Search

EP-4739168-A1 - OPTIMIZED INFLATABLE FLEXIBLE STRUCTURE

EP4739168A1EP 4739168 A1EP4739168 A1EP 4739168A1EP-4739168-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an inflatable structure comprising at least one leak-tight inflatable flexible chamber (1) able to be filled with an inflation fluid (4) at a nominal pressure (P), and a flexible drain (5), the flexible drain (5) being permeable to the inflation fluid (4) and able to maintain the circulation of the inflation fluid (4) between its two fixed ends (As and Bs) of the inflatable structure when a pressure greater than the nominal pressure (P) is applied to at least one part of the inflatable structure, such that the inflation fluid (4) is prevented from circulating between the ends (As and Bs) of the leak-tight inflatable flexible chamber (1) except via the flexible drain (5).

Inventors

  • LHOSPITALIER, Jean-François

Assignees

  • COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240701

Claims (13)

  1. 1. Inflatable structure comprising: • at least one flexible inflatable sealed chamber (1) capable of being filled with an inflation fluid (4) at a nominal pressure P, via at least one access (6) to the sealed chamber, the chamber having in its inflated state a section of smaller length Le, • a flexible drain (5), of a section S of greater length Ld, having at least two ends As and B fixed in the sealed chamber (1), • characterized in that the drain (5) is permeable to the inflation fluid (4) and capable of maintaining the circulation of the inflation fluid between the two ends As and Bs of the sealed chamber (1), when a pressure greater than the nominal pressure P is applied to at least part of the structure such that the inflation fluid is prevented from circulating between the ends As and Bs of the sealed chamber (1) except by the drain (5). • In that the drain (5) has a volume flow rate under nominal pressure at least equal to 1 m 3 /h.
  2. 2. Inflatable structure according to claim 1 in which the inflation fluid (4) is a gas, preferably an inert gas, such as nitrogen, or air.
  3. 3. Inflatable structure according to any one of claims 1 or 2 in which the drain (5) is elastic and its compression modulus is at most equal to IMPa, preferably less than 0.1 MPa.
  4. 4. Inflatable structure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the drain (5) is a three-dimensional fabric, called 3D fabric, or a foam, or an opening or multi-perforated pipe.
  5. 5. Inflatable structure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the volume of the drain (5) represents at most 10% of the volume of the sealed chamber in its inflated state at nominal pressure.
  6. 6. Inflatable structure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the drain (5) has a thickness at atmospheric pressure at most equal to 5 cm, preferably 2 cm.
  7. 7. Inflatable structure according to any one of the preceding claims in which one of the ends of the drain is at a distance at most equal to 10 cm from an access (6) to the sealed chamber (1).
  8. 8. Inflatable structure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the length of the drain (5) is at most equal to 1.5 times the curvilinear distance between the ends As and Bs in the sealed chamber.
  9. 9. Inflatable structure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the greatest length Ld of the section S of the drain (5) is at least less than 0.25 times the small length Le of the section of the sealed chamber (1).
  10. 10. Inflatable structure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the drain (5) is located in the sealed chamber (1).
  11. 11. Inflatable structure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the drain (5) allows the circulation of the inflation fluid at any point of the drain located between the two ends As and B s.
  12. 12. Method for deflating an inflatable structure according to one of the preceding claims, by compressing the structure or by pumping the inflation fluid, in which a pressure greater than the inflation pressure is applied to the inflatable structure between the ends of the drain As and Bs, preventing the inflation fluid (4) from circulating for an instant between the ends As and Bs except through the drain, the inflation fluid (4) circulates at least at this instant through the drain (5) from one of the ends As or Bs towards the access (6) to the sealed chamber (1).
  13. 13. Method for inflating an inflatable structure according to one of the preceding claims by the use of a pump or a compressor in which a pressure greater than the inflation pressure is applied for an instant to the inflatable structure between the ends of the drain As and Bs, preventing the inflation fluid from circulating between the ends As and Bs except through the drain, the inflation fluid circulating at this instant through the drain from the access to the sealed chamber towards one of the ends As or Bs.

