EP0360671A1 - Life-saving equipment for a person fallen from a boat - Google Patents

Life-saving equipment for a person fallen from a boat Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0360671A1
EP0360671A1 EP89402536A EP89402536A EP0360671A1 EP 0360671 A1 EP0360671 A1 EP 0360671A1 EP 89402536 A EP89402536 A EP 89402536A EP 89402536 A EP89402536 A EP 89402536A EP 0360671 A1 EP0360671 A1 EP 0360671A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
beacon
vehicle
acoustic
signals
box
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Granted
Application number
EP89402536A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0360671B1 (en
Inventor
François Solminihac
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Thales SA
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Thomson CSF SA
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Publication date
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Priority to AT89402536T priority Critical patent/ATE76012T1/en
Publication of EP0360671A1 publication Critical patent/EP0360671A1/en
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    • 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
    • B63C9/0005—Life-saving in water by means of alarm devices for persons falling into the water, e.g. by signalling, by controlling the propulsion or manoeuvring means of the boat
    • B63C9/0011—Life-saving in water by means of alarm devices for persons falling into the water, e.g. by signalling, by controlling the propulsion or manoeuvring means of the boat enabling persons in the water to control the propulsion or manoeuvring means of the boat

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for rescuing a person who has fallen from a nautical vehicle and, more particularly, to such a device of the type which includes emergency means on board the vehicle and designed to be launched. under the control of a radio signal automatically transmitted by a transmitter, such signals incorporated in an alarm box worn by the person, when the latter arrives in the water.
  • the present invention therefore aims to achieve such a device for locating the person overboard so as to allow a quick recovery of it.
  • the present invention also aims to provide a device for rescuing a person overboard, the implementation of which is well protected from inadvertent trips.
  • a device for rescuing a person who has fallen from a nautical vehicle comprising emergency means on board the vehicle and designed to be put in the water under the control of a radio signal automatically emitted by a transmitter of such signals incorporated in an alarm box worn by the person, when the latter arrives in the water, this signal controlling means for releasing the emergency means, device characterized in that the vehicle is equipped with a submerged acoustic source for emitting acoustic signals in water and in that the alarm unit also comprises an acoustic sensor sensitive to the signals which propagate in water from the acoustic source to control in response the emission of a radio signal by the transmitter incorporated in this box, this radio signal then being picked up by a receiver eur installed in the vehicle to trigger the means for releasing the emergency means.
  • the emergency means are constituted by a beacon equipped with means making it possible to locate it, which comprise a submerged directional acoustic sensor sensitive to the signals emitted by the acoustic source of the vehicle, a compass, electronic means for processing the signals delivered by the sensor and the compass and radio transmission means associated with these processing means for transmitting signals allowing the location of the beacon, the radio receiver of the vehicle receiving these signals.
  • the emergency means consist of a motorized and remote-controlled emergency vehicle, equipped with a submerged acoustic source, the alarm unit being equipped an acoustic sensor sensitive to the signals from this source and to the orientation of the source to form the remote control signals of the engine of the emergency vehicle, so as to bring the latter closer to the navigator.
  • FIG. 1 of the appended drawing schematically represents a nautical vehicle such as a boat 1, equipped with the device according to the invention which basically includes: a source 2 of acoustic emission placed under the hull of the ship, a source constituted by a transducer generating acoustic pulses known by the English term "pinger”, an acoustic and radioelectric beacon 3 fixed to the rear of the ship, by release means actuated as will be described below, an electronic control box 4 placed on board the ship and provided with a radio antenna 5, this box being connected to the source 2 and to the means for releasing the beacon, and - an individual alarm box 6 worn around the neck by anyone on board the ship and likely to fall into the water.
  • a source 2 of acoustic emission placed under the hull of the ship
  • an acoustic and radioelectric beacon 3 fixed to the rear of the ship, by release means actuated as
  • the acoustic emission source 2 or "pinger” permanently emits acoustic pulses, it is controlled by an electronic module 20 forming part of the box 4 (see FIG. 4).
  • the beacon 3 is directly derived from the naval air navigation buoys which are dropped from the aircraft. It comprises various members (presented below) enclosed in a substantially cylindrical body, and so as to have positive buoyancy. After dropping the tag deploys and takes the configuration shown in Figure 3. As shown in this figure, it includes, in addition to the body 7: - a float part 8 - antenna 9 consisting of a pocket which inflates by means of a gas cartridge 10, the antenna 9 of the "whip" type deploying inside the float, electronic means placed in the body 7 and composed of an electronic module 15 for radio transmission, acoustic reception and signal processing and an electronic module 11 for deploying the float and priming the batteries of a power supply battery pack 12, - a measurement head 14 which, when the beacon is deployed as shown in FIG.
  • the measurement head 14 comprises a directional acoustic sensor, called hydrophone in the art, and a compass .
  • the hydrophone is, for example, of the "DIFAR” type, an abbreviation of the English expression “Directional Frequency And Ranging”.
  • the wire 13 transmits the signals picked up by the hydrophone and supplied by the compass to the electronic module 10. Before the deployment of the beacon, this wire is wound on a coil inside the body 7 of the beacon 3.
  • the directional hydrophone used in the measurement head 14 consists, for example, of an association of four sensors crossed at 90 ° giving a signal proportional to the sine of the direction of the received signal and a signal proportional to the cosine of this direction.
  • FIG. 2 of the drawing there is shown the electronic alarm box 6 forming part of the device according to the invention.
  • This box the size of a matchbox, includes an omnidirectional acoustic or hydrophone sensor 16 connected to an electronic module 17 for receiving acoustic signals, this electronic module activating an electronic module 18 for VHF radio transmission.
  • the VHF antenna consists of a collar 19 for supporting the housing around the neck.
  • a power supply 26 completes the housing.
