JP2002079998A - Surface buoy device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To flexibly cope with impact in landing on water to relax the landing impact of a balloon and to prevent the balloon from being easily broken by restraining the rise of its internal pressure in a floating surface buoy device dropped as a buoy, a hydrographic phenomenon measuring instrument or the like on the water surface such as the surface of the sea or a lake from a flying body such as an aircraft flying in the air. SOLUTION: This surface buoy device is dropped from the sky, decelerates to a predetermined velocity while expanding in the air, and descends to land and float on the water surface. In this case, the surface buoy device is provided with: a balloon 1 provided with an annular material 4 for guiding the inflow of the air in descending to the lower end opening part, expanding by introducing air into the inside from the annular material 4, and keeping a solid shape after landing on the water surface; a suspension rope 2 having one end connected to the annular material 4 of the balloon 1, extending at a predetermined length and having flexibility; and a weight 3 connected to the other end of the suspension rope 2 and used as a weight in the descending and the water landing of the balloon 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a buoy which is dropped from a flying object such as an aircraft flying in the air onto a water surface such as a sea surface or a lake surface as a sign or a sea condition measuring device and floats. The present invention relates to a water buoy device that flexibly copes with an impact to reduce a landing impact of a balloon and suppresses an increase in internal pressure so that the balloon is hardly broken.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional water buoy device of this type is, for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-128087. A balloon that has a function as a sign by flowing air from the mouth and expanding, decelerating to a descent speed that does not break due to aerodynamic load and impact at the time of landing, and landing on the sea surface, and a mouth of this balloon And a container that functions as a weight while guiding the air to the mouth of the balloon by storing and descending the balloon,
Withdrawal means for extracting the balloon from the container,
Had been equipped.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional water buoy, a container functioning as a weight is connected to the mouth of the balloon, and air flows in from the mouth to expand and expand in the air. Since the balloon and the container (weight) descending from the container are directly connected and integrated, for example, when the container lands on the sea surface, the impact of landing on the container directly affects the balloon. Was. In addition, when the impact of the landing works, the balloon is dragged into the water by the inertia of the container, and the lower portion of the balloon is crushed by the water pressure, and the internal pressure of the balloon rapidly increases.

[0004] As described above, since the landing impact is directly applied to the balloon and the internal pressure of the balloon rapidly increases at the time of landing, the balloon may be broken at the time of landing. And if a balloon is torn, it will not be able to function as a sign after landing. To deal with this, it is necessary to make the balloon firm, but if the thickness of the membrane material of the balloon is increased or the structural strength is increased,
As the weight increases, the size may increase, and the price may increase.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to address such a problem, and to flexibly cope with the impact at the time of landing, to reduce the impact of the landing of the balloon, and to suppress the rise in internal pressure so that the balloon is not easily broken. It is an object to provide a water buoy device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a water buoy according to the present invention is dropped from the sky, decelerates to a predetermined speed while expanding in the air, descends, lands on the water surface and floats. In the water buoy, the lower end has a ring member that guides the flow of air at the time of descending, a balloon that inflates air from the ring member, expands and reaches the surface of the water, and retains a three-dimensional shape. A hanging rope having one end connected to the ring member and extending at a predetermined length and having flexibility, and a weight connected to the other end of the hanging rope and serving as a weight when the balloon descends and lands on the water. It consists of

[0007] With such a configuration, the balloon and the weight are connected to each other with a flexible hanging rope that extends for a predetermined length, so that the hanging rope sags when the weight lands on the water surface. The impact upon landing is flexibly dealt with, the impact of landing on the balloon is reduced, and the internal pressure rise is suppressed so that the balloon is hardly broken.

Further, an auxiliary suction port for taking in air into the balloon is provided on a side portion of the balloon at an intermediate portion in a vertical direction, and the auxiliary suction port is provided in a state where the inflated balloon has landed thereon. It is formed at a position submerged in the water. This assists in taking in air into the balloon when descending, thereby inflating the balloon quickly, and floats the balloon in a state of landing on the water surface.

