EP0557370A1 - Ausklinkvorrichtung. - Google Patents

Ausklinkvorrichtung.

Info

Publication number
EP0557370A1
EP0557370A1 EP91920177A EP91920177A EP0557370A1 EP 0557370 A1 EP0557370 A1 EP 0557370A1 EP 91920177 A EP91920177 A EP 91920177A EP 91920177 A EP91920177 A EP 91920177A EP 0557370 A1 EP0557370 A1 EP 0557370A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
release
chamber
attachment member
space
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91920177A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0557370B1 (de
Inventor
Mark Edward Adrian Read
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0557370A1 publication Critical patent/EP0557370A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0557370B1 publication Critical patent/EP0557370B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63CLAUNCHING, 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
    • B63C9/00Life-saving in water
    • B63C9/22Devices for holding or launching life-buoys, inflatable life-rafts, or other floatable life-saving equipment

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a release device responsive to hydrostatic pressure, e.g. as may be used on ships for automatically releasing life saving equipment if the vessel sinks.
  • Patent GB2051212 discloses a device such that pressure (due to submersion to a predetermined depth) displaces a membrane, leading to movement of a pivoted lever structure for releasing a detachable attachment member.
  • pressure due to submersion to a predetermined depth
  • the engagement/disengagement mechanism is rather complicated and hence expensive. It will be appreciated that .it is of the greatest importance that such devices should function reliably and consistently, and this imposes severe design constraints.
  • the release device of the present invention comprises a housing which is divided into a first and a second chamber by a flexible diaphragm, the first chamber having an inlet for the entry of water and the second chamber being essentially sealed against the entry of water; so that variation of pressure in the first chamber tends to cause movement of the diaphragm.
  • a detachable attachment member has an outer end which projects out of the housing for securing equipment to the device, and an inner end which extends into the first chamber.
  • a holding member extends in the first chamber and is movable with the diaphragm.
  • At least one rollable element is rotatably engaged with an engagement structure formed at the inner end of the attachment member and retainable therein by engagement with the holding member when this is in a holding position; and there are abutment means engageable with a rollable element when this is in the engagement structure to resist withdrawal of the attachment member from the first chamber.
  • the arrangement is such that the movement of the diaphragm produced by the entry of water above a predetermined pressure into the first chamber causes movement of the holding member away from the holding position to permit disengagement of the rollable element therefrom so that the attachment member can be released.
  • the figure shows a release device 10 suitable for the automatic release of liferafts.
  • the release device 10 has a housing 11 formed of two cup-shaped housing parts 11a, 11b having peripheral flanges 12 by means of which they are bolted together and retain a flexible diaphragm 13, which thus divides the interior into two chambers 20, 22.
  • the first chamber 20 has a water inlet
  • the second chamber 21 for the entry of water or communication of pressure, when the release device is submerged.
  • the second chamber 22 is essentially sealed against the entry of water.
  • the second chamber 22 may have an inlet 14 closed by a slightly air-permeable but water-impermeable disc 15 so that air can leak through the disc 15 to keep chamber 22 at atmospheric pressure prior to submersion.
  • a compression spring 24 is located inside the chamber 22 between a location cavity 26 in the base and the diaphragm 13 to bias the diaphragm 13 towards the first chamber 20.
  • a detachable attachment member 40 has an outer end 41 adapted for securing the release device 10 to lifesaving equipment. (The second housing part 11b also has a securing portion 30).
  • a shank portion 42 of the detachable member 40 extends into the first chamber 20, passing slidably through an aperture 43 in the first housing part 11a. Adjacent its end, the shank 42 has an engagement structure, here constituted by an annular groove 45.
  • a holding member 50 has a cup-shaped upper portion 52 and a depending shank 54 that passes sealingly through the diaphragm 13 and is fast with it. The end portion of the shank 54 is embraced by the spring 24.
  • the diaphragm is planar and the cup portion 52 surrounds the end portion of the shank 42 of the detachable member 40, and is spaced from it.
  • the spacing is sufficient to accommodate a plurality of ball bearings 46 which are partly located in the groove 45 and retained therein by engagement with the cup portion 52.
  • Withdrawal of the detachable member 40 from the housing is prevented by engagement of the ball bearings with an abutment surface associated with the housing and provided in this example by an annular abutment member 48 mounted in the first housing part 11a concentric with the aperture 42.
  • the release device 10 When the release device 10 is submerged in water to a predetermined depth, the pressure of the water coming into the first chamber 20 via the water inlet 21 will press the diaphragm 13 downwardly towards the second chamber 30, and the holding member 50 will be moved downwardly as well. The downward movement of the holding member 50 will release the rollable elements or balls 60. (The depth of the groove 45 is preferable less than half their diameter so they will tend to drop out when no longer held in). Thus the shank 42 of the attachment member 40 is disengaged, and can be pulled free of the housing very easily. (It will be appreciated that terms such as 'downwardly' generally refer merely to the orientation of the figure in the drawing and do not have absolute significance unless the context requires it.)
  • the present invention provides a very simple and highly reliable engagement/disengagement mechanism in a release device. It has few parts and all the parts may be easy to machine. Thus the device can be much cheaper than the prior art device and still be very reliable. It can also be extremely strong. Thus an actual embodiment has withstood a tensile strain of 20kN for a substantial time. The strength and reliability are very desirable for marine applications.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Safety Valves (AREA)
  • Pressure Vessels And Lids Thereof (AREA)
  • Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
EP91920177A 1990-11-22 1991-11-22 Ausklinkvorrichtung Expired - Lifetime EP0557370B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9025396 1990-11-22
GB909025396A GB9025396D0 (en) 1990-11-22 1990-11-22 Release device
PCT/GB1991/002073 WO1992009473A1 (en) 1990-11-22 1991-11-22 Release device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0557370A1 true EP0557370A1 (de) 1993-09-01
EP0557370B1 EP0557370B1 (de) 1995-09-13

