EP4257475A1

EP4257475A1 - Life buoy

Info

Publication number: EP4257475A1
Application number: EP21899814.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hongzhen ZHENG; Yongchao LU; Yaozhi SUN
Original assignee: Guangdong Fushun Tianji Communication Co Ltd
Current assignee: Guangdong Fushun Tianji Communication Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-12-04
Filing date: 2021-11-09
Publication date: 2023-10-11
Also published as: CN112407196A; CN112407196B; EP4257475A4; WO2022116780A1

Abstract

The application relates to a life buoy, including a life buoy body, wherein a plurality of radar reflectors are arranged in the life buoy body; the plurality of radar reflectors are distributed in an annular array by using a center of the life buoy body as a center; each radar reflector includes a Luneburg lens and a reflecting piece; the Luneburg lens is made of a foamed dielectric material; a reflecting surface is formed on the reflecting piece; and the reflecting surface of the reflecting piece of each radar reflector is attached to a surface of the Luneburg lens. The application has the advantages of being simple in structure, scientific in design, convenient to use, and good in safety, and capable of displaying a large image on a radar screen, thereby avoiding search and rescue omission.

Description

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of life-saving devices, in particular to a life buoy.

Background

Life jackets, life buoys and lifeboats are common marine life-saving apparatuses, and all rely on buoyancy to float on the sea, so that people floats on the sea and waits for rescue when falling into the water. Some existing life-saving apparatuses are provided with signal transmitters to facilitate the discovery of a person in distress by patrol personnel, so that the patrol personnel discover the person in distress through a signal receiving device. Due to the signal transmitter arranged in the life-saving apparatus, a power supply is also required in the life-saving apparatus of such a structure. The life-saving apparatus of the relatively complex structure also needs to be charged even if it has not been used for a long time, and is easy to experience a lack of power when in use, which is extremely inconvenient to use.
In addition, some existing life-saving apparatuses are provided with signal reflection mechanisms, and are the same as that described in the technical solution of the patent application No. 2017213670053 , entitled "Marine Radar Maritime Search and Rescue Apparatus", including: a life jacket body and small radar corner reflectors, the small radar corner reflectors being evenly arranged in the chest and shoulder of the life jacket body, the small radar corner reflector including a first equilateral triangular vertical metal reflector plate, a second equilateral triangular vertical metal reflector plate, a square horizontal metal reflector plate, and a plastic protective sleeve, the equilateral triangular vertical metal reflector plate I and the equilateral triangular vertical metal reflector plate II being crisscross fixedly connected along a center line, bottom edges of the first equilateral triangular vertical metal reflector plate and the second equilateral triangular vertical metal reflector plate being respectively connected to two diagonal lines of the square horizontal metal reflector plate to form a small quadrangular radar corner reflector, and the plastic protective sleeve being fixedly mounted to a top corner and four corners of a pyramid of the small radar corner reflector. The small radar corner reflector of such a structure, when applied in the life buoy, has the following defects that: first, the reflection range of the small radar corner reflector is small, so that omission occurs easily during the search; and second, the small radar corner reflector is of a pointed cone shaped structure, is arranged on an outer surface of the life buoy to scratch a person falling into the water easily, and is poor in safety and inconvenient to use.

