Abstract
Flexible lifesaving devices, such as life vests, pilot suits, lifeboats, lifebuoys, providing flotation to their users. An internal inflation space, integral to the device, has a volume sufficient when inflated, to provide flotation to a person or persons having up to a predetermined weight, using the device. Pressurized flotation gas, having a volume in its gaseous phase sufficient to inflate the internal space, is contained in a flexible pressurized gas container, such as a length of tubing or a pouch in a wall of the device, and enables the device to be both flexible and foldable. A valve connects the flexible container with the internal inflatable space of the device, such that when the valve is opened, the volume of pressurized flotation gas flows into the internal space. The flexible container is a regulatory required part of the device, which is thus flexible and foldable.
Claims
1. A lifeboat comprising: a foldable inflatable hull and a floor element, the foldable inflatable hull having an internal volume adapted to be inflated with a gas; a flexible pressurized gas container adapted to contain a volume of pressurized flotation gas sufficient, when in its gaseous phase, to inflate the hull of the lifeboat such that the lifeboat can float on water while carrying a predetermined number of persons; and a valve connecting the flexible pressurized gas container with the internal volume of the foldable inflatable hull, such that when the valve is opened, the volume of pressurized flotation gas flows into the internal volume of the hull, thereby providing flotation to the lifeboat, wherein the flexible pressurized gas container is in the form of a flexible pneumatic hose, which, when the lifeboat is inflated, constitutes a regulatory mandated element of the lifeboat.
2. A lifeboat according to claim 1, wherein the flexible pneumatic hose is mounted on the lifeboat in a position that, when the lifeboat is inflated, enables at least a part of it to be used as a mandatory gripping rope of the lifeboat.
3. A lifeboat according to claim 1 wherein the flexibility of the hose adapted to contain the pressurized flotation gas is such that when the lifeboat is uninflated, it is foldable to an essentially flat form.
4. A lifeboat according to claim 1, wherein the inflation gas has thermodynamic properties such that when compressed to a pressure of not more than 10 bar, it remains in a liquid phase over a range of temperatures of up to 50 C.
5. A lifeboat according to claim 1, wherein the inflation gas has thermodynamic properties such that when compressed to a pressure of not more than 14 bar, it remains in a liquid phase over a range of temperatures of up to 70 C.
6. A lifeboat according to claim 1, wherein the inflation gas has thermodynamic properties such that when compressed to a pressure of not more than 22 bar, it remains in a liquid phase over a range of temperatures of up to 70 C.
7. A lifeboat according to claim 1, wherein the valve is activated either manually, or, when immersed in water, automatically.
8. A lifeboat according to claim 1, wherein the valve is activated automatically when the inflatable lifeboat is unfolded to a predetermined state from a stored condition.
9. A personal lifesaving attire, comprising: a flexible garment and a flotation bag which is adapted to be inflated when filled with a gas, the volume of the space being sufficient when inflated, to provide flotation in water to a person wearing the garment, having up to a predetermined weight; a flexible compressed gas container comprising a length of tubing disposed along at least a part of the outer extremities of the garment, adapted to hold a volume of pressurized flotation gas sufficient, when it is in the gaseous phase, to inflate the flotation bag; and a valve connecting the flexible compressed gas container with the flotation bag such that when the valve is opened, the volume of pressurized flotation gas flows into the flotation bag, thereby providing flotation to the garment, wherein the flexible compressed gas container comprises a regulatory required part of the garment.
10. A personal lifesaving attire according to claim 9, wherein the garment is any one of a life vest, a pilot's suit, or a swim suit.
11. A personal lifesaving attire according to claim 9, wherein the inflation gas has thermodynamic properties such that when compressed to a pressure of not more than 10 bar, it remains in a liquid phase over a range of temperatures of up to 50 C.
12. A personal lifesaving attire according to claim 9, wherein the inflation gas has thermodynamic properties such that when compressed to a pressure of not more than 14 bar, it remains in a liquid phase over a range of temperatures of up to 70 C.
13. A personal lifesaving attire according to claim 9, wherein the inflation gas has thermodynamic properties such that when compressed to a pressure of not more than 22 bar, it remains in a liquid phase over a range of temperatures of up to 70 C.
14. A personal lifesaving attire according to claim 9, wherein the valve is activated either manually, or, when immersed in water, automatically.
15. A personal lifesaving attire according to claim 9, wherein the flexible compressed gas container forms a holding handle conforming with regulatory requirements, adapted to be positioned behind the head of a person wearing the garment.
