US3084354A

US3084354A - Device for marking locations at sea, particularly emergency marker

Info

Publication number: US3084354A
Application number: US116567A
Authority: US
Inventors: Franz A Lunenschloss
Original assignee: Franz Lunenschloss GmbH
Current assignee: Franz Lunenschloss GmbH
Priority date: 1960-06-14
Filing date: 1961-06-12
Publication date: 1963-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1980-04-09

Description

April 1963 F. A. LUNENSCHLOSS 3,084,354

DEVICE FOR MARKING LOCATIONS AT SEA, PARTICULARLY EMERGENCY MARKER Filed June 12, 1961 INVENTOR 1 74222 A. lz'z'nerzscblos:

A TT/S.

3,084,354 DEVICE YOK MARKTNG LOCATIONS AT SEA, PARTICULARLY EMERGENQY MARKER Franz A. Liinenschioss, Wethersfield, (1onn., assignor to Franz Lunenschloss G.rn.b.H., Schilderand Signalgeratefabrik, Unkel (Rhine), Germany Filed Tune 12, 1961, Ser. No. 116,567 Claims priority, application Germany June 14, 1960 5 Qiairns. ((11. 9-8) This invention relates to a device for marking locations at sea, and refers more particularly to an emergency marker, for marking places at sea where accidents have occurred or for marking the position of shipwrecked people.

Various kinds of markers or the like have been employed to make it easier to recognize persons or objects on the surface of the water. For instance, lifejackets have been given a striking bright color or have been fitted with bags of coloring agents which, when the bags are torn open and stain the surface of the water for a considerable area around. It is also known to use rocket lights or lamps lit by a seawater battery. A disadvantage of devices of this nature is that they run down, or become exhausted, after they have been used once or several times and when once run down, are rendered useless. The marking or indicating device or the like is often used at a bad time, in the mistaken belief that salvation is at hand, and when a real chance of being saved occurs, the device has been used and cannot be re-used. Other marking or warning or indicating devices take the form of the flat floating parts, the surface of which is provided with reflecting surfaces. Devices of this kind are always ready for use, do not require any maintenance and do not lose their ability to mark a place at sea for a long time, but they lie flat on the water and are therefore often very diflicult to pick out from an aircraft, particularly when the sea is even slightly choppy, for the foaming crests of the waves make it diflicult to distinguish between the device and the sea.

The present invention relates to a device for marking locations at sea which can be picked out much more easily, and for a much longer time, than known devices, even though the sea may be rough or stormy. The warning or marking or indicating device according to the invention comprises two parts which are adapted to move relatively to one another, the first part being adapted to float and support the second part. The second part is also a buoyant member and is so mounted relatively to the first part that, because of the buoyancy of the water operative on the second part, the two parts remain in a state in which they are as far apart from one another as they can be so that the buoyant member can extend fairly high above the surface of the water. Advantageously, the two parts are guided telescopically one within the other. The first part can be a tube adapted to float. Preferably, the second part is a float in the form of a tube or rod and is slidable in the first part. A device is therefore provided which is unsinkable and uncapsizable and which, once thrown into the water and without requiring any further manipulation, automatically takes up a position marking the location. When the device is not in use, its two parts are pushed one inside the other. The device when floating in the water is extended automatically, for instance, to twice its original length, the device acting as a spar with its top end projecting far above the water surface. The two parts are moved apart from one another by the force of the water, the buoyant part being pushed by the water out of the first and floating part. Conveniently, the top end of the extended part takes the form of an optical or Patent which inhibit downward pressure.

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electrical reflector. Since such reflector is high above the water, it is easier to distinguish from the foaming crests of the waves. The advantage of the device according to the invention is that it does not require any maintenance in storage or in use. It consists of two simple elementsi.e., tubes or rodswhich can be of stable construction. When not in use the tubular or rod-like buoyant member is disposed inside the outer part and is therefore protected against damage. The spar-like device takes up little space, can readily be stacked and can readily be placed to hang in all parts of a ship. Each part of the device floats on its own. No extra mechanical, pneumatic or similar means are needed to move the two parts apart. The buoyance of the water is sufficient to extend the device. The device according to the invention, being of simple design, is cheap to manufacture, and it always remains operative.

The projecting end of the device according to the invention can be arranged to act as an optical or electrical or acoustic device. An optical effect can be provided, for instance, by using fluorescent paints and/or reflecting foils. The spar can therefore be recognized in daylight, and even at night it stands out very clearly in a searchlight. If required, the extensible part of the device can also be provided with pyrotechnic i-lluminants or devices. Very advantageously the top of the extensible part takes the form of an antenna or of a radar reflector. To this end, the extensible part can be provided with an appropriate metal covering sufiicient to produce pulses on a radar screen. Since the top of the spar-like device is fairly high above the water surface, the radar pulse reflected back from this spar can readily be distinguished on a radar screen from the ordinary pulses produced by waves. Also, the fact that the top is at a distance above the water surface ensures that the device can be picked up by radar. In special cases transmitters can be provided in the bearing part or in the extensible top part of the device, the extensible part being provided with a Whip antenna or the like.

