalanche airbag comprising: at least one inlet for forming a fluid connection to a gas source, said gas source being attached or attachable to said inlet, an air intake chamber having an opening allowing atmospheric air to be admitted and an outlet intended to be connected to the airbag that is to be inflated, wherein said gas source comprises a first component and at least a gaseous second component, different from said first component, and the first component is stored in at least a partially liquid form, said gas source containing at least more than 10% of the first component, and the second component is gaseous or supercritical at a temperature of 243K and at a pressure up to 200 bar.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first component is carbon dioxide.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second component has a critical temperature below 243K.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second inlet.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second component is selected from the following group: nitrogen, argon, oxygen, helium, mixtures thereof.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas source is at least one gas cartridge.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the gas cartridge contains a mixture of the first and the second components.

8. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and the second components are in separate gas cartridges.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one inlet, which forms fixation means for a gas cartridge, containing compressed gas at high pressure, is associated with a mechanism that triggers the release of said compressed gas to an air intake chamber, the latter having an opening allowing atmospheric air to be admitted and an outlet intended to be connected to the airbag that is to be inflated, said inlet is associated to a gas cartridge comprising a mixture of carbon dioxide and at least one transporter gas, different from carbon dioxide, which are compressed under high pressure.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said gas cartridge is a sealed gas cartridge.

11. The portable device as claimed in claim 9, wherein every trigger mechanism comprises a needle, said needles is controlled in a substantially simultaneous manner by a drive mechanism which can be actuated by a user so that said needles can move between at least a first position and a second position and pierce said sealed cartridge in order to release said compressed gas therefrom.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, comprising first and second inlet, each one representing a fixation for a gas cartridge, comprising a compressed gas at high pressure, said inlet being associated with a mechanism that triggers the release of said compressed gas to an air intake chamber, the latter having an opening allowing atmospheric air to be admitted and an outlet intended to be connected to the airbag that is to be inflated, wherein said first inlet is associated to a carbon dioxide cartridge under high pressure and the second inlet is associated to a nitrogen cartridge or an argon cartridge under high pressure.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12 wherein said gas cartridge is a sealed gas cartridge.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gas source comprises 10% to 95% carbon dioxide.

15. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gas source comprises 90% to 5% argon.

16. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gas source comprises 90% to 5% nitrogen.

17. The portable device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an intermediate distribution chamber for said compressed gases, which intermediate distribution chamber is arranged between said first and second inlets on one hand, and said air intake chamber on the other hand, said first and second inlets are in communication with said intermediate distribution chamber in such a manner that said intermediate chamber ensures a connection with the air intake chamber.

18. The portable device as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a plurality of ejection holes arranged so as to open into a lateral wall of said air intake chamber in order to connect the latter to said intermediate distribution chamber which is at least partially annular in overall shape and is arranged at the periphery of said intake chamber.

19. The portable device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said ejection holes are inclined more or less by between 10 and 20 degrees with reference to a longitudinal direction of the device.

20. The portable device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the portable device comprises between 2 and 10 ejection holes.

21. The portable device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said ejection holes have a diameter between 0.2 and 1 mm.

22. The portable device as claimed in claim 18, the ejection holes having a diameter between 0.5 and 0.8 mm.

23. The portable device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said intake chamber comprises an acceleration cone arranged between said ejection holes and said outlet.

24. The portable device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said lateral wall of said intake chamber is located between said opening and said outlet in a longitudinal direction of the device.

25. The portable device as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a first cylindrical tube the internal wall of which defines said lateral wall of said intake chamber, and a second cylindrical tube, coaxial with said first tube and arranged at least partially around it in order to define said intermediate distribution chamber therebetween at least two seals being provided to delimit said intermediate distribution chamber in a longitudinal direction of the device.

26. The portable device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the first and the second tubes are joined together by screw-fastening or by a bayonet mechanism.

27. The portable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein every said fixation means comprises a tapped thread that can be screwed together with a male screwthread provided on the sealed cartridges.

28. The portable device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a reversible attachment member for reversible attachment to the airbag.

29. The portable device as claimed in claim 28, wherein said attachment member is distant from said outlet so that said acceleration cone can be at least partially housed in said airbag in a use configuration.

30. An assembly comprising a portable device for inflating the airbag according to one of claim 1 and the airbag, said portable device comprising an attachment member to allow said portable device to be assembled with said airbag.

