30 results about "Inflatable raft" patented technology

An emergency floatation system associated with a landing gear of a rotorcraft comprising at least a float unit and a raft module. The float unit is formed by a base and a float cover with an inflatable float being positioned therebetween. The raft module is formed with a raft compartment adapted to receive an inflatable raft in the packed condition thereof. The raft module is supported on the float by the base. The raft is adapted for inflation and deployment from the raft module independently of the float deployment.

An inflatable floor for an inflatable boat acts as a keel using three inflatable floor layers. The uppermost first inflatable floor layer has a planar cross section. The second inflatable floor layer is located under the first inflatable floor layer. The third inflatable floor layer is located under the second inflatable floor layer. A plurality of threads are provided, in an X- or I-like configuration, inside air chambers of the three inflatable floor layers. The threads link the upper and lower walls of the air chamber of each respective inflatable floor layer to each other. The inflatable floor has increased buoyancy and stiffness, is easy to fold and transport and is easy and economical to repair or replace and thus is easily applicable to a large military or rescue inflatable boat.

There is disclosed a flotation device such as a life vest or inflatable raft for keeping a user afloat when in water, the flotation device comprising a light source attached to the flotation device, a water activated switch, wherein the light source is illuminated when the water activated switch is submersed in the water, and a control panel mounted to an outer surface of the flotation device and comprised of at least one user activated switch, wherein the light source is extinguished when the user activated switch is depressed, the control panel having instructions printed thereon.

Apparatus for helping a person survive on a cold body of water includes a suit capable of covering at least a substantial portion of the user's body while allowing the user to move and work out of water. An inflatable raft is provided to hold and support the person on water when the raft has been inflated. The raft in a deflated state is foldable into a compact configuration and is sufficiently light in weight to be carried on a back of the person out of water. There is a raft holder adapted to hold the raft in its compact state and adapted for carrying on the suit. The raft can be tethered to the suit or the raft holder.

This invention provides an attachment for inflatable watercraft such as inflatable rafts to render such watercraft more suitable for sports fishing. The attachment includes a swivelable seat mounted at a convenient height for fishing, oarlocks mounted at the optimum position for rowing while seated, and, in the preferred embodiment, means for deploying an anchor or drag to keep the watercraft in the desired location. The attachment is mounted on and supported by the gunwales of the inflatable watercraft, to distribute the weight of the attachment and its user over as wide an area as possible in order to enhance the stability of the watercraft in use.

An inflatable life raft having one or more air channels forming a generally rectangular shaped body when the raft is unfolded and inflated. Valves in fluid communication with the air channels for inflating and deflating the life raft. A storage carrier is integrally constructed with the life raft for storing the folded normally deflated life raft so that the raft can be easily carried, transported, and automatically deployed. The inflatable raft includes a waterproof pouch releasably attached to the raft for storing items such as a rope, flare launcher, strobe light, glow sticks, and whistle. A tether couples the life raft to a user, and a plurality of reflectors is attached to the surface of the inflatable life raft. A replaceable gas cylinder, and manual hand pump are operatively coupled to the valves for automatically or manually inflating the life raft.

An emergency pod configured for use with a rotary wing aircraft is provided including a rigid, generally hollow shell. The shell includes a movable portion configured to move between a closed position and an open position. An inflatable raft is arranged within an interior portion of the hollow shell. The life raft is coupled to an inflation mechanism. A first activation device and a second activation device are operably coupled to the inflation mechanism. The first activation device and the second activation device are configured to operate the inflation mechanism to initiation inflation of the life raft when a force is applied thereto.

An inflatable floor for an inflatable boat acts as a keel using three inflatable floor layers. The uppermost first inflatable floor layer has a planar cross section. The second inflatable floor layer is located under the first inflatable floor layer. The third inflatable floor layer is located under the second inflatable floor layer. A plurality of threads are provided, in an X- or I-like configuration, inside air chambers of the three inflatable floor layers. The threads link the upper and lower walls of the air chamber of each respective inflatable floor layer to each other. The inflatable floor has increased buoyancy and stiffness, is easy to fold and transport and is easy and economical to repair or replace and thus is easily applicable to a large military or rescue inflatable boat.

An inflatable life raft having one or more air channels forming a generally rectangular shaped body when the raft is unfolded and inflated. Valves in fluid communication with the air channels for inflating and deflating the life raft. The inflatable raft includes a waterproof pouch releasably attached to the raft for storing items such as a rope, flare launcher, strobe light, glow sticks, and whistle. An ankle tether couples the life raft to a user, and a plurality of reflectors are attached to the surface of the inflatable life raft. For added convenience, a storage means is integrally constructed with the life raft for storing the folded normally deflated life raft so that the raft can be easily carried and transported. A replaceable gas cylinder, and manual hand pump are operatively coupled to the valves for automatically or manually inflating the life raft.

