U.S. patent application number 14/108366 was filed with the patent office on 2015-06-18 for short-range lifebuoy launcher.
This patent application is currently assigned to STARJET Technologies Co., LTD. The applicant listed for this patent is STARJET Technologies Co., LTD. Invention is credited to Jui-Fu Tseng.
Application Number | 20150166155 14/108366 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53367496 |
Filed Date | 2015-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150166155 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tseng; Jui-Fu |
June 18, 2015 |
Short-range lifebuoy launcher
Abstract
A short-range life saving device is provided. After removing a
safety pin and throwing a housing, a wound portion of a line
unwinds, a spring loaded sliding disc pushes down a first needle
until being stopped, the first needle punctures an auxiliary air
canister to release compressed air, the compressed air enters a
receptacle, the compressed air flows out of the receptacle into a
first portion of a second cylinder via an axial hole, a second
needle is pushed down when the pressure reaches a predetermined
value, the second needle punctures a main air canister to release
compressed air prior to entering a second portion of the second
cylinder, the compressed air flows out of the second portion of the
second cylinder into the first cylinder, the compressed air flows
into a lifebuoy for inflation via a tube, and the inflated lifebuoy
separates the housing into two halves.
Inventors: |
Tseng; Jui-Fu; (Yilan,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
STARJET Technologies Co., LTD |
Jintan City |
|
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
STARJET Technologies Co.,
LTD
Jintan City
CN
|
Family ID: |
53367496 |
Appl. No.: |
14/108366 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
441/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C 9/24 20130101; B63C
9/23 20130101; B63C 2009/007 20130101; B63C 9/26 20130101; B63C
2009/0029 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B63C 9/23 20060101
B63C009/23; B63C 9/26 20060101 B63C009/26; B60C 29/00 20060101
B60C029/00 |
Claims
1. A life saving device comprising: a housing consisting of at
least two detachable pieces and comprising a neck having an
opening; a cylindrical cap assembly comprising an annular groove on
an outer surface, a hollow extension, a stop member secured to an
opening of the extension, a transverse hole through the extension,
a safety pin inserted through the transverse hole, and a spring
biased sliding disc having one end secured to the stop member and
an other end urging against the safety pin; a first needle moveably
disposed in the cap assembly and comprising an annular first flange
proximate to the safety pin; a buoyant assembly disposed in the
housing and comprising a hollow first cylinder having a top secured
to the opening of the neck and including an inflatable lifebuoy
disposed around the first cylinder; a tube being in fluid
communication with both the first cylinder and the lifebuoy; a
delay mechanism comprising a receptacle, an annular second flange
on a bottom of the receptacle, an axial hole through a center of
the second flange, and an auxiliary air canister disposed in the
receptacle and being in close proximity to the first needle, a
hollow second cylinder having one end secured to the second flange
and an opening on an other end, a disc affixed to an inner surface
of the second cylinder to divide the second cylinder into a first
portion defined between the disc and the second flange and a second
portion defined between the disc and the main air canister, the
disc having a central hole, and a main air canister disposed in the
second cylinder spaced from the disc and having a bottom engaged
with the opening of the second cylinder; a second needle spaced
from the receptacle and moveably disposed through the central hole
of the disc, the second needle being in close proximity to the main
air canister; and a line having one fastened end and an other end
wound on the annular groove, the line comprising an extension tied
to the safety pin; wherein in response to a removal of the safety
pin and a throwing of the housing, a portion of the line wound on
the annular groove unwinds, the sliding disc pushes down the first
needle until the first flange engages the extension, the first
needle punctures the auxiliary air canister to release compressed
air from the auxiliary air canister, the compressed air enters the
receptacle, the compressed air flows out of the receptacle into the
first portion of the second cylinder via the axial hole, pressure
in the first portion of the second cylinder increases constantly,
the second needle is pushed down when the pressure reaches a
predetermined value, the second needle punctures the main air
canister to release compressed air from the main air canister prior
to entering a second portion of the second cylinder, the compressed
air flows out of the second portion of the second cylinder into the
first cylinder via the opening of the second cylinder, pressure in
the first cylinder increases constantly, the compressed air flows
into the lifebuoy for inflation via the tube, and the inflated
lifebuoy separates the housing into the at least two pieces.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to life saving devices and more
particularly to a compressed air powered device for launching a
lifebuoy from short-range to save a person overwhelmed in
water.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] A conventional life saving device having a launcher is
provided for an automatic inflation of a float by simply acting on
a lever. The mechanism comprises a gas canister at a top portion
with the float so that the canister is traversed by a hollow
cut-off cock whose lower end projects from a container and is
terminated by the lever. The upper end is introduced inside the
float and the gas penetrating through the hollow tube of the cock.
