Mustang Survival MD1127 Design and Construction, Inflation System, Inflation Cell, Fasteners

B.The MD1127 Life preserver

1.Design and Construction

The MD1127 incorporates a dual chamber inflatable cell, which is separated by an internal floating baffle. The floating baffle allows either chamber to fully inflate the life preserver. The life preserver is styled as a protective collar fitted around the neck and front chest. The protective collar is constructed from a highly durable 6 oz. Nomex Omniweave. The outer shell of the MD1127 is not integral with the inflation cell, but acts as a cell enclosure by opening the Velcro® seals; when deflated, the inflation cell is folded and placed back into the cell enclosure as shown in Figure 4.

The MD1127 includes a small carry pouch attached to the waist belt, and two small pockets located on each of the insides of the front cover. A safety whistle is supplied with the life preserver, attached to the bottom right section of the bladder. A sea light is attached to the left side of the bladder.

2.Inflation System

The MD1127 dual chamber inflatable cell design incorporates a primary inflation cell accessed from a CO2 inflation system and an oral inflation system, along with a secondary cell accessed from its own oral inflation system. In case the primary inflation cell has been punctured, or fails to inflate, the life preserver may be inflated orally by the secondary inflation cell. The oral inflation systems consist of an oral tube and oral valve. The oral valve is normally closed, and is opened by depressing the mouthpiece when inflating or deflating.

3.Inflation Cell

The polyurethane coated nylon dual chamber inflation cell is not integral with the outer shell of the life preserver, but is connected to the outer shell only by the inflation system. The dual chamber cell is in the form of an inflatable head support collar, which fits around the neck and chest. The primary chamber of the cell is located on the outer front side of the inflation cell, while the secondary cell is located on the inner side of the inflation cell.

The dual chamber cell is fully inflated with one 35 gram cylinder of compressed CO2 gas.

4.Fasteners

The MD1127 has easy-to-use, Velcro®, hook and loop fasteners on each side of the front cover. This allows the life preserver to be opened when inflated, and easily folded when deflated. When inflating, the Velcro® fasteners burst open allowing the inflation cell to expand out of the cell enclosure.

Figure 1: Deflating the buoyancy cell

a)Starting from the end farthest from the oral valve, tightly roll up the life preserver.

b)Depress the oral valve to release the trapped air .

5.Belt

A durable nylon waist belt is attached to the life preserver. This belt is fastened and fitted using a quick-release buckle and waist belt adjuster. To tighten the belt, pull the extra webbing from the waist belt adjuster, as shown in Figure 5. After adjusting the fit, the excess webbing is led through a belt loop to keep it out of the way.

6.Markings

The life preserver is marked with indelible stencil and all markings appear in both English and French. The life preserver is marked with donning instructions, which are located on the left back cover. The donning instruc- tions are printed clearly enough to be read even in dimly lit surroundings.

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