FR3027285B1 - DEVICE FOR LOCATING ACCIDENTAL VESSELS - Google Patents

Abstract

Device which, thanks to the communication between its components, facilitates the localization, or at least limits the area where to locate an accident vessel. The device comprises at least one main module (1) which comprises a chassis (18) where at least two beacons (2) are located, the device which is the subject of the invention providing, thanks to communication between the beacons (2) and the main module, information on different moments, trajectories and locations to limit the search area of an accidental vessel, thanks to which the possibility of locating said vessel is greatly increased.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to an accidental vessel locating device based on the existence of various communicating elements, sharing data on the damaged vessel by which it is possible to limit the possible location of the damaged vessel.

Technical problem to solve

In ship crashes, whether overhead, crushed, or shipwrecked, with sinking a ship, the location of the ship is a very complicated task, since the search area is huge in the where the vessel has disappeared at sea.

The current black boxes that are fitted to aircraft and boats have batteries that last for about a month during which they emit a signal to indicate their location, and the information of these black boxes are vital to check backward the reasons the disappearance of the vessel.

At the end of a month after the accident, the probability of recovering the black box is greatly reduced, due to the fact, besides the duration of the battery, that the marine currents can push said black box towards points very distant from the point the more the time passes, the more the black box is subjected to these currents.

Therefore, it is necessary to propose a device such as the device forming the subject of the invention in which, because of the multiplicity of its elements and the communication between them in a very early state, sharing data on the position of each element, the probability of locating a black box or any element providing information important for its location is considerably increased.

History of the invention

Devices similar to the device forming the subject of the invention are known which are gathered in various patent documents, among which is detached document FR 2 957 680 A1 which shows a device similar to the device forming the subject of the invention, with a device which counts tags introduced into various tubes, tags comprising a series of elements for transmitting a backup signal where each tag stores independently and transmits a series of data.

Other patent documents are known, for example, document ES 2 371 189 A1 in which is disclosed a device for locating injured air vehicles which consists of a device configured to make possible the rapid location of an aircraft which, in Due to an accident, has fallen into an area where the search for remains is particularly difficult, is composed of a container with automatic closure, divided into two compartments in which are inserted metal blades and hollow spheres, an annex beacon, a memory circuit; and is operated using an automated control, and finally has an anchor that unites it to the outside of the aircraft where it is arranged, to automate the release of the device during a signal indicating the imminence of an accident.

Other known documents which disclose devices similar to the device of the present invention are the documents US6260508B1, US3943445A and FR2960517A1.

Description of the invention

The object of the present invention relates to a device for locating damaged vessels which comprises at least one main module which comprises a frame with a plurality of cylindrical recesses, at least two tags such that they comprise at least one battery, a transmitter of signals, a signal receiver, a positioning system which provides geographic coordinates of the position of the main module, a data recovery system for storing the device data, a connection port connected to the vessel and which receives the information from the systems ship navigation and a data processor that receives all the data from the elements of the main module.

Each beacon of the device according to the invention comprises an outer body that can accommodate the other components, a first signal transmitter that sends a signal, a signal receiver to receive a signal from the main module and the signal transmitted by other beacons. at least one battery, at least one photovoltaic cell for recharging the at least one battery, a positioning system that provides the geographical coordinates of the position of the beacon, a system for collecting data specific to the beacon and data received from other tags and a processor of all data generated in each tag.

The device of the invention is activated by expelling the beacons in sequence by means of a beacon projection system, so that each beacon transmits, thanks to the first signal transmitter, a signal which provides information on geographic coordinates of the beacon. the beacon and receives, thanks to the signal receiver, the signal transmitted by the other beacon with information on the other beacon, and the main module emits, thanks to the signal transmitter, a signal with the geographic coordinates of the module and the data collected from the navigation systems of the vessel which are stored by the data collection system for their eventual reception by a beacon, and thanks to the signal receiver of the main module, said main module also collects the signal emitted by the one of the tags with the geographic coordinates information of the position of the tag that stays housed in the glue system data.