Summary

The application aims to provide a life buoy, which has the advantages of being simple in structure, scientific in design, convenient to use, and good in safety, and capable of displaying a large image on a radar screen, thereby avoiding search and rescue omission.
The technical solution of the application is realized as follows: a life buoy includes a life buoy body. A plurality of radar reflectors are arranged in the life buoy body. The plurality of radar reflectors are distributed in an annular array by using a center of the life buoy body as a center. Each radar reflector includes a Luneburg lens and a reflecting piece. The Luneburg lens is made of a foamed dielectric material. A reflecting surface is formed on the reflecting piece. The reflecting surface of the reflecting piece of each radar reflector is attached to a surface of the Luneburg lens.
Further, some of the plurality of radar reflectors are directional radar reflectors and others are omnidirectional radar reflectors. The omnidirectional radar reflectors and the directional radar reflectors are distributed at intervals.
Further, the reflecting surface of the reflecting piece of the directional radar reflector is a concave surface of a hemispherical structure. The reflecting piece of the omnidirectional radar reflector is a sheet-like metal ring, the reflecting piece of the omnidirectional radar reflector is wound on the Luneburg lens, and an inner surface of the reflecting piece of the omnidirectional radar reflector is the reflecting surface.
Further, each directional radar reflector is provided with a central reflection direction L1. A center of sphere of the Luneburg lens of each radar reflector is coplanar with the center of the life buoy body, and a coplanar surface is called a datum plane. The plurality of directional radar reflectors are classified into two groups, namely a group A and a group B. The central reflection directions L1 of the directional radar reflectors belonging to the group A are away from the side of the datum plane, and the central reflection directions L1 of the directional radar reflectors belonging to the group B are away from the other side of the datum plane.
Further, the central reflection directions L1 of the directional radar reflectors of the group A and the directional radar reflectors of the group B are perpendicular to the datum plane.
Further, there are two directional radar reflectors of the group A, namely a first radar reflector and a second radar reflector. There are also two directional radar reflectors of the group B, namely a third radar reflector and a fourth radar reflector. The first radar reflector, the second radar reflector, the third radar reflector, and the fourth radar reflector are arranged around the center of the life buoy body in sequence. The central reflection direction L1 of the first radar reflector and the central reflection direction L1 of the third radar reflector are perpendicular to the datum plane. An included angle α is formed between the central reflection direction L1 of the second radar reflector and the datum plane, and is 10°-80°. An included angle β is formed between the central reflection direction L1 of the fourth radar reflector and the datum plane, and is 10°-80°.
Further, each omnidirectional radar reflector is provided with a central axis L3; the number of the omnidirectional radar reflectors is four, namely a fifth radar reflector, a sixth radar reflector, a seventh radar reflector, and an eighth radar reflector, and the fifth radar reflector, the sixth radar reflector, the seventh radar reflector, and the eighth radar reflector are arranged around the center of the life buoy body in sequence. The central axis L3 of the fifth radar reflector is perpendicular to the datum plane, an included angle γ is formed between the central axis L3 of the sixth radar reflector and the datum plane, and 10°-80°, the central axis L3 of the seventh radar reflector is parallel to the datum plane, and an included angle θ is formed between the central axis L3 of the eighth radar reflector and the datum plane, and is 10°-80°.
The application has the following beneficial effects that: in the application, the life buoy body is provided with the radar reflector composed of the Luneburg lens and the reflecting piece, in the subsequent search and rescue operations, if a person falling into the water carries the life buoy to escape in use, a radar wave sent by a radar transmitter of the search and rescue personnel passes through the Luneburg lens of the radar reflector and is reflected by the reflecting piece, and the radar wave is refracted into the air in a spherically symmetrical manner and amplified, a small target object displays the large image on the radar screen, and the search and rescue personnel discover the person falling into the water easily. Moreover, the life buoy does not need to be charged when in use, and cannot stab the person falling into the water, so that the application has the advantages of being simple in structure, scientific in design, convenient to use, and good in safety, and capable of displaying the large image on the radar screen, thereby avoiding search and rescue omission.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of Embodiment 1.
Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of morphology after truncation and straightening at A-A in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of Embodiment 2.
Fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of Embodiment 3.
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of morphology after truncation and straightening at B-B in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a reflection direction diagram of a radar wave after passing through a directional radar reflector when Embodiment 1 is in use.
Fig. 7 is a reflection direction diagram of a radar wave after passing through an omnidirectional radar reflector when Embodiment 1 is in use.

Reference signs: 11-life buoy body; 12-Luneburg lens; 13-reflecting piece; 14-directional radar reflector; 15-omnidirectional radar reflector; 16-group A; 17-group B; 18-group C; 19-group D;

