Buoyancy unit for vehicle - comprises envelopes inflated from air bottles and emerging from compartments when vehicle lands in water

摘要

The buoyancy unit for a vehicle is intended to be brought into action when the vehicle inadvertently lands in the water to keep it afloat and prevent it from capsizing. It comprises compartments containing inflatable envelopes connected to pressurised air or gas vessels with piercing elements actuated by actuators. The compartments are arranged to open their covers on inflation to enable the inflated envelopes to emerge partly from the compartments. The covers may be held in the closed position by a latch which contains an element which fractures under predetermined pressure exerted by the inflating envelopes. The compartments may be arranged on the roof and in the sides of the vehicle.