Each beacon of the hijacked vessel locating device may also include a second signal transmitter that emits an emergency signal in case of an accident, a stopwatch and an accelerometer, such as the stopwatch measures the time of the expulsion of the beacon. of the main module until the accelerometer marks a stop in the movement of the beacon, all this data remaining stored in the collection system and being transmitted through the first signal transmitter of each beacon.

Each beacon may also include a parachute that opens when the beacon is expelled and slows a fall movement of the beacon from the moment the main module expels the beacon into the air.

Each beacon of the hijacked vessel locator may also include a barometer and a float member such that the barometer marks a position at atmospheric pressure such that the stopwatch measures the time of the expulsion of the beacon from the main module until 'to the situation at atmospheric pressure and the float element keeps the beacon on a water surface, facilitating the location of the beacon.

The barometer can also mark the exit pressure at the moment of expulsion and the atmospheric pressure at the time of arrival at the surface, the time marked by the stopwatch indicating to us at the same time whether the beacon is mounted in a straight line or not, but for that, we need to know the depth to which it has been expelled as we extract from the barometer.

Each beacon of the injured vessel locating device may include a location light system and a smoke artifact associated with a search signal receiver, such that the smoke device is activated by means of an artifact activation system. fumigant when the search signal receiver detects the presence of a signal in a spectrum of a search signal for rescue equipment.

In the beacons of the device of the invention, the first signal transmitter, the second transmitter and the signal receiver are part of a communications module.

The main module of the whereabouts tracking device may include a compass, an altimeter and a barometer, where the compass, altimeter and barometer provide information to the device on a possible path of the main module.

In addition, the main module may include at least three levels that provide information on a tilt of the main module on three X, Y, Z coordinate axes to determine an exact position of the main module relative to a previously established reference axis.

The main module of the device may comprise a sealed part and a floodable part, such that the floodable part is the part where the plurality of cylindrical cavities for the beacons is located and the tight part is the part where the rest of the components of the module are located. main.

The signal transmitter and the signal receiver of the main module can be located in a communications module of the main module.

As for the beacon projection system, said projection system may be in the main module or may be incorporated into each beacon.

The projection system of the beacons employed in the device of the invention may be a system chosen between a CO ₂ container, a compressed air container, a hydrostatic release device, a propeller incorporated in the beacon and a combination of them.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

To overcome the technical problem raised in an earlier section of this specification, the object of the invention is proposed, which is a device which, thanks to the communication between its components, facilitates the localization, or at least limits the zone where locate an accident ship. The device according to the invention which comprises at least one main module (1) which in turn comprises at least two tags (2), these two elements being contained in a frame (18).

The device which is the subject of the invention has two embodiments according to the type of vessel where it will be installed, a first embodiment for the maritime vessels, those which sail on the water, and a second embodiment for the air vessels. , namely the ships that navigate in the air.

The device for locating damaged vessels is activated in various ways:

- manual activation by the ship's crew when said crew is aware of the possibility of an accident occurring;

- automatic activation:

approaching the ship from an unscheduled site in a route to be followed by the ship;

- in the event of a collision;

- brutal reversal of the vessel;

- flooding; and

- pressure greater than 1 atmosphere.

Each beacon (2) of the device comprises:

an outer body (3) which can receive the other components,

a first signal transmitter (31) which, when the beacon is activated, sends a signal which can be received by the main module (1) and any other beacon (2),

a signal receiver (4) capable of receiving a signal from the main module (1) and the signal transmitted by any other beacon (2), and

a second signal transmitter (5) which emits an emergency signal,

a stopwatch (6),

a barometer (7),

an accelerometer (8),

at least one battery (9),

a positioning system (10) which provides the geographical coordinates of the position of the beacon (2), and

a data collection system (11), where the own data of the beacon (2) are stored and the data received from other beacons (2) which have made contact with the beacon (2) collecting the data,

a processor (35) of all the data generated in each tag (2).