Further, one or more micropores are formed in the upper surface of the balloon so that the inflated balloon self-sinks after a lapse of a predetermined time. As a result, the buoyancy decreases after a predetermined time from when the inflated balloon lands on the water surface, and the balloon self-submerges.

Further, on the upper surface of the balloon,
After the inflated balloon lands on the water surface, it floats on the water surface and is provided with a functional member for exerting a predetermined function. Thereby, according to the function exhibited by the functional member, it can function as a sign indicating a predetermined point on the water, or can measure sea conditions at a predetermined point on the water.

The functional member is attached to the upper surface of the balloon by connecting the other ends of three or more attachment cables, one end of which is connected to the ring member at the lower end of the balloon. Thereby, the functional member is securely attached to the upper surface of the balloon.

Further, the three or more attachment ropes are connected to each other by a guide rope wound on the outer peripheral surface of the balloon within the vertical height of the balloon. This prevents more than two attachment ropes from coming off the balloon during the descent of the balloon.

Further, the weight is provided with a parachute for alleviating an impact when the hanging rope is expanded when the balloon is lowered. Thereby, the impact when the hanging rope is expanded when the weight and the balloon start to descend is reduced.

The balloon is formed in a bag shape from a biodegradable film material. As a result, the balloon which has reduced its buoyancy a predetermined time after landing on the water surface and has self-settled is naturally decomposed by microorganisms in the water.

Further, the combination of the balloon, the suspension rope, the weight, and their accessories is stored in a container, transported, and dropped. This allows
A buoy is mounted on a flying object such as an aircraft and transported, and can be dropped on a required water surface as a sign or a sea condition measuring device.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a water buoy according to the present invention. This buoy is a device that is dropped and floated from a flying object such as an aircraft flying in the air as a sign or a sea condition measuring device on the surface of the sea or a lake, etc. As shown in FIG. 1, the balloon 1 includes a balloon 1 (showing an inflated state), a hanging rope 2, and a weight 3.

The balloon 1 is inflated by inflow of air into the inside thereof due to the ram pressure at the time of descent, and retains a three-dimensional shape after landing on the water surface. ) Is formed in a bag shape in the shape of an inverted pyramid having a quadrangular upper surface. The inverted quadrangular pyramid-shaped balloon 1 has a port at the lower end apex for allowing air to flow into the inside thereof. At the lower end port, for example, a cylindrical ring member 4 for guiding the flow of air when descending is provided. Installed. Therefore, an inlet through which air flows into the balloon 1 is secured by the ring member 4. The material of the ring member 4 is not limited to metal, but may be plastic or the like.

An auxiliary suction port 5 is formed in a side surface of the balloon 1. The auxiliary suction port 5 serves as an auxiliary port for taking in air into the balloon 1 when air flows into the balloon 1 from the ring member 4. It is formed as a slit with a cut in the middle part in the vertical direction. The auxiliary suction port 5 is formed at a position where the inflated balloon 1 is immersed in water in a state where the balloon has landed, as shown in FIG. 7 described later.

Further, on the upper surface of the balloon 1, 1
More than one fine hole 6 is formed. These micro holes 6
The balloon 1 inflated by the inflow of air is for reducing buoyancy on the surface of the landed water after a predetermined time so as to self-submerge. For example, the balloon 1 is formed at four places on the upper surface of the balloon 1. . The diameter and the number of the fine holes 6 may be appropriately determined according to a predetermined time until the balloon 1 self-submerges.

The hanging rope 2 is connected to the ring member 4 of the balloon 1. The hanging rope 2 connects the balloon 1 and a weight 3 described later. One end of the hanging rope 2 is connected to the ring member 4 of the balloon 1 and extends downward by a predetermined length to be freely bent. Alternatively, it is made of a rope that is flexible so that it can be wound up. The reason why the hanging rope 2 has flexibility is that when the weight 3 to be described later lands on the water surface, the hanging rope 2 sags to flexibly cope with the impact at the time of landing, and the landing impact of the balloon 1 is reduced. This is because the balloon 1 is relaxed and the internal pressure is suppressed from rising, so that the balloon 1 is hardly broken.

