GORE® Protective Vent Ensures Reliability of CerberLink™ Satellite Messaging Device

Drawing on its expertise with engineering man-overboard systems for the military, BriarTek, Incorporated, recently released the new Cerberus global communication system. This system enables outdoor enthusiasts to maintain contact with family and friends back home — even when traveling through the most rugged and isolated areas of the world. The Cerberus system records a traveler’s location as frequently as every five minutes and sends real-time notifications via satellite to the monitoring station. Unlike emergency position-indicating radio beacon and personal locating beacon systems, Cerberus allows the traveler to send check-in messages to update those at home at any point. In addition, this system alerts the traveler of approaching severe weather or geo-political events occurring in the area.

To withstand the harsh conditions outdoor enthusiasts enjoy, BriarTek engineered this system for maximum durability — operating in temperatures ranging from -20°C (-4°F) to 55°C (131°F) and meeting the IP67 standard for water immersion protection. This level of water protection means that the enclosure needs tight seals and O-ring gaskets. While these gaskets provide excellent protection, pressure can potentially cause a vacuum inside the device when they are exposed to changes in temperature or altitude. Therefore, BriarTek integrated a GORE® Protective Vent into design of the CerberLink™ satellite messaging device.

The constant airflow of GORE® Protective Vents equalizes the housing’s internal pressure, thereby eliminating vacuum and preventing premature failure of the seals. At the same time, the vents prevent water, dust, dirt and other contaminants from entering the housing and damaging the sensitive electronics. Available in a variety of shapes and sizes, GORE® Protective Vents are engineered with a screw-in, snap-fit, or press-fit construction so they can be easily integrated into any housing design. According to Alex Rich, BriarTek’s mechanical engineer for product development, they selected a press-fit vent because they needed a vent that took up the smallest amount of space possible.

According to Rich, “We are in the business of saving lives, so our products need to deliver reliable performance in the most rugged environments. We installed our first GORE® Protective Vent more than five years ago in the original ORCA® TX-104, and we have not had any failures. That’s why we chose the GORE® Protective Vent for the Cerberus global communication system.”

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