The first signal transmitter (31), the second signal transmitter (5) and the signal receiver (4) in one embodiment of the beacon (2) are part of a communications module (32).

Furthermore, the tags (2) may include other elements which, although they are not essential for the operation of the device object of the invention, are important to increase the possibilities of success in finding the tag.

a smoke artefact (12) among those known in the state of the art, associated with a search signal receiver,

a system of location lights (13) among those known in the state of the art,

at least one photovoltaic cell (14), and

a float element (15).

The smoke artifact (12) of the beacons (2) is associated with a search signal receiver (16), so that when the search signal receiver (16) detects for a determined time the presence of this signal of determined frequency, it activates a system for activating the fumigant artifact (36) which activates the so-called fumigene artifact (12), and therefore, the smoke artifact (12) is only activated in case of detection, during a time, the determined frequency, starting to operate when the determined frequency signal is close to said fumigene artifact (12), thus facilitating the location of the tag (2) where it is incorporated. The range limit of the search signal receiver (16) is the same as the range of vision, since the intention with said smoke artifact (12) is that it emits smoke which facilitates the location of a tags (2).

Each beacon (2) may also incorporate a parachute (17) which, if the beacon (2) is expelled into the air, slows the descent of the beacon (2) and allows to receive a major amount of data from the trajectory followed by the tag (2).

The main module (1) of the device comprises:

a chassis (18) where the rest of the components of the main module (1) are located,

a plurality of cylindrical depressions (19) for housing the beacons (2);

a positioning system (20) which provides the geographical coordinates of the main module (1),

a compass (21),

- batteries (22),

an altimeter (23),

a barometer (24),

a signal transmitter (25), which transmits the signal to communicate with the beacons (2) which have been projected, in the case where there is another main module (1) for communicating with said other main module (1),

a signal receiver (26), which receives the signal from the projected beacons (2), and any other main module (1),

a data collection system (28) for storing the data of the device, and

a connection port (27) which receives information from the navigation systems of the vessel,

a data processor (34) which receives all the data of the elements of the main module (1).

The signal transmitter (25) and the signal receiver (26) of the main module (1) in one embodiment of the invention are located in a communication module of the main module (33).

The main module (1) of the device is divided into a watertight part (A) and another floodable part (B), the floodable part (B) is the part where the beacons (2) and the watertight part (A) are located is the part where the rest of the components of the main module (1) are.

Thus, the main module (1) comprises at least three levels (29) which give information on the inclination of the main module (1) on the three coordinate axes X, Y, Z. In this way, it is possible to determine the exact position of the main module (1) with respect to a previously established reference axis, by means of these three levels (29), information is obtained on the inclinations experienced by the main module (1) or even the reversals, and As a result, as said main module (1) is attached to the vessel, thanks to the information provided by the three levels (29), information can be extracted to trace the displacement undergone by the vessel.

All the connections between the different components of the main module (1) of the device which is the subject of the invention are achieved by means of elements known in the state of the art which are suitable for connections which are subjected to strong forces because of the possible impact of a vessel, it is the same with the connections between the different components of each tag (2) which are made using elements known in the state of the art appropriate for this type of elements, prepared to resist the impacts and efforts received.

The vessel and the device object of the invention communicate through the connection port (27) of the main module (1), so that the device will store the navigation data provided by the vessel, said navigation data is stored in the data collection system (28) of the main module (1) during the normal course of navigation and in the case of activation of the device until the vessel ceases to provide this data (possible impact of the vessel), also recording the moment when the last data connection with the ship occurs.

Each tag (2) is housed in a cylindrical hole (19) of the main module (1). For the expulsion of the beacon (2), the device comprises a projection system (30) of the beacon (2), which can be incorporated in the cylindrical recesses (19) of the main module (1), or it can also to be incorporated as part of each beacon (2).

