Revere 45-AE4V, Service Manual

Page: 38 / 234

Oct 21/16
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9101
Inflation System
Offshore Elite rafts have four air-holding compartments: upper and lower buoyancy tubes, a
canopy arch-tube, and a boarding ramp. The upper buoyancy tube is pneumatically connected to
the inflatable arch-tube while the lower buoyancy tube is pneumatically connected to the boarding
ramp.
Coastal and Aero Elite rafts have two air holding compartments: the buoyancy tube and the
canopy arch-tube. While the buoyancy tube is pneumatically connected to the inflatable arch-
tube, it is additionally divided into two sub-compartments by two vertical, internal bulkheads.
Should one compartment develop a leak, the other compartment would remain airtight.
Both rafts are constructed with pressure release valves (IPL Fig. 1, Item 60) to prevent over
inflation and tube bursting. Elite rafts are also equipped with manual topping-off valves (IPL Fig.
1, Items 30/30A) which can be used to provide additional inflation with the hand pump provided,
or as inflation points for testing and service.
The gas inflation system (See Fig. 4) consists of a DOT approved CO
2
/N
2
gas cylinder (IPL Fig. 2,
Items 20-20C) and an inflation valve (IPL Fig. 2, Item 10)., stowed in a pocket at the rear of the
raft. The inflation valve is fitted to the cylinder to control the activation of the life raft. Inflation
is initiated by pulling on the Painterline which is attached to the pull cable toggle of the inflation
valve.
Upon activation, compressed gas from the cylinder flows through the inflation valve into the
buoyancy tubes through two inlet check valves (IPL Fig. 1, Items 40/50). Gas is delivered equally
to both upper and lower buoyancy tubes on the Offshore Elite or both sub-compartments of the
buoyancy tube on the Coastal Elite.
Non-return transfer valves provide interconnection and damage control between the inflatable
compartments of the buoyancy tube and the arch-tube.