WO1988000882A1

WO1988000882A1 - Expansible means

Info

Publication number: WO1988000882A1
Application number: PCT/AU1987/000244
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank Arthur Rogers
Original assignee: Frank Arthur Rogers
Priority date: 1986-07-30
Filing date: 1987-07-30
Publication date: 1988-02-11

Abstract

An expansible means (11) comprising a deflated bag (15), a supply (21), (22) of an inflation medium, and means (20) operable to introduce the inflation medium into the bag to cause inflation thereof. The inflation medium transforms into a solid mass when in the inflated bag. The solid mass can be used to seal a passageway and applications disclosed are as flotation means for a sinking boat (13) or a crashed aircraft.

Description

"Expansible Means"

THIS INVENTION relates to an expansible means which may be used in a variety of applications.

In one form the invention resides in an expansible means comprising a deflated bag, a supply of an inflation medium, and means operable to introduce the inflation medium into the bag to cause - inflation thereof-,. the inflation medium transforming infcσr <_^■„- solid; mass..when in the inflated bag.

When the bag is inflated, in::.. air. enclosed spaced:,." the. inflated bag tends to conform.'to. the. shape.: of the enclosed., space. This feature permits- the inflated bag to be used to provide a seal in a passageway for the purpose of preventing movement of liquids or gases through the passageway. In another application, the inflated bag may provide a barricade. In still another application, the inflated bag may be used to provide flotation to bodies in water whether such bodies be water craft which are in danger of sinking or other bodies such as aircraft which have crash-landed in a body of water.

Preferably, the inflation medium comprises a foamable composition. The foamable composition may comprise polyeurethane or other foaming plastics materials. The foaming composition may be produced from reagents which are stored separately and which can be brought together to produce the foaming composition when required.

Preferably, the expansible means further comprises means releasably retaining the bag in a compact folded arrangement when in the deflated condition. The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of several specific embodiments thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic fragmentary side view of an expansible means according to a first embodiment fitted to a boat to provide flotation to the boat in the event of it being in danger of sinking, the expansible means being shown with the bag in a deflated condition;

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of

Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the exception that the bag is shown in an inflated condition;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the exception that the bag is shown in an inflated condition;

Figure 5 is a schematic side view of a mixing chamber for mixing reagents to produce a foam composition for inflating the bag;

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of

Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a schematic side view of an aircraft equipped with several expansion means according to the invention, with each bag in a deflated condition;

Figure 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 of

Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a schematic plan view of the aircraft of

Figure 7 with the bags each shown in an inflated condition.

Referring to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, an expansible means according to the first embodiment is adapted to provide efflective flotation to a boat in the event of the boat being in danger of sinking.

The expansible means is indicated generally by reference numeral 11 and is located at an appropriate position in the vessel 13, such as in the bulkhead. The expansible means 11 comprises a bag 15 formed of resiliently flexible material such as polypropylene. When in a deflated (unexpanded) condition, the bag is neatly folded into a compact arrangement and is retained in such arrangement by locating straps 17 which can be released quickly in the event that the boat requires assistance in remaining afloat. The straps 17 may be arranged to be released manually or automatically upon inflation of the bag.

The bag is adapted to be selectively inflated by an inflation medium in the form of a foamable composition which transforms into a solid mass within the inflated bag. A particularly suitable form of foamable composition is polyeurethane. In this embodiment, the foamable composition is produced from two reagents stored separately in two containers 21 and 22 respectively.

The bag 15 has an opening which communicates with a mixing chamber 23 to which the two containers 21 and 22 are also connected. Means such as release valves 20 are provided for selectively introducing the reagents stored in the two containers 21 and 22 into the mixing chamber 23 to produce the foaming composition. From the mixing chamber 23, the foaming compositions so produced enters the bag 15 to cause inflation thereof. Within the limits to which it can expand, the bag 15 conforms to the space accommodating it and assumes the shape of the hull, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The reagents in the two containers 21 and 22 may be delivered to the mixing chamber 23 by any suitable means. In one arrangement, the containers 21 and 22 may each be fitted with a pump which can be manually operated or power driven to deliver the reagents to the mixing chamber. In another arrangement, the reagents within the containers may be stored under pressure and each —container- may be provided with a discharge valve which can:beropened to permit the reagents to discharge under pressure- .fxrσπε :the container to the mixing chamberr \ Irr s.tilX. anothe -; arrangement, each container may be provided:-, with s^~ε: internal piston or other arrangement, operable to selectively expel the reagent from the ^container-..