21-radar reflector; 22-Luneburg lens; 23-floating segment;
31-group A; 311-first radar reflector; 312-second radar reflector; 32-group B; 321-third radar reflector; 322-fourth radar reflector; 33-life buoy body; 34-fifth radar reflector; 35-sixth radar reflector; 36-seventh radar reflector; 37-eighth radar reflector.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a life buoy in the embodiment includes a life buoy body 11. A plurality of radar reflectors are arranged in the life buoy body 11. The plurality of radar reflectors are distributed in an annular array by using a center of the life buoy body 11 as a center. Each radar reflector includes a Luneburg lens 12 and a reflecting piece 13. The Luneburg lens 12 is made of a foamed dielectric material. The reflecting piece 13 is a sheet metal. A reflecting surface is formed on the reflecting piece 13. The reflecting surface of the reflecting piece 13 of each radar reflector is attached to a surface of the Luneburg lens 12. The foamed dielectric material of the Luneburg lens 12 is an existing material, and the foamed dielectric material is the same as that described in the technical solution of the parent application No. 201910867980.8 , applied by the applicant and entitled "Dielectric Material and Dielectric Material Production Method", which will not be elaborated herein. A person falling into the water carries the life buoy to escape, in the subsequent search and rescue operations, if a radar wave emitted by a radar transmitter of the search and rescue personnel passes through the Luneburg lens 12 of the radar reflector and is reflected by the reflecting piece 13, and the radar wave is refracted into the air in a spherically symmetrical manner and amplified, a small target object displays the large image on the radar screen, and the search and rescue personnel discover the person falling into the water easily. Moreover, the life buoy does not need to be charged when in use, and cannot stab the person falling into the water, so that the application has the advantages of being simple in structure, scientific in design, convenient to use, and good in safety, and capable of displaying the large image on the radar screen, thereby avoiding search and rescue omission.
In order to make the life buoy have a better reflection effect on the radar wave when in use so as to be reflected by the radar waves incident on the rescue buoy in any direction in the search and rescue operations, as shown in Fig. 2, some of the plurality of radar reflectors are directional radar reflectors 14 and others are omnidirectional radar reflectors 15. The omnidirectional radar reflectors 15 and the directional radar reflectors 14 are distributed at intervals. When in use, a reflection direction diagram of the radar wave after passing through the directional radar reflector 14 is shown in Fig. 6, and a reflection direction diagram of the radar wave after passing through the omnidirectional radar reflector 15 is shown in Fig. 7.
In order to make the structure of the directional radar reflector 14 and the structure of the omnidirectional radar reflector 15 in the life buoy more reasonable, as shown in Fig. 2, the reflecting surface of the reflecting piece 13 of the directional radar reflector 14 is a concave surface of a hemispherical structure. The reflecting piece 13 of the omnidirectional radar reflector 15 is a sheet-like metal ring, the reflecting piece 13 of the omnidirectional radar reflector is wound on the Luneburg lens 12, and an inner surface of the reflecting piece 13 of the omnidirectional radar reflector is the reflecting surface.
In order to make the directional radar reflector 14 in the life buoy reflect the radar waves incident in different directions, as shown in Fig. 2, each directional radar reflector 14 is provided with a central reflection direction L1. The central reflection direction L1 refers to a virtual directional line that simultaneously passes through a center of sphere of the Luneburg lens 12 of the directional radar reflector 14 and a lowest point of the reflecting surface of the directional radar reflector 14. The center of sphere of the Luneburg lens 12 of each radar reflector is coplanar with the center of the life buoy body 11, and a coplanar surface is called a datum plane. The plurality of directional radar reflectors 14 are classified into two groups, namely a group A 16 and a group B 17. The central reflection directions L1 of the directional radar reflectors 14 belonging to the group A 16 are away from the side of the datum plane, and the central reflection directions L1 of the directional radar reflectors 14 belonging to the group B 17 are away from the side of the datum plane. Through the design, no matter which side of the life buoy is downward when in use, the central reflection directions L1 of at least one group of the directional radar reflectors 14 are toward the air, so that the radar waves emitted in the air are reflected.
In order to make the distribution of the directional radar reflectors 14 of the group A 16 and the group B 17 more reasonable, as shown in Fig. 2, the central reflection directions L1 of the directional radar reflectors 14 of the group A 16 and the directional radar reflectors 14 of the group B 17 are perpendicular to the datum plane. The arrangement of the plurality of directional radar reflectors 14 is that the directional radar reflectors 14 of the group A 16 and the directional radar reflector 14 of the group B 17 are distributed at intervals. Through the design of distributing the directional radar reflectors 14 of the group A 16 and the directional radar reflectors 14 of the group B 17 at intervals, the weight of each part of the life buoy is more uniform.
In order to make the distribution of the omnidirectional radar reflector more reasonable, as shown in Fig. 2, each omnidirectional radar reflector 15 is provided with a central axis L2. The central axis L2 refers to a central axis of the metal ring shaped reflecting piece 13 of the omnidirectional radar reflector 15. The plurality of omnidirectional radar reflectors 15 are classified into two groups, namely a group C 18 and a group D 19. The central axes L2 of the omnidirectional radar reflectors 15 belonging to the group C 18 are parallel to the datum plane, the central axes L2 of the omnidirectional radar reflectors 15 of the group C 18 are specifically coplanar with the datum plane, and the central axes L2 of the omnidirectional radar reflectors 15 belonging to the group D 19 are perpendicular to the datum plane. The arrangement of the plurality of omnidirectional radar reflectors 15 is that the directional radar reflectors 14 of the group C 18 and the directional radar reflector 14 of the group D 19 are distributed at intervals.
In order to make the structure of the life buoy more reasonable, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, each radar reflector is arranged in the life buoy body 11 and is integrated with the life buoy body 11. The life buoy body 11 is also a foamed piece. During production, the radar reflector is first embedded into a recess in a mold configured to make and foam the life buoy body 11, the mold is closed and a foamed material is filled into the radar reflector, and then the first foaming is performed. The radar reflector is fixed to the half side of the foam-formed life buoy body after the first foaming is completed, then the half side of the life buoy body is turned over and placed into another mold configured to make the life buoy body 11, the side with the radar reflector fixed is upward, the mold is closed, the foamed material is filled into the top of the radar reflector, and then the second foaming is performed. After the second foaming is completed, the production of the whole life buoy body 11 is completed, and the radar reflector and the life buoy body 11 are integrally formed.