16. An inflatable lifebuoy, comprising: an inflatable body having an internal volume such that when inflated with a gas, the inflated body can float on water while supporting a person having up to a predetermined weight; a length of flexible tubing adapted to hold pressurized flotation gas, sufficient in its gaseous phase to inflate the body of the lifebuoy; and a valve connecting the flexible tubing with the internal volume of the inflatable body, such that when the valve is opened, the volume of released gas flows into the internal volume of the inflatable body, thereby providing flotation to the body, wherein the flexible tubing is mounted on the periphery of the lifebuoy in a manner that enables at least a part of it to comprise a holding cord which complies with regulatory requirements for such a lifebuoy.
17. An inflatable lifebuoy according to claim 16, wherein the flexibility of the length of flexible tubing when containing the pressurized flotation gas is such that the inflatable lifebuoy, before inflation, has a predetermined flexibility.
18. An inflatable lifebuoy according to claim 16, wherein the inflation gas has thermodynamic properties such that when compressed to a pressure of not more than 10 bar, it remains in a liquid phase over a range of temperatures of up to 50 C.
19. An inflatable lifebuoy according to claim 16, wherein the inflation gas has thermodynamic properties such that when compressed to a pressure of not more than 14 bar, it remains in a liquid phase over a range of temperatures of up to 70 C.
20. An inflatable lifebuoy according to claim 16, wherein the inflation gas has thermodynamic properties such that when compressed to a pressure of not more than 22 bar, it remains in a liquid phase over a range of temperatures of up to 70 C.
21. An inflatable lifebuoy according to claim 16, wherein the valve is activated either manually, or, when immersed in water, automatically.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:
[0042] FIG. 1A to FIG. 1C show schematic representations of three different types of flotation appliances or devices, according to different exemplary implementations described in the present disclosure;
[0043] FIG. 2A shows an implementation of the flotation devices shown schematically in FIG. 1A, in the form of a garment for the upper part of the body having a flexible tube around at least part of its outer edges, and also acting as the mandatory holding handle, while FIG. 2B shows a cross section of a similar garment, but using an integral pouch to contain the pressurized gas;
[0044] FIG. 3 shows an implementation of the flotation devices shown schematically in FIG. 1B, in the form of a garment for the lower part of the body;
[0045] FIG. 4 shows an implementation of the flotation devices shown schematically in FIG. 1C, in the form of a lifeboat;
[0046] FIG. 5 shows an implementation of the flotation devices shown schematically in FIG. 1C, in the form of a lifebuoy; and
[0047] FIGS. 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, 6-6, 6-7, 6-8, 6-9, 6-10, 6-11, 6-12, 6-13, 6-14, 6-15, 6-16, 6-17, 6-18, 6-19, 6-20, 6-21 and 6-22 show the present text, but in pdf format so that the USPTO's computers can't degrade them upon filing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0048] Reference is first made to FIGS. 1A to 1C, which illustrate schematically, three different types of appliance or device 10, according to different exemplary implementations of the devices described in the present disclosure, using three different operational structures. All of the devices have the intended object of providing emergency flotation when required to a user or wearer of the device, when in a body of water. Each of the exemplary implementations comprises three common features which are adapted to achieve this intended object, the three features being: [0049] (i) a storage volume 12 for containing the compressed gas for providing inflation to: [0050] (ii) a flotation balloon 11, attached to, or an integral part of the device 10, and [0051] (iii) a valve arrangement 13 intended to activate the device by enabling the stored gas in the gas storage vessel 12 to flow into the inflation balloon 11, and to expand as a gas to provide inflation to the flotation balloon 11, and hence to the entire device 10 and its wearer or user. Although the three embodiments shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C have different forms, the above three generic elements are found in each of them, and have therefore been given the same item number in the three embodiments.
[0052] In all of FIGS. 1A to 1C, the elements are shown in a very schematic form to show the inventive nature of the devices, without any intention of showing the actual form of the device claimed. Thus, the flotation device itself 10, is shown as a plain rectangle, even though it could take any shape, such as those examples described more fully hereinbelow, or any other desired shape. Likewise, the flotation balloon 11 is shown shaped like a balloon, even if it could take a number of other shapes, according to the intended use of the device. A common characteristic of the exemplary implementations, is that the compressed gas container is in the form of a feature of the flotation device, that is an essential part of the structure, generally being essential because of it fulfils the requirements of a safety regulation mandated in the country in which the device is to be used.
[0053] FIG. 1A shows a first schematic embodiment of the devices of the present disclosure, in which a pneumatic hose is used as the storage container of the pressurized gas. The tube is installed as an integral part of the flotation device 10, and is shown located around the peripheral edge of the flotation device, which is an advantageous position since that position does not generally interfere with the other functionalities of the device.
