U.S. patent application number 11/642537 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for air distribution system for inflating pneumatic structures.
Invention is credited to Jean-Marc Daniel Turcot.
Application Number | 20070137113 11/642537 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38175465 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070137113 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Turcot; Jean-Marc Daniel |
June 21, 2007 |
Air distribution system for inflating pneumatic structures
Abstract
An air distribution system includes a portable air compressor
feeding a flexible branched air distribution hose. The hose
includes branch air lines branching from a main air line. The
branch air lines have multiple exhaust ends on distal ends of
corresponding branch air lines, distal from the main air line. The
exhaust ends are adapted for mounting to an air inflatable
structure in fluid communication therewith. The main air line has
an infeed end adapted for mounting to the compressor in fluid
communication therewith.
Inventors: |
Turcot; Jean-Marc Daniel;
(Kelowna, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANTONY C. EDWARDS
SUITE 200 - 270 HIGHWAY 33 WEST
KELOWNA
BC
V1X 1X7
CA
|
Family ID: |
38175465 |
Appl. No.: |
11/642537 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60752010 |
Dec 21, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/2.18 ;
52/2.11; 52/2.13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04H 2015/206 20130101;
E04H 15/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/002.18 ;
052/002.11; 052/002.13 |
International
Class: |
E04H 15/20 20060101
E04H015/20; E04B 1/34 20060101 E04B001/34 |
Claims
1. An air distribution system comprising: a portable air
compressor, a flexible branched air distribution hose having branch
air lines branching from a main air line, said branch air lines
having multiple exhaust ends on distal ends of corresponding said
branch air lines, distal from said main air line, said exhaust ends
adapted for mounting to an air inflatable structure in fluid
communication therewith, said main air line having an infeed end
adapted for mounting to said compressor in fluid communication
therewith.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said main air line has a first
internal diameter and wherein said branch air lines have a second
internal diameter and wherein said second internal diameter is
smaller than said first internal diameter whereby said main air
line acts as a ballast feeding said branch air lines.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein said main air line is
substantially linear when inflated and wherein said branch air
lines branch from said main air line at substantially right angles
to said main air line.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said branch air lines branch in
oppositely disposed pairs from said main air line, and wherein said
pairs are spaced apart along said main air line.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said branch air lines are
substantially linear when inflated.
6. The system of claim 2 wherein said first internal diameter is
substantially 1/2 inch and said second internal diameter is
substantially less than 1/2 inch.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein said compressor supplies
pressurized air into said main air line in the range of 15 to 20
pounds per square inch.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein said compressor supplies
pressurized air into said main air line at a rate of substantially
12 CFM.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein said pressurized air is
pressurized to substantially 18 PSI.
10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of air
inflatable structures mountable to said exhaust ends in fluid
communication with said air distribution hose.
11. The system of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of air
inflatable structures mountable to said exhaust ends in fluid
communication with said air distribution hose.
12. The system of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of air
inflatable structures mountable to said exhaust ends in fluid
communication with said air distribution hose.
13. The system of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of air
inflatable structures mountable to said exhaust ends in fluid
communication with said air distribution hose.
14. The system of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of air
inflatable structures mountable to said exhaust ends in fluid
communication with said air distribution hose.
15. The system of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of air
inflatable structures mountable to said exhaust ends in fluid
communication with said air distribution hose.
16. The system of claim 7 further comprising a plurality of air
inflatable structures mountable to said exhaust ends in fluid
communication with said air distribution hose.
17. The system of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of air
inflatable structures mountable to said exhaust ends in fluid
communication with said air distribution hose.
18. The system of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of air
inflatable structures mountable to said exhaust ends in fluid
communication with said air distribution hose.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Canadian Patent
Application filed Dec. 1, 2006 and U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/752,010 filed Dec. 21, 2005 entitled Air
Distribution System for Inflating Pneumatic Structures.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to the field of inflatable structures
such as inflatable tents and in particular to an air distribution
system for simultaneously inflating a multiplicity of such
structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the prior art it is known to provide pneumatic structures
such as the inflatable tents sold by Airzone Recreation Inc. of
Kelowna, British Columbia under the product names Goldfinch,
Ptarmigan, Osprey and Condor, and as described in their U.S. Pat.
No. 6,263,617. It has come to be recognized that pneumatic
structures such as inflatable tents and their derivatives have a
utility well beyond that of merely recreational and camping, for
example, in humanitarian relief wherein a large number of portable
structures may have to be transported and erected quickly and
efficiently, and other such applications requiring a multiplicity
of portable structures which may be efficiently carried and easily
erected on a large scale, such as for use by the military.
[0004] Although it is very useful for individual consumers to
provide a small compressor or a small bottle of compressed gas to
inflate a single inflatable tent for their personal use, for use on
a large scale where a plurality of pneumatic structures such as
inflatable tents need to be inflated simultaneously or at least in
quick succession, the system of the present invention incorporates
a portable compressor such as driven by a small normally aspirated,
gasoline fuelled, engine so as to drive a large volume of
relatively low pressure air, and it is an object of the present
invention to provide a branched air distribution hose mountable in
fluid communication with such a portable compressor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An air distribution system includes a portable air
compressor feeding a flexible branched air distribution hose. The
hose includes branch air lines branching from a main air line. The
branch air lines have multiple exhaust ends on distal ends of
corresponding branch air lines, distal from the main air line. The
exhaust ends are adapted for mounting to an air inflatable
structure in fluid communication therewith. The main air line has
an infeed end adapted for mounting to the compressor in fluid
communication therewith.
[0006] The main air line has a first internal diameter and the
branch air lines have a second internal diameter. The second
internal diameter is smaller than the first internal diameter
whereby the main air line acts as a ballast feeding the branch air
lines. The main air line may be substantially linear when inflated
and the branch air lines may branch from the main air line at
substantially right angles to the main air line. The branch air
lines may branch in oppositely disposed pairs from the main air
line, and the pairs are spaced apart along the main air line. The
branch air lines may be substantially linear when inflated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] With reference to the drawings, wherein similar characters
of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, three figures
are provided, and in particular:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the present
invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a second embodiment of
the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of a third embodiment of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The system according to the present invention includes a
portable compressor 10 demountably coupled to a branched air
conduit having a main trunk air line 12, the smaller inside
diameter branched ends 12a of which are mountable to a
corresponding plurality of inflatable structures 14. In one
embodiment, the branched main trunk line 12 is a flexible air hose
having a diameter of approximately 1/2 inch inside diameter and
branched lines 12a branching in fluid communication from the main
trunk so that the ends of which may be mounted to the corresponding
inflatable structures 14.
[0012] Thus with the base end 12b of the main trunk 12 mounted to
the compressed air outflow port 10a of compressor 10, and with the
air conduit spread out, for example fully unfurled from a furled
storage and transportation mode, the ends of the branches 12a are
coupled for example with the inlet valves of the corresponding
inflatable tents or other pneumatic structures. With the compressor
engine started, so that the compressor supplies for example 12 CFM
with the pressure of approximately 18 PSI, or at least in the range
of 15 to 20 PSI, the plurality of inflatable tents may be
simultaneously inflated via the branched air conduit.
[0013] There is a substantial reduction in airflow from the main
trunk air line 12 (1/2'') inside diameter to the smaller lines
connecting to the tent that acts somewhat like a "ballast" allowing
even flow of air to each and every tent. The line quickly
pressurizes and flows through evenly to all the smaller branch
lines 12a allowing a seamless and even inflating procedure.
[0014] As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light
of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are
possible in the practice of this invention without departing from
the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the
invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance
defined by the following claims.
* * * * *