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WO1999037535A1 - Dispositif flottant - Google Patents

Dispositif flottant Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999037535A1
WO1999037535A1 PCT/NZ1999/000008 NZ9900008W WO9937535A1 WO 1999037535 A1 WO1999037535 A1 WO 1999037535A1 NZ 9900008 W NZ9900008 W NZ 9900008W WO 9937535 A1 WO9937535 A1 WO 9937535A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
buoyancy device
buoyancy
radar reflective
reflective surfaces
radar
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NZ1999/000008
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Thomas Rex Haskell
Christopher James Connell
Original Assignee
Rhumbline Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rhumbline Limited filed Critical Rhumbline Limited
Priority to AU20791/99A priority Critical patent/AU2079199A/en
Publication of WO1999037535A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999037535A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C9/00—Life-saving in water
    • B63C9/08—Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like
    • B63C9/20—Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like characterised by signalling means, e.g. lights
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B45/00—Arrangements or adaptations of signalling or lighting devices
    • B63B45/04—Arrangements or adaptations of signalling or lighting devices the devices being intended to indicate the vessel or parts thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2201/00—Signalling devices
    • B63B2201/12—Reflecting means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a buoyancy device.
  • the invention relates to radar detectable life saving devices such as life rafts and life vests.
  • the invention is not restricted in its use to lifesaving apparatus and may be applied to any buoyant device used in connection with waterborne craft.
  • US Patent No. 5,421,287 discloses a signalling device for attachment to a life- vest.
  • the device comprises a streamer made from flat, flexible, inherently buoyant material which is normally rolled up into a water-release container secured to the life vest. While the streamer can be made of radar reflective material, an inherent disadvantage of this device is that it presents a reflective surface in substantially only one plane. The effectiveness of the radar reflective material and hence the signalling device is therefore not great which minimises the chances of locating the missing person.
  • the device may also suffer from deployment problems, especially in rough seas or if the user is not in a fully conscious state.
  • UK Patent Application No. 2039120 discloses a marking device in the form of a balloon used to indicate the position of persons in distress.
  • the balloon is stored in a container together with a gas cartridge used to inflate the balloon.
  • the outside of the balloon is provided with metal strips which reflect radar beams. While the radar reflective material is located on a spherical surface, this device still does not achieve maximum effectiveness for reflecting radar as the surface area of the reflective material is small in comparison to the overall size of the balloon.
  • a buoyancy device having an external surface and a plurality of radar reflective surfaces provided internally of the external surface.
  • the buoyancy device may comprise any object associated with waterborne craft which will remain buoyant in the event of a marine accident or a person otherwise becoming lost at sea.
  • the buoyancy device may comprise a float or a boat fender.
  • the invention may also be embodied in a navigational buoy.
  • the invention may also be realised in small recreational craft such as surfboards, windsurfers or kayaks.
  • the preferred application of the invention is in a life saving device such as a life raft or a life vest.
  • the buoyancy device will be inherently buoyant or is one which may be inflated whereupon the device is buoyant.
  • the buoyancy device may be made up of solid buoyancy material which basically defines the external surface of the device although an outer cover may be provided.
  • the buoyancy device may be permanently inflated, for example, having a rigid sealed casing.
  • the buoyancy device is inflatable and as such may be stowed in a collapsed configuration.
  • a gas supply may be provided together with automatic inflation means.
  • Supplementary manual inflation means may also be provided to ensure that the user can reinflate the device should any leakage occur during use.
  • the external surface of an inherently buoyant device will define a three dimensional body.
  • the external surface i.e. the case of an inflatable buoyancy device will also define a three dimensional body upon inflation.
  • the plurality of radar reflective surfaces may be distributed/arranged/dispersed throughout the body in an ordered or an irregular manner. An ordered manner may be achieved by arranging the reflective material into an array or a three dimensional lattice arrangement.
  • the surfaces may be arranged/dispersed at random.
  • the reflective surfaces may be uniformly spaced, for example arranged in a regular array.
  • the reflective surfaces may be dispersed in concentrated parts or regions, for example in the uppermost portions of the buoyancy device.
  • the device will include a multiplicity of radar reflective surfaces each extending in a differently oriented plane.
  • the radar reflective surfaces are defined by a dispersion of relatively small reflective particles such as metal shavings.
  • a dispersion of small particles is particularly appropriate for buoyancy devices comprised of solid buoyancy material as the small particles may be held in suspension in the solid buoyancy material.
