FR2555120A1 - LIFE-SAVING MACHINE - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A RESCUE DEVICE. THE RESCUE UNIT HAS A RIGID BUT FLEXIBLE LOOP 6 ATTACHED TO A PREFERRED ROPE 8 TAIL WHICH IS MOUNTED ON A RIGID AND ELONGATED FLOATING ELEMENT 2; THE BUCKLE IS PREFERREDLY RETRACTABLE IN THE ELEMENT 2 FOR STORAGE AND THE TAIL 8 DEVELOPES FROM ONE OF THE ENDS OF THE ELEMENT. THE RIGID ELEMENT ACTS LIKE A HANDLE TO PLACE THE LOOP ON A PERSON IN THE WATER; THE TAIL ACTS TO ATTACH THE PERSON AND HIM INTO A RESCUE BOAT. APPLICATIONS: RESCUE OF MEN FALL INTO THE SEA.

Description

The present invention relates to a rescue craft.

  A form of life-saving apparatus suitable for use at sea is a body supporting a circular or iron buoy

  on horseback. It can be attached to a rope and pitched to a "man overboard".

  The problem with this arrangement is that when the wind blows, it is difficult to launch it from a small boat under sail with perhaps only two crewmen. In addition, the man at sea may have insufficient strength to put the buoy around him.Also, even if the man at sea attaches himself to the buoy, it remains the difficulty to get on board the person probably weakened. British Patent No. 1,283,485 shows another form of

  rescue device comprising an elongated floatable bag which

  holds a coiled rope for use as a recovery rope. This

  device can be tight around a man overboard but he has the

  it is advisable not to have a preformed loop, that is to say that the man at sea must make this loop himself, while he can be at best only semi-conscious; moreover in the case of an unconscious man, it is impossible to place the device on him

  for its recovery, because it does not have a rigid handle.

  In this case, the man should be restrained by another device before

  to hang the recovery device around him.

  British Patent No. 901,988 describes another recovery device. It has a substantially rigid loop attached to flotation means at the end of a telescopic handle

  which however does not have a recovery rope. The use of this

  Positive is restricted to calm waters where the salvage craft can be maneuvered close to the man overboard because of the lack of recovery rope. It is also limited because of the absence

  recovery rope to be used from an embarkation

  very low on the water. In fact, as stated in the

  cription, the device is not actually intended to be used

  in open sea but it was originally intended for use in swimming pools.

  Thus the loop at the end of the telescopic handle, because it is essentially rigid, does not close the man tightly in the water to prevent it from slipping out of the loop if is moved up and down in a hard sea. This device would be difficult to put away in a boat

  or in a light boat because of its rigid buckle that protrudes.

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  In addition, even if a recovery rope was attached to the buckle, the end of the non-buoyant device handle would tend to be submerged if not held and could

  prevent recovery. This known device is therefore not satis-

  doing for a number of reasons. The object of the invention is to provide an easy-to-operate securing device for a suitable "man overboard".

  also for the possible recovery of the person on board.

  A rescue apparatus according to the invention comprises a

  rigid but elastic material, preferably a metal cable

  The tail and / or the buckle are mounted on a buoyant, rigid and elongated member which is sufficiently buoyant.

  to support at least the tail and the loop in the water.

  The advantage of this machine is that the rigid element can be used to hold the loop so that when the lifeboat reaches the man overboard, the rescuer can pass the loop on it and with a fixed rope. at the tail, tie

  the man on the boat before hoisting him aboard. A suitable high point

  nable (which can be the mast) with a pulley cut and a crank

  provides the means to hoist the man on board.

  The buoyancy of the elongated element and the weight of the loop

  such that the end of the elongate element tends to float vertically

  tically in the water with a suitable position for a light, or a small radar screen, making it easier to

  the subsequent identification of the machine only if it were dropped flat.

  In order to make the machine easier to store, it is advisable to slide the loop and its end relative to the elongated element so that in the storage state, the loop

  is substantially held against the element. A mode of

  particularly simple is where the element is a tube so that the closed-form loop is retracted for

  storage in the tube which can be about 1.22 m in length.

  The apparatus may form part of a buoy or be sim-

  attached to a buoy to provide easier tracking.

  Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

  Figure 1 shows in elevation a life machine in condition

  255 12o storage, Figure 2 the machine of Figure 1 in cross section with its loop in the use position,

  Figure 3 is a section of Figure 1 showing the row loop.

