Self-assembling inflatable modules

• US 9,776,842 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2012
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.), Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Uyeno, Gerald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TUONGMINH NGUYEN
• Application Number:
  US13/623,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20140077141A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: 169 46, 169 36, 169 30, 169 91, 169 48- 50, 169 60- 61, 169 64, 254 93 HP
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/025 Fire extinguishing bombs; Projectiles and launchers therefor launching apparatus for projectiles, missiles or torpedoes in general F41F1/00, F41F3/00, F41F7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2027/1066 Having means to guide movement, e.g. propeller or wings
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 3/35 Inflatable flexible elements, e.g. bellows inflatable load-engaging elements B66F3/40; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00

Abstract

A system includes a plurality of inflation balls configured to be launched and a connection mechanism. The plurality of inflation balls are configured to modularly inflate with respect to one another to create a combined modular volume. The connection mechanism is configured to allow the modular inflation of the plurality of inflation balls with respect to one another.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of inflation balls configured to be launched and released, the inflation balls configured, after launch and release, to inflate to create a combined modular volume; and

a connector attached to one or more of the inflation balls, the connector configured to allow modular inflation of the inflation balls and to connect at least two of the inflation balls together after launch and release of the inflation balls;

wherein each of the inflation balls contains an inflation mechanism that (i) is configured to inflate the inflation ball in which the inflation mechanism is contained and (ii) includes an inflation activator configured to detect proximity of other inflation balls using a proximity sensor and activate inflation by the inflation mechanism as a function of a threshold distance with respect to at least one of the other inflation balls.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the inflation mechanism for each of the inflation balls is configured to be wirelessly activated or activated based on a passage of time.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a launcher configured to launch and release the inflation balls prior to inflation of the inflation balls.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the inflation mechanism comprises multiple containers that include multiple substances that interact to cause inflation of the inflation balls.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the substances interact to form gas or vapor that causes inflation of the inflation balls.

4. A system comprising:

a plurality of inflation modules configured to be launched and released and to modularly inflate, after launch and release, to create a combined modular volume; and

a connector attached to one or more of the inflation modules, the connector configured to allow modular inflation of the inflation modules and to connect at least two of the inflation modules together after launch and release of the inflation modules;

wherein each of the inflation modules contains an inflation mechanism that (i) is configured to inflate the inflation module in which the inflation mechanism is contained and (ii) includes an inflation activator configured to detect proximity of other inflation modules using a proximity sensor and activate inflation by the inflation mechanism as a function of a threshold distance with respect to at least one of the other inflation modules.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the inflation mechanism for each of the inflation modules is configured to be wirelessly activated.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the inflation mechanism for each of the inflation modules is configured to be activated based on a passage of time.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein at least some of the inflation modules are balls.

9. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a launcher configured to launch and release the inflation modules prior to inflation of the inflation modules.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a dispenser configured to launch the connector with the inflation modules.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the connector is at least one of glue or magnets.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein at least some of the inflation modules contain a material that is an irritant or a fire retardant.

19. The system of claim 4, wherein the inflation mechanism comprises multiple containers that include multiple substances that interact to cause inflation of the inflation modules.

7. A system comprising:

a plurality of inflation modules configured to modularly inflate to create a combined modular volume; and

a connector configured to allow modular inflation of the inflation modules;

wherein each of the inflation modules has an inflation mechanism that (i) is configured to inflate the inflation module in which the inflation mechanism is contained and (ii) contains an inflation activator configured to detect proximity of other inflation mechanisms using a proximity sensor and activate inflation by the inflation mechanism as a function of a threshold distance with respect to at least one of the other inflation mechanisms.

15. The system of claim 7, wherein the inflation mechanism for each of the inflation modules is configured to be wirelessly activated or activated based on a passage of time.

16. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a launcher configured to launch and release the inflation modules prior to inflation of the inflation modules.

20. The system of claim 7, wherein the inflation mechanism comprises multiple containers that include multiple substances that interact to cause inflation of the inflation modules.

13. A method comprising:

launching and releasing a plurality of inflation modules to place the inflation modules in proximity to one another, the inflation modules configured, after launch and release, to inflate to create a combined modular volume;

inflating the inflation modules after launch and release; and

connecting at least two of the inflation modules together after launch and release of the inflation modules using a connector attached to one or more of the inflation modules, the connector configured to allow modular inflation of the inflation modules;

wherein each of the inflation modules contains an inflation mechanism that (i) is configured to inflate the inflation module in which the inflation mechanism is contained and (ii) includes an inflation activator configured to detect proximity of other inflation modules using a proximity sensor and activate inflation by the inflation mechanism as a function of a threshold distance with respect to at least one of the other inflation modules.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least some of the inflation modules are balls.