| 摘要 |
<p>An inflator for automatically inflating an inflatable article, such as a personal flotation vest, upon immersion in water. A plunger (50, 250, 462) carrying a piercing pin (56, 260, 466) is mounted in a housing (12, 212, 412) and is movable with respect to a pressurized gas canister (18, 218, 420) removably attached to the housing. A pair of spaced water sensor probes (40, 240, 450) provide a signal to a control device mounted within the housing when immersed in water. The control device automatically activates a force generating mechanism (62, 270, 570) to drive the piercing pin (56, 260, 466) on the plunger into the canister to release the pressurized gas through the housing to the inflatable article attached to the housing. A manual lanyard (132, 320, 570) is coupled with the plunger (50, 250, 462) to drive the piercing pin (56, 260, 466) into the canister (18, 218, 420) when the lanyard is manually pulled. An externally rotatable cap (284, 504) on the housing resets the force generating mechanism (62, 270, 480).</p> |