  • control box 4 of the device essentially comprises an electronic module 20 for controlling acoustic emission by the "pinger" 2, an electronic module 21 for receiving VHF associated to the control electronics 22 for releasing the beacon, a microprocessor 23 for calculating in particular the distance of the beacon, and a device 24 for displaying the heading and the distance of this beacon on the box.
  • the power supply 25 of the box is provided either by the on-board network if it exists, or by batteries.
  • the operation of the rescue device according to the invention is then established as follows. If a person equipped with the individual alarm box 6 falls overboard, the hydrophone 16 of this box receives the acoustic pulse emitted by the source 2 and this reception generates a VHF radio signal which is emitted by the antenna collar 19.
  • the radio signal is then received by the antenna 5 of the box 4 which controls the release of the beacon 3.
  • This release is obtained, for example, by the triggering of pyrotechnic means (not shown).
  • a propagation of acoustic waves in the water is used to trigger the release of the beacon 3, propagation which is only detected when the person equipped with the alarm unit 5 has actually fallen into the water. 'water.
  • Such detection is much more reliable than that established by the wetting of electrical contacts, wetting which can occur even when the person is still on the boat.
  • This improvement in the reliability of the detection of the launching of the person is an important advantage provided by the present invention.
  • the tag 3 being immediately and automatically released, it falls into the water in the immediate vicinity of the shipwrecked, which makes it possible to deduce the location of the position of the latter from the location of the location of the tag 3.
  • the present invention is located using the directional acoustic sensor which is located in the measuring head 14 deployed under the beacon to receive the emissions from the acoustic source 2.
  • the directional sensor can thus determine the bearing of the vehicle thanks to the two signals delivered by this sensor, one proportional to sin ⁇ and the other to cos ⁇ , ⁇ being the bearing of the vehicle.
  • the "signal processing" part of the electronic module 15 from the beacon codes the heading information that the vehicle will have to follow to reach the shipwrecked person and transmits the code in VHF to the box 4 of the boat, via the antenna 9 of the beacon and the antenna 5 of the box.
  • Means for measuring the instant (not shown), the emission of the signal by the acoustic source 2 of the vehicle, and the instant of reception of the radio signal emitted by the beacon 3 on reception of the acoustic signal, provide the microprocessor 23 (see FIG. 4) the time interval enabling the latter to calculate the beacon-vehicle distance and therefore the beacon-wrecked distance, this being assumed to be close to beacon 3.
  • the microprocessor then controls the device d display 24 of the heading and the distance of the shipwrecked person.
  • the device may further comprise alarm devices which are triggered simultaneously with the dropping of the beacon.
  • it can be equipped with a flashlight and optionally emit a smoke substance, as optical signaling means of the position of this beacon.
  • the float deployed from the beacon can also be shaped so as to be able to serve as a support on which the shipwrecked person may possibly hang.
  • the beacon could also be fitted with a waterproof loudspeaker and a voice-radio link between the boat and the beacon to establish oral contact with the shipwrecked person.
  • the acoustic source 2 or "pinger” can serve as a means of locating the wreckage of the vehicle in the event of a shipwreck.
  • means are provided for maintaining the electrical supply of the "pinger” by waterproof battery or seawater battery.
  • conventional means of locating "pingers” are used.
  • the hull "pinger” is removed and this is the acoustic "signature" of the boat, resulting from all the sources of acoustic emissions present in it, as it is received by the head of the beacon, which allows it to be located, in the direction only.
  • the embodiment described above of the device according to the invention assumes that there are several men on board the boat. To adapt this device to the search for sinking solo sailors, it is possible to provide a rescue boat, a helicopter or other aircraft, with a VHF reception box. If the shipwreck's boat has not sunk, the emergency services sent in search of the lone navigator and having located the boat may find the shipwrecked person in the vicinity of the latter.
  • the individual alarm box includes a directional acoustic sensor capable of operating several meters below the surface of the water and providing, like the beacon of the previous embodiment, the course of an acoustic source.
  • the acoustic sensor is supported by a wire which is unwound by the shipwrecked himself. The presence of this acoustic head obviously increases the volume of the individual alarm box a little.
  • the emergency means on board the lone navigator's vessel is no longer constituted by a beacon but by a small motorized and remote-controlled vehicle which is dropped in the event of the lone navigator falling overboard.
  • This vehicle is equipped with an electric motor controlled from the location signals of the shipwrecked person established in the individual alarm unit by electronics associated with the acoustic sensor and emitted by the antenna of this unit.
  • the vehicle is equipped with acoustic source or "pinger" and a control box.
  • the box receives the VHF signals emitted by the alarm box, these coded signals containing the deposit and the distance of the shipwrecked person.
  • the vehicle engine remote control supplied with this information, then directs the vehicle towards the shipwrecked.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
  • Emergency Alarm Devices (AREA)
  • Transmitters (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)
  • Mushroom Cultivation (AREA)
  • Ladders (AREA)

Abstract

Le dispositif comprend une source de signaux acoustiques (2) placé sous la coque du bateau (1), une balise (3), un boîtier d'alarme (6) porté autour du cou par le navigateur. En cas de chute du navigateur à la mer, un capteur acoustique intégré au boîtier (6) détecte l'émission de la source 6 et télécommande par radio le largage de la balise. Celle-ci comprend une tête de mesure munie d'un capteur acoustique directionnel et d'un compas propre à calculer des informations de position de la balise, transmises par radio à un coffret de commande (4) fixé dans le bateau. La balise étant supposée voisine du naufragé, on retrouve ainsi ce dernier.The device comprises a source of acoustic signals (2) placed under the hull of the boat (1), a beacon (3), an alarm box (6) worn around the neck by the navigator. In the event of the navigator falling overboard, an acoustic sensor integrated into the housing (6) detects the emission of the source 6 and radio-controlled the release of the beacon. This comprises a measuring head fitted with a directional acoustic sensor and a compass suitable for calculating position information of the beacon, transmitted by radio to a control box (4) fixed in the boat. The tag being assumed to be close to the shipwrecked, we thus find the latter.

