GB2354978A

GB2354978A - Buoyant distress marker buoy

Info

Publication number: GB2354978A
Application number: GB0024531A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Neil Robert Cooke; Barry Quentin Sims
Original assignee: McMurdo Ltd
Current assignee: McMurdo Ltd
Priority date: 1999-10-08
Filing date: 2000-10-06
Publication date: 2001-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 2020-10-06
Also published as: GB9923787D0; GB0024531D0; GB2354978B

Abstract

A buoyant distress marker buoy 1 comprises a power source 17 which powers a light emitting means 34 mounted within an annular protective cover 8. The annular cover may have light dispersion, light distribution or transparent properties, with a radially inner surface 16 having light reflective properties. The distress marker may have a central pyrotechnic device 4 encircled by the annular protective device. The light emitting source may comprise two electric bulbs or light emitting diodes separated by an interval of 180{ from each other about a central axis of the buoy. Means (36 and 37, Fig 6) may also be provided to orientate the electric filaments of the bulbs to a predetermined position parallel to each other.

Description

2354978 BUOYANT DISTRESS MARKER The present invention relates to a buoyant

distress marker and is concerned particularly, although not exclusively, with a manoverboard buoyant lifebuoy marker.

Existing manoverboard (MOB) buoyant lifebuoy markers are carried by IMO convention shipping in accordance with the regulatory requirements for carrying lifesaving apparatus. The MOB uses a combination of highvisibility pyrotechnic smoke and battery-operated electrical lights to indicate the position of the lifebuoy. On deployment from its mounting bracket, an orange smoke signal is initiated, burning for the required minimum of 15 minutes. An electronic sensor circuit activates the two electrically operated lights when the MOB is floating in the water; the lights provide a minimum of 2 hours of steady illumination. The electrical lighting circuit is disabled during normal ship-borne storage by a magnetic sensor operated by a magnet located on the MOB mounting bracket.

The Life Saving Appliance Code requires that lifebuoy lights generate a specific minimum light level in all directions of the upper hemisphere of the marker. In the case of a lifebuoy light combined with a pyrotechnic smoke signal this is commonly achieved by two independent light sources, each light comprising a separate domed protective cover. The light sources and domed protector covers are positioned 180 degrees apart to overcome the interruption to all-round coverage caused by the body of the pyrotechnic device, which is mounted in the centre of the lifebuoy. A characteristic of the filament light bulbs used in these applications is a reduction in the light output level as the viewing angle approaches the end-on aspect of the filament within the bulb. In 2 addition, there are shadows caused by the filament support pillars within the light bulb, which further detract from all-round coverage.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a buoyant distress marker comprising a power source, and light emitting means mounted within an annular protective cover, the arrangement being such that, in use, the light emitting means is powered by the power source and the light from the light emitting means is transmitted through the annular protective cover.

The annular protective cover may have light dispersion properties and may have light distribution properties. Alternatively, the annular protective cover may have transparent properties.

The annular protective cover preferably comprises an inclined outer surface, that is inclined with respect'to the central axis of the cover.

Preferably the inclined outer surface is of substantially frusto-conical shape.

The annular protective cover preferably comprises a radially inner surface having light reflective properties.

The buoyant distress marker preferably comprises a central pyrotechnic device encircled by the annular protective cover.

Preferably the light emitting means comprises two separate light emitting sources.

The two light emitting sources are preferably separated by an interval of approximately 180 degrees from each other about said axis.

3 Preferably the two light emitting sources are two electric bulbs, or light emitting diodes.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a buoyant distress marker comprising a power source, at least one electric bulb and orientation means, the arrangement being such that an electric filament of the electric bulb is orientated to a predetermined position by the orientation means.

Preferably, the buoyant distress marker comprises two electric bulbs the arrangement being such that the respective electric filaments of the respective electric bulbs are orientated to predetermined positions by the orientation means.

The orientation means preferably orientates the respective electric filaments of the two bulbs such that the two electric filaments are substantially parallel to each other.

The bulb orientation means preferably comprises respective location slots for each electric bulb, the location slots each being adapted to receive an electric wire that is fixed to the bulb.

There are particular advantages to combining the features of the first and second aspects of the present invention and the invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but an embodiment will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

4 Figure I is a side view of a manoverboard buoyant lifebuoy marker, Figure 2 is a cross section view through A-A of the manoverboard buoyant lifebuoy marker shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view of a protective cover shown in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a cross section view of through B-B of the protective cover shown in Figure 3, Figure 5 is a more detailed view 'X' of part of the protective cover shown in Figure 4, Figure 6 is a plan view of a separator disk of the manoverboard buoyant lifebuoy marker shown in Figure 1, Figure 7 is a cross section view of through C-C of the separator disc shown in Figure 6, and Figure 8 is a more detailed view 'Y' of part of the separator disc 15 shown in Figure 7.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a manoverboard (MOB) buoyant lifebuoy marker 1 is shown attached to a mounting bracket 2. Figures 1 and 2 show a typical orientation of the lifebuoy marker 1 when installed on a vessel prior to use thereof in an emergency. The lifebuoy marker 1 20 comprises a pyrotechnic smoke canister 4 and a buoyancy chamber 6. The smoke canister 4 is a tubular shape having a circular cross section. The buoyancy chamber 6 is an annular shape formed with a central circular channel through which the smoke canister 4 extends.

