Patent ID: 11912384
Assignee: nan
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  F | IPC B

Claim 10:
11. A method of inflating a flotation apparatus comprising
a) covering an automated inflation device with an aqueous medium, wherein the automated inflation device comprises
i) a housing with a cover, wherein the housing and cover are joined to each other with a watertight seal, and the housing has a first opening able to attach to a gas cylinder and second opening able to attach to a valve of a flotation apparatus;
ii) a manual release having a handle and a pull cord, wherein the manual release is connected to a manual release cam inside the housing;
iii) a trigger mechanism having a circuit board that is connected to a battery and at least one sensor, wherein the circuit board and the battery are enclosed within the housing, and the at least one sensor extends outside of the housing and is capable of detecting a presence of an aqueous medium;
iv) an automatic release mechanism having
(1) a plunger arm that has a near end mounted on a first pivot pin and is constrained axially by the housing and cover,
(2) a plunger arm stop that has a near end mounted on a second pivot pin and is constrained axially by the housing and cover, and
(3) a plunger arm spring that has a first end engaged with the far end of the plunger arm and tension is applied to the plunger arm, wherein the plunger arm stop is engaged with the far end of the plunger arm and prevents an inactive plunger arm from rotating about the first pivot pin;

v) a piercing assembly having at least one O-ring and a piercing pin capable of penetrating an aperture of the gas cylinder;
vi) a fusible link having a first affixing feature at a near end, a second affixing feature at a far end;
vii) a resistance wire that is attached to or surrounds the fusible link;

b) activating the sensor to signal the circuit board that an aqueous medium has been detected;
c) causing a current to be sent from the battery to the resistance wire such that the fusible link is stretched, broken, or melted;
d) causing the plunger arm to rotate the plunger arm stop about its pivot pin counterclockwise such that the plunger is released within the cylinder plunger assembly;
e) allowing the plunger to pierce an aperture of a gas cylinder that is attached to the automated inflation device such that gas is released from the gas cylinder through the cylinder plunger assembly; and
f) allowing the released gas to enter into the flotation apparatus through a valve of the flotation apparatus and cause a flotation bladder of the flotation apparatus to inflate.