An improved cross over valve for use in conjunction with inflatable devices such as life rafts, escape slides, white water rafts, kayaks, etc. The invention is specifically a cross over valve for inflatable rafts and the like where the valve fluidly connects at least two separate compartments in the inflatable device thereby allowing inflation of the multiple compartments while also providing control of fluid flow therebetween.

The invention generally relates to devices for stabilizing floating structures and systems and methods utilizing such stabilization devices. Some embodiments of the stabilization device include a fabric material having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The expanded configuration of the fabric material may form a column of the fabric material. The column of fabric material may define an internal volume. The front end of the column of fabric material may be closed, and the back end of the column of fabric material may define an opening for receiving water for filling the internal volume. When filled with water, the stabilization device may improve roll stabilization of a floating structure. The floating structure may be a flotation device of an emergency flotation system, boat, or inflatable raft, for example. The emergency flotation system may be used with aircraft, (e.g., helicopters) to provide stabilization when the aircraft is ditched in water.

An improved valve and manifold for use in conjunction with inflatable devices such as life rafts, escape slides, white water rafts, kayaks, etc. The invention is specifically an internal cross over valve for inflatable rafts and the like where the valve fluidly connects at least two separate compartments in the inflatable device thereby allowing inflation of the multiple compartments while also providing control of fluid flow therebetween.

The present invention is a device to be used in emergency situations requiring floatation and rescue. An inflatable raft with a waterproof cover is connected to a telescopic shaft equipped with electric generators and wind catchers. The electricity, which is produced powers a motor and propeller underneath and outside the raft.

The invention relates to the technical field of unmanned aerial vehicles, in particular to a water operation unmanned aerial vehicle comprises an unmanned aerial vehicle, a working cabin, a supportingframe, an inflatable raft, an inflation mechanism and an air extraction mechanism; the working cabin is fixedly installed at the bottom end of the unmanned aerial vehicle; the top of the working cabin is attached to the bottom of the unmanned aerial vehicle; the working cabin is of a hollow box body structure; the supporting frame is arranged below the working cabin and is provided with a plurality of connecting rods, is fixedly connected with the working cabin through the plurality of connecting rods and is provided with an accommodating groove; the inflatable raft is arranged in the accommodating groove; in a working state, the inflatable raft is arranged on the outer side of the supporting frame, is provided with a plurality of inflation channels and air extraction channels and is in tightness connection with the inflation mechanism and the air extraction mechanism through the inflation channels and the air extraction channels respectively; and the inflation mechanism and the air extraction mechanism are both arranged in the working cabin. The water operation unmanned aerial vehicle solves the disadvantages that a conventional unmanned aerial vehicle cannot fall and stay on thewater surface as well as is small in operation range and low in operation efficiency.

Fatalities from hypothermia and exposure are increasing each year due to the vast popularity of paddle sports such as: kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, etc. A lightweight inflatable self-rescue raft stored aboard with the present invention attached to the underside, can greatly reduce such fatalities.The sponge-ballast system is a stabilization system that aids a person in the water to make a quick self-rescue boarding of any lightweight inflatable raft of any size or shape avoiding fatigue and hypothermia.The system comprised of highly compressed sponge contained in permeable enclosures, which enclosures in turn are secured to the underside of an inflatable raft, which the compressed sponge, upon contact with water, rapidly absorbs water through the openings and quickly expands providing prompt, sufficient weight and ballast for a wet person to climb aboard a raft as light as 5 pounds. The present invention used 20 compressed sponges to achieve such results.

The invention generally relates to devices for stabilizing floating structures and systems and methods utilizing such stabilization devices. Some embodiments of the stabilization device include a fabric material having a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. The expanded configuration of the fabric material may form a column of the fabric material. The column of fabric material may define an internal volume. The front end of the column of fabric material may be closed, and the back end of the column of fabric material may define an opening for receiving water for filling the internal volume. When filled with water, the stabilization device may improve roll stabilization of a floating structure. The floating structure may be a flotation device of an emergency flotation system, boat, or inflatable raft, for example. The emergency flotation system may be used with aircraft, (e.g., helicopters) to provide stabilization when the aircraft is ditched in water.