Description

Description Title: Optimized inflatable soft structure [0001] The present invention relates to the field of inflatable objects or structures, more particularly of the type comprising at least one inflatable tube, such as buoys, mattresses, tubes and more particularly large inflatable structures, parts of the framework of enclosures, shelters or tents when covered with a canvas, or comprising one or more inflatable tubes used in the manufacture of furniture or floating objects. [0002] In this field, inflatable structures are known comprising a frame comprising airtight inflatable tubes or, more generally, without any implied shape, airtight inflatable chambers most often contained in a structural envelope comprising a reinforcing fabric or merging with the structural envelope in the case of fabrics made airtight by impregnation of a airtight matrix. The inflatable chambers are most often provided with inflation valves which are a form of access but not necessarily or only, the structure being able to be maintained under pressure by being connected to a pump regulating a nominal pressure or operating pressure proposed by the manufacturer of the structure, for example through a connection tube, the pump compensating for any losses of inflation fluid due to any imperfections in the sealing. After inflation, the airtight chambers ensure the shape and stiffening of the structure. [0003] Some of these structures are self-supporting (FR2980341_Bl, FR3044958Al), once inflated they maintain their shape and support covers or doors, in the case of enclosures or shelters, or they support trays or other furniture elements, in the case of furniture, such as tables or inflatable seats. [0004] These structures may include inflatable or non-inflatable appendages, fabrics, ropes, a whole set of various elements that can interact with the structure and the inflatable chamber(s) and tie knots around a portion of the sealed chamber preventing easy inflation and deflation. Furthermore, even for simple tubes, it is possible to have uses including interactions with objects placed on the middle of the tube when deflated, preventing the inflation of a portion of the tube, access to the sealed chamber of the fluid being, for a portion of the tube prevented by the object exerting pressure, the object applying pressure which can also be an inflatable structure, and in the same way, for deflation. [0005] For example, one of the common problems with inflatable appendages is that during deployment of the structure or storage of the structure, the appendage twists by making several turns on itself at a point of flexibility. On a conventional structure, these twists can create sub-chambers that are sealed against the rest of the inflatable structure and require human intervention on a structure that has not finished inflating and is therefore potentially unstable and on which it is therefore difficult to intervene. [0006] The inventors set themselves the objective of solving these problems inherent in flexible inflatable structures which, during their use, inflation or deflation, can create sub-cavities which are sealed against the inflation fluid, the inflation fluid then no longer being able to circulate between said sub-cavity and the rest of the structure, including preventing total or partial inflation or deflation of the structure. [0007] This objective has been achieved, according to the invention, by an inflatable structure comprising: - at least one flexible inflatable sealed chamber capable of being filled with an inflation fluid at a nominal pressure P, via at least one access to the sealed chamber, the chamber having in its inflated state a section of smaller length Le, - a flexible drain, with a section S of greater length Ld, having at least two ends As and B fixed in the sealed chamber, - the drain being permeable to the inflation fluid and capable of maintaining the circulation of the inflation fluid between the two ends As and Bs of the sealed chamber, when a pressure greater than the nominal pressure P is applied to at least part of the structure such that the inflation fluid is prevented from circulating between the ends As and Bs of the sealed chamber except by the drain. [0008] The invention therefore consists in providing a drain making it possible to continue to supply all or part of the sealed chamber located between the ends of the drain As and Bs, even if any object applies a pressure between the ends of the drain As and Bs on all or part of the structure including the drain, pressure higher than the nominal pressure, preventing the circulation of the inflation fluid between the ends As and Bs of the drain in the inflation chamber outside the drain. This means that the drain remains permeable to the inflation fluid even when compressed to a pressure higher than the nominal or use pressure. Preferably, the drain remains permeable to the inflation fluid even when compressed to a pressure equal to the burst pressure