Raft is easily deployed and highly maneuverable in water. It has false bottom of water ballast containers attached to underside, making it exceptionally stable platform from which swimmers can operate. Raft is attachable to external moorings

Barnett, J. H., Jr.

Harrison, F.

Marak, R.

Radnofsky, M. I.

English

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June 197!	 Brief 71-10167 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Manned Spacecraft Center
	
_4V 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield; Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Stable, Inflatable Life Raft for High Seas Rescue Operations 
An inflatable life raft capable of supporting seven 
men has been developed for rescue operations in 
high seas. The raft is easily deployed and highly 
Form-H 
Bottom View 
maneuverable in water. Because of a specially de-
signed false bottom consisting of water ballast con-
tainers attached to the underside, the raft provides 
an exceptionally stable platform from which swim-
mers can operate. 
This false bottom (see fig.) is a large water-
• bucket arrangement reaching to a depth of approxi-
mately 0.9 m (3 feet). Zippers are used for filling 
the stabilizer and are closed upon complete deploy-
ment of the raft. The inflatable floor, composed 
of narrow-ribbed sections, provides a rigid working 
area for rescue operations. An inflatable platform 
tethered to the outboard side of the raft is used 
as a rest surface for rescue personnel during such 
operations. The platform allows for greater man-
euvering room inside the raft itself. 
During rescue operations, the raft can be at-
tached to an external mooring. It can be form-
fitted to establish a compatible interface which tends 
to reduce the jerking motion encountered in rough 
seas. 
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Manned Spacecraft Center, Code JM7 
Houston, Texas 77058 
Reference: B71-10167 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial 
use of this invention may be made to: 
Patent Counsel 
Mail Code AM 
Manned Spacecraft Center 
Houston, Texas 77058 
Source: M. I. Radnofsky, J. H. Barnett, Jr.,

F. Harrison, and R. Marak

Manned Spacecraft Center 
(MSC-12393) 
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Stable, inflatable life raft for high seas rescue operations

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