The projection system (30) of the beacon (2) is different depending on whether the beacon (2) is expelled into the air or into the water. For beacons (2) expelled into the air, the projection system (30) of the beacon (2) comprises a container of CO ₂ or compressed air which breaks and pushes the beacon (2), in the case of beacons (2) expelled into the water, in addition to CO2 and compressed air, the projection system (30) of the beacon (2) can consist of a hydrostatic release device and even a helix incorporated in the beacon (2) (see Figure 4).

The main module (1) has an outer shape that varies depending on whether it is in an airship or a maritime vessel, since for an airship it is essential that the shape of the main module (1) and beacons (2) which are in the main module (1), is incorporated in the fuselage of the aircraft without affecting the aerodynamics of the airship, while in the maritime vessels, the shape of the main module (1) does not present no influence, since the aerodynamics of the maritime vessels is of less importance compared to the air vessels.

The main module (1) is a sealed container, which allows only the access of the water to the cylindrical hollows where the beacons (2) are housed, and thus, although it is not necessary, in the case of the propeller, it facilitates its operation. The remainder of the main module (1) is manufactured to seal, at least until the data processing is complete. Once the data cycle is complete, it does not matter if water enters the main module (1) and is unusable, since the data acquisition function is complete.

From the moment when the device object of the invention is activated, the beacons (2) are projected from each main module (1) sequentially. The tags (2) communicate with each other, sharing the data of the position of each tag (2) and the time elapsed between the moment when a tag (2) has been projected and the moment when the next tag (2) is projected in the projection sequence, furthermore, the beacons 30 (2) also communicate with the main module (1) by giving, with the aforementioned information of the location of the beacons (2), information on the possible location of the damaged vessel.

The object of the invention is to increase the probability of finding information relating to an accidental vessel by means of the existence of a multitude of tags (2) which all incorporate information relating to the position and the trajectory that an accident ship received.

We will expose the operation of the system, for the preferred embodiment of the invention, with a device which comprises a main module (1), which in turn comprises aerial beacons (2) and beacons (2) aquatic, such as the aerial beacons (2) are released in the path that the vessel follows into the air and the water beacons (2) are released once the vessel is in contact with the water.

With the device object of the invention as explained, thanks to the location of any of the beacons (2) which form the device or the main module (1), information on the position in which the projections are made is obtained. the rest of the beacons (2) and the time elapsed between the projection of each beacon (2) as well as information on the position of the main module (1) where the beacons (2) are located before being projected. In this way, it is possible to draw a trajectory of the accidental vessel and extrapolate a possible location of said vessel, thereby increasing the probability of finding one of the elements that are part of the device and thus reduce the area in which one can find a vessel rugged.

Once the system object of the invention is activated, an operating procedure is as follows:

- expulsion of the first beacon, when the ship is 500 meters from the ground the expulsion of this first beacon occurs,

- expulsion of the second beacon, 50 meters from the ground, the system expels the second beacon,

- contact of the vessel with the ground or with an aquatic environment,

if the contact is made with an aquatic medium, another beacon pulse sequence begins, in the preferred embodiment of the invention there are three beacons (2) which are expelled, these beacons ( 2) are expelled from the main module (1) as the pressures reached when it sinks.

If the accident occurs with a vessel moving in an aquatic environment, the procedure contains only the phase of the aquatic tags.

The first beacon is expelled 500 m from the ground, said first beacon contains all the information of the route until the time of expulsion, this information is sent to the surroundings for a fixed period or until the information cycle. is completed, furthermore, at the same time, the first expelled beacon is in a state of alert with the signal receivers (4) prepared to receive a signal from other beacons during this same period.

The second beacon is expelled at 50 m from the ground and contains all the information of the course up to the moment of expulsion, this information is sent to the surrounding area for a fixed period or until the information cycle is completed, the second beacon does not require information from the first expelled beacon, since it contains all the information of the system until the time of the expulsion, this second beacon is in the state of alert, the receivers of signals (4) seeking information from other tags.