A weight 3 is connected to the other end of the hanging rope 2. The weight 3 serves as a weight when the balloon 1 descends and lands, and is made of, for example, metal.
The weight may be appropriately set in consideration of the descending speed of the balloon 1 in the air and the buoyancy acting on the balloon 1 in water.

A buoy recognizing member 7 is provided on the upper surface of the balloon 1 as an example of a functional member for causing the inflated balloon 1 to float on the water surface and to perform a predetermined function after landing on the water surface. Have been. This buoy recognition member 7
The balloon 1 is for recognizing that the balloon 1 is a sign after landing on the water surface, and is made of, for example, a visually confirmable reflector or luminous body, a radio wave reflector or a radio wave emitter or the like having an appropriate shape. The buoy recognizing member 7 is attached to the upper surface of the balloon 1 by connecting the other ends of, for example, four attachment cables 8 having one end connected to the ring member 4 at the lower end of the balloon 1. Further, the four attachment ropes 8 are connected to each other by a guide rope 9 wound on the outer peripheral surface of the balloon 1 within the vertical height of the balloon 1. The guide cable 9 is connected to the attachment cable 8 by making one round at the upper end and the middle of the balloon 1 in the vertical direction. This prevents the four attachment cords 8 from coming off the balloon 1 while the balloon 1 is descending.

Further, the weight 3 is provided with a parachute 10 for alleviating the impact when the hanging rope 2 is expanded when the balloon 1 descends. The size of the parachute 10 does not need to be very large because the parachute 10 only reduces the impact when the hanging rope 2 is expanded when the weight 3 and the balloon 1 start descending.

The combination of the balloon 1, the hanging rope 2, the weight 3, and their accessories is stored in an appropriate container (for example, a cylindrical container), transported, and dropped as a water buoy. It has been like that.

Next, the use of the water buoy constructed as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. First, in the storage or transport state before dropping, the water buoy is connected with the balloon 1, the hanging rope 2, and the weight 3, as shown in FIG. 3, and folded in a state where the balloon 1 is deflated. For example, it is stored in an elongated cylindrical container 11. The buoy device 12 is mounted on the aircraft 13 (see FIG. 2) while being housed in the cylindrical container 11.

Next, the aircraft 13 on which the buoy 12 is mounted flies above a predetermined training sea area, and FIG.
As shown in (a), the buoy 12 is dropped, for example, at the point of distress rescue training or search training. Then, the water buoy 12 falls freely, but when the altitude or speed reaches a predetermined level, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 4, the cylindrical container 11 is moved from the middle in the longitudinal direction, for example. The balloon 1, the hanging rope 2 and the weight 3, which are broken into two parts 11 a and 11 b and connected from inside, are released. At this time, in the water buoy 12, the weight 3 is at the bottom due to inertia and gravity, followed by the hanging rope 2, and the balloon 1 starts to descend at the back.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2C, the suspension rope 2 is expanded by the weight of the weight 3, and the balloon 1 starts to descend. At this time, the parachute 10 shown in FIG. 1 is opened, and the impact when the hanging rope 2 is expanded is reduced. In this state, the entire buoy 12 descends. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the ring 4 and the auxiliary suction port 5 face the airflow direction. Air flows into the balloon 1 by the ram pressure at the time of descending from the port 5, and the balloon 1 expands into a three-dimensional shape. Since the air also flows in from the auxiliary suction port 5, it is possible to assist the intake of the air into the balloon 1 at the time of descending and to quickly inflate the balloon.

As shown in FIG. 2 (d), the balloon 1 which has been completely charged and inflated is decelerated to a predetermined speed by the air resistance received by the balloon 1 with the weight 3 down. Descend at speed. Then, when descending to the water surface 14, first, the weight 3 lands, as shown in FIG. At this time, the weight 3 temporarily stops due to the resistance from the water surface 14, but since the hanging rope 2 is extended by a predetermined length and made of a flexible material, as shown in FIG. The hanging rope 2 is in a slack state.