Family

ID=10685798

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91920177A Expired - Lifetime EP0557370B1 (de) 1990-11-22 1991-11-22 Ausklinkvorrichtung

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0557370B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69113060T2 (de)
GB (1) GB9025396D0 (de)
WO (1) WO1992009473A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9223097D0 (en) * 1992-11-04 1992-12-16 Smiths Industries Plc Hydrostatic pressure sensors
GB2272188B (en) * 1992-11-04 1995-11-08 Smiths Industries Plc Hydrostatic pressure sensors
FR2712558B1 (fr) * 1993-11-16 1996-01-12 Cadoux Kenny Largeur hydrostatique d'équipements de sécurité pour navires, radeaux, aéroplanes et analogues.
GB2288152B (en) * 1994-04-07 1997-09-24 Cash Read Simon Hydrostatic release device
GB2334486B (en) 1998-02-21 2002-03-20 Pains Wessex Ltd Release unit
FR3062369B1 (fr) * 2017-02-01 2019-03-22 Scatri SA Systeme de securisation d'une balise immergee

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB883044A (en) * 1958-12-09 1961-11-22 Jeffery Engineering Company Lt Hydrostatic release mechanism
NO136964C (no) * 1975-11-25 1977-12-07 Arne Oeiestad Utl¦seranordning for redningsfarkost som fires ned p} vannet
DK403377A (da) * 1977-09-09 1979-03-10 Nordisk Gummibaadsfabrik Fastgoerelsesanordning for en redningsflaade
GB2051212B (en) * 1979-04-23 1983-03-09 Berwyn Eng Ltd Hydrostatic release device

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9209473A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69113060D1 (de) 1995-10-19
DE69113060T2 (de) 1996-04-04
WO1992009473A1 (en) 1992-06-11
EP0557370B1 (de) 1995-09-13
GB9025396D0 (en) 1991-01-09

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0100657A1 (de) Ventil zum Einlassen von Luft
EP0198805B1 (de) Automatisch auslösbare Sicherheitsanordnung
US4927397A (en) Raft inflation valve
EP0557370A1 (de) Ausklinkvorrichtung.
US4040135A (en) Emergency locator system for locating and retrieving sunken vessels
US6036559A (en) Flotation device for a submerged article
US5562233A (en) Indicator for a device for the inflation of a container or a floating body of an item of lifesaving equipment
US4633802A (en) Apparatus for storing and launching a float or the like vessel from a ship
US5573343A (en) Hydrostatic release device
GB2212884A (en) Gas pressure regulator
US5089674A (en) Hydrostatic pressure sensor
US3716882A (en) Automatic inflator device for expandable structures
CA1225141A (en) Double action pressure release
US4894036A (en) Inflator assembly for life vests
US3957296A (en) Vacuum multiplier
US6322276B1 (en) Pressure release mechanism
US4164955A (en) Liquid level control valve
US4065823A (en) Hydrostatically activated release mechanism
US3578006A (en) Acceleration and pressure responsive fluid valve
GB2005336A (en) Securing device for a life raft
RU2671462C1 (ru) Устройство для подводного разъединения сцепных элементов
US5027977A (en) Automatic inflation valve
US4903382A (en) Pressure armed release device
CN110793014B (zh) 一种锅炉用压力控制装置
US3577950A (en) Underwater mooring release device

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19930617

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LI LU NL SE

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19941125

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69113060

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19951019

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20021120

Year of fee payment: 12

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20021128

Year of fee payment: 12

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040602

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040730

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20061211

Year of fee payment: 16

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20071122

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20071122