Patent ID: 8066493

Claim:
In combination with an inflatable object such as an aircraft evacuation slide or raft, an aspirator for inflating the inflatable object comprising: a housing having an intake end and an exhaust end, the intake end including a check valve being moveable from an open position for admitting entrance of atmospheric air into said housing to a closed position for preventing air from escaping said housing; a collapsible aspirator barrel comprising an inflatable support member which, when inflated, expands to form a substantially rigid tube having an inner lumen with a first end operatively attached to the exhaust end of said housing and a second end operatively attached to an inlet port of the inflatable object, said collapsible aspirator barrel further comprising an inlet port adapted to receive a source of pressurized gas for inflating the inflatable support member; and a nozzle assembly disposed within said housing proximal the exhaust end of said housing, said nozzle assembly comprising an inlet capable of receiving a source of pressurized gas and an outlet comprising a nozzle exit directed into the first end of the inner lumen of said collapsible barrel.