As described above, since the hanging rope 2 is slackened, tension is not applied to the hanging rope 2, and the balloon 1 shifts to a descending speed determined by the balance between its own weight and air resistance. Then, it descends at a lower steady speed than before and reaches the water surface 14. The slack of the suspension rope 2 flexibly copes with the impact at the time of landing, reduces the impact of landing on the balloon 1 and suppresses an increase in the internal pressure so that the balloon 1 is hardly broken.

After the balloon 1 has landed, water enters the balloon 1 from the ring 4, and the air inside the balloon 1 escapes from the auxiliary suction port 5 to the outside, and the weight 3 As shown in FIG. 7, the balloon 1 gradually sinks due to the weight and the weight of the balloon 1, and becomes watertight when the auxiliary suction port 5 sinks below the water surface 14, so that the balloon 1 floats on the water surface 14. . Then, as shown in FIG. 2 (f), the three-dimensional shape is maintained on the water surface 14 to serve as a sign, and the sign floats as appropriate. In this state, as shown in FIG.
The balloon 1 is stretched due to its weight, and tension is applied, and the balloon 1 is pulled downward to maintain a stable posture.

As described above, in a state where the balloon 1 is floating on the water surface 14 as a sign, ships and aircraft or the like in the training sea area perform distress rescue training, search training, and the like. At this time, the buoy recognizing member 7 installed on the upper surface of the balloon 1 makes it possible to efficiently recognize the presence of the water buoy device during the rescue and rescue training by a ship or the like and the search training by an aircraft or the like so that the training can be efficiently performed. Becomes

During the training, the air inside the balloon 1 gradually and gradually passes through a plurality of micro holes 6 formed on the upper surface of the balloon 1 shown in FIG. ), (H), the balloon 1
The buoyancy decreases after a predetermined time (for example, about 12 hours) after landing on the water 4, and the water itself sinks due to the weight of the weight 3.

As shown in FIG. 2 (i), as the balloon 1 sinks at the bottom of the water surface 14, the biodegradable film material is naturally decomposed by microorganisms in the water as time passes. You. As a result, water pollution in the training sea area and the like can be limited.

In the above description, the balloon 1, the hanging rope 2, and the weight 3 are connected, and the balloon 1 is folded and stored in the cylindrical container 11 in a deflated state. Although the present invention is not limited to this, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is not limited to this. The balloon 1, the hanging rope 2, and the weight 3 are connected and lifted by, for example, a helicopter or the like, and transported to a training sea area. You may go and drop.

In the above description, the buoy recognizing member 7 is provided as a functional member on the upper surface of the balloon 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this. And a transmitter for transmitting the obtained information by radio waves. In this case, it is a drop-floating type oceanographic measurement device. Further, an arbitrary functional member other than the buoy recognizing member 7 or the sea condition measuring member may be provided.

[0036]

The present invention has been configured as described above.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a balloon is provided at the lower end opening to guide the inflow of air at the time of descending. A hanging rope having one end connected to the ring material of the balloon and extending for a predetermined length and having flexibility; and a weight connected to the other end of the hanging rope and serving as a weight when the balloon descends and lands. By providing the weight, the suspension rope sags when the weight lands on the water surface to flexibly cope with the impact at the time of landing, to reduce the impact of the landing of the balloon and to suppress the rise in the internal pressure. The balloon can be made difficult to tear. Therefore, it is not necessary to make the balloon firmly as in the prior art, and the weight can be reduced, the size can be reduced, and the cost can be further reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the side portion of the balloon is provided with an auxiliary suction port at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction for taking air into the balloon, and the auxiliary suction port is provided. Is formed at a position where the inflated balloon is submerged in the water when it is in contact with the water, so that it can take in air into the balloon when descending and inflate quickly. Can float on

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, one or more micropores are formed in the upper surface of the balloon so that the inflated balloon self-sinks due to a decrease in buoyancy after a predetermined time. By doing so, the buoyancy can be reduced and self-sinked a predetermined time after the inflated balloon lands on the water surface.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a functional member is provided on the upper surface of the balloon so that the inflated balloon floats on the water surface after landing on the water surface and exhibits a predetermined function. Is provided, it is possible to act as a marker indicating a predetermined point on the water or to measure sea conditions at a predetermined point on the water according to the function exhibited by the functional member.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the functional member is formed by connecting the other ends of three or more attachment cables each having one end connected to a ring member at the lower end of the balloon. By being attached to the portion, the functional member can be securely attached to the upper surface portion of the balloon.