  • the buoyancy device may include expanded polystyrene foam with aluminium shavings set into the foam.
  • the radar reflective surfaces may comprise a number of large substantially planar surfaces.
  • the substantially planar surfaces may be provided by sheets of radar reflective materials such as metal foil.
  • the substantially planar surfaces extend transversely to at least one major surface of the device.
  • These reflective surfaces may be provided by way of baffles or partitions extending internally of the body.
  • the device may include a series of spaced longitudinal baffles with web portions extending between adjacent baffles.
  • the substantially planar surfaces may be substantially flat or provided with a three dimensional surface pattern.
  • the sheet material comprising the planar surfaces may be striated, pressed, crimpled or punctured.
  • solid buoyant material may be disposed between the sheet members defining the planar surfaces.
  • this form of the invention is preferably used in connection with inflatable buoyancy devices such as life vests or life rafts.
  • the internal members defining the reflective surfaces should be foldable or collapsable to facilitate stowage of the buoyancy devices.
  • the reflective material may be foldable in a concertina fashion.
  • sheets of the reflective material may contain an arrangement of slits enabling each sheet to be extended generally in the plane of the sheet.
  • the radar reflective material is compactable in the manner of expandable festoonery.
  • This is comprised of multiple sheets e.g. foil, whereby adjacent sheets are connected to each other to from an assembly which is expandable from a collapsed to an expanded three-dimensional configuration, with adjacent sheets lying next to each other in the collapsed configuration.
  • the expansion of the assembly of foil sheets occurs automatically as the inflatable life jacket/life raft is deployed.
  • This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of a preferred inflatable life jacket made in accordance with the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of a preferred float made in accordance with the present invention
  • Figure 3 is a plan view of a sheet of radar reflective material shown in collapsed configuration (a) and expanded configuration (b)
  • the figure illustrates a life vest (10) having a conventional shape including right and left- hand chest pads (12, 14) interconnected by a neck portion (16).
  • the life vest (10) has two front ties (18) which ensure that the right-hand and left-hand pads (12, 14) remain together during use.
  • a waist strap (20) is provided to extend around the user's waist (not shown) to retain the life jacket (10) firmly in place during use.
  • the life jacket (10) may be stowed in a permanently inflated condition.
  • automatic inflation means (not shown) may be provided. It can be seen that the life jacket (10) includes a manual inflation means (22) to supplement the gaseous content of the life jacket (10) in the event that any leakage occurs.
  • the invention resides in the internal structure of the life jacket (10). It can be seen to comprise of a number of longitudinally extending baffles (25) which are oriented perpendicularly to the front surface of the life jacket (10). The baffles (25) are substantially evenly spaced across the breadth of the life jacket.
  • the internal structure also includes web portions (27) extending between adjacent longitudinal baffles. Web portions (29) are also arranged to extend between the outermost longitudinal baffles and the side edges of the life j acket (10).
  • Each of the baffles and webs is comprised of metal foil or laminate including a metal or otherwise radar reflective layer. It can be seen that the large number of baffles and webs present a multiplicity of radar reflective surfaces which in use of the life vest are oriented in a multiplicity of different planes which extend in a number of different directions.
  • the outer casing of the life jacket (10) should be comprised of a fabric which is transparent to radio waves used in radar so as not to impede the effectiveness of the radar reflective surfaces.
  • the life jacket (10) may also include a radar resonating reflection wire (not shown) which is centrally located on the inside of the life jacket, to enhance the overall radar reflective effectiveness of the life jacket (10).
  • FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative form of the invention being an inherently buoyant float 30.
  • the float 30 has a relatively rigid plastic casing 32.
  • the casing 32 may be provided in two halves and sealed by way of a flange 34 about the periphery of each half of the casing 32.
  • the interior of the casing includes polystyrene foam 36. Dispersed throughout the polystyrene foam 36 are aluminium shavings 38.
  • FIG 3 illustrates a sheet of radar reflective material 40 which may be incorporated into inflatable buoyancy devices such as an inflatable life raft (not shown).
  • the radar reflected material 40 has an array of short slits 42.
  • the slits 42 enable the sheet 40 to be extended in the general plane of the sheet to produce the lattice configuration illustrated in Figure 3(b).
  • Such sheets 40 may be incorporated internally in inflatable buoyancy devices whereby they are in the unexpanded configuration shown in Figure 3 a when the buoyancy device is uninflated. Upon inflation of the buoyancy device the sheets 40 may then extend in the manner illustrated in Figure 2. A large number of such sheets arranged internally will provide a reasonably large combined reflective surface in comparison with the size of the buoyancy device.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)