According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes an outer shell having a shape substantially similar to a weapon. The outer shell is configured to be coupled to an aircraft at a weapon attachment point. The apparatus further includes one or more electrical connections configured to be coupled to a weapons control system of the aircraft. The apparatus further includes a life support package comprising an inflatable raft and a stabilization system configured to stabilize the inflatable raft in water.

The invention discloses a folding inflatable raft. The folding inflatable raft comprises an inflatable raft body, a keel, supports, a boom cylinder, a mounting base, a lifting cylinder, a lifting cylinder base, a control cylinder, a control cylinder base, a hinge pin, fastening bolts and connecting plates, wherein the surface of the inflatable raft body is provided with a plurality of reinforcingcloth rings and insertion openings; the supports are fixedly installed on the two sides of the keel in order through the fastening bolts; the boom cylinder is installed on the keel in a sleeving modein order through a spline shaft and the fastening bolts, the lifting cylinder base is sleeved with the lifting cylinder, and the control cylinder base is sleeved with the control cylinder; and the mounting base is fixedly installed on the side face of a vehicle body in order, the lifting cylinder base is fixedly installed on the connecting plates 12 in order, and the control cylinder base is fixedly installed at the bottom of the vehicle body in order. The folding inflatable raft is scientific in design, compact in structure, reliable in performance, convenient to assemble and disassemble andlow in cost, and can be matched with various wheel-type or crawler-type amphibious vehicles and ordinary engineering vehicles, thereby better meeting the urgent demand of home and abroad for manufacturing and refitting the various amphibious vehicles.

The invention discloses an inflatable raft foldable mountaineering bag. A cutting groove is formed in the upper surface of the right end of a main bag; a telescopic rod is arranged in the cutting groove, and is arranged in a casing pipe; a sealing block is arranged on the telescopic rod, and is connected with the casing pipe in a matching manner; mounting bases are arranged on the lower surface of the left end of the main bag; a roller is arranged in a mounting hole of each mounting base; a zipper groove is formed in the middle of the upper surface of the main bag; main zipper teeth are arranged on the side wall of the zipper groove, so that a knapsack and the main bag are mutually combined or separated; when the single main bag or the single knapsack is needed, the knapsack can be detached from the main bag, thus obtaining the single main bag or the single knapsack and facilitating carrying and utilization; when the main bag is integrally opened, and four inflating inner containers are inflated by matching the telescopic rod with the casing pipe, functions of an inflatable raft can be realized; the telescopic rod and the knapsack can be connected with each other to be used for a paddle, so that multiple functions of one bag are realized.

The invention discloses a collective life raft used for ship navigation. The collective life raft used for ship navigation comprises an inflatable raft bottom. The inflatable raft bottom is composed of multiple gas bag units. Gas tension releasing channels are arranged between the adjacent gas bag units. Elastic blocking rods are arranged in the gas bag units. The two ends of each elastic blockingrod are provided with plugs capable of blocking the corresponding gas tension releasing channels on the two sides. Retainer rings are arranged on the inner sides of the plugs. An inflation port is formed in the inflatable raft bottom. The edge portion of the upper surface of the inflatable raft bottom is surrounded by an inflation enclosure ring. In the collective life raft, when the gas bag units are inflated with gas, the gas tension releasing channels can be tightly blocked through the plugs on the elastic blocking rods, the multiple elastic blocking rods mutually act, so that the inflatable raft bottom is tightly supported, the whole life raft is stable in structure and unlikely to be overturned, when the gas in the gas bag units is drawn out, the elastic blocking rods are loosened, the whole life raft is easy to store and carry, and the whole raft is simple in structure and convenient to use and can contain multiple people.

The invention discloses multifunctional inflation equipment which is characterized by comprising an angle adjusting mechanism, a wireless controller and a propeller. The wireless controller is used for being wirelessly and externally connected with a mobile phone so as to enable the angle adjusting mechanism to drive a driving motor to reverse and adjust the rotating speed of the propeller driven by the driving motor. The equipment has the following beneficial effects that when the equipment is used, a user assembles the support and an inflatable raft, starts a power supply, rapidly inflates the inflatable raft through the inflation pump, places the inflatable raft on the water and drives the propeller through the driving motor so that the inflatable raft runs on the water and the equipment be carried about for rescuing people.