31. A pack comprising the assembly as claimed in claim 30.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings provided by way of nonlimiting examples and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a first embodiment of a portable device for the rapid inflation of an inflatable bag according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded and simplified perspective view of the device of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a simplified view in cross section of a detail of the construction of the device of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a simplified perspective view in partial cross section of a detail of the construction illustrated in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a simplified overall view in cross section of the device of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 6 is a simplified perspective view of an alternative embodiment of portable device for the rapid inflation of an inflatable bag according to the present invention

(8) FIG. 7 is a simplified diagram of an assembly incorporating a device as illustrated in FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 8 is a simplified diagram of a pack intended to incorporate the assembly of FIG. 6, and

(10) FIG. 9 is a simplified diagram of a detail of the construction of the assembly of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) FIG. 1 depicts a simplified perspective view of a first embodiment of a portable device for the rapid inflation of an inflatable bag according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, the device illustrated is particularly well suited to rapidly inflating a bag of the avalanche airbag type and substantially corresponds to the device as disclosed in EP 2548619 A1.

(12) Of course, the implementation of the disclosed invention is not limited to the specific construction as herein described. Several alternatives are possible to fulfil the requirement of a simultaneous expansion of the gases and/or the gas components into the air intake chamber, in particular for inflating an avalanche safety airbag.

(13) The device of FIG. 1, of elongate overall shape, is designed to inflate an airbag using two sealed cartridges 2 of compressed gas.

(14) According to the invention, one of said two gas cartridges contains carbon dioxide, while the other one contains argon.

(15) Advantageously but without implying any limitation, the cartridge 2 may be a standard carbon dioxide cartridge, preferably containing 33 grams of carbon dioxide, at a pressure of the order of 200 bar and available more or less worldwide at a very modest cost. Such cartridges are actually generally used, for example, to inflate the lifejackets found on aeroplanes. Other cartridges and/or cartridges with different sizes, pressures and filling amounts can be used without leaving the scope of the invention.

(16) The second cartridge can be of a similar type as the first and/or be of a standard type of cartridges as available on the market.

(17) Bay way of example, for inflating an inflatable bag with a volume of 1501, one can use a first cartridge of carbon dioxide, with a volume of 85 ml, filled with 60 g of carbon dioxide and a second cartridge of argon, with a volume of 85 ml and containing 25 g of argon or a nitrogen cartridge, with a volume of 85 ml and containing 13 g of nitrogen. Such a configuration results in a mixture relation of around 65% of CO2 and 35% of argon or 75% of CO2 and 25% of nitrogen for standard conditions for temperature and pressure in the intermediate distribution chamber.

(18) The cartridges 2 are assembled with a central body 4 of the device. The latter bears an air intake cylinder 6 on a first side and an air ejection tube 8 on the other side. It is preferable to position a filter, not illustrated, around the air intake cylinder 6 to prevent a large-sized element from blocking the latter.

(19) Moreover, first and second levers 10 which are intended to be pivoted in response to an action by a user to release the compressed gas are assembled with the central body 4.

(20) The central body 4 here has a threaded cylindrical support portion 12 onto which airbag retaining washers 14 (see FIG. 2) are screwed. A circular opening may be provided in the airbag into which to insert the air ejection tube 8 and one of the two washers 14, the other washer then being screwed against the first one in order to trap the periphery of the opening in the airbag, thereby immobilizing it.

(21) Of course, a person skilled in the art will have no particular difficulty in implementing alternative means for attaching the inflation device to the airbag without departing from the scope of the invention.

(22) FIG. 2 is a simplified and exploded perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, providing a better understanding of its construction.

(23) It is clear from FIG. 2 that the levers 10 are pivot-mounted on the central body 4 via rods 16.

(24) Each lever 10 bears a cam 18, produced as one piece with the lever in this instance by way of illustration, and designed to act on a needle 20 mounted with the freedom to effect a translational movement in a matched bore 21 of the central body, with the interposition of a seal 22 and a spring 24, the functions of which will be explained later on.

(25) The ejection tube 8 comprises a main first portion 26 intended to be screwed into the central body 4 and intended to support a cylindrical end portion 28 defining the outlet of the device into the airbag.

(26) The main portion 26 has a first part 30, of cylindrical overall shape, intended to define the inlet of an air intake chamber 32 at its centre and an intermediate distribution chamber in communication with the central body 4, as will become apparent from the detailed description of FIG. 5.