Description

La présente invention est relative à un dispositif de sauvetage d'une personne tombée d'un véhicule nautique et, plus particulièrement, à un tel dispositif du type qui comprend des moyens de secours embarqués dans le véhicule et conçus pour être mis à l'eau sous la commande d'un signal radioélectrique émis automatiquement par un émetteur de tels signaux incorporés à un boîtier d'alarme porté par la personne, lorsque celle-ci arrive dans l'eau.The present invention relates to a device for rescuing a person who has fallen from a nautical vehicle and, more particularly, to such a device of the type which includes emergency means on board the vehicle and designed to be launched. under the control of a radio signal automatically transmitted by a transmitter, such signals incorporated in an alarm box worn by the person, when the latter arrives in the water.

La recherche d'une personne à la mer dans des conditions météorologiques même moyennes est difficile car on ne distingue pas correctement la tête de cette personne sur la surface agitée de la mer. En outre il est malaisé de faire revenir le navire d'où s'est produit la chute, sur l'endroit précis de cette chute.The search for a person at sea in even average weather conditions is difficult because one cannot correctly distinguish the head of this person on the rough surface of the sea. In addition it is difficult to bring back the ship from where s is produced the fall, on the precise place of this fall.

On connaît, de la demande de brevet français No. 2.550.020 aux noms de A. NEVEU et G.SALAUN, un dispositif permettant de larguer, sans intervention manuelle, une bouée dès qu'un homme tombe à la mer. Dès que la personne est à l'eau, un émetteur de signaux radioélectriques est mis sous tension par fermeture de contacts électriques par conduction de l'eau, ou bien manuellement par l'opérateur si celui-ci en est capable. Le signal radio est reçu à bord du navire d'où s'est produit la chute par un récepteur qui commande le largage d'une bouée de sauvetage ainsi que l'allumage d'un gyrophare et d'une sirène d'alarme. En outre le récepteur commande alors l'arrêt du moteur et, éventuellement, celle du pilotage automatique. La bouée étant ainsi larguée dans un très court délai, elle dérive de la même façon que le naufragé, en suivant les vents et/ou courants, à une distance très réduite de celui-ci.We know, from French patent application No. 2.550.020 in the names of A. NEVEU and G. SALAUN, a device allowing to drop, without manual intervention, a buoy as soon as a man falls overboard. no one is in the water, a radio signal transmitter is switched on by closing electrical contacts by water conduction, or manually by the operator if the latter is capable. The radio signal is received on board the vessel from which the fall occurred by a receiver which controls the release of a lifebuoy as well as the lighting of a flashing beacon and an alarm siren. In addition, the receiver then controls the stopping of the engine and, possibly, that of the autopilot. The buoy being thus released in a very short time, it drifts in the same way as the shipwrecked, following the winds and / or currents, at a very reduced distance from it.

Si ce dispositif permet d'accroître les chances de survie des naufragés, notamment dans le cas des navigateurs solitaires, il présente cependant des inconvénients importants.If this device makes it possible to increase the chances of survival of the shipwrecked, in particular in the case of solitary navigators, it nevertheless has significant drawbacks.

D'une part le largage de la bouée par fermeture de contacts électriques par l'eau est source de fausses alertes car il arrive souvent à un navigateur d'être trempé sur le pont du navire, sans donc être tombé à l'eau.On the one hand, dropping the buoy by closing electrical contacts with water is a source of false alerts because it often happens that a navigator is soaked on the deck of the ship, without therefore having fallen into the water.

D'autre part, le naufragé lui-même n'est pas localisé et il est alors difficile de le retrouver dans un délai suffisamment court car une distance importante sépare rapidement en général le naufragé de son embarcation.On the other hand, the shipwrecked himself is not located and it is then difficult to find him within a sufficiently short time because a large distance generally quickly separates the shipwrecked from his boat.

La présente invention a donc pour but de réaliser un tel dispositif permettant de localiser la personne à la mer de manière à autoriser un repêchage rapide de celle-­ci.The present invention therefore aims to achieve such a device for locating the person overboard so as to allow a quick recovery of it.

La présente invention a aussi pour but de réaliser un dispositif de sauvetage d'une personne à la mer dont la mise en oeuvre est bien protégée de déclenchements intempestifs.The present invention also aims to provide a device for rescuing a person overboard, the implementation of which is well protected from inadvertent trips.

On atteint ces buts de l'invention, ainsi que d'autres qui apparaîtront dans la suite, avec un dispositif de sauvetage d'une personne tombée d'un véhicule nautique, comprenant des moyens de secours embarqués dans le véhicule et conçus pour être mis à l'eau sous la commande d'un signal radioélectrique émis automatiquement par un émetteur de tels signaux incorporé à un boîtier d'alarme porté par la personne, lorsque celle-ci arrive dans l'eau, ce signal commandant des moyens de largage des moyens de secours, dispositif caractérisé en ce que le véhicule est équipé d'une source acoustique immergée pour émettre des signaux acoustiques dans l'eau et en ce que le boîtier d'alarme comprend en outre un capteur acoustique sensible aux signaux qui se propagent dans l'eau à partir de la source acoustique pour commander en réponse l'émission d'un signal radioélectrique par l'émetteur incorporé à ce boîtier, ce signal radioélectrique étant alors capté par un récepteur installé dans le véhicule pour déclencher les moyens de largage des moyens de secours.These objects of the invention are achieved, as well as others which will appear hereinafter, with a device for rescuing a person who has fallen from a nautical vehicle, comprising emergency means on board the vehicle and designed to be put in the water under the control of a radio signal automatically emitted by a transmitter of such signals incorporated in an alarm box worn by the person, when the latter arrives in the water, this signal controlling means for releasing the emergency means, device characterized in that the vehicle is equipped with a submerged acoustic source for emitting acoustic signals in water and in that the alarm unit also comprises an acoustic sensor sensitive to the signals which propagate in water from the acoustic source to control in response the emission of a radio signal by the transmitter incorporated in this box, this radio signal then being picked up by a receiver eur installed in the vehicle to trigger the means for releasing the emergency means.

