Survival Engineering, Inc.

Robert L Swanson

John R Lind

A life raft inflation valve has a body with a bore extending therethrough. A threaded gas intake fitting is on the body and communicates with the bore. An elongated valve spool is slidably mounted in the bore and normally closes the gas intake fitting. A lanyard is operatively connected within the lanyard fitting to the spool for longitudinally moving the spool in the bore to open the gas intake fitting. A lanyard fitting has a rounded or flared shoulder at its discharge end to facilitate the longitudinal movement of the spool by pulling on the lanyard even if it is pulled outwardly at an angle to the center axis of the bore.

Life raft inflation valve

A raft inflation valve has an elongated valve body with first and second ends, and a center bore. A cylindrical member has first and second ends slidably mounted in the center bore. A spring urges the cylindrical member towards the first end of the valve body. An arm is pivotally secured to the first end of the valve body to engage the first end of the cylinder member, and to move the cylinder member towards the second end of the valve body. A cutting element is on the second end of the cylinder member. A pressure gas filled vessel is secured to the second end of the valve body and has a gas discharge port. A seal member is on the gas discharge port of the vessel and is punctured by the cutting element when the arm moves the cylinder member towards the second end of the valve body. A space is in the center bore around the second end of the cylinder member. An annular groove is on the outside of the valve body in communication with the space. O-rings are above and below the annular groove and equal gas pressure is exerted against each O-ring. A coupling having a center bore rotatably extends over the annular groove, and has a gas outlet. A gas coupling is on the gas outlet for attachment to a gas fitting on a raft structure.

Inflation valve assembly for liferafts

A topping and dumping valve is provided for inflating and deflating inflatable structures, such as life rafts and military assault boats. The valve includes a first cylindrical body mounted in the inflatable structure, and a second cylindrical body threadably mounted in the first body for movement between first and second positions. In the first position, air is directed through a passageway in the second body and through inflation ports in the first body so as to move a normally closed flapper seal out of sealing engagement with the inflation ports, thereby inflating the buoyancy chamber of the structure. When the second body is in the second position, deflation ports in the first body allow air from the buoyancy chamber to escape through the deflation ports and the passageway in the second body to the atmosphere. A protective cap is provided for closing the passageway in the second body when the valve is not being used during inflation and deflation of the inflatable structure.

Topping and dumping valve for inflatable structures

A swivel valve has a valve body having an elongated bore with both the valve body and the bore having first and second ends. A gas or fluid port is located in the first end of the valve body and is in communication with the first end of the bore. A passageway extends from the second end of the bore and terminates in an annular groove extending around the outer surface of the valve body. A swivel connection is rotatably mounted on the valve body around said annular groove and has a passageway in communication with the annular groove. Sealing rings are located on opposite sides of the annular groove to prevent the escape of gas from the groove to the atmosphere between the swivel connection and the outer surface of the valve body, and to equalize the gas pressure forces on the swivel connection.

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Ham Lake, MN, United States of America

Robert L Swanson