The aquatic tags are expelled as the pressures reached by the device object of the invention. When it reaches the first pressure, the first water beacon is expelled, after expulsion, the time it takes to climb to the surface is measured, and upon arrival at the surface, it sends a signal to the main module (1) informing him of his arrival on the surface, the first beacon contains all the information of the journey up to the moment of expulsion, which is sent to the surrounding area during a fixed period or until the end of the information cycle it does not require information from previously expelled tags since it contains all the information of the system up to the time of expulsion. The aquatic beacons are thus expelled successively as and when the pressures reached on the barometer (24) of the main module (1).

The last tag launched has the latest known information on the ship, and its arrival on the surface finalizes the reception procedure and an emergency procedure begins. This last beacon can be evicted because it has reached the programmed depth, or because it has exceeded a stipulated time period.

During all the procedure, the beacons are waiting for information of the tags launched later, and ask information to the previous ones. Once a tag (2) is in possession of the information of all successive tags (2), the reception state is also finalized and the state of emergency is reached.

In addition to the entire communication procedure between the tags (2), the tags (2) and the main module (1) also attempt to communicate to share the available information, and thus, the main module (1) issues the successive states information to increase the probability that all tags (2) get all the information.

The beacon (2) when it enters the state of emergency emits only a signal established for search and rescue systems, and thus, the device object of the invention maintains only active elements necessary for activation smoke signal, emergency lights and emergency signal.

Industrial application

The device object of the invention applies to the transport industry, whether maritime or air.

Description of the drawings

To complete the description, this specification is accompanied by a set of drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a beacon among those forming part of the device object of the invention, and a main module which is part of the device object of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the sealed portion of the main module of the device object of the invention.

Figure 3 is a side view of a beacon embodiment particularly for the aquatic environment.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a beacon embodiment which has a specific expulsion means for air.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a beacon embodiment with a parachute.

Figure 6 is a schematic view of a possible configuration of the connections of a main module of the device object of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a possible configuration of the connections of a beacon of the device that is the subject of the invention, said beacon being intended for aerial work.

Figure 8 is a schematic view of a possible configuration of the connections of a beacon of the device object of the invention, said beacon being intended for work in the water.

Hereinafter is a list of the numerical references which are employed in the figures appended to said specification.

1. main module,

2. tag,

3. outer body,

4. signal receiver of the beacon,

5. second signal transmitter of the beacon,

6. stopwatch,

7. barometer of the beacon,

8. accelerometer,

9. beacon battery,

10. positioning system of the beacon,

11. data collection system,

12. smoke artifact,

13. location lights system,

14. Photovoltaic cell,

15. float element,

16. signal receiver of a specified frequency,

17. parachute,

18. chassis,

19. cylindrical hollow,

20. a positioning system of the main module,

21. compass,

22. batteries,

23. altimeter,

24. barometer of the main module,

25. signal transmitter of the main module,

26. signal receiver of the main module,

27. port of connections,

28. data collection system of the main module,

29. levels,

30. projection system of the beacon,

31. first signal transmitter of the beacon,

32. beacon communications module,

33. main module communications module,

34. data processor of the main module,

35. beacon data processor,

36. fumigant artifact activation system, A. sealed portion of the main module, and

B. floodable part of the main module.

Claims (13)