Embodiment 2

The embodiment differs from Embodiment 1 in that, as shown in Fig. 3, the diameter of the Luneburg lens 22 of each radar reflector 21 is greater than the cross-sectional diameter of the life buoy body, so that the radar reflectors 21 divide the life buoy body into a plurality of floating segments 23. In the production process of the embodiment, the radar reflectors 21 are integrally connected together when the life buoy body is formed by foaming. Through the design, the recess is formed between the two adjacent radar reflectors 21, and the recess is clamped in an armpit position of the person falling into the water when in use, so that the life buoy is more convenient to use.

Embodiment 3

The embodiment differs from Embodiment 1 in that the reflection directions of some directional radar reflectors and the reflection directions of some omnidirectional radar reflectors are different. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, there are two directional radar reflectors of the group A 31, namely a first radar reflector 311 and a second radar reflector 312. There are also two directional radar reflectors of the group B 32, namely a third radar reflector 321 and a fourth radar reflector 322. The first radar reflector 311, the second radar reflector 312, the third radar reflector 321, and the fourth radar reflector 322 are arranged around the center of the life buoy body 33 in sequence. The central reflection direction L1 of the first radar reflector 311 and the central reflection direction L1 of the third radar reflector 321 are perpendicular to the datum plane. An included angle α is formed between the central reflection direction L1 of the second radar reflector 312 and the datum plane, and is 10°-80°. An included angle β is formed between the central reflection direction L1 of the fourth radar reflector 322 and the datum plane, and is 10°-80°. Each omnidirectional radar reflector is provided with a central axis L3. The number of the omnidirectional radar reflectors is four, namely a fifth radar reflector 34, a sixth radar reflector 35, a seventh radar reflector 36, and an eighth radar reflector 37, and the fifth radar reflector 34, the sixth radar reflector 35, the seventh radar reflector 36, and the eighth radar reflector 37 are arranged around the center of the life buoy body 33 in sequence. The central axis L3 of the fifth radar reflector 34 is perpendicular to the datum plane, an included angle γ is formed between the central axis L3 of the sixth radar reflector 35 and the datum plane, and 10°-80°, the central axis L3 of the seventh radar reflector 36 is parallel to the datum plane, and an included angle θ is formed between the central axis L3 of the eighth radar reflector 37 and the datum plane, and is 10°-80°. In order to make the life buoy have a better reflection effect on the radar wave, the included angle α, the included angle β, the included angle γ, and the included angle θ are 45°.