A life raft system including a life raft assembly including a mounting bracket having a base and an awning, an upper lateral support having a latching mechanism and deployment cable, a lower lateral support comprising a hinge-member, a self-inflatable raft having a housing, an inflator, an inflator cable, and a raft securing cable, and a cover chute. The life raft system is a residential and commercial life saving device for urban and rural area homes as well as commercial building structures that could be at risk to rising flood waters. The device may be mounted to a structure such as a home or building as a precaution. The device provides a family or group of people with the ability to flee to higher ground when disaster occurs, preventing loss of life and offering a safe exit from an affected area.

There is disclosed a flotation device such as a life vest or inflatable raft for keeping a user afloat when in water, the flotation device comprising a light source attached to the flotation device, a water activated switch, wherein the light source is illuminated when the water activated switch is submersed in the water, and a control panel mounted to an outer surface of the flotation device and comprised of at least one user activated switch, wherein the light source is extinguished when the user activated switch is depressed, the control panel having instructions printed thereon.

Implementations of an inflatable raft that has a figure-eight shape are provided. The figure-eight shape serves to stabilize the inflatable raft and allows it to be paddled and maneuvered by a single paddler. In some implementations, the inflatable raft comprises a figure-eight shaped buoyant member, the figure-eight shaped buoyant member defines a front lobe that is connected to a rear lobe by a narrow central section. The inflatable raft also comprises a floor that is connected to the underside of the figure-eight shaped buoyant member. In some implementations, the inflatable raft may further comprise a substantially rigid deck insert configured to rest on the floor and to interlock with the figure-eight shaped buoyant member of the inflatable raft. The deck insert is configured to provide a substantially stable platform for a person using the inflatable raft, and to increase buoyancy and the overall rigidity of the inflatable raft.

A life raft system including a life raft assembly including a mounting bracket having a base and an awning, an upper lateral support having a latching mechanism and deployment cable, a lower lateral support comprising a hinge-member, a self-inflatable raft having a housing, an inflator, an inflator cable, and a raft securing cable, and a cover chute. The life raft system is a residential and commercial life saving device for urban and rural area homes as well as commercial building structures that could be at risk to rising flood waters. The device may be mounted to a structure such as a home or building as a precaution. The device provides a family or group of people with the ability to flee to higher ground when disaster occurs, preventing loss of life and offering a safe exit from an affected area.

An emergency pod configured for use with a rotary wing aircraft is provided including a rigid, generally hollow shell. An inflatable raft is arranged within an interior portion of the hollow shell. The life raft is coupled to an inflation mechanism. A first activation device and a second activation device are operably coupled to the inflation mechanism, the second activation device being disposed within the shell and fastened to a movable portion of the shell, wherein the first activation device and the second activation device operable independently of one another. Inflation of the inflatable raft is initiated when a force is applied to one of the first activation device and the second activation device.

The invention discloses an efficient oil collecting machine for marine environment protection. The efficient oil collecting machine for marine environment protection comprises a boat body, wherein inflatable rafts are fixedly connected with the bottom of the boat body; a poking mechanism is fixedly connected with the left side of the top of the boat body; a driving mechanism is arranged at the position, located at the top of the boat body, of the right side of the poking mechanism in an embedded way; a position limiting groove is formed in the position, located on the surface of the boat body, of the bottom of the driving mechanism; a liquid collecting groove is formed in the position, located on the top of the boat body, of the right side of the position limiting groove; and an oil storage cabin is fixedly connected to the bottom of the right side of the boat body. The efficient oil collecting machine for marine environment protection has the advantages that through the arrangement of the poking mechanism, a structure for poking aside garbage on the sea is arranged on the device; under the rotating effect of a rotating post, a connecting strip drives a poking plate fixedly connected with the connecting strip to rotate; garbage at the front side of the boat body is poked aside, and the influence on the advancing of the boat body is prevented; and meanwhile, a return spring performs contraction operation, the poking plate is driven to move in a reciprocating mode, and certain pushing force is provided for the boat body.

A system and method to facilitate the growth of a plant in a building. The system includes a substrate that is substantially solid, an inflatable raft, or that has an upper member and a lower member with a space therebetween to establish an interior of the substrate. Either form of substrate includes one or more plant retainers and a set of one or more gaseous fluid delivery ports located regularly or irregularly throughout the substrate, including localized in a vicinity of each of the one or more plant retainers. The system further includes a climate delivery subsystem including a gaseous fluid source, a gaseous fluid delivery apparatus, such as a pump and one or more conduits in the substrate, wherein each of the one or more conduits is in communication with each set of the one or more gaseous fluid delivery ports for delivery of the gaseous fluid to an underside of the plant, wherein the one or more conduits are coupled to the gaseous fluid delivery apparatus.