Abstract:
Pin-locking devices are detailed. The devices may be placed atop inflation valves and mechanically interfere with movement of pins associated with the valves. Some versions of the devices are single-piece, rigid discs including through holes and curved protrusions interacting with inflation pins.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to devices designed to prevent actuation of valves and other equipment and more particularly, although not necessarily exclusively, to devices that mechanically interfere with movement of inflation pins associated with vessel escape slides and rafts. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,877 to Shorey, whose contents are incorporated herein in their entirety by this reference, describes one of many possible emergency evacuation systems for vessels such as aircraft. Certain then-existing systems disclosed in the Shorey patent include sources of compressed air for inflating evacuation slides and “relatively complex actuation arrangements for activating the gas supply at a proper time within the system deployment sequence.” See Shorey, col. 2, 11. 21-23. Systems of the Shorey patent likewise utilize cylinders of compressed gas for inflation, with valves supplying the compressed gas being “actuated by trigger lanyards that extend upwardly from the valves.” See id., col. 5, 11. 67-68. The trigger lanyards connect to spring-loaded pins, and pulling of the pins actuate the valves. See id., col. 8, 11. 62-68. To reduce risk of premature inflation of the slides, shear pins are used. See id., col. 6, 11. 7-12. 
         [0003]    Absent from description in the Shorey patent is any means for securing inflation pins in locked positions. Consequently, gas cylinders remain subject to premature deployment during packing, for example. Cylinders also may be inadvertently de-armed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention resolves these issues by providing tools or devices for securing inflation pins in locked positions. Developed principally (but not necessarily exclusively) for C-130 evacuation systems, embodiments of the invention may be constructed of one or more parts to be placed atop inflation valves. A single-part version nevertheless may include multiple features mechanically interfering with movement of the pins. 
         [0005]    At least some versions, for example, comprise circular discs made of machined steel or other relatively rigid material. Each disc may include a protrusion, beneficially shaped generally like a banana, that fits in the travel path of an inflation pin and thereby blocks its movement. A disc also may include a hole designed to hold the inflation pin in place. In versions of the invention designed for use with either left- or right-hand valves, two holes may be included (i.e. one for each type of valve). Yet additionally, the central portion of each disc may have a slightly-sloped edge which, when applied, emits a snapping sound (caused by frictional contact of the disc against a bearing on a valve) to alert an installer that the disc is securely positioned. 
         [0006]    It thus is an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide devices for securing positions of inflation pins. 
         [0007]    It is another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide devices for mechanically interfering with movement of pins of inflation valves. 
         [0008]    It is also an optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide devices, in the form of disks, having features that prevent movement of the pins. 
         [0009]    It is a further optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention to provide devices having grooves, holes, and sloping edges, all assisting in reducing risk of premature release of inflation gas from a container. 
         [0010]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art with reference to the remaining text and the drawings of this application. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of an exemplary device of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a lower side of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of an upper side of the device of  FIG. 1  shown connected to a warning strip. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of portions of a sample gas-supply container together with the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the container of  FIG. 4  and the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 4  and the device of  FIG. 1  together with portions of one or more objects intended to be inflated by the gas within the container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]      FIGS. 1-6  illustrate device  10  exemplary of the present invention. As depicted, device  10  is formed predominantly as an annular disc  12 . Accordingly, device  10  may define outer circumference  14  and inner circumference  18 . Although device  10  beneficially is generally annular so as to interact effectively with container  20  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 4 ), it may be shaped otherwise if useful for interacting with other types of containers. 
         [0018]    At least some versions of device  10  may be made of stainless steel, with a diameter of approximately 1.25″ and a major part approximately 0.070″ thick. As with its shape, however, the material, diameter (or width), and thickness of device  10  may differ as appropriate to achieve any desired objective of its use. Nor need any of these characteristics necessarily be uniform throughout device  10 . 
         [0019]    Device  10  may include (nominally) upper and lower surfaces  22  and  26 , respectively, each beneficially being substantially planar. Extending through device  10  may be at least one hole, with two such holes  30 A and  30 B clearly shown in  FIGS. 2-4 . Device  10  additionally may include protrusion  34  extending (nominally) downward from lower surface  26 . Collectively, a hole ( 30 A or  30 B) and protrusion  34  act to inhibit premature deployment of gas from container  20 . Although presently-preferred versions of device  10  include both protrusion  34  and at least one hole, other versions may omit one or the other of these features. 
         [0020]    Also optionally included as part of device  10  is bracket  38 . Bracket  38 , if present, may extend (nominally) upward from upper surface  22 . The bracket  38  may receive ring R in order to connect it to warning strip W as illustrated in  FIGS. 3-6 . As shown especially in  FIG. 3 , bracket  38  may be soldered or welded onto upper surface  22 , although other attachment techniques may be employed instead. 
         [0021]      FIGS. 2 and 4  illustrate a presently-preferred shape of protrusion  34 . As illustrated, protrusion  34  resembles the shape of a banana. Indeed, at least some versions of protrusion  34  may have curved, spaced, parallel major sides  42 A-B together with curved ends  46 A-B, although other shapes may be utilized instead as necessary or desired. Protrusion  34  beneficially is machined together with disc  12  of device  10 , although it may be welded or soldered onto (or otherwise attached to) lower surface  26 . 
         [0022]    Container  20  typically comprises a conventional cylinder  50  or similar structure containing compressed gas. Valve assembly  54  including pin  58  and disc  60  may be part of container  20 , with disc  60  including a banana-shaped groove  62 . Illustrated in  FIGS. 4-5  is that both pin  58  and disc  60  are present in circular recess  64  of assembly  54 . Arming of the valve assembly  54  involves moving pin  58  from a first end  66  to a second end  70  of groove  62  (or, for some containers, moving pin  58  from second end  70  to first end  66 ). Upon arming, container C is available to deploy gas to inflate objects  74  such as (but not limited to) escape slides or rafts. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 4-5  detail interaction of device  10  with valve assembly  54 . In particular, device  10  may be fitted snugly into recess  64 , with pin  58  protruding through one of holes  30 A or  30 B and protrusion  34  fitted into groove  62 . Together, protrusion  34  and pin  58  (essentially) fill the space available within groove  62 , preventing any material movement of the pin  58  in the groove and hence locking it in position. Accordingly, when device  10  is in place, pin  58  is restricted to its starting position (at either first end  66  or second  70 ) and thus cannot move in a manner inadvertently arming valve assembly  54 . 
         [0024]    If desired, inner circumference  18  may include a slightly sloped edge, allowing a snap fitting as it frictionally contacts central edge  78  of valve assembly  54 . When arming of valve assembly  54  is desirable, device  10  need merely be removed to allow movement of pin  58 . Such removal itself may occur easily, merely by pulling warning strip W sufficiently to overcome the frictional engagement of device  10  with recess  64 . 
         [0025]    The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.