Claims

A life buoy, comprising a life buoy body, wherein a plurality of radar reflectors are arranged in the life buoy body; the plurality of radar reflectors are distributed in an annular array by using a center of the life buoy body as a center; each radar reflector comprises a Luneburg lens and a reflecting piece; the Luneburg lens is made of a foamed dielectric material; a reflecting surface is formed on the reflecting piece; and the reflecting surface of the reflecting piece of each radar reflector is attached to a surface of the Luneburg lens.
The life buoy as claimed in claim 1, wherein some of the plurality of radar reflectors are directional radar reflectors and others are omnidirectional radar reflectors; and the omnidirectional radar reflectors and the directional radar reflectors are distributed at intervals.
The life buoy as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reflecting surface of the reflecting piece of the directional radar reflector is a concave surface of a hemispherical structure; and the reflecting piece of the omnidirectional radar reflector is a sheet-like metal ring, the reflecting piece of the omnidirectional radar reflector is wound on the Luneburg lens, and an inner surface of the reflecting piece of the omnidirectional radar reflector is the reflecting surface.
The life buoy as claimed in claim 3, wherein each directional radar reflector is provided with a central reflection direction L1; a center of sphere of the Luneburg lens of each radar reflector is coplanar with the center of the life buoy body, and a coplanar surface is called a datum plane; the plurality of directional radar reflectors are classified into two groups, namely a group A and a group B, wherein the central reflection directions L1 of the directional radar reflectors belonging to the group A are away from the side of the datum plane, and the central reflection directions L1 of the directional radar reflectors belonging to the group B are away from the other side of the datum plane.
The life buoy as claimed in claim 4, wherein the central reflection directions L1 of the directional radar reflectors of the group A and the directional radar reflectors of the group B are perpendicular to the datum plane.
The life buoy as claimed in claim 4, wherein there are two directional radar reflectors of the group A, namely a first radar reflector and a second radar reflector; there are also two directional radar reflectors of the group B, namely a third radar reflector and a fourth radar reflector; the first radar reflector, the second radar reflector, the third radar reflector, and the fourth radar reflector are arranged around the center of the life buoy body in sequence, wherein the central reflection direction L1 of the first radar reflector and the central reflection direction L1 of the third radar reflector are perpendicular to the datum plane; an included angle α is formed between the central reflection direction L1 of the second radar reflector and the datum plane, and is 10°-80°; and an included angle β is formed between the central reflection direction L1 of the fourth radar reflector and the datum plane, and is 10°-80°.
The life buoy as claimed in claim 4 or 5 or 6, wherein each omnidirectional radar reflector is provided with a central axis L2; the plurality of omnidirectional radar reflectors are classified into two groups, namely a group C and a group D, wherein the central axes L2 of the omnidirectional radar reflectors belonging to the group C are parallel to the datum plane, and the central axes L2 of the omnidirectional radar reflectors belonging to the group D are perpendicular to the datum plane.
The life buoy as claimed in claim 4 or 5 or 6, wherein each omnidirectional radar reflector is provided with a central axis L3; the number of the omnidirectional radar reflectors is four, namely a fifth radar reflector, a sixth radar reflector, a seventh radar reflector, and an eighth radar reflector, and the fifth radar reflector, the sixth radar reflector, the seventh radar reflector, and the eighth radar reflector are arranged around the center of the life buoy body in sequence, wherein the central axis L3 of the fifth radar reflector is perpendicular to the datum plane, an included angle γ is formed between the central axis L3 of the sixth radar reflector and the datum plane, and 10°-80°, the central axis L3 of the seventh radar reflector is parallel to the datum plane, and an included angle θ is formed between the central axis L3 of the eighth radar reflector and the datum plane, and is 10°-80°.
The life buoy as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein each radar reflector is arranged in the life buoy body and is integrated with the life buoy body.
The life buoy as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein the diameter of the Luneburg lens of each radar reflector is greater than the cross-sectional diameter of the life buoy body, so that the radar reflectors divide the life buoy body into a plurality of floating segments.