(27) The first part 30 also has a male screwthread 34 so that it can be screwed into the central body, with the interposition of two seals 36 or O-rings, distant from one another in the longitudinal direction of the device.

(28) A second part 38 extends the first and has a conical overall shape. The main function of this second part is to accelerate the air introduced via the inlet of the air intake chamber 32, by a Venturi effect, in the known way, so that it can be injected into the airbag and inflate the latter.

(29) The second part 38 bears a cylindrical male screwthread 40 at the end of the large-diameter conical part, onto which the end portion 28 can be screw-fastened.

(30) A non return membrane 42 is interposed between the second part 38 and the end portion 28 and is clamped between these two elements.

(31) The nonreturn membrane here is produced in the form of a disc having a circular slot near its periphery extending over a little less than 360 degrees, so as to define a central disc held on the periphery by a thin tongue of material.

(32) Thus, the central disc is able to pivot with respect to the peripheral portion in order to allow air to pass in one direction, but is blocked against the second portion 38 in the other direction in order to prevent the gas and the air from leaving the airbag.

(33) The nonreturn membrane offers optimum dependability and robustness for a low number of components.

(34) It will be noted that a thin rod 44 may be provided, in the second portion 38 as a safety measure, to define an end stop for the pivoting disc and prevent the nonreturn membrane from deforming in the airbag outlet direction, something which could happen if a high and sudden pressure were applied to it were such a stop not present.

(35) FIG. 3 is a simplified view in cross section of a detail of construction oft the device of FIG. 1 and, more specifically, of the mechanism that triggers the release of the gas from the cartridges 2.

(36) Each cartridge 2 is screwed to an inlet 46 of the inflation device, along the axis of movement of the needles 20. The needles are housed in matched bores 21.

(37) Each cam 18 has a cam lobe 48 intended to apply pressure to the corresponding needle against the force of the spring 24 kept in abutment in the central body.

(38) Thus, when the lever is pivoted, the cam lobe 48 pushes against the needle which pierces the corresponding gas cartridge in order to release the compressed gas. A seal 22 is shown, which prevents the gas from leaving the device, when the device is in function.

(39) As the lever continues to turn in the direction for activating the device, the cam offers the needle a smaller diameter portion so that the needle can retreat and thus allow the gas to be released more quickly.

(40) It will be noted that the levers 10 are mounted top to tail to limit the amount of torque applied to the device when a user activates it.

(41) FIG. 4 is a simplified perspective view in partial cross section of a detail of construction illustrated in FIG. 3, particularly of the central body 4, although for the sake of clarity, the mechanisms that trigger the release of the gas and the cartridges have not been depicted.

(42) Each needle 20 (see FIG. 3) is housed in a matched bore 21 of the central body 4.

(43) Recesses 52 are formed in the bore to allow the compressed gas to be released even if the needles remain in their depressed position. The bevelled shape of the needles offers an additional safety feature with regard to dependability.

(44) Further, each bore communicates with the inside of the central body via an oblique passage 54 formed near the corresponding inlet 46. The simplicity of this construction means that it retains good durability.

(45) FIG. 5 is a simplified overall view in cross section of the device of FIG. 1.

(46) When the air ejection tube 8 is assembled with the central body 4, these two tubular elements between them define an annular cavity that forms an intermediate distribution chamber 56 for the compressed gas, into which chamber the oblique passages 54 (see FIG. 4) open. This intermediate chamber is delimited by the internal wall of the central body, the external wall of the first part 30 of the main portion 26 of the ejection tube, and the two seals 36, in the longitudinal direction of the device.

(47) Ejection holes 58 are provided to cause the intermediate distribution chamber 56 to communicate with the air intake chamber and inject the compressed gas into the latter.

(48) When the compressed gas is injected into the air intake chamber, it creates a depression which causes an inrush of atmospheric air through that opening of the intake chamber that is connected to the air intake cylinder 6.

(49) The mixture of gas and air is then driven into the second part 38 of the main portion 26 of the ejection tube, before emerging therefrom via the end portion 28, after activating the nonreturn membrane 42, which is secured by a pin 44, in order to inflate the airbag. Said airbag (not shown) is connected with the two airbag retaining washers 14.