1. Device for locating damaged vessels, characterized in that it comprises at least one main module (1) which comprises: a frame (18) with a plurality of cylindrical depressions (19), at least two tags (2) such that each tag (2) comprises: an outer body (3) for accommodating other components, a first signal transmitter (31) for sending a signal, a signal receiver (4) for receiving a signal from the main module (1) and the signal transmitted by any other beacon (2), and at least one battery (9), at least one photovoltaic cell (14) for charging the at least one battery (9), a positioning system (10) which provides the geographical coordinates of the position of the beacon (2), and a data collection system (11) specific to the beacon (2) and data received from other beacons (2), a processor (35) of all the data generated in each tag (2). at least one battery (22), and a signal transmitter (25), a signal receiver (26), a positioning system (20) for providing the geographical coordinates of the position of the main module (1), a data collection system (28) for storing the data of the device, a connection port (27) adapted to be connected to the vessel to receive information from navigation systems of the vessel, a data processor (34) for receiving all the data of the elements of the main module (1), wherein the device also comprises a projection system (30) of the beacons and is configured to be activated by expelling the beacons (2) from sequentially by means of the projection system (30) beacons, so that each beacon (2) emits, through the first signal transmitter (31), a signal in which it provides information on the geographical coordinates of the beacon and receives, thanks to the signal receiver (4), the signal transmitted by the other beacon (2) comprising information from the other beacon (2), and the main module (1) transmits, thanks to the transmitter of signals (25), a signal having the geographical coordinates of the main module (1) and the data collected from the ship's navigation systems which are stored by the data collection system (28) for possible reception by a beacon (2) , and to help e of the signal receiver (26) of the main module (1), said main module (1) also collects the signal transmitted by one of the beacons (2) comprising the information on the geographical coordinates of the position of the beacon (2). ) that are stored in the data collection system (28). 2. device for locating damaged vessels, according to claim 1, characterized in that each beacon (2) comprises: a second signal transmitter (5) which emits an emergency signal in the event of an accident, a stopwatch (6), an accelerometer (8), wherein the stopwatch (6) is configured to measure the time of the expulsion of the beacon (2) from the main module (1) until the accelerometer (8) marks a stop in the movement of the beacon (2), storing all these data in the data collection system (28) and transmitting them by means of the first signal transmitter (31) of each beacon (2). 3. Accident vessel tracking device according to claim 1, wherein each beacon comprises a parachute configured to open when the beacon is expelled and slow down. a falling movement of the beacon (2) from the moment when the main module (1) expels the beacon (2) into the air. 4. Device for locating damaged vessels, according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that each beacon (2) comprises: a barometer (7), a float element (15) where the barometer (7) is configured to mark a first pressure on a first point and an atmospheric pressure on a second point, so that knowing the time taken to go from the first point to second point, information can be obtained on a possible trajectory of the beacon (2), and the float element (15) is configured to hold the beacon (2) on a surface of the water, facilitating the location of the tag (2). 5. Device for locating damaged vessels, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each beacon (2) comprises: a location light system (13), a smoke artifact (12), associated with a search signal receiver (16), configured so that the smoke artifact (12) is activated by means of a system for activating the fumigant artifact (36) when the search signal receiver (16) detects the presence of a signal in a spare equipment search spectrum. Hull location device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first signal transmitter (31), the second signal transmitter (5) and the signal receiver (4) are part of a communications module (32). 7. Device for locating damaged vessels, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main module (1) comprises: a compass (21), an altimeter (23), - A barometer (24), wherein the compass (21), the altimeter (23) and the barometer (24) are configured to provide information to the device on a possible path of the main module (1). Hull location device, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main module (1) comprises at least three levels (29) for providing information on an inclination of the main module (1) on three coordinate axes X, Y, Z to determine an exact position of the main module (1) with respect to a previously established reference axis. 9. device for locating damaged vessels, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main module (1) of the device comprises a sealed portion (A) and another floodable portion (B), such as the portion floodable (B) is the part where is located the plurality of cylindrical hollow (19) for the tags (2) and the sealed portion (A) is the part where are located the rest of the components of the main module (1). 10. Device for locating damaged vessels, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal transmitter (25) and the signal receiver (26) of the main module (1) are located in a module of communications of the main module (33). 11. A device for locating damaged vessels, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projection system (30) beacons (2) is in the main module (1). 12. Accident vessel tracking device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the projection system (30) beacons (2) is incorporated in each beacon (2). 13. Device for locating damaged vessels according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the projection system beacons (30) is a system selected from a CO ₂ container, a compressed air container, a hydrostatic release device, a propeller incorporated in the tag (2) and a combination thereof.