Abstract

Un dispositif flottant (10, 30) comporte une surface extérieure (32) et une pluralité de surfaces (25, 27, 29, 38) en matériau à réflexion radar qui sont prévues à l'intérieur de la surface extérieure.
PCT/NZ1999/000008 1998-01-23 1999-01-22 Dispositif flottant WO1999037535A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU20791/99A AU2079199A (en) 1998-01-23 1999-01-22 A buoyancy device

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NZ32962898 1998-01-23
NZ329628 1998-01-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999037535A1 true WO1999037535A1 (fr) 1999-07-29

Family

ID=19926597

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NZ1999/000008 WO1999037535A1 (fr) 1998-01-23 1999-01-22 Dispositif flottant

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2079199A (fr)
WO (1) WO1999037535A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1294052A1 (fr) * 2001-09-06 2003-03-19 Adriano Vignudelli Sangle réfléchissante et détectable par radar
GB2463324A (en) * 2008-09-15 2010-03-17 Alexander Vassallo Radar detectable inflatable surface marker buoy

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4272768A (en) * 1980-01-21 1981-06-09 Rookard Jr Johnnie P Multi-purpose survival canteen
FR2481224A1 (fr) * 1980-04-29 1981-10-30 Boussac Saint Freres Bsf Vareuse de travail et de securite pour marins
US4390588A (en) * 1980-05-06 1983-06-28 Bayer Aktiengesellschaft Process for coating cloth of metallized textile fibers and their use for the production of microwave-reflecting articles
US4673934A (en) * 1984-11-13 1987-06-16 Gabb Corporation Inflatable radar reflector
US4901081A (en) * 1988-08-22 1990-02-13 Lifeball International Corporation Elliptical inflatable radar reflector
EP0507632A1 (fr) * 1991-04-04 1992-10-07 Chemring Limited Réflecteur radar maritime gonflable

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4272768A (en) * 1980-01-21 1981-06-09 Rookard Jr Johnnie P Multi-purpose survival canteen
FR2481224A1 (fr) * 1980-04-29 1981-10-30 Boussac Saint Freres Bsf Vareuse de travail et de securite pour marins
US4390588A (en) * 1980-05-06 1983-06-28 Bayer Aktiengesellschaft Process for coating cloth of metallized textile fibers and their use for the production of microwave-reflecting articles
US4673934A (en) * 1984-11-13 1987-06-16 Gabb Corporation Inflatable radar reflector
US4901081A (en) * 1988-08-22 1990-02-13 Lifeball International Corporation Elliptical inflatable radar reflector
EP0507632A1 (fr) * 1991-04-04 1992-10-07 Chemring Limited Réflecteur radar maritime gonflable

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DERWENT ABSTRACT, Accession No. 95-064696/09, Class W02, W06; & JP 06343008 A (SUMITOMO ELECTRIC IND CO) 13 December 1994. *
DERWENT ABSTRACT, Accession No. 97056290/06, Class W06; & JP 08304547 A (NEC CORP) 22 November 1996. *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1294052A1 (fr) * 2001-09-06 2003-03-19 Adriano Vignudelli Sangle réfléchissante et détectable par radar
GB2463324A (en) * 2008-09-15 2010-03-17 Alexander Vassallo Radar detectable inflatable surface marker buoy
GB2463324B (en) * 2008-09-15 2013-10-30 Alexander Vassallo Seeker Radar detectable surface marker buoy

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2079199A (en) 1999-08-09

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