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Using Air Pumps To Inflate Demo Lifejacket


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#1 Westie

Westie

    West African Cichlid fan

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  • Location: Hammond Park

Posted 19 May 2017 - 10:30 AM

Hi everyone,

 

I was chatting to one of the guys at work about the price of co2 bottles for lifejackets, which led to the discussion on cost cutting for educational purposes. I was thinking about rigging something to show how a lifejacket looks when it inflates. Rather than spending $30 a pop every time I need to replace the bottle.

 

Is there a way I can hook up an air pump with an air line and the thread fitting like what is on a lifejacket co2 bottle so I can demonstrate an inflated lifejacket without having to spend all that money on new co2 bottles? Just turn the air pump on, bladder on the lifejacket inflates, and switch the power off on the air pump when the bladder is full. Then I can deflate the jacket, fold and pack the bladder, then inflate again.

 

Here's a lifejacket on a mannequin:

 3553C2DF-B5E3-474D-ADB6-E9335CCAB752_zps

 

And here's the thread on the co2 bottle for this jacket:

F2DBC243-272E-4551-9016-0A8618562C63_zps

 

The automatic jackets I use are all 33gram bottles. The other thought was using a big co2 bottle with a regulator set to use the same amount of co2 as a 33g bottle would use on activation. Not sure if that would be possible.

 

Would love to hear peoples thoughts on this.

 

Is there a sponsor fish shop that would like to work on this with me? As long as you take credit card, I can pay for time and parts.

 

Thanks,

Jason



#2 humbug

humbug
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  • Location: Adelaide, South Australia

Posted 19 May 2017 - 11:03 AM

Air pumps produce relatively low output pressure. They may or may not be sufficient for your needs. 

I'm guessing a cylinder of CO2 or oxygen might be a better bet.  Bunnings have a swap and go system with industrial oxy bottles which works out relatively cheaply, but you need to pay a deposit up front.  They may also be able to help you out with fittings.  Flammability issues may be of concern using oxy though. 



#3 BigSkip

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  • Joined: 22-October 15
  • Location: St James

Posted 19 May 2017 - 12:43 PM

Id be careful, you need to know the pressure and the volume of gas that the cylinders put out. using that info you could rig up a system using a storage vessel, you may be able to reuse one of the little CO2 cannisters, and a small ball valve (make sure its pressure rate). attach to a larger cylinder, pressurise to spec, close the valve, disconnect and then connect to the jacket. open the valve again to inflate. rinse and repeat.

If you have too much volume or pressure coming through you risk busting the jacket.

I would avoid Brass fitting for this, Stainless steel would be best. A company called Hylok do very high quality fittings, at a very good price for the type and rating of the fittings they provide.

I do alot of pressure pipe work for various scientific gases at both high and low pressure at work, so if you need some advice give me a bell.



#4 chrishaigh82

chrishaigh82
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  • Joined: 02-February 16
  • Location: South Perth / Canning Vale

Posted 19 May 2017 - 10:46 PM

Hi everyone,

 

I was chatting to one of the guys at work about the price of co2 bottles for lifejackets, which led to the discussion on cost cutting for educational purposes. I was thinking about rigging something to show how a lifejacket looks when it inflates. Rather than spending $30 a pop every time I need to replace the bottle.

 

Is there a way I can hook up an air pump with an air line and the thread fitting like what is on a lifejacket co2 bottle so I can demonstrate an inflated lifejacket without having to spend all that money on new co2 bottles? Just turn the air pump on, bladder on the lifejacket inflates, and switch the power off on the air pump when the bladder is full. Then I can deflate the jacket, fold and pack the bladder, then inflate again.

 

Here's a lifejacket on a mannequin:

 3553C2DF-B5E3-474D-ADB6-E9335CCAB752_zps

 

And here's the thread on the co2 bottle for this jacket:

F2DBC243-272E-4551-9016-0A8618562C63_zps

 

The automatic jackets I use are all 33gram bottles. The other thought was using a big co2 bottle with a regulator set to use the same amount of co2 as a 33g bottle would use on activation. Not sure if that would be possible.

 

Would love to hear peoples thoughts on this.

 

Is there a sponsor fish shop that would like to work on this with me? As long as you take credit card, I can pay for time and parts.

 

Thanks,

Jason

 

 

If its for demo perhaps a lower PSI cycle set up would inflate it to 90%  

 

http://www.cellbikes...rtridge-50-Pack

 

I know on my road bike the 16g cartridges inflate to full psi but on my mountain bike they inflate so they look full but not hard and a second unit fills it.

 

here is a 45 gram pack thats 2 for the price of your one.

 

http://www.cellbikes.com.au/Genuine-Innovations-45-gram-Threaded-CO2-Cartridge-2-Pack 


Edited by chrishaigh82, 19 May 2017 - 10:48 PM.





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