Suivant un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, les moyens de secours sont constitués par une balise équipée de moyens permettant de la localiser, qui comprennent un capteur acoustique directionnel immergé sensible aux signaux émis par la source acoustique du véhicule, un compas, des moyens électroniques de traitement des signaux délivrés par le capteur et le compas et des moyens de transmission radioélectriques associés à ces moyens de traitement pour émetttre des signaux permettant la localisation de la balise, le récepteur radioélectrique du véhicule captant ces signaux.According to a first embodiment of the invention, the emergency means are constituted by a beacon equipped with means making it possible to locate it, which comprise a submerged directional acoustic sensor sensitive to the signals emitted by the acoustic source of the vehicle, a compass, electronic means for processing the signals delivered by the sensor and the compass and radio transmission means associated with these processing means for transmitting signals allowing the location of the beacon, the radio receiver of the vehicle receiving these signals.

Suivant un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention, adapté au sauvetage d'un navigateur solitaire, les moyens de secours sont constitués par un véhicule de secours motorisé et télécommandé, équipé d'une source acoustique immergée, le boîtier d'alarme étant équipé d'un capteur acoustique sensible aux signaux de cette source et à l'orientation de la source pour former les signaux de télécommande du moteur du véhicule de secours, de manière à rapprocher celui-ci du navigateur.According to a second embodiment of the invention, suitable for rescuing a lone navigator, the emergency means consist of a motorized and remote-controlled emergency vehicle, equipped with a submerged acoustic source, the alarm unit being equipped an acoustic sensor sensitive to the signals from this source and to the orientation of the source to form the remote control signals of the engine of the emergency vehicle, so as to bring the latter closer to the navigator.

Aux dessins annexés, donnés seulement à titre d'exemple :

  • la figure 1 représente schématiquement un véhicule nautique équipé du dispositif suivant l'invention,
  • la figure 2 représente schématiquement un boîtier d'alarme formant partie du dispositif de la figure 1 et porté par toute personne embarquée dans le véhicule et susceptible de tomber à l'eau,
  • la figure 3 représente schématiquement une balise formant partie d'un mode de réalisation du dispositif suivant l'invention, et
  • la figure 4 est un diagramme fonctionnel de moyens électroniques formant partie d'un coffret de commande embarqué dans le véhicule et constituant l'un des éléments essentiels du dispositif suivant l'invention.
In the accompanying drawings, given only by way of example:
  • FIG. 1 schematically represents a nautical vehicle equipped with the device according to the invention,
  • FIG. 2 schematically represents an alarm unit forming part of the device of FIG. 1 and carried by any person on board the vehicle and liable to fall into the water,
  • FIG. 3 schematically represents a tag forming part of an embodiment of the device according to the invention, and
  • FIG. 4 is a functional diagram of electronic means forming part of a control box on board the vehicle and constituting one of the essential elements of the device according to the invention.

On se réfère à la figure 1 du dessin annexé qui représente schématiquement un véhicule nautique tel qu'un bateau 1, équipé du dispositif suivant l'invention qui comprend essentiellement :
- une source 2 d'émission acoustique placée sous la coque du navire, source constituée par un transducteur générateur d'impulsions acoustiques connu sous le vocable anglo-saxon "pinger",
- une balise acoustique et radioélectrique 3 fixée à l'arrière du navire, par des moyens de largage actionnés comme on le décrira dans la suite,
- un coffret de commande électronique 4 placé à bord du navire et muni d'une antenne radio 5, ce coffret étant relié à la source 2 et aux moyens de largage de la balise, et
- un boîtier d'alarme individuel 6 porté autour du cou par toute personne embarquée sur le navire et susceptible de tomber à l'eau.Reference is made to FIG. 1 of the appended drawing which schematically represents a nautical vehicle such as a boat 1, equipped with the device according to the invention which basically includes:
a source 2 of acoustic emission placed under the hull of the ship, a source constituted by a transducer generating acoustic pulses known by the English term "pinger",
an acoustic and radioelectric beacon 3 fixed to the rear of the ship, by release means actuated as will be described below,
an electronic control box 4 placed on board the ship and provided with a radio antenna 5, this box being connected to the source 2 and to the means for releasing the beacon, and
- an individual alarm box 6 worn around the neck by anyone on board the ship and likely to fall into the water.

La source d'émission acoustique 2 ou "pinger" émet en permanence des impulsions acoustiques, elle est commandée par un module électronique 20 formant partie du coffret 4 (voir figure 4).The acoustic emission source 2 or "pinger" permanently emits acoustic pulses, it is controlled by an electronic module 20 forming part of the box 4 (see FIG. 4).

