IPR 2016-01794
`American Vehicular Sciences
`Exhibit 2028
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`United States Patent Office
`Patented Feb. 27, 1968
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`3,379,784
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`3,370,784
`INFLATIGN ASPIRATOR
`Ronald H. Day, Mill Valley, Calif., assignor to Industrial
`Covers, Inc., San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of
`California
`Filed Feb. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 527,177
`8 Claims. (Cl. 239—95)
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`This invention relates to an inflation aspirator and,
`more particularly, to a device for inflating collapsible con-
`tainers such as aircraft escape chutes, life rafts and inflat-
`able structures.
`Particularly in the case of emergency or life saving ar-
`ticles such as the escape chutes and life rafts mentioned,
`it is generally required that they be stowed in a light,
`compact package, but at the same time they must be capa—
`ble of inflation at an extremely rapid rate so that escape
`may be hastened in order to lessen the degree of peril
`to life or property. In addition, it is highly desirable to
`provide as a safety feature means for preventing the
`article from becoming inflated inadvertently while stowed
`in a small confinement because considerable damage
`could be caused to confining structure if the article is
`inadvertently inflated at high pressure while so stowed.
`It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide
`a device for inflating collapsible articles.
`It is a further object of this invention to provide a
`simple, compact device for rapidly inflating a collapsible
`article from a compact package.
`It is a further object of this invention to provide an in-
`flating device which, if triggered inadvertently while the
`inflatable article is stowed, will simply exhaust pressure
`fluid into the atmosphere.
`In carrying out this invention, I provide an aspirator
`having a tubular housing which is adapted to be mounted
`on an inflatable article by extending it through an open-
`ing in the article and sealing the article around the up-
`stream end of the tubular housing. A fluid conduit extends
`around the upstream end of the housing and an- annular
`axially directed port or slot opens from the fluid conduit
`into the housing whereby pressure fluid within the conduit
`is jetted toward the downstream end of the housing in a
`hollow cylindrical stream diverging from the inner sur-
`face of the housing. Extending across the upstream end
`of the housing is a U-shaped duct with the legs thereof
`extending down and mounted on the end of the housing
`so that the duct opens into the annular fluid conduit. A
`linear port or slot is cut into the U—shaped duct so that
`when pressure fluid is introduced into the annular conduit
`the cylindrical jet sheet is augmented by a jet sheet ex-
`tending diametrically across the tubular housing and
`diverging outward to cover the cross-section of the tubu-
`lar housing. Toward the dowastream end of the housing
`the inner surface is preferably flared outward to a larger
`diameter and blends into a radially inward projecting lip
`which forms a valve seat directed toward the downstream
`end of the housing.
`In cooperation with the valve seat is a check valve or
`flapper which preferably takes the form of a circular disc
`of rubber or other resilient material which is mounted
`on a pin extending diametrically across the downstream
`side of the disc and secured at opposite ends to tubular
`housing walls. Thus, the pressure of the jet stream im-
`pinging upon the disc deflects it downward on both sides
`of the hinge pin to permit flow into the container until
`the high pressure fluid is substantially exhausted. The
`natural flexural strength of the resilient disc would tend
`to force it back up into sealing position when there is no
`substantial pressure drop across the valve seat, but such
`flexural strength is preferably augmented by a spring
`member which acts against substantially rigid stiffening
`sheets secured to the back of the resilient valve disc.
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`Other objects and advantages of this invention will be-
`come apparent from the description following when read
`in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
`FIG.
`1 is a vertical section View of an aspirator em—
`bodying features of this invention;
`FIG. 2 is a partial section view taken along line 2—2
`of FIG. 1; and
`FIG. 3 is a partial section view taken along line 3—3
`of FIG. 1.
`Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, the aspi-
`rator ill of this invention comprises a generally tubular
`housing 12 with a radial flange 14 at the intake or up-
`stream end thereof. The h0using 12 extends through an
`opening 16 in an inflatable container 18 such as an air—
`craft escape chute, a life raft or the like, and is sealed
`around the opening as by means of a suitable bonding ma-
`terial.
