Balloon inflation device

Abstract

A balloon inflation device is provided for inflating a balloon having a neck. The balloon inflation device includes: a source of pressurized gas; an inflation nozzle selectively receiving the neck of the balloon to communicate with the interior thereof, the inflation nozzle including: a fill nozzle having an outlet end, and a pressure sensor nozzle inside of the fill nozzle, the pressure sensor nozzle having an inlet end. The outlet end and the inlet end communicate with the interior of the balloon when the inflation nozzle receives the neck of the balloon. A gas feed line communicates between the source of pressurized gas and the fill nozzle of the inflation nozzle, and a pressure sensor communicates with the pressure sensor nozzle such that the pressure sensor is affected by the pressure of the gas within the balloon as received at the inlet end of the strain gauge nozzle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A balloon inflation device for inflating a balloon with gas, the balloon having a neck and the balloon being pressurized when inflated with the gas, the balloon inflation device comprising:
 a source of pressurized gas;   an inflation nozzle that selectively receives the neck of the balloon to communicate with the interior of the balloon, the inflation nozzle including:
 a fill nozzle having an outlet end, and 
 a pressure sensor nozzle inside of said fill nozzle, said pressure sensor nozzle having an inlet end wherein said outlet end and said inlet end communicate with the interior of the balloon when said inflation nozzle selectively receives the neck of the balloon; 
   a gas feed line communicating between said source of pressurized gas and said fill nozzle of said inflation nozzle; and   a pressure sensor, wherein said pressure sensor nozzle communicates with said pressure sensor such that said pressure sensor is affected by the pressure of the gas within the balloon as received at said inlet end of said pressure sensor nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The balloon inflation device of  claim 1 , wherein said inlet end of said pressure sensor nozzle is proximate said outlet end of said fill nozzle. 
     
     
         3 . The balloon inflation device of  claim 1 , wherein said fill nozzle is defined by a sidewall and said pressure sensor nozzle is positioned closely adjacent an interior surface of said sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The balloon inflation device of  claim 1 , wherein said pressure sensor nozzle is sheltered by an overhanging portion of said fill nozzle, proximate said outlet end of said fill nozzle, so as to prevent balloon material from reaching and covering said inlet end of said pressure sensor nozzle. 
     
     
         5 . The balloon inflation device of  claim 4 , wherein an exit face of said outlet end of said fill nozzle defines a first plane, and an inlet face of said inlet end of said pressure sensor nozzle defines a second plane that intersects said first plane. 
     
     
         6 . The balloon inflation device of  claim 1 , further comprising an on/off valve in said gas feed line, having an “on” state and an “off” state, wherein said pressurized gas flows through said gas feed line to said inflation nozzle in said “on” state, and said pressurized gas is prevented from flowing in said “off” state. 
     
     
         7 . The balloon inflation device of  claim 1 , wherein said pressure sensor is a pressure transducer. 
     
     
         8 . The balloon inflation device of  claim 7 , further comprising a processor receiving a signal from said pressure transducer corresponding to the pressure in the balloon. 
     
     
         9 . The balloon inflation device of  claim 8 , wherein said processor controls said on/off valve. 
     
     
         10 . The balloon inflation device of  claim 9 , comprising a fill switch actuated to place said on/off valve in said “on” state. 
     
     
         11 . The balloon inflation device of  claim 10 , wherein said processor switches said on/off valve from said “on” state to said “off” state when said processor reads a set pressure value from said pressure transducer.