Further, according to the invention of claim 6, the three or more attachment cables are connected to each other by a guide cable wound on the outer peripheral surface of the balloon within the vertical height of the balloon. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent three or more attachment ropes from coming off the balloon during the descent of the balloon.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the weight and the balloon are provided by attaching a parachute to the weight to reduce the impact when the hanging rope is expanded when the balloon is lowered. Can reduce the impact when the hanging rope is extended at the start of descent.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the balloon is formed in a bag shape from a biodegradable film material, the buoyancy decreases after a predetermined time from landing on the water surface. The balloon that has self-sinked is naturally decomposed by microorganisms and the like in the water, and can confine water pollution in the training sea area and the like.

Further, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the combination of the balloon, the hanging rope, the weight, and their accessories is stored in a container, transported, and dropped. A buoy can be mounted on a flying object such as an aircraft and transported, and dropped on a required surface of the water as a sign or a sea condition measuring device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a water buoy according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a use state of the water buoy.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state in which a combination of the balloon, the hanging rope, the weight, and their accessories according to the present invention is housed in a container.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the buoy is dropped from an aircraft and a container is opened.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state where air flows into a balloon and expands while the buoy is descending in the air.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the buoy has descended and has landed on the water surface.

FIG. 7: The buoy device lands on the water surface and stabilizes,
It is explanatory drawing which shows the state used for training.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Balloon 2 ... Hanging rope 3 ... Weight 4 ... Ring material 5 ... Auxiliary suction port 6 ... Microhole 7 ... Float recognition member 8 ... Mounting cable 9 ... Guide rope 10 ... Parachute 11 ... Cylindrical container 12 ... Water buoy apparatus

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A water buoy device which is dropped from above, decelerates to a predetermined speed while expanding in the air, descends, lands on a water surface and floats, and has a ring member for guiding the inflow of air when descending at a lower end opening. A balloon that retains a three-dimensional shape after air flows into the interior from the ring material to expand and land on the water surface, and a hanging rope having one end connected to the ring material of the balloon and extending at a predetermined length and having flexibility. And a weight connected to the other end of the suspension rope and serving as a weight when the balloon descends and lands. 2. A side portion of the balloon is provided with an auxiliary suction port at an intermediate portion in a vertical direction for taking in air into the balloon, and the auxiliary suction port is provided in a state where the inflated balloon is in contact with water. The buoy according to claim 1, wherein the buoy is formed at a position submerged in water. 3. The balloon according to claim 1, wherein one or more micropores are formed in an upper surface of the balloon so that the inflated balloon has a reduced buoyancy after a predetermined time and self-sets. 2. The water buoy according to item 2. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a functional member is provided on an upper surface of the balloon so that the inflated balloon floats on the water surface after landing on the water surface and performs a predetermined function. The water buoy according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The functional member is attached to the upper surface of the balloon by linking the other ends of three or more attachment cables, one end of which is connected to a ring at the lower end of the balloon. The buoy according to claim 4, wherein 6. The balloon according to claim 5, wherein the three or more attachment ropes are connected to each other by a guide rope wound on the outer peripheral surface of the balloon within a vertical height of the balloon. Buoy device. 7. The weight according to claim 1, wherein the weight is provided with a parachute to reduce an impact when the hanging rope is expanded when the balloon is lowered.
The buoy device according to the item. 8. The water buoy according to claim 1, wherein the balloon is formed of a biodegradable film material in a bag shape. 9. A combination of the balloon, the hanging rope, the weight, and their accessories, which is stored in a container and transported.
The buoy according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the buoy is dropped.