[0054] FIG. 1B shows a second schematic embodiment of the devices of the present disclosure, in which the storage container of the pressurized gas is in the form of a pouch-like container 15, most simply constructed as a double wall section in the wall of flotation device 10.
[0055] FIG. 1C shows a third schematic embodiment of the devices of the present disclosure, in which the storage container of the pressurized gas is a pneumatic hose, as in FIG. 1A, but in FIG. 1C, the pneumatic tube is installed in a spatial situation such that at least a part 14 of the pneumatic tube 12 extends outside of the peripheral edge of the flotation device 10.
[0056] The common feature of all of the three different implementations shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, and of any others like those shown, is that the entire flotation device 10, including the pressurized gas container 12, whether a suitable pneumatic hose 12, or a pouch 15, is flexible, so that the device can be folded for stowage before use. Furthermore, when in use, if the device is intended to be worn, it can conform to the body's shape without significantly impeding the freedom of movement of the wearer or user.
[0057] Reference is now made to FIG. 2A, which shows a schematic drawing of a first implementation of the flotation devices shown schematically in FIG. 1A. The flotation device is shown in the form of a garment 20 for the upper body-part of the user, which is intended to be an exemplary representation of any upper garment, such that it could be a life vest, such as is used in a passenger aircraft, or a pilot suit, such as would be used in a combat aircraft, or a sailor's lifejacket, or any other similar garment. The inflatable balloon 21 is shown in the chest area of the garment, and extending around and above the rear neckline of the garment such that it provides flotation behind the head of the person wearing the garment, thereby fulfilling the requirement that the inflated garment support the head even of an unconscious person, though it is to be understood that it could be located anywhere within the garment. The pressurized gas container is shown as a flexible hose 22, which can advantageously and conveniently formed around at least part of the edge of the garment. The need for this is that when using a small diameter hose such that it will retain its flexibility, the length of the hose has to be such as to use at least a part of the perimeter of the garment to provide sufficient volume of gas to inflate the flotation bag. The flexible hose is also shown generating a loop behind the neckline of the garment, such that it forms a holding handle 24, so that a rescuer can pull the person out of the water by the handle of the garment. By forming the handle using at least part of the flexible gas container hose 22, this essential part can be made as a flexible part, which does not then impede the foldability of the life vest. The flexible hose should be strong enough to be able to exert a force of 1,000 Newtons in its laboratory tests, which a flexible hose selected to safely contain a flotation gas at pressures of up to 14 or 20 bar, should be able to achieve readily. The gas charge is released into the inflatable balloon section, by means of a release valve 23, which can be operated by the wearer of the safety garment, or can be automatically actuated such as by means of a sensor which determines when the safety jacket is in contact with water for longer than a predetermined time. For an average sized user, an inflatable balloon volume of approximately 5.5 liters of expanded gas is required, and assuming an expansion ratio of 250 in going from the liquid phase to the gaseous phase of the gas, the volume of liquefied gas required is 22 ml. Thus, for a flexible plastic tube having a 3 mm internal diameter, the length of tubing required to hold the 22 ml. volume of gas will be slightly more than 300 cm, which is a length that can be conveniently distributed over the peripheral regions of the garment. A 3 mm. ID polyurethane tube, is convenient to use in this application, because of its level of flexibility, making it suitable for use in the wearable flotation devices, such as that shown in FIG. 2. Such a polyurethane tube with a 1 mm. wall thickness, is able to withstand a 10 bar internal pressure over a working temperature of 40 C. and 90 C., while still maintaining acceptable flexibility. However, the suggestion to use polyurethane tubing is not intended to be limiting, and any suitably flexible pipe, which can withstand the internal pressure requirements over a desired pressure range, could the acceptably used.
[0058] A filling opening (not shown in the drawings) is also required in such a flexible pipe gas charge container, or the flexible pipe may be pre-charged and sealed during manufacture of the device.
[0059] Reference is now made to FIG. 2B, which shows a schematic drawing of another implementation of the flotation devices, as shown schematically in FIG. 1B. FIG. 2B, shows an exemplary cut away drawing of an upper garment 25 showing a sleeve 29, similar to that of FIG. 2A, implemented using a conformal pouch-like space 26 to contain the pressurized gas instead of the flexible tube of FIG. 2A. The pouch-like gas container 26 may be simply implemented by using an impermeable double-walled section of the fabric of the flotation device 25 as the pressurized gas container. The pneumatic connection between the pressurized gas-storing pouch 26 and the inflatable balloon section 27 of the wearable flotation device, is, as previously described, implemented through an actuation valve 28, which could be set in the plane of the fabric of the garment. The drawing of FIG. 2B shows the inflatable balloon section 27 in its uninflated state, before opening of the actuation valve 28. Furthermore, the drawing of FIG. 2B shows only a single cut-away plane of the garment, but it is to be understood that the pouch 26 and the inflation balloon section 27 could extend around part or all of the circumference of the garment 25.