La balise 3 est directement dérivée des bouées aéronavales d'écoutes sous-marines qui sont larguées d'avion. Elle comprend divers organes (présentés dans la suite) enfermés dans un corps sensiblement cylindrique, et de manière à présenter une flottabilité positive. Après largage la balise se déploie et prend la configuration représentée à la figure 3. Comme représenté sur cette figure, elle comporte, outre le corps 7 :
- une partie flotteur 8 - antenne 9 constituée d'une poche qui se gonfle au moyen d'une cartouche de gaz 10, l'antenne 9 du type "fouet" se déployant à l'intérieur du flotteur,
- des moyens électroniques placés dans le corps 7 et composés d'un module électronique 15 d'émission radio, de réception acoustique et de traitement de signaux et d'un module électronique 11 de déploiement du flotteur et d'amorçage des piles d'un bloc de piles 12 d'alimentation,
- une tête de mesure 14 qui, lorsque la balise est déployée comme représenté à la figure 3, reste suspendue au bout d'un fil 13. La tête de mesure 14 comprend un capteur acoustique directionnel, appelé hydrophone dans la technique, et un compas. L'hydrophone est par exemple du type "DIFAR", abréviation de l'expression anglo-saxonne "Directional Frequency And Ranging". Le fil 13 permet de transmettre les signaux captés par l'hydrophone et fournis par le compas au module électronique 10. Avant le déploiement de la balise, ce fil est enroulé sur une bobine à l'intérieur du corps 7 de la balise 3.The beacon 3 is directly derived from the naval air navigation buoys which are dropped from the aircraft. It comprises various members (presented below) enclosed in a substantially cylindrical body, and so as to have positive buoyancy. After dropping the tag deploys and takes the configuration shown in Figure 3. As shown in this figure, it includes, in addition to the body 7:
- a float part 8 - antenna 9 consisting of a pocket which inflates by means of a gas cartridge 10, the antenna 9 of the "whip" type deploying inside the float,
electronic means placed in the body 7 and composed of an electronic module 15 for radio transmission, acoustic reception and signal processing and an electronic module 11 for deploying the float and priming the batteries of a power supply battery pack 12,
- a measurement head 14 which, when the beacon is deployed as shown in FIG. 3, remains suspended at the end of a wire 13. The measurement head 14 comprises a directional acoustic sensor, called hydrophone in the art, and a compass . The hydrophone is, for example, of the "DIFAR" type, an abbreviation of the English expression "Directional Frequency And Ranging". The wire 13 transmits the signals picked up by the hydrophone and supplied by the compass to the electronic module 10. Before the deployment of the beacon, this wire is wound on a coil inside the body 7 of the beacon 3.

L'hydrophone directionnel utilisé dans la tête de mesure 14 est constitué, par exemple, d'une association de quatre capteurs croisés à 90° donnant un signal proportionnel au sinus de la direction du signal reçu et un signal proportionnel au cosinus de cette direction.The directional hydrophone used in the measurement head 14 consists, for example, of an association of four sensors crossed at 90 ° giving a signal proportional to the sine of the direction of the received signal and a signal proportional to the cosine of this direction.

A la figure 2 du dessin, on a représenté le boîtier d'alarme électronique 6 formant partie du dispositif suivant l'invention. Ce boîtier, de la taille d'une boîte d'allumettes, comprend un capteur acoustique ou hydrophone 16 omnidirectionnel relié à un module électronique 17 de réception des signaux acoustiques, ce module électronique activant un module électronique 18 d'émission radio VHF. L'antenne VHF est constituée par un collier 19 de support du boîtier autour du cou. Une alimentation électrique 26 complète le boîtier.In Figure 2 of the drawing, there is shown the electronic alarm box 6 forming part of the device according to the invention. This box, the size of a matchbox, includes an omnidirectional acoustic or hydrophone sensor 16 connected to an electronic module 17 for receiving acoustic signals, this electronic module activating an electronic module 18 for VHF radio transmission. The VHF antenna consists of a collar 19 for supporting the housing around the neck. A power supply 26 completes the housing.

Sur le diagramme fonctionnel de la figure 4, il apparaît que le coffret de commande 4 du dispositif suivant l'invention comprend essentiellement un module électronique 20 de commande d'émission acoustique par le "pinger" 2, un module électronique 21 de réception VHF associé à l'électronique de commande 22 du largage de la balise, un microprocesseur 23 pour calculer notamment la distance de la balise, et un dispositif d'affichage 24 du cap et de la distance de cette balise sur le coffret. L'alimentation électrique 25 du coffret est assurée, soit par le réseau de bord s'il existe, soit par des batteries.On the functional diagram of FIG. 4, it appears that the control box 4 of the device according to the invention essentially comprises an electronic module 20 for controlling acoustic emission by the "pinger" 2, an electronic module 21 for receiving VHF associated to the control electronics 22 for releasing the beacon, a microprocessor 23 for calculating in particular the distance of the beacon, and a device 24 for displaying the heading and the distance of this beacon on the box. The power supply 25 of the box is provided either by the on-board network if it exists, or by batteries.

Le fonctionnement du dispositif de sauvetage suivant l'invention s'établit alors comme suit. Si une personne équipée du boîtier d'alarme individuel 6 tombe à la mer, l'hydrophone 16 de ce boîtier reçoit l'impulsion acoustique émise par la source 2 et cette réception engendre un signal radio VHF qui est émis par le collier antenne 19.The operation of the rescue device according to the invention is then established as follows. If a person equipped with the individual alarm box 6 falls overboard, the hydrophone 16 of this box receives the acoustic pulse emitted by the source 2 and this reception generates a VHF radio signal which is emitted by the antenna collar 19.

Le signal radio est alors reçu par l'antenne 5 du coffret 4 qui commande le largage de la balise 3. Ce largage est obtenu, par exemple, par le déclenchement de moyens pyrotechniques (non représentés).The radio signal is then received by the antenna 5 of the box 4 which controls the release of the beacon 3. This release is obtained, for example, by the triggering of pyrotechnic means (not shown).