`Bonded or otherwise to the radial flange is an annular
`fluid conduit 29 which, as shown, is of generally inverted
`U—shape in crosssection, with an inner wall 22 extending
`downward in close proximity to the upper corner of the
`tubular body 12, thereby forming an annular duct 24 with
`a downwardly opening annular slot or nozzle 26 through
`which a cylinderical jet stream may project as indicated
`by the arrows A. The inner depending wall 22 of the an-
`nular duct 24 is chamfered at 27 and 28 to form a throat
`30 which creates a low pressure area at the upstream
`opening of the housing 12 when fluid flows through it.
`As best seen in FIG. 2, an inverted U-shaped duct 32 is
`mounted on the annular conduit member 24} to open into
`the annular duct 24 so that pressure fluid introduced into
`the duct will also flow into the diametrically disposed U—
`duct and then out
`through a linear slot 34 to project
`through the venturi throat in a flat, diametrical sheet. A
`suitable boss 36, cast integrally with the annular conduit
`member 20, is bored and tapped to receive a high pres-
`sure line 38 with a valve 40 connecting it to a suitable
`source of pressure, such as a tank or bottle 42 filled with
`a suitable compressed gas.
`Thus, when the valve is opened, pressure fluid rushes
`into the annular duct to flow out through the annular
`nozzle 26 and up through the U—shaped tube to project
`in a diametrical jet sheet as indicated by the arrows l.
`The two jets A and J naturally radiate outward to cover
`together virtually the entire cross-section of the tubular
`housing 12 and drive molecules through it. Ambient air
`is drawn in through the throat 34) to fill the resultant void,
`and this action is augmented by the creation of a low
`pressure zone at the venturi throat, greatly to increase the
`volume of gas flowing through the tubular housing and
`into the inflatable member 18. Preferably, a screen 44 is
`mounted on support posts 45 carried on the annular con-
`duit member 2i? to restrict entry of foreign matter.
`Toward the downstream end of the housing the inner
`surface is flared outwardly at 48 into generally frustro-
`conical configuration blending smoother into a downward-
`ly extending lip 5% which functions as a valve seat that
`operates in a manner now to be described. In cooperatiOn
`with the valve seat 50 is a resilient flapper disc 52 of rub-
`ber or the like which is preferably molded with one or
`more depending female hinge members 54 to receive a
`hinge pin 56 that is secured diametrically across the flap-
`per disc and to opposite sides of the housing by projecting
`into accommodating holes 58. While the pin 56 has been
`described as a hinge pin and the depending female ears
`as hinge elements, these terms are to be construed in their
`broadest sense, inasmuch as it is apparent that with a flex-
`ible disc pivotal movement is not required since the valve
`is opened by flexing or deforming the disc to the position
`shown in phantom in FIG. 1. Secured to the downstream
`side of the disc are stiffener members 60 of metal or the
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`3,370,784
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`like which may be formed as segments of a circle disposed
`concentrically with the edge of the flapper disc 52. Acting
`against such stiffener members are the opposite ends of a
`torsion spring 62 which augment
`the natural flexural
`strength of the resilient flapper valve disc, normally to
`urge the flapper valve into the sealed position of FIGS.
`1 and 3.
`By flaring the tubular housing outward toward the
`check valve flapper disc, the flow capacity of the tubular
`housing is maintained, even though the opening is partial-
`ly blocked by the central strip of the flexible flapper valve
`when it is deformed in the position shown in FIG. 1. It
`is highly desirable to restrict the diameter of the tubular
`housing 12 so that the jets A and I cover the full cross—
`section, but at the same time it is desirable that flow
`capacity be maintained for maximum intake of ambient
`air. Thus, though a portion of the opening is blocked by
`the hinge pin 56 and portions of the flexible flapper disc
`bent around it, flow capacity is maintained by reason of
`the outward flaring.
`Disposed below the hinge pin is a second pin 64 secured
`in openings at the downstream end of the housing, and
`this pin serves as a stop member to limit downward flex-
`ible deformation of the resilient valve disc. It will be noted
`that neither the hinge pin 56 nor the stop pin 64 need be
`sealed against leakage with the housing since they are both
`011 the downstream side of the valve seat.