[0060] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which shows a second implementation of the flotation devices shown schematically in FIG. 1A. This flotation device is shown in the form of a pair of pants 30, which is intended to be an exemplary representation of any garment for the lower part of the body, and shows the inflatable balloon 31, the flexible tube 32 filled with the pressurized gas charge, and the activating valve 33. In such a garment for the lower part of the body, the inflatable balloon 31 should extend from the waist-line of the garment, up to the region of the neckline of the wearer, and like the embodiment of FIG. 2A, around and above the back of the neck of the wearer. The flexible hose 32 may also be extended to form a holding handle 34, similar to that described in the embodiment of FIG. 2A. The crossed thick lines are suspenders 35 to hold the PFD pants in place before inflating it. This enables the user to activate the PFD in only one step of releasing the gas, whereas, if such suspenders were not used, it would also be necessary to pull the flotation bag over the head after inflating it. The suspenders may be formed by the flexible tubing 32, extended to the holding handle 34.
[0061] The calculations of the total tube length are similar to those shown in FIG. 2A. A combination of the embodiments of FIG. 2A or 2B and FIG. 3 could be used to describe the implementation of the flotation devices of this disclosure, in a full body garment, such as a pilot's suit. The term garment is thus intended in this disclosure, to be used, and is thuswise claimed, as a generic term to include any article worn by the user, in which flotation mechanisms of the present disclosure may be incorporated.
[0062] Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which now shows an implementation of the flotation devices shown schematically in FIG. 1C. FIG. 4 shows an inflatable lifeboat 40 as an example of such a life-saving flotation device. The inflatable balloon is the inflatable body 41 of the lifeboat itself, with the lifeboat floor 45, stretched between the walls of the body 41. One feature of the lifeboat embodiments of the flotation devices of the present application, is that the regulatory mandated gripping rope around the body of the lifeboat, is implemented by a length of flexible tubing 42, which itself acts as the pressurized gas container for inflation of the inflatable body 41 of the lifeboat, that inflation being activated by means of the activating valve 43 located in an accessible position on the lifeboat. As described previously, the activation valve 43 could be either manually operated, or it could be automatically activated on contact with water. Such automatic valves are available in narrow dimensioned forms, which though not flexible, can be located in regions of the lifeboat where they do not degrade the flexibility of the remainder of the lifeboat component parts. Some such automatic valves can be supplied by Survitec Ltd., of London, UK. In the drawing of FIG. 4, the pressurized gas container/gripping rope is shown only along the outer wall of the lifeboat, but it is to be understood that it can also be deployed along a bulkhead shelf facing a seat in the lifeboat, as is required in lifeboats intended to carry more than a small number of persons, depending on the relevant regulation.
[0063] Because of the larger volume of inflation gas required in the lifeboat implementation of the present invention, a larger diameter flexible pneumatic hose is more suitable than that of the above described inflatable garments. A flexible hose having an outside diameter of up to 2 cm may be required for large lifeboats, such a sized hose still having sufficient flexibility that the lifeboat can be folded and stored in its predetermined location on the mother vessel. To illustrate the dimensions and length of the flexible hose required, an example of the volume of expanded gas required for inflating a small lifeboat capable of carrying a small number of persons, is of the order of up to 500 liters, such that using an expansion ratio from the liquid phase to the gaseous phase of 250, the volume of liquefied gas required is of the order of 2 liters. For a 2 cm ID hose, in order to hold a liquid pressurized gas charge generating 500 liters of gaseous phase gas, a length of hose of the order of 6 m. would be required, which is a suitable length for use as a gripping rope around the body of a lifeboat of that size.
[0064] As an alternative to the length of flexible tubing 42 described above, the pressurized gas container may alternatively be implemented by any other suitable part of the lifeboat, on condition that it does not limit the flexibility or foldability of the complete lifeboat. One such suitable structure could be one or more double walled sections of the lifeboat floor 45, in the form of a pouch, which could withstand the pressure of the pressurized gas load. Though not shown in FIG. 4, the construction of such a pouch-type pressurized gas container could be similar to that shown as item 26 in the inflatable garment embodiment of FIG. 2B. Such a pouch, like the previously described flexible tube, would be an integral part of the lifeboat structure, and, being flexible, need not significantly impede the flexibility and foldability of the lifeboat before inflation.