While the mixing chamber 23 may be of any suitable construction, a particularly suitable arrangement is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. In the illustrated arrangement, the mixing chamber 23 comprises a housing 25 defining a mixing space 27 in which the reagents may intermix. The housing 25 has a side wall 26, a top wall 28 and a bottom wall 29. Two inlets 31 and 32 are provided for introducing reagents into the bottom section of the mixing chamber 27, each inlet being connected to a respective one of the two containers 21 and 22. The mixing chamber is further provided with an outlet 33 which opens into the mixing space 27 at an upper section thereof and which extends downwardly within the mixing space and passes through the bottom wall 29 of the housing for communication with the bag 15. Because the inlets 31 and 32 are at a lower level within the mixing space than the outlet 33, reagents entering the chamber are required to move upwardly through the mixing space to reach the outlet. Baffles 35 within the housing 25 provide a tortuous path along which the reagents must pass in moving from the inlets to the outlet. The tortuous path ensures proper intermixing of the reagents to form the foaming composition which then discharges through the outlet 33 and into the bag.

Expansible means similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings" may be placed at any one or more other locations in the boat 13 to ensure that the boat has effective flotation in the event of it being in danger of sinking. If an occasion arises where the boat is in danger of sinking, it is merely necessary to release the locating straps 17 and initiate introduction of the two reagents into the mixing chamber so as to produce the foaming composition which then enters the bag 15 to cause inflation thereof. The foaming composition which has entered the bag transforms into a solid mass which provides buoyancy for the boat.

The expansible means according to the invention may be used to provide flotation to other objects in water such as an aircraft which has crashed into a body of water. Referring now to Figures 7 , 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown an aircraft 40 equipped with such expansible means. The expansible means 11 in this embodiment are each of a similar construction to that according to the first embodiment and so similar numerals are used to identify like parts. The expansible means 11 are each accommodated within a cavity 41 in the body 43 of the aircraft. The cavity 41 is closed by a removable panel 45 is arranged to automatically open upon inflation of the bag 15. When inflated, each bag 15 provides a float to provide buoyancy for the aircraft in the body of water.

In another embodiment (which is not shown) , an expansible means according to the invention may be used as a sealing plug in a passageway to prevent the movement of liquid and gases through the passageway. The sealing plug so formed may have various applications but is particularly useful for containing the spread of noxious gases or chemicals and retarding the spread of fire. When the sealing plug is used for fire control purposes, the bag would preferably be constructed of fire retardant material. The sealing plug may also have applications in mine shafts and sewerage systems.

In still another embodiment (which is also not shown) , the expansible means may be used to provide an emergency barricade for law enforcement, military and like applications. In such applications, the bag would preferably be constructed of high strength material such as Kevlar.

From the foregoing, it is evident that the present invention provides an expansible means which can produce a mass of solid material contained within a bag for use in a variety of applications.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiment described.

Claims

THE CLAIMS defining the invention are as follows:-

1. An expansible means comprising a deflated bag, a supply of an inflation medium, and means operable to introduce the inflation medium into the bag to cause inflation thereof, the inflation medium transforming into a solid mass when in the inflated bag.

2. An expansible means according to claim 1 wherein the inflation medium comprises a foamable composition.

3. An expansible means according to claim 2 wherein the foaming composition is produced from reagents which are stored separately and which can be selectively brought together to produce the foamable composition.

4. An expansible means according to claim 1 further comprising a mixing chamber in which the reagents can be brought together, the interior of the bag communicating with the mixing chamber.

5. An expansible means according to claim 4 wherein the mixing chamber comprises a mixing space having upper and lower sections, inlet means for introducing the reagents into the lower section, outlet means opening into the upper section, and means providing a tortuous pass between the inlet means and outlet means to facilitate mixing of the reagents to form the foamable composition.

6. An expansible means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the foamable composition comprises polyeurethane.

7. An expansible means according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising means releasably retaining the bag in a compact folded arrangement when in a deflated condition.

8. An expansible means according to claim 7 wherein said means are adapted to automatically release the bag upon inflation of the bag.

9. An expansible means substantially as hereindescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A watercraft equipped with means for assisting protection thereof, said means comprising an expansible means according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. An aircraft equipped with means for assisting flotation thereof in the event of crashing into a body of water, said means comprising an expansible means according to any one of claims 1 to 9.