At the lowermost region of the buoyancy chamber 6 there is a protective cover 8. With reference to Figures 3 to 5, the protective cover 8 is a substantially annular shape. The protective cover 8 comprises a radially inner tubular wall 10, a radially outer tubular wall 12 and an inclined annular region 14, of substantially frusto-conical shape, extending between the lower ends of the inner tubular wall 10 and the outer tubular wall 12. The radially inner wall 10 defines a central circular bore 11 through which the smoke canister 4 extends. The depth of the wall 10 is greater than the depth of the outer wall 12. The radially outermost surface 16 of the inner tubular wall 10 is provided with light reflective properties by use of a band of retro -reflective material.

With reference to Figure 2 the uppermost region of the outer wall 12 and the uppermost region of the inner wall 10 are received within the lower end of the wall of the buoyancy chamber 6.

I With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the radially outermost surface of the inner wall 10 is formed with an annular flange 21 that defines an annular groove 22. The radially innermost surface of the outer wall 12 is formed with an annular flange 23 that defines an annular groove 24.

The protective cover 8 is made out of an appropriate material such as a plastic polycarbonate of optical grade. The properties of the material used for the cover 8 can include providing efficient light dispersion and light distribution around the central pyrotechnic smoke canister 4.

The buoyancy chamber 6 is formed with an annular channel that contains electrical batteries 17 and buoyancy 19.

Disposed within the protective cover 8 there is an annular disc 20. With reference to Figures 6 to 8, the disc 20 is formed with a radially 6 innermost flange 26, a radially outermost flange 28 and a substantially planar annular ring 30 that extended between the innermost flange 26 and the outermost flange 28. A portion of the radially innermost flange 26 is received by the annular groove 22. A portion of the radially outermost flange 28 is received by the annular groove 24. The annular ring 30 is formed with two bulb sockets 31, 32 disposed 180 degrees from each other about the axis of the ring. The sockets 31, 32 are adapted to receive electric bulbs 34 (shown in Figure 1). The sockets 31, 32 are each formed with a cup portion 33 formed with a circular access hole 35 and with respective slots 36, 37, each of which extends through the ring 30. When a bulb 34 is placed into the socket 31 the slot 36 receives an electrical wire (not shown) that is soldered onto the bulb casing. The wire extends from the bulb 34 to the battery 17.

The location of the point where the wire is soldered onto the bulb 34 can be predetermined. Therefore the orientation of an electrical light filament within the bulb 34 can be predetermined when the bulb 34 is placed in the socket 31. The orientation of the filament of a bulb 34 placed in socket 32 is also predetermined in the same way as socket 31.

It is desirable to have the electrical filaments of the respective bulbs 34 substantially parallel to each other when the bulbs 34 are placed in the sockets 31, 32. The predetermined orientation of the electrical filaments is achieved using the slots 36, 37. The length of the filament of the bulb in socket 31 extends substantially in the direction 40. The length of the filament of the bulb in socket 32 extends substantially in the direction 42.

It will be appreciated that the retro-reflective properties of the band material of the surface 16 help dissipate the light from the bulbs and provide extra means to locate the marker I by search light after expiry of battery power.

7 The protective cover may be an opalescent cover to provide diffusion of the light to partially compensate for light output variations with viewing angle.

The illustrated marker thus provides a combined lamp housing and protective cover providing efficient dispersion and distribution around the central pyrotechnic unit of light from two battery-operated filament lamps, and with retro-reflective properties for location by search light after expiry of battery power.

8

Claims

1. A buoyant distress marker comprising a power source, and light emitting means mounted within an annular protective cover, the arrangement being such that, in use, the light emitting means is powered by the power source and the light from the light emitting means is transmitted through the annular protective cover.

2. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular protective cover has light dispersion properties.

3. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, 10 wherein the annular protective cover has light distribution properties.

4. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular protective cover has transparent properties.

5. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the annular protective cover comprises an inclined outer 15 surface, that is inclined with respect to the central axis of the cover.

6. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in claim 5, wherein the inclined outer surface is a truncated frusto-conical shape.

7. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the annular protective cover comprises a radially inner 20 surface having light reflective properties.

8. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the buoyant distress marker comprises a central pyrotechnic device encircled by the annular protective cover.

9 9. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the light emitting means comprises two separate light emitting sources.

10. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in claim 9, wherein the two 5 light emitting sources are separated by an interval of approximately 180 degrees from each other about said axis.

11. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in claim 10, wherein the two light emitting sources are two electric bulbs.

12. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in claim 10, wherein the two light emitting sources are light emitting diodes.

13. A buoyant distress marker comprising a power source, at least one electric bulb and orientation means, the arrangement being such that an electric filament of the electric bulb is orientated to a predetermined position by the orientation means.

14. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in claim 13, wherein the buoyant distress marker comprises two electric bulbs the arrangement being such that the respective electric filaments of the respective electric bulbs are orientated to predetermined positions by the orientation means.

15. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in claim 13 or claim 14, wherein the orientation means orientates the respective electric filaments of the two bulbs such that the two electric filaments are substantially parallel to each other.

16. A buoyant distress marker as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the bulb orientation means comprises respective location slots for each electric bulb, the location slots each being adapted to receive an electric wire that is fixed to the bulb.

17. A buoyant distress marker comprising a power source, at least one electric bulb mounted within an annular protective cover and means to orientate an electric filament of the electric bulb to a predetermined position.

18. A buoyant distress marker substantially as described herein with 10 reference to the accompanying drawings.