GB925660A - Collapsible float capable of opening when dropped from aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

925,660. Buoys. ULTRA ELECTRONICS Ltd. April 11, 1960 [May 22, 1959], No. 17460/59. Class 68 (1). [Also in Group XXXIII] Equipment for aircraft conveyance and dropping comprises an article to be floated in water, a normally collapsed float secured thereto, a valve provided on the float and operable between a closed position in which the float is sealed and an open position, an air-fall retarding device secured to the valve and operative when the equipment is released from an aircraft to pull the valve into the open position and the float into the extended position, thus filling the float with atmospheric air, and spring means mounted on the valve for closing the valve to reseal the float when the pull of the air-fall retarding device thereon is released. A floating buoy 1, attached by releasable means 3 to the body of an aircraft 2, is divided into three main portions, a container 4 for essential equipment such as a hydrophone, a float 5 and a parachute 6 normally opened by a static line 6a attached to the aircraft. The float 5 carries a one-way valve 7, closed by a spring 7a and opened during descent by the drag of the parachute to allow air to enter the float during descent. When the float reaches the water the parachute lines become detached and permit the valve 7 to close. The float, instead of being flexible as in Fig. 1, may comprise telescopic sleeve members provided with a locking pawl to retain them in extended condition and the parachute may be replaced by either a rotaryblade shoot or a convergent-divergent duet member.