Container for storing an inflatable liferaft

• US 8,192,243 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Viking Life-Saving Equipment A/S (Claus Sørensen Fond Holding A/S)
• Original Assignee: Viking Life-Saving Equipment A/S (Claus Sørensen Fond Holding A/S)
• Inventors: Jorgensen, Kent Molsted
• Primary Examiner(s): SWINEHART, EDWIN L
• Application Number:
  US11/572,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20070243779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,535 Days
• Field of Search: 441 40- 42, 441/35, 73 73- 77, 73/493, 73/52, 534/28, 534/32, 534/34, 531/11.R, 535/10
• US Class Current: 441/35
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/22 Devices for holding or launching life-buoys, inflatable life-rafts, or other floatable life-saving equipment equipment for handling life-boats or the like B63B23/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container for storing an inflatable liferaft, the container including a bag adapted to contain a deflated liferaft and means for inflating the liferaft using an inflating gas, preferably CO₂ or a mixture of gasses, wherein the substantial part is CO₂. The inflating means being connected to the liferaft, preferably being substantially contained inside the bag. The bag furthermore has means for measuring and/or monitoring at least the relative humidity (R.H.) and the CO₂-content of the gas inside the bag.

Claims

1. A container for storing an inflatable liferaft in a gaseous environment, comprising:

a bag adapted to contain a deflated liferaft, the bag further containing gas,

a cylinder of compressed gas for inflating the liferaft, said compressed gas comprising a substantial part of CO₂, said compressed gas cylinder being connected to the liferaft and substantially contained inside the bag,

a terminal positioned at least partially within the bag so as to be operable to measure data representative of the environment within the bag without opening the bag, and

a device for monitoring the environmental parameters within said bag by;

recording reference data;

receiving the measured data from the;

comparing the measured data to the reference data; and

communicating the condition of the environment in which the life raft has been stored based on a comparison of measured data and reference data.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein a pressure in the bag is substantially equal to ambient pressure.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the bag comprises at least one arrangement for providing a dehumidified environment in the bag.

4. The container of claim 1, wherein the terminal extends from the bag to the outside of the container such that the monitoring device can be connected directly to the terminal in order to receive the data without opening the container.

5. The container of claim 1, wherein the terminal comprises a valve.

6. The container of claim 1, wherein the bag is made of a material which is substantially impermeable for gases and/or moisture.

7. The container of claim 1, wherein the material of the bag is breakable and/or comprises means for breaking the material.

8. The container of claim 1, wherein the bag comprises an opening arrangement adapted to provide access to the interior of the bag.

9. The container of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is arranged in or in connection with the container.

10. The container as claimed in claim 9, wherein the monitoring device receives the data by means of wireless communication with the terminal.

11. The container of claim 1, wherein the terminal is fully within the bag, and wherein the terminal measuring data and the monitoring device receiving the measured data both occur without opening the bag.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein the monitoring device is fully within the bag, the terminal and monitoring device forming an integral device operable to measure and monitor conditions within the bag.

13. A container for storing an inflatable liferaft in a gaseous environment, comprising:

a bag adapted to contain a deflated liferaft, the bag further containing air,

a cylinder of compressed gas for inflating the liferaft, said compressed gas comprising a substantial part of CO₂, said compressed gas cylinder being connected to the liferaft and substantially contained inside the bag,

a terminal extending from within the bag to outside the container, the terminal operable to remove a sample of air from the bag without opening the container, and

a device for monitoring the environmental parameters within said bag by;

recording reference data;

measuring the removed sample of air to acquire data representative of the environment within the container;

comparing the measured data to the reference data; and

communicating the condition of the environment in which the life raft has been stored based on a comparison of measured data and reference data.