Suivant la présente invention, on utilise donc pour déclencher le largage de la balise 3, une propagation d'ondes acoustiques dans l'eau, propagation qui n'est détectée que lorsque la personne équipée du boîtier d'alarme 5 est effectivement tombée dans l'eau. Une telle détection est beaucoup plus fiable que celle établie par le mouillage de contacts électriques, mouillage qui peut intervenir alors même que la personne est toujours sur le bateau. Cette amélioration de la fiabilité de la détection de la mise à l'eau de la personne est un avantage important apporté par la présente invention.According to the present invention, therefore, a propagation of acoustic waves in the water is used to trigger the release of the beacon 3, propagation which is only detected when the person equipped with the alarm unit 5 has actually fallen into the water. 'water. Such detection is much more reliable than that established by the wetting of electrical contacts, wetting which can occur even when the person is still on the boat. This improvement in the reliability of the detection of the launching of the person is an important advantage provided by the present invention.

On notera que la balise 3 étant larguée immédiatement et automatiquement, elle tombe à l'eau à proximité immédiate du naufragé ce qui permet de déduire le repérage de la position de celui-ci à partir du repérage de la position de la balise 3.It will be noted that the tag 3 being immediately and automatically released, it falls into the water in the immediate vicinity of the shipwrecked, which makes it possible to deduce the location of the position of the latter from the location of the location of the tag 3.

Suivant la présente invention, on localise celle-ci à l'aide du capteur acoustique directionnel qui se trouve dans la tête de mesure 14 déployée sous la balise pour recevoir les émissions de la source acoustique 2. Le capteur directionnel peut ainsi déterminer le gisement du véhicule grâce aux deux signaux délivrés par ce capteur, l'un proportionnel à sin ϑ et l'autre à cos ϑ, ϑ étant le gisement du véhicule. Avec l'information donnée par le compas incorporé à la tête de mesure 14 de la balise, la partie "traitement de signaux" du module électronique 15 de la balise code l'information de cap que devra suivre le véhicule pour rejoindre le naufragé et transmet le code en VHF vers le coffret 4 de l'embarcation, par l'intermédiaire de l'antenne 9 de la balise et de l'antenne 5 du coffret.According to the present invention, it is located using the directional acoustic sensor which is located in the measuring head 14 deployed under the beacon to receive the emissions from the acoustic source 2. The directional sensor can thus determine the bearing of the vehicle thanks to the two signals delivered by this sensor, one proportional to sin ϑ and the other to cos ϑ, ϑ being the bearing of the vehicle. With the information given by the compass incorporated in the measuring head 14 of the beacon, the "signal processing" part of the electronic module 15 from the beacon codes the heading information that the vehicle will have to follow to reach the shipwrecked person and transmits the code in VHF to the box 4 of the boat, via the antenna 9 of the beacon and the antenna 5 of the box.

Des moyens de mesure de l'instant (non représentés), d'émission du signal par la source acoustique 2 du véhicule, et de l'instant de réception du signal radio émis par la balise 3 à la réception du signal acoustique, fournissent au microprocesseur 23 (voir figure 4) l'intervalle de temps permettant à celui-ci de calculer la distance balise-véhicule et donc la distance balise-­naufragé, celui-ci étant supposé proche de la balise 3. Le microprocesseur commande alors le dispositif d'affichage 24 du cap et de la distance du naufragé.Means for measuring the instant (not shown), the emission of the signal by the acoustic source 2 of the vehicle, and the instant of reception of the radio signal emitted by the beacon 3 on reception of the acoustic signal, provide the microprocessor 23 (see FIG. 4) the time interval enabling the latter to calculate the beacon-vehicle distance and therefore the beacon-wrecked distance, this being assumed to be close to beacon 3. The microprocessor then controls the device d display 24 of the heading and the distance of the shipwrecked person.

De nombreuses variantes peuvent être apportées au dispositif de sauvetage décrit et représenté qui n'a été donné qu'à titre d'exemple.Many variants can be made to the rescue device described and shown which has been given only by way of example.

En particulier, le dispositif peut comprendre, en outre, des dispositifs d'alarme qui sont déclenchés simultanément au largage de la balise. Par exemple, celle-­ci peut être équipée d'une lampe à éclat et émettre éventuellement une substance fumigène, en tant que moyens de signalisation optiques de la position de cette balise. Le flotteur déployé de la balise peut aussi être conformé de manière à pouvoir servir de support sur lequel le naufragé pourra s'accrocher éventuellement. La balise pourrait encore être équipée d'un haut-parleur étanche et d'une liaison phonie-radio entre l'embarcation et la balise pour établir un contact oral avec le naufragé.In particular, the device may further comprise alarm devices which are triggered simultaneously with the dropping of the beacon. For example, it can be equipped with a flashlight and optionally emit a smoke substance, as optical signaling means of the position of this beacon. The float deployed from the beacon can also be shaped so as to be able to serve as a support on which the shipwrecked person may possibly hang. The beacon could also be fitted with a waterproof loudspeaker and a voice-radio link between the boat and the beacon to establish oral contact with the shipwrecked person.

La source acoustique 2 ou "pinger" peut servir de moyen de repérage de l'épave du véhicule en cas de naufrage. Pour cela, on prévoit des moyens permettant de maintenir l'alimentation électrique du "pinger" par batterie étanche ou pile à eau de mer. Pour le repérage du bateau on utilise des moyens classiques de localisation de "pingers".The acoustic source 2 or "pinger" can serve as a means of locating the wreckage of the vehicle in the event of a shipwreck. For this, means are provided for maintaining the electrical supply of the "pinger" by waterproof battery or seawater battery. For the location of the boat, conventional means of locating "pingers" are used.