[0065] Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which shows an additional exemplary implementation of the flotation devices shown schematically in FIG. 1C, in this example, as an inflatable lifebuoy. Previously known lifebuoys are generally solid rings, constructed of a lightweight material such as expanded polystyrene or a similar material, to provide the flotation forces for the lifebuoy, with a tough weather and scuff-resistant outer covering. Other, inflatable lifebuoys generally use carbon dioxide at high pressure in a cylinder for inflation of the lifebuoy, and such a compressed gas cylinder degrades the flexibility and foldability of the lifebuoy. According to the implementation of the present flotation devices, an inflatable lifebuoy 50 is proposed, which, by using the design concepts of the present disclosure as illustrated in FIG. 1C, has the advantage of being flexible and hence foldable, thereby occupying substantially less space than prior art solid lifebuoys. In FIG. 5, the lifebuoy 50, shown in its inflated form, has a gas fillable body 51, acting as the inflatable balloon of the present disclosure. A lifebuoy, according to mandatory safety regulations, has to have a gripping rope firmly affixed thereto, and this is achieved in the device of FIG. 5 by using the pressurized gas container 52 in the form of a flexible hose, whose primary function is to contain the pressurized gas for inflation of the inflatable body 51 of the lifebuoy. The flexible tube acting also as the mandatory grasping cord, should be fixed to the body of the lifebuoy at several fixing anchors 55, around the periphery of the lifebuoy. The inflation is activated by means of an activating valve 53 located in an accessible position on the lifebuoy, such that it can be actuated to enable the released gas to inflate the lifebuoy either by the deployer before throwing the lifebuoy into the water to assist a person in the water, or by the user him/herself before leaving a distressed vessel and jumping into the water. The actuation of the inflation valve can be either manual, by means of a handle or cord, or automatic by contact with the water, as described hereinabove.
[0066] All of the above described flotation devices can use any of the conventional gases described in the prior art, whether carbon dioxide or air, as were used in the earliest flotation devices, or refrigeration gases such as a mixture of 89% Freon 12 with 11% Propane, as used more recently, and such as is described in WO 83/04234, or the even more modern inflation gas fills such as the R1234ze (E) or R1234yf or R1224yd (Z) gases as described in the above-mentioned WO 2020/208636 publication. However, as is explained fully in WO 2020/208636, the early used gases like CO.sub.2 or air, had to be compressed to a very high pressure of the order of 80 Bar at normal ambient temperatures to get them into their liquid phases, which rises to a pressure of 150 Bar at a temperature of 45 C. In the prior art flotation devices, these high pressures mandated the use of a sturdy gas container with all of its concomitant disadvantages. When used on the flotation devices of the present application, that requirement would be translated into the need for a flexible hose or a pouch section having a thicker wall, to withstand the high pressures of such pressurized gases, and hence being less flexible. On the other hand, the pressure of a compressed charge of the above mentioned newer gases, does typically not exceed 10 bar at a temperature of 50 C., or about 16 bar at a temperature of 70 C. The wall thickness of flexible hose used to store the pressurized inflation gas would need to be significantly larger using the earlier conventional gases, than the tube wall thickness for those same embodiments using the more recent above mentioned inflation gases, operating at significantly lower pressures. The flexibility and foldability obtained using the low pressure gases would be less than that using the more modern gases mentioned above. The thinner the walls of the pneumatic hosing, the more flexible is the hose, and hence, the more useful for the various flexible and foldable flotation devices, as described hereinabove.
[0067] An additional advantage of the use of the more modern, low operating pressure gases, such as the above mentioned R1234ze (E) or R1234yf or R1224yd (Z) gases, or other gases having similar thermodynamic properties, is that those gases have larger molecules than the originally used air or CO.sub.2 gases. One dominant feature related to molecular size is the diffusability of the gas molecules through the wall of any vessel with which that are in contact. The larger the molecule size, the lower the level of diffusion through any boundary wall containing the gas. This feature has ramifications in two respects. Firstly, with regard to the ability of the pressurized gas container to maintain its charge over long periods of time, thereby affecting the shelf life of the flotation device. Secondly, with regard to the length of time the inflation balloon will maintain its gas fill and support the user, before diffusion out of the inflation balloon lowers the gas fill so much that the device can no longer provide the support that was originally provided. It would thus appear that the use of low pressure gases, namely those that maintain their liquid phase out to temperatures such as 50 C. or 70 C., substantially higher than ambient temperatures, would enable the flotation device to have significantly improved performance, both in lifetime and in performance, over the use of simpler, and higher pressure gases.
[0068] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, it is appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereto which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the above description and which are not in the prior art.
