Automatic inflation device

Claim 2

In an inflation device for flotation gear, a head having a passage for communication with the flotation gear, a pressure cartridge containing gas under pressure, means supporting said pressure cartridge on said head, said pressure cartridge being puncturable to release said gas therefrom, whereby said gas will flow through said passage to said flotation gear, punch means reciprocable in said head between a normal position and a position for puncturing said pressure cartridge, cam means on said head manually operable to move said punch to puncture said pressure cartridge, and pyrotechnic means including a cylinder and piston carried by said cam means for automatically moving said punch to puncture said pressure cartridge upon initiation of said pyrotechnic means.

Claim 3

An inflation device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cam means includes a cam member, a pivot pin for said cam member, a lever arm on said cam member for pivoting said cam member on said pin, and said pyrotechnic means is operatively interposed between said cam member and said punch, whereby said piston and cylinder means acts on said punch and reacts on said pivot pin.

Claim 4

An inflation device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cam has a bore receiving said cylinder of said pyrotechnic means, said cam having a reduced bore aligned with the first-mentioned bore for movement of said piston from said cylinder into engagement with said punch.

Claim 5

An inflation device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cam has a bore receiving said cylinder of said pyrotechnic means, and including a threaded member removably holding said cylinder in said bore.

Claim 6

An inflation device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cam has a bore receiving said cylinder of said pyrotechnic means, and including a threaded member removably holding said cylinder in said bore, said cylinder having electrical conductors connectable to a source of electricity to initiate said pyrotechnic means, and said conductors extending from said bore between said threaded member and said cam.

Claim 7

An inflation device as defined in claim 1, wherein said cam has a bore receiving said cylinder of said pyrotechnic means, and including a threaded member removably holding said cylinder in said bore, and said means supporting said pressure cartridge on said body comprises a removable member to allow replacement of said cartridge.

Claim 8

In an inflation device for flotation gear, a head having a bore therein, a port leading from said bore, a passage communicating with said port and adapted to communicate with said flotation gear, a cam lever, a pivot pin pivotally supporting said cam lever on said head, a punch reciprocable in said bore, said cam lever having a cam surface engageable with one end of said punch upon pivotal movement of said cam lever to move said punch in one direction, a housing on said head, a cartridge of pressurized gas in said housing, a point on the other end of said punch engageable with said cartridge to puncture the same upon movement of said punch in said one direction, and pyrotechnic means effectively interposed in said cam lever between said punch and said pivot pin for moving said punch in said one direction.

Claim 9

In an inflation device for flotation gear, a head having a bore therein, a port leading from said bore, a passage communicating with said port and adapted to communicate with said flotation gear, a cam lever, a pivot pin pivotally supporting said cam lever on said head, a punch reciprocable in said bore, said cam lever having a cam surface engageable with one end of said punch upon pivotal movement of said cam lever to move said punch in one direction, a housing on said head, a cartridge of pressurized gas in said housing, a point on the other end of said punch engageable with said cartridge to puncture the same upon movement of said punch in said one direction, and pyrotechnic means effectively interposed in said cam lever between said punch and said pivot pin for moving said punch in said one direction.

Claim 10

An inflation device as defined in claim 7, wherein said cam has a bore in said lever, said pyrotechnic means including an actuator cylinder in said latter bore, said cylinder having a piston therein and a quantity of explosive material, conductor means connectable to a source of electricity to initiate said explosive material, and said cylinder being substantially aligned with said punch, whereby said piston will engage said punch and shift the latter in said one direction upon initiation of said explosive material.