  In a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings,

  there is provided a rigid elongate tubular element or tube 2, with a length

  1.22 m with an internal diameter of 3.81 cm, manufactured in

  plastic material of adequate rigidity. Inside the tube, a floating plastic foam 4 (for example polystyrene) has been placed. The positioning of the foam inside the tube is not essential and it could be done outside the tube; the arrangement shown provides protection during normal storage.

  A metal loop 6 covered with smooth P.V.C. is introduced

  sliding through the tube (for the storage condition).

  The wire rope preferably has a diameter of 1.27 cm (a diameter of 0.95 cm including the envelope) and is spliced in the form of a loop by a simple telluric seal or other stamping. The loop when it is removed from its housing, opens by projecting a length of about 10.16 cm to 20.32 cm to give a diameter of

loop of approximately 91.44 cm.

  Tail 8 of fibrous rope preferably made by hand

  in 0.65 cm, is attached to the buckle and bears at its end.

  opposite to the loop, an eye 10 and an attachment hook 12. The tail 8 exits the tube 2 through a hole 14 oblique or inclined at the upper end 19 of the tube, which allows the end of the tail to be wrapped around the top end of the tube as at 16 during normal storage. The fastening hook 12 is depressed slightly or secured in another way allowing a

  quick release at end 19 under storage conditions.

  At the lower end 20 of the tube 2, a pad or guide member 18 is attached to the tube by a nut and bolt 24 or other suitable means. The pad 21 has two holes 22 flared inwards and outwards to receive the two parts of the loop 6. The holes 22 can be replaced by a single slot or

  it happens that the nut and the bolt 24 are sufficient without buffer.

  The upper end 19 of the tube is suitable for carrying a light

  re produced by a battery for night use. Alternatively a smoke pot can be removably mounted in this part for a 25551zo day use on the same apparatus used as a free flotation device. A small reflective screen could also be arranged. In this arrangement, the device can be used for helicopter recovery to clearly mark the man overboard. The vertical height of the device in the water allows the light or other landmark to be seen at a greater distance. great distance

  that this would be possible for a life buoy.

  The tube 2 may be provided with strips of rough material 26 at certain intervals along its length and strips of material

  highly reflective can also be planned as in 28.

  The reflective material can also be provided around the

loop 10.

  To use the machine, the hook of attachment 12 and the lifeline at 16 of the tail are pulled from the tube and tied in position

  suitable. By placing one foot in loop 6 one can pull it quickly

  of the tube in its complete development.

  Using the upper end 19 of the tube as a handle, the loop 6 is lowered overboard so that the man overboard can place his arms and his head through the loop. The loop is

  then tightened by pushing the tube towards the man overboard or alternatively

  The man overboard holds the tubet while tail 8 is pulled to also tighten the loop. The tail 8 is then attached to a swing or other suitable rope supported by a high point

  in the boat and by means of an edge crank or a suitable

  nable, the man overboard can be climbed out of the water.

  Note that the craft will float roughly vertically when the loop is pulled in the extended position but the tendency of the machine is to float horizontally with the buckle in storage position. Variations can be made in the mounting of the loop on the rigid and elongated buoyant member, whereby the elongated member can be hinged to one side of the loop and mounted on the loop and the tail, by means of small loops suitably spaced . However, this arrangement is in no way as satisfactory as in the preferred example described above since the small loops can

to hurt the man at sea

  Other variants in clamping loops may be

enter

  seen using, for example, a pinion arranged at the lower end

  20 of the tube and the two parts surrounding the loop 6. This

  provision is not as satisfactory as in the example

  felt because the hoop could be moved before the

loop is developed.

Claims (8)

  1) Rescue machine comprising a loop mounted on a rigid and elongated element, characterized in that the loop 6 is of rigid but elastic material, the loop having a tail 8 extending along the rigid element 2, the rigid element being sufficiently buoyant   to support at least the tail and the loop in the water.   2) Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the buoyant element is a tube 2 and that in storage condition, the   loop 6 is retracted into the tube.   3) Machine according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized   in that the tail 8 comprises a length of rope attached to the loop 6 at one end, a hook 12 at the other end of the length and a loop or eye 10 at an intermediate point along the length.   4) Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized   in that the buoyant element is constituted by a plastic material   tick having a rigid outer wall.   Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that a material 4   Floating plastic foam is provided in the outer wall.   6) Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized   in that the loop is slidably retained by a stop means 24 at the end of the element,   while the tail extends from the other end.   7) Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized   in that the loop is covered by a smooth plastic material.   8) Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized   in that a light reflecting material 26 is applied on the buoyant element.   9) Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized   in that an electric light is attached to the buoyant element.