U.S. patent number 3,729,755 [Application Number 05/069,655] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-01 for improvements relating to release mechanism for buoys.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Emi Limited. Invention is credited to Peter Ronald Cochrane.
United States Patent |
3,729,755 |
Cochrane |
May 1, 1973 |
IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO RELEASE MECHANISM FOR BUOYS
Abstract
A buoy comprising a sinker, a sub-surface float and a surface
float is dropped into the water as a single unit. The sinker is
released by means which are not described, the invention being
concerned with the means for securing and releasing the surface
float. Four longerons are rigidly secured to the sub-surface float
and have openings near their free ends. Attached to the surface
float are four brackets each carrying a pivotable member whose ends
are located in the openings of a respective longeron. The pivotable
members are secured by a wire which passes around the surface float
and engages each of the pivotable members, the ends of the wire
being joined together by a timed release mechanism which after a
predetermined time releases the ends of the wire and thus releases
all the pivotable members simultaneously.
Inventors: |
Cochrane; Peter Ronald
(Springfield, PA) |
Assignee: |
Emi Limited (N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
10434482 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/069,655 |
Filed: |
September 8, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Sep 10, 1969 [GB] |
|
|
44,725/69 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
441/1; 441/7;
244/1R |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B
22/08 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B63B
22/08 (20060101); B63B 22/00 (20060101); B63b
021/52 () |
Field of
Search: |
;9/8R,8P ;130/26R
;244/1R,1SS,1SD ;114/23 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Buchler; Milton
Assistant Examiner: O'Connor; Gregory W.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A mechanism for attaching a buoy to and for releasing it from a
body including a plurality of members projecting from said body,
each of said members having a guide part, a plurality of pivotable
connecting means attached to said buoy for connection to a
respective one of said members, a tensioned cable for constraining
said connecting means to maintain attachment between said buoy and
said body, said tensioned cable operating to constrain each of said
connecting means to engage a respective one of said members, and
means for releasing the tension in said cable thereby to release
simultaneously all said connecting means, each said connecting
means having a part adapted to co-operate with said guide part of a
respective one of said members to guide the initial movement of
said buoy relative to said body upon the release of said connecting
means.
Description
The present invention relates to release mechanisms, for buoys
especially those used in oceanographic buoy systems.
The complexity and size of present day oceanographic buoy systems
makes it desirable to launch the system as a package and cause it
to divide and moor automatically. An example of such a system is a
two stage taut wire mooring. This usually comprises three
assemblies: an anchor, a sub-surface float, and a surface buoy.
These three assemblies, after implantation, are located
respectively on the sea floor; in a mid-water position; and on the
surface. A successful automatic implanation of such a system
depends basically on a timed sequence of events after launching the
package comprised of the three assemblies. This involves for the
system considered two timed releases, one to separate the anchor,
and the other to separate the surface buoy from the sub-surface
float.
In the case of the last mentioned release there exists the risk of
jamming as the buoy rises from the sub-surface float, deploying a
tethering cable as it rises; and moreover the risk that the buoy
might not start its rise vertically, so deploying more tethering
cable than is necessary, and increasing the risk of jamming.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a release
mechanism for a buoy in which one or more of the above mentioned
risks are substantially reduced.
According to the present invention there is provided a mechanism
for attaching a buoy to and for realeasing it from a body including
a plurality of members projecting from said body, each of said
members having a guide part, a plurality of pivotable connecting
means attached to said buoy each for connection to a respective one
of said members, means for constraining said connecting means to
maintain attachment between said buoy and said body and for
releasing simultaneously all said connecting means, each said
connecting means having a part adapted to co-operate with said
guide part of a respective one of said members to guide the initial
movement of said buoy relative to said body upon the release of
said connecting means.
In order that the present invention may be fully understood and
readily carried into effect it will now be described with reference
to the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of part of a package for an
oceanographic buoy system including one example of a release
mechanism according to the present invention, and
FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are diagrams showing various stages in the
operation of the release mechanism.
The example according to the present invention to be described is
one for releasing a surface buoy from a subsurface float either at
a predetermined depth or a given time after implantation.
Referring first to FIG. 1, a surface buoy 2 is attached to a
sub-surface float 8 by means of four longerons 1, providing four
initial holding points for the surface buoy. Correct location of
the surface buoy 2 is obtained by outwardly projecting arms formed
with downward facing cones, and shown by reference 3, the cones
being mounted in respective seats in the top of the longerons 1. To
maintain this location holding forces are supplied by respective
ones of four hook ended levers 4 which are pivotted on abutments 11
on the surface buoy 2, and engage in respective ones of
longitudinal slots 9 formed in the longerons 1. Each one of levers
4 straddles a respective one of walls 5 which separate slots 9 from
second slots 10. The lower end of each lever 4 is shaped into a
right angle with an upstanding bearing cone which bears against the
underside of the respective wall 5, providing the holding force.
The levers 4 are constrained to this holding position by means of a
single release wire 6, under tension, and passing through each
lever 4 around the buoy 2. This holds the levers 4 in their correct
positions which is shown in more detail in FIG. 2, reference 7
denoting a junction mechanism in which each end of wire 6 is
connected for maintaining the tension. On release of the tension in
wire 6 by mechanism 7 (which may comprise either means responsive
to sea pressure or timing means such as a corrosion link soluble in
water, for parting the connection of cable 6 in mechanism 7), the
buoy 2 is free to move out of engagement with the longerons 1.
However by virtue of the disposition of the hook portions of levers
4 in slots 9, and the displacement of the levers round the buoy,
tilting and jamming are substantially eliminated by the hook
portions of levers 4 turning over about their pivots and
maintaining their engagement in the slots 9 during initial movement
of the buoy. This is shown in FIG. 3.
At the point where the buoy becomes sufficiently clear of the
longerons 1, and there is no possibility of jamming it is arranged
that the hook portions at this point have turned out of the slots
9, and disengagement of the buoy from the package is completed. The
onset of this is shown in FIG. 4.
Although the invention has been described with reference to the one
embodiment, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that other
embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *