Automatic inflation unit for flotation devices

Claim 1

MEANS TO SUPPLY COMPRESSED GASEOUS FLUID IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESENCE OF A CONDUCTIVE LIQUID, COMPRISING: A THIN-WALLED CARTRIDGE CONFINING A GASEOUS FLUID UNDER PRESSURE; A HOUSING FORMING A CHAMBER FOR SAID CARTRIDGE AND A FIRST CYLINDER IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHAMBER, SAID HOUSING PROVIDING A BATTERY COMPARTMENT AND A FLUID TIGHT CIRCUITRY COMPARTMENT; A SECOND CYLINDER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID FIRST CYLINDER FOR MOVEMENT FROM A RETRACTED POSITION TOWARDS SAID CARTRIDGE; A PISTON MOUNTED IN SAID SECOND CYLINDER FOR MOVEMENT FROM A RETRACTED POSITION TOWARDS SAID CARTRIDGE; A PUNCTURING ELEMENT IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON TO RUPTURE SAID CARTRIDGE EITHER IN RESPONSE TO ADVANCE OF THE PISTON WHILE THE SECOND CYLINDER IS IN ITS RETRACTED POSITION OR BY ADVANCE OF THE SECOND CYLINDER WHILE THE PISTON IS IN ITS RETRACTED POSITION; AN EXPLOSIVE CHARGE CARRIED BY SAID SECOND CYLINDER TO GENERATE GASES THEREIN FOR ADVANCING SAID PISTON; A BATTERY IN SAID BATTERY COMPARTMENT; A TRANSISTOR FIRING CIRCUIT TO IGNITE SAID EXPLOSIVE CHARGE BY CURRENT FROM SAID BATTERY AND A TRIGGERING CIRCUIT, SAID TWO CIRCUITS INCLUDING COMPONENTS IN SAID CIRCUITRY COMPARTMENT AND SAID FIRING CIRCUIT BEING RESPONSIVE TO SAID TRIGGERING CIRCUIT AND SAID TRIGGERING CIRCUIT INCLUDING TWO CONDUCTORS EXPOSED FOR SHORTING BY THE CONDUCTIVE FLUID TO CLOSE THE CIRCUIT, SAID CIRCUITRY COMPARTMENT HAVING A NON-CONDUCTIVE WALL WITH SAID COMPONENTS MOUNTED ON THE INNER FACE OF THE WALL AND SAID CONDUCTORS MOUNTED ON THE OUTER FACE OF THE WALL; AND A GUARD COVERING SAID OUTER FACE OF THE WALL TO PREVENT INADVERTENT SHORTING OF THE TWO CONDUCTORS.