Integral with the assembly is a ring connected to a rolled-up cable
which is integrally formed with the launcher. The launcher is
mounted in a gun so that a life saving assembly can be launched
toward a target in danger.
[0005] While it has some utility, improvements in these products
are desired, and these improvements are provided by the
invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a
life saving device comprising a housing consisting of at least two
detachable pieces and comprising a neck having an opening; a
cylindrical cap assembly comprising an annular groove on an outer
surface, a hollow extension, a stop member secured to an opening of
the extension, a transverse hole through the extension, a safety
pin inserted through the transverse hole, and a spring biased
sliding disc having one end secured to the stop member and an other
end urging against the safety pin; a first needle moveably disposed
in the cap assembly and comprising an annular first flange
proximate to the safety pin; a buoyant assembly disposed in the
housing and comprising a hollow first cylinder having a top secured
to the opening of the neck and including an inflatable lifebuoy
disposed around the first cylinder; a tube being in fluid
communication with both the first cylinder and the lifebuoy; a
delay mechanism comprising a receptacle, an annular second flange
on a bottom of the receptacle, an axial hole through a center of
the second flange, and an auxiliary air canister disposed in the
receptacle and being in close proximity to the first needle, a
hollow second cylinder having one end secured to the second flange
and an opening on an other end, a disc affixed to an inner surface
of the second cylinder to divide the second cylinder into a first
portion defined between the disc and the second flange and a second
portion defined between the disc and the main air canister, the
disc having a central hole, and a main air canister disposed in the
second cylinder spaced from the disc and having a bottom engaged
with the opening of the second cylinder; a second needle spaced
from the receptacle and moveably disposed through the central hole
of the disc, the second needle being in close proximity to the main
air canister; and a line having one fastened end and an other end
wound on the annular groove, the line comprising an extension tied
to the safety pin; wherein in response to a removal of the safety
pin and a throwing of the housing, a portion of the line wound on
the annular groove unwinds, the sliding disc pushes down the first
needle until the first flange engages the extension, the first
needle punctures the auxiliary air canister to release compressed
air from the auxiliary air canister, the compressed air enters the
receptacle, the compressed air flows out of the receptacle into the
first portion of the second cylinder via the axial hole, pressure
in the first portion of the second cylinder increases constantly,
the second needle is pushed down when the pressure reaches a
predetermined value, the second needle punctures the main air
canister to release compressed air from the main air canister prior
to entering a second portion of the second cylinder, the compressed
air flows out of the second portion of the second cylinder into the
first cylinder via the opening of the second cylinder, pressure in
the first cylinder increases constantly, the compressed air flows
into the lifebuoy for inflation via the tube, and the inflated
lifebuoy separates the housing into the at least two pieces.
[0007] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a life saving device
according to the invention;
[0009] FIG. 2A is an exploded view of the life saving device of
FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 2B is a further exploded view of FIG. 2A;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of the life saving device
of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of an upper part of FIG. 3 where
the first needle pierces the auxiliary air canister and the second
needle pierces the main air canister in an initial phase;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the first needle
clears the auxiliary air canister and the second needle clears the
main air canister in a first intermediate phase;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a second
intermediate phase; and
[0015] FIG. 7 schematically depicts a final phase with the lifebuoy
being expanded and the housing being split into two halves.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, a life saving device in
accordance with the invention comprises the following components as
discussed in detail below.