`In the operation of this device, the pressure bottle valve
`40 is opened and a stream of high pressure fluid is intro-
`duced into the annular conduit. This causes the pressure
`fluid to be projected into the tubular housing in a cylin-
`drical jet sheet A through the annular port 26 and in a ‘
`diametric-al sheet I from the slot 34 in the tube 32 so that
`virtually the entire cross-section of the tubular housing is
`influenced by high speed fluid jets which induce flow of
`ambient air through the upstream end of the housing to
`replace molecules previously induced. The high pressure
`flow impinges upon the resilient flapper disc, deflecting it
`downward away from the valve seat to the position shown
`in phantom in FIGS. 1 and 3, in which it remains until
`pressure diflerential across the valve seat is reduced to a
`level at which it is overcome by the light spring whereby
`the valve seat is urged into the sealing position shown in
`FIG. 1. The pressure in the tube 12 is thereafter dissipated
`to the atmosphere so that the spring force is augmented
`by the pressure within the vessel 18.
`When the tubular housing 12 and inflatable vessel are
`stowed in close confinement before inflation, expansion
`of the flexible material of the vessel 18 is resisted, and
`though the flapper valve 52 is initially deflected, a back
`pressure quickly builds up to close the valve and prevent
`further entry of fluid flow. Since the jets are released on
`the upstream side of the valve, entrapment of the full gas
`charge is prevented and the initial high pressure closes the
`' valve so that the gas merely flows down to the flapper and
`then back up to the tubular housing inlet.
`The description of this device with reference to the
`upstream and downstream ends of the tubular body is,
`of course, based on the direction of flowing fluid.,It is
`obviOus that after inflation, with the flapper valve 52
`closed, the interior of the container becomes the “up-
`stream” side of the valve.
`While this invention has been described in connection
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`with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent
`to those skilled in the art that modificatiOns and changes
`therein may be made without departing from the spirit
`and scope of the invention as defined by the claims ap-
`pended thereto.
`'
`Having described my invention, I claim:
`1. A device for inflating a container comprising:
`a tubular body,
`a valve seat around the inner wall of said tubular body,
`a check valve member,
`yieldable means biasing said valve member into engage—
`ment with said valve seat,
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`a fluid conduit surrounding the inner surface of said.
`body on the upstream side of said valve member,
`means forming an annular jet nozzle in said conduit
`coaxial with said body and opening therein, directed
`toward the downstream end thereof,
`a duct across the upstream end of said body,
`a slot in said duct facing said upstream end of the body,
`and
`means for conducting pressure fluid to said fluid con—
`duit and said duct.
`2. The inflating device defined by claim 1 wherein said
`duct comprises a tube connected at opposite ends to 'said
`fluid conduit.
`3. The inflating device defined by claim 1 wherein:
`said duct comprises a generally U-shaped tube with the:
`opposite legs thereof directed axially to open into said
`fluid conduit on the upstream side of said annular
`port.
`4. The inflating device defined by claim 1 wherein said
`check valve comprises:
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`_
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`a disc of flexible material, and
`a hinge pin secured diametrically across the down-
`stream side of said disc, the opposite ends of said pin
`being secured to opposite walls of said body.
`5. The inflating device defined by claim 4 including:
`a pair of substantially rigid stiffener sheet members
`secured to the downstream side of said disc onvopu
`posite sides of said hinge pin.
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`6. The inflating device defined by claim 4 wherein;
`the inner surface of said tubular body flares outward
`toward said valve seat from the upstream side there--
`of so that the flow capacity of said body is not mate-
`rially reduced by said valve seat and said valve when
`1n open position.
`7. The inflating device defined by claim 4 including:
`stop means in said tubularrbody below said hinge pin
`to limit downstream flexing of said flexible disc.
`8. The inflating device defined by claim 5 including:
`yieldable means biasing portions of said disc 0n opposite
`sides of said hinge pin into firmsealing engagement
`with said valve seat.
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`References Cited '
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
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`2,361,861
`2,772,829
`3,204,862
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`10/1944 Masowich ___________ 230—95 7
`12/1956 Crawford et al. ____ 141—286 X
`9/1965 Hadeler _____________ 230—95
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`LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.
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`HOUSTON BELL, Assistant Examiner,
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