The two parts of the device according to the invention can be embodied in a wide variety of ways. Advantageously, the part which bears the extensible part is made floatable by means of a buoy element surrounding the part. Conveniently, the bottom end of the bearing tube is formed with apertures or perforations or the like The bottom end of the bearing member can be weighted so that the complete device'i.e., the sparis maintained substantially vertical to the water surface. The tubular or rod-like floating member slidable in the bearing member can be guided therein by means of collars. The sliding movement is limited by abutments. Conveniently, a grip, preferably in the form of a holding ring, is provided on the floatable bearing member at the top end thereof which just projects above the surface of the water. Conveniently, the floating member, which is a displaceable buoyant member, takes the form of a long spar in the form of a rod. The top end of the spar rod can be enlarged and can have, for instance, the shape of a sphere or of a cylinder larger than the rod or of some other balloonlike shape. A spherical shape provides an adequate radiation surface for the purposes of optics and radar.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof by way of example, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device shown in its collapsed inoperative condition,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown as floating in water with the signal part thereof buoyantly elevated, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view partly broken away and partly shown in section of the device in its signalling position, showing the buoy element at the upper end of the first part or lower member with the inner or second part buoyantly elevated and coacting abutments on the two parts for limiting movement of the second part relative to the first part.

The marking or indicating or warning device 1 according to the invention comprises two relatively

movable parts

2, 3. These parts are adapted to slide telescopically one within the other. The part 2 supports the part 3 and can be a tube made of an appropriate substance such as metal or plastic or the like. Such tube has at its top end a buoy element 4 which enables the tube 2 to float. At its bottom end, the tube 2 is formed with apertures 5 through which the water can pass. Conveniently, the apertures are staggered and have a stabilizing effect, damping turning motions and inhibiting downward thrust caused by the wind. The bearing tube 2 can therefore float on its own and be borne by the Water. The bottom part of the tube 2 can be provided with a weight 6 to bring the center of gravity into a low position, thus ensuring that the device remains in a vertical position. V

Conveniently, the other moving part 3 of the device 1 is a tube or rod and is adapted to slide lengthwise in the part 2, being guided by collars "7 and 8 thereon. A top abutment 9 for the collar 8 is provided inthe bearing part 2 and the sleeve 6 which serves as a weight constitutes a bottom abutment for the collar 7. The part 3 is formed as a float and can be made of any appropriate substance which floats. The part 3 can be prepared directly from a pressed substance which can float, such as the plastic known as Styroper, or from pressed cork with or without a metal or similar reinforcing core. The important thing is that the floatable part 3 is of such buoyancy that, when the device is placed in the water, the part 3 moves automatically in the part 2 and is always maintained in the top position by the buoyancy of the water. The part 3 can therefore take the form of an air-tight closed tube which can be made of metal or of a light unbreakable and very transparent plastic. The top end of the extensible part 3 has a reflector 1! which acts optically and also responds to radar. The top end of the part 3 can be of any shape; it can be of the same thickness as the part 3. Alternatively, a ballon-like or spherical top 11 is provided which is substantially hollow, to keep the center of gravity of the complete device as low as possible. The reflector 10 or the top 11 can be provided with a reflecting covering of metal or-with a reflector foil. The top of the part v3 can be so devised as to act as an antenna for a transmitter or the like provided in the bottom end of the part 3.

Conveniently, the underpart 2 of the device has a grip 12 in the form of a peripheral holding ring. The buoy element 4 carried by the tube 2 can also be provided with holding loops or the like. If required, the device according to the invention can comprise three parts, the underpart 2 having a downwardly movable part to increase the stability of the whole device. The downwardly movable part acts as a centerboard and can be released for descent by a catch which can be operated automatically when the buoyant member 3 rises.

The device according to the invention can be used for marine requirements. It is of use not only for emergencies at seat but at a radar reflector spar for anti-collision protection. For instance, the device can be set up on the deck of sailing craft or small ships less than 45 meters long for the purposes of optical or radar location in fog or the like. Where required for emergencies at sea, it can be stored on the deck of passenger vessels or other ships. Devices according to the invention can be coupled together to improve the reflecting effect, in which case the spar according to the invention may be buoyant enough for people to cling to the buoy element.

The device according to the invention can be of use in a wide variety of sizes. Depending upon the purpose for which it is to be used, the projecting spar can be about 5 meters in height or more. As a rule, a height of the top part of from two to three meters above the surface of the water will probably be s-utficient for the spar to show up clearly on radar in the case of an emergency at sea.

What is claimed is:

1. Device for marking locations at sea comprising a first and second part which can move relatively to one another, the first part being adapted to float and support the second part, and the second part being a buoyant member over its entire length and which is so mounted relatively to the first part that the buoyant member is extended from the first float part by the buoyancy of the water acting on the second part.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parts are cylindrical over their entire lengths and are telescopically guided one within the other, the first part being a tube, while the second part is a tubular rod-like float slidingly mounted in the first part.

3. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parts are cylindrical over their entire lengths and are telesoopically guided one within the other, the first part being a tube, while the second part is a tubular rod-like float slidingly mounted in the first part, a buoy at the upper end of the first part to render the first part floatable and the lower end of the first part having openings therein below the second part for the entrance of water to raise the buoyant second part.

4. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parts are cylindrical over their entire length and are telescopically guided one Within the other, the first part being a tube, while the second part is a tubular rod-like float slidingly mounted in the first part, spaced collars on the second part for guiding its movements in the first part, and abutments at the top and bottom of the first part for limiting movements of the second part.

5. Device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the parts are cylindrical over their entire lengths and are tele scopically guided one within the other, the first part being a tube, while the second part is a tubular rod-like float sliding mounted in the first part, spaced collars on the second part for guiding its movements in the first part, and abutments at the top and bottom of the first part for limiting movements of the second part, the first part being open at the bottom and the abutment at the bottom of the first part being set therein and tubular to allow entrance of water to the part to raise the second part and constituting a stabilizing Weight for the device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 650,298 Brennen May 22, 1900 8833,0 40 Mott Mar. 24, 1908 1,374,943 Melvin Apr. 19,1921 2,418,549 De Rugeris Apr. 8, 1947 2,716,758 Hajecate Sept. 6, 1955 2,819,476 Dodge Jan. 14, 1958