Suivant un mode de réalisation simplifié du dispositif suivant l'invention, on supprime le "pinger" de coque et c'est la "signature" acoustique de l'embarcation, résultant de toutes les sources d'émissions acoustiques présentes dans celle-ci, telle qu'elle est reçue par la tête de mesure de la balise, qui permet de localiser celle-ci, en direction seulement.According to a simplified embodiment of the device according to the invention, the hull "pinger" is removed and this is the acoustic "signature" of the boat, resulting from all the sources of acoustic emissions present in it, as it is received by the head of the beacon, which allows it to be located, in the direction only.

Le mode de réalisation décrit plus haut du dispositif suivant l'invention suppose qu'il y ait plusieurs hommes à bord de l'embarcation. Pour adapter ce dispositif à la recherche de navigateurs solitaires naufragés, on peut munir une embarcation de secours, un hélicoptère ou autre aéoronef, d'un coffret de réception VHF. Si l'embarcation du naufragé n'a pas coulé, les secours envoyés à la recherche du navigateur solitaire et ayant repéré l'embarcation peuvent retrouver le naufragé dans le voisinage de celle-ci.The embodiment described above of the device according to the invention assumes that there are several men on board the boat. To adapt this device to the search for sinking solo sailors, it is possible to provide a rescue boat, a helicopter or other aircraft, with a VHF reception box. If the shipwreck's boat has not sunk, the emergency services sent in search of the lone navigator and having located the boat may find the shipwrecked person in the vicinity of the latter.

Dans une variante perfectionnée du dispositif suivant l'invention conçu à l'usage des navigateurs solitaires, le boîtier d'alarme individuel comporte un capteur acoustique directionnel propre à fonctionner à plusieurs mètres sous la surface de l'eau et fournissant, comme la balise du mode de réalisation précédent, le cap d'une source acoustique. Le capteur acoustique est soutenue par un fil qui est déroulé par le naufragé lui-­même. La présence de cette tête acoustique accroît évidemment un peu le volume du boîtier d'alarme individuel.In an improved variant of the device according to the invention designed for the use of solo navigators, the individual alarm box includes a directional acoustic sensor capable of operating several meters below the surface of the water and providing, like the beacon of the previous embodiment, the course of an acoustic source. The acoustic sensor is supported by a wire which is unwound by the shipwrecked himself. The presence of this acoustic head obviously increases the volume of the individual alarm box a little.

Le moyen de secours embarqué sur le navire du navigateur solitaire n'est plus alors constitué par une balise mais par un petit véhicule motorisé et télécommandé qui est largué en cas de chute à la mer du navigateur solitaire. Ce véhicule est muni d'un moteur électrique commandé à partir des signaux de localisation du naufragé établis dans le boîtier d'alarme individuel par une électronique associée au capteur acoustique et émis par l'antenne de ce boîtier. Le véhicule est équipé d'une source acoustique ou "pinger" et d'un coffret de commande. Le coffret reçoit les signaux VHF émis par le boîtier d'alarme, ces signaux codés contenant le gisement et la distance du naufragé. La télécommande du moteur du véhicule, alimentée par ces informations, dirige alors le véhicule vers le naufragé.The emergency means on board the lone navigator's vessel is no longer constituted by a beacon but by a small motorized and remote-controlled vehicle which is dropped in the event of the lone navigator falling overboard. This vehicle is equipped with an electric motor controlled from the location signals of the shipwrecked person established in the individual alarm unit by electronics associated with the acoustic sensor and emitted by the antenna of this unit. The vehicle is equipped with acoustic source or "pinger" and a control box. The box receives the VHF signals emitted by the alarm box, these coded signals containing the deposit and the distance of the shipwrecked person. The vehicle engine remote control, supplied with this information, then directs the vehicle towards the shipwrecked.

Claims (12)