(50) It will be noted that the first and second tubes, namely the central body and the ejection tube, may as an alternative be secured to one another by a bayonet mechanism, for example.

(51) The design described hereinabove makes it possible to guarantee a simplified method of manufacturing the various component parts of the device, and for assembling or dismantling them, for example for servicing operations.

(52) Moreover, the ejection holes 58 preferably have an inclination more or less of between 10 and 20 degrees with reference to the longitudinal direction of the device, preferably of the order of 15 degrees, and a diameter more or less of between 0.2 and 1 mm, preferably of between 0.5 and 0.8 mm.

(53) The device advantageously comprises between 2 and 10 ejection holes, preferably between 4 and 8 and more preferably still, 6.

(54) FIG. 6 is a simplified perspective view of an alternative embodiment of portable device for the rapid inflation of an inflatable bag according to the present invention. Contrary to the device of FIG. 1, the device of FIG. 6 comprises only one cartridge 2. In the specific embodiment as shown, said cartridge 2 is filled with a mixture of gas, in particular with a mixture containing substantially 65% of carbon dioxide and 35% of argon.

(55) The device of FIG. 6 is substantially similar to the device of FIG. 1 and contains substantially the same parts. Contrary to the device of FIG. 1, to release the compressed gas only one lever 10 which is intended to be pivoted in response to an action by a user is assembled with the central body 4.

(56) It has been shown that a multiplication factor of the order of 4 to 5 can be achieved with carbon dioxide, for an inflation time of the order of 2 to 4 seconds, even if one or two cartridges are used. A high multiplication factor makes it possible to limit fluctuations in the inflated volume of the airbag as a function of temperature, which fluctuations are connected with the thermal expansion coefficient of carbon dioxide.

(57) The use of two small-volume cartridges rather than one cartridge of a larger volume means that the time taken to empty a cartridge can be reduced, thus reducing the risk of icing which could impair the rate at which the airbag is inflated. In particular, the smaller volume of such a cartridge has a direct influence on the consumption of energy while expanding of the gas.

(58) FIGS. 7 to 9 schematically and in a simplified manner illustrate all or part of an assembly incorporating an alternative device as has just been described.

(59) FIGS. 7 to 9 illustrate the functioning of the inflation device according to the present invention when used to inflate an avalanche airbag.

(60) FIG. 7 illustrates the inflated airbag 60 when attached to a backpack 61 having conventional shoulder straps 62, as well as a chest strap 64, a hip belt 66 and a leg strap 68 that secures the backpack better on its wearer.

(61) Advantageously, the airbag comprises a drain bung (not visible).

(62) FIG. 8 illustrates a pocket 70 of the backpack 61 which pocket is intended to house the folded airbag. Advantageously, the pocket 70 may be closed by a zip-fastener of the frangible type, released by pulling a cord (numerical reference 71 in FIG. 8) connected to the levers 10 (see FIG. 1) in order to release the airbag at the moment when inflation thereof is triggered. A closure by Velcro (registered Trademark) is also conceivable.

(63) The pocket comprises, by way of non-limiting illustration, two o-rings 72 the relative distance between which is kept fixed by a reinforcing bar 74.

(64) Moreover, a first piece 76 of Velcro (registered trademark) is arranged in the pocket 70 and intended to collaborate with a second piece of Velcro (numerical reference 78 in FIG. 9) secured to the airbag 60.

(65) Thus, the airbag 60 can be installed in the pocket 70 with the two pieces of Velcro engaging with one another, as is clear from FIGS. 8 and 9, before cords 80 are fitted to attach fasteners 82 of the airbag 60 to the o-rings 72. The airbag is preferably reinforced in the region of attachment of the fasteners 82 and of the inflation device.

(66) It will be noted that the inflation device/airbag assembly forms a self-contained assembly that can easily be fitted in or removed from a backpack or transferred from one pack to another. Further, the construction of this assembly minimizes the dynamic stresses that might arise between the inflation device and the airbag and which could detract from the operational effectiveness of the assembly.

(67) The foregoing description corresponds to a preferred embodiment of the invention which has been described nonlimitingly. In particular, the shapes depicted and described for the various constituent parts of the inflation device are not limiting.

(68) The device according to the present invention makes it possible to create an inflation device/airbag assembly as a single unit which is at once compact, lightweight, easy to fit or remove and whose operation is safe, even in extreme conditions.