[0017] A housing 1 consists of two detachable halves and comprises
a cylindrical top neck 17 having an opening 14. A cylindrical cap
assembly 2 comprises an annular groove 21 on an outer surface, a
narrow extension 22, a disc-shaped member 24 secured to an opening
of the extension 22, and a transverse hole 29 through the extension
22. A safety pin 4 is inserted through the hole 29 to support a
sliding disc 26 in the extension 22. A helical spring 25 is biased
between the disc-shaped member 24 and the sliding disc 26. A
moveable first needle 20 is moveably provided in the cap assembly 2
and comprises an annular flange 23 proximate to the safety pin 4,
an annular groove 27 proximate to a pointed end, and an O-ring 28
sealingly put on the groove 27.
[0018] A buoyant assembly 9 is provided in the housing 1 and
comprises a hollow cylinder 91 having a top secured to the opening
14 and having a bottom hole 92, and an inflatable lifebuoy 90
disposed around the cylinder 91. A tube 15 has one end inserted
into the hole 92 and the other end inserted into the surface of the
lifebuoy 90. A delay mechanism 3 comprises a cylindrical receptacle
31 having an internal space 35, an annular flange 39 on a bottom of
the receptacle 31, an axial hole 33 through the center of the
flange 39, and an auxiliary air canister 30 disposed in the space
35 and having a top 32 in close proximity to a pointed end of the
first needle 20. A hollow, cylindrical member 11 has one end
secured to the flange 39 and an opening 13 on the other end. The
delay mechanism 3 further comprises a disc 36 affixed to the inner
surface of the cylindrical member 11 to divide the cylindrical
member 11 into a first portion defined between the disc 36 and the
second flange 39 and a second portion defined between the disc 36
and a main air canister 10 in the cylindrical member 11, the disc
36 having a hole 34 through its center. The main air canister 10 is
provided under the disc 36 and has a bottom engaged with the
opening 13.
[0019] A moveable second needle 40 is under the receptacle 31 and
is disposed through the hole 34 of the disc 36. The second needle
40 comprises an annular groove 41 and an O-ring 42 sealingly put on
the groove 41. The pointed end of the second needle 40 is in close
proximity to a top 12 of the main air canister 10. A line 6 has one
end affixed to an anchor 60 and the other end wound on the groove
21. The line 6 has an extension 61 tied to the safety pin 4.
[0020] A rescue operation of the invention is described in detail
below. A person may remove the safety pin 4 from the hole 29 and
throws the life saving device toward a person being overwhelmed in
water. The portion of the line 6 wound on the groove 21 unwinds.
The energized spring 25 expands to push down the sliding disc 26
which in turn pushes down the first needle 20 until the flange 23
engages a bottom of the extension 22 (i.e., being stopped). The
pointed end of the first needle 20 thus punctures the top 32 of the
auxiliary air canister 30 to release compressed air from the
auxiliary air canister 30 prior to entering the receptacle 31. The
compressed air flows out of the receptacle 31 into the space 35 via
the hole 33. The pressure in the space 35 increases constantly and
will push down the second needle 40 when the pressure reaches a
predetermined value. The pointed end of the second needle 40
punctures the top 12 of the main air canister 10 to release
compressed air from the main air canister 10 prior to entering the
cylindrical member 10. The compressed air flows out of the
cylindrical member 11 into the cylinder 91 via the opening 13. The
pressure in the cylinder 91 increases constantly and the compressed
air flows into the lifebuoy 90 for inflation via the tube 15. The
inflated lifebuoy 90 finally separates the housing 1 into two
halves and places in close proximity to the person being
overwhelmed in water. It is understood that there is a time delay
calculated from the removal of the safety pin 4 to the lifebuoy 90
being placed in close proximity to the person being overwhelmed in
water.
[0021] While the invention has been described in terms of preferred
embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *