FLUID PRESSURE SENSING DEVICES

• US 3,802,012 A
• Filed: 04/19/1972
• Issued: 04/09/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William J. Middleton Jr
• Original Assignee: William J. Middleton Jr
• Inventors: Middleton, William J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Halvosa, George E. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sauberer, Paul E.
• Application Number:
  US05/245,370
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 9/316-320,321-326,314,311 222/5,3,478,481,544 137/516.15,525
• US Class Current: 441/95
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/24 Arrangements of inflating valves or of controls thereof connecting inflating valves to elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/142 the closure elements being shaped as solids of revolution, e.g. toroidal or cylindrical rings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7861 Annular head

Abstract

Disclosed are a fluid pressure sensing device and system for selectively inflating flotation equipment, e.g., life saving vests, jackets, rafts, etc. wherein, when the pressure of the fluid exterior to a fluid pressure sensing member thereof substantially reaches a selected fluid pressure, e.g., two feet of water, a resilient member thereof, e.g., an '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'0'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' ring, is forced out of sealing engagement with a geometrically shaped slot selectively formed in the inner wall of the fluid sensing member and fluid, such as water, enters through geometrically shaped openings selectively formed in the bottom wall of the geometrically shaped slot and into a cavity formed in the fluid pressure sensing member; wherein the fluid dissolves a fluid soluble member positioned within said cavity, e.g., a water soluble disc, and thereby releases a gas control or releasing member thereof, e.g., a spring biased slidable shaft having a pointed end thereon; whereby the gas control member moves to its gas releasing position, e.g., the pointed end of the slidable shaft pierces a frangible seal on a CO2 bottle or cartridge and permits passage of the gas from the gas storing member to the flotation equipment for inflation thereof.

Claims

1. A fluid pressure sensing device for selectively inflating flotation equipment when the fluid pressure external thereto substantially reaches a selected pressure, comprising in combination:

a. gas releasing means for selectively controlling the passage of gas from gas storage means to flotation equipment and being movable from a first position to a gas releasing position;

b. fluid pressure sensing means for selectively actuating said gas releasing means when said selected pressure occurs, said fluid pressure means including 1. a main body portion having a cavity formed therein, 2. an annular groove formed in the inner wall of said main body portion, 3. at least one geometrically shaped stoped opening formed in said main body portion and extending into said annular groove for providing an unimpeded path for fluid flow from the exterior of said fluid pressure sensing means to said cavity, 4. fluid responsive means structurally capable of holding said gas releasing means in its first position, 5. substantially non-metallic resilient means positioned within said cavity in sealing engagement with said annular groove for sealing said geometrically shaped opening and for selectively inhibiting fluid from entering said cavity;

wherein c. said resilient means is mechanically forced out of sealing engagement with said annular groove when said selected pressure occurs and fluid thereby enters said cavity through said geometrically shaped opening, whereby, d. said fluid responsive means selectively permits said gas releasing means to move to its gas releasing position which allows gas to flow from said storage means to said flotation equipment for selected inflation thereof.

2. The fluid pressure sensing device of claim 1 and further including manual means for manually actuating said gas releasing member.

3. at least one geometrically shaped opening formed in said main body portion and extending into said annular slot for providing an unimpeded path for fluid flow from the exterior of said fluid pressure sensing means to said cavity of said main body portion, and

4. The fluid pressure sensing device of claim 1 wherein said resilient means is a band like member.

5. transparent means for providing visual access to the interior thereof, and

6. color means selectively located within said cavity;

wherein c. when the pressure of the fluid exterior to said fluid pressure sensing means substantially reaches a selected pressure, said resilient means is forced out of sealing engagement with said annular groove and fluid enters said cavity through said geometrically shaped opening, actuating said fluid pressure sensing means, whereby said gas releasing member is actuated, said flotation equipment is inflated, and said color means is visually accessible through said transparent means.

7. A fluid pressure sensing device for automatically inflating flotation equipment when the fluid pressure external thereto substantially reaches a selected pressure, comprising in combination:

a. gas storage means for inflation b. gas control means for selectively controlling the passage of gas from gas storage means to flotation equipment, said gas control means being moveable from a first position to a gas releasing position;

c. fluid responsive means for holding said gas control means in its first position, said fluid responsive means being structurally capable of holding said gas control means in its first position when dry but losing said structural capability when wet;

d. fluid pressure sensing means connected to said gas control means for automatically sensing said selected pressure and for automatically actuating said gas control means including