1. Dispositif de sauvetage d'une personne tombée d'un véhicule nautique, comprenant des moyens de secours embarqués dans le véhicule et conçus pour être mis à l'eau sous la commande d'un signal radioélectrique émis automatiquement par un émetteur de tels signaux incorporé à un boîtier d'alarme porté par la personne, lorsque celle-ci arrive dans l'eau, ce signal commandant des moyens de largage des moyens de secours, dispositif caractérisé en ce que le véhicule est équipé d'une source acoustique (2) immergée pour émettre des signaux acoustiques dans l'eau et en ce que le boîtier d'alarme (6) comprend en outre un capteur acoustique (16) sensible aux signaux qui se propagent dans l'eau à partir de la source acoustique pour commander en réponse l'émission d'un signal radioélectrique par l'émetteur (18, 19) incorporé à ce boîtier, ce signal radioélectrique étant alors capté par un récepteur installé dans le véhicule pour déclencher les moyens de largage des moyens de secours.1. Rescue device for a person fallen from a nautical vehicle, comprising emergency means on board the vehicle and designed to be launched under the control of a radioelectric signal emitted automatically by a transmitter of such signals incorporated into an alarm box worn by the person, when this arrives in the water, this signal controlling the means for releasing the emergency means, device characterized in that the vehicle is equipped with an acoustic source (2 ) submerged to emit acoustic signals in water and in that the alarm unit (6) further comprises an acoustic sensor (16) sensitive to signals which propagate in water from the acoustic source to control in response to the emission of a radio signal by the transmitter (18, 19) incorporated in this box, this radio signal then being picked up by a receiver installed in the vehicle to trigger the release means rescue means. 2. Dispositif conforme à la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de secours sont constitués par une balise (3) équipée de moyens de localisation de cette balise comprenant un capteur acoustique directionnel immergé sensible aux signaux émis par la source acoustique du véhicule, un compas, des moyens électroniques de traitement des signaux délivrés par le capteur et le compas et des moyens de transmission radioélectriques associés à ces moyens de traitement pour émettre des signaux permettant la localisation de la balise, le récepteur radioélectrique du véhicule captant ces signaux.2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the emergency means consist of a beacon (3) equipped with means for locating this beacon comprising a submerged directional acoustic sensor sensitive to the signals emitted by the acoustic source of the vehicle, a compass, electronic means for processing the signals delivered by the sensor and the compass and radio transmission means associated with these processing means for transmitting signals allowing the location of the beacon, the radio receiver of the vehicle receiving these signals. 3. Dispositif conforme à la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de localisation comprennent des moyens de mesure du cap de la balise, des moyens de mesure de l'intervalle de temps entre l'émission d'un signal par la source acoustique du véhicule et la réception d'un signal radio émis par les moyens de transmission radio de la balise, à la détection du signal acoustique, et des moyens pour calculer la distance qui sépare la balise du véhicule à partir de cet intervalle de temps.3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the locating means comprise means for measuring the heading of the beacon, means for measuring the time interval between the emission of a signal by the acoustic source of the vehicle and the reception of a radio signal emitted by the radio transmission means of the beacon, upon detection of the acoustic signal, and means for calculating the distance which separates the beacon from the vehicle from this time interval. 4. Dispositif conforme à l'une quelconque des revendications 2 et 3, caractérisé en ce que la balise comprend des moyens (10) déclenchés par sa mise à l'eau, pour déployer un flotteur (8) et une tête de mesure (14) comprenant le capteur acoustique directionnel et le compas.4. Device according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the tag comprises means (10) triggered by its launching, to deploy a float (8) and a measuring head (14 ) including the directional acoustic sensor and the compass. 5. Dispositif conforme à la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que l'antenne (9) des moyens de transmission radioélectriques de la balise est portée par le flotteur.5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the antenna (9) of the radio transmission means of the beacon is carried by the float. 6. Dispositif conforme à l'une quelconque des revendications 4 et 5, caractérisé en ce que le flotteur (8) est conformé en moyen de support utilisable par la personne mise à l'eau.6. Device according to any one of claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the float (8) is shaped as a support means usable by the person launched. 7. Dispositif conforme à l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 6, caractérisé en ce que la balise est équipée de moyens de signalisation optique actionnés au largage de la balise.7. Device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the beacon is equipped with optical signaling means actuated when the beacon is released. 8. Dispositif conforme à l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le boîtier d'alarme (6) est porté par la personne à l'aide d'un collier (19) formant antenne pour l'émetteur radio (18) du boîtier.8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alarm box (6) is carried by the person using a collar (19) forming an antenna for the radio transmitter (18 ) of the housing. 9. Dispositif conforme à la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le récepteur radioélectrique installé dans le véhicule fait partie d'un coffret (4) qui comprend en outre des moyens électroniques (20) de commande de l'émission de la source acoustique, des moyens de commande (22) du largage de la balise, les moyens de mesure du temps pour le calcul de la distance balise-­véhicule et des moyens d'affichage (24) de cette distance et du cap de la balise.9. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the radio receiver installed in the vehicle is part of a box (4) which further comprises electronic means (20) for controlling the emission of the acoustic source, control means (22) for releasing the beacon, the time measurement means for calculating the beacon-vehicle distance and means for displaying (24) this distance and the heading of the beacon. 10. Dispositif conforme à la revendication 1, adapté au sauvetage d'un navigateur solitaire, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de secours sont constitués par un véhicule de secours motorisé et télécommandé, équipé d'une source acoustique immergée et en ce que le capteur acoustique du boîtier d'alarme est sensible aux signaux de cette source et à l'orientation de la source pour former des signaux de télécommande du moteur du véhicule de secours, de manière à rapprocher celui-ci du navigateur.10. Device according to claim 1, suitable for the rescue of a lone navigator, characterized in that the emergency means consist of a motorized and remote-controlled emergency vehicle, equipped with an immersed acoustic source and in that the sensor The acoustics of the alarm unit are sensitive to signals from this source and to the orientation of the source to form remote control signals for the engine of the emergency vehicle, so as to bring it closer to the navigator. 11. Dispositif conforme à la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que ledit capteur acoustique est monté à l'extrémité d'un fil enroulé dans le boîtier d'alarme, le boîtier comprenant des moyens pour dérouler le fil qui sont actionnés par le navigateur tombé dans l'eau.11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that said acoustic sensor is mounted at the end of a wire wound in the alarm box, the box comprising means for unwinding the wire which are actuated by the fallen navigator in water. 12. Dispositif conforme à l'une quelconque des revendications 2 et 4 à 8, caractérisé en ce que la source acoustique est constituée par la signature acoustique du véhicule pour former un signal propre à déterminer le gisement du véhicule par rapport à la balise.12. Device according to any one of claims 2 and 4 to 8, characterized in that the acoustic source consists of the acoustic signature of the vehicle to form a signal suitable for determining the bearing of the vehicle with respect to the beacon.
EP89402536A 1988-09-23 1989-09-15 Life-saving equipment for a person fallen from a boat Expired - Lifetime EP0360671B1 (en)

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FR8812464 1988-09-23
FR8812464A FR2636911B1 (en) 1988-09-23 1988-09-23 SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING THE SAFETY OF A PERSON FALLEN OVERTO THE SEA

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FR2636911B1 (en) 1990-11-02
US5006831A (en) 1991-04-09
ATE76012T1 (en) 1992-05-15
FR2636911A1 (en) 1990-03-30
EP0360671B1 (en) 1992-05-13
DE68901520D1 (en) 1992-06-17

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